“Hark at you, all comfort and solicitousness. Did you already forget the part where I know what you’re feeling? Either you’re way better than anyone I’ve ever met at pretending not to feel something, or about half what you just said is total bullshit.” Her body was tense under his hand, and Summer refused to look up at Tony. “Just … fuck.”
Tony dropped his hand back to his side and pursed his lips. “Did I…do something to offend you? I seem to be getting mixed signals here,” he gestured between them and took a step back. But still, he couldn’t meet her eyes and it was a little unnerving to the genius. “You’re the one who reads people but I’m sensing some conflicting emotions here. I wasn’t bullshitting you.”
“I should be hearing it, if you’re interested as you say. But I’m not,” she said simply. “Though you believe what you’re saying, that’s quite clear,” Summer admitted.
Her shoulders slumped, head tilting downward. “I’m not everyone. I’m sure because I know myself. I know what I look like, what I act like. I’m not attractive, not pretty. Too short, too skinny, mouth too wide, hair too long, tongue too sharp.” It spilled out like popping a water balloon.
The playboy suddenly felt a pang of guilt. He frowned at her and sighed quietly. “You are too attractive,” he furrowed his brows at her. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, you’re beautiful. And about the sharp tongue, every self respecting guy wants a girl with wit. One who isn’t afraid to say what’s on her mind,” he turned his body to face hers and placed a hand on her shoulder in a comforting manner, taking a step closer. “Life would be boring if everyone looked the same and had the same personality. Our differences are what makes life worth living.”
“Hark at you, all comfort and solicitousness. Did you already forget the part where I know what you’re feeling? Either you’re way better than anyone I’ve ever met at pretending not to feel something, or about half what you just said is total bullshit.” Her body was tense under his hand, and Summer refused to look up at Tony. “Just … fuck.”
Her eyebrows did a little lift-and-lower dance of confusion. “I’m sorry, are we back to the heavy stuff? Yes, alright, I was being sarcastic; I can look into your heart so of course I trust you.” She rolled her eyes at him and turned around. Sotto voce, she added, “It’s not like you’re actually going to be interested in me anyway. Not that way.”
Tony gave her a curious look but didn’t press her further. Instead, watched her as she took in all the apartment had to offer aesthetically. “Hmph,” he chuckled under his breath and shook his head. “And what would make you so sure? You say you know my reputation, shouldn’t you believe I’m interested in everyone,” he smirked.
Her shoulders slumped, head tilting downward. “I’m not everyone. I’m sure because I know myself. I know what I look like, what I act like. I’m not attractive, not pretty. Too short, too skinny, mouth too wide, hair too long, tongue too sharp.” It spilled out like popping a water balloon.
“You’ll forgive me if I’m not inclined to trust the word of Tony Stark, self-confessed playboy,” she shot back. “Not much for being closed in, hm?” There were windows all around, and not much by way of space division aside from furniture.
“I’d hope that you’d trust me at least a little bit…,” he glanced down to his drink while swirling the ice around. “But I guess I really can’t blame you,” he shrugged and looked back to her before looking around the room again as she commented. “I hate being closed in. I prefer to be able to see the open sky.”
Her eyebrows did a little lift-and-lower dance of confusion. “I’m sorry, are we back to the heavy stuff? Yes, alright, I was being sarcastic; I can look into your heart so of course I trust you.” She rolled her eyes at him and turned around. Sotto voce, she added, “It’s not like you’re actually going to be interested in me anyway. Not that way.”
“No, thank you. Drinking doesn’t do anything for me, and there’s nothing I’ll do drunk that I wouldn’t also do sober.” Summer glanced around, truly taking in the space for the first time. “So this is your particular space.”
Tony shrugged and took another sip. Suit yourself, he thought silently. “I’m not trying to get you to do anything, if that’s what you’re implying,” he nodded and followed her gaze, looking around the apartment. “This is my space.”
“You’ll forgive me if I’m not inclined to trust the word of Tony Stark, self-confessed playboy,” she shot back. “Not much for being closed in, hm?” There were windows all around, and not much by way of space division aside from furniture.
“You’re welcome. I don’t like it when people hurt, and it’s more than a bit too soon for any other way to make you feel better.” Summer gave Tony a little bow, hand over heart.
“Hmm,” he summed quietly as he took a sip of his scotch. “Did you want anything to drink? I have water too,” he shrugged and glanced to her. He owed her a lot but he wasn’t about to get any more feels-y than he already was.
“No, thank you. Drinking doesn’t do anything for me, and there’s nothing I’ll do drunk that I wouldn’t also do sober.” Summer glanced around, truly taking in the space for the first time. “So this is your particular space.”
“I’m an empath. I … overlaid your feelings with what I wanted you to feel. I wanted you to feel better, to be happy.” Her smile went wry and sideways. “Already you’ve pushed some of it away with your surprise, but your hurting isn’t so loud now.”
Tony’s eyes met with hers again, full of confusion. “What does that even mean?” he squinted at her in scrutiny. He definitely didn’t believe in this kind of stuff but maybe if he felt better, he shouldn’t question it. “Nevermind,” he shook his head and reached for the drink again. “Uh, thanks though.”
“You’re welcome. I don’t like it when people hurt, and it’s more than a bit too soon for any other way to make you feel better.” Summer gave Tony a little bow, hand over heart.
She reached out and took the glass from him, putting it on the bar. “I cheat,” Summer said quietly. She didn’t try to touch him. The last thing she needed was to accidentally bond to Tony Stark. But on a deep breath she pushed comfort, ease, warmth … happiness to him. Wrapped him in it.
“I don’t normally do that. But you saved the world.”
Tony pouted at first when she took his drink but as she sent him the energy, he immediately felt a sense of relief. He felt warm and happier. All within the span of a few seconds, leaving him stunned. “W-what did you do?” he looked down at his body. “What did you do to me?”
“I’m an empath. I … overlaid your feelings with what I wanted you to feel. I wanted you to feel better, to be happy.” Her smile went wry and sideways. “Already you’ve pushed some of it away with your surprise, but your hurting isn’t so loud now.”
“Even you don’t believe that.” Summer looked up at him, frowning and sad. “I pried, and this is the result. I wish you … will you let me make it better?”
“Summer,” he looked at her through tired eyes. “It’s not your fault,” he took in a deep breath. Tony Stark was stubborn but he felt tired so he decided to humor her. “How do you plan to make it better?”
She reached out and took the glass from him, putting it on the bar. “I cheat,” Summer said quietly. She didn’t try to touch him. The last thing she needed was to accidentally bond to Tony Stark. But on a deep breath she pushed comfort, ease, warmth … happiness to him. Wrapped him in it.
“I don’t normally do that. But you saved the world.”
She let herself be diverted, for now. Damn her curiosity, and her conscience, that kept drawing her into things she’d no business being involved in. “You’re welcome to get to know me,” she commented. “Ask me anything, I don’t keep secrets. But sure, let’s carry on.”
Tony raised an eyebrow. He felt a little tempted to take her up on her offer. After all, it was the first time he’d told someone something so personal, maybe it could also be the first he actually got to know a person. But he resisted. “Thanks but no thanks,” he poured another glass of scotch and carried it with him as he walked around the bar to stand beside her. “Sorry for getting angry like that. But it wasn’t your fault, okay?”
“Even you don’t believe that.” Summer looked up at him, frowning and sad. “I pried, and this is the result. I wish you … will you let me make it better?”