Summer pouted at him. “It’s Christmas, we can’t just /go/? Oh, well,” she surrendered, “maybe another time.” She squeezed his hands, sat back and folded her legs lotus style. “It’s controlled by wearing it. When you wear it, you have wings. The first time you put it on, the magic is activated, and it runs out in twelve days, whether or not you wear it between,” she explained. “I suppose you could wait to use it.” She glanced away, smiling a little. “I only thought you would want to right away.”
“Sorry, no,” Tony replied dryly, not sounding apologetic in the slightest. He held the medallion up in front of himself, admiring it for a few moments before tucking it into his pocket, a portion of the chain hanging out. “As much as I’d love to go for a fly right now, I think I’ll hold off on it for a little while. We can go flying when it’s a bit less…winter,” he decided, casting another glance at the window. Fingers under her chin, he drew her in for another kiss. “Thank you.”
She would have said “You’re welcome,” but her mouth was a little busy. So instead she deepened the intensity of the kiss, threading both hands into his hair. She could barely breathe for leaning so far forward and it didn’t matter, because the sense of his happiness was better than air. She didn’t need a Christmas present, she thought, because this, his words, was far more than gift enough.
The kiss was leisurely, unhurried, and when he finally broke the kiss to take a breath, he pulled away slowly, cupping the side of her face with one hand. His grin had finally shrunk down to a surprisingly sincere half-smile. “Once it warms up a bit again, we can finally go dancing.” He slid a glance down to the medallion as he said it. “We never really got the chance last time.”
“Maybe you can find a little time for us to spend somewhere warm before too long,” Summer murmured, turning her face into his hand to kiss his palm. “In the meantime, maybe we could go back to what we were doing before you weaseled your gift out of me?” She unfolded her legs to cage him in with her knees, pressing herself up against him, whispering in his ear, “It’s amazing how much your happiness turns me on, Tony.”
Summer pouted at him. “It’s Christmas, we can’t just /go/? Oh, well,” she surrendered, “maybe another time.” She squeezed his hands, sat back and folded her legs lotus style. “It’s controlled by wearing it. When you wear it, you have wings. The first time you put it on, the magic is activated, and it runs out in twelve days, whether or not you wear it between,” she explained. “I suppose you could wait to use it.” She glanced away, smiling a little. “I only thought you would want to right away.”
“Sorry, no,” Tony replied dryly, not sounding apologetic in the slightest. He held the medallion up in front of himself, admiring it for a few moments before tucking it into his pocket, a portion of the chain hanging out. “As much as I’d love to go for a fly right now, I think I’ll hold off on it for a little while. We can go flying when it’s a bit less…winter,” he decided, casting another glance at the window. Fingers under her chin, he drew her in for another kiss. “Thank you.”
She would have said “You’re welcome,” but her mouth was a little busy. So instead she deepened the intensity of the kiss, threading both hands into his hair. She could barely breathe for leaning so far forward and it didn’t matter, because the sense of his happiness was better than air. She didn’t need a Christmas present, she thought, because this, his words, was far more than gift enough.
“First, you take your shirt off, I believe,” Summer commented, brushing a fingertip over the edge of the medallion he held. “I know you can buy new ones, but all the same.” Pushing herself upright, she plucked it from his hand. “As for how it works … you wear it.”
At the first instruction, he cast a glance out the nearest window, one eyebrow raised. “I have to go topless in this weather?” he asked wryly. Or he would have to creatively mangle a couple shirts and figure out how to thread his wings through them. Preferably without destroying anything.
“Well, at least don’t have on a shirt you like right now?” she offered. “It’s up to you, I suppose, if you want to ruin others. Or we could spend the wing time somewhere warmer … is Venice warmer than New York in the winter? I think I was promised Venice some time ago.” Summer spread the chain over her hands, ready to drop it over his head.
Tony reached up, catching her hands before she could drop the chain. “First of all, we can’t just hare off to Venice. I’ve tried that; I got told that work comes first. And I wasn’t even in charge at the time. Secondly, does the twelve days start as soon as I put it on or what? Can I retract the wings, or are they just gonna come sprouting out?” That seemed like something important to know, considering the (admittedly cluttered) coffee table was behind him.
Summer pouted at him. “It’s Christmas, we can’t just /go/? Oh, well,” she surrendered, “maybe another time.” She squeezed his hands, sat back and folded her legs lotus style. “It’s controlled by wearing it. When you wear it, you have wings. The first time you put it on, the magic is activated, and it runs out in twelve days, whether or not you wear it between,” she explained. “I suppose you could wait to use it.” She glanced away, smiling a little. “I only thought you would want to right away.”
Summer grinned back fit to split her face. “Of course I know. Of course.” She smoothed her hands along his cheeks. “Thank you for saying it at last, though.” He was so happy she thought she might cry. “I wanted you to be happy again,” she whispered, smiling and smiling into his dark eyes. “And you are. And I love you, too.”
He leaned into her touch for a moment, and then sat back enough to lift the medallion so he could properly examine it, turning it this way and that with almost child-like interest. “So how do I use it?” he finally asked. “How does it work?” He still hadn’t figured out the whole ‘magic’ thing. He would have to consult with Loki on that at some point, but that was for contemplating some other time.
“First, you take your shirt off, I believe,” Summer commented, brushing a fingertip over the edge of the medallion he held. “I know you can buy new ones, but all the same.” Pushing herself upright, she plucked it from his hand. “As for how it works … you wear it.”
At the first instruction, he cast a glance out the nearest window, one eyebrow raised. “I have to go topless in this weather?” he asked wryly. Or he would have to creatively mangle a couple shirts and figure out how to thread his wings through them. Preferably without destroying anything.
“Well, at least don’t have on a shirt you like right now?” she offered. “It’s up to you, I suppose, if you want to ruin others. Or we could spend the wing time somewhere warmer … is Venice warmer than New York in the winter? I think I was promised Venice some time ago.” Summer spread the chain over her hands, ready to drop it over his head.
Bracing one arm behind her head and turning to watch him, she replied simply, “Your wings. For twelve days you can have them back again.” She tried really hard to keep her expression clear, but she couldn’t help it; anticipation and love curled the corners of her mouth. A thousand other things crowded to her lips, but she held silent, looking at him, waiting.
Tony’s head snapped up to stare at her, as he drew the medallion back against his chest at the same time. “You—what—” He shook his head, deciding not to question it, and instead he simply crossed back over to the couch. He dropped to his knees beside her, cupping her face with his free hand, and kissed her, drawing back after only a moment so their foreheads were together. “I love you. You know that, don’t you?” He kissed her again, short and sloppy because he was grinning into it. “I love you.”
Summer grinned back fit to split her face. “Of course I know. Of course.” She smoothed her hands along his cheeks. “Thank you for saying it at last, though.” He was so happy she thought she might cry. “I wanted you to be happy again,” she whispered, smiling and smiling into his dark eyes. “And you are. And I love you, too.”
He leaned into her touch for a moment, and then sat back enough to lift the medallion so he could properly examine it, turning it this way and that with almost child-like interest. “So how do I use it?” he finally asked. “How does it work?” He still hadn’t figured out the whole ‘magic’ thing. He would have to consult with Loki on that at some point, but that was for contemplating some other time.
“First, you take your shirt off, I believe,” Summer commented, brushing a fingertip over the edge of the medallion he held. “I know you can buy new ones, but all the same.” Pushing herself upright, she plucked it from his hand. “As for how it works … you wear it.”
Bracing one arm behind her head and turning to watch him, she replied simply, “Your wings. For twelve days you can have them back again.” She tried really hard to keep her expression clear, but she couldn’t help it; anticipation and love curled the corners of her mouth. A thousand other things crowded to her lips, but she held silent, looking at him, waiting.
Tony’s head snapped up to stare at her, as he drew the medallion back against his chest at the same time. “You—what—” He shook his head, deciding not to question it, and instead he simply crossed back over to the couch. He dropped to his knees beside her, cupping her face with his free hand, and kissed her, drawing back after only a moment so their foreheads were together. “I love you. You know that, don’t you?” He kissed her again, short and sloppy because he was grinning into it. “I love you.”
Summer grinned back fit to split her face. “Of course I know. Of course.” She smoothed her hands along his cheeks. “Thank you for saying it at last, though.” He was so happy she thought she might cry. “I wanted you to be happy again,” she whispered, smiling and smiling into his dark eyes. “And you are. And I love you, too.”
“Mmmm, I don’t know.” Summer smiled lazily. “I don’t want you to use it up too fast. More kisses than that, though, definitely.” Some things, she found, were still hard to come out and ask for, although she suspected that was due more to her than him. “I expect if you ask me again after you’ve reduced me to twitching and moaning you’ll have better luck,” she said, hedging around what she wanted right now carefully.
“Hmm… Is that so?” Tony wondered, rising up on his knees again long enough to shift forward so he was straddling her hips, instead. He leaned down and kissed her again. “Now?” he asked, smirking and still leaning over her, before he began trailing kisses down her neck, leaning back every few moments to ask a cheeky, “Or now? …How ‘bout now?”
Summer started to laugh, arcing her head back and bucking her hips. “Tony, I know you can do better than that … ” She reached out to slide her hands under his shirt, fingertips softly brushing the skin. “And if I give it to you now you will be distracted from me.” That said as he reached the pulsepoint along her neck. She reached up to catch his mouth in a lingering french kiss, whispering into the end of it, “All right, you can have your present now. It’s in the top of my bag, the little white box.”
“Maybe I can,” he kissed her once more, leisurely and easy, drawing back slowly, “maybe I can’t.” But he was grinning teasingly, and he leaned in for one more quick kiss before he got to his feet and went to raid Summer’s bag, curiously excited as he picked up the box, since he didn’t actually get presents that often. He opened the box and pulled out the medallion by the chain, inspecting it for a moment before he finally gave in and asked, “Okay, what is it?”
Bracing one arm behind her head and turning to watch him, she replied simply, “Your wings. For twelve days you can have them back again.” She tried really hard to keep her expression clear, but she couldn’t help it; anticipation and love curled the corners of her mouth. A thousand other things crowded to her lips, but she held silent, looking at him, waiting.
“Mmmm, I don’t know.” Summer smiled lazily. “I don’t want you to use it up too fast. More kisses than that, though, definitely.” Some things, she found, were still hard to come out and ask for, although she suspected that was due more to her than him. “I expect if you ask me again after you’ve reduced me to twitching and moaning you’ll have better luck,” she said, hedging around what she wanted right now carefully.
“Hmm… Is that so?” Tony wondered, rising up on his knees again long enough to shift forward so he was straddling her hips, instead. He leaned down and kissed her again. “Now?” he asked, smirking and still leaning over her, before he began trailing kisses down her neck, leaning back every few moments to ask a cheeky, “Or now? …How ‘bout now?”
Summer started to laugh, arcing her head back and bucking her hips. “Tony, I know you can do better than that … ” She reached out to slide her hands under his shirt, fingertips softly brushing the skin. “And if I give it to you now you will be distracted from me.” That said as he reached the pulsepoint along her neck. She reached up to catch his mouth in a lingering french kiss, whispering into the end of it, “All right, you can have your present now. It’s in the top of my bag, the little white box.”
“Mmm, a hint.” She chuckled, eyes sliding half-closed. “I can hear you pouting, love. Okay. It’s a small thing that becomes a big thing, and if you are very sweet to me I will let you have it tonight.” She thought of his delight when he had been given wings before, and the things she had said to the demon she’d coerced, and of all the pain of the last weeks, and hoped very much that her gift would help, even if it wouldn’t last. “And now you should give me a hint.”
“How can you hear pouting?” he asked, irrelevant though that was. He pondered over the hint for a moment, thumbs pressing against her spine, though he leaned away somewhat when she got to her question, clearing his throat awkwardly. “I haven’t exactly gone Christmas shopping,” he admitted, as he slid his hands down to the small of her back and began working back up.
“I don’t mind if we go shopping or whatever after the holiday … ” Summer murmured, “You’ve been a bit busy lately, I know, with all the … ” She flourished a hand vaguely. “Mmm, just there, please,” as he hit a particular spot. Her whole body felt relaxed, drifting under Tony’s hands. “I’ll take anything you want to give,” she sighed, starting to roll over.
Tony obediently dug his hands into Summer’s back, though he pulled his hands away to let her turn over. Once she had, he finally lowered so he was straddling her legs, rather than kneeling. “Then I’ll have to think of something,” he replied, leaning down to kiss her once, briefly. “Now, how sweet do I have to be to get it early?”
“Mmmm, I don’t know.” Summer smiled lazily. “I don’t want you to use it up too fast. More kisses than that, though, definitely.” Some things, she found, were still hard to come out and ask for, although she suspected that was due more to her than him. “I expect if you ask me again after you’ve reduced me to twitching and moaning you’ll have better luck,” she said, hedging around what she wanted right now carefully.
That drew a laugh from Summer; a bit strangled, but a laugh nonetheless. Rather than put her hair back up, she flopped down on the couch and yanked it all over the top of her head to tumble to the floor. Even that small stretch made sinews crackle in her shoulders, and she groaned a bit. “I’m trying to remember to ask,” she commented into the cushions. “How’m I doing?”
“Just fine,” Tony assured her, sitting on the arm of the couch, and then sliding forward so he was kneeling over the backs of her legs. He settled his hands on her shoulders, and began to work them. He waited until she was comfortable before wheedling, “Soooo…what’d you get me?” in as comically innocent a tone as he could manage.
Just the warmth and nearness of him was relaxing. Tony could be arrogant, introverted, and confusingly hard to understand sometimes, but sometimes he was exactly what Summer needed. She closed her eyes and breathed in and out, trying not to squeak under his hands. She sniggered into the cushions when he started coaxing, though. “Something I know you’ll like,” she said, unhelpfully. “You are a hard man to buy for.”
Tony pouted at her back, but only for a moment. After all, it wouldn’t really do him much good when she wasn’t looking at him. “Not even a hint?” he asked, hands moving farther down her back. Of course, this was completely ignoring the fact that he hadn’t actually gone Christmas shopping for anyone, so he had no room to talk.
“Mmm, a hint.” She chuckled, eyes sliding half-closed. “I can hear you pouting, love. Okay. It’s a small thing that becomes a big thing, and if you are very sweet to me I will let you have it tonight.” She thought of his delight when he had been given wings before, and the things she had said to the demon she’d coerced, and of all the pain of the last weeks, and hoped very much that her gift would help, even if it wouldn’t last. “And now you should give me a hint.”
“How can you hear pouting?” he asked, irrelevant though that was. He pondered over the hint for a moment, thumbs pressing against her spine, though he leaned away somewhat when she got to her question, clearing his throat awkwardly. “I haven’t exactly gone Christmas shopping,” he admitted, as he slid his hands down to the small of her back and began working back up.
“I don’t mind if we go shopping or whatever after the holiday … ” Summer murmured, “You’ve been a bit busy lately, I know, with all the … ” She flourished a hand vaguely. “Mmm, just there, please,” as he hit a particular spot. Her whole body felt relaxed, drifting under Tony’s hands. “I’ll take anything you want to give,” she sighed, starting to roll over.