Chapter 1
“Nat! You cut my phone line?!”
“See! I knew you wouldn’t be able to keep your word.” Natasha rolled her eyes, “‘Don’t pick up the phone Y/n,’ I said, ‘he’s only calling because’...” she turned a page in the magazine she was currently skimming, watching for your response. Of course you hadn’t forgotten it now, she only drilled it into your head for months on in.
“Because he’s drunk and alone.” You let out a defeated sigh plopping the phone back onto the counter.
Being around Bucky and Steve was too much so you chose to live apart like Natasha and Clint. You thought this way, hopefully you wouldn’t end up driving friends you were interested In, away from each other.
Then you met tony and with him, not only were you able to relax but you were hoping the small and juvenile crushes you had on your male and female counterparts would dissipate. With all your attention focused on keeping on an even keel with everyone else, you didn’t catch yourself slowly falling for Tony. Deciding ‘why the hell not ‘ you both have a go. But the honeymoon phase doesn’t last long between you and Tony, quickly finding yourself back at square one more often than you would like.
Some of your closest friends came by after your most current split from Tony took a nastier turn than usual. They felt like an intervention was way past due.
“Natasha! How will I be able to contact the outside world with you keeping my cellphone hostage and vandalizing all my other means of communication!!” Your voice goes and octive higher, resting your hands on your hips on the middle of your kitchen. You were wearing gray sweats, your hair was pulled into an curly mass resting on the top of your head. Traces of unwashed mascara left light shadows under your eyes and around your lashes.
Natasha was unsure how long since the break up you had been looking like this. Her best guess was when the very public split made the front cover of every magazine in the city three days ago...
“If you were calling someone worth your time, we wouldn’t have to do this.” Nat says in a sing song voice sinking deeper into the sofa.
Her gum popped as she rested her bunny slippers on your coffee table.
“She’s right Y/n.” You hear from behind you. The archer looked rather comfortable in civilian clothes. Not a bit out of place. He made his way around you, grabbing some fruit off the counter.
“Barton,”
“Don’t Barton me, I heard you talking in your sleep again, thin walls remember?” He motions towards you making you frown.
“You’ve got to let him go this time and move on.” He spoke chewing on a bite of apple. He props himself up on the counter.
“But Clint. Listen, I know-“
“He loves you, right? But you know he doesn’t, not really. Deep down you know. Us,” he waves his finger in the air, “and yourself- we’ll be right back here in a few weeks, months even?” Clint tosses the core away, wiping his hands on his pants.
“But Tony he-“
“Makes you feel like no body else?
Pfffff you and half of New York, California, Massachusetts, aaaand I’m sure their are other states.”
You give him a shocked expression at his bluntness. Nat gives Clint a side glance surprised by his words as well. He usually held his tongue when it came to you, what had changed?
“You guys can’t possibly understand.” You flop yourself at the end of the love seat. Natasha reaches over with a hand twisting her fingers around your coiled tresses.
“No. Actually we don’t. Sorry hun, you just sound like a broken record.”
Clint walks over towards your mantle picking up a picture of you and Tony.
Both of you were dressed in designer clothes and of course- knowing Tony, he spared no expense that night.
“Is it the eyes? They have that lost puppy look to them, haven’t they?” Clint grumbles looking back towards you and Natasha then back at the photo, “I swear to God he perfects that look in the mirror EVERY MORNING!”
“Calm down there tiger,” Natasha sighed putting her magazine down when Clint sunk down into the sofa cushions on the other side of her.
“Y/n this is just what you’ve been telling yourself. Stay strong ok? You deserve better than this,” she meets Clint eyes, talking to you but keeping her gaze locked with Clint, “Better than him.”
—————————-
You sit up in your bed startled by the sharp knock at your front door.
Your head was filled with tension and stress, pushing your remote and mound of tissues to the opposite side of the bed before getting up. Another rap at the door makes you grab your bat from its resting spot beside your bed.
Sliding your feet towards the knocking, that is quickly growing louder, you manage to slide open the peep hole. Breathing a sigh of relief recognizing the figure on the other side.
“Hey. It’s uh. Me.,.again.” Tony stated. His eyes were rimmed red and bloodshot. He was wearing a light blue suit, or what was left of it. The tie was undone and hung carelessly around his neck and his shirt was unbuttoned.
Tony? What are you doing here?”
“Can you talk?” His voice rasps, rubbing one of his eyes with the palm of his hand.
“Y/n, don’t open that door.” You hear at the edge of your mind. You turn slowly spotting Wanda peering out of the guest bedroom. Her hand resting on the outer door frame and glowing red, staring daggers at you. Even though she was trying to help, you were feeling torn.
“But it’s Tony. I-“ you reply in a whispered tone. Your bat you kept for emergencies, slowly swung loosely at your side as you had a silent conversation with her.
“Y/n don’t do this to yourself. Stark overall, is no problem but in a relationship- He is like poison.”
“His pissin’ drunk,” Clint, speaking in a louder than normal tone- sat up from the sofa, making both you and Wanda grab your chests. “I don’t even know how he made it over here.” Clint yawned, combing a hand through his bed head.
“Clint you gave me a heart attack!”
“And before you ask- it was Nats idea!” He points to your door, “and look at that, She was right. God that woman!” He jumps over the back of the sofa with ease hastily joining your side.
“Come on, open up sweetheart.” Tony sighs resting his head on the cool surface of the door with a thump. “Can you just hear me out?” He speaks weakly, at first you weren’t sure you had heard anything at all.
Clint shook his head back and forth making your lip quiver when he saw your hand began to twitch. You know they are your friends trying to look out for you but in this moment, you wished they were at their own homes.
You sigh gazing at the door,
“I have. I always have but not this time, Tony. I just can’t. We’ll be right back here soon enough.” Finished you eyeball Clint who nods.
“Honey, please just,” He began fidgeting with his collar and untucking his winkled shirt, “Is the heat on out here?! God it’s so hot. Shit.” He takes out a handkerchief, wiping his face. How many times had he been right here, in the very same spot? Too many to count. It was always his fault, he was the fuck up he told himself yet he just couldn’t enjoy what he had. Instead he would take you for granted expecting you to always be there and always come back. Regardless of what he put you through in the process.
Exhaling calmly he tries to form words that conveyed what he was feeling. “You know I’m just trying to keep up appearances and, the attention- I hate talking without seeing your beautiful face.” He looks down at the floor changing the subject. “I noticed you weren’t at the gala tonight.” He pauses, folding his arms over his chest, “Were you.. were you with someone else? You know I love you and no matter what there’s not another woman out there for me, it’s only you. And I know what happened the other night could be taken as just a fluke- a misunderstanding..”
Clint silently crosses his arms against his chest, rolling his neck to face you. “Ugh He’s laying it on thick now.”
“Tony, I-“
“Don’t y/n, “ Wanda pleads, clasping her hands together.
“Maybe five minutes?” You whisper meeting both her and Clint’s eyes. “Just to hear him out. I mean, communication is the key right? Clint? That’s how you and Nat get along so well.”
“Were not talking about Nat and I. We are,”
You grasp the doorknob,
“Y/n don’t you dare!” Clint puts out his arm in front of you. You meet his eyes, even in the dim lit apartment you can see he is completely focused on you. He notes the heartbreak and exhaustion reflecting back at him and it pains him to see you so broken. “This will not end well. You mean a lot to me Y/n, to us and I’m trying to protect you from more of the same. Let me help you. This is not someone you want to spend the rest of your life with, do you?”
You halt your actions at his words searching his face. It was easy for him to say, he already had someone.
“Don’t look at me shocked, we all know you feel like your biological clock is a tickin but this- Stark isn’t the way.”
“That’s not true!”
“Fine. Whatever. Listen, you’re going to rush this and there’ll be no coming back from it. “
“Is that.. Merida?”
Tonys mind started drifting, becoming his worst enemy thinking about what Clint could be filling your head with.
“Someone decided to spend the night with you, Y/n?”
Tony questions annoyance clear in his voice. He was well aware how Clint felt about you and discovering that he was over at an ungodly hour only lent more fuel for his imagination to run rampid, “so I take it you’re sleeping with him now?” Tony chuckles, biting his lip, “I’ve gotta admit, I didn’t think you’d have it in you.”
Before you twisted the doorknob Clint was two steps ahead of you, unlatching the door.
“That’s it, I’m gonna kill him.” Clints groans, his face flushed with anger.
“No!” You yell through the wood, both men stall, unsure of whom you were addressing, “He just thought it best to keep me company!” You mutter gripping onto Clint’s arm, he calmly lifts your hands from his bicep placing them at your sides.
“Ok. You know what we all need some sleep. How about I just go out there and have a word with him ok? I won’t hurt ‘em, too bad.” Clint smirked before disappearing into the hallway, you barely could catch a glimpse of Tony before the door was tightly shut behind him.
You hear the muffled talking, which quickly turns to yelling. Wanda comes to rest her small hands upon your hunched shoulders, guiding you back to your room.
“I know you’re letting your emotions get the best of you but trust me, this is for the best. Don’t let him in.”
——————
“So I see you and Nat spend no time swooping in for my left overs.” Tony rubs his nose, walking back from Clint.
“Fuck you Stark.” Clint takes a step forward, contemplating how to handle him. “She’s a human being.”
“Don’t think I don’t know what you two are doing.” Tony wags a finger at Clint tucking both hands behind his back. He takes a few steps off towards the side, striking a finger against his top lip as he leans against the far wall.
“Ok. Fine. If you’re so brilliant what are we doing?”
“You’re trying to pull y/n into you and Nats little poly relationship, freak fest and I’ll have you know-“
Clint couldn’t take anymore. Taking a swift step forward, he was able to catch Tony off guard, landing a punch straight to his face.
Tonys eyes widened in shock, releasing cuss words from his mouth. Tears begin forming at the corners of his eyelids. He honestly had not see that coming.
Clint distances himself knowing this was bad. He shouldn’t have volunteered to go out there in the first place. He knew he was already high strung, throw in lack of sleep and pent up stress in the mix and this is the result.
“Do you hear yourself right now?
I suggest you stop if you like keeping all of your teeth.” He spat pointing as Tony who was keeping pressure on the bridge of his nose, keeping it from bleeding down the front of his outfit.
Tony quickly retaliated, swinging back missing Clint by an inch, stumbling into the wall behind him.
“Come on old man.”
“Ha you’re one to talk. So you’re mad I’m hitting a little too close to home now, is that it?” Tonys voice sounded nasally, as they begin to circle one another. “You can’t fool me, I see the way you look at her. It’s way past the little sister label you thought you could toss on her.”
“Ok so what? You’ve hurt her so many goddamn times she won’t let anyone else near her. And I’ve tried, believe me I have. But damn that sweet face of hers she just keeps drawing me back in. but you, you lucky fuck- have just twisted her so much! Making her think she’s not pretty enough, smart enough, good enough for you!”
“Well, she is.”
“Damn right she is, She’s fucking amazing.l-“ Clint took a breath realizing what he had said, “Tony. Just go back home so this doesn’t go any further. And I’ve got an unfair advantage because you’re drunk.”
Tony walks up to him,
“I am not.”
Clint pushes him back, “You’re shit faced, Tony. Now, go. Home.”
“Fine. Atleast it’s about time you fucking admitted it.” He lets out a hollow laugh, “Just gotta always have what I have, huh?”
“Atleast I’d take better care of her which is more than I can say for you. I wouldn’t have her up crying for days on end about a stripper or lingerie she found in random places, or and here’s my favorite- lipstick.”
“Lipstick? I’m not following-“
“Because you’re drunk. Lipstick. This last time? Tip toeing around with a Stark Industries secretary of some sort of department?”
“Oh uh”
“Yeah that little gem. Was it worth it? All that humiliation you bought down on her? By the next morning her reputation was down the toilet!”
“What about me and what I had to endure?”
“What you had to endure?! Popping some viagra? Please! You were getting hot and heavy behind the stage curtain! THE FUCKING STAGE CURTAIN! You think everything’s fun and games. It’s past time for you to grow up. I’m not saying you’ve got to care about others, because we both know- the only one you look out for is you.”
“Hey!”
“Let me finish. You should have shown her how much you cared about her.”
“She’s that bad off huh?”
“This, right here, is breaking her heart. And I hate it. All of it. I hate that I had to come out here to prevent her from facing you. And ofcourse I feel like shit because here I am, trying to patch up what’s left of a failing relationship between my teammate and the woman I’m falling in love with. “
“Well you take the cake for the suckiest life right now.”
“Glad you agree. Now how about you make my life a little easier by calling Happy, taking your ass home and icing your face?”
—————— one month later
“Ok. So I saw Tony tonight at the fundraiser.” You begin entering Natasha and Clint’s apartment. You drape your black shaw across the back of a chair, removing your heels.
“Aw Sam!” Clint groaned, tossing the deck of cards he had onto the coffee table. He stood ignoring the soft swirls on his back from Nat. “You had one job! Be her date and keep her away from Stark!”
“It wasn’t my fault, Alright!” Sam loosened his tie, slumping beside Nat. “She distracted me with a hot waitress. A hot waitress, carrying some delicious food and before I knew it, there was no intervening.” Sam through his arms up in defeat making you and the other women laugh.
“Oh Sam, we’ve got to work on that.”
Wanda giggles, throwing some popcorn in his direction. “You know Y/n fights dirty.” She said giving you a wink.
“Tell me about it, I didn’t even get her number.” Sam smirks taking off his jacket, placing it on the ottoman before him.
“Not so fast, Sammy,” you slip a napkin into his palm with a wink and a pat on his shoulder. The others exchanged confused glances while Sam skims it over satisfied.
“You gonna tell me how you did it?” He tilts his head towards your retreating direction.
“Simple, told her you were my brother.”
“Girl, have I told you how much I love you?! That’s what I’m talking about!” Sam triumphantly laughed while tucking away the napkin in his pocket.
“Okay, So dare I ask what happened with Tony?” Nat questions, her face already beginning to cringe up, taking a sharp inhale.
“Well after talking to him,”
“You spoke to that smug bastard?!”
“Hey- you promised you’d play nice!”
“I have been thinking that maybe we can just be friends?” You give an uneasy smile to the group lounging around, your words coming out more like a question than a statement. Their opinion mattered more to you than anything.
“Noooo”
“Y/n!”
“Come on!”
“The dick must be that good, huh?”
Well, Almost anything.
“You guys, and uh, Sam- everything’s not about dicks with women you do know that?” You lift your eyebrow glancing at Sam. He shrugs his shoulders when you continue, “Anyway, it will be back to the way we were before all of this.” You said with a smile. Were you trying to convince them or yourself?
“There is no going back to normal, ok?”
“He’s just going to use you up and spit you out again.”
“Stark is like a revolving door. It’s amazing how he’s dodged so many STDs.” Nat sighed leaning back into Sam.
“I know you all think Tony is some womanizer-“
“Well yeah.” Clint and Sam simultaneously respond.
“No! He’s not like that, he’s kind, loving, gentle.”
Clint was furious, balling up his fists when Natasha rests a gentle hand on his arm beside the couch.
“That’s what he wants you to think! In fact that’s the same description all the girls label Tony with.”
Clint stalks away when you look down at Natasha she looks to Sam, who nods and follows after him.
“Just stay clear of him alright. You don’t want to wake up in his bed again.” Wanda whispers to you while Sam and Clint walk toward your kitchen.
——————————
Sam looks back at you guys chatting on the sofa before leaning towards Clint, “So you wanna-“
“Ha you’re asking me if I want to talk about it? I swear sometimes you’re just like Steve.”
“Hey, I’m just trying to help.” Sam backs up away from him turning to grab some drinks from the fridge.
“Yep that’s what everyone seems to be wantin’ to do these days.”
“I’m just sayin’, It’s obvious you’re interested in y/n,”
“Yeah, What of it?” Clint pauses looking over at him. He then watches the interaction between you and Nat. It was so fluid and loving. Natasha’s touches lingered on you always a little longer than they should have.
You on the other hand, never put much thought into it, chalking it up to how she was worried more about you because you had no super hero serum or special deadly skill set to keep you safe. That in her eyes made you an innocent.
“You and Natasha- you both
Like her? I mean, are interested in her?”
“Sam-“
“I just didn’t know how that would work but if you’re both... open to it,”
“Sam just spit it out and stop taking all cryptic!” Clint hisses clearly agitated, worried and still trying to speak quickly and quietly.
“Y/n, after her first break up with Stark, I saw her downtown at her favorite coffee shop. Looking back I believe she was out on a date,”
“How do you know she wasn’t just catching up with an old friend?”
“We know all of her friends. Trust me this wasn’t that. I mean, I don’t know about you but I don’t greet any of my friends with open mouth kisses.”
Ew”
What?”
“Now all I can picture are those retired war vets you work with.” Clint snicker avoiding a hit from Sam. “So sloppy and-“
“Knock it off. I’m serious.”
“Ah, Ok ok. Is this going somewhere, Sam?”
“This was a girlfriend, Clint. I think
Y/n might be bi.”
—————————
“Hey y/n where are you off to?” Tony questions intertwining your hand with his, he twirls you into his arms giving you a slow heated kiss.
Going against you and your friends better judgement, two weeks later you’re back with Tony.
“Oh I missed you, handsome.”
“Right backatcha, princess.”
“So I’ll see you this afternoon right?” Tony questions, helping you slide your arms into your jacket. Your curls bounce around, brushing his face.
“What time are you thinking?”
“Ugh I don’t know, two maybe? Why?”
“Oh nothin, just I wanna be up here to greet you instead of the lab. That’s all.”
“Ok. You smile, pecking him on the cheek. See you then!”
————————-
You stomp your feet on the mat exiting the elevator. It was very quiet when you enter, walking through the kitchen. Strangely quiet. Perhaps the others were out on a mission? Steve usually notifies you so you can take care of his dog and Buckys cat. Which you were more than willing to assist with, if it meant spending any type of time with them before they left.
Shaking the droplets of rain from your hair and umbrella, you carefully maneuver yourself out of the wet articles of clothing, carrying the heap towards Tonys room. The last thing you wanted to hear was him having a conniption because you warped his cherry wood floors.
You managed to keep most of it bundled up while standing in the elevator watching each numbered floor let out a small ding.
“ FRIDAY?” You call,
“Yes Miss Y/l/n.?”
“Is Tony here? In his room?”
“Yes, would you like me to alert him?”
You looked down at your watch, noticing you were an almost an hour early.
“Oh no, FRIDAY, I want it to be a surprise!” You grin bitting your lips.
You begin trudging down the hall towards his bedroom, passing the glass walls of the lab. You heard a few noises heading that way but they were so muffled it sounded like a recording or a movie.
You slowly open the door to silence. In fact you smirk when Tony stirs about from the bed. You trot over, dropping the drenched heap into a basket.
“So you couldn’t manage without me?”
“Oh hun, I just felt a tad peckish so I decided to take a nap.” He was surrounded by mounds of blankets and sheets.
“Really?” Your expression immediately turned into concern. Tony never got sick- unless he had drank too much and even then it was rare. When you move your hand to touch his forehead he grabs it turning it over to kiss the back of it.
“I see how smooth you are hasn’t been affected.” You laugh resting your hands on your thighs.
“You’re home early.” Tony states, rubbing his eyes and propping himself up. The sheets inch down revealing his toned chest.
“Yeah, are you naked?” You ask, moving to pull the covers lower. He grips the comfetor pulling it back up.
“Yeah, I took a shower. It was very relaxing,” he sees you looking around the room trying to keep yourself from ogling him. It was dimly lit, blinds closed.
“why all of this too much for you?” He smirks bringing your face back to him with his index finger.
You laugh shaking your head. “Anyway,” you say beginning to undress.
“Hey what are you...”
“I’m changing my clothes, Tony! As you can see I’m soaked.”
“Ew.”
“Ew?”
“Yeah, because you’re going to stick your cold, clammy body on me and that’s just not right.”
“But you’re so warm!” You groan, putting on a fake pout.
“Uh no. How about you go take a shower right quick, huh?”
“Tony I’m just damp not sweaty-“
“I know just freshen up ok, Beautiful?.”
“Ugh you’re impossible.”
“Thanks sweetie.”
Sulking as you enter, the bathroom door doesn’t close all the way leaving a small crack as you begin undressing in front of the sink. You make mocking faces of Tony as you finish removing your clothes. Clad in only your bra and underwear you pause when you see a shadow of a figure fly behind you in the mirror.
“Tony?” You call hearing a shuffle from the bedroom.
“Yes sweetie?” He replies,
“What are you doing?”
“Just straightening up the room.”
You roll your eyes again moving towards the shower. When you turn it on, you remember you left your phone in the pocket of your jeans, currently bawled up in the basket besides Tonys bed. The water was still a bit chilly, so you decided to step out and retrieve it while the water got to your desired temperature.
With a huff you yank the bathroom door open, “Tony, have you-“
Your words die in your throat, being greeted by a brunette dark skinned woman clutching her clothes against her body. Even in the shadows of the room you could see she was breathtaking.
You took the whole scene in. Tonys hands clutching her forearms, his boxers clearly straining at the close proximity of the woman to himself. How her green eyes glued to your half dressed form, the lipstick smeared across his chin, lower stomach and traveling down past the band of his boxers. Lastly, the scratches on the side of Tonys shoulder. It wouldn’t surprise you if they too stretched the span of his back.
Tony began speaking, with your eyes flicking between the two your head began to ache. You approached them both, Tony pushing the girl towards the door with his arms spread out, remembering the last time you had caught him with another woman, readying himself to absorb the punches you would soon be handing out.
But to his shock you did nothing of the sort. You neared him bending over, picking up a glossy red heel and looking at the shoe as if it was the most interesting thing you had ever seen.
“Excuse me, you forgot this.” You say, your voice just loud enough to make the stranger turn to look at you. Her eyes graze over your form, recognizing you from magazine covers from the last time you had seemed relevant to the world. She finally meets your gaze.
Clearly the object was not yours, you made your way over to the woman. She was a few inches taller than you. Tony watches the interaction, bewildered by your demeanor. You bring the heel up placing it gently to rest on the top of the clothes, bunched up against her poorly covered breasts. The strap made a small noise hitting against her long painted nails.
The woman licked her lips, unsure of what to say. “I’m. I didn’t. Know”
You only nodded, when she disappeared into the hallway leaving you and Tony alone.
“Y/n.”
“No. I am going to take a shower.”
“Sweetheart it’s not-“
“It’s going to be long and it’s going to be hot. Then I am leaving.”
That stops him in his tracks. “Ok!” He throws his hands up. “Fine! That’s what you do best, Y/n! Run away from your problems!”
“I have no problems except you, Tony.”
He rubs a hand over his mouth, seeing the crimson lipstick smear across his palm grumbling to himself.
“By the way. You missed a spot.” You speak over your shoulder, in a matter of fact tone- closing the bathroom door behind you.