“How can you even stand that, so much attention all focussed on you?” She sat back up, burrowing a little into his side. At least here, now, he was safe. But she was starting to wonder if maybe saying ‘no’ had been the mistake. Summer forced herself to breathe, again, and gave Tony a half-smile, with a teasing twinkle. “You know how to overwhelm a lady, Mr Stark.”
“I thrive off it. The energy of the crowd, the encouragement, it feeds me,” he laughed and placed his chin on top of her head. His arm tightened slightly around her, bringing her in close. “Yeah? Glad I could make an impression on you,” he grinned down at her. “Do you want anything to drink?” He glanced around, looking for the waiter.
“The impression was made long since.” The laughter helped, easing the panic out of her system. “I’d better just have water,” she admitted, looking up. “Anything else and I don’t know what I might do,” she teased. God, he was warm. Once again it was getting hard to remember why she’d said no.
Summer shoved herself into the farthest back corner of the booth. She forced herself to take deep breaths, feeling light-headed, nausea roiling in her gut. She put her head down on the table, closing her eyes. “Oh god. God. Can you — can we — warn me?”
Tony, finally sensing Summer’s discomfort, gently put his arm around her shoulders. “Oh, I-I’m sorry,” he frowned. He had been completely oblivious to his date. Well, it wouldn’t be the first time. “I’m so used to it, I just didn’t even think about it I guess,” he shrugged and looked away into the distance. “They won’t bother us in here, though.”
“How can you even stand that, so much attention all focussed on you?” She sat back up, burrowing a little into his side. At least here, now, he was safe. But she was starting to wonder if maybe saying ‘no’ had been the mistake. Summer forced herself to breathe, again, and gave Tony a half-smile, with a teasing twinkle. “You know how to overwhelm a lady, Mr Stark.”
Oh. She hadn’t thought about paparazzi. Nervously, she stepped closer to Tony, hiding a little behind him. “Fair warning,” she muttered, “I look like crap in photographs.” She just knew her face was red, clashing with her hair. But, after all, this was Tony Stark. If they were friends this would happen. She had to accept it.
Tony, completely oblivious to Summer’s apparent discomfort, continued to encourage the photographers. He yelled, flashed peace signs and hugged Summer close to his side, almost as if he were showing her off. Finally, Happy cleared his throat loud enough for the playboy to hear. Tony rolled his eyes and said his goodbyes to the paparazzi before leading Summer inside. It had become routine for Tony to taunt any nearby photographers. Most of the time the girls he was with were looking to be shown off but he hadn’t thought to change his routine to meet Summer’s needs. “The regular table,” he grinned at the waiter before he and Summer were directed to a small corner booth in the back of the restaurant. Most of the nearby tables were empty as Tony slid smoothly into the leather booth seat, leading Summer behind him.
Summer shoved herself into the farthest back corner of the booth. She forced herself to take deep breaths, feeling light-headed, nausea roiling in her gut. She put her head down on the table, closing her eyes. “Oh god. God. Can you — can we — warn me?”
“Sure, that’s fine.” She blinked up at him, surprise sliding into a smile. “I don’t know what I want, exactly, all the time. But I know the things that make me happy, and the things I can do with my time and my skills. Putting those together usually results in goodness.” The bottle lay abandoned in her lap as she reached for one of his hands, lacing her fingers in his.
He returned her smile and worked his hand against hers before giving it a light squeeze. “Nobody knows what they want all the time … except me.” His easy smile turned into his trademark smirk. “Hell, I guess I don’t exactly know all the time…” He shrugged. The limo started to slow before stopping completely as they arrived to the restaurant. The door opened after a few seconds as Happy waved them out. “This place is a favourite of mine,” Tony commented as he slid from the car, his hand still laced with Summer’s. He glanced around the sidewalk looking for photographers. Naturally, there were some but not as many as he expected. He gave a wide smirk and waved triumphantly in their direction, always the exhibitionist. He had way too much fun being the center of attention. “Goood evening!” he called out with a light laugh.
Oh. She hadn’t thought about paparazzi. Nervously, she stepped closer to Tony, hiding a little behind him. “Fair warning,” she muttered, “I look like crap in photographs.” She just knew her face was red, clashing with her hair. But, after all, this was Tony Stark. If they were friends this would happen. She had to accept it.
She took it, but mostly to have something in her hands. “So young? How old do you think I am?” Twisting the bottle around, she undid the buckle and slid over to Tony’s side. Raising her eyebrows a little, she went on, “You were willing to … carry me off to bed without even knowing?”
“Well…you’re definitely not as old as I am,” he noted confidently. This would be his forty eighth year now, an intimidating thought for the genius. “I know people my age who still haven’t figured out what they want…,” he trailed off, thinking of those peers who dropped out of high school his senior year. “I know you’re of age at least,” he admitted casually before flipping the top off his water bottle and taking a sip. Tony Stark knew everything about everyone, fact. “Age is not an issue to me. Just as long as you are sure this is something you want. You’re a capable woman, you can make your decisions and I trust you to tell me if you’re uncomfortable when I am carrying you off,” he shrugged lightly, turning his head to look directly at her. “Does that make sense?”
“Sure, that’s fine.” She blinked up at him, surprise sliding into a smile. “I don’t know what I want, exactly, all the time. But I know the things that make me happy, and the things I can do with my time and my skills. Putting those together usually results in goodness.” The bottle lay abandoned in her lap as she reached for one of his hands, lacing her fingers in his.
“Oh yeah,” Summer answered immediately. She leaned into his warmth. She refused to gape at the limo, instead scrambling in. She couldn’t stop herself gazing around with wide eyes, though. “It’s all I’m really good for.” Buckling herself in, she gave Tony a wry smile. “I’ve spent quite a lot of time at the periphery of your life because of that, actually.”
Tony noticed her gawk but kept silent. It wasn’t his most lavish of automobiles but the genius knew from experience it was best to let new people ease their way into his lifestyle. “Everybody’s got something…not everyone figures it out though. Especially so young,” he spoke as he leaned toward the middle of the limo, reaching for the fridge. “We’re all set back here, Happy,” he nodded toward the driver as he pulled a couple bottles of water from the small refrigerator. “Would you like one? We have champagne too but Pepper doesn’t like it when I drink before dinner,” he chuckled, offering Summer a water bottle.
She took it, but mostly to have something in her hands. “So young? How old do you think I am?” Twisting the bottle around, she undid the buckle and slid over to Tony’s side. Raising her eyebrows a little, she went on, “You were willing to … carry me off to bed without even knowing?”
The elevator let them out. Summer tugged him out again, saying, “Nine-eleven cleanup. It happened the beginning of my senior year, and I took all the breaks I could to come up and help out as much as I could. I, um, got on search-and rescue pretty fast, and then some of the EMTs noticed how good I was with the post-traumatic people. So I ended up coming back after graduation to help them some more.” She chewed on her lip, eyes far away. “It was … a pretty bad time.”
Tony let go of her hand, moving his arm to wrap around Summer’s shoulders. “Impressive,” he gave her a side eye glance and smiled. It faded, however, as she finished the thought. “I know how bad it can be. But somebody’s got to do it,” his shoulders moved slightly against her form. He held her close, leading her out the lobby to the front of the tower where a limo was waiting. “Do you still do search and rescue work then?” he inquired as he waved her into the vehicle first.
“Oh yeah,” Summer answered immediately. She leaned into his warmth. She refused to gape at the limo, instead scrambling in. She couldn’t stop herself gazing around with wide eyes, though. “It’s all I’m really good for.” Buckling herself in, she gave Tony a wry smile. “I’ve spent quite a lot of time at the periphery of your life because of that, actually.”
Oh, why don’t we start at the top and work our way down. The skyline is very pretty lit up at night, but I don’t often get a chance to look around from up high during the day. *pauses* Will … your teammates mind an outsider wandering round the place?
Sounds like a plan. [Presses the button for top floor] Nah, of course not. Besides, I own the place so they just have to deal with it. [Grins as the elevator arrives, he steps out first leading her to the deck from his penthouse apartment]
*hooks elbows over the edge of the rail, turning face into the wind and letting hair blow back* I never get tired of this. Above all the noise, the people, the sheer *flourishes a hand in the general direction of the old World Trade Centre* … up here you can still see why it’s worth it. *turns back, brushing windblown hair out of her face* Sorry, didn’t mean to get all philosophical on you.
You want to be careful what conclusions you jump to, Mr Stark. *shakes a gently scolding finger* I’ll gladly accept a personal tour from you, though. Pray lead on!
Right. [Grins] Force of habit. So what do you want to see? Here in the lobby is just, well, the lobby. Security, elevators, and such. [Points around the floor as he speaks, leading her to the elevator] The lower level is mainly boring corporate stuff. In the middle is the research labs and library. More boring stuff. But the top is the residential area. Housing for the Avengers. Then of course, we have my floor, the top floor. Beautiful view of the city. Where would you like to go?
Oh, why don’t we start at the top and work our way down. The skyline is very pretty lit up at night, but I don’t often get a chance to look around from up high during the day. *pauses* Will … your teammates mind an outsider wandering round the place?
*places hand over heart and bows a little* It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, sir. Do you suppose, as long as I’m here, I could maybe … get a little tour?
That’s a request I get a lot, but sure. I’m assuming you want the tour guided by Tony Stark, hm? Perfect excuse for me to avoid all that paperwork Pepper put on my desk. [Grins]
You want to be careful what conclusions you jump to, Mr Stark. *shakes a gently scolding finger* I’ll gladly accept a personal tour from you, though. Pray lead on!
