The Worst Impression
Tony didn't know exactly how he ended up here. Sure, he remembered Jarvis giving up on letting him take a break in his own time and locking him out of his computer. Oh, he put up a token protest and threatened to donate him to a community college, but they both knew he was bluffing.
He'd be lost without Jarvis and they both knew it.
To be honest, he more proud of the growth of the AI than irritated at what he had done. He was just trying to make sure that Tony looked after himself after all.
But somehow, it had led to finding himself in the kitchen, holding hands with someone who was not his normal cleaner.
It wasn't awful, he concluded just before the hand was pulled out of his own. He even found himself feeling bereft once it registered that the hand was no longer in his grasp, and his hand clenched on a reflex that had been too slow to stop the removal, all without his conscious movement.
He raised an brow at his action. What had that been about? For that matter, what was up with the disappointment he was feeling? He didn't know this man, so what could possibly be causing the disappointment he felt when he drew away. Was he really so touch starved that a single moment of human decency made him get attached to a random stranger?
The man in front of him had squeaked some sort of response to the situation, but Tony waved it away.
'So, you gonna be alright? Do you need me to call someone for you?' He asked, trying to force the feelings away. He'd tried his whole life to keep people at arms length. It was necessary, being who he was, but now that he had somehow found his way into the Hero business, he had let those walls down. That had always been his problem though. It hurt, to let people in, and it hurt when they inevitably let you down. He felt too much, and it hurt.
Apparently his heart hadn't gotten the memo though, because here he was, watching this guy in the aftermath of a panic attack and feeling so much concern. He didn't even know this man, he couldn't help but think with some exasperation at himself.
'What? Oh! No! I'm alright, besides, I still have so much work to get done. I've only been here for- hang on,' the man finally responded. He pulled out his phone to check the time and Tony almost fainted.
'Dear God, tell me that is not your phone! This has to be a practical joke!' Tony stated bluntly. He knew he was being dramatic, but he was Tony Stark dammit. He was allowed to be dramatic in his own damn tower.
The phone that now rested in this man's hand had to be the biggest joke he had ever seen.
'That's a dinosaur. Why do you have one of the last remaining relics of the Mesozoic era, just casually being carried around in your pocket?!' He exclaimed in horror. The man had honest to God pulled out a Nokia 3310 and was earnestly checking the time on it, like it wasn't an affront to everything Tony stood for.
'Umm, what? Oh, yeah, electronics don't really work around me all that well,' he explained, like that did anything other than open up so many new questions.
Tony felt his brain go into over drive. Finally, something new and exciting, and it had just walked itself into his tower and handed itself to him on a silver platter.
'What? Electronics don't work around you? That's not physically possible. You know you're standing in one of the most advanced technologically based buildings in the world right? There's no way that could be true. If it was, then there should be some sort of sign of it in my tech. Jarvis at least would have picked something up by now. Actually, that's a good point. J, buddy, you there?' He rambled as he walked around the other man in delight.
'Yes Sir, and might I just say that this does not look like taking a break.' Came the snarky response he had come to expect.
It made him smile. His AI really had come a long way over the years.
'Let's take some baseline readings-' He started, only to be cut off by the other man.
'Uh, that's really not a good idea if you value your tech,' he called to Tony. His voice sounded panicked, Tony realised after a moment.
'Why not?'
'Um,' he looked uncomfortable for a moment before seemingly steeling himself, 'Anything electronic that actively interacts with me tends to blow up.'
Tony took in the slight shake of his head that he gave as he spoke, and the way his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Every part of Tony longed to test this out. Jarvis had backup servers, and enough autonomy to be able to protect himself. If he did this and it really did blow up, or burn out his electronics on this floor, there was still the rest of the tower, not to mention that Jarvis was incorporated into most of his tech, that he would just be able to access him somewhere else. The thing that was stopping him, was the look on the man's face. Resignation.
'What was your name again? I must've missed it, and I've been calling you "the man" in my head for too long,' Tony deflected deftly. He'd need to think about this for a moment.
The man had been holding his breath apparently, as it forced it's way out of him after that question in a rush of air. He seemed to sag at the silent agreement not to do anything, and Tony started to feel bad.
'Heilyn. Heilyn Kalua. It's nice to meet you.' He held out a hand once again, but this time Tony took it on autopilot. He was always meeting new people, so handshakes were something he could do in his sleep.
Well, that's a weird thought, he thought as he pictured shaking someone's hand while being fast asleep.
He shook himself out of that particular thought and introduced himself.
'Tony Stark, as you obviously already knew, but it's good to meet you too.'
They were silent for a moment after that, both staring at their hands once again connected. That seemed to keep happening to them, Tony absently registered.
'So,' Tony started as he gently pulled his hand away from the handshake that had veered dangerously into hand holding territory, 'electronics blowing up around you. How long has that been happening to you?'
Heilyn moved back to his cleaning cart before answering, and Tony thought for a moment that maybe he just wouldn't. It wasn't the first time that he had been blown off, and it definitely wouldn't be the last.
It seemed like no one had any time for him these days.
'For as long as I can remember. It caused quite a bit of trouble at first, but you get used to it I guess. It just means that none of my friends give me their phone if they want to show me something. Well, and I guess, also no fancy smart phone, but it's not the worst thing in the world,' he commented lightly as he got to work wiping down the counter.
Tony couldn't help but admire the movements. Heilyn was obviously used to the work. He was efficient, no movement wasted.
Tony certainly didn't mind that the shirt he was wearing was short sleeved and allowed him to take in the muscled arms working in front of him. He had never let public opinion or such a silly thing as labels sway him before, so it did nothing to his picture of himself as he admired Heilyn's form in front of him.
'My God, kill me now!' He started dramatically. 'I would die if I couldn't access my technology!'
That startled a laugh out of the man, and Tony saw a flash of pure gold as he looked up from the counter. He hadn't realised just how odd that colour was before, but no matter how strange it was to see golden eye's, he couldn't help but think that it suited the man.