The Night is Still Young
Megan's POV
"Tony, I really have got to tell someone. I could be fired for this!" I protested hoarsely, trying to tug my hand from his. I'd worn a spare work shirt over my tank once more. He shook his head stubbornly. "You'll run off". I sighed. I had to admit that was exactly what I was planning. Despite my optimistic thoughts about earning a friend, I'd brought myself back to reality when we exited the employee's restroom. "I really need the job, Tony!" I said as firmly as I could. He stopped, and turned to me, a serious look on his face. "Alright, but if you don't come back, I'll buy the club." I gaped at him. "Tony don't be ridiculous, why would you waste your money like that?!" I exclaimed. "Ah-ha now there's incentive to return." He joked.
"Ha ha" I deadpanned. He nodded, and jerked his head in the other direction. "Well, go on then" He smiled, "I'll catch you later, Firefly". I wanted to ask him why Firefly, but he'd already turned and was already some distance away from me. I heaved a sigh, straightened my shoulders, and walked back to the bar. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!" Joe thundered from the bar, where he was clumsily assisting Rosie. "Just get out," I snapped, glancing over the heaping pile of orders that had come in while I had been gone. "We're talking later!" He ordered, storming off to harass someone else. "I'm sorry Diana! I didn't think that these many orders would come in!" She said, looking close to tears. Seeing that I'd already spilled mine all over Tony's shirt, I rubbed my sore eyes, wishing for this night to end already. Steve and Co. had already left, I supposed seeing that they were nowhere in the vicinity that I could see. "Need help doll" A sultry voice asked. I turned in the direction, never ceasing in my mixing. "Natasha?" I queried, befuddled.
She winked at me. "I'll take these, you do the rest?" She queried, already starting on the pile she had claimed. "Oh.Uh. Yeah sure." I stuttered, staring at her before Rosie's holler brought me back and I got to making shmaking. Together we finished the drink pile of orders pretty quickly and shot each other satisfied grins. "So, Firefly, this is you asking?" Tony drawled, eyes switching between Natasha and I. I shook my head."Oh come on, it was a total mess out here. Some of us need money yanno" I rolled my eyes before I remembered who I was talking to. "I do apologize. Uh, let me call my manager up-I mean over" I backtracked, picking up the bar's phone. "What?" Joe grunted. "Uh, a customer wants to speak with you. Private party host" I muttered into the receiver, glancing at Tony and Natasha. He hung up without a word. "Rude" I scowled.
I turned to them, a wide customer-worthy smile on my face. "He's coming over. Want anything to drink in the meantime?" "Yeah, not something to drink" Tony sassed. Natasha came closer, leaning opposite me. "So, why don't you tell me a story about the bruises?" She smiled dangerously. I scowled at her inquisitiveness. "There's no story, it was an unexpected accident" I told her defensively. "Sure, and I'm a dancing bear." She nodded mockingly. "Naaatashaaa" I whined, stomping my feet like a child. I supressed the wince that wanted to come out when I stretched the bruised areas. She just stared at me with her piercing gaze.
"Diana! What's this?No customers behind the bar! I'll take it out of your paycheque" I waved my hands."Oh, Joe, uh, she's a-"
"A friend." Natasha intervened firmly. "Right, and buddy we really need to talk about the state of affairs round here, 'cause something really's wrong, and that girl seems to be the only thing of any value" Tony took over, crossing his arms over his chest, a haughty look on his face. I supposed that this was his public persona but it was a little jarring to know that this man, and the one in the employee's restrooms were the same person. Tony led Joe, away, and I caught the end of his sentence "-feel about a new career?". "I've seen you here before, just that we've never really talked, have we?" I asked Natasha rhetorically. She nodded honestly."I've been coming here for quite some time. I guess there's just something about this place that makes me want to keep coming back." She mused flirtily. "Oh, uh, so he's not really gonna buy the club is he?" She shrugged at my question. "Buy the club? No, no. We used to have a team, and then it broke up. The impact of that really has been eating at him all this while. And he's been getting a little reckless lately, so I just follow him to make sure he doesn't do something too drastic."
"You're a good friend, Natasha. Tony's lucky to have you" I said softly, smiling at her. "Ah, I try" she smiled , a slight blush on her cheeks. Tony walked back, and Joe was no longer in sight. "So?" I asked cautiously. "Well good and bad news. Bad news, Joe's fired. Good news, you're taking his place". I stared at him . "B-but b-but what?? You can't just fire him and promote me!" Natasha was shaking her head amused. "Uh yeah, I can. I'm the owner, it's my club." I turned to Natasha. "I thought you said he wouldn't buy the club" I accused. She laughed prettily,"Sweetie, he can't buy what is already his". "I-oh-uh-wait -What!"
"Oh, uh that's uh great. I guess" I mumbled, trying to digest this new information. Who was this guy?! "So..." Tony gestured towards the office. "B'but, the bar..?" I asked weakly. "Just in time!" Natasha beamed. A pretty blond woman walked up and started taking orders. "I got it from here Nat." She said, winking. "Thanks Sharon!" She chirped and practically dragged me out of the station. "But aren't there like more capable people?" I asked, stumbling along. "Nope" Tony said simply walking confidently on my left while Nat walked on my right. "O..okay" I said, still digesting everything. "Don't feel guilty about Joe. We were going to fire him anyways and take him in for interrogation" "I-interrogation?!" I asked, alarmed. "Yeah 'cause he's Hydr-" "Tony!" Natasha snapped. I looked between them as they silently communicated and he rolled his eyes.
"Right, so here's your new office and everything? Guess we gotta take a raincheck on that party date?" Tony said, looking around. "I don't know how to thank you!" I gushed, and the only thought on my mind was: "Finally, I'll get Father the money, and the punishments will stop".
Tony gave a small smile and nudged Natasha. "Let's leave the new boss to get acquainted with her new office" He rumbled. They made to leave, and I hugged them both before they could take another step. "I won't let you down" I promised, tears filling my eyes. I released them and turned to face the office once more, soaking it all in. He may never know the enormity of his actions' impact. I jolted out my reverie when the door shut with a click. I walked over to the papers and sorted through the documents, nothing that I hadn't seen before. I looked to the computer cautiously. "Could I...? Just a peek?" I asked myself, edging towards the keyboard. The last time I'd touched a computer was in school and that was what seemed like ages ago. I opened up a search page and typed in 'Colleges'. I saw an ad, claiming something about 10 facts we need to know about IronMan. I rolled my eyes at the title. Who cared about 10 facts about IronMan?From what my customers told me, he was an arrogant millionaire, who threw a birthday party, got drunk and let his friend steal his IronMan suit. Not to mention the peeing stunt he did. Rich. I went back to my task at hand. After doing some cursory research and applied for as many colleges as I could now that I had access to a computer. Father did not want me to go to college, but, I supposed that with more money for him to buy booze and women, he might relent.
I thanked my lucky stars that my homeroom teacher, Ms Sanders, had made all of us send a copy of our transcripts to our personal emails. So, I needn't wait any longer to apply. Never know when I might be called away or get enough time to do all these. My typing was slow, but sure. This was what I wanted. My father wouldn't pay a single cent, so I would have to consider financials and all that too.
"Joe! Customer's insisting to see the manager" Rosie's voice rang out over the intercom. I jumped. "Uh, sure I'll be right down Rosie" I said. "Diana?" She asked curious. "Yeah, uh, long story ha.ha" I faked a laugh, and clicked 'submit' on the application page. "Oh..alright?" She said unsurely. I hung up on her intercom. Game face, on.
I'm not going to let Tony down. Or Natasha.