I’ll Fight (Off The Asshole)
Toni’s already been working at the club for a couple of months when she gets into the argument with Howard (never dad, she’s never thought of him in that familiar term). She had told Stone just a day prior that she’d rather squish him like the bug he is underneath her heel, before letting him ever paw at her, and she knew that some kind of consequence was on its way.
“How dare you!” Was the first thing out of his mouth. She’d rolled her eyes as she’d dropped the rag and spray bottle off with Maria at the front, mumbling that’d she’d be taking her 15 a little early. Maria raised her brow at Howard’s back, and looked back at Toni, a question in her glance. Toni just smiled and walked outside, heading to the car that Jarvis was standing next to.
“Young Miss, you look well. Your first job is entertaining you, I trust?”
She smiled at the older gentleman who she’d always, secretly, wished could have been her father. “You know it, J! It’s entertaining as hell and the tips make it all worth it.”
“Well,” snarled Howard from behind her, “I’m glad the tips are worth it because if you don’t accept Stone’s offer then that’s the only way you’re going to eat. I refuse to support such an obstinate child who won’t listen to her father!”
She sighed as she turned around and gave Howard a look. While he’d never touched her (and would he have been the same if she’d been born a boy?) the amount of verbal and emotional abuse had been staggering while she’d been growing up. She’d learned how to deal with him while he was in such a mood, and so the only response she gave was a smirk and a raised brow. She waited a few moments and like she’d guessed he’d cracked almost immediately and yelled at her so loud and strongly that his hands clenched at his sides and his face turned purple. She wondered if he was even breathing as he yelled something about she’d never finish her schooling and just end up whoring around when he stopped funding her lavish lifestyle (which, rude. She didn’t spend lavishly unless it was spent on her Platypus and he’d convinced her to get her own job because he said he didn’t like her spending the family money on him, which ended up being funny anyway because after he learned she’d gotten a job at the strip joint he’d about had an aneurysm and couldn’t convince her to find a different job. The pay was too good to give up.)
Rolling her eyes as his tirade seemed never endless she opened her mouth to respond some cutting quip back, but before she could get a word out she heard a male voice yell out a “Hey! Leave her alone!”
The three turned their heads to the side and saw a young man, barely an inch or two taller than Toni’s 5’1”, all thin and gangly limbs almost flying to stand in front of Toni. His blue eyes stared up at Howard in firm defiance and Toni just stared at the back of his blond head in absolute bafflement. Her eyes glanced back up to Howard’s and his own went from wide eyed confusion to narrow suspicion as he stared at the man. “You,” he growled in a voice so low it was almost a whisper, but Toni could clearly hear it, “have no business here. Leave before I make you regret it.”
Toni’s temper flared at that statement, but before she could respond (God, for being such a small dude this guy was fast with his mouth) the young man put his fists up and snarled out, “Try me! I’ll never go down without a fight!” And how cute, he thought Howard was going get physical. She almost laughed at Howard as his face split into an ugly frown. His eyes look back at Toni’s and then he turned back to Jarvis and nodded his head towards the car.
As he started walking to the car while Jarvis opened the back door for him he said, “Just remember Toni, if you say no to Tiberius then your life will change. I won’t be able to kick you out of school only because of how the media would sympathize with such a brat, but I can at least make your life difficult in other ways. Don’t forget who pays every single one of your bills.” And with nary a glance back he got in and Jarvis shut the door behind him.
Toni and Jarvis stared at each other for a moment before Jarvis made the ASL sign for I love you and Tony reciprocated. They gave each other a small smile and then he walked to the driver’s side and Toni watched the car drive off, a heavy taste of disgust aimed at Howard in her mouth.
A few moments after the car had disappeared around the corner she turned to the man and quirked her eyebrow up with a smirk on her face. “So who’s my knight in shining armor? I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name when you threatened to fight my father, which believe me would’ve been entertaining as hell and I would’ve totally rooted for you by the way.”
His face flushed as he opened his mouth. “I didn’t realize he was your father.” Then his eyes and mouth set in a determined look. “But he still was yelling at you in the middle of the street and he looked like he was gonna get physical or hurt you in some way! No one should do something like that, it isn’t right!”
She gave him a media dubbed smile, teeth bright and stony as she said “Well, father knows best as Mother Gothel would’ve said.” At his confused look she snorted out a laugh. “Never mind. Disney reference. Anyway, thanks for standing up for me. I’m not sure if you can really do anything against him but it’s sweet that you tried. I gotta get back to work though, it’s probably been more than 15 minutes and Maria’s gonna put a knife through my head if I take any longer.” At his worried look she put a hand on his shoulder and smiled (a real one this time, he was nice enough to deserve one) and said, “I’m just joking. She’s probably worried about what happened.”
He nodded. “If she saw any of that then I’m sure she is. I’ll walk you inside.” She shrugged and turned around to walk in the front door, the young man following her.
As soon as she opened the door Maria just about jumped on her. “Are you ok? What happened? Do I need to call the cops?” She gave the blond man a side eye, and then whispered to Toni, “Do I need to call the cops twice?”
Toni laughed and said, “I’m fine, Maria, thanks. Howard just spouted some shit about not paying for my way anymore, which whatever because it’s not like I’ve been using his money for much anyway.” (Which was mostly true, but she’d make do. She always did.) “But anyway, this here is my knight in shining armor. He got rid of the big bad dragon for me.” She looked at the man and then squinted her eyes. “You still never told me your name.”
He raised his chin and stood at attention as if she was some recruiting officer. “Steve Rogers, ma’am. It’s nice to meet you.”
She raised her right brow. “Easy there, soldier. You’re gonna make people think I’m respectful, which, no, I work here.”
Maria smacked her lightly on the shoulder. “Don’t be insulting to your coworkers. You’re just jealous that you don’t make as much money. And be polite to him, if Steve,” here she nodded at said man, “really did help you then you owe him. Serve him some dinner, it’ll come out of your pay.”
Steve looked surprised. “No, ma’am. I can pay. I wouldn’t want to take it for free, I just wanted to help. I don’t expect anything in return.”
Maria ignored him and shoved Toni into the kitchen, then turned and almost had to drag Steve to a table. “Just wait here for Toni, she’ll be right back with something delicious. And if you try to pay I’ll remember.” She glared at him and then smiled, turning around to head back to the bar.
Steve sat there awkwardly, wondering if Bucky was running around the streets looking for him. His phone had gotten smashed in a fight just a few days ago and he hadn’t been able to get a new one yet, so he couldn’t even call or text Bucky to let him know what happened. He glanced up at the the front where a lady was dancing around a pole, smiling seductively at the group of men surrounding the table. He quickly averted his eyes, feeling uncomfortable at the bikini that barely covered the redhead.
He sat there for about ten minutes, not looking up from the table, when a plate was sat in front of him. He glanced up and sighed in relief when he saw it was only Toni. She was dressed in a pair of shorts and a tank top so it was easier for him to look. She grinned down at him as she realized what he was thinking.
“Don’t worry, a lot of baby’s always feel awkward the first few times they come in.” She nudged her head towards the front, “Natasha’s good at bringing out the animal though, if you wanna try.” She laughed as his face immediately turned bright red.
“I’m not a baby, I’m already 18,” he grumbled out after he’d calmed down, glaring up at her through his eyelashes. (And wasn’t that just adorable, he looked like a sulky puppy.) She bent over on the table, folding her arms and leaning on her elbows as she grinned brightly at him.
“And I’m 21 so you’re a baby. I’ve decided and you have no choice.”
He just stared at her, eyes wide, and she watched as his cheeks slowly got red. She tilted her head questioningly, wondering what made him blush this time.
“Toni!” She jerked her head up to look behind her at Maria. “Time to get back to work! You can continue flirting on your own time!”
She laughed as she stood up. “Time for me to work, Captain Cutie. Anytime you’re around here just ask for me and they’ll give you better service than the usual non-caring attitude. Foods on the house, I gotta pay you back and you’re not allowed to say no. Later.” She grinned as she gave him the peace sign, then turned around and headed back to the kitchen.
Steve watched her go, eyes straining to watch the last of her walk back in through the kitchen doors. After a few moments he looked back at the plate of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and sautéed veggies. It really did smell good, and he finally realized how hungry he was. He almost inhaled the plate and then subtly put some cash under the plate, grinning to himself as he walked to the door. He expected she’d be exasperated at finding it.
He saw Maria as he walked past the bar and slowed down, hesitatingly looking at her. She noticed him and grinned as she walked over.
“She’s off Sundays and Mondays, and always works the nights. She has classes in the mornings a few times a week so she usually leaves by 1.” He gaped as she so readily gave out Toni’s schedule.
“Are you sure it’s ok to tell me her schedule?” He sounded unsure even to his own ears.
“I’m good at reading people. You’re a nice guy, I can tell, even if you’re a bit hotheaded. My guess is you have a best friend who normally stops you before you get too crazy but since he wasn’t here tonight you were able to get nuts. At least, you would have if Toni hadn’t been here to calm you down.”
Steve’s face felt hot as she rattled off his personality to him, and it fit him to a T. “Bucky was busy and couldn’t leave work so I was walking home by myself,” he mumbled. She laughed as she started making a drink for someone else.
“Come visit. She seems taken with you, and I’d guess you feel the same, besides,” here she gestured towards the door where a tall, slender man in a leather jacket, and then also gestured to the redhead on the stage, “both Clint and Tasha will castrate you if they feel like they need to. And that’s only after I shoot you with my gun.” She smiled as she brought her hand up to her face while holding her elbow with her other hand. Both the pose and the smile felt extremely intimating to Steve. “Fury would stalk you in ways you wouldn’t even know and make you regret it without even telling you. Believe me, we like our little girl, and with the kind of blood family she has we adopted her into ours. You don’t need to worry about us thinking you might do something.”
Steve nodded, “She’s nice. I’d like to come see her again.”
Maria smiled brightly. “Good! Maybe she’ll eventually tell you her school schedule!”
“What school does she go to? I just started MassArt this year.”
Maria looked surprised. “Huh. What a coincidence.” Then she smiled. “You gotta ask her. Try to keep your eyes peeled, you might be surprised.”
Then she turned away to get back to work in an obvious dismissal and Steve left feeling confused as ever.
He was walking down the street, lost in thought, as a large hand landed on his shoulder. He jumped and looked behind him, seeing a worried Bucky. “Hey man, I tried calling your name but you didn’t answer. You ok?”
Steve stared at him for a moment before he started walking down the street again, a dopey smile on his face. “Yeah, I’m good.”
Bucky looked confused. “What happened?”
“I met a beautiful girl. That’s all.”