Picking up her skirts with one hand, Summer wandered over to the bar, hitching herself up on a stool. She leaned both elbows on the counter, watching Tony with head tilted to one side. “You’re saying … whenever you just wanted sex, they wanted something more serious? And … you,” she cleared her throat, stalling, then just went on with it, “you can’t figure out how to be exclusive in a relationship?”
One hand came up to prop her chin as she studied him. Did he expect her to fix this? She could sense the loneliness, like bitter almonds in the air, and that he regarded her highly, but what did he want? Suddenly noticing her, and bringing her back to his tower, confessing that he’d thought of asking her out for drinks — it was all a little too faery tale.
Self-consciously, Summer added, “What changed your mind?”
“It’s more like – as much as I may have wanted it, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t be a healthy partner for her. My reputation as a colossal ass stand for a reason – I don’t put others first. I don’t even realize that I’m not thinking of them! And then I’ve hurt them, and it’s usually something I can’t repair… Machines are so much more forgiving…”
He passed her a glass and filled it to the brim. A few drinks sounded good right then, but he couldn’t make up his mind, so he just leaned up against the bar, opposite her.
“My mind never changed – just my ability to deny myself, I guess…”
“I’m not sure this qualifies as you taking me out for drinks,” Summer commented, lifting her glass to him before taking a sip. “Though the question stands, in a different form. What changed?” She made interlocking rings on the countertop with the glass, not looking at him. “It’s clear that something did. And I’m sure it’s nothing to do with me. I expect you’d’ve picked up some girl at the party anyway.”
Tony made a cynical face at himself, “No, I’m sure it doesn’t but I could be doing worse, right? If the ‘out’ bit means that much, we could go back out on the landing pad?”
He managed a small chuckle there, and rearranged a row of glasses. After a moment’s thought, he started mixing something for himself, talking smoothly again. “Hell if I know! — I got bored? Bored leads to thinking, and science, and cars, and wasting time… and lots of drinking. I’m trying to avoid most of that… the thinking bit, at least.”
is head was already getting sore, as if to prove his point.
Summer lifted her drink, starting to laugh. “All right, all right. I can take a hint. No more questions. How can I help you stop thinking, Mr Stark?” She tried her best to look seductive, feeling very awkward. “After all, you dragged me away from the dancing, the least you can do is make use of me.”