supercilious-pariah:

iamthefirechild:

She snorted a laugh. “That’s a secret you couldn’t keep if you wanted to.” Her arms relaxed into a twined clasp, fingers wound together, and she regarded him seriously again. “I think you are no worse, in that way, than growing up without shields in a small town. If I can survive that … ” She shrugged, carelessly. “And as I said — you’re needed. In the face of that, what matter my small wants? Besides,” a small smile curved her mouth, lighting her eyes, “you’re enjoying this.”

Now that had him laughing.

“Well shoot, and I thought I hid it so well.”

“Guess you have me figured out more than I thought.”

He arched his eyebrow at her mention of growing up without shields. He wondered if she knew just how close to home that comment was for him as well.

It stung a little. He let it go.

“Needed or not, pretty sure at the moment I have no choice but to hang around. At least for a little while yet.”

She flicked her eyebrow, in return. “Now what did I say? Strange little reaction, that, to my little life history. Is that another secret? Are you one of the Professor’s kind as well, all hidden under technology?”

It had seemed like a reaction to her remark about shielding. But that made no sense. If he was another empath, she’d surely be able to tell; if a telepath … well, she could tell the Professor, even at this distance, so surely she’d be able to tell that too. And who else would need mental shields?

“You are quite the little bundle of puzzles, Mr Stark.”

supercilious-pariah:

iamthefirechild:

“I thought you were supposed to be a genius.” She folded her arms, in turn, and repeated slowly, “I’m an empath. Think about that for a second.”

Okay, so she could see where a man like him would jump to the personal immediately. But he’d created weapons — including the Iron Man suit. So it really shouldn’t be that hard for him to see the offensive and defensive possibilities inherent in the ability he knew about.

It hadn’t been for her. And that was a thought that still hurt.

Sensing a potential attack long before it got within striking distance. Deflecting lone madmen. The chance to place absolute trust in everyone around — and to know when that trust was no longer warranted. No nightmares or insomnia.

“Maybe that’s one of my well kept secrets.”

“Maybe you’ll figure it out one day, hm?”

He didn’t want to admit it, but talking to her was actually making him feel… better. Not to admit that he was even feeling back in the first place.

“Yeah, no, I can see the tactical advantages of being an empath…. But… I mean, would you really want to put yourself around someone like me? Pretty sure I’ve been told my mood is a roller-coaster.”

She snorted a laugh. “That’s a secret you couldn’t keep if you wanted to.” Her arms relaxed into a twined clasp, fingers wound together, and she regarded him seriously again. “I think you are no worse, in that way, than growing up without shields in a small town. If I can survive that … ” She shrugged, carelessly. “And as I said — you’re needed. In the face of that, what matter my small wants? Besides,” a small smile curved her mouth, lighting her eyes, “you’re enjoying this.”

supercilious-pariah:

iamthefirechild:

“Shouldn’t a bodyguard know those secrets, so they know when you’re most in need of protection?” she countered. Batting her eyelashes! Inwardly, she rolled her eyes. “Though you have a point about the current public nature of the discussion. If you’re interviewing me for a position, might be better to move to a more, hmmm,” she sought a non-threatening word, “secluded space?”

Damn, he was tough. She wasn’t even entirely sure why she was pursuing this conversation, except that hint of ‘broken’ that she sensed. And there was just something about him that — compelled, far beyond the simple fact that he was Tony Stark, with all that implied.

Flirting with this man would be courting a broken heart, she suspected. Though it might yet be worth it.

“I’m pretty sure that bodyguards have to protect their boss without question so it doesn’t matter if they know the secrets or not.”

“Though some of them end up learning about the secrets somewhere along the line.”

Usually, it’s when the secret gets them killed…

He chuckled lightly, looking about, his arms still crossed over his chest.

“I could be interviewing you, I don’t know yet. Then again, since I don’t know about those special talents of yours yet, I’m still wondering exactly how you could protect me better than I could protect myself.”

“I thought you were supposed to be a genius.” She folded her arms, in turn, and repeated slowly, “I’m an empath. Think about that for a second.”

Okay, so she could see where a man like him would jump to the personal immediately. But he’d created weapons — including the Iron Man suit. So it really shouldn’t be that hard for him to see the offensive and defensive possibilities inherent in the ability he knew about.

It hadn’t been for her. And that was a thought that still hurt.

Sensing a potential attack long before it got within striking distance. Deflecting lone madmen. The chance to place absolute trust in everyone around — and to know when that trust was no longer warranted. No nightmares or insomnia.

supercilious-pariah:

iamthefirechild:

“That’s good. That’s very good, Mr Stark. What would coax you to spill some of those secrets?” she asked. Something in her voice seemed to whisper, Go on, you can trust me, I’m safe, share your secrets.

“I can tell you one thing; it’d be a lot more than batting your eyelashes.”

“Besides, pretty sure spilling those secrets would aid those people who are supposedly trying to kill me. You know, the ones I may or may not need a bodyguard to protect me from.”

“Shouldn’t a bodyguard know those secrets, so they know when you’re most in need of protection?” she countered. Batting her eyelashes! Inwardly, she rolled her eyes. “Though you have a point about the current public nature of the discussion. If you’re interviewing me for a position, might be better to move to a more, hmmm,” she sought a non-threatening word, “secluded space?”

Damn, he was tough. She wasn’t even entirely sure why she was pursuing this conversation, except that hint of ‘broken’ that she sensed. And there was just something about him that — compelled, far beyond the simple fact that he was Tony Stark, with all that implied.

Flirting with this man would be courting a broken heart, she suspected. Though it might yet be worth it.

supercilious-pariah:

iamthefirechild:

“No, I don’t read minds. I’m not interested in your secrets.”

It hurt, a little, the way his emotions went from amusement to not-quite-fear. She hadn’t realised she’d been hoping for acceptance from Tony Stark, of all people. Stupid. The smile got a little more bent, fading from her green eyes.

“The world needs you. That’s all. Better you don’t die.” Unspoken, the word ‘again’ hung off the end of the sentence.

“Oh. Well that’s good. The last thing I need is all my secrets being found out.”

“Then again, that could actually be pretty fun. Having to deny all of those secrets knowing full well that I know damn well they’re true.”

He tilted his head slightly. Honestly, this kid had absolutely no idea, did she?

“The world needs me, huh? Well, let’s just say that I’m pretty sure the world would be a far better place without this particular Tony Stark.” He shrugged lightly, his gaze wandering for a moment. “With men like me, the world needs more heroes.”

“You don’t get to make that choice.” Her vision blurred for a moment, gaze falling out of focus. “Why do you say that?” A strange, neutral mask seemed to settle over her features.

She hated this. Now that he’d said that, she’d feel compelled to get to the bottom of it, to try to fix it if that was possible. Bad enough he was breathtaking, now he was a broken bad boy as well? Stupid, stupid, stupid and too late.

“Are you not making up now for your past?”

supercilious-pariah:

iamthefirechild:

Her mouth twitched, a bent-up smile. “No, it’s not going to end in ping-pong balls. It really is okay. I already know you’re laughing inside, so it’s honestly not going to bother me.”

She rocked back a step. “See, I’m an empath. I know what you’re feeling, and I can know what the people around you are feeling.”

Well. That… wasn’t good.

“Well, so long as you don’t also tell me that you can read minds I think we’re good. I wouldn’t be too happy with someone going about in my mind. I have secrets in there.”

“No, I don’t read minds. I’m not interested in your secrets.”

It hurt, a little, the way his emotions went from amusement to not-quite-fear. She hadn’t realised she’d been hoping for acceptance from Tony Stark, of all people. Stupid. The smile got a little more bent, fading from her green eyes.

“The world needs you. That’s all. Better you don’t die.” Unspoken, the word ‘again’ hung off the end of the sentence.

supercilious-pariah:

iamthefirechild:

“You are gonna rupture something if you keep refusing to laugh,” she commented. “Tell me, do you not need a bodyguard because you can defend yourself, or because they never even get to you? I’ve got other skills, if you’d rather. Though if I’m showing off, I really would prefer not to just out in the open.” She circled a hand around to indicate the area around him. “It tends to startle people.”

“Contrary to popular belief I’m not that much of an asshole.”

“Not all the time, anyway. Only sometimes. As for needing a bodyguard, well. That’s all up to speculation. While I don’t think I need one, someone else might think I do. Or is it the other way around.”

Finally remembering that his earbuds were still in he gently pulled them out of his ears, lightly crossing his arms.

“I had a girl tell me that once. It ended in ping pong balls. This isn’t going to end in ping pong balls, is it?”

Her mouth twitched, a bent-up smile. “No, it’s not going to end in ping-pong balls. It really is okay. I already know you’re laughing inside, so it’s honestly not going to bother me.”

She rocked back a step. “See, I’m an empath. I know what you’re feeling, and I can know what the people around you are feeling.”

supercilious-pariah:

iamthefirechild:

The ripple of his internal laughter was good. She was starting to think he didn’t actually have a sense of humour. Commentary about her height didn’t count.

“Big things come in small packages, Mr Stark. Go on, you can laugh at me. I know what I look like when that happens.” She cocked her head to one side. “I could definitely keep up with you. But then again,” she shrugged, “I cheat.”

Casually she pulled the braid over one shoulder, where it hung nearly to her knees. “Do you need a bodyguard?”

He was trying really hard not to laugh, but she was making it difficult.

“Look, I haven’t needed a bodyguard for three months. If you can convince me I need one, then maybe I’ll hire you. Maybe. I might even throw in room and board. IF you can convince me.”

“You are gonna rupture something if you keep refusing to laugh,” she commented. “Tell me, do you not need a bodyguard because you can defend yourself, or because they never even get to you? I’ve got other skills, if you’d rather. Though if I’m showing off, I really would prefer not to just out in the open.” She circled a hand around to indicate the area around him. “It tends to startle people.”

supercilious-pariah:

iamthefirechild:

“People-watching. Making fun of you. Why?”

Oh, this was fun. He was supposed to be the most witty, smooth man in the world, and it was so /easy/ to make fun of him.

She rolled over, tried to get up, planted one hand on the end of her long braid, and sat down hard. “Ow. Swear words.” The second attempt went better, and she stuck her hands in her pockets as she sauntered over to him.

He was a long way up to look. At least eight inches taller than she was. Maybe more like a foot. She rocked onto her toes, slightly, smirking.

“You waited here all morning just so that you could pick on me? I’m flattered.”

He watched as the woman attempted to sit up and…

No. No, he was not going to laugh, because that would be rude. He would, however, chuckle about it later should he remember.

Which he might. He tended to remember stuff like this for reasons he wasn’t entirely sure of.

“… you… weren’t offering to be my bodyguard just now, were you? Because not only could you probably not keep up with me, but you’re kind of tiny.”

The ripple of his internal laughter was good. She was starting to think he didn’t actually have a sense of humour. Commentary about her height didn’t count.

“Big things come in small packages, Mr Stark. Go on, you can laugh at me. I know what I look like when that happens.” She cocked her head to one side. “I could definitely keep up with you. But then again,” she shrugged, “I cheat.”

Casually she pulled the braid over one shoulder, where it hung nearly to her knees. “Do you need a bodyguard?”