PARADOX

It was about a week later since I've apologized. Tony and I are on favorable terms, I haven't been in the tower. I've been at SHEILD HQ instructing combat sessions. I wasn't a performing, professional soldier but I could yet demonstrate a few tricks I've picked up from Natasha. But right at the moment, I'm roaming the avenues of Manhattan. I had no area to flee to, so why not just roam free for a time? Also, I wasn't solely. Lance was by my side. The other day, he had proposed that we'd put in time together. When I replied I'd take him out for a jaunt, he crushed the soul out of me. Before I met Tony and received a position from him, Lance and I would wander the streets of New York and just chat. We'd chat about the rude customers we've encountered or the ones that were just awfully nice. If I could save something before my so called 'hero' life, I'd chose Lance.
"Would you rather taste a spoon full of cinnamon or eat a spoon full of wasabi?" Lance demanded. 
I threw him a regretful look and said, "Cinnamon." 
"Would you rather I come visit you in the tower every other day or you come see me every alternative day at the shop?"
"At the shop."
"(Y/N)~ you never let me visit you at work!" Lance protested as he glared at me, then we stopped walking. "Plus I'm particularly curious what it looks like inside!"
"Lance, we've been over this. You can't come to the tower because it's risky!"
"But you go every day!"
I looked away and muttered under my breath, "not every day."
"What? Did you say something?"
"Nothing! I don't want Stark's toys blowing holes through you!" 
"Please~ (Y/N)! Just for an hour or so!" 
"Half an hour."
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes! Half an hour and that's it! Forever!" I began pacing while Lance was astonished by the new knowledge.
"Forever?! Wait—" Lance trotted to my side, "(Y/N), are you serious?"
I proceeded to face forward as Lance glimpsed at me numerous times as he walked. "Yes, this is the one and only time. Let's go!" I delivered him a tantalizing sneer and dashed in the course of the tower. 
"Now?! But I'm not properly clothed!" he shouted between breaths as he followed me.
Once I got to the gate, I idled for Lance to catch his breath. His hands were on his knees and throbbed profoundly. "When did you learn how to run so fast?! You never run!" 
"It's like I have super powers!" 
Lance looked up at me and swayed his head in disbelief, "Yeah, sure you do." I jeered at his reply and uttered that I indeed did have enhanced strength. My fingers towed on Lance's sleeve and dragged him into the building. I approached Winter quickly and told her I was accompanying a guest. She nodded and proceeded to her typing. As we made our way to the elevator, Lance chose to escape from my clutch and ran to the lift's doors. 
"Why are you this excited?" I questioned as I stepped to him. 
"(Y/N) (L/N), you work in Tony Stark's tower. How could you not be excited?!" 
"Maybe because I come here so many times, I feel like I've seen everything!" The doors reopened and we moved within. Lance pressed on a button but I looked at which one he pressed. It was one of the buttons that led to classified floors that not even I could enter alone. I've been to all of them, but the units that required permission had to have Tony there with you. "Why don't we just go to the parlor on the top floor, you'll be able to meet Tony." Right after I said he'd meet Stark, Lance covered his face with his hands. I could audibly hear his heart beating excessively.
Lance swung his arms around my shoulders and squeezed the breath out of me. "Gosh, (Y/N)! You're making this my best day yet!" I patted his back, telling him to finish before I changed my mind. Before the doors opened, Lance began tugging at his clothes and studied in the metal for his appearance. 
"You look fine, stop worrying." 
"I didn't exactly dress my best."
"He won't care what you're wearing." Tony really wouldn't, unless you're half naked. In the engineering room, I have always seen him from wearing a sweater to his black tanks. The doors cleared and no one was in sight. Lance trailed behind me and peeped throughout the room. 
"Miss (L/N), I do believe—" It was Vision. He was walking down the hallway holding a sweater in his right hand. "Who might this be?" Vision referred to Lance, who was gawking at him suspiciously.
"Introduce yourself," I muttered to Lance, elbowing him in the ribs on accident. He said his name and rubbed the spot where I elbowed him.  
"I'm Vision." He held his hand out for Lance to shake but Lance had a slow reaction. "Ah yes, Miss (L/N), I do believe you left this in the library the other day." He held up the sweater and I realized it was mine. I praised him happily and Vision returned his route to his room that was just a few doors down. 
"Lance, stop staring." I nudged him and he finally blinked. 
"Is he human?" Lance asked anxiously as he still gave a glance towards Vision's door. 
"Lance, it's not polite. And no he's not precisely human, but he's a great reading buddy." I continued leading down the corridor and into the spacious lounge area. There were several one-seated chairs along with two-love seats. This was where I made my coffee and had a small breakfast with Tony. Every morning, tony and I would cook together and talk about what we thought about. Lance was ranting about how it was possible for Vision to be here and who created him. That was another story. I led him to one of the chairs and told him to stay put until I found Tony. Lance obeyed and gaped out the window. 
My first stop was Tony's main laboratory. He did most of his tinkering in there. The room was mild with a refreshing breeze that seeped through the windows. I wandered around the lab, watching my every step, not to step on anything other than the floor itself. My attention was drawn to a bright pink post-it note that was on the floor. It was stuck near a wide open window, sunlight shined on the floor, giving the room a warm feeling. I crouched down to the floor and peeled off the note from the floor.
'Be back in an hour! -Tony :)'
"Is the smile necessary?" I chuckled before my own lips began to curve into its own smile. A simple drawing. That's all it took. After I found a pen and doodled another face onto the note, I stuck it back in its place. soon after, the alarm went off. "Please, don't let it be Lance," I repeated under my breath, "Not Lance." I rapidly ran up the small case of stairs and gripped tight onto the door handle. It wouldn't open. "No, No, No," I tried pulling it again and nothing budged. "FRIDAY? FRIDAY? Open the laboratory's doors!"
But all she responded was, "Tower on lockdown." I ran back down the stairs and checked to see if the windows were closed yet. They were all closed except one, the one in front of the note. My lips curved into a grin and ran towards it before it fully closed. I slipped under the door and into the small balcony outside. As I gazed at the busy streets down below, I soon regretted what I just did. "Should have snagged that wire rope before I got out here." Right before I decided to climb down the tower, I remembered that the lounge was a floor apart from the lab. "Fuck." I cursed, Lance couldn't see this. I pulled out my phone and dialed Tony. As the phone rang, I heard a blast come from afar. The Iron Man suit landed swiftly a few feet from me and Tony stepped out.
"What's happening? Why is FRIDAY alerting me of intruders?" Tony asked quickly before he commanded the tower's systems to reset.
"I may have brought a guest," I said before Tony could butt in, "I think, I left him alone for too long so FRIDAY didn't recognize him."
"Wha-? Then where did you go?"
"Looking for you! But the lab was empty, I found the note, and then the system locked down!" I rushed as I walked quickly to the lab's doors and into the hallway. Tony followed me and I could hear him cursing under his breath that he needed to upgrade the AI. before we entered the lounge area, I stopped Tony and requested that I take care of my guest. he agreed and headed back into the lab.
I let out a heavy sigh and walked into the lounge room. "Lance?" A rustle came from under the kitchen counter. Lance was crouched down underneath, holding a frying pan. A laugh escaped my mouth and lent a hand for him to come out.
"What was that?! The voice over the speakers was all like 'Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!' Was it because of me?!" I could tell he was amazed with a bit of fright.
"I left you alone for a bit too long, so the security didn't realize that you came in with me." As Lance was ranting about how insane that event was, I had trouble with deciding if he should see Tony or not.
Dammit.
"Lance, I don't think you'll be able to meet Stark today. maybe some other day, when he's free?" He stared at me for a long time, longer than necessary.
"Fine, but you owe me pizza." I gave him a reliving smile and he left for work, leaving me in the room alone. I walked to one of the windows and sunk down to the floor. My head rested on my knees and my arms wrapped around them. That was too much for one hour.
The next morning came, a fresh start of the day. I planned to get Lance and Tony apology donuts, but Tony thought it'd be wonderful to have a meeting at 8 am.
"We have a mission," Tony announced right after he kissed my temple good morning. I set down my coffee and a huge smile grew on my lips. 
"A MISSION?! This is exciting!" I clapped my hands in excitement, practically jumping up and down. 
"Slow down (Y/N), you're not going." And that was the moment my whole soul died. 
"What? Why not? There's not enough of you to go anyway." I looked around the table and it was just Rhodey and Vision. Natasha wasn't exactly here all the time, she basically stated that she's going undercover for awhile. We didn't really need a King's help for a mission. 
"I'm bringing Spider-Man." Tony proudly stated as he sipped his cup of caffeine. 
"Tony, you cannot pull that kid into this. He's just a kid! He has school and a future to look forward to!" I defended. 
"Woah are you saying that we don't have a future to look forward to?" Tony set his cup down and a hand was rested on his hip. 
"He is a child, you all are grown, adults! You've all already chosen your dreams and wishes! I don't know if Vision is an adult, he was practically born a year and a half ago." I gave Vision an apologetic look and he nodded understanding what I meant. Tony threw his head back and let out a heavy sigh. 
"Look, the kid had abilities and he's even told me myself that he looks forward to working with me and the team." 
"Tony, he is still in high school. He can't just drop out and come work for you!"
"Hey, I never said for him to drop out. I'm simply suggesting he get some kind of internship and use that time to see what living like a—" 
Rhodey cut off Tony and crossed his arms, "Tony, bringing this kid in this kind could ruin his life. As (Y/N) said he's still in school and should continue to be. We've already put his life in danger by letting him into our little fight with Rogers." I proudly smiled at Rhodey and mouthed a thank you. I then turned to Tony and he looked betrayed. Seeing his significant other and his Bestie turn away from his idea must hurt. 
"What do you think?" Tony referred to Vision. He was quietly reading a book as he looked up from it and all our eyes were on him. Vision uncomfortably shut his book and sat up straight. 
"I think what (Y/N) is saying is better than what you have planned for the teenager." Tony groaned in defeat and crossed his arms. He quickly then explained the strategies and goal. While he was going through the plan, I sent him a small pout. Tony avoided my stare for awhile but soon gave up and continued to stare back. 
"What are they doing?" Rhodey nudged Vision. Vision glanced up from his book and studied our faces. 
"They do this every time they have a disagreement. They stare until one of them gives up and do as the other one says. It's similar to a telepathic argument." He answers, Rhodey nods and leaves the room along with Vision. Tony and I were still in the middle of our little disagreement until someone knocked on the glass door.
"Mr. Stark, you have a visitor." Winter poked her head through the door. I could tell Tony had to give up soon due to the perfect timing of a visitor. His brows furrowed and turned away quickly to see who was there. As I silently celebrated, I too turned to look at who it was. 
"Hello, Mr.Stark and..." 
"(Y/N)" I finished their sentence and they kindly beamed. I figured who it was and gave Tony a disapproving look. "You didn't."
"I did." 
"Tony!" I exclaimed as I realized who was standing just 20 feet away from me.
"Hello, Mr. Parker."