Luke lazily looked through another batch of wedding dress designs on the tablet before finally setting it aside and leaning back in his chair.
He'd spent the last two days doing nothing but looking at dresses. At this point he felt like he could recognize different styles and fabrics better than some professional designers.
"I should have brought Tony with me," he muttered. "At least then he would have been involved in this mess as well."
Orange sparks crackled in the air beside him. A circular portal slowly formed, and a head cautiously poked out from the other side.
Luke glanced over and recognized the visitor immediately. "Chavez." He looked her up and down.
"It seems your training is going well."
The moment America saw him her eyes went watery. She stepped through the portal, rushed straight at him, and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him furiously.
"Why the heck did you throw me to that bald devil? Do you know how hard these last three days have been for me?"
Luke remained completely calm despite the shaking. "Well, you're alive." He nodded toward the still-active portal behind her.
"You also opened that on your own. That means she's taking good care of you."
America's eye twitched. "That is not what I call taking good care of someone."
Only then did she look around properly and realize they weren't at Luke's house — they were inside a luxurious bridal boutique filled with countless dresses, designers, assistants, and customers.
"Why are you in a bridal boutique?"
Luke leaned back with a tired expression. "Wedding shopping."
Before she could ask anything else, more orange sparks flared and a second portal opened nearby. The Ancient One stepped through calmly, hands behind her back, and looked at America. "So this is where you disappeared to."
America stiffened, slowly turning around with a forced smile. "Master... I was just taking a short break."
The Ancient One studied her for a moment before shifting her gaze to Luke. "You're interrupting her training."
He smiled. "She came here by herself."
"Is that true?"
America shook her head so hard it nearly blurred. "No." She pointed at Luke. "He brought me here."
He simply smiled. The smile alone made her uneasy. Without another word he gently pushed her forward.
America dug her heels into the floor, resisting. "No. I don't want to go back."
He pushed again, ignoring her protests, steering her toward the Ancient One. She turned with pleading eyes, hoping he'd change his mind. He only waved his hand. "Have a good training."
"You're heartless."
The Ancient One smiled faintly, placing a hand on America's shoulder. "It seems your break is over."
A moment later both of them stepped back through the portal, her unwilling protests echoing through the boutique until it closed completely.
Luke watched it disappear before leaning back into his chair. "Finally." He reached for another tablet, this one full of wedding venue designs. "Now... where were we?"
Before he could get far, he noticed a man in a formal suit standing nearby, looking around the boutique as if searching for someone. The moment the man spotted him, he walked over.
"Hello. My name is Jake," he said, extending his hand. "I'm the wedding planner."
Luke shook it. "Oh, you're that guy."
"I take it Director Fury already informed you?"
"Yeah. So Fury explained everything?"
"He gave me a general overview of the wedding and asked me to handle all the planning."
Luke nodded, satisfied. "Good. Then let's start with the venue."
Jake opened a tablet and brought up several prepared locations. "I've already shortlisted a number of venues I believe would be suitable. Since this is such a unique wedding, I think a private island would be the most appropriate choice. It offers privacy, enough space for security, accommodation for guests, and complete freedom with decorations and scheduling."
Luke quietly scrolled through the photographs. Beaches with white sand. Cliffs overlooking the ocean. A few with luxurious resorts already built. After several minutes he stopped on one.
"This one."
Jake looked at the selection. Unlike the others it wasn't the largest or most luxurious — simple, just a beautiful coastline, open green fields, and enough space to build a custom venue without feeling overcrowded. "May I ask why you chose this one?"
Luke handed the tablet back. "It looks peaceful." He glanced toward the nine women, still deep in conversation about dresses.
"My wedding isn't going to have thousands of guests. Most of the people attending will be friends and family. There isn't any need to book the biggest or most expensive venue."
Jake nodded. "Then I'll begin making arrangements for this island."
Luke smiled faintly. "Good. At least one decision has finally been made."
He then looked at Jake.
"So, about the compensation. How much do you want?" Luke asked.
Jake shook his head without the slightest hesitation.
"There's no need for compensation," he said with a smile.
"For someone in my profession, being entrusted with organizing a wedding like this is an honor in itself."
"I've planned weddings for celebrities, billionaires, and politicians, but none of that compares to arranging the wedding of the most powerful being on Earth. What more could I ask for? My name alone will go down in history because of it."
*****
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