Sneak Peak
"I've spent a thousand nights
Lost in your emerald eyes
Lost in a place where I know you can see my soul
Make me lose track of time
You and your emerald eyes
Finally found a place that I can call my home"
~Anson Seabra, "Emerald Eyes"
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Tony sighed as he looked around the ballroom. He felt restless, tapping his fingers on the tablecloth that was probably worth more than a tablecloth should be. He saw his father send him a glare from across the room, and straightened his back out of habit. That's when he saw a pair of striking green eyes watching him from a few feet behind his father. He smiled at her, and soon she was making her way over to him. He felt a bit guilty as he watched her slim form cross the room. He never liked coming to these things and everyone expecting he was going to attach himself to some hot girl and leave with her.
In their defense, he always did, but only to get away from the gala. He usually dropped the girl off along the way, using his reputation as a way to escape the stuffy atmosphere around him.
"You look a little bored." the woman said, as she came to a stop in front of his chair. He let out a laugh as he looked up at her, again noticing her striking eyes. He shrugged, before standing and offering her the chair next to him.
"Yeah, this isn't my favorite scene, if I'm being honest." Tony replied, waiting for her to sit before reclaiming his chair.
"But you're here anyway?" she asked, looking over at him with a small smile on her red lips, a question in her voice. He flashed her his best press smile.
"I just go where the old man tells me to go. I've found it's much easier that way." Tony replied, flagging the passing waiter and grabbing two water glasses, handing one to the woman. She took a sip, before setting the glass down on the table and started studying him with her eyes. He let her for a minute, before he coughed and turned more in her direction.
"See something you like?" he asked cockily. She raised an eyebrow at his tone before shaking her head. She reached over and grabbed the napkin under his glass and started folding it.
"I'm seeing a young man who doesn't seem like the type to do as Daddy says, and yet here he is. Care to explain why you're really here?" the woman asked, focus still on the napkin she was folding meticulously. Tony watched her for a moment, debating what to say next.
"How 'bout this. You give me your name, and I'll tell you why I'm here. It's only fair, you reading into my soul and all." Tony said, and she looked up at him with another small smile before she let out a melodious laugh. She nodded.
"I suppose that's fair." She hesitated a bit, as if wrestling with something. "Natasha." she said finally, her green eyes meeting his. He could see an emotion lingering in them he couldn't place, before she looked back down at the napkin. He felt himself smiling.
"Tony." he replied, and she let out a snort this time. Which he should have found repulsive and unladylike, but she seemed to make it sound elegant.
"I know." she replied, smirking in his direction. He felt a laugh leave his mouth without knowing, and he pointed at her with a teasing smile.
"Cheeky. I like it. Now, wanna tell me why this napkin is taking so much of your attention?" he asked, looking down at the now triangle shape in her hand. She shook her head, green eyes dancing.
"Nope. Deal's a deal. You tell me why you're here, and maybe I'll tell you about the napkin." she responded, sitting back in her chair as if ready for a story. He stared at her in awe for a moment, before nodding. He didn't know what it was about this girl, but she had a story, and he couldn't help but want to know every part of it. He settled back in his chair as well.
"Well, I'm home from the summer from MIT." he started, before she furrowed her eyebrows making him stop.
"You're not old enough to be in college." she stated, not rudely but as if just stating a fact. He nodded with a laugh.
"Yeah, I get that a lot. But you're right, I'm 16. I started college when I was 14, I'm about to go into my last year. My dad's idea, not mine. I guess when you're the son of a genius, you get some genius genes yourself." Tony said with a shrug, he never really like to brag about his brain to others, despite what others may think. Natasha nodded thoughtfully, before gesturing for him to continue.
"Anyway, yeah so summer break. I was meant to go home with my buddy Rhodey. But, last minute my Mom called, said I needed to be home. Dad's orders. Of course he would never take the time to tell me himself." he scoffed, before shaking his head and continuing. "But uh, apparently since I'm almost done with college, I need to start acting like the next in line for the company. Which means attending these stupid galas." Once he was finished, he wasn't quite sure what made him spill his issues to a complete stranger. He looked up to see her watching him with that same calculating gaze from before.
They held each other's gaze, her brilliant green and his soft brown, for a few more moments before she looked away.
"Okay now, hold your fingers like this." she said, her soft hand wrapping around his and maneuvering them until his index fingers were touching and his thumbs were in the air. He watched her hands before looking up in utter confusion.
"What?" he choked out, earning a small laugh from her.
"I told you I would explain the napkin. Now hold your hands still like that." she instructed, before she balanced the folded napkin. She eyed his fingers for a moment, before flicking the napkin, which then flew between his fingers and landed behind his hands. He looked from the napkin to her for a moment before she arranged her hands like his were.
"It's called paper football. Now it's your turn." she said nodding to the napkin that was still sitting in front of him. He looked at her for another moment, before shrugging.
"What the hell. Okay." he balanced the napkin like she did, before flicking it. His shoulders slumped when the napkin didn't even get get remotely close to her hands. She let out another laugh, her face lighting up. He shook his head at her before she gestured that it was her turn.
They played for another thirty minutes, and by the time Tony finally got the hang of it, he noticed the guests getting ready to leave. He slipped the makeshift football into his pocket before he stood up, offering Natasha a hand.
"Thanks, you made this whole thing...a lot more bearable." he said, giving her hand a squeeze before letting go. He stood still as she placed a kiss on his cheek, giving him a small smile before she walked away.
"Hey." he called, watching as she turned back around, "Will I see you at the next gala?" he asked, a small part of him hoping she would say yes. She looked at him for a moment, before giving him a flirty smirk.
"You just might." she replied, before disappearing into the crowd.
TONY AND NATASHA WILL RETURN