All she could do was shake her head with a forbearing smile and follow Tony to the booth. Very purposefully, she sat across from him. “Just a soda,” Summer said firmly, to the waiter. “Lemon-lime.” Then she fixed Tony with a sceptical look. “You’ll see about later? Maybe you want to ask me? I might have plans. I might have a boyfriend — or girlfriend.”
I might be starting to wonder if the game is worth the candle, she thought. I definitely don’t want to be a one-night stand.
He simply smiled, lacing his fingers together and balancing his chin atop them. “Well, do you?” The waiter brought their drinks, already knowing what the billionaire would order.
Summer tried to keep her face stern, but failed after a minute, laughing. “Okay, you got me,” she admitted. “I don’t have anyone. I have no lovers, I have no plans, and I have no life.” Tearing the top of the paper on the straw, she tried to blow it at Tony.
The paper straw cover flew wildly through the air towards the Iron Man, who caught it quickly. Tony chuckled lightly. “You don’t seem like the type to have no life. Come on. There’s gotta be something you’re interested in. Besides me, of course.~” That arrogant, self-appreciating grin stretched across his face.
“Just what is that supposed to mean?” she commented lightly. “Seriously, I don’t have a life the way you think of it. I’m not a party girl; I don’t spend a lot of time in the bars. Mostly I stay home and read, or play video games. Twice a week I go to martial arts class.” She sipped at her drink. “There are lots of things I’m interested in, but mostly they don’t constitute a life.”
Giving up for the moment, and resolving to ninja-check him at the earliest possible opportunity, Summer let Tony gesture her inside. “You have got to be the most stubborn man I have ever met,” she said over her shoulder. “Do you run this roughshod over everyone, or am I getting special treatment?” She turned and gave him a wry smile. “Oh, wait, no. I remember, your reputation, right. This /is/ normal for you.”
Tony simply grinned at her. “I know it’s a bit of a dive, and far from anything fancy, but best shawarma in town. No lie.” He chuckled. Upon their entrance, the man behind the counter gave a shout of surprise and welcome. “If it isn’t Tony Stark! And another lovely lady! Come to treat her to the good stuff, eh?” The man winked with a suggestive smile. “Just dinner for now. We’ll see about later.~” He quirked an eyebrow at her with a smirk. Sauntering over to his usual spot, a corner booth, he allowed her to sit before taking his own seat. “Ah, yes, two of the special please. And whatever the lady would like to drink.”
All she could do was shake her head with a forbearing smile and follow Tony to the booth. Very purposefully, she sat across from him. “Just a soda,” Summer said firmly, to the waiter. “Lemon-lime.” Then she fixed Tony with a sceptical look. “You’ll see about later? Maybe you want to ask me? I might have plans. I might have a boyfriend — or girlfriend.”
I might be starting to wonder if the game is worth the candle, she thought. I definitely don’t want to be a one-night stand.
He simply smiled, lacing his fingers together and balancing his chin atop them. “Well, do you?” The waiter brought their drinks, already knowing what the billionaire would order.
Summer tried to keep her face stern, but failed after a minute, laughing. “Okay, you got me,” she admitted. “I don’t have anyone. I have no lovers, I have no plans, and I have no life.” Tearing the top of the paper on the straw, she tried to blow it at Tony.
“‘Of course’? You know, I can pay for myself.” But Summer didn’t pull away, instead patting his arm. “I’m a big girl, I don’t need someone to take care of me. Especially not you.”
“Who said anything about being taken care of. I insist.” Clearly, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. They finally showed up in front of his favorite shawarma restaurant, The Shawarma Palace. Opening the door for her, he gestured for her to enter.
Giving up for the moment, and resolving to ninja-check him at the earliest possible opportunity, Summer let Tony gesture her inside. “You have got to be the most stubborn man I have ever met,” she said over her shoulder. “Do you run this roughshod over everyone, or am I getting special treatment?” She turned and gave him a wry smile. “Oh, wait, no. I remember, your reputation, right. This /is/ normal for you.”
Tony simply grinned at her. “I know it’s a bit of a dive, and far from anything fancy, but best shawarma in town. No lie.” He chuckled. Upon their entrance, the man behind the counter gave a shout of surprise and welcome. “If it isn’t Tony Stark! And another lovely lady! Come to treat her to the good stuff, eh?” The man winked with a suggestive smile. “Just dinner for now. We’ll see about later.~” He quirked an eyebrow at her with a smirk. Sauntering over to his usual spot, a corner booth, he allowed her to sit before taking his own seat. “Ah, yes, two of the special please. And whatever the lady would like to drink.”
All she could do was shake her head with a forbearing smile and follow Tony to the booth. Very purposefully, she sat across from him. “Just a soda,” Summer said firmly, to the waiter. “Lemon-lime.” Then she fixed Tony with a sceptical look. “You’ll see about later? Maybe you want to ask me? I might have plans. I might have a boyfriend — or girlfriend.”
I might be starting to wonder if the game is worth the candle, she thought. I definitely don’t want to be a one-night stand.
“Had to do with getting me connected to SHIELD as a search-and-rescue specialist without being a member of SHIELD.” Summer made a face. “Apparently they got tired of all the paperwork involved in bringing me in on a temporary basis. I told them, as long as I’m not a member and get the right to turn down ‘assignments’,” she made finger quotes, “I’m good. Are we going somewhere speci—No, forget that. What /are/ we doing?”
“Dinner. I’m starved.” He continued to lead her down the quiet sidewalk. “My treat, of course.~” Another charming smile graced his lips.
“‘Of course’? You know, I can pay for myself.” But Summer didn’t pull away, instead patting his arm. “I’m a big girl, I don’t need someone to take care of me. Especially not you.”
“Who said anything about being taken care of. I insist.” Clearly, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. They finally showed up in front of his favorite shawarma restaurant, The Shawarma Palace. Opening the door for her, he gestured for her to enter.
Giving up for the moment, and resolving to ninja-check him at the earliest possible opportunity, Summer let Tony gesture her inside. “You have got to be the most stubborn man I have ever met,” she said over her shoulder. “Do you run this roughshod over everyone, or am I getting special treatment?” She turned and gave him a wry smile. “Oh, wait, no. I remember, your reputation, right. This /is/ normal for you.”
“Yes, actually,” Summer replied, startled into answering. “It’s not my favourite, but I like it well enough. My sister took me while we were in DC for — something.” She let him guide her, unresisting, going so far as to properly tuck her hand over his arm rather than being pulled along.
Tony smiled at her, for both the success of his distraction, and her willingness to go along with him. “Fantastic. Then we should go get some now.” He lead her along, listening to her explanation. “What was that ‘something’?” He tilted his head, quirking an eyebrow at her inquisitively.
“Had to do with getting me connected to SHIELD as a search-and-rescue specialist without being a member of SHIELD.” Summer made a face. “Apparently they got tired of all the paperwork involved in bringing me in on a temporary basis. I told them, as long as I’m not a member and get the right to turn down ‘assignments’,” she made finger quotes, “I’m good. Are we going somewhere speci—No, forget that. What /are/ we doing?”
“Dinner. I’m starved.” He continued to lead her down the quiet sidewalk. “My treat, of course.~” Another charming smile graced his lips.
“‘Of course’? You know, I can pay for myself.” But Summer didn’t pull away, instead patting his arm. “I’m a big girl, I don’t need someone to take care of me. Especially not you.”
“Ah, well, the world knows how you think of yourself, Mr Stark. But I am asking you to stop telling me pretty lies and answer a simple question. Come now, is it so hard?” Why was she even pressing the point like this, she wondered to herself. Because what /her/ ego really needed was to be squashed by Tony Stark, master playboy.
“You know what I could really go for right now? Shawarma. Love the stuff. Ever tried shawarma?” Tony took the woman by the arm and started to lead her down the sidewalk.
“Yes, actually,” Summer replied, startled into answering. “It’s not my favourite, but I like it well enough. My sister took me while we were in DC for — something.” She let him guide her, unresisting, going so far as to properly tuck her hand over his arm rather than being pulled along.
Tony smiled at her, for both the success of his distraction, and her willingness to go along with him. “Fantastic. Then we should go get some now.” He lead her along, listening to her explanation. “What was that ‘something’?” He tilted his head, quirking an eyebrow at her inquisitively.
“Had to do with getting me connected to SHIELD as a search-and-rescue specialist without being a member of SHIELD.” Summer made a face. “Apparently they got tired of all the paperwork involved in bringing me in on a temporary basis. I told them, as long as I’m not a member and get the right to turn down ‘assignments’,” she made finger quotes, “I’m good. Are we going somewhere speci—No, forget that. What /are/ we doing?”
Summer rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help smiling back. “I didn’t mean me at all. And you can stop trying to flatter me. I really do know what I look like.” She tapped a finger on her mouth, eyeing him up and down. “You didn’t answer my question, either. Do you make a habit of avoiding questions?”
Tony bobbed his head from side to side lightly. “I wouldn’t say I was, avoiding. I like to think of it as, gracefully sidestepping.” A rather sarcastic, smug grin spread across his face, as he continued to avoid the lingering question. “I’m pretty good at flattery. Especially when it comes to myself.~” The arrogant smile never left his lips.
“Ah, well, the world knows how you think of yourself, Mr Stark. But I am asking you to stop telling me pretty lies and answer a simple question. Come now, is it so hard?” Why was she even pressing the point like this, she wondered to herself. Because what /her/ ego really needed was to be squashed by Tony Stark, master playboy.
“You know what I could really go for right now? Shawarma. Love the stuff. Ever tried shawarma?” Tony took the woman by the arm and started to lead her down the sidewalk.
“Yes, actually,” Summer replied, startled into answering. “It’s not my favourite, but I like it well enough. My sister took me while we were in DC for — something.” She let him guide her, unresisting, going so far as to properly tuck her hand over his arm rather than being pulled along.
“Mmm, I think I am.” Summer shook her head. “I don’t photograph well at all. You’re very kind to lie to me so, but I know what I look like.” The face she made at him was confused and vaguely suspicious. “Now why does that make your curiosity perk up? “
Tony just shrugged nonchalantly. “Guess I just assumed that it was some other weird power you had.” He smiled, “So…I guess what you’re saying is, I should just stop staring and take a picture because it will last longer.”
“Either take a picture or let’s get off the street. I mean, if you want to hurt yourself staring at me, I don’t really care, but I’d rather not stand outside and do it.” She paused. “… what on earth would you /do/ with a picture of me? Wouldn’t the real thing be better? More correctly, wouldn’t someone better-looking and willing to go home with you be better?”
“Geeze. Talking about taking me home already? At least buy me dinner first!~” Tony chuckled with a charming smile. “Anyway, you’re plenty attractive,” he said as he moved the both of them off the street and onto the sidewalk.
Summer rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help smiling back. “I didn’t mean me at all. And you can stop trying to flatter me. I really do know what I look like.” She tapped a finger on her mouth, eyeing him up and down. “You didn’t answer my question, either. Do you make a habit of avoiding questions?”
Tony bobbed his head from side to side lightly. “I wouldn’t say I was, avoiding. I like to think of it as, gracefully sidestepping.” A rather sarcastic, smug grin spread across his face, as he continued to avoid the lingering question. “I’m pretty good at flattery. Especially when it comes to myself.~” The arrogant smile never left his lips.
“Ah, well, the world knows how you think of yourself, Mr Stark. But I am asking you to stop telling me pretty lies and answer a simple question. Come now, is it so hard?” Why was she even pressing the point like this, she wondered to herself. Because what /her/ ego really needed was to be squashed by Tony Stark, master playboy.
“Mmm, I think I am.” Summer shook her head. “I don’t photograph well at all. You’re very kind to lie to me so, but I know what I look like.” The face she made at him was confused and vaguely suspicious. “Now why does that make your curiosity perk up? “
Tony just shrugged nonchalantly. “Guess I just assumed that it was some other weird power you had.” He smiled, “So…I guess what you’re saying is, I should just stop staring and take a picture because it will last longer.”
“Either take a picture or let’s get off the street. I mean, if you want to hurt yourself staring at me, I don’t really care, but I’d rather not stand outside and do it.” She paused. “… what on earth would you /do/ with a picture of me? Wouldn’t the real thing be better? More correctly, wouldn’t someone better-looking and willing to go home with you be better?”
“Geeze. Talking about taking me home already? At least buy me dinner first!~” Tony chuckled with a charming smile. “Anyway, you’re plenty attractive,” he said as he moved the both of them off the street and onto the sidewalk.
Summer rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help smiling back. “I didn’t mean me at all. And you can stop trying to flatter me. I really do know what I look like.” She tapped a finger on her mouth, eyeing him up and down. “You didn’t answer my question, either. Do you make a habit of avoiding questions?”
“Oh, sure, you are, but that does take all the fun out of it.” Her smile nearly matched his. “Very detached curiosity, that. Like I’m a specimen. I don’t think I like that.” Summer’s green eyes held more than a hint of challenge now. “You’ve seen all my flashy tricks, Mr Stark. Anything else you’d like to see?”
A self-obsessed smirk tugged at the corner of the billionaire’s mouth. “What exactly are you implying?” He stared at her with an equally as challenging gleam in his eyes.
“Oh, anything you like. Ask me anything. I know you’re still curious.” Confidently, she stepped within arms’ reach. “Should I be challenging you to take a picture now, Mr Stark?”
A dark brow quirked in amusement, “So you went through all of this for a picture? Well why didn’t you just say so?” He chuckled. “I assume you’d like an autograph as well.~”
Summer arched her eyebrow right back. “Ah, now we’re back to the beginning. I can get all the pictures I want, really, off the internet, and what would I do with an autograph? No, I only thought since you keep watching me, you might want a picture of me. Of course, your camera might break taking it, but that’s your risk, I suppose.”
Intrigue was sparked once again as she mentioned the possible hazard to his camera. “Break? I wouldn’t say you were, that, unphotogenic.” He grinned his infamous assholian grin. “I kid, clearly you are a very attractive woman,” and he eyed her in appreciation to further emphasize his statement. “What do you mean ‘my camera might break’?” Tony tilted his head curiously.
“Mmm, I think I am.” Summer shook her head. “I don’t photograph well at all. You’re very kind to lie to me so, but I know what I look like.” The face she made at him was confused and vaguely suspicious. “Now why does that make your curiosity perk up?”