Confessions
The drink lay cold and useless in his hand, but it didn't matter, it was something for him to hold unto. His eyes latched unto the striking couple on the dance floor, and his left hand curled into a tight fist as the mixtures of pain and anger coursed throughout his body.
Breathtaking red hair swept through the air, as an equally dashing man lead her in an agonizingly, slow, and intimate dance. Her blinding smile, and undivided attention were all directed towards him, (aka the goody-two-shoes-Captian-America) and there was nothing that Tony-Bloody-Stark could do about it.
Catching Fire
"Jarvis! Full power now!"
"One-hundred percent, and climbing sir," came the A. I.'s reply.
"Good, now let's get this right people!"
Before anyone could voice their protests, Stark shot up into the air with an unrivaled grace and a hint of starkish-pizzaz. Extending both arms, and activating his repulsers, he spun in a whirlwind of blurred motion. Sparks flew through the air, lighting up the night-time sky, and charging the atmosphere with a dozen electrical currents.
"Barton! Now!" Came Tony's voice over the Comm. Link.
"Up high!" Clint responded dutifully and with a hint of cheerfulness, before letting lose a torrent of arrows in Stark's direction. Each one lit up in a flame of bright reds, blues, greens, and purples.
"This is for you baby," Tony whispered to himself happily, the true intention of this homemade-fireworks-show only fully known to him, and... the love of his life.
Call You Out
"Come on Bruce, just go say hi. He's not going to bite."
"No- no, I... I don't think that's such a good idea. What if he freaks?" Bruce looked at him with nervous eyes, wringing his hands, and subconsciously fixing his glasses; despite them already having been resting perfectly along the length of his nose.
Stark snorts. "Come on, he's a three year old kid. It's not like he's not going to threaten to lock you up in a prison or anything like that."
Bruce just gave him a look that spoke -"Seriously? You're not helping. At. All."
Locking eyes with each other, Tony released a sigh of understanding. Bruce was afraid of how the little guy would judge him, and that was something he himself had trouble with. Yet, it all had turned out well between the millionaire and the rest of the Avenger members. Bruce just had to trust him enough, in order for him to have that same epiphany that Tony had finally discovered.
"Just... Come on," Stark waved him closer, and tentatively Bruce followed.
"Oh boy," Clint exhaled with a sigh, as he watched the both of them dissapear in the crowd.
Iron Man Theme Song (Instrumental Soundtrack)
The lights dimmed and silence was the only thing to be heard for miles. A single drum beat blasted out of the stereo system, before a multitude of others followed. Black and gold, along with a torrent of red colors flashed through the sky.
A projectile landed on the stage, left fist firmly planted on the wooden platform, head bent dramatically forward. The sound of whirring mechanics had filled the eery silence as he stood. And then... there was screaming.
Screaming from... fans that is.
Make A Move
"Left hand forward, right foot back. Listen to me Bruce, you can do this."
"But Tony, I can't dance to save my life."
"Well your going to have to, since your life is on the line. Ready?"
"Yes?"
"Now!" Both men clasped their hands together, before Tony swiftly lead Bruce to the left. Twirling Bruce around, dipping him down low, and swinging him about the dance floor, these two unlikely dancers took the judges breathe away.
"Liar, you can most definitely dance..." Tony muttered under his breath, pants of warm air brushing the other's ear.
Bruce managed to hide his smile, as he followed Tony across the floor.
One more dip, and a toss up into the air later, both the Avenger members panted heavily as they bowed to the crowd.
"Not that I didn't enjoy this Brucey, but next time? Next time, make sure Tasha gets here on time. You're heavier than you look."
"Shut up."
Things Left Unsaid
"Don't leave me here alone! Do you hear me!? You can't- I can't lose you as well..."
A single beat echoed softly through the silence, before a strangled breath followed.
"I'm sorry... buddy, but you know- that it's... too late- too late for... anything else."
"Don't you dare! Don't you dare start talking like that! We will get you help. You'll be fine," it all came out as more of a plea than anything else.
"Take care of them for me... God only knows... that they'll need all the help... they can get..." The dying man gasped out, with a splatter of red liquid spewing forth from his lips.
"I'm sorry... So, so sorry... I should have told you sooner. You never knew... And- and I..." A shaking hand rose up and cupped the others cheek.
"Shh sh- h.. S'kay... I know..." He replied hoarsly. The other grasped his hand tightly, and shook his head as tears streamed down his face.
"No... Please no..." He repeated harshly under his breath, in hopes of all if this being a mere figment of his imagination.
"Promise me..." The dying man interrupted in a chocked manner. "Tha- that you won't... hide yourself away." That single, small drop of blood, was now blooming across his chest at an alarmingly rapid rate. "Love ya... both... forever..."
Then there was nothing but silence... until it was broken by that of wracking sobs, and screams which were filled with that of agony and all that was lost.
"But... I never told you... I'm so sorry Tony. So very, terribly sorry. I should have, but I just... I just couldn't," the lone man confessed as he clutched the other in his arms.
"Turn it off! Turn it off now!" Rogers ran a shaky hand through his hair as the T.V. screen clicked off obediently. A loud scuffle was heard before Steve jerked his head up in surprise at the door that was slammed open.
"You killed him! He would still be here if it wasn't for you!" Bruce screamed out at him in rage never before seen by the super soldier.
"I know..." And the Captain didn't even have time to flinch as the green came out to play.
Courtesy Call
"Don't do this Stark."
"Sorry Cap, but it isn't just about us anymore," his voice was devoid of any of his usual sassy, and cocky demeanor.
This had quickly turned into a dire situation, and Steve Rogers was losing control faster than he could comprehend.
"Stark, get back here right now! Don't you dare turn your back on me soldier," Steve demanded with a no-nonsense tone.
Tony froze, and his hands clenched into fists. Turning his head to the left, he spoke over his shoulder and toward Rogers. "And that's where you've always been wrong Captain. I'm not one of your cadets who'll just fall into line whenever you tell them to. My life... My rules... My decision, and that's final."
A sudden panic swelled within Steve's chest, and he desperately scrabbled for something... anything... to keep this man from leaving him.
"Tony... Please don't go. I- We need you. You know how much this will hurt Bruce," He added in a low whisper.
Stark became hesitant at that, and Steve plowed onward in determination. "It was never a matter of trusting you. We just had to..." The words died on his tongue, as he witnessed the ice-cold glare directed his way.
"What? You had to make sure that I wouldn't turn on you first? Or was it because you couldn't risk a circumstance in which I'd become one of them? Nice power-play earlier by the way. You think that plan up all on your own?" He snapped at Rogers sarcastically.
"Tony, you had to have known that Shield would test you like this," The Captain inhaled deeply and gritted his teeth.
"No... no I didn't, because I thought I could trust you. Just turns out that I'm a really bad judge of character. Tell Bruce to not go looking for me. He deserves better."
"You don't have to leave. I never thought that you would leave him... Or me. This will effect everyone, and I couldn't live with the guilt of me being at fault," the super soldier tried in a last attempt to hold unto something that he had already, inadvertently, destroyed.
"You should of thought of that beforehand Steve. Just know that it's all on you now," and then he's gone.
Kryptonite
- Life was all about dodging the oncoming bullet, to try and survive one more day with the minimal amount of damages sustained as possible. Life had its rewards, and it damn well had its consequences. And occasionally... its in-betweens. Today was a mix of all three -
Placing both hands, fully splayed, out unto the cherry-wood table top, Tony Stark leaned forward in a threatening manner.
"If you lay one measly little finger anywhere near him, you fu-"
"Tony!" Bruce called out desperately, praying to himself silently that this situation wouldn't spiral out of control.
Growling low in the back of his throat, Tony had the good graces to back up a single step; if only to lower Bruce's stress level.
"I mean it," He pointed a forefinger at her.
"Try to harm him again, and I will come after you. That's not a threat, but a valid promise," Bruce grabbed Tony about the arm and tugged him away, before anything else could be said.
"Tony, that was dangerous. You could - and most certainty can - end up killed!" Bruce scolded him angrily.
"What can I say? You always were kinda like my Kryptonite," Stark replied evenly.
Bruce snorted, but gave him a wry grin. "And let me guess. You're my Superman?"
Stark gave him a self-satisfied grin. "Who says it has to stop there?"
Damn Stark and his naturally flirtatious attitude.
Welcome To The Masquerade
A swift upper cut to the jaw had the guy squirming on the ground in pain. Whipping out the weapon strapped to his waist, he shot four black-clad men point blank in the forehead without even a single flinch.
"Down the hall to your left," An embodied voice echoed within his ear. Silently he obeyed, and immediately came face to face with a torrent of minimum-waged body guards.
He smirked to himself. "All to easy, ain't it Nat," not waiting for a reply, he ducked down low, before slamming a fist into the knee-joints of two men. Striking an elbow upward, he was rewarded with that of cracking bone and a guttural scream. Knifing the fourth, and promptly snapping the neck of the fifth, he was done within a matter of seconds.
"Enter the room to your right."
Opening the door, he entered and hastily grabbed the package.
"Got it. Now get me out the hell out of here," he drawled out easily, and with a cheeky grin firmly in place.
"Look behind you."
Turning, he found the quinjet waiting just outside the balcony window.
"Always doing it in style I see."
"It's what I live for," was all she said in reply.
Taking a running leap, and twisting in a perfect angle, he landed deftly on the hood.
"Figures Fury would call me in for this kind of work, and only after having discovered my buried past," he breathed out annoyingly.
"Shut it Stark, you know you enjoy it about as much as you love donning the suit."
"Ouch, the spider definitely knows when and where to bite. I like you," A cold chuckle was all that was heard in response.
Falling Inside The Black
"Clint, how could you do this to me? I trusted you, I thought you had my back, but clearly you didn't," Tony shook his head, and backed away from the archer. Barton tried to lessen the space between them, but Stark managed to avoid that from happening.
"I would have traded the world for you, for all of you!" Tony yelled out in fury. "Yet each of you went behind my back, just so you could ..." Tony slammed a fist into the wall, and snarled furiously, not being able to finish that thought.
"Tony-" Steve tried to placate him, but Stark would hear none of it.
"Get. Out," Tony snarled in a seething manner.
"Tony, you know we can't leave without you. Fury wants-"
"Who gives a damn about what Fury wants!" He cried out incredulously. "After all this time, I thought I could trust you like family, but you guys are just a bunch of back stabbers. If only I'd seen it sooner, then maybe I could have saved Bruce."
"Tony, you know that we had no other choice but to take in Bruce, and now our orders are to bring you in," Natasha stated firmly, hand resting on her weapon, "You will come."
"Make me," he growled.
"We can and we will," Clint raised his hand in a sloppy salute, "sorry buddy."
He glared at the sight of Nat's gun pointing directly at him. "Fury was never specific in what state he wanted you in," she absentmindedly remarked, before clicking off the safety, and then... there was nothing.