Introducing Mr. Stark
"Why am I going with you again?" Amy asked Nat as they sat in her private plane on the way to Malibu, California.
"Because you need a vacation. Some time at the beach, sun-tanning, oggling cute lifequards and surfers. I'm honestly jealous, the red-head Russian answered, posting pictures on the internet.
"Really? Lingerie?"
"It's tasteful. Natalie Rushman modeled in Japan."
"As long I'm not involved in those pics. I remember that trip. That's when we drank Saki to get through that mission."
"Remember Budapest."
Amy grinned. "Yeah...That trip was fun."
Once they landed, Amy and Nat parted ways. Nat going to pose as a notary and infiltrate her way into Stark Enterprises. Amy went to the five-star hotel and resort. She stood at the suitcase, pulling out a fresh pair of clothes. She pulled on her two-piece suit, shorts, and a tank top, slipping her feet into her flip-flops. Maybe she needed a vacation. Walking out, she wandered through the streets, snapping pics here and there before she sat outside a bakery, sipping a peach mango smoothie and enjoying a giant muffin. Her phone dinged, causing her to smile.
BW: All done with business. Think I impressed them. Have some free time. Beach?
AMES: YEP! Meet you there.
Opening up another text, she smiled and rolled her eyes.
PHIL: Had to drop the mutt off at Barton's. Got called into a case in New Mexico. Wish me luck!
AMES: Make sure you pack sunscreen for your pasty ass.
PHIL: Same to you!
AMES: Haha.
Opening her phone, she saw another text message, this time from Clint.
HAWK: Did Coulson tell you I'm watching your beast?
AMES: Yeah. Take care of my baby.
HAWK: I will. Taking him to see L and the kids. He can run around on the farm and have a grand old time.
AMES: Uh-huh. Just don't lose him.
HAWK: THAT WAS ONE TIME! AND I FOUND COOP!
AMES: Just take care of him. I'll see you when we get back.
Amy locked her phone, sticking it in her back pocket as she stood up. Smiling, she headed threw her trash away and headed towards the street to hail a taxi when she ran into somebody. "Mother fucker!" she cursed as her smoothie went flying, splattering on the person she bumped into.
"You kiss your mother with that mouth?" a wise-cracking voice asked. "These shoes cost me a fortune."
"And I apologize-" Amy started to say, looking up to see mirrored sunglasses. "Oh, it's you."
Tony raised an eyebrow at the nonchalance response to his presence. Usually he had women fawning over his presence. But this girl was different. Also, she seemed familiar. "Do I know you from somewhere?"
Amy shrugged. "No. But I do know who you are. You're Tony Stark."
Tony grinned, but it slowly fell as the woman's still unfazed face. "You don't seemed impressed."
"You're kinda overrated."
"Overratted. Honey, I own a multi-million corporation. I invent things of the future. I'm Iron Man!"
Amy rolled her eyes. "First thing, my name isn't 'Honey'. I'm not one of those bimbo's you tote around. Second, your father invented Stark Enterprises, back when it was Stark Industries. Third, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs also invents things for the future. And fourth...You're not the first superhero. Ever heard of Captain America?"
Tony soured. "Of course I have. So, what is your name?"
"Amelia. Amelia Coulson," Amy lied, holding out her hand.
"Amelia Coulson. Where are you from, Amelia Coulson?"
"New York. I'm sorry about your shoes."
"Don't be...Maybe you can make it up to me."
"By what?"
"Being me one."
"You just said that you own a multi-million company. You can buy your own damn smoothie."
"But it tastes better when somebody else gets it for me," Tony smirked.
"Whatever," Amy sighed, shooting a quick text to Nat that she's delayed and will be late to their beach date. Ordering herself a new smoothie as well as Tony one, she sat down at the table she previous occupied, scowling as Tony sat across from her.
"So, what do you do?" Tony asked.
"I'm a museum curator at the Natural History museum in DC."
"Impressive," Tony nodded.
"Thank you. I've always liked history." Considering that I've lived through most of it.
"I'm not one for history. I like things in the future. How old are you?"
"Twenty-five. Way too long for you. You're old enough to be my father." Techically, I'm old enough to your great-great-great something grandmother.
Tony winched, looking wounded. "You have quite a mouth on you."
"So?"
Tony smirked. "I like it. Wanna do something fun?"
"Like what?"
"I have this car race in France. Be my date."
"Didn't we already establish that I'm too young for you?"
"Then come with me as a friend."
"Don't you have friends?"
"I have a friend. And I have a Pepper."
Amy didn't miss the slight and fond smile as Tony said her name. "So take your friend with you to the race. And take your Pepper."
"Rhoadie isn't pretty enough to look at. Come on...I have a private jet. Free booze, flying in luxary, spending the time in a nice hotel. Live a little before you go back to New York."
"I'll think about it," Amy told him, getting up.
Tony wrote his number down on a napkin, sliding it towards her. "If you're interested, text me. Travel arrangements will be made."
"You spent time with Tony?" Natasha asked as the lounged in the hotel's hot tub. Both women had glasses of wine in their hands.
"Yeah. I dropped my smoothie on his shoe. It's the second time I bumped into him."
"How can a super-secret spy that's in her 70s be so clumsy and still be able to take me, Fury, and Clint down."
"It's a talent," Amy grinned. "But seriously....It was like being around Howard."
"Ames...Don't punch me, but I thought you wanted to move forward and instead of in the past."
"I do...I am. But being around Tony, it reminded me of the good ole days with Howard, and Peggy, and Steve, and Bucky...And I miss that."
Natasha nodded, touching her friend's shoulder as her eyes got misty and she touched her locket she wore. It was once a Valentine's gift from Bucky and Steve after the war began. One side held Steve's picture after he transformed, and the other side was Bucky. Her two boys, always with her, and close to her heart.
"It's getting close to the anniversary, right? When Bucky died."
"Yeah," Amy responded, her voice cracking with unshed emotion. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she wiped her eyes as a few tears fell. "I feel sad, and I do because I miss him every single day of every single year. But then I feel quilty because there's a part of me that says it's better this way. It would be hard to watch Steve and Bucky grow old and die while I stay like this. It was hard when Howard got older. And it's gutwrenching to see Peggy as she is."
"How is Peggy doing?" Nat asked, knowing that Amy visited her every weekend.
"I don't know. I talked to Sharon and she said that Peggy was starting to have memory issues. That she probably has early stage Alzheimers? I mean...I noticed it every once in a while. She would ask about Steve or Bucky...Or even Howard. It sucks being me."
Nat thought quietly for a minute. "I think you should do it. I'm gonna have my hands tied with keeping tabs on Tony, trying to keep your company from crumbling, and having Fury up my ass. Maybe you can get some closure."
Amy nodded, sinking deeper into the hot and bubbling water. Later that night, Amy sat out on the balcony while Nat was sleeping. Dialing Tony's number, she waited for him to answer. "Hello?"
"Tony?...It's Amelia? The girl from the bakery?"
"Ah...Amelia the museum curator."
"Yeah. You can call me Amy. I'll go to France with you...ONLY as a friend, got it?"
"Got it...We'll pick up up at three. What hotel are you staying at?" Amy gave him the address and name. "Okay...We'll see you soon."
Amy hung up, and sighed deeply. Looking up at the night sky, she looked up at the stars. "Heavens help me, Howard. He's worst than you ever were."