Chemical Poison

Walking by Howard side, her elbow linked with his was like a fever dream. It was simple, it was exhilarating and she had no idea why she banished the thought before. It was nice, too nice. Being able to idly stare around the construction, light fixtures being tested and performances practiced. This was nice.

Of course, nice came at the price of wearing Howard's brown blazer to hide the mark he left on her neck. Nice came at the price of ruining her entire outfit. She wasn't a big fan.

Howard tapped her hand while they walked around, stopping every few minutes to speak to someone new. Discussing if the set up will be ready by five for the doors to open, and eight for his own opening night presentation. Anneliese wasn't sure how she managed to get herself here, but she was more than happy to walk across grass in heels, slumping against Howard when the cement was slightly too slippery to walk across due to polish. 

This was nice.

Arriving at the main stage, one that Howard would be presenting his not-so-secret master piece to the public, Anneliese's nose crinkled.

"They didn't fix the green."

His whisper was quiet, silent - for Anneliese's ears only. His breath warm against her cheek as Howard leaned in closer to her face, a grin threatening his face. "The green looks fine."

"It's disgusting," Anneliese replied, her mouth turning sour as she stared at the four panels coloured in green. She hated green.

He was suddenly all she could see, Howard moving to be completely in front of Anneliese, his eyes twinkling dangerous. "You're going to love the outfit I choose for you."

"Absolutely not!", Anneliese cried in the make-shift office from before, her hands in the air in frustration. Swiftly turning to see Howard reading paper work, he didn't seem at all interested in the tantrum Anneliese was throwing - or soon to be throwing.

He raised his eyes from the documents and stared at her. Especially when she continued to huff louder and louder each second. He regarded her with painful curiosity for almost a full three minutes and Anneliese felt like she was being evaluated by his blasted terrible taste of fashion. Potentially scanning through his personal system within his mind. What was he looking for? Maybe a new taste of fashion, Anneliese thought bitterly.

She didn't break his gaze, as if by doing so will change his opinion on the monstrous outfit he had decided on, ready to challenge him if he tried pulling rank. She would resign over the clothing that was staring at her, tugging at her heartstrings until she was compulse to just simply die.

He sighed, placing down his documents and moved up the reading glasses he had placed on. The damn reading glasses.

"The dress is fine-", He begun.

Her eyes were probably bulging, "Fine?", she screamed. She stormed over to Howard, her heels long forgotten and the soft tip-tip-tip made her approach all the less intimidating. "Fine?! This dress is by far, the most horrid green I've ever seen! And don't get be started on the length, I'm not some whore to be put on show."

The door opened. Alexander.

"Who is the whore?", He asked as he took a seat next to Howard. Anneliese knew his eyes landed on the dress as a cackle left his lips, "You're trying to get Ana to wear that? Good luck."

Throwing her hands in his direction, leaving the worlds unsaid: At least Alexander gets it. Howard stared her down, and even as he sat lowered than her, he was all the more intimidating. Crazy so. She felt incompletely small in front of him, and Anneliese didn't know when and how she allowed herself to be subjected to this.

But this felt normal, at ease. A sensation of normality. Even if it was Howard trying to push her into wearing the shortest dress she had ever seen.

"Just try it on," He groaned, "if you still don't like it, you can wear the hot pink mess you're currently wearing.

Jaw slacking, Anneliese lost it.

"Pink mess?!", she protested or perhaps screamed, "You boys wake up and decide what suit you're wearing based on what underwear you chose for the day! This so called pink mess is a better example of fashion than that ugly blue shirt you're wearing right now."

Maybe, possibly, she missed the mark with that comment.

An eyebrow quirked and Anneliese knew she wasn't going to like the answer.

"I'm certain you weren't saying that last night."

Howard. Fucking. Stark.

Too enraged to be embarrassed, Anneliese stormed off towards the dress, muttering a series of insults. Her eyes were seeing red and the green dress no longer looked green, it was all red. And she hated it all the same. Picking it up and heading towards the bathroom, she stumbled as her hands grazed the fabric.

She hated the man so much.

But this fabric was soft and this fabric felt familiar. 

It was velvet.

The gown, if it could even be called such a thing, had the potential to be something amazing. Anneliese had decided if she had her sewing kit, she would definitely add an extra few inches and bleach the dress until it was no longer its disgusting off-emerald green colour. Watching her clothes fall to the ground, Anneliese easily slipped on the dress. Past her legs, her stomach and eventually her arms. 

Staring at the small mirror in the bathroom, Anneliese still absolutely abhorred the dress in all its glory. It was by far, the worst decision Howard had ever made. Watching her fingers meticulously readjust the front to fit slightly better at her neckline, she slowly came to admire the way it hugged her figure.

For a modest woman, Anneliese thoroughly enjoyed form fitting clothes - much to her father's displeasure. It was the first speck of freedom she was able to wield when she first arrived in America, the chance to wear clothing that flattered her and not made her look like an overgrown white flower bud.

Her fingers traced the fabric, relishing in the touch, her smile instantly dropped when she felt her bare skin. The dress was still far too short for a respectable woman, and she was most definitely a respectable woman.

"How long does it take to put on a dress," Alexander moaned from the other side of the door. Clearly hearing a clink of drinks, she huffed one more time as she pulled her dress further down.

Any attempt to make it longer would be great.

Unlocking the door and stepping out of the bathroom, both men's eyes were automatically on her, glued to her legs. She was a pony on stage, and they were just mere children... who were about to get a nasty yelling.

"My eyes are up here," Anneliese stated firmly, still tugging at the fabric. 

Glaring first at Alexander, who had decided a cat whistle was the correct response before he met her eyes, winking. Scrunching her nose at him whilst mouthing 'I hate you', she could feel eyes on her. Raking over her body as she continued her glare at Alexander.

"Didn't know you had any legs, Lorenz," He cackled, "Consider me surprised."

"Oh fuck off, Grey," Howard replied, "She does have the power to fire you."

A fake gasp left Alexander's lips, Anneliese still not daring to meet Howard's gaze, watched as he threw his hands to his chest. "Who else will be her best friend if she fires me?", he begun, his voice slowly growing in smugness - alongside his grin, "Of course, best friend outside the bedroo-"

There was no need for any yelling, as a bottle being thrown at Alexander by Howard was enough for him to run away from the make-shift office cackling.

And then she met his eyes.

"I hate the dress," Anneliese said, wishing it sounded firmer than it was.

He raised an eyebrow as he scanned over her body, "Do you want to play a game?"

Groaning, she didn't reply.

"I'll say a statement and if you agree say fact and if you disagree say false."

Her fingers tugged at the bottom of her skirt.

"You like the fabric."

"Fact."

"You like the tightness."

"Fact"

"You like the colour."

"Howard it's disturbingly gross-"

"-Fact or False?"

"False."

"You like the cut."

"False. It's far too sho-"

"-You want me to go find you another dress, knowing it's going to be a yellow cotton - or wear your pink mess knowing you will stand out like a sore thumb."

She didn't reply straight away. Her answer obvious.

Howard was still staring at her, his eyes wondering every few moments to her legs before they met her eyes.

A deep sigh left his lips, "If you do not want to wear the dress out of what is proper and not, I won't force you. There is plenty of time for us to go find another dress... but i'll say it does look very beautiful on you. Throw some pearls and it will look a whole lot less hoe-like."

Mouth gaping, Howard cackled in his seat.

"Did you really think I was going to make you wear that?"

Anneliese wanted to throw something at him. And she did.

Shattered glass made its presence for the second time in a span of four minutes.

Night came and so did the crowds. Much like an excited child, Anneliese kept peaking through the curtains to see the crowd grow by the minute, countless men, woman and children in attendance. It was everything Anneliese had hoped for the expo and more. This was how Stark Industrials became more than just a business, this was how they sealed the name into the foundation of American society - and perhaps future in many years to come.

The noise from the crowd was nothing to the chaos behind the curtains. Screams of orders and suggestions filled the black and silver backstage as dancers, presenters and business men alike all scrambled to get ready and prepare for what is to be the first offical presentation at the Expo. Howard's masterpiece followed by numerous other approved acts and only an hour after, a panel of Stark Industrials with the public asking questions, not the press.

A first for Stark Industrials.

Boucing her fingers on top of the other, Anneliese was beyond excited but the nerves were slowly eating away at her lungs, slowly making it more difficult to maintain her usual steady heart rate. Dealing with press announcements with only a handful of press was a different matter to thousands of curious eyes staring at her. It was both terrifying and exhilarating; the tragedy and the comedy. 

It was a battle of what will win, a wreak of emotions or another mindless ego floundering around behind the curtains. The tacky green curtains.

She still hated the green panels.

But she didn't hate her dress as much.

No longer was it an off-emerald colour, but an actual emerald green, it was the same style - given a few extra inches to just above her knee. It was elegant and definitely not one of the flimsy dresses some of the woman performers had to wear. That being said-

"Who's agreed to the outfits", Anneliese asked, her arms crossed. Alexander was right next to her, taking his turn to peak past the curtain to see a crowd had already grown in front of the empty stage.

He retreated from his turn at staring at the crowd and the grin that appeared on his face could only be described as his usual 'You're-About-To-Regret-Saying-That' grin.

With a lick against his lips, Alexander whispered in her ear. "Howard lost a bet in the morning."

Sending him an incredulous glance and slowly stepping past him to take another look past the curtains. Alexander sniggered as he continued, knowing it was a smarter decision to provide more details than less.

Staring at all the somehow completed construction and the bright glowing lights, Anneliese couldn't believe that the company she had joined four years ago had became something this big. It was still rather big when she joined, but this was next level - unseen ever before.

"I said that you would not only come into work today, but instantly begin bossing around everyone. Howard disagreed, saying you were taking the day off."

Oh.

OH.

"And do you make bets over me often?", She asked as she turned away from the crowd and raise an eyebrow at Alexander.

Winking, he replied in a whisper, "Only when I know I can win. Nothing more than what we bet on Howard."

With her best grin, Anneliese removed herself from the curtain and linked arms with Alexander, "Want to make another bet?"

He groaned, "Knowing I am going to lose for the seventy-sixth time? For sure."

"How long do you think his prototype will remain in the air?"

She felt him lean into her ear and whisper, his breath hot but nothing like Howards. "Not even in a second, if that."

Moving her head away from his ear as she turned it to face him, her eyes remaining on his. She whispered back, "I have my bets that it will be at least ten seconds."

The two turned their hands to face the front as they heard the giggling of showgirls and applauds from business men as Howard entered the back stage. Dress in a crisp black suit with a white button-up underneath, a black bow tie and a red flower completed the look.

"What are you offering once you lose?", Anneliese quietly asked, her eyes never leaving Howard's suit.

She may prefer him in blue, but she would be a down straight liar if she said he didn't look unbelievably handsome. Not that she would tell him.

"So cocky-", Anneliese elbowed him roughly in his side, "Okay, fine. If I win, during the panel you need to play the dutiful housewife. Both through your response and act.

Her attention from Howard was taken away from a split second as her mouth gapped as she stared at Alexander. He was playing dirty, and so will she.

"And when I win. I expect you to inform the audience that your type is mothers, expecting mothers."

His mouth gaped in a similar fashion.

Howard had made his way over to the two of them, sending them both glances of curiosity and worry. He didn't need to speak, as Anneliese or Alexander wouldn't be giving him an answer. Turning her attention back to Howard, she noticed how his eyes lingered on her conjoint arm with Alexander.

Egos.

Patting Alexander's arm, she left his elbow to reconnect with Howard's. She couldn't fathom how Stark Industrials ran so well, when the majority of its leadership having ego's bigger than life - or perhaps this was just the personality of a wealthy white man. She wouldn't know, after all she was the enemy - a German.

Alexander was called over by Martian Lang, wanting to go over what merchandise could and couldn't be return. Leaving the two of them alone. Well, as alone as possible in their small space behind the curtain. It wasn't private in the slightest, in fact hundreds ran behind the scene and a flimsy piece of fabric only hid them from thousands more. Yet, it was private enough.

"The dress is beautiful", Howard said. Anneliese took note of his breathless voice and his eyes remaining on her face, specifically her lips.

"I prefer blue."

A grin appeared on Howard's lips, and she never knew why she hated physical touch so much in the past. It was comfort and it was home, it was the foundations to pillars formed in her heart; there was so much more in life when she could feel it all. If it was linking her arms with Howard or Alexander, or a hug that sung a million words.

Physical touch didn't seem so scary anymore. Perhaps, kissing him wouldn't feel so staged or an emotional override necessary for her to build the confidence to follow through with her desires. She knew there was countless more hurtles to cross before she could get to a place where physical touch was normal, not compromising her heart and shattering it into fragments as she exploded by the sense of belonging and security. And yet, she knew Howard would wait.

"We can begin this when you're ready," He whispered, "You know I love you right?"

Even when she couldn't bring herself to repeat it to him, to sing a line of I-Love-You's and declarations of affection. When all she could offer is a nod and a simple smile as he interlaced his fingers with hers, rubbing her thumb slightly. Patiently allowing time to pass until Anneliese was ready to commit to anything more or anything less.

Howard always waited for her.