Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Even though the building took more than a couple of hits during the attack – including that Loki shaped hole on the floor that I’m so keeping –most of its structure was left untouched.” Toni started explaining to Bruce. “Labs are safe and sound. The most damaged parts were relocated to the empty spaces, that are still plenty. Fortunately, the living areas were ready and undamaged. So... You have your room ready for you.”

“You mean my floor, right?” Bruce teased.

“Half floor.” Toni corrected. “If Thor ever moves in you’re gonna have a neighbor.”

Even if in the beginning Toni had absolutely no interest in letting people live in her Tower, besides Pepper – cause Pepper is Pepper – she had included in the original plant ten residential floors with two apartments each. Pepper kept saying it was too much, that the apartments were too big, but who cares about these minor things?

Eventually a big chunk of S.I. was going to be moved to the Tower. For now only Toni, Pepper and Bruce lived there, plus a handful of staff that only worked in the building. There were plenty of people, as far as Toni was concerned.

Maybe that’s why she was so shocked to find a person – a freaking human being! –in the lab she was about to show Bruce.

“There is a person in my lab…” She said shocked. “PEPPER! JARVIS! Pepper, there is a... Person in my lab!”

Pepper, who had been right behind Toni and Bruce, talking on her cellphone, just looked at the mysterious woman and waved, asking for a second.

“Who is she?” Toni demanded.

It was not like “she” wasn’t a fine looking woman – OK, Toni might be pissed, but she was a great appreciator of human beauty, either way. Steve was the biggest proof of that.

The woman had dark brown hair that fell to the middle of her back in large curls, her eyes were partially hidden by thick reading glasses that gave her a half-nerd, half-librarian kind of look. Her clothes screamed P.A.

Toni was playing deaf.

Pepper finished her call and smiled once again to the intruder before turning in Toni’s direction. “This is Cordelia Myers. Your new assistant.”

Toni’s jaw hit the floor. “What?” she screamed “No! Why? I don’t need an assistant! I’ve got you.” She tried to give her best puppy eyes to Pepper. Even though they never worked on her.

Pepper rolled her eyes and put a hand on Toni’s shoulder. “Toni, I have a multi billionaire company to run.” The socialite was so not liking this condescending tone of Pepper “I can’t be your assistant anymore or help you on your crazy schemes! And now there are two scientists in the building. No offenses, Bruce.” She quickly turned to Bruce, who made a gesture to indicate no offense taken. “So… This is your new assistant. Have fun. And don’t break this one, okay?”

Pepper turned and left, but Toni chased her.

“Pepper, she might be a psycho! She can be a spy from the enemy.” Toni clamored. “How can you trust my life to a complete stranger?”

Pepper rolled her eyes once again on the face of such drama. One of these days she was going to get cross eyed because of her kind of boss.

“Phil checked her personally.” She informed her.

“Oh… I didn’t know you guys were talking again.” Toni said carefully.

Pepper eyes went to the floor. “No, I’m not talking to him. That was before…” She took a deep breath and looked back at Toni. “Cordelia worked for six months for me. Then I realized she would do better working directly with you.”

Toni ignored all of that.

“Pepper, why don’t you talk with Agent? Maybe…”

“No.” Pepper was very firm “Go back there and be nice to Cordelia. She is a fast learner and you will realize she is no one’s doormat.” A smile appeared on her face. “Actually I am very interested to see what is going to happen.”

“Well, if she goes the same way as all the others before her, I will end up sleeping with her and then I’ll have to fire her.” And wasn’t that the ugly truth?

“What about Bruce?” Pepper asked, confused.

“What about Bruce?” Toni was confused too.

“Aren’t you guys together?”

“Not as far as I know.”

“Oh” Pepper looked surprised. “You guys have been so close these days, I thought…” She didn’t finish the sentence.

“Nope.” Toni explained smiling. “Bruce is like Rhodey to me. A friend. We don’t blew friendships up this way. Do you know how hard is to find people to put up with me?” She teased, making Pepper laugh.

“Okay, whatever you say.” But she didn’t look really convinced. “Are you really throwing that charity ball?”

“Of course!” Toni exclaimed as if it was obvious.

“Are you going stag again?”

“Can’t you come with me?”

“After we broke up we agreed to not give the media ideas and all the fans that wrote fanfictions about us, remember?”

“Oh…” Toni was thinking. “Did you know that, in these two weeks since the attack, there are a bunch of websites dedicated to Avengers fanfictions? I am the epicenter of them, as usual.” And she looked really proud of it.

“I am afraid of asking exactly what that means.” Pepper replied.

“You should.” Toni admitted. “Okay, I will ask Bruce to come to the ball with me.”

“Good idea. Ask Cordelia to get you a dress and a tuxedo for him.”

“This Cordelia won’t last the month.” Toni warned.

Pepper didn’t answer, but she did have a very weird/smug smile on when she kissed Toni’s cheek and left.

The brunette took a deep breath and went back to the room. Cordelia was still standing there exactly in the same place, looking completely unimpressed with Toni’s tirade. Bruce was, for some unknown reason, staring at a white board.

“Listen up, young lady…” Toni was very serious now “We have a gala in benefit of New York City in two weeks. That is the only reason I am not firing you right now. I need a dress and Bruce needs a tuxedo. I don’t think you will last much longer than these two weeks.”

The other woman merely arched a perfect eyebrow and stared Toni down.

“I am guessing that you will want something red and gold.” She said simply. “Size four for the dress and ten for the shoes?”

Toni narrowed her eyes.

“I still say you’re not gonna last.”

Chapter Text

One year later...

“…and you know, and thank you, by the way. For listening. There’s just something about getting it off my chest and putting it out in the atmosphere instead of holding this in. I mean, this is what gets people sick, you know? Wow, I had no idea you were such a good listener. To be able to share all my intimate thoughts and my experiences with someone, it just cuts the weight of it in half, you know? Like a snake swallowing its own tail. Everything comes full circle. And the fact that you’ve been able to help me process…” Toni looked at Bruce just in time to see the doctor-scientist drop his glasses. Because he’d been sleeping the entire time.

“So, uh…” He started, sheepishly.

“You with me?” Toni asked.

“I was, yeah” Bruce said quickly “Where we, uh, were at…”

“… you were actively napping?”

“I was… I…” he cleared his throat “I, uh, drifted.”

“Where did I lose you?” She asked.

Bruce hesitated. “Elevator in Switzerland.”

“So you heard none of it.” She nagged.

“I’m sorry, I’m not that kind of doctor.” He apologized “I’m not a therapist, it’s not my training, I don’t have the…”

“What? The time?”

“… temperament.”

Toni narrowed her eyes. “You know what? Now that I think about it…” she said dramatically, throwing her head back on the couch “Oh God, my original wound. 1993, alright? I’m 14 years old and I still have a nanny? That was weird.”

Bruce snickered and mumbled something, when somebody knocked on the door. Cordelia, who Toni started calling Cora when it became obvious that she couldn’t get rid of her, came in.

“Miss Stark, Captain Rogers is on the phone. Again.” There was a clear tone of reproach in her voice “Can I put him through?”

If Toni was less strong-willed, she might have succumbed to the pressure of Bruce and Cora’s looks… But since she wasn’t, she gave the same answer she’d been giving since Christmas: “Tell him I’m busy. I’m in the middle of my therapy session!”

Giving Toni one last disapproving look, Cora smiled at Bruce and left.

Toni already knew exactly what the other scientist was going to say, so she decided to go first.

“My new assistant has the hots for you, Bruce.” She stated “Usually, that would bother me, because… well, she’s mine, but there’s no one in this world, except maybe Capsicle, who needs to get laid more than you do. So, you have my blessing.” She said magnanimously.

Bruce was completely sidetracked for a moment. “Toni… this is very…” He looked perplexed “Generous of you, I guess, but… I don’t need anything.”

“Yes, you do!” Toni exclaimed emphatically, getting up from the couch she’d been lying on. “And I’ve been looking through your files and I know you’re scared your heart will start beating too fast and you might turn green and uncomfortably big…”

“TONI!” Bruce shouted, scandalized.

“…but I don’t think it’s going to be a problem. If you want, we can do a test drive right now! Oh, look, how convenient.” She said with false surprise “There’s a couch here!” She walked up to Bruce, stopping between his legs and bent over like she was going to kiss him.

“Toni, stop this right now.” He pleaded, trying to push her away, but ruining it by laughing “You’re being ridiculous.”

“Come on, Bruce.” Toni insisted. “One little kiss won’t kill you.”

But Toni was wearing one of those pencil skirts that were tighter than anything that ever existed, so when she tried to take one more step forward, she lost balance and fell on Bruce and her knees almost ruined all of Bruce’s chances to ever have children.

“Damn skirt.” She mumbled.

Bruce, whose hands were on her waist trying to hold her up, started really laughing.

“It’s not funny!”

”Am I interrupting?”

Toni and Bruce, who didn’t hear the door opening, jumped and the billionaire almost fell to the ground. Bruce helped her to her feet, before getting up as well.

Cora was standing at the doorway, looking as unimpressed as always and Captain America, the one who had spoken, was beside her.

“How is it that you always manage to show up at the most embarrassing and inconvenient moments?” Toni wanted to know, because, well, it was true.

“I can come back later if I’m disrupting you.” Cora replied, arching an eyebrow.

“No, that’s not what…” Toni stopped and took a breath “Whatever. How can I help you, Capsicle?” She asked Steve, but turned back to Cora before he could answer “And didn’t you say he was on the phone?” She accused the other woman.

“I called from the lobby, but because you ignored me once again, I decided to come up. Miss Myer had nothing to do with it.” Steve quickly defended Cora.

About the “once again” thing… If Toni had the ability of feeling actual shame, she probably would, but since she didn’t… “Hm.” was all she said.

Steve took a deep breath, as if asking heaven for help. He then looked at Toni with that serious expression he wore when he was going to act like a good boy.

“Are you okay, Toni?” He asked softly, actually worried. “I heard about the surgery.”

Toni’s hand went automatically to cover the spot where the reactor used to be. There was now only her smooth skin there, and she got reacquainted with low-cut tops.

“Oh, yeah. Everything’s fine.” She said, like it wasn’t a big deal. “The doctor who operated on me was a star, and the plastic surgeon was a god. You can’t even tell there used to be something here.” Steve opened his mouth to say something and Toni quickly stopped him. “Everything has been overall amazing, like always. My life is incredible.”

Bruce sent Toni a look which made it clear that he thought she was an idiot. The doctor walked up to Steve and offered him a hand. “How are you, Steve?” He asked politely.

Steve shook his hand and smiled at him. “Great. And you?”

“All good. What brings you here?”

“I decided to accept Toni’s offer. To move to the Tower.” He answered self-consciously, looking at Toni like he expected her to tell him he couldn’t stay.

She wanted to. She really did.

“Of course, of course.” Toni said, like it was no big deal. It was. “Why don’t you wait outside? I need to have a word with Bruce here, and then I’ll show you around.”

Steve looked from Toni to Bruce and then Toni again, but just nodded and left. Bruce and Toni stayed silent for a minute, and then…

“So, I imagine you’d love to take care of the Captain’s “not getting laid” problem.” Bruce stated.

Toni narrowed her eyes. She must be a terrible influence, because the longer they spent together, the sassier he got. He had an acid, sometimes dark sense of humor that was always amusing to her. Except at that particular moment.

“Shut up, Bruce.” Toni muttered.

Bruce seemed to be analyzing Toni attentively, more than she felt like she deserved at the moment. Suddenly, the scientist stood straighter, his eyes carried a mischievous glint.

Crap. When Bruce got like that, it meant he had a plan and Toni would get in trouble.

“Let’s make a deal.” He proposed very seriously. “I’ll ask her out if you sleep with me.”

Whatever Toni was expecting, that wasn’t it. Her face must have made that very clear. “What?!”

“You heard me.” He repeated calmly. “I’ll ask Cora out if you have sex with me first.”

Toni opened her mouth to speak. Then she closed it. And then opened it again. Then closed it once more. And then she crossed her arms in front of her chest. “You think I won’t?” She inquired petulantly.

“Why do you think I’m asking?” He answered his demeanor perfectly neutral. Like they were talking about fucking the weather!

“You know… I would, but…” She started, raising her chin and ignoring how hard it was to complete a sentence. “I don’t think that’d be cool. Cora deserves better.”

“Really?” Bruce asked, his tone leaving no doubt that he didn’t believe a word of what she said.

“What? You don’t think I would? Because I’d totally have sex with you. Right now, even. You want to do it on my desk?”

Bruce rolled his eyes. “Toni, be honest.”

“I’m serious!” She protested. “Should I start taking my clothes off?” She asked, her hands on her shirt.

“Toni…” Bruce started with a serious expression that made him look like a teacher. “Why don’t you just admit that you aren’t interested in anyone because you want…”

“Shh!” Toni basically tackled him and covered his mouth with her hands. “Don’t say it! Don’t say that name, or I swear to God…”

Bruce rolled his eyes again and took her hands off of his mouth. “Ask him out, Toni. It won’t kill you.” He admonished.

“Yeah, but why risk it?” The billionaire replied, backing away from him. “Besides, the good Captain wouldn’t touch me with a ten foot pole.”

The last part was supposed to be muttered to herself, but Bruce heard it. Toni wasn’t usually like that, so… dejected. He opened his mouth to say something, but she was already leaving the room.

“Come on, Capsicle, I have other places to be.” She stated, standing in front of Steve. “Cora, come with. You and I need to have a little chat.”

“Actually, I need Cora’s help with something.” Bruce interjected.

Toni arched an eyebrow. “Does it have to be now?”

“Yes.” Bruce answered.

She narrowed her eyes and wished, not for the first time, that she could shoot lasers from them. 

Cora looked from one to the other and stepped towards Bruce. “I’ll go up as soon as I’m done here.” She said calmly.

“You’d better.” Tony warned “Jarvis! The elevator.”

The doors to Toni’s private elevators opened and she stepped inside, being quickly followed by Steve. She definitely didn’t like the smile she saw on Bruce’s face before the doors closed.

“Don’t get angry with Miss Myers. I really invaded your office.” Steve said quickly.

“I don’t believe it at all. But I wasn’t planning on being angry with Cora; just don’t let her know that.”

Steve realized, as soon as the doors closed, that Toni had every intention of ignoring him. She seemed to be in one of those moods and he had the distinct impression that it was his fault. Had he really interrupted something between her and Bruce?

Steve had been dreading his reunion with Toni for almost a year now. Right after the Battle of New York he went on “vacation” and decided to rediscover the United States. He needed some time to accept that things had changed and the world wasn’t how he remembered it anymore.

He had been traveling for around two weeks when he saw on the news that Toni Stark had donated money –a whole lot of it – to help rebuild New York. Besides this the billionaire was organizing a ball to help raise more money for the city. The news boasted that the Avengers would be there.

Steve, who was at a diner in the middle of nowhere, called Natasha immediately and asked if he should go back to be in that ball.

Natasha’s words were “Don’t you dare”. The red head explained to Steve that he needed that time out. He needed to accept that time had gone by, had to let some things go and understand that the past couldn’t be changed. He needed a chance to grieve.

The Captain accepted it all with a heavy heart, knowing it was the truth.

In the week after the party people hardly spoke of anything else. He knew he shouldn’t but Steve ended up buying one of those celebrity magazines to see the pictures. Many famous people –none of which he could recognize –and important politicians and businesspeople came as well. Three senators from the New York state refused to attend, blaming the Avengers for all that happened. There was also a protest in front of the building, but it was a peaceful one.

Then he saw the pictures.

Natasha was wearing a navy blue dress with a slit that came all the way to her thigh, her arm linked with Clint’s, who wore a gray suit. Pepper looked stunning in her pictures, wearing a white dress that made her look like one of the divas from the 20’s. Her date was a man in a military uniform; his name was Colonel James Rhodes –according to the capitation.

Toni was…

Wow.

Toni wasn’t what people would call a classic beauty. No, her face was too strong for that. She had something else, it was the way she carried herself, a power and an energy that belonged only to her and it seemed to shine through the pictures.

She was wearing a long red dress – should he be surprised by the color? – The neckline showing very little, just a glimpse of the arc reactor on her chest. But the next picture –one of her climbing stairs – showed how deceptive that dress was. The back of it was non-existent, showing nothing but glorious skin.

The pictures after that one showed Toni on Bruce’s arm making Steve wonder –not for the first time –if they were together. They seemed close enough and the magazines were asking the same question. Especially since Toni and Pepper broke up the billionaire had been going stag to all parties.

Steve didn’t like the idea of Toni being with Bruce. Then he felt stupid for not liking it. He had no reason to.

He tried to put all this behind him and continue his trip. He traveled the country for four months, and then took a very serious decision: bought a ticket to England. He needed to see Peggy.

During all the time he was awake after the New York Battle, S.H.I.E.L.D. 's therapists tried to convince him to go and talk to Peggy, as a way to get closure on this part of his life. But how could he “close” something? This part of his life wasn’t forgotten just because he slept for 70 years! It was ridiculous that they would expect him to act as if it was.

Steve refused to even think about the possibility of talking to Peggy for a long time. Finally he realized he was being unfair with her as well. Peggy had a right to know what happened, that he was there and he had not forgotten her.

The retirement home she was in was very peaceful. The nurse he talked to told him that Peggy was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, sometimes she would “forget” exactly where she was.

Back in the day, Steve had heard about Alzheimer’s disease, but not a great deal. He could recall few things about it, mostly that affected old people and was very similar to dementia. He felt sick on his stomach.

But, to the nurse and his complete shock, Peggy remembered him. Sort of. For her it was like not one single day had passed and they were back on the base, waiting for the next attack on a H.Y.D.R.A. base.

That was actually worse than not being remembered might be. Seeing that face, full of wrinkles that told stories of a life where so much happened and not being able to heart the stories made his heart ache. Peggy had lived a full life and her memory couldn’t record half of it.

In the end he prolonged his stay in Winchester and visited Peggy every single day. On the sixth he found her completely lucid.

He didn’t think it was possible, but it was worse than before.

Peggy cried upon seeing him. They talked for hours until she started becoming tired and confused with the words and ideas.

Three days later she died while sleeping.

It was the first time since waking up that Steve cried, really cried.

Now he was back to New York, back to see Toni –even if he wouldn’t say it out loud – and he refused to remain silent. The doors of the elevator opened and she was preparing to leave first.

“Let’s go this way. So, on the top floors…”

“Toni.” He blocked her way, leaving both of them still inside the elevator, though the doors were open. “I just wanted to say that it’s good to see that you are okay. Better.” He corrected himself upon seeing her eyebrow rising. “Well, you know. I heard about what happened on Christmas, the surgery and everything else… And, you look good. Your hair looks good. You look… Good.”

Seriously? That’s the best he could do? He couldn’t sound more like an insecure teenager if he tried. By Toni’s face it was easy to see she was quite unimpressed. Maybe he shouldn’t have talked about the hair, but it really looked great!

“I feel… Good.” She said and Steve noticed that her hesitation on the use of the word was different from his. “Thanks.”

She made it as if to leave the elevator, but Steve didn’t give her space. The doors were still open and he supposed they would remain that way for as long as necessary. Though… If they closed it would be easier to have this conversation, especially because he had the feeling that Toni would like nothing more than to run away.

“I’ve heard about what happened.” He said firmly, making her look at him. “About everything that really happened. I was on a mission in a place I can’t discuss when I heard that you were dead because someone bombed your house in Malibu.” The tight feeling on his chest when he heard that had no sane explanation. “I heard about it and I begged Fury to let me come back and figure out what was happening, but he wouldn’t let me. Told me to stay and finish my mission. And after that you wouldn’t talk to me.”

He knew he sound frustrated, but that was because he was fucking frustrated with her. “I don’t know what I’ve done. I know that I annoy you, even without knowing exactly why I do, but I really needed to know how you were. And you don’t answer the phone when I call so…” He sighed tiredly, losing his steam. “How are you?”

For the first time since he met her, Toni seemed to really reflect before answering the question, like she had the intention of telling the truth. Maybe exactly because of that, hearing her lie disappointed Steve so much.

“I am fine, Steve. Good. Don’t worry about me.”

Even her smile was weak and Steve felt that, in great part, it was due to being too tired. But obviously she gave him no time to think about it. She was already pushing him to the side, moving, talking.

“This is the communal area.” She said, opening her arms to show the room. “Everybody has access. And by ‘everybody’ I mean me, Bruce, Pepper, Cora and now you. There is a fully equipped kitchen, something of a cinema and a snooker table. I guess here’s where we’re supposed to socialize.”

“Natasha and Clint haven’t moved in yet?” He was confused. Natasha had been the moving force behind his coming to the Tower. So much so, he was sure she was living there already.

“Not yet.” Toni said. “But I guess, since you’re here it’s a question of time until Itsy Bitsy Spider and Tweety move in too.”

“Does Miss Myers leave here?”

“No. She says she already has to put up with me for too many straight hours to willingly live with me.” Toni said with a smile that showed she actually liked the attitude. “Above us there are 10 floors of labs and my floor. Your apartment is on the floor below this one, you share the floor with Pepper. Below you is the super spy couple and below them Bruce and Thor, in case Point Break ever decides to come back.”

“Bruce doesn’t live with you?” Steve asked before he could stop himself.

Toni looked at him like she thought he was particularly slow “Why would he?” Then she started walking before Steve could say anything. “Now come so I can show you the gym and a couple of other floors. Have you already been introduced to Jarvis?”

“The British voice that comes out of your ceiling?” Steve asked.

“I prefer the term ‘Artificial Intelligence that controls the life of you all’, Captain Rogers. But British Voice works as well.” The aforementioned voice said dryly.

“Jarvis is the most sensitive computer I’ve ever seen.” Toni rolled her eyes. “But both of you are correct: he does have an accent, speaks from the ceiling and controls everything that happens here. If you need to find something, to research something, download songs illegally or find good porn on the internet, he can do it for you.”

Steve chose to ignore her.

“Which kind of reminds me…” She snapped her fingers, entering in the elevator that waited for them “We have another dinner for charity this week. Nat and Clint aren’t coming, but Pepper and Bruce will be there with me. Can you come?”

Steve was surprised by the invitation, mostly because it was the first time he heard anything about it. “Sure. I’ll be there. But I don’t think I have anything to wear.”

“Talk to Cora.” Toni shrugged, after pressing the bottom for a floor. “I’m sure she can find you something. She is annoyingly efficient. I spent three months trying to find a good reason to fire her, before giving up. At least she looks great on pencil skirts and I can watch every time she has to bend.”

Steve decided to ignore that too. Most of the time he thought that Toni said those kinds of things just to annoy him, but he rather not find out if it was the case.

They were going to solve this. Toni and him, along with the rest of the Avengers, were a team and they had to come to an understanding, even if they didn’t like each other all that much. And he knew what was his problem with Toni –she had no regard for rules, no respect for authority, she was too arrogant – he didn’t know what her problem was with him. If they were to get along they had to fix this.

There was this little voice inside his head that was warning him: if he ever got the nerve to ask Toni why she didn’t like him, he would regret it.

Chapter Text

Toni left Steve at his apartment and pressed the button to call the elevator. When the door opened she came face to face with Cora. She didn’t even let the other woman get out of the elevator, just pushed her to stay there and pressed the button that would take both of them to the labs.

“Cora, you’re one of my favorite assistants ever –which is not little feat considering that you only lose to Pepper and the Black Widow and you are the only one I’ve never slept with.” Toni said seriously. “But you pull a stunt like this again and I will fire you.”

For the first time since Cora started working for Toni the other woman actually looked chastised. “I’m really sorry, Miss Stark.” She said and it seemed sincere. “I was just following Miss Potts orders.”

Toni arched a brow. “Say what?”

“She said, and I quote: ‘if the Captain ever grows the balls to knock on our door, you will take him to see Toni immediately, unless she specifically tells you she doesn’t want to see him’.” It was kind of funny to see her talking. Toni felt she could see the quotation marks on her words. “You never said you didn’t want to see the Captain, just that you wouldn’t answer the phone.”

Toni was hardly left speechless, but this time she didn’t even know where to start arguing with Cora. So she ignored the less relevant part of the problem –Pepper planning something related to the Captain behind her back –and focused on something else. “Since when do you take orders from Pepper? You work for me.”

Now Cora seemed really uncomfortable. “Well, mostly you are my boss.” Cora ignored Toni’s outrage upon the “mostly” bit. “But in my contract as a S.I. employee it’s specified that Miss Potts can give me orders and I have to follow them, unless you specifically tell me not to.”

“Jarvis, stop the elevator.” Toni ordered brusquely.

The elevator stopped on the next floor and the doors opened. Toni felt betrayed. How could Pepper do that to her? Suddenly Cora didn’t feel like an assistant, but a babysitter! It even made sense why Pepper insisted that Toni needed her. How long had Cora been receiving orders from Pepper, without Toni’s knowledge?

“Out, Cora.” She said.

“Miss Stark…” Cora started saying, but she was obeying and leaving the elevator.

“I'm not going to fire you, because I understand it’s not your doing.” Toni said curtly. “But in one hour I want a list of everything you’ve done under Pepper’s order that relates to me in this last year. You are, from now on, forbidden to do anything she tells you before speaking to me first. And don’t you dare speak to her of this, before I have the chance.

Cora just nodded, now a bit scared.

“Jarvis, let’s go to my floor.” Toni ordered. “I intend to get drunk.”

The elevator’s door closed. 

***

Three days later...

Toni hated fighting with Pepper. Truly. It was one of the things that made the billionaire wish to drown herself in a bottle of whisky. Burt, despite that, it was exactly what happened after she talked to Cora.

Toni spent the afternoon drinking and trying to calm herself. It hadn’t worked one bit. When she called Pepper and told her to come to the Tower she knew it wouldn’t end well.

It didn’t. Especially after Toni saw the list of things Pepper had given to Cora. This time Toni wasn’t angry about the smaller things –like mixing water in her whisky, because she could damn well recognize the taste of tainted alcohol – but she got very pissed about the filter that Cora had been using to show her things: news, companies reports, gossip, even fucking party invitations!

Pepper argued that she was worried about Toni after what happened in New York plus the whole “Mandarin” debacle and just wanted to protect her.

And yeah, right, she knew it hadn’t been easy. She still couldn’t sleep very well and all those suits that had gone up in the air were mostly rebuilt by now. She knew she had gone back to drinking a bit too much, but this time she was getting better! Moving to New York had actually helped, Bruce was helping, and even Cora was!

In the end they fought, as they hadn’t in a long time and Pepper finally conceded that she might have overreacted. Toni didn’t like the “might”, but she accepted it. She also made the redhead write a new contract for Cora, right in front of her, specifying that the woman could only take orders from Toni from now on.

Toni and Pepper still weren’t on speaking terms. Maybe that was why today's party seemed to suck so badly. It was another beneficent ball for the city and the repairs that still needed to be made. This time Natasha and Clint couldn’t come, because they were on a mission in some other country, but Bruce was adorable in a suit and Steve looked down right yummy. But Toni was feeling so low she couldn’t even appreciate it as she normally would.

She was trying to stop herself from drinking anything else. She had already had two glasses at home and another two here. She wouldn’t screw an important day like today.

“Are you okay, Stark?” Steve asked, coming to stand beside her.

“Just peachy, Cap.” She replied, abusing the sarcasm. “Actually, the only way to make this better was if I could get really drunk right now.”

At least her dress was amazing. Cora –who was a genius when it came to clothes – had found her this dress that was nude with red flowers. What she liked the best about it was that it was kind of see-through and when the light hit it in the right angle she could see the contours of her legs. Sexy, but not over the top. Who would’ve thought?

Steve was still there looking worried, though. “What happened?”

“I had a fight with Pepper.” She admitted, because it wasn’t a secret.

“You’re really close, right?” He said.

“Well, Pepper is actually the first person that I truly loved above myself and everything else.” Toni said suddenly even though she didn’t think she should be telling Steve those things. “We tried to be together, but it didn’t work. Don’t take me wrong, the sex was amazing and all the other things were as well, but… I don’t know. It just didn’t work out. Pepper is the kind of woman that wants to get married, have that freaking house with the picket fence and 2.3 kids. Kinda like you.”

Steve seemed to be about to comment, but Toni didn’t let him. “I don’t. I don’t like children and don’t want to have any. I don’t see the need in marrying. Besides…” She sighed. “Pepper never liked having to deal with the whole ‘saving the world and almost dying every other weekend’ part of our relationship.”

That Steve could understand. It probably wasn’t easy for a civilian to understand what they had to do.

“I’m… Sorry.” Steve said and Toni wanted to slap him just for the sincerity in his voice.

“Yeah, we’re over, but Pepper is still one of my favorite people.” She said. “Which really makes me even more annoyed by the fact that she still isn’t talking to Coulson.”

“Agent Coulson?” Steve was confused. “Is that why you two fought?”

“No, no!” She denied, but didn’t explain the reason they actually fought. “She still isn’t talking to him, even though she wants to. Pepper thinks she has to be on my side, against S.H.I.E.L.D., but the truth is, I want to see her happy and I think he can make her.”

“You know…” Steve started hesitantly. “I think he wants to talk to her, but doesn’t know how. Yesterday he called me, saying he was just checking up on me, but two minutes in, he started asking about her.”

“Oh god.” She rolled her eyes. “That’s pathetic. I’ll have to talk to Phil. Man to man.”

Steve arched an eyebrow.

“What? Somebody has to fix this and make sure that Phil’s intentions are only kind of honorable.”

Steve threw his head back and laughed in a way Toni had never seen before. Geez, what the fuck had they out in that serum they gave him? Super-yumminess?

“You are a piece of work, Stark.” He said, still laughing.

“Call me, Toni, Cap.” She asked. “Every time you say ‘Stark’ I keep waiting for a scolding.”

Steve’s smile was the kind that lit up the room. “Only if you start calling me Steve.”

“Deal. Now I need to find…” Her eyes turned to the entrance where some kind of commotion was going on. Finally the paparazzi opened some space and a man came through them. “Son of a bitch.” Toni murmured in shock.

“Do you know who that guy is?” Steve asked, but Toni was already walking in the mysterious man's direction.

When he saw her getting closer the man let his eyes slide down her figure without an ounce of shame. A smirk appeared on his face. “Antonella Stark.” He seemed to savor the name.

Toni offered her hand with a malicious smile on her face. “Bruce Wayne.”

Wayne had a predatory smile on his face, like he was getting ready to jump his prey. He caught her hand and brought Toni closer to him. Without taking his eyes from her he dropped a kiss to the back of her hand, before turning it and dropping a kiss to her wrist.

“Behave, Wayne. We are in public.” Toni said, but her voice had no reproach in it.

“Why do you think I haven’t properly kissed you yet?”

“Wow, someone is feeling frisky today. What are you doing here, so far from Gotham?”

“I had a business meeting in Chicago, but it was canceled at the last minute. I already had the plane ready to go, suitcases packed… I remembered this party of yours. Seemed like a good idea.”

“How generous of you to grace us with your presence.” Toni said just a bit sarcastically.

“You haven’t seen anything yet, Antonella.” His smile was promising the best kind of mischief. “Let’s dance?”

“Let’s.” She agreed gracefully. “That way you can tell me what you’ve been up to and where you are taking me in exactly one hour.”

Bruce laughed and put one of his arms around her waist, pulling Toni with him to the dance floor.

***

“Oh no…”

Steve nearly jumped when Pepper spoke by his side. He hadn’t heard her coming to stand by him, most likely because he hadn’t been able to take his eyes off Toni and whoever that guy was.

“Who is he?” He asked.

“Bruce Wayne.” Pepper said morosely. “Gotham’s multi billionaire playboy and...” She looked around and lowered her voice. “The Batman.”

Steve was quite surprised. He had read about this Batman character. S.H.I.E.L.D. had provided him with a list of names of possible allies/threats and that guy was one of them. Though the document didn’t have his real name.

Steve watched them once again and saw Wayne twirl Toni around, making her laugh. “Where do they know each other from?” He asked grumpily.

“Some kind of society party, I figure.” Pepper said eyes on the dancing couple. “The first time they dated was a bit after I started working for her. She hadn’t become the Iron Lady yet, but he already was… Anyway, they had one of those crazy romantic stories that lasted all of three months. Some time passed, she made the first suit, and they crossed paths again and disappeared together for two weeks. Then the same thing happened the following year and once again when we broke up.” She huffed. “The way things are round here she is going to leave with him again.”

“Do you think they…” Steve paused to weigh his words carefully before saying them. “Do they love each other?”

“No way.” Pepper rolled her eyes. “I know they keep in touch and have some kind of deal regarding the whole ‘saving the world' businesses. I’m under the impression that they agree that New York is Toni’s and Gotham is Bruce’s and that’s it. Aside from that, I think she likes him for the same reason she liked many before him: for fun.”

By the smile on Toni’s face… It had to be lots of fun.

***

Toni rolled her eyes, but let Bruce twirl her one more time, before putting her hands firmly on his shoulders. She didn’t like dancing and enjoyed the acrobatics in it even less. Two things that Wayne was well aware of. He was laughing without an ounce of regret.

“You have no romance in you, Antonella.” He teased, pulling her closer and starting to dance more calmly.

“I also hate being called Antonella.” She grumbled. “You are the only one I let get away with it, because you are very good with orgasms.”

Bruce laughed once again. “That’s why I like you, Antonella. You say whatever you want, treat me like a normal person, make me laugh and you are also very good with orgasms.”

“Very good?” She arched an eyebrow. “Darling, I should be considered the Goddess of Sex and people should make pilgrimages to see me.”

Bruce chuckled, his eyes shining with mirth. “You are unbelievable.”

“Yeah, enough chit-chat for you, Wayne?” Her voice was firm, but not cruel or without care. “Why are you here?”

Bruce sighed a bit aggravated. “You are terrible, Toni. I read what happened to you. I know it was a while ago. I wanted to give you time to recover, but I wanted to see you.”

Toni threw Bruce a concerned look. “What’s going on?”

“Did you hear about what happened in Gotham last year?” He asked seriously.

Who hadn’t? It was a bit before everything that happened between Toni and that son of a bitch, Killian. Actually before the whole thing went boom –before Toni buying Pepper a gigantic bunny –she was planning on going to Gotham to see Bruce. She worried about him more than she worried about most people.

“About that guy they called Joker and the District Attorney that died? Yes, I heard.”

“It was way worse than what they said on TV.” He admitted.

Are you truly being held responsible?”

“Yes, but that’s not even important.” He said tiredly. “I just… I realized how quickly things can be taken from me. That becoming what I did wouldn’t magically prevent it. And then I thought of you and wanted to see you.”

“How cute, Wayne.” Toni said, but then regretted it. It wasn’t funny. It was fucking sad. “I almost went to Gotham when I saw the news, but you didn’t return my calls. I was almost going anyway when the whole Mandarin thing happened.”

“When I read that you had died…” Bruce’s hand on her waist flexed, pulling her closer. “I didn’t know what to do. Rachel also died and…”

“Please.” Toni stopped him, her eyes serious now. “Let’s not talk about that.”

Bruce took a deep breath. “OK.” He managed a smile. “What do you want to talk about?”

Toni’s smile was full of mischief. “Why don’t we give the tabloids something naughty to talk about?”

Bruce laughed before dipping Toni and kissing her in front of everybody.

Chapter Text

Toni opened her eyes slowly and noticed it was still nighttime. The room was dark, which was not a problem since that way she could admire Bruce’s silhouette against the window.

Bruce was staying in one of those ridiculously expensive hotels of New York –penthouse, of course. The room had glass windows from the ground to the ceiling and the city view was gorgeous. In this exact moment Bruce was staring out the window, eyes on the Stark Tower. Totally naked.

Yummy.

She stayed where she was, lying down and watching Bruce, letting her eyes take his back. His body was full of scars and Toni had kissed every single one of them when they entered the room, just before she pushed him against the wall and dropped to her knees.

They never talked about this aspect of their lives. They both knew about each other –OK, the whole world knew about her and Toni had hacked his security system and kind of found out about the whole Batman thing –but they tried not to get involved. They had agreed to not interfere, unless the other actually asked for help. Toni had Bruce’s number saved and almost called him a couple of times, but in the end she never actually did it.

Some things shouldn’t get mixed.

“I’m feeling a bit objectified by the way you’re staring at me.” Bruce drawled, without turning from the window.

“Darling, it’s not my fault you’re a piece of prime steak.” Toni quipped stretching.

Bruce laughed and made a gesture for her to come closer. Toni stretched once again, before getting up from the bed with no clothes at all.

Some women had the weird habit of covering themselves post-coitus –Pepper was one of them. Toni had none of these problems, because if her body was good enough for a roll in the hay, it sure as hell was good enough to go around naked.

Bruce pulled her close and pushed her against the glass. “You cut your hair.” He observed, touching her bangs.

Toni rolled her eyes. “A while ago, Sherlock.”

Actually her hair had caught on fire when she was fighting the crazy lady in Tennessee and decided to blow the restaurant. Toni had liked the longer hair, but she would not deny that the new style –shoulder length –was pretty nice.

“You still look beautiful.” He said, touching her chin.

“Okay, now you’re worrying me.” Toni said seriously. “You’re way too sweet.”

Bruce laughed, but it was humorless. “Everything that happened last year… No. Actually, everything that happened in those last years got me thinking. I’m not ‘super’ like some of the others. I’m –painfully –human. One of these days I’ll find someone that will hit way harder than I can take.” He sighed. “I already found this person. He’s locked up in a cell, but I know it won’t hold him forever. I should have killed that…”

Toni’s hand cradled his face, but she didn’t say a thing. It was not like Bruce to talk about killing people. He was better than that.

“You know what I’m talking about.” He said after a second. “You must feel the same.”

“I haven’t slept much since New York.” She admitted. “What happened at Christmas didn’t help at all, but I’m very thankful that Killian isn’t around anymore.”

“Did he hurt you?” Bruce asked seriously, running his finger over Toni’s face.

“He did worse: he hurt Pepper.”

Bruce smirked a bit. “How is Miss Potts?” He wondered. “Still the light of your life?”

“She’ll always be the light of my life, one way or another.” Toni shrugged. “Unfortunately it didn’t work out.”

“Just like us.” Bruce put it out there. “I never wanted to love someone was much as I wanted to love you.”

Toni scoffed. “Well, I’m glad you didn’t. We’d never work out. Our kids would be born traumatized.”

“But they’d be gorgeous.” Bruce teased dropping a kiss to her shoulder.

“They’d try to take over the world.” Toni’s smirk was full of arrogance. “And they’d succeed.”

Bruce laughed again and gave Toni a long toe-curling kiss. One of those that had no pretension or lies in it, no hurry, and Toni knew –with a sudden clarity –that this would be the last time they would be together like this.

“Feeling a bit envious of my baby, Wayne?” She teased when they stopped kissing, her head indicating the Stark Tower.

Bruce arched an eyebrow. “Have you seen my place?”

“Have you seen mine?” She countered. “And my housemates?”

“Of that I’m not even one bit envious.” He rolled his eyes. “I don’t even know how you put up with it.”

“Me neither.” She sighed resigned. “It’s just that my heart is way too good.”

Bruce Wayne actually started guffawing at that and Toni slapped him in the arm. “Hey! That’s a bit much!”

“Right. Sorry, but I wasn’t expecting that.” Bruce cleared his throat, his laughter stopping. “But I can pretend I believe in it.”

“Oh dear… OK, I let them live with me for the amount of eye candy it offers me.” She ruffed. “Is that better?”

“Way better.” Bruce conceded, some chuckles still coming out of his mouth “Talking about eye candy...” His hand slid down her back.

“I thought you’d want to talk the whole night.” Toni groaned dramatically.

Bruce kissed Toni once again, now with a very obvious purpose. His hand skittered to her ass, where he grabbed her and pulled her up, pressing the woman’s body against the glass window.

With only the lights from the Big Apple on them, Antonella had Bruce Wayne completely to herself. One last time.

XxX

Many people use the term “walk of shame” after a one night stand. That tense moment when you have to walk around in bright daylight with last night's clothes.

Toni Stark had never walked the walk of shame, because there was nothing to be ashamed of. Sex was not a bad thing, and no wannabe moralist would convince her otherwise. So, crossing the lobby of a five stars hotel, wearing Bruce’s white shirt and a pair of boxers and carrying her dress on her arm? Nothing wrong with that.

Don’t want to see it? Look the other way, bitches.

“Good morning, Alfred.” She smiled at Bruce’s super butler, who was waiting for her by the car, right in front of the hotel.

“Miss Stark.” He smiled at her, holding the door open.

Santa –seriously, the only thing missing for him to be Santa Claus was the beard –left Toni right in front of Stark Tower. She said goodbye and asked him to take good care of Bruce.

She decided to go up to the communal floor, because when Cora –that bitch –wasn’t flirting with Bruce –which was all the time, he was the only one that didn’t realize it –she made coffee and left some easy to eat stuff around –for Bruce.

But Karma was a nasty bitch and of course it wasn’t Cora or Bruce that were in the room. It was Steve.

And it could be seven in the morning, the morning after a party, but Steve was perfectly dressed in his grandpa clothes, with his stupid hair combed. Jerk.

If he wasn’t so hot Toni might hate him

But he seemed pretty shocked to see her. “Toni. What are you doing here?”

“As far as I remember, I live here.” She replied, throwing her dress carelessly on a chair and kicking her shoes off.

“I know.” Steve assured her quickly, a bit embarrassed. “But Pepper seemed pretty sure that you’d run off with Wayne.”

“Nope.” She popped the “p”. “I’m here.” She looked around distractedly. “Where’s Cora?”

“I was under the impression that today was her day off.” Steve replied carefully.

“Shit. It is.” Toni huffed. “What are you doing here?”

“Natasha called me yesterday, a little bit after you left the party...” He informed her. “She’s moving in with Clint today. They should be here any minute now.”

“Finally.” Toni chimed. “I can barely wait to have the whole team in the house.”

Steve looked very surprised by this piece of information. “Why?” He wanted to know.

“Why not?” She threw back. “Holy fuck! I need coffee!” Toni fumed. "Do you have any idea where the stuff in this kitchen is?”

“You don’t?”

“Of course I don’t.” She said as if it was obvious. “Do I look like someone that spends time in the kitchen?”

Steve laughed and decided to make coffee for her –apparently Cora had taught him how to handle the coffeemaker. When Natasha and Clint finally arrived they were talking about the party from the night before, with Toni sitting on the counter and Steve by her.

“Greetings, Agent Romanoff!” She greeted cheerily. “And Legolas!”

Clint arched a brow. “Why is she the only one here that gets respect?”

“Because she’s the one that scares me.” Toni rolled her eyes.

Clint snickered, but his eyes seemed to be studying Toni carefully. “You have this look about you… You looked well fucked.” He declared, making Steve choke on his coffee.

“Wow, you really are a super spy, hm?” Toni drawled sarcastically. “I was well fucked, thank you very much.”

This time when Steve choked on his coffee, Natasha had to thump him on the back.

“By whom?” Clint asked, curious.

“Bruce Wayne.” Toni sighed.

Natasha turned immediately to the billionaire and straightened her eyes. “What? Since when did you resume your relationship with Wayne?”

“I’m not sure ‘resume’ is the appropriate word here… We’ve been on and off for a while.” Toni shrugged.

Natasha looked very shocked. “What do you mean ‘a while’? As far as S.H.I.E.L.D. knew you only dated once, years ago.”

“Well, then I’m not sorry to inform you that you guys know shit.” She declared, looking excessively pleased by the notion. “I only dated him once, but we had many other ‘meetings’ through the years, the most recent one being last night.”

Natasha arched her brow. “Even after Afghanistan?”

“Even after Pepper.” Toni informed, without really understanding what the deal with Natasha was.

“You do know that he wears a cape and horns, right?” Clint chimed in.

“Yeah, he doesn’t have my stylish sense of heroism, but that man looks edible in a suit.” Toni shrugged.

“So why don’t you two really date?” Steve asked, though he seemed to regret it right after.

“Because we don’t work as a couple.” Toni replied as if it was obvious. “Apart from the fact that we both have huge egos, I hate Gotham, he hates California and we both are completely fucked up and one would drive the other crazy. Bruce has a shitload of baggage related to his family and the things he’s done. I’m not even going to mention my family problems, ‘cause they’re quite obvious. We get married, we’d be doing therapy for the rest of our lives.

Natasha seemed to be thinking pretty hard about something. “I had no idea you still went out with men.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Toni asked, legitimately surprised. “I love men. They tend to understand the concept of casual sex a whole lot easier than most women.”

Clint started laughing. “And here I was thinking you were abusing poor Banner.”

“Of course I’m not!” Tony exclaimed, affronted. “Bruce will be –very soon –being abused by Cora and I don’t want things to be awkward.”

Clint was getting purple from laughing.

“You’re trying to match Bruce with your P.A.?” Natasha asked.

“To be quite honest, she’s interested in him on her own. She even flirts with him and stuff.” Toni shrugged. “I’m just trying to convince Bruce to grow a pau and do something about it. Have you seen that woman? She looks like one of those super serious librarians that use sexy lingerie under her clothes. I love when she bends to pick up stuff.”

Clint fell to the ground, trying to breathe through his laughter.

“Toni… There’s only one thing missing for you to be a real pig of a man, because that head of yours…” Natasha rolled her eyes.

“You’re talking about a dick, right? ‘Cause I can’t think of anything else in a man that’s essential.”

Steve just hoped that eventually Clint would stop laughing and go back to breathing.

***

Toni wasn’t really surprised when, hours later, Natasha came to find her on her lab. The redhead has spent a good time observing Toni like she was a mystery and it was quite obvious she had something on her kind. Toni just wasn’t sure of what could possibly be.

She seemed a bit bothered by the whole Bruce Wayne story, though Toni didn’t understand why. Did S.H.I.E.L.D. have any problems with the Justice League? Not that she couldn’t understand it, because that name of theirs was ridiculous.

“Can I speak with you?” Natasha asked without preambles or pleasantries. “Can I ask you a very personal question?”

Natasha was the kind of person that could play others like a freaking fiddle and they wouldn't even notice until they were in the middle of the symphony –look at Loki- but when she wanted to be direct she could do it, without one ounce of hesitation. But the fact that she chose that particular tact showed Toni this was serious to her.

“Sure.” Toni shrugged, dropping the screw driver back on its box, before grabbing pliers. “What’s up?”

“Were you raped in Afghanistan?”

The pliers fell from Toni’s hand. “No.” She answered curtly.

“Toni…”

“Fuck!” Toni thundered. “Pepper doesn’t believe me either.”

“Look into my eyes and say it and I’ll believe it.” Natasha ordered.

Toni stood completely still for one minute, then took a deep breath before turning to Natasha again. “No, Natasha.” She said looking inside the other woman’s eyes. “I wasn’t raped on Afeghanistan.”

“But...” Natasha prodded gently, because she knew there was more.

“They threatened me with it many times.” Toni’s voice was full of hurt in a way that Natasha had never heard before. “Raza –their leader –used to tell me the only reason it hadn’t happened yet was because he needed me to build the missile, and that we women broke easily and I would be useless if I was just an empty carcass.” Her voice was filled with disgust. “But after it was done or if I failed…”

Toni sighed and sat on the floor, her eyes fixed on the wall. “Of all the things that have happened to me, Natasha, nothing –and I swear to you, nothing –ever scared me as much as this promise. The idea…” Her voice broke.

When the silence became too much, Natasha cleared her throat. “All this time, I read you wrong.” Natasha spoke softly. “I was absolutely sure something had happened. You came back and created two NGO’s to help women that suffered any kind of violence, refused therapy to deal with post traumatic stress and didn’t get involved with men…”

“I did!” Toni protested. “You’re the ones that don’t know anything. It’s not my fault!”

“Nobody said it was, Toni.” Natasha said way more gently than Toni had ever heard her say anything, so she knew she was talking about something else.

“Did you know that many women don’t press charges in cases of rape because they feel somewhat at fault for what happened?” Toni’s eyes finally met Natasha’s again. “How many of them do you think had to listen that it was their fault, because of their clothes, their attitude or even the way they laughed? They never touched me, Natasha, but the horror of the possibility kept me awake most nights. I can’t imagine living with the reality of it. I can’t even begin to imagine the strength this women need to carry on, when the society puts the blame on them.”

“You wanted to help.”

“The only way I can.” Toni sighed. “Pepper also had her suspicions, but she still doesn’t believe me.”

“You refused counseling.” Natasha pointed out.

“Nothing a shrink could say would help.”

“You started drinking a lot more than before.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” Toni rolled her eyes. “I’m stopping little by little, Natasha. I always drank too much.”

They both stayed silent for a bit.

“So...” Natasha started. “Bruce Wayne?”

Toni’s chuckle was rough, like she was trying very hard not to cry.

“He’s so cute, isn’t he?” The billionaire offered with a small smile.

Chapter Text

Toni wanted to have sex with Steve.

Ok, to be perfectly fair, who didn’t?  The guy was so hot he could make straight dudes doubt themselves.

But Toni did not care about this, because after all, she wanted him now.  Maybe it was not exactly a new wanting, but now she really decided to act on that desire.

To clarify “now” would be a few months after Steve moved to the Tower.  Time passed quickly when you lived with two spy-slash-assassins, a mad scientist and a super soldier.  Toni hardly saw the days go by.

They were called twice to save the world, and to talk to the Fantastic Four.  It didn’t work out very well. The meeting, because the world was properly saved.

Incidentally, Toni almost slept with the Human Torch (seriously a ridiculous name!  He was lucky to be hot).  In the end, it did not happen, only because Johnny looked a bit too much like Steve.  In fact, it was almost scary how much.  Besides, Toni was not the type that slept with B to forget A, so… Yeah, no.

Of course Toni and Steve still fought a lot.  He was so annoying sometimes!  For the love of Jesus, the man couldn’t relax, and took everything way too seriously. Half the time they spent together had Toni wanting to hit his head against the wall, and the other half wanting to rip off his clothes.

Pepper still was not speaking to the Agent.  That was a problem. However Toni wasn’t in the mood to deal with feelings, so she wasn’t running interference anymore. The same went for Bruce and Cora.  If the girl was waiting for the doctor to take any action, she would wait forever.

Life was pretty boring until aliens entered London, wrecking Greenwich, and Thor appeared on TV.  Toni left a note on the fridge for the others, boarded her jet, and headed for London.

When she arrived in Greenwich, S.H.I.E.L.D. was already there, cleaning up the place and putting some weird huge monster/alien thing under arrest –apparently it had popped out from one the holes. Phil was around with a team of puppies.

“Agent!” Toni spoke lively as she approached him.

“Oh my God!  It’s Toni Stark!” The girl next to Coulson muttered in shock.

“I know.  I am more absurdly beautiful in person right?”  She spoke without a shred of modesty.

Phil rolled his eyes. “Skye, I need to talk to Miss Stark.” He said to the girl.  “Why don’t you go look for Fitz-Simmons?”

Skye was still staring at Toni as if she was make-believe.  The billionaire winked at the girl, making her blush.

“Okay, I’m going.”  She gushed.

“She is cute…” Toni commented watching Skye walk away.  “I didn’t know you had a new team.”

“They decided to use more of my field experience.  I’ve been traveling the world with this team”.  Phil spoke with that blank expression that irritated Toni.

“Does that mean you got over Pepper?”  She wanted to know.  “If you say yes, I’m gonna have to slap you.

Phil looked from side to side, not wanting anyone to hear what he was about to tell her and Toni started to consider that slap very seriously. “I tried to talk to her for a week after what happened in New York.”  Phil finally admitted.  “She wouldn’t answer my calls or she’d give me an excuse to hang up soon.  I decided to give her some space.  I still call once a month, but she’s still avoiding me.”

Oh, how sweet. Toni was considering pinching the agent’s cheeks.  This was cute. Pepper was so slow and this situation needed to be resolved or Toni would never be an aunt.

“Agent, I’ll tell you this only once.” She spoke seriously.  “Honour this suit of yours and go to the Stark Tower.  Jarvis will let you in.  Go up to Pepper’s floor, knock on the door, and when she opens, do not waste time talking.  Grab the girl and kiss the hell out of her.  Do us all a favor!”

Phil raised an eyebrow. “Miss Stark….”

“I am serious.” She insisted.  “Pepper thinks she has to be on my side because I broke up with Fury.  However, I kinda like you.  Don’t know why, since you only have one facial expression.” She shrugged. “Needless to say, you hurt Pepper, I kill you.”

The left corner of Phil’s mouth lifted minimally.  Toni thought that this was his version of a smile. “I’ll be in New York in two weeks.”  Was all he said.

“What a coincidence!” Toni spoke.  “Pepper will be there too!”

Phil shook his head, but that lip cornered up a little more. “What are you doing here, Stark?”  He questioned finally.

“I learned that my favorite god was here, and I’ve come to take him home.” She replied.

“You are too late.”  Phil said.  “He has since returned to Agard.  I talked to Dr. Foster, and she said he promised to return soon.”

“How about you give me Foster’s address?  I imagine that this is his girl.”

“I’ve sent it to your mobile phone.”  Phil said.  “But you didn’t get it from me.”

Holy fuck! What time did he do that? He must really be a ninja.

“What text?”  Toni asked, frowning in fake confusion, but holding a smile.

Phil narrowed his eyes.

“You’re leaving, right?”  He asked dryly.

“Oh! So mean!”

“Agent Coulson?”

Toni and Coulson turned to the man who approached them.  The billionaire, who had been wearing sunglasses until, then finally got rid of them.

“This one I’m taking home, Coulson.”  She said looking at the other man up and down.

“Stark…”  Phil called in a warning tone.

“What’s your name, dear?”  She asked, ignoring Coulson.

The agent looked from her to Coulson, and his stance became more erect than before.  Not that Toni was complaining, because the shoulders and chest on this guy were amazing.

“Agent Ward, Miss Stark.” He said seriously.

Yeah, it works, and I’m not deaf.”  Toni said.  “All right, Thor?”

“Ian told me you were here, looking for me?”

“Yes, sir, I was.”  Toni confirmed.  “I need to talk to you.”

“So come to Jane’s house!” he practically proclaimed.  “We will have a feast and talk.”

“Well, Ward dearest, one of these days, if you find yourself wondering around New York without destination, you get that cutie pie called Skye –who is still looking over here –and give me a call.” She took a business card out of her purse and put it in his jacket pocket. “ I’ll show you two how big my bed is.”

Ward seemed shocked beyond words and even Phil had his eyes rounded.

“See you later, alligators.”

***

When Toni knocked on Jane Foster’s door who answered it was a boy called Ian –he said he was the intern of the intern. The boy stood some minutes just staring incredulously at Toni, without saying one word.  She understood it, her beauty and amazingness had this effect on people.

When Ian, the intern’s intern, finally managed to talk again he informed Toni that only Dr. Selvig was in at the moment, but the older scientist was locked in his room writing theories on the wall.

Toni decided not to interrupt in such a beautiful endeavor, so she left a business card with Ian and asked him to tell Thor to call as soon as he was back. Thor, not Foster.

At first she wasn’t sure how long she was willing to sit around and wait, but eventually decided to stick around for a week.

She went to an Elton John concert, was photographed with a Victoria’s Secret Angel –nothing happened, she swore –closed a whole night club for herself and bumped into Prince Harry in another. All and all, two mundane days.

On her third day waiting her phone finally rang. “Stark speaking.”

“Can she truly listen to me through this machine? What type of sorcery is this?”

Toni chuckled upon hearing Thor’s voice, obviously speaking to someone else, not her. Whoever was by his side spoke lower, then…

“Lady of Metal?” His tone was doubtful.

“Hey, Point Break.”

“By Asgard! It works! Jane, this machine works.” The blond celebrated –quite loudly –on the other side.

“Yeah, it works, and I’m not deaf.”  Toni said.  “All right there, Thor?”

“All is fine, lady Stark.” His voice was full of wonder and fondness. “Ian told me you were here, looking for me?”

“Yes, sir, I was.”  Toni confirmed.  “I need to talk to you.”

“So come to Jane’s house!” he practically proclaimed.  “We shall have a feast and talk.”

“I’ll bring the drinks.” Toni said.

***

Toni bought three bottles of Jack Daniels to take to Jane’s house.  Some people would think it was stingy of her, but the truth was that the billionaire had a certain fondness for that particular brand.

When she was seventeen, Toni had what many American teenagers did: a fake I.D.  But instead of just doing this, she created a whole new identity and went to college.  For nearly a month, Elizabeth Adler was going to college parties, going to classes she could teach and enjoying life.  Until authorities discovered this, and a mess of astronomical proportions followed.  Obidah, who at the time was her legal guardian, was furious.  But, it was worth it.

That’s when her affection for Jack Daniels began.  It was what she drank at parties with the other students.  So, it was for her a drink for friends; therefore it was what she was going to offer Thor.

The door was once again opened by Ian, the intern’s intern, and Toni was beginning to think he was the butler of the house.

Thor greeted her with a hug that lifted her off the ground. “Lady Stark!” he said, a huge smile on his face. “It’s good to see that all is well.”

“I say the same, buddy.  Your hair is longer.” She commented.

“Yours is shorter.”

“Long hair  and fire are not a good match.”  She grimaced.  “I brought whiskey.”

Thor put Toni on the floor –yes, he had been carrying her until then –and grabbed the bag she had.

“Something is different.”  He mused as he watched her.  “Where is the magic circle which used to lie on your chest?”

“Long story and I need to be drunk to tell it.”

Thor seemed to finally remember that there were more people in the house.  In total there were four other human beings:  Ian, a skinny girl, a busty girl, and an older dude who was… Yep, without pants.

“Jane, let me introduce you to my shield sister, Lady Toni Stark.” Thor proclaimed –seriously, he sounded like he was proclaiming something most of the time. “Lady Stark, this is Jane Foster, a practitioner of the astrophysical arts.”

Toni chuckled and offered her hand to Jane. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Dr. Foster.”  Toni spoke sincerely.  “Your work is extremely interesting, and I would love to discuss the mechanics of it with you.”

“Wow!”  Jane looked shocked.  “Thank you.  It will be a pleasure, Miss Stark.”

“Just Toni, please!”  She turned to the others. “Ian, the intern’s intern, I already know.”  She said as she gave him thumbs up.  The boy (who apparently still hadn’t learned to speak in her presence) repeated the gesture.

“This is Lady Darcy Lewis.”  Thor introduced the other girl.  “She is the carrier of lightning.”  He ended with pride.

“I hit this guy with a taser.”  Darcy supplied, coming closer  “My God, I’d totally turn lesbian for you.” She said after finally letting go of Toni’s hand.

Jane looked shocked and Thor, confused. Darcy just sighed, resigned. “My bad.  I don’t have a filter.” She said, as if she was used to speaking this way.

“Don’t worry.”  Toni shrugged.  “I tend to have that effect on people.  I am one size fits all, and everyone wants me.”

Darcy burst out laughing.

“Doctor Selvig.”  Toni looked at Erik.  “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.  Your notes were of great help last year.”

The man looked from one side to the other, like he was ready to run out any minute. “Thank you.”  He said softly.

“Erik hasn’t recovered from New York.”  Jane explained.  “The recent events didn’t help much.”

“You’re telling me.”  Toni sighed.  “The day I get back to sleep without being drunk, I’ll be a happier person.”

“Amen!”  Darcy grumbled.

“You bring news of our friends, Lady Stark?”  Thor asked.

“Yes, big guy.  We need to talk about business.”

***

Apparently it’s impossible to get a Nordic God drunk with peasant alcohol; not that Toni and Darcy haven’t tried to the fullest, but Thor drank both under the table.  All things considered, Jane was absurdly patient.

Of course, it was not only drinking that went down that night.  Toni and Thor also exchanged a quick summary of what happened in recent times.  The big teddy bear became very interested in the Tower in New York.

Two days later, Toni managed to get Thor, Jane and Darcy on a plane bound for the US.  Erik was still unwilling to return to the Big Apple, and Ian was still studying and couldn’t leave. Actually, Toni was thinking it was a lame excuse and the boy was just scared.

She never thought that getting all the Avengers to leave with her could be this much fun.

Chapter Text

Toni felt the complete opposite of shocked when she got back to the Tower and found Steve passing back and forth on the communal floor. The man had the worried frown to an art form.

Bruce, Cora and Pepper were also there, with no sign of the Wonder Twins.

“Oh, my faithful subjects wait for my return!” Toni declared upon leaving the elevator, arms open wide.

Steve threw her a glare, while Pepper and Cora just rolled her eyes.

“Why did you go alone to London?” Steve demanded. “You could have waited…”

“Chill out, Captain Tightpants.” Toni cut him without mercy. “I brought us new friends to play with.”

“Captain!” Thor boomed entering the room. “Doctor Banner!”

Proper introductions followed shortly after that. Toni could almost see the words forming on Darcy’s head when she was introduced to the Captain. Unfortunately Jane also could and drove her elbow into Darcy’s side before she could open her mouth.

Eventually the topic became rooms.

“Prince Thor’s apartament is ready and it’s on the same floor as Doctor Banner’s. I can put Doctor Foster and Miss Darcy on the floor below.” Cora informed, eyes on her StarkPad.

Toni was arching a brow because of the whole “Prince Thor'' thing, but she refrained from commenting. There’s a first time for everything.

“Lady Jane and I could share an apartment.” Thor commented.

Cora just shrugged, but Toni –who was paying attention – noticed Jane panicked look and decided to interfere. ‘Sorry, buddy, but I can’t allow you two to live in sin under my roof.”

All the eyes went to Toni immediately and Pepper looked like she was trying to figure out what the fuck Toni had smoked recently. Thor was the only one that seemed to be taking her words under some serious consideration.

“I can’t allow you to sully my name, or -even worse! –the name of the good Doctor. Living together only after you’re married and even that only after a long engagement. One year, at least.” She pressed on as if this was normal.

Now even Cora and Bruce looked concerned about her mental health.

“I understand, Lady Stark.” Thor nodded gravely. “I apologize. I meant no offense to our house. Or to you, Jane.” He turned to the scientist.

“No problems.” Jane gave an embarrassed laugh. When Thor turned his back she threw Toni a thankful look.

“I should have realized it sooner.” Thor commented. “Not even you and good Doctor Banner share rooms.”

Both Toni and Bruce looked a bit shocked by that.

“What?” Bruce asked, confused.

“We aren’t together.” Toni explained.

“No?” Thor looked genuinely confused.

“Oh lord…” She huffed. “No! We’ve never even kissed. His loss, of course, because I’m an amazing kisser.”

“Do you know what modesty means, Stark?” Clint asked as he entered the room, right behind Natasha.

“If it’s not alcoholic I don’t care about it.” Was Toni’s answer.

Clint and Natasha came fully into the view of the room and the archer seemed to finally realize who were the other occupants of it. His eyes found Dary and he looked shocked for a second, but –being a spy and all –he recovered quickly. Dary, on the other hand, didn’t have the same luck and was left staring at him with her mouth agape.

Toni looked from one to the other and made a very obvious deduction. She wanted to comment on it, but… The nice thing to do would be to remain quiet and spare both of the embarrassment, right?

As if!

“When did you two fucked?” Toni asked, looking again from one to the other.

Darcy’s eyes rounded, Natasha measured the girl up and down, while Thor looked at Clint with narrowed eyes.

“Oh, screw it.” Darcy huffed. “Two years ago, Puento Antiguo. I just never thought I’d see this guy again.”

Toni winced in sympathy. “I hear, cupcake. Been there, done that. Christine Everhart comes to mind…” Thinking about that woman in particular made Toni remember all the dangers of a one night stand.

Darcy –temporarily forgetting about Clint –turned to Toni. “So it’s true that you slept with Christine Everhart?” She asked surprised.

“There wasn’t much sleeping involved.” Toni offered.

Darcy thought about that for a second. “Bradley Cooper?” She asked.

“Just once.”

“Justin Timberlake?”

“Hm… To be honest, I don’t remember that night.” Toni sighed. “So it’s quite possible.”

“Robert Downey Jr.?”

“No! Fuck’s sake.” Toni huffed, offended. “I’ve never slept with that guy. Don’t know why everybody keeps asking me that.”

“I don’t mean to cut this amazing conversation...” Bruce started carefully. “But this won’t be a problem, right? Can you two live under the same roof with no problems?” He looked from Darcy to Clint.

Darcy was doing her best to ignore Clint and the mental conversation he seemed to be having with Natasha. “No problem at all.” She said cheerily. “I need to use the restroom.” She declared before turning and just leaving in a random direction.

Jane gave Thor a look before going after the younger woman. The god of thunder turned a serious look Clint’s way. “Friend Barton, if you offended Lady Darcy in any way…”

“Oh, chill out, Point Breaker.” Toni cut in. “Darcy is a big girl and I’m sure nothing happened that both of them didn’t consent to. She was just a bit surprised to see Clint here, just as he was. Let’s not go around throwing stones on glass ceilings and all that jazz.”

Steve looked from one side to another, because apparently everybody agreed with Toni. Then he cleared his throat. “Toni is right, Thor.” He offered. “Clint and Darcy can solve this on their own. With a lot of respect, of course.” He added when the Prince opened his mouth.

“Well, I’m tired of this drama, so I’ll look for a new one.” Toni declared. “Cora, take Thor to his apartment. Pepper, my love, come with.”

The redhead –that was likely as curious as Toni was –put herself immediately to the billionaire’s side, and together they went after Darcy.

“Jane, I mean it. I’m fine. I just wasn’t expecting him. I thought he was the kind of guy that hung around warzones, not fancy New York skyscrapers.”

“In Legolas’ defense…” Toni cut in approaching them. “I’m pretty sure that’s what he used to do.”

Darcy huffed. “I don’t think that this can get any more embarrassing.”

“Please, don’t say that.” Pepper begged. “She’ll take it as a challenge.” She pointed at Toni.

“I just have one tiny doubt…” Toni spoke, ignoring Pepper’s comment. “You’re obviously one of mine, in the sense that you know that a one night stand is just that, so… Why are you running?”

Darcy took a deep breath, her eyes going to the floor. “Agent Barton was part of the security team that stuck around New Mexico.” She started carefully. “But he was like a ghost, because we’d only hear his name, but never see him.” Jane was nodding along. “So instead of being super intimidated like everybody else, we started making jokes.”

“We used to call him Agent Casper.” Jane admitted, embarrassed.

Pepper turned a laugh into a cough.

“Few days before they left for good, I got pissed with all the security and all of their prohibitions, so I just went out without telling anyone.” Darcy continued. “Puente Antiguo has only one bar. I knew they were going to find me quickly, but I really needed one minute for myself. So there was me, getting ready to get smashed as fast as possible and then this… Person gets into the bar.” She threw her hands up, clearly worked up over the story. “It looked like a scene of one of those fucking stupid movies, the only thing missing was the cheesy song in the back. And man, hot didn’t even start to describe that guy.”

“I know. I tried to convince him to go around the house naked, but he didn’t want to.” Toni offered.

“I’d try the same.” Darcy admitted. “Well, making a long story very short... Instead of taking me back to the lab, he introduced himself, drank with me and we ended up having sex in three kinds of public places before we found a bed.”

The other three women were looking at her without saying a word.

“Am I only one really jealous right now?” Pepper asked.

“No.” Toni and Jane answered at the same time.

“I didn’t think I’d ever see the idiot again so…” Darcy was looking a bit frustrated. “I don’t know, things were different.”

“I know exactly what you mean.” Toni assured her. “You thought you’d never see him again, so you treated him differently; you were more honest, maybe a bit more clingy…”

“Waaaaaay less timid…” Darcy finished with a sassy smirk.

“I like her.” Toni decided. “Pepper, hire her to walk around the lab being cute.”

“Hey!” Jane protested, grabbing Darcy’s arm. “She’s mine.”

“People, no need to fight over me.” Darcy spoke, loving the attention. “I know I’m awesome, but there’s enough Darcy to go around.”

Toni checked her out, bottom to top. “I know what parte I want…” She said, staring at Darcy’s chest.

“Oh I knew it was coming.” Pepper huffed. “I was wondering when the sexual harassment would start.”

“But, Peps, look at those two treasures.” Toni pointed at Darcy’s boobs. “And, though I don’t discriminate, I do love women with great boobs. Thinking of that… Maybe I should get an implant. What do you think?” She asked, grabbing her own boobs.

Pepper rolled her eyes and decided to ignore the woman, so she turned to Darcy. “Are you okay with living in the same place as him?”

“Yeah.” Darcy smiled softly. “I was just surprised for a minute. I’d kinda forgotten how amazing his arms are.”

Sighs of agreement were given by all of them.

“Oh, by the way, thanks Toni.” Jane said. “About before, with Thor. It’s not that I don’t love him...”

“But living together is a bit much.” Toni completed for her. “I thought that might be it. If someone had said something along those lines I’d have run.”

“You did.” Pepper said dryly. “When I mentioned living together.”

Toni hummed, noncommittally. “Not one of my most gracious moments, I gotta admit.”

Even Pepper laughed at that and Toni thought that maybe –just maybe –all of this could work out.

***

Who was she trying to kid? This would never ever work out.

A few days after Thor & crew moved to her beautiful Tower, it was decided that they needed to do some kind of “group activity” to bond or whatever. She just wanted to make very clear that it hadn’t been her idea. Actually, this whole bullshit was organized by the most unlikely quartet ever: Steve, Pepper, Thor and Bruce.

She couldn’t handle the betrayal!

Whatever… So there were all of them on one of the Tower’s floor –one that came equipped with a grill and pool.

Because obviously she had a place like this in a Tower in the middle of New York.

Things got a bit messy when they had to get bathing suits for Hot and Blonde 1 and 2 –Thor and Steve. The thunder god assured them all that it was completely unnecessary, he didn’t mind doing without one at all. Toni was really supportive of that idea, but Jane, the party pooper –just because she got to enjoy all of that in private! –explained to Thor the concept of modesty. Completely useless on Toni’s opinion.

And Steve… Well, the billionaire would love to get him tiny white speedos, but Pepper wouldn’t let her! What was wrong with these women? Where was the union? The sorority?

They ended up getting board shorts for both of them. A complete waste of good raw material.

Besides all of that, Toni had managed to convince Cora to come. It was supposed to be a subtle attack against Bruce, because he surely would have to do something if he saw Cora wearing a bikini. Toni’s assistant came in a dress and said she wouldn’t swim.

What was wrong with those people?

Clint and Nat –God bless spies-slash-assassins –were comfortable: she was wearing a very sexy black bikini and he was one of those boxer-like speedos. Now that was a threesome that Toni would love to be part of.

Ok, maybe the situation wasn't that bad, but seeing all these people together –in her house –made Toni wonder if she had finally gone crazy. Since when did she like other human beings?

She would be the first to admit that she had a hard time connecting to people. She wasn’t joking when she said that very few people could put up with her on a daily basis. She knew she wasn’t exactly easy to get along with.

Okay, she could be a bitch sometimes.

She kind of liked having the Avengers at the Tower –up to a point –but there was this part of her that wanted peace and isolation, and the right to blow up her lab sometimes without alarms sounding.

Maybe she should go to Malibu for a while. The mansion had been rebuilt, even if Pepper was the official owner of the place now. She was pretty sure the redhead would let her crash on the couch.

Toni’s eyes found Steve again.

Really, bloody ridiculous.

Did doctor Erskine know when he made the super serum that the result would be all of that? Toni had seen some pictures of Steve pre-serum. The pretty face was exactly the same, even if it looked a bit healthier now, but that body… Wow.

“I know I’ll regret asking…” Cora started, standing by Toni. “But here goes nothing. What are you thinking about?”

Toni didn’t even take her eyes off Steve to answer. “I’m imagining where I’d lick first if I ever got a chance.”

“MISS STARK!” Cora blushed!

Her voice came out louder than expected and everybody turned to look at the two of them, making Cora blush even harder.

“Nobody is talking to you all.” Toni made a shooing gesture to the others.

Bruce threw a suspicious look at Toni, before turning back to Steve, who also didn’t seem very assured.

The billionaire turned back to her PA with an amused grin. “Come on, you can’t tell me you never thought about something along those lines.”

“I don’t talk about those kind of things.” Cora replied primly.

“I don’t know why. There’s nothing wrong with having some… Urges.” Toni moved her eyebrows suggestively.

Cora narrowed her eyes, then blushed a bit again. “The six-pack.” She admitted quietly. “Definitely the six-pack.”

“Atta, girl.” Toni patted her on the shoulder gently. “Admitting won’t kill you. Even though I know that what you really want is Bruce’s body.”

“Miss Star…” Cora frowned.

“If you tell me that it’s not like that I’ll fire you.” Toni warned.

The other woman rolled her eyes. “I was going to say that I don’t know what to do anymore.”

“Oh, that’s adorable.” Toni gave in to temptation –what a shock –and pinched Cora’s cheek –even though she knew she was going to pay for this in some kind of subtle way later. “Bruce is complicated. He is more insecure than a teenager covered in acne. He’s the kind of guy with whom things will always be complicated…” She said honestly, because there were few people in this world that she wanted to see happy more than she wanted to see Bruce, but she had to be realistic. “But he’s an amazing man and deserves a normal life. Meaning: you’ll have to find a way. Get your clothes off, sit on his lap. I don’t know.”

“And here I was thinking you’re going to say something sweet.” Cora spoke, but she was smiling.

“I can’t let you fool yourself this way.” Toni winked at her. “Now that this is settled… Darcy, come here, darling.” She called.

Darcy traded confused looks with Jane, before coming closer to Toni like she was a mad dog. “Are you drunk?” She asked, full of mistrust.

“Unfortunately not.” Toni sighed. “Are you wearing a bikini under this?

Darcy narrowed her eyes, before taking a look at her own shirt and jeans shorts. “Yeah.”

“Great. Take off your clothes and go swim.” Toni ordered, making a dismissive gesture with her hands.

“Hey! Are you crazy?” Darcy asked, grabbing her shirt as if Toni planned to take it off herself –you never knew. “Can you see the Black Widow over there, being hotter than the sun? Not even if I was drunk.”

“Are you crazy?” Toni retorted, as if Darcy was being slow just to annoy her. “Get that shirt off and Team Testosterone won’t even remember that Nat is here.”

Darcy didn’t seem all that convinced. “You’re pushing too much.” She accused Toni. ‘What do you get out of this?”

“Besides the view? I wanna make two observations and they depend on that.”

Cora was looking from one to the other, but she was obviously as curious as Darcy to know what the hell Toni was planning.

“Nobody else is swimming.” Darcy sighed.

Toni snorted. “If this is the only excuse left…” Instead of finishing her sentence, Toni undid the knot holding her beach throw and letting the fabric fall to the ground. She had learned how to wear those when she went to Rio to see the Carnival and forgot to come back… For five months.

“Well, that’s… Minimal.” Darcy commented, eyes on Toni’s white bikini. “And I’m surprised it isn’t red or golden. Or red and golden.”

Beach throws weren’t the only thing she had loved about Brazil. The bikinis were amazing. And the men. And women. And the alchohol...

“Don’t take off your clothes before I’m ready.” Toni ordered Darcy before running to the pool and cannonballing into the water. She was a graceless swimmer and very proud of it.

She came up for air, then she waved at Darcy. “Your turn.” She called, making once again everybody pay attention.

Darcy still didn’t seem very happy about it, but she started to take off her shorts.

At any other moment Toni would have enjoyed the view more, but she did want to make two observations.

First she looked at Clint. One night stand her ass. The way he was looking at Darcy now proved that, whatever had happened, wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Nice knowing that.

Then she looked at Steve. She wanted to know if the Captain was as pure as he liked to pretend he was. Of course, her body was completely different from Darcy’s, but if Steve was into girls –and there was always the possibility that he wasn’t –she could get him.

But Toni was the one caught by surprise when she turned to Steve and found out that he was looking at her. Not cute, young Darcy. Her.

Of course, as soon as his eyes found hers the Captain blushed and turned his head.

But, too late, she’d seen it.

Now things were getting interesting…

Chapter Text

Toni was up to something. Steve could feel it.

After she’d caught him staring at her in the pool, Steve had kept waiting for some kind of joke at his expense, but it never came. Was it strange that he was somewhat disappointed by the fact?

On the following days Toni was bizarrely focused on the calendar, muttering to herself. Then, on the current day, something different happened: Toni came into their communal kitchen smiling like she’d just won Miss USA.

When they were all in town the Avengers tried to have meals together, or at least the mandatory “family dinner”, as Clint called them.

On this specific morning, they were having breakfast together when Toni strode in, giving all of them a sunny “good morning.” Steve, Clint, Jane and Bruce –who were the ones present at the scene –gave her confused looks. Toni was the definition of “not a morning person”.

Clint opened his mouth to ask her what was the occasion for such a happy smile –and knowing him and Toni it would likely become some kind of innuendo –when Toni’s cell phone beeped. The billionaire checked it with a maniac grin on her face, typed a reply and put the device away.

“Jarvis, Miss Potts must not be bothered!” She declared. “No phone calls unless it’s urgent. Everything else can be redirected to whoever is her assistant right now.”

“Your definition of ‘urgent’ or hers, Madam?” The British voice asked in a tone that looked a whole lot like he was just humoring Toni.

“Mine.” Toni said as if it was obvious.

“Maybe I shouldn’t ask, but, what the hell.” Clin spoke. “What’s your definition of ‘urgent’?”

“Fire in the building, alien attack, machines’ rebellion and zombie apocalypse.” She recited easily.

“Are you seriously expecting the zombie apocalypse?” Jane asked, confused.

“I wasn’t seriously expecting an alien attack and look what that got me.” Toni pointed out and Jane seemed to take that as a good argument.

“Can I ask you why you’re isolating Pepper?” Bruce asked.

“You can ask, it doesn’t mean I’ll tell you.” Toni failed nonchalantly, analyzing her nails. “Ah screw it, I will! Agent Coulson finally decided to grow a pair and came to talk to her.

Clint’s eyes popped open. “Really? I thought he’d never get the courage.”

“Hey! How do you know that?” Tony demanded.

“Nat and I are his favorites.” Clint said smugly. “Sometimes he’d talk to us about her.”

“How adorable…” Toni commented. “The main thing here is that this is getting solved, I don’t have to worry about those two anymore and I can jump to the next people on my list.”

Steve, who had been bringing his mug to his mouth, froze halfway there. “What list?” He asked worriedly.

“The ‘people needing to get laid’ list!” Toni declared, clearly proud of herself. “Pepper was the priority, ‘cause Pepper’s always the priority, but now that that’s fixed, I can focus on you all.”

Jane was the only one that didn’t seem to be overly concerned with the whole thing. Likely because she was getting some on a regular basis.

“Wait a fucking minute!” Clint called. “What list?”

“Chill out, Robin Hood, you’re low priority.” Toni made a dismissive gesture with her hand. “Bruce has the honor of being next.”

While Clint was divided between being offended and relieved, Bruce looked like he was on the edge of a panic attack. Not even facing the Chitauri invasion he had looked so stressed.

“What do you mean I’m next?” He wanted to know.

“I mean you’re next.” She said simply. “Either you do something about Cora or Cora is gonna do something about you. Fair warning.”

“Cora? Your assistant?” Jane sounded surprised. “She’s adorable.”

If there was a word Toni didn’t associate with Cora, it was “adorable”, but whatever Jane said… “Cora likes this idiot, but she’s slow and hasn’t done a thing about it.” Toni rolled her eyes. “But we’ll fix this.”

“Toni, I’m not really comfortable with this.” Bruce spoke, trying to sound firm –and failing miserably.

“Not my problem.” She sing-songed to him.

“Where does Steve fit in that list?” Clint asked, morbidly curious. “What’s his priority?”

“Ah he’s also in desperate need of getting laid.” Toni informed him. “But, as I’m busy taking care of some other business right now, I can’t solve this for you. So, Captain, you’ll have to wait just a tad more, but you and I, we’ll get there.” She gave Steve a wink. “Now I’m off to the labs. Don’t disturb me, unless it’s urgent.” And she left, leaving the four people in the room pretty perplexed.

“Was it just me…” Jane began carefully, “or when she meant she’s going to ‘solve’ Steve’s problem, she really meant that she will do it?”

***

Phil wasn’t exactly sure he should be doing this. To be quite honest, facing Loki on his own had been way less scary.

Although Toni had assured him that things were going to work out well, he wasn’t feeling so sure. He had tried to call Pepper two days ago and, once again, she hadn’t answered it. Maybe this was a –very clear -sign that the spark that had once been there, no longer existed.

However, Phil had never been the quitting type. He needed one last chance, needed to be face to face with her and see if he had really lost his window, if there wasn’t any other way. This would only be over when Pepper looked in his eyes and told him to give up.

And, to be quite honest, maybe not even then.

Was it ridiculous that he was so in love with her? To have spent a whole year traveling around the world, seeing a bit of everything, only to come back to the exact same place and the exact same woman?

No, it wasn’t, because if there was one thing on this Earth that Toni babbled about and it was a hundred percent right was that Pepper was an amazing woman. There wasn’t another woman like her on this planet.

Phil took a deep breath once he reached the hallway to her apartment, then he walked to her door. He took another deep breath –this one out of sheer nervousness –and rang the doorbell.

The door opened by itself.

“Come on in, Cora.” Pepper’s voice called from somewhere inside. “I thought you were stopping by later.”

Phil stepped into the apartment, but stood close by the door. “It’s not Cora.” He called, proud of how his voice didn’t show how much he shook on the inside.

Super Secret Agent his ass.

Pepper quickly stood up from the sofa where she had been sitting. Phil had never seen her look prettier, clean face, shorts and a tank top, probably looking forward to a calm day.

“Phil.” She was obviously shocked with his presence. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Jarvis let me in.” He had a small grin.

Pepper crossed her arms and arched a brow. “You mean Toni, right?”

“Yes, we met in London.” He took another deep breath. “Pepper, I would like to talk to you. It’s not going to take long, but if you never want to see me again after this, I’ll accept it.”

“Of course. I… I’m sorry, I’m a terrible host.” She gave a nervous laugh. “Would you like to sit? Can I get you anything to drink?”

She was nervous, a bit anxious and this had to be a good sign, right? If she really didn’t want to talk to him, she would have said so, right?

Phil came closer to her and picked her hands gently between his. “I just need you to pay attention.” He told her gently. “The only good thing, and I do mean it, of getting involved in that whole ‘Iron Lady’ mess right from the beginning, was you. It has always been you. I don’t get paid nearly enough to put up with a spoiled brat like Stark and I’m very far from being Job. But there you were, always right in the middle of it, and suddenly, being involved in that mess meant being close to you. That made it all worth it.

Pepper looked beyond shocked.

“When you and Toni started dating… Well, it looked like it was over for me. She could give you anything you wanted with a snap of her fingers, and you looked happy, complete and… That made me happy.” He continued. “Seeing you happy made me happy. As corny as that sounds.” He gave her a bashful smile.

“Phil…” She called, her voice full of shock.

But now he had started and he needed to finish. “After you two broke up…” He sighed. “I allowed myself to hope as I hadn’t before, and…” He heisted. “It didn’t look as one-sided as it had before, it looked like there was a chance. But then New York happened and… I just need to know if it’s over for you, if I should quit and leave, because to me nothing has changed. It isn’t over yet.”

He became silent in face of Pepper’s expression. Her eyes were wide open and it looked like she was barely breathing.

And then –suddenly –her lips were on his.

Phil wasn’t sure of how that happened. Actually, he barely managed to move, but it was a very short kiss, just a touch of mouths.

She took a quick step back and gently touched her own lips. “I was scared.” She admitted. “When I saw the news about New York being attacked. Of course that part of this fear was for Toni, because she’s reckless and was carrying a missile, but my biggest concern was… You. What was happening? Were you okay? When you called me, worried about me... I thought my heart was going to explode. In a happy way.” Her laughter was a bit embarrassed. “I wasn’t at SHIELD’s headquarters to see Toni that day. I went to see you.”

It was Phil’s turn to be speechless. 

“But before I even had the chance of seeing you, Toni came and fought with Director Fury. I was appalled by what he’d done, the lie, and Toni was so angry that I knew she needed me then.” Pepper’s eyes went to the floor. “I couldn’t accept that those were the type of people you worked for, people that used you and your life like that. I was still nervous and more than a bit stressed. That first month after Toni broke with SHIELD passed so fast and I needed time to think.”

She ran her fingers through her hair, messed around with her rings, her eyes still on the ground.

“At first, that was why I wasn’t answering your calls, I needed to think.” She admitted. “I was trying to reconcile the Phil I knew with Agent Coulson. I wasn’t exactly happy with SHIELD, I was working like a mad woman at the company, because of everything that happened. When I felt ready to talk to you again, Killian happened.”

Phil felt the bottom of his stomach dropping. When he heard about the bombing of Toni’s house, he only thought about Pepper. Fury just wouldn’t let him go over to Malibu.

“After that I’m pretty sure you can imagine how things were.” She put her arms around herself. “I couldn’t sleep for a long time, and sometimes I still can’t. I had to get that thing off me, go to therapy, think it through, work more… When I felt stronger, the first thing I wanted to do was call you. But I just couldn’t.”

She finally looked him in the eyes. “I didn’t know what I’d say.” She continued. “I didn’t know what you wanted to hear, if you still wanted me in any way. When you called I was worried that it was just to talk about business and nothing else. The more time passed, the more worried I got, more embarrassed, asking myself why I waited that long.” She stopped because she didn’t know what else to say.

“Wait.” He asked gently. “I don’t want to interrupt you or anything, but... Do you mean that…”

“It isn’t over.” She completed it. “For me it isn’t.”

“Can we finish this conversation later?” He asked with a grin.

“Later does sound good.” Pepper agreed slowly.

“Good.” His grin became a full smile. “Can I…”

“Yes, please.”

Phil passed his finger through her short belt holder and pulled Pepper closer. Since she was barefoot they were the exact same height and kissing her was easy. She came to him smiling, her arms around his neck.

Now that she was there, so damn close, it would be easy to drown in sensations, too easy; but Phil liked to take it slow. He wanted to enjoy every moment, every touch, every kiss; no hurry, because it had taken so damn long to get there that he didn’t want it to finish fast.

So they kissed slowly and tenderly and eventually Pepper parted her lips to him. It was still slow and tender, but now it had more meaning, more intentions behind it.

Minutes, hours or months later –who the hell knew –they broke apart, but stayed close –foreheads touching, noses rubbing and stupid smiles. Everything was fucking perfect.

“We still need to talk.” Pepper said, but she was still smiling.

“Of course.” Phil nodded. “We have all the time in the world. There’s no need to hurry.”

“We also don’t have to be that slow.” Pepper adianted, making Phil confused for a second. “I have many fantasies about this suit.” She confessed, playing with his tie, suddenly a bit too shy to look at his face.

Phil felt like his brain went blank for a second. “Okay… Maybe not that slow then.” He finally managed.

Pepper laughed before kissing him again.

***

Clint was just chilling, taking care of his bow and arrows, just a man and his weapons of choice, in his room. You know, no stress?

Yeah, Nat didn’t know.

Or she did, but chose to ignore it.

One minute he was completely alone and in the next he raised his head and came face to face with Natasha. Staring at him. Unblinking. It was kind of unnerving.

Unnerving, but not exactly surprising that she had just entered his apartment, she was the only person in the Tower with permission for that. It also wasn’t shocking that he hadn’t heard her coming in; Natasha was that good at getting wherever she wanted to be. No, what was actually strange was her look: it was like she was analyzing him, measuring him up and getting completely disappointed by what she saw.

What had he done now?

“Hey, Nat.” He spoke, completely casual and relaxed. “Wanna a beer?” He asked, offering her the bottle he had in his hand.

“What do you plan to do with Lewis?” She asked directly, because if there was one thing Natasha Romanoff didn’t have to waste was time.

Clint was actually glad he had nothing in his mouth at the moment, otherwise he’d have choked. That wasn’t what he was expecting. At all.

Or maybe he should have. They knew each other for many years and there wasn’t anyone in this world who Clint trusted more –ironic, considering she was a former Russian spy/assassin, who made a living seducing and destroying men –and also there was nobody who knew him better.

It was obvious that Natasha would notice something and wouldn’t just let it go.

“Nothing.” He said firmly, mostly because if he gave her a very honest answer –Lord, there were so many things he wanted to do to her- Natasha was likely going to hit him.

The redhead narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. His answer wasn’t what she wanted to hear or she didn’t believe him. Anyways, things were about to get ugly for the Hawk.

“Can I ask why?” She asked at last.

“Do you have to?” He rolled his eyes. “Look, Nat: Darcy is an amazing girl. It’s the truth and I have no reason to say otherwise. That said… What happened was a one-night-only kind of thing. It’s over.”

Natasha stared at him in absolute silence, like she was looking deep inside his soul. Finally she seemed to have come to a decision. “Ok.” She conceded.

Oh, wait a second. Something there wasn’t right. “That easy?” He asked, not even trying to hide his distrust. “Maybe I should be worried.”

“Yeah. You should.” She gave him a mysterious smile, before turning to leave.

“Nat! Come on! I don’t put my nose in your business!” He protested.

“As if I needed your help.” The redhead threw over her shoulder, not even missing a step.

Shit. He was screwed.

***

“Toni!”

The billionaire raised her head and opened a huge smile. “Rhodey!” She dropped everything she was doing and ran to hug her best friend. “It feels like it’s been forever since I saw you!”

“It’s been a few months, at least.” Colonel James Rhodes admitted. “But I was in DC and now I have a couple of free days, so I decided to come and check on you and Pepper. By the way… I tried calling her, but Jarvis wouldn't let me.”

“Pepper is extremely busy and must not be bothered.” Toni cut immediately.

Rhodes gave Toni a look full of mistrust. “If you were talking about anyone besides Pepper I’d worry you’re trying to hide a body.” He commented dryly. “As it is Pepper, I’ll just assume you’re hiding something from her.”

“Hilarious.” Toni rolled her eyes. “So it’s you and me. How about a swank club, with a lot of models and VIP’s?”

“How about no?” Rhodes cut her. “I have a reputation to uphold, different from you.”

“Hey! I do have a reputation!” Toni protested. “Of being a party girl and I’m very proud of it. It took me years to get there.”

Rhodey rolled his eyes. “Let’s try to do something that won’t get us on the E! as this week's scandal.”

“You’re so boring.” Toni sighed. “I’ll just finish something here and then we can go.” She said, indicating the StarkPad on her hand.

“What about working less?” He teased her. “At least that’s what you’re always telling me. Gimme that.” He took the tablet out of her hand.

“Hey! Give it back!” She protested, trying to get the thing back from him.

Rhodey made a half turn, escaping Toni’s hands, then another one. “Why would I do that?” He laughed. “This is fun.” He decided, raising his arm above his head, leaving the tablet out of Toni’s reach.

“I’ll show you fun.” She huffed.

Without any warning –because Toni was the kind of person that didn’t even think before doing something this stupid –she put her hands on his shoulders and jumped, hanging on Rhodes. The colonel was caught by surprise and they only didn’t fall because he managed to grab on a nearby table.

“Toni, are you insane?” He was breathless by the scare.

“Nobody told you to piss me off.” She answered petulantly.

“Excuse me?”

Toni groaned in frustration. Of course. It was only obvious that from every single person in that freaking Tower, HE would be the one to catch her hanging from Rhodes like a koala.

The billionaire let go of Rhodes and smoothed her shirt back down, like it was really normal. “Rhodey, this is Captain Steve Rogers, aka America’s pride and joy. Capsicle, this is Colonel James Rhodes, my bestie and War Machine.” She introduced without looking at either of them.

“Iron Patriot.” Rhodes replied automatically, but in a very absent way, since his eyes were shining in admiration, looking at Steve.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Colonel.” Steve spoke sincerely, shaking his hand.

“The pleasure is all mine, Captain.” Rhodes was quick to shake the hand back. “Your work has been…”

“Oh lord!” Toni groaned. “Can you suck each other somewhere else? I have shit to do.”

“Why are you so stressed?” Rhodes wanted to know. “Needing to get laid?”

Toni opened her mouth, but then she just huffed. “Could be. I haven’t been going out as much.”

“Really?” Rhodes seemed genuinely surprised. “Why?”

“Apparently too much sex and alcohol isn’t very healthy.” She shrugged. “Who would’ve thought, hm?”

Rhodes rolled his eyes. “You’re demented, Stark.”

“And on related news… The sky is blue.” She sassed back. “What did you want, Capsicle?” She turned to Steve.

Steve looked from Stark to Rhodes, then honest to God blushed. “It wasn’t important.” He decided. “We can talk later.”

“Whatever.” She shrugged. “I’m gonna change and then we can go to that sushi place you like so much.” She offered Rhodes.

“Way better than a club.” He agreed. “I’ll wait for you on you living room.”

“Oh, by the way, Captain.” She turned fully to Steve, hip cocked and a smirk on her lips. “I know exactly why you’re here. So the answer is no, you didn’t get me wrong. I meant exactly what I said.”

“Toni!” Steve was getting this lovely blush all over his face. “Why would you even...”

“Look in a mirror, buddy.” She rolled her eyes. “Why do you think I wanna take advantage of your innocence?”

Rhodes' eyes became huge. “Toni! This is too much! Even for you.”

She looked far from chastised. “I’m not telling him to strip, am I? I’m just giving fair warning.”

Steve sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I can’t believe this.”

“Well, you should start believing, Capsicle.” Toni chirped. “Because my new purpose in life is finding how super that serum actually made you.” She winked at him and left the lab.

Steve turned to Rhodes, expecting some help or support, but the Colonel was just trying to control his laughter. “Good luck, Captain. You’re gonna need it.”

Chapter Text

Bruce was trying to concentrate on the samples on his microscope, but he couldn’t stop smiling. Pepper had skipped town with Agent Coulson.

Toni had entered the kitchen that morning declaring to all that they both had eloped to the Caribbean to live life planting coconuts. Natasha came right behind her, rolling her eyes and saying they just went to Malibu for a few days and would be back by the weekend.

Who’d have thought that living on a building full of superheroes and secret agents would offer moments like those?

Bruce might come out as a recluse, but deep down, he was a romantic guy. This type of thing still made him smile.

The only problem with this whole thing -Pepper finally getting together with Coulson -was that now he knew what Tpni would do: she’d try to get him with Cora.

And it wasn’t that he didn’t like Cora, -because she was amazing – but he had to think about the Other Guy. He’d always be there.

“Good morning, Doctor Banner.”

Bruce turned around to look at her. “Good morning, Cora.”

She was impeccably dressed, as usual, carrying a pile of papers on one hand, and a coffee mug the other. Toni always said she was like a mini-Pepper: she could do everything at the same time and in high heels.

She left the coffee by his side -prepared exactly how he liked it, as always -and went ahead to drop the papers on another table. Bruce was almost turning back to his samples when he saw her shoulders tensing and her hand going to her neck.

“Are you okay, Cora?” He asked.

She put her hand down immediately. “Of course.”

“Are you sure?” He insisted.

“Maybe not.” She sighed. “Eu slept on my couch last night, and now my neck is killing me. Spending the day in front of my computer will be a pain. Literally.”

Bruce took a minute to think about it. He could help her; it wouldn’t be a problem. Cora never complained, or missed a single day; if she was admitting to being in pain, it must be pretty bad for her.

“I can help you.” He offered carefully.

“How?” She asked curious, but she’d turned her head too fast and once again put her hand on her neck.

“Take a seat.” Bruce pointed at the chair by her side.

She did it and looked at him. Bruce cleared his throat. “Maybe you should take your jacket off.”

Cora didn’t say anything, just took the piece off. Of course, today of all days, she was wearing a thin blouse instead of a shirt. But okay, no problems. It wasn’t a big deal.

“Can you turn around?” Bruce asked, coming closer.

Once again Cora did as asked, giving him her back. Bruce rubbed his hands to warm them, firmly ignored his heart, which was starting to beat faster -great time for that to happen -and put his hands on Cora’s shoulders.

She sighed. “Massage!”

Bruce laughed softly. “Let me know if I hurt you.”

Cora just hummed her agreement.

Bruce concentrated on trying to ease the tenseness on her neck and shoulders without paying attention to time. He’d never seen her this relaxed.

“You have magic hands.” She murmured, her voice sounding sleepy.

Bruce felt his face heating up like a teenager with a crush. “I learned some things traveling around, trying to learn how to keep myself relaxed.” He admitted.

“Oh, right, because of the Other Guy.” She spoke. “With this type of skill one has to wonder why the hell you’re here, instead of working at some isolated five star spa.”

“I’ve thought about it.” He confessed.

“Don’t go.” She hurried to say. “We’d miss you.”

“I believe that living without worrying about me turning into the Other Guy at any given moment -maybe even because someone drank my tea -would be better.” He mumbled with a certain resignation.

“I worry more about Miss Stark blowing up this whole Towe than I worry about the Other Guy.” Cora informed him.

Bruce’s hands froze immediately at that. “You only say that because you’ve never seen me angry.”

Cora’s hands covered his, since they were still on his shoulders. “That’s not true.” She told him softly.” I was in New York when Loki attacked. Here, at Stark Tower, actually.”

Bruce tensed.

“When Loki took over the Tower, the staff was directed to take refuge on the underground levels, but we watched everything that happened in the Tower and outside through the cameras.” She explained.

Bruce pulled his hands free and took a step back. Cora turned around so she could look at him properly.

“You saw… You saw what happened to Loki.”

“And it was deserved.” She insisted. “The Hulk knew exactly who his enemy was. He cleaned the floor with Loki, then left the Tower. He didn’t break one extra piece of glass. And it was the same on the streets.”

“He hit Thor.” He told the floor.

“Thor can take it.” She shrugged. “And it doesn’t look like he’s holding a grudge.”

“I’m dangerous, Cora.”

“But then again, who isn’t in this building?” She asked, and even though her voice was gentle, it was still firm in its conviction. “Thank you for the massage.” She gave him a  smile and left Bruce with his thoughts.

And then…

“She called me Bruce.” He was smiling.

***

Darcy had never thought that living on a building full of superheroes would be so fucking entertaining.

Sure, chaos could roll around at any given moment, but everybody was great. It was quite obvious that most of them were still learning how to live with others and deal with it, but they were all on the right path.

Take Steve, for example: he was so precious! Polite, the kind of guy a girl can take home to meet mom, besides being a beefcake.

Seriously, they made that man and broke the mold. Kind of literally.

It would be so much easier if she was into him.

However, if she was being honest with herself, it was impossible to pay attention to anyone else when Clint was around.

And how dumb was that?

And it wasn’t even because he was a sex athlet -honestly, he should get an olympic medal for it. There was something else to him, something only he had. His dry humor, that crooked smile and the eyes of someone who lived through things she could only imagine.

She was a bit embarrassed of how things went between them. Not because of the sex -just a reminder: athlete -but because of the way she opened up to him, talking about her insecurities and doubts. Clint ended up seeing a Darcy that few people ever met, because of the way they talked.

Besides that, there was this other little thing, and this was what embarrassed her the most. She had… Kind of…

Open to interpretation, different people saw things in a way…

So, yeah… She had… Kind of… Run away the next morning.

Okay, maybe “running away” was kind of a strong name for it. The guy was a ninja spy! It was ridiculous he hadn’t heard her leaving. Maybe he didn’t want her there. There was a real chance for that.

In conclusion the whole thing was supposed to be a one-night stand. It wasn’t her fault he was around now. Well, not exactly around, really, because he had that lady…

“Lewis, we need to talk.”

Darcy jumped about six feet in the air (She wasn’t exaggerating!). “I swear to Thor I didn’t go anywhere near him!” She shouted.

Natasha arched a perfect brow. Of course, everything about her was perfect.

“What are you talking about?” She asked.

“Nothing.” Darcy cleared her throat. “What do you want to talk about?”

“Clint.” The redhead spoke simply, only confirming Darcy’s biggest fears.

Darcy knew this was going to happen! She just knew it. Well, at least Natasha hadn’t decided -yet – that killing her was easier.

“There’s no need.” Darcy assured her quickly. “I have no interest in him whatsoever. I know he’s your man and all. I totally respect that. Please don’t kill me.”

Natasha was looking at her, clearly unimpressed. “Clint isn’t ‘my man’.” She informed Darcy simply.

“Hum… I don’t believe that.” Darcy declared, even though she was pretty sure the risk of death got higher every time she opened her mouth.

“I’ll admit we were together once.” Natasha told her. “But it was a long time ago. We’re friends, great friends. We went through a lot together, things that normal people wouldn’t understand.”

“Normal like me, right?” Darcy sighed.

“This isn’t a bad thing, Lewis. Believe me.” The woman seemed to think a bit, before coming to some sort of decision. “Clint was married to someone from our midst once and it didn’t work out. We’re talking about two people with too many problems, traumas and complicated pasts. But someone like you… So simple, so normal, so… Carefree… Maybe that’s exactly what he needs.”

“Wait a minute.” Darcy was agape. “Are you trying to tell me I should go for it or something? Because there’s the tiny detail of him not wanting me.

Natasha rolled her eyes. “I’m ignoring this last part.” She informed Darcy. “I’m not trying to tell you anything. I’m telling you to do it.”

“Oh lord. The Black Widow is trying to set me up with someone.” Darcy was struggling to accept that one. “I think I’m in the Twilight Zone.”

“Better me than Toni.” Natasha offered. “She has a list. You never know what your priority level is or who she wants to set you up with.”

Natasha was probably right.

“So... You and Clint…”

“Get a move on, Lewis.” Natasha told her. “He’s stubborn and it’s under the same stupid idea that you aren’t interested. Honestly, if there was any more sexual tension between the two the building would have fallen down already.”

Well, when a Russian assassin puts it like that… Who was Darcy to say no?

***

“So… You and the Captain?” Rhodey asked, trying to hold in his smirk.

“It’s not what you’re thinking.” Toni informed him. “I’m just trying to pop his cherry, but it’s kind of hard.”

Rhodey, who’d been drinking water, choked on it. “You know, that’s kind of crass, even for you.”

“Oh really?” Toni rolled her eyes.

She should’ve predicted this coming up, but since Rhodey never mentioned it the night before during dinner, she had forgotten about it. Obviously she shouldn’t have because, apparently, Captain America’s virginity was a national treasure.

And a subject better saved for lunch.

“The biggest problem is that he’s so fucking ‘wonderful’.” She was being way too sarcastic, but she didn’t care. “I barely know how to talk to him. I can’t figure him out.”

Wasn’t that the truth? Toni had no idea what Steve's deal. Why the fuck did he think he needed to be so freaking perfect all the time? It was fine being a good man -he was one of the best -but he didn’t have to be a saint. A martyr. A pain in her ass.

“What? Wasn’t this the exact problem with Pepper?” Rhodey teased her. “Isn’t she wonderful? You’re the one saying all the time how she’s above the rest of humanity.”

“She is.” Toni spoke as if it was obvious. “Pepper is amazing. The thing is: she already knew me very well when she decided to give me a chance. She’s a hell of a woman and I’ll never meet anyone else like her.

“What makes you think the Captain won’t give you a chance like she did?” Rhodey threw back.

“Because I wanted a relationship with Pepper more than anything else. I don’t want a relationship with Steve.” Toni spoke as if Rhodey was a kid who couldn’t see the obvious. “I just wanna have sex with him.”

“And we’re back to crass.” Rhodey huffed.

“Just the way I like.” She winked at him, making the man laugh.

But then he sobered up, looking quite reflexive.

“Spit it out, Rhodey.” Toni prodded him.

“There’s something going on with SHIELD, Toni.” He told her.

“Don’t care.” She said immediately.

“Maybe you should.” His tone was super serious now. “There’s something afoot in DC, agents meeting with Senator Sten…”

“That asshole?” Toni huffed. “Do you know who it is?”

“No, but it isn’t your friend Coulson.”

“Oh, hold your horses. Coulson is not my friend.”

“Whatever, Toni.” He rolled his eyes. “You need to keep an eye on SHIELD. They’re up to something.”

“They always are! Why do you think I jumped ship? Fury only cares about his own agenda. Did you know he stopped Coulson and the Captain from looking for me when I went missing?”

“What?” James seemed appalled. “I had no idea.”

“I didn’t either, not until recently. They both feel terrible because of it.”

“And you still let Rogers live in your building?” He asked, confused.

“Not only him, but also Romanoff and Barton. We’re trying to work out this ‘team’ nonsense. It isn’t easy.” She frowned.

“Of course it isn’t, Toni.” Rhodey couldn’t believe he had to actually explain this to her. “Working as a team is never easy; But you all have the chance of doing something unique. Giving up now because someone left a dirty plate on the sink is pretty stupid.”

“I know.” Toni snapped. “But it’s not that. They’re… They…”

“Are people?” James finished, because he was finally understanding what was going on there.

“Yes!” Toni exploded, like this was the biggest problem of all times. “And they all have history, opinions and ideas. They have feelings and weak spots, subjects they don’t want to talk about… I feel like that place is going to blow up at any given moment. And I’m not even talking about a Green Code.”

Rhodes stretched his arm and grabbed Toni’s hand. “I just wanted to know how someone who’s so brilliant with machines can be so stupid around people.” He said, but it was without heat.

“Well, it’s impossible to be amazingly good at everything. Even for me.” She spoke with fake sorrow.

James laughed and threw his napkin at her.

But this whole SHIELD mess? Yeah, she hadn’t forgotten it.

***

The end of the week brought Pepper along, and she had a smile that could outshine the sun.

Toni’s heart felt painfully tight inside her chest, even though she was happy for Pepper. Some things never change.

“You’re quite tanned, hm, Pepps?” Toni commented, upon getting a better look at her. “If you have a single bikini mark I’ll slap you. With the whole house at your disposal, I hope you guys fucked on every single flat surface.” 

Cora, who’d been around trying to get Toni to sign some papers, dropped her StarkPad after that one.

“None of your business.” Pepper said as she rolled her eyes. “What matters is that I’m back.”

“Whatever.” Toni shrugged. “I don’t need you anymore. I have my new best friend: Cora!” She put her arm over Cora’s shoulders, while the assistant looked at her as if she’d finally lost her mind.

Pepper arched a brow. “Okay then. Bye.” And turned to leave.

Toni let go of Cora immediately. “Pepper, no! Don’t leave me!” She ran after the redhead. “Peeeeeeps!”

“She’s pathetic.” Clint, who just arrived at the scene, commented to Cora.

“I think it’s kind of adorable how much she likes Miss Potts.” Cora shrugged.

“Yeah. Toni’s probably not used to caring so much about someone.” He reflected more to himself.

“Apparently none of you are.” Cora said dryly, her eyes boring holes into him.

Clint swallowed hard. “Did I do something?” He asked, somewhere between worried and truly confused.

“No.” She arched a brow. “That’s exactly the problem.” She ignored Clint’s dumbfounded expression, and turned to Toni. “Miss Stark, I have to go. Oh, and we’re all set for the charity Thanksgiving’s dinners.

“Thanks, Cora.” Toni finally let go of Pepper and turned to her assistant. “I’m catching the plane tomorrow, so you give Bruce a lot of love while I’m gone.”

Cora narrowed her eyes. “I could give the Captain a lot of love.” She threw back.

“Uh, claws! Love it.” Toni cheered. “And darling, if you manage it, I’ll give you a raise. Have fun.”

“Wait a second!” Clint cut in. “Where are you going?”

“Japan.” Toni replied with the same simplicity of a person saying they were going to the corner to buy cigarettes.

“For what?”

“Well, I really want to eat Japanese food.” She shrugged. “And there’s this huge technology fair happening this week there. All the latest tech is gonna be there and I love that shit.”

“Sounds legit.” Clint snorted, then smirked. “Does that mean the house is free for us to party hard?”

“Is it ever not?” Toni threw back. “I love parties, so go for it. Just don’t do drugs. I’m against drugs. And Justin Bieber.”

Clint chuckled. “Well, when you get back Nat and I need to talk to you.”

“Dad and mom want to talk to me? What did I do? And why can’t we do this now?” She said all at once.

Clint rolled his eyes. “We believe we should get some basic training with weapons and self-defense, and improve your physical fitness.” He explained. “So we can avoid another situation like Killian’s. We can train you.”

“Hey! I handled that whole thing very well, thank you very much.” She protested.

“Only after you got the suit back.” He threw back, then sighed. “That’s why I didn’t want to talk about this now. Nat would explain better.”

Toni narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re a chicken, Barton.” She threw her hands up. “I’m going to Japan, and when I get back there’ll be no training. I’m warning you!”

Toni left, stomping away like an angry five-year-old. Cora and Pepper rolled their eyes in perfect synchrony and followed after her.

Clint smiled to himself as he walked to the fridge. He was going to make a quick snack then spend the rest of the day training. He was still doing missions for SHIELD with Nat, but they’d agreed with Toni that the agency had to stay out of the Tower.

He had no problems with that rule. He actually liked it a lot.

Natasha could never find out -she’d never let him live it down -but Clint was tired, drained from all the field work. And, if he was inclined to be very honest, tired of SHIELD as well. However, for people like him, there was no other option. Unless he wanted to go back to the circus (he didn’t).

These last months, Clint’d had an idea dancing around his head, but he figured it’d better talk to Phil about it. Phil would know what to do, he always did.

“Is Cora here?”

Clint felt a shiver running down his spine, the same he always felt when he heard Darcy’s voice. The effect she had over him was ridiculous, especially after so much time. Living under the same roof had been a stupid idea. Being mature sucked.

“She just left.” He said without turning to look at her.

“Damn it…”

“Do you need something?” He asked, still focused solely on his sandwich. He wasn’t going to look at her.

“Nothing that can’t wait.” She told him softly.

Clint heard the soft steps -she was barefoot, then -coming closer. He couldn’t hear the twinkling of her bracelets, so he deduced she was still getting ready for the day.

“Do you know what time this coffee is?”

Ok, if she was going to talk to him, Clint had to turn around. Keeping his back to her wasn’t mature, and they were all working on this maturity thing.

“Cora made it 15 minutes ago.” He informed her as he turned.

Oh fuck…

Fortunately, Darcy still had her back to him, because… Oh Lord…

There was something that Darcy didn’t know and Clint would rather she never did. Even though that night at the bar had been the first time they’d officially met, he’d been keeping an eye on Jane’s lab. And, for afar, he’d thought Darcy was adorable. It’d been the glasses, he’d realized later, coupled with her amazing smiles and the weird dances she did out of nowhere. But, above all, it was the glasses.

Darcy was pouring a pound of sugar on her coffee. Her glasses were on the tip of her nose, like they were on the verge of falling. Her hair was held back by a pencil, but the updo seemed one second way from being undone. She was wearing a purple tank top, and he could see the black lace of her bra.

Fuck. This wasn’t going to end well for him. He didn’t have that much self control. Actually –where Darcy was concerned –he had no self control at all.

“Clint? Did you hear me?” Darcy was looking at him with a concerned frown now.

Breathe in, breathe out. He could do this. “Sorry, I didn’t. What was it?”

“I just wanted to thank you.” She smiled at him.

“For what?” He asked, confused.

“For being so nice to me.” She explained. “When they asked if it was okay for us to live under the same roof.” She elaborated when it became clear he wasn’t following her.

“Well, that… wasn’t a big deal.” He was getting a bit awry of where this conversation was going.

“Of course it was, Clint.” She rolled her eyes. If you had said it was a problem, what do you think it’d have happened? They’d have kicked me out.”

“Of course not!”

“Yes they would.” She laughed. “You’re an Avenger, VIP, super duper important. I’m just an assistant. And many guys would take the easy way out, instead of having to see their one-night stand around daily.”

Clint had no idea what to say to that. There was something wrong with this whole scene. He felt like was being played somehow.

“I appreciate the maturity.” She continued. “And how respectful you’ve been. Some guys aren’t like that at all.”

Clint let out a relieved sigh. “You don’t have to thank me, Darcy.” He tld her earnestly. “You’re an amazing person, and essential to Doctor Foster’s work. You deserve my utmost respect.”

Darcy blushed. It was something else he thought it was adorable about her: for such a mouth girl, she sure blushed a lot.

“Yeah, well, when you say shit like that, I remember why I let you press me up against the first available wall.” She laughed.

“What?” He was truly shocked now.

“We aren’t going to pretend it never happened, right?” She rolled her eyes. “Sure, it doesn’t have to be a weekly topic of discussion –it doesn’t even mean it’s going to happen again –but it was good and…”

“Good? You call that ‘good’?”

Ok, that was a bit much. Good? GOOD? What they’ve done, the whole freaking night, had been ‘good’?

“Yeah, good.” Darcy looked truly baffled by his reaction. “Any problem?”

Clint was about to explain to her that, fuck yes, there was a problem. Actually he was about to demonstrate it, when Toni came back to the kitchen.

The billionaire looked from one to the other, then smirked. “I was about to tell you something, Katniss, but I changed my mind. Carry on.”

“Toni, wait!” Darcy called as the woman made it to leave the kitchen again.

“Yes?” Toni turned back.

Darcy picked up the People magazine that someone had left on the counter. On its cover there was a man with a beard and very blue eyes.

“Have you ever slept with Oliver Queen?” Darcy asked, pointing at the picture.

Toni made a face. “No. He wishes.”

Darcy seemed disappointed by the answer. “Why not?”

“Before his vacations at Lost he was a spoiled little brat. After Lost he became this brooding douchebag that still plays at being a brat. So… Better not.” She spoke as if it was some solid reasoning. “And I think he’s a bit too young for me.” She reflected about that one for a minute. “Besides, the only rich playboy I ever nailed was Bruce Wayne. I like being the richest one in bed.”

“I read about you two.” Darcy commented.

“Yeah, but it wasn’t the big romance the media created for us.” Toni shrugged. “Honestly, who has time for romance, when there’s so much else to do?”

“Like?” Clint asked, even though he was pretty sure he was going to regret it.

“Drinking, partying and randomly hooking up”, was the automatic answer.

Clint barked a laugh. “You have some serious issues, Stark.”

Toni curtisied prettily. “Thanks, I know. Have fun, kids. Auntie Toni comes back next week. Maybe”

Clint rolled his eyes to the billionaire’s retreating back, but when he turned to keep talking to Darcy, she was also leaving.

“It was great talking to you, Clint.” She waved at him.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“Exercise a bit. I have this lovely shape to keep, buddy. So maybe I’ll just… Skip rope.” She told him, giving a demonstrative skip.

Clint dearly hoped he wasn’t drooling. She shouldn’t skip or jump with a tank top like that.

“Bye, Clint.” She winked at him.

That was when Clint finally realized: there was something afoot here. And if Nat wasn’t involved in any way, he’d eat his favorite bow.

***

Despite the best balcony on the whole Tower being on Toni’s floor, there was another one a few floors down. It was a great place to step out for a minute and watch the city.

Steve liked to sit there sometimes and draw the surrounding buildings. However, this time, the place wasn’t empty when he got there: Thor was standing there, his eyes fixed on the sky.

“Good evening, Thor.”

Thor turned to him with a huge grin. “Steve, my friend. How do you fare tonight?”

Steve wasn’t a weak man, but even he got a bit winded with Thor’s friendly slaps on the back. “Fine, and you?”

“I came searching for the stars.” Thor explained. “But, as usual, they hide in the skies of your city.” The last part was a sorrowful statement.

Steve felt the same sorrow Thor felt; New York had too much artificial lighting and pollution that it was impossible to see the stars.

“Where’s Doctor Foster?” Steve asked.

“Lady Jane is in the middle of a very important study.” Thor informed him proudly. “And she just had a ‘breakthrough’.” He spoke as if he was trying to replicate the same words she might’ve used. “Apparently, I distract her, so I was cast out of the room.” There was a certain pride in this last comment as well.

Steve smiled. “How are you adapting to all of this, Thor?” He wondered, because maybe the Asgardian had an answer for him as well.

Steve wasn’t even sure he himself was actually adapting to all of this. Sometimes it seemed simple enough, and in other moments it looked impossible. Sometimes he felt he was going well, but then something happened and he ended up feeling old, out of his time and lost.

To be honest, he always felt lost.

It wasn’t about the way people dressed or talked. It was how they acted, as if honestly, politeness and minimum human consideration weren’t fashionable anymore. He saw kids walking around like they owned the streets, ignoring the wisdom of their elders, the suffering of the less fortunate, and life in general. It was as if the whole world, suddenly, thought that life fit inside a cell phone screen.

“I cannot say it is simple.” Thor replied. “Some of the costumes on Midgard are… Different.” He finished diplomatically. “I don’t understand much of the beliefs your people hold here. However, here I found great allies and true friends, and Jane…” It was like the power of his words conjured the doctor in front of him, like he could see her quite clearly right now in front of him. “She is more than I have ever expected to find. Not just a lover, but a friend, a strong woman. Someone that honors me, by allowing me to call her mine.”

Steve felt a tiny bit envious of the Asgardian. Not because he wanted Jane Foster -he didn't even want to think about who he actually wanted -but because he wanted to feel that too: feel complete and victorious because he belonged to someone.

It was hard not to think about Peggy at times like this. They’d had so much potential, they could’ve had something fantastic. But they never did and never would, and -sometimes -it was hard to accept that too. It felt like he’d been cheated out of that.

He wanted what Jane and Thor had, what Pepper and Phil were building. He wanted someone.

“You’re a lucky man, Thor.” He told the big man, earnest and happy for him.

“I am aware. However... Sometimes I think about Asgard.” Thor’s eyes went to the sky. “I left my friends behind, my father is alone right after losing my mother. And Loki…” He sighed. “I know there’s nothing but resentment between you and him, but he was my brother. And even if it is hard for you to believe it, he was good and he died honorably.”

Steve put his hand on his friend’s shoulder in support. “I always catch myself thinking about the years before, about the Brooklyn that only exists in my memories now.”

“I believe that, in a way, we are both aliens to them.” Thor spoke with a grin.

“I guess so.”

But Steve was tired of being that.

Chapter Text

Toni remained in Japan for only one week, but it took her another two to get back to New York. She hopped from there to Europe, then China, South Korean, then Malibu, and finally DC before going back home.

Something wasn’t right.

The first place she went upon her return was Bruce’s lab. When she passed by Jane’s lab, she saw the good doctor and Darcy fiddling with one of those weird machines they’d brought along and Toni would love to -accidentally on purpose -throw away.

Bruce was talking to Cora, while she took down notes. They got closer somehow and Toni felt like shit, because she was about to ruin it.

“I’m back.” Toni said simply.

Cora and Bruce jumped apart, like two teenagers caught doing something wrong. “Miss Stark!” Cora looked appalled. “Why didn’t you say you were coming back today?”

Toni just shrugged. “Cora, I need to talk to Bruce. Can you give us a few minutes?”

Cora gave Bruce a concerned look, but nodded and left anyway.

“Are you alright?” Bruce asked carefully.

“Yeah, I…” Toni ran her hand through her hair. “You need to go.”

Bruce’s eyes got round in their shock at her words, and a brief look of pain crossed them.

“No, wait!” Toni cried. “This came out very wrong. I’m so sorry.” She hurried to say. It was clear she was beyond tired.

“Toni, what the hell is going on?” He asked.

She took a deep breath in. “A few weeks ago, Rhodey told me something was going on with SHIELD.” She started. “That got me thinking. When I went to Japan I was followed by one of their agents. SHIELD cut me off; technically, there’s no reason for the interest now.”

Bruce made a gesture for her to carry on. “So I called Coulson. SHIELD is dealing with something big now, a dude that calls himself the Clairvoyant. As far as they know, this man could be just a con artist, but he knows a lot of stuff he shouldn’t. Even about us.”

“Is that why it took you so long to get back?” Bruce asked.

“Yes, I was taking care of a few things.” She admitted. “Especially protection for Pepper. Coulson and I agreed she’s in much more danger, because she could be used to hurt both of us. And then, I thought…”

“About me. I’m the weak link.”

“No!” Toni denied immediately. “That’s not it, but we have to think about it, Bruce. If something is really going down, if they’re getting ready to attack us… They might think it better to catch you unaware; not give the other guy a chance to show up. What if they strap you down on a table, collect your blood and try to recreate the experiment?”

Bruce took a deep breath in, trying to calm himself. Toni got closer to him, put her hands on his shoulders. “It’s not that I don’t want you here. God knows hardly anyone tolerates me the way you do.” Her hands cradle his face, noticing the grin tint on his brown eyes. “I’m not risking your safety, Bruce. I couldn’t handle it if something happened to you. You need to disappear until we can figure out what the fuck is going on. And I need you to believe me when I say this: there’s nothing I want less than sending you away.”

Bruce took another deep breath in, and between one blink and the next, the green was gone from his eyes. He touched Toni’s hand, the one that was still on his face. “I’ve tried disappearing before. SHIELD found me anyway.”

“With all due respect, you didn’t have my resources available.” She pointed out. “And this time, they aren’t expecting it at all. You’ll go saying you’re traveling to South Korea, but your plane won’t even touch the ground.”

“You’ve already made a plan?” He asked surprised.

“Why do you think it took me this long to get back? Jarvis and I planned it all, then I cleaned his ‘memory’. Nobody apart from us can know where you’re going.”

“And where am I going?”

“Macau. Obadiah had a secret base there. I’ve only found it after the fucker was dead. It’s almost untraceable, and nobody else knows it’s there. I’ll keep my eyes open here, trying to divert attention from you.”

Bruce sighed. “OK. I’ll go.” He agreed.

And the fact that he was agreeing so easily to leave everything he’d worked so hard to build, and just disappear, broke Toni’s heart.

“We’ll find a safe way to communicate.” She promised him. “It’ll be just you and me, exchanging messages like two school girls.” She joked, but it was weak.

“I’ve done worse, I suppose.” He gave her a soft smile.

“Bruce…” Toni sighed.

“It’s fine, Toni. I get it.” He assured her.

“I don’t want you to get it!” Toni snapped. “I want you to fight me. I’m feeling like shit, so stop being so fucking understanding, Bruce. You can demand things too.”

Bruce just smiled kindly at her. “No, I can’t.”

Toni gave him a look. “Don’t you dare leave without saying bye to Cora.” She warned. “I know you can’t tell her the whole deal, but… She likes you.”

“I know.”

“Oh shit.” She lowered her head. “I got in the way of something, didn’t I?”

“I was going to ask her out, but…” He pressed when Toni opened her mouth. “If there’s something happening, it’s not the right moment. We’ll have time.”

“When you give this type of speech, I never know if you’re bullshitting me or not.”

“I am and you do know.” He grinned at her. “I’m going to pack. What am I doing in South Korea?”

“World Conference of something something radiation.” Toni made a dismissive gesture with her hand.

Bruce chuckled. “Sounds important. When do I leave?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow.” He repeated, accepting it.

Toni stared at him for a minute. “Oh fuck it. I need a hug.” And she threw herself at his neck.

Bruce sighed and squeezed Toni against his chest. Yeah… Fuck it, he also needed a hug.

***

Cora would never say Toni was the best boss ever -that had been Miss Potts. Cora could understand Pepper perfectly, they were very much alike: focused, ambitious, driven and organized.

Toni was none of those things.

If Cora were to be honest, she’d considered quitting working for Toni two months after she started. She went to talk to Pepper, who was very understanding, and said she’d accept Cora’s resignation, if that was what she really wanted. Then, Pepper told her that, when she started working for Toni, she’d cried the first three months and considered leaving many times.

Cora hadn’t even considered that the other woman had gone through the same thing.

“Toni doesn’t like new people around.” Pepper explained. “But once you’ve proved yourself, she’ll be capable of anything for you. I still believe you can do amazing things here, but I won’t force you, logically.”

Cora decided to try one more time.

Toni started to gradually give her more space, and eventually her job became easier. Not that easy, because Toni was still Toni, but it was much simpler.

And there was Bruce.

She wasn’t sure when she’d started paying attention to him. It wasn’t that difficult, because if Toni was a storm, Bruce was the calm. Everything with him was easier; even if he was a bit disorganized and forgot things like eating and sleeping. He was a great person, and really cute.

Before she realized it, she had a crush on him. However, she figured she had no chances: Bruce was really reserved and Cora was no femme fatale.

But as time went by, the deeper the relationship between the Avengers became, the more Bruce opened up around others. That was when she started having a little bit of hope.

Things actually seemed to be looking up recently, especially after that shoulder massage. She was convinced Bruce was more relaxed around her, and maybe…

Now, standing outside his lab, watching as Bruce and Toni hugged, Cora didn’t know anymore.

Perhaps she was being silly. She’d never had the feeling that Toni wanted Bruce that way, or the other way around. She was actually convinced that Toni was interested in the Captain, but what did she know?

Cora knew that Toni always got what she wanted, and if she wanted Bruce… What chance did Cora have?

***

Toni found Darcy alone in the communal kitchen, wearing huge electric yellow headphones and tapping away on a laptop. She was also wearing a tank top. Again.

Toni tapped Darcy on the shoulder, making her turn around. “Look who’s back.” She took off her headphones. “Yo.”

Toni chuckled. “Yo, Lewis. Can I assume -based on the tank top -that your plan to re-seduce bird brains is still in progress?”

Darcy sighed. “Yeah… I’m almost giving up, to be honest.” She admitted. “I can’t keep dressing like this. Poor Steve can’t even talk to me.”

Toni snickered. “Normally I’m not one to give romantic advice, ‘cause… Well.” She cleared her throat. “But, even though I like the boob technique, I think it’s time you try something else.”

“If you have something in mind, let me know.” Darcy sighed.

Toni opened her mouth, then closed it again. “I’ll keep that in mind.” She promised. “But your good taste in guys shocked me. I thought you looked like someone with terrible taste in men, but birdbrain seems decent.”

“Please, don’t tell me you’ve slept with him.” Darcy groaned. “My self-esteem can’t take it.”

“No, I’ve never slept with Legolas. Just Nat.”

Darcy was agape. “Is it weird that I think it’s hot?”

“Nope. It was hot.” Toni confirmed. “Tho… Thinking back now… I should’ve figured out she was a spy-slash-assassin only by the moves she pulled out in bed.”

Darcy laughed. “You’re crazy.”

“Thanks. Oh! I’ve got something for you.” Tony started checking her pockets, until she found a box in one of them. “The girls in Japan use this all the time. Since you’re still being rude and using an iPhone in my house, I thought you might like it.”

Darcy was still staring at the box. “Are you giving me Swarovski?”

“Why? You don’t like crystals?” Tony asked, confused.

“Toni! That must’ve cost a fortune.”

Toni rolled her eyes. “Hardly. Now don’t be rude. Open my present.”

Darcy opened the box carefully, then smiled. “A penguin pendant. I loved it, Toni.”

“It’s actually a plug.” Toni corrected. “There’s no place to put a pendant on an iPhone, so you have to use a plug.”

Darcy snorted, but was still smiling. It was so cute! Her penguin was made with a pretty blue crystal. “Thank you.” She told Toni honestly. “Why a penguin?”

“You look like someone who appreciates peculiar animals; like koalas, sloths and platypuses. But they had only penguins.”

Darcy looked at Toni. “You know, Stark… People don’t give you enough credit.” She commented. “Everyone sees you as a genius, but hardly anyone sees you as a person.”

Toni snickered. “It’s better that way, Lewis. If you give me too much credit, sooner or later you’ll be disappointed. Likely sooner.”

***

There was something going on in that Tower; Steve was sure about it. He only didn’t know what. Yet.

Bruce had gone on a trip to South Korea. Cora looked down and Toni had vanished.

Actually, everybody had.

Things were happening in SHIELD and Fury kept pressuring Steve to go to DC for a while. Steve wasn’t sure he wanted to go; he didn’t think Fury was trustworthy.

Besides… He’d promised Toni that SHIELD wouldn’t come with him to her Tower, and for some weird reason, he didn’t want to disappoint her now. He had the impression that, if he went to DC because of Fury, Toni would kill him.

And the fact that he was concerned with that, bothered him. Toni disappeared whenever she wanted to, for as long as she wanted and she never told anyone where she was going. Why should he consider her feelings in this case? Toni probably didn’t even have feelings.

And all that talk about… Them… He wasn’t going to sleep with her. As far as he was concerned there was either a bet or Toni just wanted to annoy him.

He was tired of being alone, so he went to seek company in the communal area of the Tower. Toni -as fate would have it - was there, resting her forehead against the glass. She was in the dark, looking down at the city and drinking whiskey.

She seemed to be miles away from there, lost somewhere where he couldn’t reach her to bring her back. “Toni?” He called softly.

She turned, clearly startled by someone else being there. “Oh, night, Capsicle.” She turned back to the glass. “Can I help?”

“I just wanted to know if you’re fine.” He came closer.

“I’m the same as usual.” She shrugged. “Wanna drink?” She pointed at the bottle nearby.

“It’d be a waste.” He told her. “I can’t get drunk. Ever.”

“God, that sounds awful.” She made a face. “Sometimes there’s nothing better than forgetting everything for a few hours, even though you know everything will still be there in the morning, exactly where you left it.”

“That sounds personal.” Steve frowned. “What’s wrong, Toni?”

“Nothing. I’m just being dramatic.” She waved his concern away. “I’m feeling a bit blue.”

“Because Bruce isn’t here?” He guessed.

“Partially.” She shrugged once again. “There’s that. And Pepper. And Cora. And fucking SHIELD.”

“You’re still at odds, I take it.”

“And I’ll remain pissed off. I like Nat, Clint and even Coulson, but Fury…” She growled his name. “He can go to hell.”

“He’s pressuring me to go to DC.” Steve admitted.

“Fucker.” Toni grumbled. “He probably wants to save you from my bad influence. Or he just likes knowing he has you on a short leash.”

“I’m not a dog to be on a leash, Toni.” Steve gave her a warning look.

“How do you think those people see us, Steve?” She turned to him. “That Council that remains anonymous, how can we trust them? For them we’re pawns, weapons, propaganda. We are not people.”

Steve sighed heavily. She was right; their value was only related to what they could do for these people.

“Sometimes I don’t understand what this world has turned into.” His eyes took Toni in. “And I understand you even less.” He confessed.

Toni gave him a dry laugh, then drained her glass. “When I was younger, my father kept telling me stories about you, how amazing you were.” Her eyes were back to the city. “I’m not gonna lie; I used to be jealous about the way he talked about you. The thing is…” She snickered. “Now that I know you, I can see he was right. You kind of are this incredible, almost perfect human being. You’re annoyingly good.”

Steve opened his mouth, but nothing came out of it. It was unfair to a child to feel compared to someone like this. Toni was young, she shouldn’t feel like she needed to measure up to his memory.

“And I just wanted to spend time with him.” Toni continued. “When he was in his workshop, tinkering around with all those machines, I just wanted to be there with him, and he’d say ‘Toni, you’re girl, go play with dolls’.” She’d made her voice gruffer, like it was his. “So I started taking things apart by myself every time I was alone, which was often. And when dad found out, I got a bit of his respect, and finally a little of his precious time.”

Toni cleared her throat and picked up the bottle to refill her glass. Steve wanted to know how much she’d drunk already, but how could he? She was an adult and they were hardly friends.

“After he was gone, there was a company to take care of. And once again I had people telling me that I was just a woman and didn’t need to concern myself with it. As if the fact that I’m a woman was enough to prove that I couldn’t do it.” She still got so angry when she thought about it. “So I decided to prove them all wrong. I’ve made SI what it is today, almost alone. And that type of thing was always overshadowed by news about my personal life: who I was dating, the brands I was wearing, what I was doing.”

She sounded absolutely furious with the world now. “When they ‘found out’ I was bi, a research of years from SI was ignored in favor of this piece of information. Nobody cared about our improvements, and the technology we were creating. That was about the time the world decided to criticize me for having a sex life. But no one says shit about Bruce Wayne or Hugh Hefner and how many women they sleep with; they’re men, so it’s fine. Just because I’m a woman I can’t enjoy sex?” She once again drained her glass. “Fuck them. I do whatever I want.”

Steve was looking in shock and wonder at Toni. She’d never seen her being quite this honest in relation to anything, much less her feelings.

“That’s why I am the way I am.” She concluded with a dry laughter. “Now you might understand.”

“You have nothing to prove, Toni.” He told her honestly, because it was how he felt. “You’ve conquered a lot in these last years.

“For some people I’ll always have to prove something; just for being a woman. And I know I’m privileged.” She looked at him. “Look me in the eyes and tell me you’ve never seen a woman being treated differently than her peers just for being a woman.”

And Steve thought about Peggy being called “sweetheart”, not being respected by the soldiers, ignored by generals, even though she was stronger and more efficient than most people there.

“You’re right.” He conceded. “But I hope you know that it doesn’t matter to us. For the people that are really here for you, you’re Toni, and that’s enough.”

She gave him a small grin. “Thanks, Steve. I know I don’t say it enough, but I like you all. And I like having you here.”

They stared at each other in silence, until Toni broke it. “Are you going to DC?”

“I haven’t decided yet.” He admitted.

Toni grabbed her bottle and put it under her arm. “I hope you aren’t running away, Cap.” She told him as she started leaving. “Cause sooner or later, I’ll get you and we’ll settle this. Hasta la vista.”

And here Steve was, thinking she wasn’t that bad…

Chapter Text

Toni was going to murder Clint and Natasha!

Ok, probably just Clint, because Natasha scared her.

The fantastic duo had come up with the brilliant idea of training her on self-defense. When she’d come back from her trip, she had no chance to escape: Nat had cornered her in the kitchen and dragged her to the gym.

A week later she was considering dying - right after killing the spy duo. She was not made for this.

So she’d escaped.

Proudly, as a matter of fact. She went ahead and did something she hadn’t done in forever: walk around the city. She got herself a blonde wig -more for fun than as an actual disguise -, and took a stroll down Lexington Avenue, which was near the Tower and had a Victoria’s Secret.

Yes, Toni Stark shopped at Victoria’s Secret. No Perla or Agent Provocateur for her -at least not for the day to day. She liked comfy cotton panties.

So she went ahead and got herself some panties (and a few bras), a ridiculously sweet coffee at Starbucks and was seriously considering going into a book store when she heard the first explosion.

Her hand went automatically to her right ear, because Jarvis should be giving her warnings. And what did she find out? That she’d left her comms at home.

She shoved her hand in her pocket and grabbed her phone. “Jarvis!”

“Miss.” Jarvis’ calm voice replied back. “It is good to know you remain alive even amidst the chaos.”

“What chaos, Jarvis?” She all but yelled into the phone.

“A still not identified villain just attacked New York. But thinking about it… The robots he’s using are very similar to the one’s Dr Doom used on his last attack.” He informed her pleasantly.

“Someone is feeling sassy today, hm?” She rolled her eyes. “Can you do me a favor and send Mark 57 my way? If it’s not too much of a bother.”

“In route, miss. Oh, one more thing. Captain, Thor and Agent Romanoff are already fighting the robots along the Fantastic Four.”

“Great.” Toni grumbled. “Speed this up, Jarvis.”

“Yes, miss.”

The explosions seemed to be getting closer quite fast. Toni was going to put Jarvis solely on troll duty for a year if that suit didn’t arrive soon! (For some reason, Jarvis hated internet trolls with a passion that was quite weird for an AI.)

She caught a glimpse of the first robots coming down the street and shooting against the people. The things weren’t exactly big -not much above 5 ft - and they kind of resembled spiders -even though they only had four legs.

“Miss. Mark 57 coming on your right.”

Toni turned her head and saw it coming. “Thanks, Jarvis!” She put away her phone and dropped her shopping bags and wig.

“Come on, babe.” She murmured, concerned. The machines and explosions were getting too close for comfort. She also saw one of those fire trails that brat Storm left behind himself. She hoped he hit a building.

The suit was so close, Toni was ready to get suited up, when a robot threw a missile against Mark 57.

Toni didn’t know how strong it was, but it was enough to explode the suit, and since she was quite close, she was thrown back by the explosion.

She felt her head hitting the sidewalk and black spots danced in her vision. Suddenly everything went out of focus, and it felt as if every sound -the screaming, the shots, the chaos -was far away from her.

She had to get up and get out of there, but her legs didn’t seem to be working well.

Fuck! She had survived the kidnapping, an army of robots and an alien invasion! She was not going to die in a third-rate attack like this!

One of the almost-spider robots turned towards her and pointed its canon at her.

Suddenly a shadow covered her and the explosion happened as if from a distance.

“Toni! Toni!” Steve -in full Captain America garb - shook her, but she didn’t seem to be hearing well. “Toni, are you okay?”

“Capsicle?” Her gaze finally managed to settle on him somewhat. “I hit my head.”

Steve touched the back of her head and felt it was wet. Blood. It could be nothing -head injuries tended to bleed a lot, even when they were small -but he couldn’t leave her there.

“Romanoff.” He called on the comms. “I just found Stark hurt on the street. I’ll take her back to the Tower and come back.”

“Okay, Captain.” Natasha replied to him. “We have things under control here.”

Steve picked Toni up and -literally- ran towards the Tower. He still had to put down a few robots on the way, but they managed to get back there without major incidents.

“Jarvis, can you get Miss Myers and a doctor here?” He asked as the elevator moved up.

“Unfortunately, I cannot get a doctor, Captain.” The AI said.

Steve frowned. “What?”

“Miss Stark has programmed me to never get her a doctor.” Jarvis informed him. “No exceptions.”

Steve threw an incredulous look at Toni, who remained snuggled against his chest.

“I hate doctors,” was her only explanation.

“Unbelievable.” Steve huffed. “So get Cora as fast as possible, please.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Do you even think before making these decisions, Toni?” He grumbled, entering her floor. “What kind of order…”

“If you take me to my bedroom I’ll scream.” She announced when she saw where he was heading to. “And it won’t be the good kind of screaming, so turn around.”

Steve stopped, looked towards heaven and asked for strength. “Where do you want to go, Toni?” He asked patiently.

“The bar. I need a drink.”

“You aren’t drinking right now.” He said, serious. “But I can get some ice for your head, so it’s fine.”

Steve sat Toni down on the counter and looked into her eyes. “Are you feeling anything? Nausea, dizziness, difficulty to understand me?”

Toni huffed. “Is annoyance considered ‘feeling something’?” She asked.

Steve threw his hands up. “I give up.” He pulled his cowl off and left it behind her. “I’ll get the ice. Try not to fall face first to the floor.”

“Yes, sir!” She saluted him.

Steve tried to take a deep breath in -again - and not lose his patience. It was so… So… So like Toni to act this way after getting hurt like this.

He opened the fridge, grabbed some ice, put it on a dish towel, then came back to where Toni was. “Here. Put this on your head.” He said, giving her the dish towel.

Toni grabbed the ice without saying anything else and put it to her head, her eyes turned to the window.

“You should go help them.” She said at last. “Cora must be on her way and the fight will probably get worse.”

“Nat said they had it under control.” Steve told her. “You hit your head pretty hard, you need someone to keep an eye on you. When Cora gets here, I’ll go.”

“It’s not even bleeding anymore.” Toni whined. “Just go.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me, Stark?” Steve grinned softly.

“I don’t like being seen like this.”

Steve was surprised. “I’ve seen you blackout drunk, Toni.” He pointed out.

“I don’t care about that.” She said back. “I don’t want to be seen like this: weak and hurt.”

Steve put a hand to her forehead. “Are you okay? Did the hit to the head affect you so much?”

She rolled her eyes, then seemed to think of something. “Does that mean I can act weirdly and be forgiven because of the concussion?”

“You always act weirdly.” Steve said warily. “I’ll check your wound.” He declared, getting ready to put some space between them.

However, Toni was faster. She grabbed Steve’s arm and pulled him closer. The Captain was probably surprised, because he just let her do it. When he was close enough, Toni put her legs around his waist, grabbed the collar of his uniform and pulled his mouth to hers.

She just knew he wouldn’t be expecting that.

At first, Steve put his hands up, as if he wasn’t sure what to do with them -push Toni away or touch her better. He also didn’t move his mouth or body to get away from her.

Toni hadn’t kissed a shitload of people throughout the years without positive effects on herself -she was a great kisser. Therefore, she tightened her legs around him, fitting their hips perfectly to each other (thanks to whoever made this counter at the proper height for this), slid her hands over his shoulders and bit Steve’s perfect lips.

So much cuter when he was quiet…

And slowly Steve started kissing her back. Softly, carefully, almost timid. Toni rewarded him with shorter, sweeter kisses. Those were probably more his speed anyways.

Steve’s hands finally lowered to Toni’s waist, and she’d decided she’d been good enough, and it was time to get more. Her fingers grabbed at his short hair, and she gently brushed her tongue against his lips. His body was letting out heat like a furnace and Toni wanted to sink into him and spend hours there.

But not like in a romantic way. Just sex.

Seriously.

Toni’s tongue brushed up against Steve’s and everything exploded. Suddenly his hands were really on her -holding her, pulling her closer -and his mouth was insistent against hers, kissing her harder and deeper.

Toni had never -ever- dreamed that the Captain could kiss like that. She’d have to review her ideas, because that man couldn’t be that much of a virgin.

And this wasn’t a complaint, because… Wow.

Toni let her hands wander across Steve’s body, desperately looking for a way into his clothes. That fucking leotard had none!

One of Steve’s hands went to her thigh, and all she wanted was for him to start undoing buttons! She even pressed her hips against his -and super soldier indeed! -hoping he’d catch her drift, but he seemed focused on kissing her only.

Which was still pretty great.

It only went wrong when Steve decided to touch her hair, and his hand landed exactly where she was hurt. Her pained groan was barely audible, but it was enough to make him stop immediately,

“You’re still hurt.” He spoke up. “I shouldn’t have done this.”

Toni was much more interested in how his lips were plumpier, and his breath was short, how he was still between her legs than in the fact she was technically hurt.

“I’m a big girl, Steve.” She pointed out. “And I think I’m in perfect condition. Now you can take me to my bedroom.”

Steve opened his mouth to say something else, then paused, touched his ear and seemed to listen to something. “Nat? What? What do you mean by more robots? Where have they…”

The Human Torch passed flying by the window, followed by five robots.

“Okay, I got it.” The Captain sighed,

“Miss Myeers is on her way, miss.” Jarvis let Toni know.

“There are too many ‘misses’ in that sentence.” Toni reflected. “I think you should go back to calling me ‘my lady’, Jarvis.”

“As you wish, my lady.” He replied immediately.

“Toni…” Steve started, embarrassed. “Could you…” He indicated her legs, that were still around his waist.

As if he couldn’t break free if he wanted to. “Look, I can do that, but just so you know: this isn’t over.” She informed him.

Steve narrowed his eyes. “I don’t think it’s the right moment to discuss this.”

“You’ve been warned.” She said, then pulled him back by the nape and kissed him again.

And he jumped right in, so -really- who could blame her?

“Should I leave?”

Steve all but leaped away from Toni when he heard Cora’s voice.

“No, Cora. It’s all under control.” Toni said with a huge smile. She then gave Steve his cowl back. “Go ahead, honey. Come back in one piece so we can finish this conversation.”

“Toni…”

“Nope.” She cut him. “I know you think you’re being all noble or silly or whatever. We aren’t having this conversation right now. “Go out there, save the day, then we can talk. And by ‘talk’ I really mean ‘have sex’.”

Cora seemed to want to be anywhere but there.

“I’ll go, because…” Steve took a deep breath in. “But we’ll talk.”

Toni just nodded.

“Call her a doctor, please.” He asked Cora as he passed her.

“Poor Captain…” Cora sighed as she watched the elevator’s doors closing after him.

Toni felt no pity whatsoever.

***

The mess in New York just kept growing to the point it got ridiculous. At some point even the Sinister Six came out and Spider Man was right behind them.

No one wanted Toni to get involved, but she just did whatever she wanted anyway. She got the suit, jumped into the brawl and -eventually -they came out the winners.

The problem was -as usual - damage control. As no one knew who the hell was Spider Man, but everyone knew her and the Fantastic Four, it was always their fault. She was going to throw insecticide on that damn arachnid.

With all of that, it’d been hard to talk to Steve. He was obviously avoiding her as well. The problem was that the more time it passed, the more likely he was to convince himself it’d been a mistake, that he should’ve been a gentleman, blah blah blah…

Honestly, what did a woman need to do to get laid in this Tower?

On the third day after the event, Toni entered the main kitchen and found the whole team getting ready for breakfast.

“Special occasion and no one gave me a heads up?” She asked, taking a seat next to Jane,

“It is a farewell meal, Lady Stark.” Thor told her. “The Captain and the Hawk have been transferred to the city you call Washington,”

Toni turned her eyes to Steve and arched an eyebrow.

“They’re putting more pressure on us because of the last incident.” Steve explained, clearly embarrassed. “Fury left us no choice.”

Toni just hummed.

They finished eating and Steve stayed behind to do the dishes. Toni sighed and went down to her lab.

“Jarvis.” She called as soon as she was sitting.

“My lady?”

“I won’t be taking any calls from Captain Rogers for a while. Let Cora know.”

“Yes, my lady.” There seemed to be a certain satisfaction in his voice. “Should I presume the Captain is on time out?”

“Yeah. He is.”

Chapter Text

Three months later...

"Ma'am, I have urgent news," Jarvis announced.

"What is it?" Toni asked disinterestedly as she soldered another piece of her new lab assistant robot.

"Director Fury is dead," he reported.

The soldering iron dropped from Toni’s hand.

"What?" she asked in shock.

"Director Nicholas Fury has just been declared dead at a hospital in DC," Jarvis informed her.

"That son of a bitch can't be dead," Toni said. "I won’t believe it until I see the body."

"Captain Rogers and Agent Romanoff were present when the death was declared," Jarvis added. "Agent Hill has already taken the body to be properly buried."

Toni tried to breathe deeply.

"Where are the two now? And since when is Natasha in DC?"

"It’s been two weeks," Jarvis said. "As for their whereabouts, they’ve disappeared. SHIELD has ordered a manhunt for the Captain, suspecting he’s hiding information about Fury’s death."

"Disappeared how?" Toni snapped. "Jarvis, you're better than any government satellite. Where are they?"

A pause—Jarvis was probably hesitating.

"I don't know, ma'am," he finally said.

Toni tried again to breathe deeply and calm down. Acting like a hysterical woman wouldn’t help. Losing it wouldn’t help.

"Put me in contact with Phil," she ordered.

"Agent Coulson’s plane and team have gone missing."

"My God, Jarvis! What the hell is going on at SHIELD?" she demanded.

"I still don’t know, Miss Stark, but I will find out," Jarvis assured her.

"And Clint? Where is he?"

"Agent Barton is undercover in Somalia, completely off-grid."

"With all due respect, screw Somalia," she exploded. "Get Clint back here as fast as possible."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Send Cora down here now and don’t let Pepper hear anything about Coulson," she ordered. "And where the hell is that damn Capsicle?"

***

"So, I have a question for you," Natasha said. "You don’t have to answer. Actually... if you don’t, that will be answer enough."

"What?" Steve replied, slightly impatient.

Okay, they were on their way to New Jersey, preparing to face God knows what, but did they really need to play games now?

He still couldn’t believe SHIELD was hunting him! Couldn’t believe how much of a bastard Fury had been, even in death!

Toni had been right to cut ties with all of them.

And he shouldn’t be thinking about Toni.

"Was I your first kiss since 1945?" Natasha finally asked, clearly amused.

"That bad, huh?" he replied, a bit more curt than he intended.

"I didn’t say that," she said, but didn’t bother to hide her laughter.

"Sure sounds like it."

"No. I’m just wondering how much practice you’ve had."

"I don’t need practice," he retorted.

"Everyone needs practice."

"It wasn’t my first kiss since 1945," he said firmly, not wanting to go there, to talk about that kiss. "I’m 95, not dead."

"No one special, Captain?" Natasha pressed, and there was something in her tone, in her smile... as if she knew.

But no one knew. Because Steve certainly hadn’t told anyone. And he hoped Toni had kept quiet too.

***

Toni saw on the news a helicarrier crash into the Triskelion, SHIELD’s headquarters. She heard the reporters speculate about Captain America’s involvement, trying to make sense of what they were seeing on screen.

Darcy was beside her, biting her nails. Pepper was on her other side, tears streaming down her face—Phil still hadn’t shown up. Thor wanted to fly over there immediately, but Jane was begging him to stay.

Clint hadn’t come back from Somalia, because the mission was in the middle of a critical phase. He had promised Toni he would explain everything when he returned, and that he fully trusted Natasha and Steve.

Toni no longer knew what to think. Her throat burned with the urge to drink. She wanted to drown in the sweet oblivion only alcohol could bring.

She must’ve done it at some point.

Because after the collapse of the Triskelion, the next thing she remembered was waking up to the TV still on, Natasha giving some sort of testimony. SHIELD had been disbanded. Phil was still missing. Fury was still dead.

Steve and Natasha still hadn’t come home.

***

That was his face. He didn’t know what he was doing there, or where that photo had come from, but he knew that face was his.

The name below the photo was also unfamiliar: Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes.

There was another name... Bucky, he thought. That man had called him by that name.

But who was Bucky? Who was James Barnes? Who was the Winter Soldier?

There was no one left to ask. No one to lean on.

But the Captain... maybe he shouldn’t go after that man. They had fought on opposite sides, and the Soldier understood his orders.

But the Soldier had failed, and the Captain had not.

Now... where could he find that man?

***

"Pepper! Pepper!"

Toni burst into Pepper’s office at the Tower and ran straight into the last person she expected to see.

"What is she doing here?" she asked, pointing at Maria Hill, while otherwise ignoring her presence.

"Toni, Maria is going to work for us," Pepper said.

"No, she’s not," Toni declared.

"Toni..." Pepper sighed, massaging her temples. "She is. SHIELD has been dissolved. There are agencies and people out there who would cut off their arms to have someone of Hill’s caliber on their team."

"Then let’s be generous and give her to one of them," Toni replied with a smile. "I don’t want one of Fury’s spawns in my company."

"I’m the CEO," Pepper reminded her through gritted teeth.

"Yeah, but I can still pull more strings than you think," Toni snapped back. "I don’t trust her."

"I’m sitting right here," Maria said.

"I don’t care," Toni shot back. "I don’t trust you. I don’t believe a word you say."

"You’re being childish," Pepper said, already growing irritated.

"No, you’re being naïve, Pepper," Toni replied, then turned to Maria. "Look me in the eye and tell me: where’s Fury?"

"Director Fury is dead," Maria said.

"No, he’s not!" Toni slammed her hand on the table. "I’ve got footage from the Triskelion, and I saw him in the middle of that chaos. So unless Nick has an identical twin named Dick, you can drop this act and get the hell out of my building!"

Maria pressed her lips together, refusing to speak.

"I’m going to start counting, Hill," Toni warned. "When I get to three, I’ll have Jarvis post those videos of a very not-dead Fury online. One... Two..."

"It’s classified!" Maria blurted. "Yes, he’s alive. But it’s classified." She exhaled sharply. "But it doesn’t matter. The SHIELD you knew is gone. Yes, it’ll be rebuilt from the ground up, but not now—and not by Fury."

Toni raised an eyebrow.

"Then by who?"

"Who else?" Hill replied. "Phil."

***

Natasha wasn’t someone who liked asking for favors. Favors left you exposed, gave you obligations, and sometimes came at a price too steep to pay.

But Steve needed her help. His chances of finding the Winter Soldier alone were slim. So Natasha was going to help.

She called the one person who probably knew everything in this world. And a man with so few scruples that he would certainly give her what she wanted—in exchange for a favor.

"This is Natasha."

"Natasha." His voice, always deliciously deep and strong, sounded pleased, even though the connection was terrible. "It’s been ages. How are you?"

Natasha wasn’t big on small talk, but he loved it, as if he liked to pretend he was a simple man and not a soulless criminal.

"I’m fine. You?" she replied calmly.

"Glorious, my dear. I’m in this little village in Turkey..."

Natasha rolled her eyes but let him ramble on about another one of his adventures. Normally, she didn’t mind small talk with him (he was one of the few men she respected professionally), but today, she was in a bit of a hurry.

"I need to ask a favor," she said when she finally had the chance.

"A favor?" he repeated, delighted. "Anything you want, my dear. I’m intrigued, I admit. You’re not the kind to ask for favors."

No, she wasn’t.

"I’m looking for the Winter Soldier," she began, hurrying when she saw he was about to interrupt. "I know there’s a certain professional courtesy between you and his agency, but HYDRA’s in shambles right now and he’s probably been cut loose. I’d owe you if you helped me."

He went silent, and Natasha could picture him clearly, nibbling his lip, thinking of all the ways he could profit from a deal like this.

That man was all business. This wasn’t an offer he’d pass up lightly.

"Word is, he’s also looking for someone," he began calmly. "Coincidentally, someone you know: Captain America. But no one knows where the Captain is, especially now that SHIELD has fallen. But... Everyone knows where to find a certain associate of his who loves attention. Captain America may not have a home, but everyone knows where to find the Iron Lady."

Natasha went quiet. Why hadn’t they thought of that before? Toni had been a target before—she still was.

"There’s your answer, dear Natasha," he said, that smile in his voice again. "I may need a little help soon, so keep your phone close."

And there she was, once again making deals with the devil...

***

Toni wasn’t happy about Hill being there. Sure, she understood all the reasons the woman would be a great asset to the company and why Pepper wanted to hire her, but she just didn’t trust her.

Especially now that she knew Fury was alive and walking around. Still, she knew it was a good idea to keep Hill close. She wanted to keep an eye on her.

So she was pretending to pay attention to the conversation between Hill and Pepper when the alarms at the Tower began to blare.

"Jarvis, what’s going on?" she demanded.

"A man is attacking the security guards in the lobby," Jarvis reported. "No ID on him yet."

Jarvis pulled up the security camera footage from the front lobby, where a man dressed in black was tossing guards around like potatoes.

"That’s the Winter Soldier!" Hill declared, standing up.

"Fantastic," Toni muttered. "What does he want, Jarvis?"

"He’s demanding to speak with you."

Huh. That she hadn’t expected.

"Has he hurt anyone?"

"Aside from a few minor injuries, nothing serious."

"Prep Mark 58 for action, but keep it on standby," she ordered. "I’m going down."

"Stark, you can’t!" Hill stood up and followed the billionaire to the elevator. "That man is dangerous."

"Don’t start with me, Hill." Toni rolled her eyes. "Pepper, stay here. It’s safer."

Pepper just nodded, but Maria jumped into the elevator behind Toni.

When the elevator doors opened to the lobby, Hill was the first out, weapon drawn, aiming at the Soldier’s head.

"Hands up and on the ground!" she commanded.

The Soldier, who had just finished tossing poor Happy aside, turned to face them.

Toni had read about Sergeant James Barnes and seen a basic - new - file on the Winter Soldier. What stood before her was a shell, a hollow man, someone lost. Someone dangerous—possibly seconds away from exploding and taking everyone with him.

"Nope, stop everything!" she ordered Hill. "No one’s going on the ground. Enough of this crap," she said seriously—the situation was already dangerous enough, no need for guns to make it worse. "Everyone, lower your weapons! Now! "

One by one, they obeyed. Hill was the last to lower her weapon—and even then, she didn’t holster it. The Soldier didn’t move during any of it.

Toni took a deep breath and turned to him.

"And you? What are you doing here?" she demanded.

"I’m looking for Toni Stark," he said seriously, those dead eyes, his face expressionless.

"You’re looking at her, handsome." Toni put her hands on her hips. "What do you want?"

"I need to find the man you call Captain America," he declared. His stance was rigid, like he was ready to either fight or flee. "I no longer have access to my agency’s data or resources. Toni Stark is the only known associate of his with a fixed, public location."

"Fair enough," Toni conceded. "What do you want with him?"

"I need to know if what he told me is true. If I really am—or was—a man named James Barnes. If everything I’ve ever been told was a lie. Who I am, where I came from... Why is he so sure he knows me?"

Now there was something inside him. As if the emptiness had been filled, just a little. If he was seeking answers, if he wanted to understand—then he wasn’t completely dead inside. There was still something remotely human in the Soldier.

The question was: how much? Was it real? And were they safe around him?

"Okay, alright..." Toni took a deep breath. There had to be a solution, something she could do. "Listen, I’m willing to help you. I want to help you," she emphasized, though she didn’t even know why. "But I can’t let you into my Tower unless you’re sedated."

In an instant, his eyes burned with fury and he looked ready to strike again.

"I will not be sedated!" he snapped. "I won’t let you experiment on me."

"Whoa, stop right there! That’s not what I meant," Toni replied immediately.

What had they done to this man? What had he gone through to assume that sedation meant experimentation?

"Stark, you can’t just—" Hill began.

"Hill, shut up." Toni snapped, already too stressed to deal with this. "This is still my building, and I do whatever the hell I want. And just so we’re clear, you work for me now, which means you do what I say. So... quiet."

She turned back to the Soldier. She had to be careful—she couldn’t blow this. She would take him down if she had to, because she couldn’t let him run loose. But it would be much easier if he didn’t resist.

"That’s not what I said," she repeated firmly. "I won’t risk the lives of everyone in this building because of you. Their safety is my responsibility—you have to understand that. So I can’t let you in unless you’re tranquilized." She tried to sound honest, because she needed him to trust her. "Aside from that, we’ll have to put you in a secure cell until the Captain gets here. That’s the only way you’ll get in without using force," she warned. "I know there’s no reason for it, you don’t know me—but you’re going to have to trust me."

The irony of Toni Stark asking someone to trust her wasn’t lost on her. But this was important. A lot could go wrong—and a lot of people could get hurt.

"So... please," she said, stepping forward slowly, palms up, showing she meant no harm. "Please, let me give you a tranquilizer. Please, let’s not fight right now. Let’s not put these people at risk. Please... trust me."

She got as close as she dared and offered her hand.

Everyone seemed to hold their breath. He looked from her hand to her face for what felt like an eternity.

"Okay," he finally said, placing his hand in hers.

Toni really needed a drink.

Chapter Text

Steve felt like his heart was going to explode. The elevator seemed to be taking centuries to go up and Jarvis was ignoring him. Sam asked if he was okay and why he was talking to the walls. That had to be Toni’s doing, just like ignoring his calls was her thing.

When Nat had called saying that Bucky... That the Winter Soldier might be going after Toni, Steve had rushed back to New York as fast as possible. He couldn’t leave Stark alone to deal with the consequences of his actions.

Other than that, he had no idea what state Bucky... The Soldier... would be in now that his organization had collapsed.

The elevator stopped at the penthouse (which wasn’t the floor he had selected) and the doors opened.

Steve and Sam walked into the room and there was Toni, glorious in one of those suits she always wore, talking to someone.

“Thank you for everything, doctor,” she was saying to the seated man.

“What everything? I didn’t do anything but examine the guy, and that I could’ve done while high.”

“Well, it’s not your fault the tranquilizer didn’t work,” Toni said with a shrug. “None of them.”

“Too bad you didn’t let me try the elephant one,” the man commented, standing up. Steve now noticed he was leaning on a cane. “And when you find one that actually makes this guy sleep, let me know.”

Toni laughed and shook his hand. It was then that Steve realized she was finally looking at them at the door, but she didn’t say anything.

“I can ask Happy to drive you wherever you want,” Toni offered, walking him to the elevator.

“No. I’m on my bike,” he said, also ignoring the two of them.

“Have fun, doctor.” Toni handed him a bottle of what looked like expensive whiskey.

“I’m not a doctor anymore,” he said, taking the bottle. “I’m not even alive.”

“Lucky you.”

Toni waved to the doctor inside the elevator, waited until the doors closed, and continued ignoring Steve. Sam was looking increasingly nervous, and Steve had no idea what to do.

“Toni...” Steve called carefully.

“Jarvis, activate.” she said.

Out of nowhere, pieces of the suit started flying, covering Toni and leaving the Iron Lady standing in the room. And then, said Lady turned and slapped Steve so hard he went flying into a wall on the other side of the room.

“That was very satisfying,” she declared to no one in particular, then turned to Sam, and the faceplate lifted, revealing curious brown eyes. “And who are you?”

“Sam Wilson, ma’am,” he said, unsure what to do, his eyes darting to where Steve had fallen.

“And what are you doing in my Tower?” Toni wanted to know.

“The Captain brought me,” he ratted out immediately.

“Of course he did.” Toni rolled her eyes. Suddenly the armor opened up and Toni “stepped out” of it like it was nothing. “Toni Stark.”

“I know who you are,” Sam said.

“Everybody does,” she tossed over her shoulder, heading toward the bar. “Want a drink?”

Sam was giving Steve a worried look as he got up.

“Um... Putting on the suit just to slap someone is a bit much, right?” he asked cautiously.

“Not if that ‘someone’ is Captain America,” Toni said, pouring something into a glass. “If I’d just slapped him, I probably would’ve broken my hand. Or my nail.”

“Why did I get slapped?” Steve wanted to know.

Toni glared at him. “I think you know exactly why,” she informed him.

“Nat and I thought...”

Toni slammed the bottle down so hard on the counter it was a miracle it didn’t break. “So now it’s ‘Nat and I’? Good to know, Capsicle,” she said through gritted teeth.

Steve sighed. “I don’t know what your problem is, Toni.”

Sam, who by now was getting a very good idea of what the problem was, was making desperate hand gestures for Steve to shut up. The super soldier wasn’t catching on.

“We had a very serious situation, I admit,” Steve continued, not realizing he was skating on thin ice. “Maybe there were simpler ways to handle it, but we thought it was best not to involve you guys. To keep you safe.”

“Safe? Are you insane, Steve?” she shouted, abandoning her drink. “While you were gallivanting around with Natasha, Bruce was hiding from the world and we had no idea what was happening with you.”

“Oh so that’s your problem,” Steve shot back. “That Bruce isn’t here. It’s not my fault he left.”

“I hid Bruce, you idiot,” she said angrily. “To protect him from SHIELD and apparently that was a great idea.”

“Of course it had to be that. As long as Bruce and Pepper are safe, the rest of the world can go to hell, right?”

“And you and Natasha have what moral high ground? You vanished without even letting us know what was happening!”

“We weren’t on vacation, Toni! We both nearly died several times.”

“And what do you think I was doing here? Updating my Twitter? I’ve been here, getting calls from people demanding answers I don’t have because I know nothing! And suddenly Hill shows up at my door asking for a job, Phil’s still missing, I had a conversation with some guy called Superman, and just so you know, he’s way hotter than you...”

Sam was following the whole thing with great interest. He thought Steve had something with Natasha, but these two argued like an old married couple.

“And to top off this circus, I’m babysitting your best friend while you’re off doing God knows what,” she threw her hands up.

“What did you say?” Steve asked, shocked.

“Oh, now you care?” Toni went back to her drink. “I’m taking care of your little Winter Soldier buddy, Rogers.”

“Toni, he’s dangerous!” Steve approached her. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

Toni waved him off. “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course he didn’t hurt me.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s fine. The guy who just left is a doctor and checked our friend out. He’s not very chatty, but at least he’s not causing trouble.”

Steve grabbed Toni by the shoulders.

“I need to talk to him,” he said seriously.

“Not happening, darling,” Toni informed him, stepping away.

“Why?” Steve wanted to know.

“He did come here wanting to talk to you,” she said. “But he changed his mind for some reason. He has unsociable days, and today is one of them. Besides, he only talks to me, Cora, and Jane for some reason.”

“Because he doesn’t see the two of them as threats, obviously, Toni.” Steve huffed. “He could be manipulating you.”

“I thought he was your friend and you wanted him to recover.” Toni raised an eyebrow.

Steve stopped talking immediately. What was wrong with him? Yes, he wanted to understand what was wrong with Bucky and help him. So why was he suddenly judging him?

“I just...” Steve took a deep breath. “I’m just worried about people’s safety, Toni.”

“How sweet of you to care, Rogers.” she said sarcastically. “And late too, because you vanished without a word. Ozzy doesn’t want to talk to you today. Maybe tomorrow.”

“Ozzy?” Sam asked, confused.

“Oh, he doesn’t have a name,” Toni said. “And he doesn’t want to be called James or Bucky because he still feels confused. Since I’m not going to call him ‘Soldier’, I gave him a new name.”

“Ozzy?” Sam repeated.

“Yeah. Like Ozzy Osbourne. Pale, long-haired, and crazy eyes.”

Sam burst out laughing.

“Toni, I want to talk to him,” Steve said.

“Tomorrow, if he wants to talk to you,” she said firmly. “He’s confused and needs help, Steve. You barging in could ruin everything. Thor’s already bad enough, fussing over him because of Jane.”

“Toni...”

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to bring Bruce back home.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder and left.

“You didn’t tell me you had something going on with Toni Stark,” Sam said, still laughing.

Something... That was one way to put it. Steve’s eyes drifted to the counter. Toni had left her glass behind.

Untouched.

Home sweet...

Jesus Christ, why was he coming back?

Toni was probably going to want to kill him for not coming back sooner. Actually, he’d have to dodge Natasha too, because if she found out he’d known Fury’s plan from the start and hadn’t told her...

Well, he hadn’t been playing around in Africa either. His mission was very serious and only ended because it had been successfully completed.

Hawkeye was that kind of agent. Very serious.

Clint, on the other hand...

Maybe he could still sneak onto a freighter, cross the border to Mexico, spread his wings and disappear. He was a man of action, that’s why SHIELD suited him so well, but Clint was also human, with flaws, struggles, and problems.

Clint was also someone with an empty apartment. Like, literally nothing edible there.

“Jarvis?” he called. “Why do I have no food?”

“Good evening, Agent Barton,” the AI answered with exaggerated politeness. “Miss Stark ordered all food to be removed from your apartment, Agent Romanoff’s, and Captain Rogers’ since we didn’t know how long you’d be gone. Since you returned without notice, we couldn’t restock. Your kitchen should be replenished tomorrow.”

He had the slight impression Jarvis was enjoying the situation. Could he? He was the strangest AI Clint had ever seen. Then again... Toni had created Jarvis, so that should be expected.

“Very kind of you, Jarvis,” the archer replied sarcastically. “Meanwhile, I’m going upstairs to eat something. Or am I banned from the communal floors too?”

“I will check, Agent Barton,” came the immediate reply, then a few minutes passed until... “Yes, you still have permission.”

Toni was insufferable. And Jarvis was right behind her.

Clint left his bags in the middle of the living room and went up to the communal floor, where the kitchen was surely well-stocked.

He got off the elevator and found the last person he wanted to see in the world. And the one he’d thought about the most while away.

“Darcy,” he spoke softly.

The girl still jumped, spilling marshmallows from the bag she was holding all over the kitchen floor. Not that Clint was paying attention to anything but her. She was wearing a giant, well-worn Texas Longhorns t-shirt that barely reached mid-thigh. Also, mismatched socks of different colors and lengths, and her hair was tied in a messy ponytail/bun with glasses perched on her nose.

Clint had never seen Darcy more beautiful.

“Clint?” she called, shocked. “Is that you?”

He could’ve made a thousand jokes right then, but he was so relieved to see her safe.

“Yeah, it’s me.”

Darcy ran to the archer and threw her arms around his neck.

“Oh my God! I was so worried about you!” she said, squeezing him tighter. “I started thinking you weren’t coming back.”

“I was on a mission, Darcy,” he said, hugging her back. “I couldn’t leave.”

Darcy suddenly pulled back, narrowing her eyes.

“You disappeared for over a month,” she said accusingly.

“It was a very serious, top-secret mission. I had to...”

And suddenly Darcy was slapping his chest.

“Darcy!” he said, trying to grab her. “Stop it!”

“Like hell!” she yelled, landing another slap on him. “You’ve got some nerve disappearing like that and coming back like nothing happened! Do you have any idea what we went through here?”

“Of course I do!” he said.

Darcy suddenly froze.

“You knew what was happening here?” she hissed.

Oh no...

“I did, but...”

And she was coming at him again.

“I can’t believe this!” Darcy fumed. “Every day we spent worrying, glued to the TV...” another slap “I thought you were dead in a ditch somewhere!”

“I couldn’t come back sooner!” he defended himself. “I had a mission...”

“Screw your mission, Barton!” she yelled. “You can’t do this kind of thing to me... to us!”

Darcy was strong for a girl her size and Clint didn’t want to hurt her, but he also didn’t want to keep getting hit.

He managed to grab her hands and spun her, pulling her back against his chest and holding her wrists crossed over her stomach.

“Darcy, calm down,” he pleaded.

“Calm down my ass,” she said, still struggling. “As soon as I get out of this, you’ll see...”

He held her tighter. “Darcy, I’m back,” he said firmly but gently. “I know I disappeared, but it was important, for a good cause. I’m sorry I made you worry. Please, stop hitting me.”

He waited for her to say something, anything, but she just started calming down, her breathing steadying until she was fine again.

“You can let me go now,” she finally said.

Clint released her slowly.

“Now that you’ve calmed...”

Once again he didn’t finish the sentence. This time because Darcy punched him square in the nose, making him see stars.

“Welcome back, Barton,” she said with fake sweetness before walking away.

“Fantastic...” he sighed.

And to think he’d come back for her...

Chapter Text

“I need to get laid,” Toni declared to no one in particular as she walked into the communal kitchen the next morning.

Clint - who was the only person there - was sitting on the counter eating cereal. He looked around and then turned back to her. “I’m confused,” he said. “Does that mean I should start taking my clothes off or get you on Tinder?”

Toni seemed to pause for a second to consider the possibilities, then shrugged. “You’re back, little bird. How adorable,” she teased. “How was your reunion with Darcy last night?”

“As if JARVIS hadn’t already told you…” he rolled his eyes.

“He’s already shown me the video. Brilliant stuff. Bad luck for you that the Harry Potter marathon was yesterday and she was here when you got back.”

A Harry Potter marathon… That was so much like Darcy.

“So how are things?” he asked.

“Fantastic,” Toni replied cheerfully. “Bruce gets here tomorrow morning.”

“I forgot that your definition of happiness is having Bruce and Pepper around.”

“And I don’t care if people judge me for it,” she sang. “Because I’m very happy right now.”

“It shows. Despite you needing to get laid,” he offered helpfully.

“Multiple times,” she agreed. “By the way, Steve is back with a new buddy, and Nat is still missing.”

“I’m going to have to go after her eventually,” Clint sighed. “She’s probably in one of those moods—feeling lost, but pretending to be strong…”

Toni raised an eyebrow. “You sure you two aren’t hooking up?” she asked.

“Not anymore,” Clint replied.

“Fair enough,” she shrugged. “I need to go visit Ozzy.”

“Who’s Ozzy?” Clint asked, confused.

“The guy you all call the Winter Soldier.”

“Toni, you’re not going alone!” Steve protested as he walked into the kitchen.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake…” she rolled her eyes. “Of course not, Capsicle. Jane’s coming with me.”

“I’m going too,” he insisted.

“You’ll only see Ozzy if Ozzy wants to see you,” she said, hands on her hips.

“Hold up,” Clint ordered. “You’re calling the Winter Soldier—a legend among assassins and spies, a super-soldier—Ozzy?”

“Yes,” she said impatiently. “Like Ozzy Osbourne.”

Clint burst out laughing. “Can I see Ozzy?” he asked.

“Only if he wants to see you,” she repeated. “The man can do whatever he wants.”

“Why?” Clint demanded, incredulous.

“Because I said so. Let’s go downstairs and see what happens.”

Steve and Toni were ignoring each other in the elevator, and Clint seemed to be enjoying it.

The floor where “Ozzy” was kept was underground. It had actually been built as a bunker and, at Bruce’s insistence, turned into a place to contain the Hulk if necessary. They didn’t even know if it would work, but the Tower had a Green Protocol prepared just in case.

Whatever was meant to hold the Hulk should be strong enough to hold the Soldier.

Jane was waiting for them near a panel of screens that showed the interior of the room from every angle. There was nothing he could do without them seeing it.

His room was way too nice for a supervillain—at least in Clint’s opinion. It all looked like standard Four Seasons stuff. The guy even had a TV and a “window” that played images of the street, as if he weren’t locked underground.

“You must really like this Ozzy, huh, Toni,” Clint commented. “You went all out on the room.”

“He’s not exactly a bad person,” Toni said. “I’ve been hacking computer after computer this week, trying to find out more about him. He was a machine for them—did what he was told, without thinking about consequences. I know his hands are soaked in blood, and he’ll probably never be able to wash them clean,” she sighed. “But the truth is, he deserves a chance. Someone gave you and Nat a second chance, and that turned out to be the right decision. He deserves the chance to start over. And I fully intend to give it to him.”

Clint looked surprised, then smiled. “Damn it, Stark. You’re not supposed to make me think of you as a decent person,” he teased lightly.

“Then be smart and don’t think,” she rolled her eyes. “Shall we go in, Jane?”

“Yes,” the doctor smiled. “Looks like he’s been reading the books Cora brought.”

“Oh yeah. I told her to curate them with love and care,” Toni said. “Nothing that would give him weird ideas. We stuck to light classics—The Little Prince, Pride and Prejudice, Alice in Wonderland.”

Clint was laughing like a maniac. “You gave Pride and Prejudice to the Winter Soldier?” he asked, still laughing.

Toni rolled her eyes and walked into the room with Jane. Steve and Clint stayed behind, watching through the screens.

“Good morning, Ozzy!” Toni said brightly.

“Good morning, Toni. Doctor Foster,” he inclined his head to both of them.

“Hello, Ozzy. How are you?” Jane asked.

“Fine,” he replied expressionlessly.

“What did you think of the books?” Toni asked, gesturing to the pile on the floor.

“I’m reading The Great Gatsby now,” he said. “Very… emotional. Unnecessarily emotional.”

“You rhink everything is too emotional, Ozzy,” Jane pointed out. “Emotion is what makes living worth it.”

Ozzy seemed to think about that. “You say that because you’re in love,” he concluded, as if it now made perfect sense. “Is Thor on the other side wanting to kill me today?”

Toni laughed. “No. Someone else is there. Hawkeye.”

“I’ve heard of him,” Ozzy replied. “One of the best marksmen in the world.”

“There’s one more person with him,” Toni said carefully. “Captain Rogers arrived yesterday.”

Ozzy froze.

“Are you okay?” Jane asked, worried.

“Is he coming in here?” Ozzy asked, staring at the door.

“Only if you want him to,” Toni assured him.

“I shouldn’t have come here,” Ozzy said, turning his back on them. “I shouldn’t have come after you.”

“Easy, Ozzy. No drama,” Toni asked. “You don’t have to see Steve or talk to him if you don’t want to.”

“It’s not just that,” he said. “I’m a… machine. Nothing more. I don’t feel alive. I feel empty. I’m a killer.”

“You’re not,” Jane said firmly.

“I am! You’d never understand!” he snapped. “You don’t know what it’s like.”

“Do you know why I’m rich, Ozzy?” Toni asked calmly.

“No,” he said after a pause.

“My father built the biggest weapons machine in the world,” she said. “And I took it farther, to places no one could imagine. I invented missiles that—” she took a deep breath. “I fueled armed conflicts for years. Thousands of people died because of the weapons I created. Soldiers, civilians, children… And not a single day passes by that I don’t regret it. I may not have pulled the triggers, but I enjoyed a life full of luxuries because I built great tools for killing people. And I’ll never forgive myself for being blind for so long.”

Ozzy said nothing.

“You don’t have to talk to him if you don’t want to,” Toni repeated.

“I’m sorry,” Ozzy said suddenly. “I’m just causing you trouble.”

“You’re not,” she assured him. “Everyone deserves a second chance.”

“Even a killer?” he challenged.

“You’re not a killer, Ozzy,” she said. “You’re a victim.”

Ozzy sighed and held out his hand to Toni. The billionaire smiled and clasped it between both of hers.

“I’ll be hugging you before long,” she teased.

“No, you won’t,” he said seriously.

“Just wait and see, my dear Ozzy.”

Clint wasn’t a master spy like Nat, capable of extracting information from a mute, nor a genius detective like that weird Holmes guy from London—but he could say with absolute certainty that Captain America was burning with jealousy right now.

It was painfully obvious. The moment Toni got close to Ozzy (pause for laughter), the Captain went so stiff and tense that it looked like he might snap in half. When she took the other man’s hand, Clint was sure Steve was about to storm into the room.

What the hell was going on, and why didn’t he know the Tower gossip?

About ten minutes later, Toni and Jane came out. “Well, he’s not in the mood to talk to you guys today, but maybe tomorrow,” the billionaire said without a shred of compassion.

“I have to get back to the lab,” Jane said. “Thor doesn’t like it very much when I come to visit him.”

“Jane, sweetheart, ten minutes with you on your knees and I’m sure he’d forgive you,” Toni rolled her eyes.

“Toni!” Jane blushed, then started laughing. “You’re awful.”

“You only say that because you know I’m right.”

Jane smirked.

Clint could see Steve was dying to say something and decided to give him the chance. Whatever came out of it was guaranteed entertainment for everyone else in the Tower. “I’ll go with you, Jane,” Clint said quickly. “I need to talk to Darcy and apologize for last night.”

Jane shot him a look that made it very clear she was unimpressed. “Agent Barton, you can start with last night, but if you think you can stop there, you’re dumber than I thought,” she said flatly.

Clint decided it was best to shut up and follow the doctor out.

Steve tried to be reasonable. He knew deep down he was being ridiculous. He’d been ready to go after Bucky and save him, hadn’t he? What did it matter if Toni had found him first and was willing to help? And so what if she wasn’t sarcastic or sharp with Bucky? If she gave him a special nickname? If she held his hand and promised hugs?

Jesus Christ. He was jealous of the Winter Soldier. Of Bucky—his best friend.

What the fuck was wrong with him?

“You know, Capsicle, I can practically hear the speech you’re planning in that pretty blond head of yours, so… spare me,” Toni said as she walked toward the elevator.

“Toni, wait,” he followed her.

“I have to wait,” she said, refusing to look at him. “Jane and Clint took the elevator, and there’s only this one. JARVIS, that was very rude of you. You’re grounded.”

“May I remind you, Miss, that having only one elevator on this floor was your and Doctor Banner’s decision, for security reasons?” JARVIS replied, offended.

“No, you may not. Besides, that was a stupid decision and you should’ve said so.”

Steve was pretty sure the AI had sighed. “Toni, I promise I won’t say anything,” Steve said.

“You really won’t,” she still wasn’t looking at him. “I intend to ignore you.”

“I just want to thank you for what you’ve been doing for Bucky,” he said sincerely. “You’ve been incredibly generous.”

Toni looked uncomfortable. “You’re welcome,” she said simply, as if she didn’t want to extend the conversation.

“You know what’s so confusing about you, Toni?” Steve said, unable to resist. “You’re arrogant, you love to brag—but when the compliment is heartfelt, when it’s about something kind you’ve done, you don’t know how to react.”

She glared at him. “Very kind of you to rub that in my face.”

“It’s payback for all the times you’ve messed with me,” he shot back.

A grin appeared at the corner of her mouth. “You’re getting cheeky, Capsicle.”

“Must be exposure to you,” he replied.

Steve could see in her eyes that she was one step away from saying something wildly inappropriate. Luckily, the elevator arrived just then, and they both got in.

“So, does that mean you missed me?” she said suddenly. “Thought a lot about our kiss?”

“Toni…”

“I’ll take that as a yes,” she said. “Stop being such a coward, Steve. What’s stopping you from taking what you want when it’s being offered freely?”

Steve felt his heart skip several beats.

Before he could answer, the doors opened again and Toni stepped out, leaving him behind.

“Think about it, Steve. After all, I could change my mind,” she tossed over her shoulder as she walked away.

Steve waited for the doors to close before leaning against the wall and letting out a long breath. “Please don’t tell her about this, JARVIS,” he asked the ceiling.

“No problem, Captain,” the voice replied. “Some things are more satisfying to discover by oneself.”

Bruce came back the next day, when practically everyone in the building was having breakfast.

Toni was the first to drop her mug and run toward the scientist. “Bruce!”

The doctor dropped his bags by reflex. It turned out to be a great idea, because he needed both hands when Toni jumped around his neck and clung to him like a koala.

“You’re back!” she celebrated.

“Of course I’m back, you knew I was going to—” Bruce didn’t get to finish the sentence because Toni’s mouth interrupted him.

“You’re back!” she celebrated again, finally letting go of him. “I missed you so much.”

“I noticed,” Bruce laughed.

“Why is your hair shorter?” she asked curiously, running a hand over his shaved head.

“Lice,” he said simply. “After the third time, it seemed easier.”

“Macau is an island famous for tourism and casinos. Where did you disappear to?” Toni asked.

“The clinics in the slums needed help,” he shrugged.

“You’re my hero,” she declared, hugging him again. “Now that you’re back, we have science to do, things to blow up, a giant mechanical arm to figure out.”

“I’m not even going to pretend I understood that,” Bruce said.

“Hey, Bruce,” Pepper approached. “Is Toni annoying you?”

“I missed the annoying parts,” he smiled. “Hello, Pepper.”

Pepper hugged the man. “Your lab is ready and waiting for you, and so is your apartment,” the redhead informed him.

“Hey! Why wasn’t my apartment waiting for me?” Clint shouted from the table.

“Because I was mad at you, Tweety,” Toni rolled her eyes.

“Hello, everyone,” Bruce waved at the table. One by one, everyone went to greet him.

“Where’s Natasha?” he asked.

“Temporarily missing,” Toni replied. “But the parakeet will bring her back.”

“Can you stop with the bird nicknames?” Clint asked. “And what do you mean I am bringing Nat back?”

“I mean you’re going out and bringing her back,” Toni said firmly. “I need her help with Ozzy.”

“Who?” Bruce asked, confused.

“I’ll explain later. Go rest,” Toni said. “We’ll have plenty of time to catch up, but things are on fire around here. My house is starting to look like a shelter for lost heroes and/or psychopaths.”

“What happened while I was gone?” Bruce asked, concerned.

“I’ll explain later,” Toni promised. “Right now, I have an appointment.”

Right at that moment, Sam walked into the room. “I’m ready, Miss Stark,” he announced. 

“How cute,” she teased lightly. “Let’s go, Wilson. I’m very curious.”

“About what?” Darcy asked, intrigued.

“I don’t know,” Toni admitted, then looked Sam up and down. “But I hope it’s under his clothes.”

Sam rolled his eyes and offered Toni a folder.

“I don’t like being handed things,” she said, not touching it.

Sam raised an eyebrow that clearly said, Is this serious? Toni just shrugged. He rolled his eyes again and opened the folder, showing her the first image. Toni’s eyes widened, and she snatched it from his hands.

“I want to see this now,” she demanded.

“Unfortunately, it was destroyed during the Triskelion fight. By your friend Ozzy,” Sam explained. “I was hoping you’d be interested in building a new pair.”

“Who’s Ozzy?” Bruce asked, slightly worried.

“What was destroyed?” Darcy asked, extremely curious.

Toni ignored them both. “These prints are really good. I can reuse a lot of this,” she observed. “But of course, I’ll make it better.”

Sam smiled. “I’m sure you will.”

“Do what?” Darcy demanded.

“Wings,” Toni finally said, showing one of the designs. “This is going to be fantastic! Come to my lab with me. Let’s talk ideas. And I’ll get a measuring tape—you take your clothes off and I’ll take measurements,” she said suggestively.

Sam started laughing. “I fear for my innocence,” he teased.

“Let’s go, Tweety 2,” Toni said as she headed for the elevator. “Bruce, go to bed.”

“Toni!” Steve spoke up. “I need to talk to you about Bucky.”

“I don’t have time for you right now, sweetheart,” she said sweetly. “Maybe tomorrow.”

“What did I miss?” Bruce asked, utterly confused as he watched Toni enter the elevator with Sam.

No one could figure out how to even begin explaining it all.

Cora shouldn’t be doing this.

Okay, maybe she should.

She’d never been this kind of woman before—the kind who went after what she wanted and took the initiative.

Her mother had been such a lady. She’d taught Cordelia that a lady never took the first step. A respectable woman waited for the man to make a move. Her mother would be horrified by about 70% of the things she did every day at work.

Cora had come to the conclusion that Bruce would never make a move. At first, she thought it was because he had something going on with Toni. And to be honest, during the first few weeks he’d disappeared and the billionaire wandered the Tower looking miserable, Cora was almost sure there was more than friendship there.

But looking past her jealousy, she began to notice that Toni acted the same way when Pepper was away, or when Rhodey didn’t show up for a while. Yes, Toni might love Bruce—but as a friend.

That became even clearer during the whole HYDRA mess in D.C. Toni had been glued to the TV, waiting for news about Steve.

Bruce wasn’t Toni’s.

Okay, he wasn’t Cora’s either—but he would be. She’d make sure of it. Now.

“Doctor Banner is inside his apartment. Making tea,” JARVIS piped up from nowhere.

Cora took her eyes off the door and looked up at the ceiling, irritated. “No jokes right now, JARVIS,” she warned. “I need courage.”

“As you wish, Miss Myers,” the AI replied. “When you’re ready, Miss Stark has given you permission to enter Doctor Banner’s apartment without knocking.”

Cora took a deep breath. “I’m going in.”

The door opened.

“Who’s there?” Bruce asked, leaning over his kitchen counter to see the door. “Cora,” he smiled.

Cora took a deep breath. “Welcome back, Doctor Banner,” she said.

“Thank you. It’s good to be back.”

He must have just gotten out of the shower—he was wearing gray sweatpants and a white T-shirt. Of course Bruce wasn’t the type to walk around shirtless. Not that she was expecting to find him shirtless.

Fantasizing, maybe. Expecting—no.

“Can I help you with something?” he asked kindly.

“Yes,” she took a deep breath. “I came here because I need to talk to you.”

“Did something happen?” he asked, concerned.

Cora cursed her permanent serious face. “No, nothing happened. Sorry,” she inhaled. “I’m just a little nervous.”

Bruce looked even more confused, and this was not going according to plan.

“Do you want to go out to dinner with me?” she blurted out.

Bruce looked shocked. She felt shocked too. Dear God, what was she doing?

“You… are you asking me out on a date?” Bruce asked, still stunned.

Cora sighed, resigned. “I am. Because honestly, waiting for you wasn’t going to work. So yes, I’m asking you out. Saturday at seven, if you don’t have other plans.”

Bruce still looked stunned.

“Is that a ‘no’?” she asked with a nervous laugh.

“No! No, that’s not a ‘no’…” he said, still processing. “It’s more of an ‘I must have heard wrong,’ because this can’t be happening.”

“Why?” now Cora was confused.

“Because I’m—”

“If you say Hulk, I will scream!” Cora interrupted, then covered her mouth, horrified at herself. “I shouldn’t have said that. Not like that,” she apologized quickly. “But still. That’s an excuse you’ve been hiding behind for too long, and I’m not accepting it. If you don’t want to go out with me, you’ll have to say something else. I’m not interested, there’s someone else I love—those are acceptable answers.”

Bruce smiled slightly. “I’m not involved with anyone right now,” he said after a few seconds. “And I’m definitely interested. So yes, I accept. Saturday at seven is perfect.”

“Oh.” Cora found herself quite flustered. “Okay. Saturday at seven. I… I’ll see you… tomorrow! Yes, tomorrow, because I’ll be working,” she felt her face burn. “See you tomorrow, Bruce.”

“See you tomorrow, Cora,” he smiled softly.

She’d done it.

“Congratulations, Miss Myers,” JARVIS said when she stepped into the hallway.

“Thank you, JARVIS.”

“Make yourself at home, buddy,” Toni said when Sam entered the lab right behind her. “Just a heads-up—if it looks like it’s about to explode, it probably is.”

Sam laughed and started looking around.

He’d expected Toni’s lab to be a mess of wires, machines, tools, and chaos. Instead, it was extremely organized, full of things Sam couldn’t name. Like that robot carrying a fire extinguisher…

“Alright, come here, Wilson,” Toni called after spreading the papers out on a table and asking JARVIS to scan them. “Stand right there,” she pointed to a spot.

Sam stopped where she indicated.

“JARVIS is going to take your measurements,” she said.

“And here I thought the measuring tape story was serious,” he teased.

“Maybe another day,” Toni winked at him.

Sam studied Toni carefully. “So… Steve didn’t want to tell me, but what’s going on between you two?” he asked.

“Nothing,” she replied without looking at him. “JARVIS, you can start.”

“Excuse me, Mr. Wilson,” JARVIS said.

Sam was enveloped in what looked like a blue light.

“Thank you,” JARVIS declared.

“It doesn’t look like nothing to me,” Sam insisted.

“Why so curious?” she asked.

“Steve’s a good guy, but he’s very serious. He needs someone to help him relax,” Sam shrugged. “I thought something would happen with Romanoff, but she wouldn’t stop trying to set him up with women.”

Toni raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”

“Is that jealousy?” Sam asked.

“No. I’m not jealous of anyone,” she said firmly. “And I have nothing with the Captain.”

“I heard the ‘unfortunately’ you didn’t say.”

“You’re very cheeky, Wilson,” Toni said, hands on her hips. “I find myself reluctantly charmed.”

“Does that mean I can live here?”

“Only if you walk around shirtless.”

Sam burst out laughing.

Yes—she would be perfect for Steve.

If she could admit that it was what she wanted.

Chapter Text

Steve couldn’t sleep. There were too many things running through his head. He worried about Bucky, about Natasha, about Phil—about the world.

Yes, he knew he needed to relax, that he couldn’t take responsibility for everything all the time, but it was hard. If Bucky could see him now…

But Bucky wasn’t the friend he’d grown up with anymore. He’d been through terrible things. Done terrible things. Steve didn’t know how to help him, but he desperately wanted to.

He kicked the blankets onto the floor and began pacing.

“Jarvis?” he called, hesitant.

“How may I assist you, Captain?” Jarvis replied almost immediately.

“I’m guessing there’s nothing around here to make hot chocolate, right?” he asked, a little awkwardly.

Now that he thought about it, it sounded a bit childish—but it was one of his favorite little luxuries of the current time. Maybe it would help him sleep.

“Not in your apartment, Captain,” Jarvis said. “I will add it to tomorrow’s shopping list. In the meantime, the only person who currently has all the necessary ingredients is Miss Lewis. She is awake and watching a Star Wars marathon, should you wish to speak with her.”

Star Wars was on his list, wasn’t it?

“Thanks, Jarvis, but I won’t interrupt her,” Steve said.

“The communal kitchen is also stocked for hot chocolate,” Jarvis added. “And the 1922 film Nosferatu is about to begin, if you’re interested.”

“I remember that one,” Steve said with a small smile. “Very scary in my time.”

“It is still considered a classic,” Jarvis replied.

“I’ll go upstairs and watch it,” Steve decided.

When he entered the common room, however, someone was already stretched out on the couch, waiting for the movie to start.

“Toni?”

She turned to look at him. “Good evening, Capsicle,” she said. “Couldn’t sleep either?”

“Yeah.” He stepped closer and noticed her plaid flannel pajamas. “You?”

“Your friend’s wings,” she said, as if that explained everything. “I wanted to keep working on them, but Jarvis—the traitor—has a deal with Pepper and shuts down my lab if I try to pull an all-nighter.”

Steve suspected that if she really wanted to, she could reprogram Jarvis or find another workaround. Maybe she also knew she shouldn’t be pulling all-nighters.

“So you’ll be up all night, watching movies?” he asked.

“Just this one,” she said. “It’s one of my favorites.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. It just is. Are you going to sit down and watch, or are you going to keep talking in my ear?”

Steve rolled his eyes and, completely forgetting why he’d come upstairs in the first place, sat beside her.

“What are you drinking?” he asked, eyeing the glass bottle in her hand.

“Coconut water.”

“Why?” he asked, confused.

“Because I like how it tastes.” She looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “What kind of question is that?”

“Nothing. Sorry,” he muttered, turning back to the TV.

He’d almost said that coconut water didn’t have alcohol, then realized how insulting that would sound. He had no right.

Steve had judged Toni unfairly more times than he cared to admit. She wasn’t perfect—but neither was he. And nothing gave him the right to tell the billionaire what was right or wrong. Somehow, they needed to clear the air.

“Toni, we need to talk,” he said.

“I hate that sentence,” she groaned dramatically. “It never ends well for me.”

“I’m not trying to fight,” he said. “Actually, I want to thank you.”

She paused the movie.

“For what?” she asked, stunned. “I didn’t do anything.”

“How did you not? You opened your home to all of us. You fought with us. You’re basically supporting us—”

“You can stop right there,” she cut in. “I’m not doing this because I’m generous or kind.”

“Then why are you doing it?” Steve challenged.

“Because I want to.”

He rolled his eyes.

“Can you at least admit you’re a decent human being?”

“No, because I’m not!” she protested. “If you put me on a pedestal, you’ll be disappointed. Probably sooner rather than later. That’s the only guarantee I can give you.”

“Toni,” he sighed. “You still haven’t disappointed me.”

“Well, that’s on you,” she huffed, crossing her arms and looking away.

“So now you’re not talking to me?” he teased. “All because I said you’re a good person?”

She turned back.

“No. I’m changing the subject.”

Steve didn’t even have time to ask how before Toni suddenly climbed into his lap.

“I like this one better,” she said, clearly pleased with herself.

He should have seen it coming—but he didn’t stop her. Because he didn’t want to. And it was time to admit that. So when she kissed him this time, he kissed her back.

If she was surprised that he responded, she didn’t show it.

She pressed closer until there was no space left between them. One of Steve’s hands rested on her hip; the other tangled in her dark hair. Her nails grazed his neck, and a low groan slipped out of him. She rewarded him by nibbling his lower lip.

She was pure temptation. Better than anything he’d ever tasted. Giving in would be absurdly easy—but there were things they needed to settle first.

When she started tugging at his T-shirt, Steve stopped her.

“Toni, there’s one thing—”

“My bedroom’s closer,” she murmured against his neck.

“I’m not going to sleep with you,” he said.

She stopped and rolled her eyes.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Capsicle,” she scoffed. “You’re obviously interested.” She rolled her hips to make her point. “And I’m obviously willing. What’s the problem?”

“I don’t do this kind of thing...”

“Sex,” she supplied.

“Casually,” he finished.

“You’re not saving yourself for marriage, are you?” she asked, grimacing.

“I’m not a virgin,” Steve said, patience thinning. “I’m saying that if you want something with me, we have to go out first.”

Toni stared at him. “Wow,” she said finally. “I must’ve taken something without realizing it. Are you seriously telling me that if I want to sleep with you, we need to be in a relationship?”

“Yeah. More or less.”

She huffed and climbed off his lap, sitting back on the couch. Steve considered it a small victory that she didn’t leave.

“You really know how to kill the mood,” she said. “And who said I want anything from you besides sex—which, by the way, would be fantastic?”

“I’m not saying you want a relationship,” he replied calmly. “I’m saying that if you want that fantastic sex, this is how it works.”

“I think you’ve got the roles mixed up,” she said. “You sound like a teenager waiting for Prince Charming, and I sound like the guy looking for a quick fuck.”

“Do you have to be so vulgar?” he asked.

“Do you have to be so puritanical?”

“Toni, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” he said. “That includes going out with me. But I’m not going to be just another name on your list.

“Oh my God, this is ridiculous,” she snapped, standing up. “I’m starting to feel like a sleazy womanizer. All I’m missing is the goatee.”

“You’re overreacting.”

“No—you are!” she shot back. “What’s your problem? Trying to save my reputation? Yours?”

“I’m from a different time,” Steve said quietly. “I know it sounds ridiculous to you, but people used to woo each other over slowly. Not everyone waited until marriage—but sex meant something. To me, it still does. It’s not boredom or curiosity. It’s affection.”

He met her eyes.

“I’m not worried about your reputation or mine. And believe me, it’s almost ridiculous how much I want you. But I’m not throwing away my values for one night.”

Toni inhaled sharply.

“Well, if that’s what you’re looking for,” she said, “you’re definitely looking at the wrong person.”

She stormed out.

She’d taken it better than he’d expected. But if Toni thought that was the end of it—

Well, she was very wrong.

***

The next morning, Cora was waiting for Toni so they could go visit Ozzy, just like she did every morning they worked.

Toni wasn’t in the best mood, but she’d have to be blind not to notice the smile on Cora’s face.

Especially since Cora rarely showed what she was feeling so clearly.

“Good morning, Cordelia,” Toni said as she approached. “Should I assume, based on that smile and the floral skirt, that there was some kind of welcome sex last night?”

Cora tried to look annoyed, but couldn’t stop smiling.

“No, but Dr. Banner agreed to go on a date with me,” she said excitedly.

“Oh, hell!” Toni burst out. “What is it with you people and dates? Everything has to involve a date? It doesn’t, okay! Sex is right there, ready to happen!”

Cora, who had been pretty shocked by the start of the conversation, was even more confused by the end of it.

“Sorry?” she asked.

“You don’t need a date to sleep with someone, you know that, right?” Toni said.

“That sounds like a you problem, not a me problem,” Cora replied.

“Long story.” Toni waved a dismissive hand. “Anyway. I’m happy for you, Cora.” She patted the other woman on the head. “Bruce is a fantastic guy who deserves to be happy. And you’re a good person too. I’m glad you two finally worked things out.”

Cora blushed.

“Thank you.”

“But enough stalling—Ozzy must be waiting for us.”

“He still hasn’t decided to talk to the Captain?” Cora asked, worried.

“No.” Toni sighed. “Natasha is going to have to stop being dramatic and get her ass over here as soon as possible. She’s the only one who might have some idea how to fix this.”

“Brainwashing?” Cora asked, shocked.

“Yeah, buddy. There are things about her we’re never going to understand,” Toni said.

They went down in silence to Ozzy’s floor, only to walk straight into Steve.

“Scram,” Toni said immediately.

“Toni, you shouldn’t go in there,” he said, ignoring her.

“Why?” she asked.

“He’s restless. Agitated. I don’t think it’s safe.”

Toni went over to the panel and saw that Steve was right: Ozzy was pacing back and forth, his books scattered across the floor. Nothing broken—yet.

“Jarvis? How long has he been like this?” she asked.

“Ozzy did not sleep last night, did not eat his first meal, and skipped his entire morning routine,” Jarvis reported. “He has been restless for thirty-three minutes, heart rate slightly elevated, no obvious signs of aggression so far. The books were dropped accidentally, but he made no effort to pick them up.”

“Okay. Activate all Tower security protocols. If I die, everything goes to Pepper. And open the door—I’m going in,” Toni declared.

“Toni, no!” Steve said firmly. “It’s dangerous.”

“Yes, dear, that’s why security protocols exist,” she replied with fake sweetness.

“Why do I get the feeling your definition of ‘security protocol’ wouldn’t be approved by anyone?” he sighed.

“Because you know me,” Toni said honestly. “Jarvis, protocols, door, will. Let’s go. Cora, wait here.”

Cora nodded.

“You too, Cap,” Toni said seriously. “I get the feeling he’s stressed, and you going in there won’t help. Give me five minutes. If things look bad, you come in.”

“Alright,” Steve conceded. “But be careful, Toni. I mean it.”

“I will.” She rolled her eyes. “Everything’s fine. I know what I’m doing.”

Steve didn’t believe that for a second.

As soon as Toni entered the room, Ozzy stopped and braced himself to attack.

“It’s me, Ozzy,” Toni said calmly.

“I need to leave,” he said immediately. “I can’t stay here. It was a mistake. I have to go.”

“It wasn’t a mistake,” Toni said softly. “It’s okay, Ozzy. This will pass, but you need to calm down.”

“I failed my mission. I should return to base. I shouldn’t be here,” he insisted.

Toni stepped forward with her hands raised, showing she didn’t intend to hurt or even touch him.

“Your mission is over, Ozzy. HYDRA is gone. You’re free now,” she said. “We want to help you. We want you to understand who you are.”

“I don’t know who I am!” he shouted.

“Then you can start from scratch,” she said. “That’s okay.”

“You think it doesn’t matter?” He lunged toward her. “My hands are covered in blood, my clothes are soaked in blood, my soul is drowning in it. And you think it doesn’t matter?”

“Ozzy—”

Ozzy grabbed Toni by the throat and slammed her against the wall, her toes barely touching the floor.

“I am the Winter Soldier,” he growled.

“You’re hurting me,” Toni said as calmly as she could.

Which was impressive, given that she could barely breathe.

“Ozzy!” Toni said more firmly when he didn’t respond. “You’re hurting me, and you know that’s wrong.”

His fingers tightened around her throat for another second. Then, suddenly, Ozzy released her. Toni collapsed to the floor while he stumbled back to the other side of the room.

“What did I do?” he asked, horrified, staring at his own hands.

“It was an accident,” Toni said, breathless, touching her neck. It was going to bruise. “I shouldn’t have come in like that.”

“I should leave,” he said again.

“That’s enough!” Toni snapped. “Stop this ‘should’ nonsense. What do you actually want? To leave? Because if that’s what you want, you can go—but you’ll never be able to come back. That’s a one-way choice.”

Ozzy said nothing.

“Do you want to find out who you are? Start over?” she pressed. “Stop being a coward, stop feeling sorry for yourself. You stay here. We’ll help you. How many times do I have to say that before you believe me?”

Ozzy sank down onto the floor.

“I need help,” he said quietly.

“Yes, you do—and there’s no shame in that,” Toni said seriously. “And I’m secon to last person in the world with the moral high ground to say this. But I am the person who can tell you that not asking for help solves nothing. It just gives you wasted time, sleepless nights, and unnecessary trauma. It won’t be easy, even with help. But why do it alone when we’re here for you?”

“Why?” he asked, confused. “You don’t even know me.”

“But I’d love to.”

Ozzy took several deep breaths, and Toni carefully stood up. Her neck hurt like hell. Oh well—she’d known something like this might happen sooner or later.

“You still want to help me?” he asked.

“Yes. But this?” She pointed to her neck. “Never again. Not ever. Especially not with anyone else in the Tower.”

He nodded.

“I’m sending food up again,” she said. “Eat. Take care of yourself. I’m bringing help, Ozzy.”

“James.”

“Huh?”

“Could you call me James?” he asked. “That was supposedly my name.”

“Deal, James. But I’m going to miss Ozzy,” she smiled.

James thought about it.

“Okay. You can call me Ozzy—but only you.”

“Deal, sweetheart,” she laughed. “Behave, eat something, and I’ll come check on you later this afternoon.”

“Deal.”

***

Steve was going to kill Toni.

Her so-called “security protocol”? Locking every door in the event of an attack—even with her still inside the room. When Bucky grabbed her by the throat and pinned her to the wall, Steve tried to get in, and Jarvis wouldn’t let him.

Cora, who had stayed behind, seemed to know exactly what would happen with that protocol and hadn’t said a word.

Steve wouldn’t deny that Toni had solved the problem and calmed Bucky down—but that wasn’t normal. She could have been seriously hurt, or worse.

When Toni left the room, Steve had to physically restrain himself from going for her throat—since that had already happened once today.

What Steve wanted was to grab Bucky by the throat for attacking Toni like that. No matter how tough the billionaire acted, she had no training. She wasn’t like Natasha or Hill, who would have dropped Bucky the moment he thought about touching them.

He didn’t doubt Toni’s capability. He doubted her common sense.

“What the hell was that?” he demanded, furious.

“A situation that’s under control,” Toni said, touching her neck, probably without realizing it.

When Steve saw the marks on her skin, he wanted to kill Bucky. Yes, he was his friend—but that was too much. The Bucky he knew, the Bucky he wanted to save, would have known better than to attack someone like that.

Maybe Steve was lying to himself.

“No, Toni. That was not under control. That was dangerous and stupid,” he said impatiently.

That was when Cora decided to turn around and leave.

“I had control of the situation,” Toni shot back.

“That’s a lie! You had no idea what you were doing when you went in there or what was going to happen! Toni, you could’ve been seriously hurt! You care so little about yourself that—”

“I have faith in him, Steve!” Toni cut in angrily. “I won’t lie—I’ve had my self-destructive moments over the years, and there were plenty of them, and none of them were poetic. But this isn’t that. It’s not that I don’t care about myself. It’s that I look at him and I see… I see a person locked in a cell, someone who desperately needs help. And it’s help I can’t give. I don’t know exactly what to do to ease his suffering, but I wish I did. I know, better than most, what it’s like to cry for help and have no one come.”

And just like that, with words, she broke him. What could he possibly say after that?

“Look, I know you’re probably gearing up to lecture me, but—”

“No.” He took a deep breath. “I’m not going to say anything. But, Toni, promise me you won’t do anything like that again.”

“Look, Steve—”

“I’m serious,” he said firmly. “I know you’re trying to help and that he needs you. I know you’re capable of making your own decisions and generally taking care of yourself.” He cupped her face in his hands. “But if you won’t think about yourself, think about him. How do you think Bucky would feel if he seriously hurt you? If he killed you?”

Toni huffed.

“Okay. Got it. Message received. We’ll come up with a better plan.”

“We will,” he said with a smile. “In the meantime… want to go out to dinner Saturday night?”

She narrowed her eyes.

“I’m not going out with you,” Toni said through clenched teeth.

Steve flashed a smile Toni had never seen before—one that was a little arrogant, a little roguish, and completely delicious.

“How much do you want to bet?”

***

Clint really wanted to talk to Darcy. Actually, he would have talked to her a long time ago, but ever since he came back, the girl had been avoiding him like the plague.

It wasn’t fair.

Okay, sure, he’d been in this life long enough to know that nothing was fair, that good things didn’t happen just because you were “good.” That whole idea that you get back what you put into the universe was the biggest load of crap ever invented, just to comfort weak-minded people. He, better than anyone, knew that sometimes being good solved absolutely nothing.

But still—after all these years, after everything that had happened, after Bobbi and Barney—didn’t he deserve a little peace? Just a little. Just enough to try with Darcy.

“Why such a heavy frown, Barton?”

Clint turned and gave Thor a tired smile.

“Nothing, buddy,” he huffed. “Stuff. Life.”

“Lady Darcy?” Thor suggested.

“How do you know?” Clint was usually very good at hiding his feelings.

“I have lived a very long time, my friend,” Thor said. “When you’ve seen what I’ve seen, it becomes easy to recognize the signs. The fact that Darcy is not speaking to you saddens you.”

“Yeah,” he admitted. “And I know it’s my fault.”

“It is not a matter of blame, Barton,” Thor said. “The truth is that, until now, your life and Darcy’s have been very different. You have lived a life of secrets, lies, and death. You had to do things and make decisions simply to survive. Darcy, on the other hand, may have heard lies and secrets, but she was protected—as most people are fortunate enough to be. You know that some missions require total silence, absolute secrecy. She cannot accept that easily, because she was raised believing she deserves the truth at all times. I imagine it was not like this with Natasha.”

“No, it wasn’t,” he said quietly.

“Darcy is only now beginning to understand and accept this life,” Thor warned. “It will not be easy. But you must make her understand that she cannot expect from you what she would expect from another suitor. What you have now, and anything you may have in the future, will always be different from what she is used to.”

“Wow…” Clint looked stunned. “Thank you, Thor.”

“You are welcome, my friend Barton,” Thor said with a huge smile, clapping Clint on the shoulder hard enough to nearly send him flying. “Do you intend to speak with her?”

“Yes, tonight. Toni was right—I need to go find Nat, wherever she is. But I don’t want to leave without talking to Darcy first.”

“Good luck.”

Yeah. He was definitely going to need it.

***

“And so our friend Ozzy here now wants to be called James. Except by me, because I’m special,” Toni said with a huge grin, making Jane laugh and Cora roll her eyes.

As promised, she had come back to check on James, who seemed much calmer—almost serene. Cora and Jane came with her, and Steve, the pain in the ass, stayed outside.

“James suits you,” Cora said to him. “It makes you sound dignified.”

“Thank you,” he replied automatically.

“We’re really going to have to work on honesty,” Toni said, rolling her eyes. “You don’t have to say ‘thank you’ if you’re not actually grateful.”

“I’m not sure being called ‘dignified’ makes me feel grateful,” he admitted.

“Well, that depends on your point of view,” Jane offered. “I wouldn’t mind.”

“I’d be deeply offended!” Toni declared.

“What a shock,” Cora muttered, making the others laugh.

James seemed to watch everything with fascination, as he always did. His mind was a blank slate. He couldn’t remember anything—barely recalled past missions, past commanders. He didn’t know if he had ever laughed or smiled in his life. He didn’t know if he was really James, or Ozzy, or just a nameless soldier.

“I brought you some new books, James,” Cora said. “‘Emma’ and The Hobbit. I’ll leave them on your dresser.”

“Thanks, doll,” he replied.

The three women froze, and James suddenly seemed to realize what he had just said.

“I called you—”

“You did,” Cora said, stunned.

“I’m sor—”

“No, no!” she cut in. “It’s fine. It was so natural, like you say that all the time.”

“It slipped out. I didn’t mean to say it,” he admitted.

“I think, Ozzy, there’s a personality in there just dying to come out and meet us,” Toni said with a smile.

James thought about that.

“I think I should talk to the Captain,” he finally said.

“Now?” Toni asked, shocked.

“Not yet,” he said. “But very soon.”

“Whenever you’re ready, Ozzy,” she promised.

***

Clint couldn’t wait another second. Natasha had gotten herself tangled up in something, and he had to go after her.

The two of them had a very complicated history. Nat had been there for him in every moment when he truly needed someone.

The redhead thought she owed him something, but it wasn’t about debt. Clint would never force Natasha to stay if she truly didn’t want to. The truth was, the archer saw in her a fragility—a person who had been walking a tightrope for far too long and was about to break. Natasha needed rescuing, whether she acknowledged it or not.

Yes, there had been a time when something more physical had happened between them, but that was in the past. He would always respect Natasha—as a coworker, as a friend, as an agent—but he didn’t want her as a woman.

Stupidly, he wanted Darcy.

So he was throwing what little common sense he had straight into the trash and going after her. Right now. Literally this very minute.

Jarvis (who was nosy and apparently loved meddling in other people’s lives) had informed Clint that Darcy was, as usual, in the lounge watching some kind of marathon—God only knew what this time.

“I need to talk to you,” he said the moment he walked in.

Darcy, far from surprised, decided to ignore him.

“I’m watching TV,” she said without turning around.

“That’s a shame,” Clint said. In just a few steps, he closed the distance, took the remote out of her reach, and turned off the TV.

“Hey!” She jumped up, furious.

“We’re going to talk, Darcy,” he said seriously. “Even if this is the last time you ever talk to me.”

Darcy crossed her arms, then finally seemed to notice that, even though it was almost midnight, Clint was dressed to leave, with a bag dropped on the floor near the elevator door.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“I need to go get Nat,” he replied. “I don’t think she’s coming back on her own this time.”

Contrary to what he expected—and really, why would this be any different? Darcy was unpredictable—this made her relax.

“Good,” she said. “I was starting to worry about her.”

“Me too,” Clint admitted. “And Toni keeps insisting I bring her back to help the Soldier, so I guess I don’t even have a choice anymore.”

“Well, have a good trip,” Darcy said with fake cheer, circling the couch and heading toward the kitchen.

“I still haven’t said what I wanted to say,” Clint pointed out.

“That’s a shame…” she threw his words right back at him, mercilessly.

Okay. Time for drastic measures.

Clint walked up to Darcy, grabbed her by the waist—yelling and all—and set her down on the kitchen counter. He chose to stand between her legs so he wouldn’t get kicked, which was probably a little much for his peace of mind.

“What do you think you’re—”

Clint grabbed Darcy’s hands before she could slap him.

“Let me talk,” he said seriously. “If afterward you still want to slap me, I promise I’ll let you. But right now—right now—let me talk.”

Darcy huffed, but nodded. Clint released her hands.

“I know this might be hard for you to understand and accept, but sometimes I have to disappear, Darcy. That’s normal in my line of work. We go radio silent to protect our identities and information. I can’t promise I’ll always tell you where I am, what I’m doing, or when I’ll be back—or if I’ll be back. What I can promise is that I won’t lie. If you want a relationship where everyone supposedly tells everything all the time, I’m sorry, but I can’t give you that. I really wish I could,” he admitted with a nearly defeated sigh. “I wish I weren’t damaged goods, didn’t have this life and these memories, because you deserve so much more than this. But I have issues. Trauma. Possibly PTSD. I’m never going to be a normal guy. But I want you. I want to be with you—not just like in New Mexico, but all the time, whenever possible. Even if it’s just sitting on the couch watching The Simpsons.”

Darcy wasn’t saying anything, but her eyes were wide. That couldn’t be a good sign.

“Darcy…”

She suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug and burying her face in the curve of his shoulder.

“Come back soon,” she said, her voice muffled. “Come back and we’ll order pizza, beer, and talk on my couch. Just come back soon.”

“I’ll try, but I can’t promise anything.”

But she didn’t complain—she just hugged him tighter.

And in that moment, that was more than perfect.