Making a Tentative Date for Mars & Enter the Widow

"...And that's what happened."

Walt sighed. "Thanks Storm! I anticipated trouble but not Onslaught. Is Kurt okay?"

Storm over the coms smiled and nodded. "Yes. But only because you already had us on high alert as well as having a few of these... what are you calling them again?"

Walt smiled. "Iron Avengers, is their provisional name. Yeah that was lucky some were gaurding the construction site on Phobos. I'm just glad everyone is alright."

Storm nodded and smiled. "They scared people at first looking a little like Sentinels as they do but not quite. Seeing them in Iron Man red and gold with distinctive Stark traits lessened the panic and once people saw them helping I think it rallied their hopes."

Walt smiled too. "Even better. That's exactly what I was hoping for!" He sighed again though and lay back on the bed rubbing his temples. "Sorry if they startled some of the mutants there. Unfortunately I'm not certain if this was part of the enemies moves... or my fault for changing things. The universe might have simply decided to chuck a stone at my house of cards just because..."

Storm chuckled and shook her head. "Or perhaps this had nothing to do with you at all, my friend. Fortunately no one was seriously injured except for Kurt and he's making a very swift recovery. Also mutants here are even more in favor of your help and our new policies now. We've gained a fair bit of support and goodwill. Unfortunately this means we'll be unlikely to attend the Gala until things here get cleaned up. It also raises some other disturbing questions if you're right and things aren't coincidental."

Walt nodded. "Right stay on your toes and be safe out there, 'Ro!"

Storm laughed happily and Walt smiled at that rich sound. "I haven't heard that nickname in awhile! Happy memories... Thank you, Walt! And what are you doing?"

Walt glanced around and winked. "Hiding. They're trying to get me to wear a tuxedo of all things! Damn Hellfire Gala," he muttered causing her to laugh beautifully again. "Hey maybe you can help me, 'Ro! Apparently I'm stuck escorting Frost thanks to Tony. Can you explain or give me any hints? I'm afraid Emma and I never really got to know one another well. Jubilee was a less then helpful font of information. "Ms Frostee! Brrr... Good luck, dude!" She also said something about "if anyone can defrost the Ice Queen" she was betting on me to do it and that she really learned to "respect her as a teacher" but that's all she said and- damn." He saw a notification from Friday.

Ororo raised an eyebrow. "Trouble?"

Walt nodded. "But nothing I can't handle. A Ms Rushman from legal wants to see me." He rolled his eyes. "More documents to sign. Yay."

Stirm laughed again. "Then we best make this quick. Emma might surprise you. She's come a long way from how she was back in those early days. She's also been a very big help since changing sides in the fight for mutants. We even became close after a fashion. She mainly docuses on Krakoa's business but also Public Relations so you have much to talk about and in common. Also the Gala as ot is now was her idea and she has run them every year until this one. Don't underestimate her, Don't let her walk all over you but my main piece of advice is to just be yourself. You might just be surprised. She's had a hard go of things over the years and could use a friend... your specialty!" She winked.

"Thanks, 'Ro," he said chuckled. "I'll keep all that in mind... You're the best."

She smiled too and sighed. "It's too bad. I was looking forward to seeing you and maybe getting a dance in." She bit her lip in very attractive way. "It's been a longtime... Jubilee told me about your unique relationship. "Look me up" the next time you're out to Arakko, Walt?"

Walt blinked. "Uhmmm..." he said not at all suave like making her laugh again as his brain took a moment to process that request. "Definitely! I'm sorry I, uh, didn't realize that was a thing you were looking forward to or interested in the last time we were there. Aren't you and T'Challa-"

"Annulled," she simply said shaking her head. "And this goddess hasn't been properly "worshiped" in a while I'm afraid... and few as skillfully or ardently as you used to do!"

Walt's mind remembered several wonderful afternoons and evenings spent in her spacious attic garden and bed room in the past. Ororo had been quite the nudist in those days before Jean taught her more of the world and she had renained quite comfortable with her beautiful body... and apreciated others as well. He also realized that maybe that was a part of T'Challa's continuing reluctance to meet with him. One problem at a time...

He nodded and smiled. "I'll definitely try to make my way out to Mars sometime soon, 'Ro. We'll talk then."

She smiled. "Do," she said and blew the screen a quick kiss before terminating the call on her end. Walt swallowed and shook his head. "Well... that was unexpected!" He grinned until he heard the knock at the door.

(("Ms "Natalie" Rushman, Boss."))

Walt chuckled at the extra emphasis Friday put on the name and nodded. "I know, Fri. Been wondering when this was going to be a thing. Best not keep her or those who sent her waiting."

(("Yes, Boss. You also better start getting ready in picking out what you are going to wear or the others will."))

Walt nodded grimly looking at the selections and muttered, "Damnable Gala... Hellfire indeed..." before finally raising his voice, "Yeah, come on in."

He heard the door open and glanced in the mirror it's reflection showing him the ravishingly beautiful redhead who entered the room. She was smartly dressed in a suit and wore glasses but the cut was very flattering and the skirt short with a bit of a slit. Nothing too risqué to be blatantly obvious but the whole look was carefully chosen and designed to change. Toss the jacket and pop a few buttons and the slit, which probably went much higher with a hidden clasp, and she'd have a devastating bad secretary/librarian/teacher look going... conversly break the glasses, and possibly those fashionable high heels, they could be used as improvised stiletto shivs while that same slit would enable some killer fighting moves with those killer legs... she was a concealed weapon herself. Walt smiled. He was something of a expert on all kinds of "weapons" himself.

She was sexy, sweet, saucy and anything inbetween or combination there of... she was also dangerous. She was the Black Widow. "Ms "Rushman" I take it?"

She stayed just out of striking range and to the left behind him, gave him a winsome smile in the mirrors reflection. Nothing over the top provocative but hinting at much... and revealing very little. "Yes, Mr Stark. Documents sent over and prepared by legal for you. Top secret contracts of somekind?"

Walt raised an eyebrow. "You don't know?"

She returned the gesture and shook her head. "Not my business to know so-"

"I'm thinking of producing a girl rock band," he said. He turned to look at her and study her face. She did the same.

Her eyes widened only barely, almost imperceptible. "That surprised you."

She nodded. "More because it was true. I could have sworn that was a lie but it isn't. Too bizarre."

Walt grinned and held out his hand and when she gave him the file he started quickly glancing through them. "What does Fury want? I'm kind of busy at the moment."

She sat on the bed and gave no hint of surprise. "He said you were good... Straight to it? No foreplay?" She asked.

Walt looked at her and snorted. "What? You want to trade blows? Maybe break some furniture? Get into a knife fight or something? Can't you see I'm already trying to pick out a suit to go to a funeral in?"

She smirked looking at the tuxedos and other suits. "Little fancy for being buried in."

Walt smirked back. "I didn't say it was my funeral. I'm actually hoping to be the funeral director."

She smiled now at that and her eyes sparkled just a bit. She knew he noticed because she wanted him to notice. "Nice," she said. "I like verbal foreplay too and it'll do. Fury wants a word."

Walt smiled. "Glad you enjoyed that, Ms "Rushman". Tell him to call my office and make an appointment. I think you know my business hours-"

She gave him an arch look. "This is making an appointment."

Walt snorted again before turning back to the suits. "Which do you think?"

She blinked and stood up then turned to look over the selections. "Since it's not your funeral... Which one carries the most weapons and places to conceal them?"

Walt grinned. "That's what I was thinking too. Thanks, Nat. Can I call you, Nat?" He laid out the suit he'd wear. The western frock coat design reminded him of the wedding so many weeks ago- *No, that was Sunday* he thought reminding himself. *Jimbo, Lil' Star and Aye-Lee and company should be on Riza by now and well into their honeymoon... and you're still playing catchup detective.* He sighed suddenly tired of games. "Where does Nick want to meet?"

She shook her head. "You're "the boss" so you can call me whatever you want. I've been called worse... but nobody calls him "Nick"... as for place you pick as long as it's public and inconspicuous. You know the drill."

Walt smirked and called up a map on one of the displays and placed a marker. "That's me. I'm "nobody". Tell "Nick", Mr Nobody's got just the place for our little "meeting". Oh and you can call me Walt, when we're being informal Nat."

She smiled. "Alright, Walt. I'll tell him." She looked at the location and grinned. "Nice pick... he'll hate it!"

Walt grinned. "I know... though he should love it. "Happiest place on earth" and all that."

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Nora Valkyrie Yang Xiao Long Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Zwei Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Rachel "Raven" Roth Manami "La Brava" Aiba Tsuyu "Froppy" Asui Haruhime Sanjouno Anastasia "The Baroness" Cisarovna/DeCobray Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress Serana Mission Vao Curie Ada PAM KL-E-O Merida Gwen "Gwenom" Stacy Jubilation "Jubilee" Lee and Jennifer "She-Hulk" Walters

Will Return In

Fury in "The Happiest Place on Earth"

Coming Soon]