Chapter 1
It was only the second hour of the party, and Tony had already broken two of Pepper's three rules: Don't drink too much. Stay respectful to the authorities. Don't fuck anyone. This is for PR Tony, you need to convince them that the Avengers are not just a bunch of irresponsible assholes with powers.
In his defence, he'd been strict about not wanting to come at all. She'd told him it would be a good thing for Tony Stark to show up in public once in a while, not just with his face behind the iron mask. Unfortunately, Fury had agreed so here he was, feeling guilty and disassociated from the crowd.
The music was pretentious, loud enough to dance to but quiet enough that people could flirt and make business connections without shouting. This was exactly the reason he invited people to his parties, not the other way around. Nothing interesting – and by interesting he meant scandalous – had happened yet, and he was thoroughly bored.
He should've been at his workshop, not here, surrounded by all these people who only made him want to pour more alcohol down his throat. Formulas and theories were running through his mind – they'd been able to stop the Sovereign attack last time by using Mjolnir as an energy source for Tony's invention, but the whole thing had blown up after a moment leaving only Mjolnir in one piece. If they wanted to get rid of the Sovereign once and for all he needed to think up something, and quick. This party was the last place where he wanted to be.
Women were eyeing him from around the room, some with flirty interest, others with mild disapproval. He wasn't even sure when the two barbie-ish girls had appeared under his arms. They were way too young, closer to Darcy's age than his. There had been a time when he would've gladly taken them upstairs, but now just the thought made him feel like a dirty old man.
"Do you ever wear the suit in the bedroom?" one of the girls asked.
"He couldn't get anything done with the suit on," the other girl answered.
"I could fight villains like the Iron Man is supposed to", he said and slipped out from between them. "Which, I hope, you were talking about, dear."
He left the girls behind and made his way to the nearest waiter who was holding a cocktail tray. He snached a glass and drowned it in one go, then placed it on another tray. As he sat down at the bar he noticed a woman sitting next to him. She lifted her gaze from her empty glass, and her eyes seemed to glimmer mischievously in the dimmed lighting. She grinned slowly, clearly recognizing him, and that face awakened something inside him, a memory, but he couldn't quite place it. All he knew was that he suddenly felt strangely uncomfortable.
"Can I offer you something to drink?" he asked. The woman seemed amused, which bothered Tony. Usually women were either giving him the bedroom eyes or the death glare. Being laughed at was new, and he wasn't exactly pleased.
"Sure," she said. Her voice was deep and velvety. "A cognac, please."
"Two cognacs, please," Tony told the bartender and turned back to the woman. She had delicate, aristocratic facial features, pale skin and thick black hair that reached down to her waist. Her silky dress was green, and fit neatly against her curved figure. Tony couldn't not notice her rather revealing neckline.
"You do not surprise me, Tony Stark," she said and he snapped his eyes back up to hers. They were an intense shade of green, framed with dark eyelashes and his gaze kept wanting to escape. At least she didn't look angry. He shrugged sheepishly.
"I bet I could," he said. The drinks were placed between them and he lifted his, waiting until she clicked hers against his. He sipped it, and let the soft taste spread on his tongue. "Imagination is my only limit. Unless I'm drunk. Then even imagination can't hold me back."
"Are you talking about sex?" she asked. Tony lifted his eyebrow.
"Among other things," he said, taking another sip. She was holding the glass gracefully, long fingers slightly curved. He looked her up and down again, and realized that she was at least as tall as him, possibly even taller. He leaned a little closer, not too close to be breaking her personal space but close enough that he had a reason to lower his voice. "Do you want me to be talking about sex?"
"I'd like to hear about the other things," she said, but she was licking her lips. A drop of cognac had almost escaped her mouth. He leaned back.
"I'm a genius if you've somehow managed to avoid that piece of information. I can build anything." She remained unimpressed, and suddenly all he wanted to do was impress her, wipe that distantly amused look off her face. He wanted her full attention. "I'm working on a study about magic and science. Another study. I have published one a while ago."
And this one was for S.H.I.E.L.D. Top secret. His glass was empty and mind was fuzzy but he realized he'd slipped up. He wasn't supposed to be this careless.
The fabric of her dress seemed to be glowing, and he had the urge to reach out and pull her closer. But he knew when a woman wanted to be touched and her body language was still cold as ice, though something like interest had crept into her expression.
"Magic?" she repeated. "As in the thing that the – aliens use?"
He nodded. Too bad he couldn't continue this conversation, especially not in this contition. He would've loved to explain his ideas to someone who was genuenly interested, but he was sworn to secrecy. He reached in his pocket and messaged Jarvis as he got up.
"I'm sorry Miss-"
"Lana," she said and reached out her had. He took it.
She was stronger than he'd expected, but her hand felt soft in his. As if she was trained in something, martial arts, boxing – hell, maybe it was just gymnastics, he'd dated a few of those and they were seriously frightening - but also took good care of her hands. And now he was thinking about doing gymnasts in his bed. About Lana in his bed, about whether she was flexible or not.
"I'm sorry Miss Lana, but duty calls. I gotta be on my way now."
"If you count sleeping as a duty," she said. There was that something in her eyes again, like flickering green flames. "You're too hammered to even think about working."
"You don't know me," he said. He managed to walk away rather gracefully, through the crowd and to his car that was waiting outside.
When he got home he was so tired that he felt like he might pass out any minute, but he had this wonderful idea so he forced himself to head to his workshop instead of the bedroom.
Next morning he woke from the floor of his workshop, his computers open and a hologram model of a new version of the device the middle of it. After exploring his drunken creation he had to admit that there was a possibility that it was the answer to his problem.
...
After working on the device for a two days he'd apparently made Pepper worried, and she forced him to come out of his corner in the Avengers Tower to eat with her.
"I just wanted you to pay for my food," she said, laughing, as they sat at a nearby hamburger bar. Tony loved their burgers, had even taken Steve there once to prove that the future was a utopia. Or so he'd said back then. Honestly, nowadays it mostly felt like a dystopia.
"Obviously," he said, biting into his burger. It tasted heavenly, greasy and unhealthy. He closed his eyes and moaned. Pepper shook her head. She was still smiling but a crinkle had started appearing between her eyebrows.
"You should sleep a little," she said.
He swallowed. "I need to finish this device before there's another attack. It was pure luck that we won the last time, and we won't be getting lucky for a second time."
"Shouldn't that be SHIELD's job, not yours?" she asked.
"I can't help it that I'm smarter than them." He grinned over a mouth full of food. Pepper didn't smile. Her concern was flattering since sometimes she seemed to be the only one who cared, but it got annoying once in a while. He just wanted to have friends to have fun with, friends who smiled with him and didn't judge him for trying to do the right thing. She kept glancing at her watch.
"Are you in a hurry?" he asked. She'd already finished her meal, but he still had french fries left. She looked guilty.
"I have a date," she said. "But I could cancel it if you need me-"
Tony reached over the table and grabbed her wrist. "Pepper, relax. I want you to go, you deserve to find someone who makes you happy. You're not my mother, I can take care of myself."
She still looked conflicted.
"I'll sleep a few hours tonight if you go," he promised. She let out a little laugh.
"Can't say no to that." She kissed his cheek.
"I wanna hear all the juicy details later," he shouted after her.
"No promises," she replied before leaving the restaurant.
A smile lingered on Tony's face for a few more seconds before it faded away. He didn't feel hungry anymore and he was about to get up and pay their bill when he noticed a familiar looking back of a head.
He considered the situation for a while. He could leave before Lana noticed him if she hadn't already, or he could make his presence clear. The waiter came to ask if he was finished.
"Actually, ask that lady over there if she would like anything to drink," he said, and the waiter left him and walked to Lana. He felt like he was making a mistake, but if he was, it was already done.
When the waiter leaned forward to speak with Lana, she turned sideways, and her gaze fell on Tony. He felt his stomach twitch in anticipation. If even Pepper was seeing someone, he should at least make an effort. Lately work had been taking all his time and dating had seemed unimportant compared to the constant threats on the population of the Earth.
Lana got up, took her glass of red wine from the desk and made her way to Tony.
"Your girlfriend left you in the middle of your date?" she asked. Wine seemed more like her usual drink than cognac, and he wondered why she'd ordered that the last time they met. Most people drank beer at the bar, but somehow she made it seem like everyone else was being vulgar, not like she was being a diva.
"Just a friend," he said. She looked as elegant as the last time they'd met, this time dressed in a black suit with a green shirt. "What is a lady like you doing in a place like this?"
"You don't know me," she said, repeating back Tony's words from the last time they met, but she looked playful. She stole a french fry from Tony's plate, dipped it in mayonnaise and studied it before she ate it as if it was a piece of questionable foreign food. She licked her fingers after she'd eaten, her tongue was sharp and pink like a cat's. Tony had to remind himself to concentrate. "I was ravenous after my day at work. I don't usually go for hamburgers."
"Please tell me you ordered the Moist Maker," Tony said. "It's like an orgasm. But better."
"Now you’ve got me curious," she said, clearly fighting back a smile. "Are you trying to lead the conversation to orgasms?"
"If you insist."
"Newspapers say you're taken," she said. The slight smirk never seemed to leave her face.
"You've been researching me?" he asked, quirking up his brow. He hadn't realized he'd left such a staying impression, but he was pleased.
"I read your study," she said. "All of them, actually. But the newest one, about magic, caught my interest. Did you consider that magic could be focused energy, which would mean it's controllable by science if you have strong enough technology?"
Tony ate another french fry to play time. That was exactly what he was currently working on, the core of his device.
"That's an interesting theory," he said once his mouth was empty again. "What did you say you do?"
"I didn't," she said. She put her wine glass on the table and leaned forward. Her lips were painted dark red, like the wine, and she smelled hypnotic, hyacinths with a hint of pine. "It's a secret."
She laughed as if it was a joke, but he still didn't know the answer. She could've been a doctor, or maybe a model trying to be mysterious. She could've been working for SHIELD. She could've been working for the enemy.
"Do you like secrets?" he asked. Her constant grin was nagging at his confidence.
"What's the pickup line? 'Wanna be my dirty little secret'?"
Tony rolled his eyes. He thought about it for a moment. He'd been tired but now that he'd been properly fed and had a beautiful woman sitting in front of him it wasn't hard to slip from his genius mode to his playboy mode. "Come to my place. I could make this the best night of your life."
"So," she said, touching her toes to his calf. "Are you leaving?" She had the audacity to laugh at his face.
"Not very original," he criticised. She was beautifullike a statue made of stone. It seemed she could never yield under anyone's touch, like she could never have even a hair out of place. He wished she'd let him strip her of her clothes and inhibitions and make her pant under him. Or on top of him – he wasn't picky.
"Neither were you," she said.
"I haven't slept for two days. What's your excuse?"
"Two days?" she said. "Must've been a hell of a party."
"I've been working," he said. His phone buzzed.
"On what?" Her voice was teasing. "A secret? New study. You could use my theory about the nature of magic. It opens a lot of new doors."
"It does," he said. "If magic was just manipulated electromagnetic radiation..."
"That meant you could weaponize it," she finished. "But you would need a stabilizer to prevent it from exploding."
He stared at her. His phone buzzed again, and he took it out. If it was SHIELD he was going to kill them.
"That is true," he said. It was Pepper. "You've been giving this a lot more thought that I have, apparently." She shrugged, possibly trying to look modest but it came out more smug than anything. "I'm sorry, I have to get this."
Pepper's date had been a mistake, and she needed someone to excuse her away from the restaurant. Him picking her up would just fuel the relationship rumors between them, but that's something they had to live with.
"That your girlfriend?" Lana asked.
"Don't have one," he said. "But I wouldn't be opposed to having your number."
"I bet you wouldn't."
Her smile was on the verge of being threatening so he gave up and went to pay the bill. He felt a hand in his back pocket, and automatically turned around. It was Lana.
He'd been right; she was few inches taller than him, and he wasn't sure what to make of it. She pressed her lips on his neck so quickly that it was just a brush, but he could feel chills spreading from where her lips had touched his skin, and before he knew she was gone, only her scent lingering behind.
He found her number tucked inside his back pocket, elegant handwriting on the other side of a napkin. He smiled, and felt the chills travel through his spine again just from thinking about what they could be doing later – later that day, later that week, even if he had to wait until the end of the month it would be worth it. All the way driving to Pepper he couldn't stop imagining what Lana would feel like trapped under him, riding him, bent over a kitchen table. His mind was foggy and full of her, and he wanted to fuck her as soon as possible to get her out of his system.
...
Even after a full night's sleep he hadn’t had any progress with the device and Tony was getting frustrated. He was furiously tapping at the holograms on his pad, reorganizing things and ranting to Jarvis. Sadly Jarvis was his creation, so he didn't really offer another perspective to his work. If only he had a working partner... Bruce was nice to work with, but his field was still more the biological side of things than the technologhy.
He could of course go bother one of the Avengers or call Pepper and hope that by talking to them he'd come up with something, but he didn't want to disturb them. Since there had been an attack they'd had very little time for themselves with mandatory meetings with Fury, training, and their personal missions. Plus, he was pretty sure Steve and Bucky wanted to use their free time to work on their new relationship, Thor was either hanging out with his girlfriend and her crew or in Asgard, and Natasha and Clint were probably working on some Fury's super secret mission since they weren't currently at the tower. Tony was still pretty shocked that Steve had found his long lost boyfriend before Natasha and Clint admitted their feelings for each other. Him and Bucky had a bet about who was going to kiss the other first.
It was still kind of weird for him sometimes, the person who killed his parents being one of their team, but he'd accepted it a while ago that it hadn't really been Bucky who did it, but the Winter Soldier. Besides, he liked his sense of humor.
He realized he'd been scrolling through his contacts while he was thinking, and now Lana's name shone on the screen of his phone. He hesitated.
She had seemed to understand a lot, and could possibly be helpful in finalizing the machine’s design. She just shouldn't know what she was doing.
"Jarvis?" he asked.
"Yes, sir?"
"I have a horrible idea that Fury would probably kill me for," he said.
"I'm guessing I can't talk you out of it?" Jarvis asked. Sometimes he wondered why the AI needed to have such a voice that made every remark seem like dry sarcasm.
"Thank you." He grinned. "I knew you'd appreciate."
He pressed call. The phone beeped three times before Lana picked up.
"I thought you'd lost my number in the washing machine," she said as a greeting.
"Totally could've happened," he said. "How reckless of you."
"Reckless is my middle name, Stark," she said.
"Reckless enough to go on a date with me right now?"
"Right now? Aren't you eager."
"Aliens have been keeping me busy lately. Just thought that I should enjoy my life before they take over it entirely."
"Well, I am flattered. Where do we meet?"
"I can pick you up if you give your address."
"Or I can remain a mystery and we can meet in front of the expensive restaurant you're taking me to."
Tony laughed, even though he was disappointed at yet another lost chance to find out some of her secrets. "Meet me at Le Bernardin nine o'clock. Dress nicely."
"I'm surprised that you want me to dress at all."
"I'm a gentleman," Tony said in a mock offended voice. "What kind of man did you think I am?"
"I know what kind of man you are," she purred. "See you tonight." She hung up before he could say anything.
Tony took his time getting ready, he showered and picked his best suit and an ironed shirt, and added a green tie since it seemed to be Lana's favourite color. He trimmed his beard and combed his hair, but a faint hint of a bruise from the last battle remained on his cheek. He didn't heal like Thor, Captain America or the Hulk. They were all divine creatures, while he was just a human in a suit of armor. Genious, Billionare, Playboy and philantrophist sure, but he wasn't really a superhero without all his tech. Sometimes that made him feel out of place in the team, but he tried not to think about it too much. Hide it with a bursting ego that kept others from noticing his pain. Usually. Sometimes. At least the public paid it and SHIELD didn't care as long as he was able to fight.
He couldn't really do much to the bruise so he got his car, and drove to the retaurant, arriving exactly at nine. She was already there, standing in front of the restaurant wrapped in grey fur, high heels making her almost a head taller than Tony. A dark green dress was showing from under all the fur.
"What's it with you and green?" he asked as they entered the restaurant together.
"It compliments my eyes."
"How am I supposed to flirt with you when you do it yourself?"
She bared her teeth in a mischievous smile. "Try harder."
Their conversation flowed easily, she ordered the most expensive meal from the list but ended up eating mostly from Tony's plate since she didn't like hers. Tony rolled his eyes.
They didn't even get to the subject of science before dessert, too busy with their flirty banter. Her unapologetic nature intrigued him, often when women tried to hide their desire for Tony's money it was exactly what they were after. For Lana the golddigger persona seemed to be more like a game, and he wondered if she'd grown up in a wealthy family as well.
There was something else in her that made Tony want to dig deeper. She used the same sarcastic defences than he did whenever they neared a personal subject, jumping back to magic or Tony's latest inventions. Those were the moments when Tony got out most information that could be useful for his work, but also he started realizing just how much he wanted to figure her out.
The bill was high but he didn't really have to even look at it – money he had, and if spending a little could make Lana smile her slow, teasing smile even once more than usual it was totally worth it.
They left the restaurant and entered the night, Lana was hanging from Tony's arm even though she was so much taller it was almost comical. Her laugh echoed in the night.
The shops they passed were closing or closed already, but suddenly Lana stopped and Tony turned to see the reason. They were standing in front of a huge candy shop, the window was showing off candyworms, marshmallows shaped like every imaginable cute thing, fudges, chocolates, and lollipops in all shades of the rainbow. Lana's eyes were full of wonder.
"Do you want to buy sweets?" he asked. He was already stuffed from their meal, but he'd never say no to sweets. When he'd been little he'd claimed that they went to a different stomach than the main courses, and he still somewhat believed that. At least the sweets made his mouth water if not his stomach crumble.
"I've never eaten Mid– that kind of sweets," she said quickly. "I don't eat much candy."
"You've never eaten that kind of sweets?" he repeated, not entirely sure what she'd meant. He'd expected an explatation, but for some reason she seemed to close off. He wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her to the door. "I'm gonna buy you that kind of sweets."
She looked adorable. He'd never seen the look in her face, pure childish wonder. It was as if the cold femme fatale mask had melted off, if only for a minute.
Tony knocked on the door, and when it wasn't opened he knocked harder. The shop was closed, but he could still see the owner inside, and he wouldn't leave without giving Lana the candy she wanted.
Finally, the grumpy old man opened the door. "We're closed."
"I'm Iron Man," Tony said, feeling cocky. Lana giggled which boosted up his confidence. "I'll pay you extra. My girl wants sweets so she gets them."
He eyed them up and down, but let them in and turned on the lights. "Can you take a picture with me? My grandson will be thrilled."
"Or jealous," Lana suggested. She'd gotten a scoop and a bag, and she was filling it at quite the speed.
"Or both," Tony said, and hugged her from behind. He had to get on his tiptoes to rest his chin on her shoulder. "Take the yellow ones. I love the yellow ones."
Fifteen minutes later, they exited the shop with five pounds of candy, laughing as they walked on. Lana had at first nibbled every sweet before putting it in her mouth, but now apparently having decided that she liked sugar she was just stuffing them in her mouth.
They must've been a sight. Two adults holding a huge bag of sweets, leaning on each other and laughing at each other and the world.
He bought an entire theatre for the two of them, because they'd gotten the whim of going to the movies. They were high on sugar and each other and the movie – some popular romantic comedy – sucked and he played with cliches and touched her hand while she was taking candy from the bag. She took a yellow one between her thumb and forefinger, and grinned at him. He bought her hand to his lips and ate the sour candy, her fingers against his lips sending thrills through his body. He kissed her palm, knuckles, wrist. She was soft and delicate, but not fragile. Her skin was cold against his, as she pressed it against his cheek.
She stroked him, and he wanted to lean into the touch. He reached his other hand to her neck, feeling the weight of all her hair, sliding his fingers into it. He slowly pulled her closer, eyes locked until hers fell on his lips and he felt a rush of heat all over and couldn't hold back anymore. He pressed their lips together and parted his to let her lower lip in his mouth. Her lips were chilly too, she tasted sweet and sour. He wanted to kiss some warmth into them.
His other hand fell from her shoulder, lower, until he covered her breast with it gently, feeling the line between skin and fabric. She must've been wearing a lace bra because he could feel the outline of her nipple under his hand. He wanted to slip his hand inside, feel her breast in his hand, wanted to have her naked and riding him on the seat. His stomach muscles kept clenching and unclenching, he was already half hard.
She moved from her seat to sit on top of him, and started lifting her skirt. Something in the kiss changed, she started pressing harder and with more desperation, but the sensuality was gone. Tony gently showed her away.
"We can take it slow," he said, drawing calming circles on her back with his fingertips and trying to quieten his own mind.
"I thought Tony Stark wanted it preferably yesterday," she said with a wicked grin, suddenly all cold and sarcastic like the first time they'd met.
"But what do you want?" he asked.
For a minute, she seemed genuinely surprised, as if her past lovers had never cared to ask what gave her pleasure. He felt a twitch of anger towards whoever that had made her like this.
"Does it really matter?"
"It matters," he said intensively. "Sex is about enjoying yourself, not pleasing others. I wouldn't enjoy it if I wasn't sure you enjoyed it as much as I did."
She looked puzzled. "Not everyone cares."
He wrapped both his arms around her and pressed her to his chest, hoping to transfer some body warmth to her. His body was disappointed that they wouldn't be fucking tonight, but he could never have her when she was like this.
A loud ring startled them both.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Tony swore, staring at Fury's name on his phone screen. He never called unless something was about to explode very soon. He hated him for calling right now, but he'd hate himself even more if innocents died just because he was thinking with his dick. "Boss calling. I'm so sorry."
She nodded in understanding and got up from on top of him. He got on his feet too, and they left the theatre just as the couple from the movie was having a teary reunion. Lana was hugging the bag of candy to her chest.
I thought you were cheating on me, the female lead said. I wish you'd just asked me who I was speaking to, the man answered. It just didn't cross my mind you'd call your mum love, she said. They kissed. Tony snorted and answered the phone.
"I'm in the middle of a fucking date," he said.
"Cancel it. Another alien attack came out of nowhere. The rest of the team is already fighting."
"Fuck," Tony said. "I'll be there."
Lana's eyes were full of strange concern, and her eyebrows were knitted together.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"I'm really sorry, but I have to go. Aliens are at it again."
"Aliens?" she sounded shocked. "But..."
Tony rushed out of the building, Lana storming behind. "They need me there. I'd love to do this again if I, and the world, survive today."
"Me too," she said, but seemed distracted. "Thanks for the candy."
He pressed a quick kiss on her lips, but then he got in the car and pushed a button on his seat. He watched as the metal pieces started closing on him, feeling strangely relieved – finally he could do something useful. When he was inside the suit, saving people, he felt like he was making amends for all those years of selling weapons to the wrong people.