"Dunno," Lily murmured. "But it kinda seems like that won't be the last you see of him." She grinned, settling in to watch the press thing.

For a while, everything went fine. And then one nosy reporter made things personal.

"Is it true that you two have joined groups? And that the two women are friends?"

Heather froze when she heard that question. Oh, that wasn't going to be good.

"Wait a second, what?" Clint asked, zeroing in on the reporter. "Where did that come from? Since when is that allowed?"

"It's not," Tony said, as a few security people made their way towards the guy.

"You didn't deny it!" the guy crowed. "Means you've both got ladies! Are they here? How come you haven't mentioned them before?"

Tony jerked his head at the guards to remove the man, but the damage was already done. There was murmuring spreading through the crowd, curious but not upset.

"Okay, so, take note," Clint said after a beat of silence. "Personal questions like that will get you kicked out. Clear?"

There was a murmur through the crowd, though not everyone settled down. Several people still looked curious.

Steve, on the other hand, just looked angry.

Unfortunately, the reporters noticed.

"Captain!" one of them called. "Is there any truth to the rumors?"

"Whether there is or not, we're still talking about people," Steve said, staring down the one reporter. "It's their life, their business. It doesn't make a difference if they--or anyone else on this team--have people they see on their own time."

"You have to admit, Captain," another reporter called out, "it does seem like the Avengers are taking sides on the issue of women keeping multiple men. Can you tell us where exactly everyone falls on the topic?"

"I can't, because I haven't asked, because it doesn't matter," Steve repeated firmly. "Honestly, I don't understand why you are all so interested, either."

"It's a controversial issue right now," the reporter responded, already jotting things down on a notepad. "The public has a right to know what influential figures think about it."

Steve's eyes narrowed. "If that's what you want to know, you'll have to try again later," he said. "This conference isn't to talk about that."

Near the back of the crowd, Heather stepped a bit closer to Lily.

"How did anyone even find out?" she murmured to her friend. "I mean, Tony's not the type to broadcast that kind of thing to everyone and their grandmother, you know?"

"Right. Clint isn't either, and I know neither of my other guys would have said anything." Lily kept her voice quiet, wary of everyone around them. "So how did they know?"

"I don't know, but it bothers me," Heather replied quietly. She wrung her hands a little in her pockets, uneasy.

"Me too." Lily bit her lower lip, watching the rest of the press thing, but no longer in a good mood. Now she just kind of wanted to go home.

Heather was glad when the press thing ended and the crowd began to slowly disperse. Now she just needed to wait for Tony and head back, though she did glance around uneasily when she realized that the reporters might be waiting to see if any of the Avengers left with any women.

Lily frowned when the same thought occurred to her.

Hey, Heather and I are going home, we'll a e you later if you feel like coming around. Let Tony know too please, so he doesn't worry. We're just a little shook up after that.

"Come on," she told Heather. "I just texted Clint that we're heading home on the off chance someone is watching."

Clint's reply was pretty quick.

You got it. Meet you later.

Heather nodded and pulled out her phone.

"Yeah," she said, "good idea. I'll let Tony know as well." She followed Lily as she tapped on her phone.

Heading back now, alright? I don't want to set off any more reporters, so just meet back with me later, if you feel like it.

Lily stuffed her phone back in her pocket, cursing reporters under her breath as she walked. Stupid reporters ruining their fun...

Sure, see you there. Tony wasted no time in replying either, though he was glowering now at a few last hopeful reporters, sending them on their way.

Heather walked with Lily, occasionally glancing around. There were still too many reporters around for her comfort.

Now Clint was in a hurry to get things wrapped up. He wanted to head out so he could relax at Lily's place for a while, where the press couldn't find him.

Lily slid into her car, since she and Heather had carpooled, and started driving quietly. But she was still tense and unhappy.

Tony, on the other hand, was also anxious to get back, but he was going to install some new security measures around Heather's house. Just in case.

Heather fidgeted with the hem of her shirt the entire ride back, just as tense as Lily.

"I don't like this," she murmured. "This is going to end badly, I just know it."

"I'm trying not to think about that," Lily muttered. "I know you're right, but avoidance is good sometimes." Because she knew that somehow it was going to blow up in their faces, and she was not looking forward to that. At all.

"I almost want to tell Tony not to come back for a while," Heather admitted. "It might be better if he stays away, until things die down again."

"Maybe," Lily said. "I dunno. I know Clint can get back without anyone following him, at least."