"Okay, fine. I'm already thinking about the wedding," Luke said as he leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes. "Just give me some time. Marriage is a big thing, especially this one. It isn't something that should be rushed."
While speaking, Luke had already made up his mind.
There was no way he was planning a wedding involving one groom and nine brides by himself.
He would dump the entire responsibility onto Fury.
After everything Fury had put him through, this was the least he could do in return.
Besides, organizing a wedding of this scale required professionals.
Finding the right venue, arranging security, managing invitations, coordinating guests, decorations, catering, and countless other details would take weeks of preparation.
"As expected of our dear," Wanda, Natasha, Jean, Esdeath, Selene, Jill, Alice, Clarice, and Tauriel said together.
Luke smiled faintly.
He thought the discussion was finally over.
Closing his eyes once more, he expected at least a few minutes of uninterrupted rest.
Instead, nine pairs of hands grabbed him simultaneously.
Before he could react, the women pulled him off the sofa and pushed him toward the front door.
Luke stared at them in disbelief.
"Where are we going now?"
"To choose our wedding dresses," Wanda answered with a smile.
Luke frowned.
"You do realize the groom isn't supposed to see the bride in her wedding dress before the ceremony. That's one of the oldest wedding traditions."
"We know," Jill replied. "Who said we're letting you see the final dresses?"
Luke blinked.
"Then why am I coming?"
Jill crossed her arms.
"Before we decide on the final dresses, each of us is choosing at least fifty designs."
"At minimum," Selene added.
"I refuse to settle for the first dress I like," Jean said.
"And neither will I," Natasha agreed.
"Taste is important," Alice said.
"We're making sure everything is perfect," Clarice added.
"It is a once-in-a-lifetime ceremony," Tauriel said with a gentle smile. "We want to choose carefully."
Esdeath folded her arms.
"And your opinion matters. You're the groom."
Luke looked around at all of them.
Not one of them looked like they were joking.
"So let me get this straight."
He pointed at himself.
"I'm coming just to reject the designs that don't suit you before you narrow them down?"
"Yes," Jill answered.
"You're basically the final filter," Wanda added.
Luke let out a long sigh.
***
Luke and the nine women entered one of the city's largest designer boutiques, famous for its luxury wedding dresses. The showroom displayed hundreds of gowns from renowned designers, with entire sections devoted exclusively to bridal wear.
A store assistant approached them with a professional smile.
"Good afternoon. Who needs a wedding dress?"
Luke answered without hesitation.
"All of them."
He gestured toward the nine women behind him.
The assistant, Amanda, blinked.
"All of them?"
Luke nodded.
Amanda glanced between the women.
"Are there nine different weddings?"
Luke shook his head.
"No. One wedding."
Amanda smiled politely, waiting for the explanation.
"One groom."
Luke pointed at himself.
"Nine brides."
Her professional smile froze.
For several seconds, she simply stared at him, convinced she had misheard.
Throughout her career, she had helped prepare dresses for grand weddings, celebrity ceremonies, and extravagant themed events.
Never had she encountered one groom marrying nine brides.
She looked at the women.
None of them objected.
In fact, they all nodded as though it were perfectly normal.
Amanda slowly faced Luke again.
"Then... you're the groom?"
"Yes."
Luke answered without pride or embarrassment.
He simply looked exhausted.
"So, could you help them choose their dresses as quickly as possible? I'd really like to get some sleep today."
Amanda opened her mouth.
Then closed it again.
She had no idea how to respond.
Still, years of customer service took over.
"I... I'll do my best."
"You don't have to worry about the bill," Luke said. "Just help them find whatever they like."
Amanda nodded.
That was all she needed to hear.
Budget clearly wasn't an issue.
She immediately called the rest of the staff.
Within moments, several assistants arrived carrying catalogues and measuring equipment as the selection process officially began.
Watching them guide the women toward different sections of the boutique, Luke quietly stepped aside and pulled out his phone.
He called Fury.
---
At the same time, Fury was inside a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility reviewing reports when his phone lit up.
The caller ID displayed Luke's name.
He answered.
"Hey, Fury."
Fury frowned.
"...Hey."
He wasn't sure why Luke was calling.
"Tell me something," Luke said. "Do you know anything about arranging weddings?"
Fury's eye twitched.
He was over fifty years old.
Single.
Had spent most of his life running intelligence agencies.
Out of everyone Luke could have asked, he had somehow chosen him.
"I don't know the first thing about weddings," Fury replied flatly.
"Then send me someone who does," Luke said. "I need the best wedding planner you can find. Someone capable of organizing a wedding on a massive scale."
Fury frowned.
"Do I look like a wedding agency?"
Luke didn't sound the least bit apologetic.
"After everything I've done for you, you can't even help me with this? Fine. The next time a world-ending crisis shows up, I'll sit back and watch while you deal with it."
Fury fell silent.
Luke was probably bluffing.
Unfortunately...
There was enough uncertainty that he couldn't ignore it.
He let out a weary sigh.
"Give me a moment."
Without waiting for a response, he ended the call.
The moment the line disconnected, Fury contacted Maria Hill.
"Hill."
"Yes, Director?"
"Drop whatever you're doing."
Maria immediately became serious.
"What happened?"
"I need you to find the best wedding planner on the planet."
Silence.
After several seconds, Maria finally spoke.
"...I'm sorry, did I hear that correctly?"
"You heard me."
Fury pinched the bridge of his nose.
"And make it fast."
*****
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