All chapters named after Iron & Wine songs.
Dedicated to igotyoufirst because I would never have been able to write fluff without her encouragement and she likes my fluffy stuff :P
This was meant to be a one-shot. As always, my plan was thwarted.
It was a beautifully sunny day, with clear blue skies and a light breeze, the kind of day perfect for playing baseball or a picnic in the park.
But Tony Stark was lying on his back on a four-wheeled tray, looking up at a banged up silencer.
And I would have it no other way.
"Eddie! Get your ass out from under that pile of junk! The Boss wants to speak to you!"
He sighed loudly.
"Later, baby..." he said, blowing a kiss at the silencer and rolling himself out from under the car.
He got to his feet, wiped his hands on a nearby stained rag and took a deep appreciative whiff, stretching his arms wide.
I love the smell of grease, motor oil, exhaust and tires in the morning.
Then the clock above the garage door caught his eye.
Or rather, afternoon...
Out of nowhere, a thunderous voice yelled "EDDDIEE!" and Tony realized he was supposed to be somewhere else. He tossed the rag away and ran towards the garage office.
A half hour later, he returned to the scratched and dented blue Fiat 500, whistling cheerfully.
"Well, I managed to avoid getting fired... thank god... I love this job, beats selling ice cream any day."
Tony was in his second year, studying at MIT. His first term of the year was over and the college was closed for spring break. And just like his earlier spring breaks, Tony had decided to stay at the college instead of going home.
In his opinion, it was better to be free and bored in Massachusetts than be back in Malibu, where he would only argue endlessly with his father or be forced to attend boring black-tie parties.
Last spring break, he had loitered around the empty campus for four months, driving himself crazy with boredom and finally, had decided to take a last-minute trip to Las Vegas.
That had been an expensive mistake. He had lost track of time in Vegas and ended up missing the first two weeks of college, which in turn, had gotten him into a lot of trouble. His father had been livid, especially since the college attendance board had threatened to suspend Tony for bunking classes. Thankfully, he had managed to escape suspension by signing up for charity volunteer work and extra classes.
But it had been a close call and that's why this time, Tony had been determined to stay out of trouble. And he had wanted to keep himself occupied and not go through the same cycle of boredom again. So he had decided to try getting a job.
Now he wanted to avoid being recognized as the Stark Industries heir at all cost, so he couldn't work anywhere in Cambridge, the city of his college, because too many people knew him there. And they definitely wouldn't leave him alone or give him a job.
So Tony had decided to go completely incognito and rented a flat in the nearby city of Somerville. Here he could blend in with the crowd and be just another young man on spring break, looking for a summer job.
His first job had been at the library, as a junior librarian. He chuckled as he remembered working there.
Not a good idea in retrospect, sorting out dusty tomes and checking library cards and wheeling books here and there... boring!
His second job was as an ice-cream server at the local mom-n-pop dairy. Both decent jobs for the summer. But Tony had been kicked out of both jobs for the same reason: making out with the customers and being caught at it.
He smirked as he recalled all his passionate encounters in the dusty library storeroom as well as the small backroom of the dairy.
Man, sneaking around and making out was so much fun... though the look on the stuffy librarian's face was even more epic! Especially since she caught her favorite assistant fooling around with me! In the middle of a work day! Wooo hooo!
Then Tony sighed hard.
If only Rhodey was here... He's such a stickler for rules and regulations. I would have had no problem keeping a job down. Or we could have gone and done something fun, something together... But no, he has to go home for the holidays, he can't spend 1 break with me here!
He angrily kicked at a spare part on the floor, watching the metal object skitter away.
Then he looked back at the Fiat and a slow grin broke out on his face.
But hey, I love this job! No distractions, no nagging customers and best of all, he pulled out his spanner from his overalls, I get to play with all the cars I want!
The garage's big Boss, Thaddeus hadn't recognized Tony but was suspicious of him because he didn't seem like the average grease monkey. And because MIT students did not usually seek employment in garages. But he had been impressed with Tony's skill and the fact that Tony would work for minimum wage, also helped.
Once in a while, they would clash on the subject of Tony's tardiness but otherwise they got along very well.
Tony dropped to his knees and passed his hands over a deep dent in the Fiat's fender. The garage was empty, everybody had gone for lunch, so he was left on his own. Which meant he could work in peace on the broken-down Fiat 500, a car which had been deserted in the garage.
He was just going to lay back down on the wheelie and return to fixing the silencer, when he heard a loud honk. And then another and another.
Tony stood up and walked outside. He turned to see a beautiful canary-yellow Camarro pull up at the garage's reception, some distance away from the repair bay, where he was standing.
Old Hank, the cankerous receptionist of the garage, was busy shaking his head as the driver of the car was trying to explain something to him.
Tony grinned because he could sense what was going on.
Hank's turning them down because it is lunch time and his time to snooze. What a lovely car...
Then his grin widened with pleasure as the driver got down from the car.
Well, well, well... a lovely car and an equally lovely driver... come of think of it... I have never seen a woman come into this garage...
Tony had seen enough. He began to walk over to the reception, yelling, "It is alright, Hank! Ma'am, I am not going on lunch, why don't you drive up to the second garage on the left. I'll take a look at your car."
As the driver turned and lowered her sunglasses to look at him appreciatively, he noticed the car's passengers and had to resist rubbing his hands.
This is going to be fun.
Ten minutes later, Tony was busy inspecting the engine of the Camarro, while Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" played on the garage's radio.
The car's owner and her three friends were all sitting quietly nearby, on the cleanest garage stools he could find. Actually they weren't being all that quiet, he could hear them whispering and snickering to themselves.
Months of being surrounded by hairy geeks and awkward nerds, had left Tony with a heightened appreciation for the female sex. So he did the math.
Four young girls, clearly not from around here... chances of scoring a date?
He glanced over his shoulder and gave them his best Steve McQueen smirk. Three faces smiled back in return, followed by riotous giggling.
He turned back to the car, smirking widely. A 100%. Time to apply the Stark charm.
Tony turned back towards the girls and picked up a nearby rag to wipe his hands.
"Well, ladies," that set off a round of giggles again, "there's nothing to worry about. The battery cap was loose, that's why the engine was acting up. I will have it tightened in a jiffy."
He grinned widely at each one of the bashful trio, who were flashing him their dimples.
"Thank you so much!" said the driver breathlessly, a green-eyed brunette with an impish nose and a gorgeous figure.
"We drove along the entire stretch of this sleepy road, trying to find a garage that was open." chimed the second girl, a statuesque cool blonde with big blue eyes and a sexy little mole on her right cheek.
Tony nodded, tilting his head at her. "So how'd you lovely ladies end up in a boring city like Somerville? I can tell you aren't from around here."
The trio tittered again and the third girl, another blonde but doe-eyed with bright red lips, said teasingly, "You are a smart mechanic, Mister..."
"Edward. But you can call me Eddie. And you girls are..." he asked, charmingly.
The green-eyed brunette said breathlessly, "I am Tiffany Panzetti. This is Alyssa Loughton," she pointed at the doe-eyed girl, who waved shyly at him. "And..."
"I am Christine Everhart." said the blue-eyed blonde cooly with a small sultry smile, that made his cock twitch.
That mole is so damn sexy... and those legs... hot damn!
His ogling of Christine was interrupted by a soft, clear voice, asking, "Mister Edward, when will the car be fixed? We were supposed to be home by now."
Tony turned towards the fourth girl, the one sitting a slight distance away from the trio, clutching a book. She was the tallest of the group, slender and solemn with coppery red hair, elegant facial features and freckles dotting her regal nose. It was her direct, deep blue gaze that made him blink.
"Well eh... it should take 10 minutes, there are 10 caps and I need to tighten them all, just in case."
The green-eyed brunette, Tiffany said hotly, "Virginia! Please! Let the man work in peace! Don't be such a bore, we have plenty of time to go home!"
"Yeah, Virgie! Don't be such a pill!" echoed Alyssa, rolling her eyes.
The red-haired girl shrugged and looked back at her book.
Christine said with a snort. "Why are you in such a hurry anyways? All you do is read. It's not like you have a date or a life outside of books!"
They all snickered at the girl, who was steadfastly ignoring them.
Tony interceded smoothly, "So what plans do you lovely ladies have, for the weekend?"
Alyssa said softly, "Nothing, really. We usually go out with our chaperone, to the market. Or we sneak away in the afternoon, like today and go for a drive on our own."
He picked up the spanner and bent over the car's hood. Tony asked slowly, "Have you girls been to Sammy's Steakhouse by the waterfront?"
Tiffany snorted. "No way! We may be from California but that place is a little too pricey for even our pockets."
It was on the tip of Tony's tongue to say that he was from California too but he stopped himself in time.
He lifted his head from the car and looked at them. "Would you like to go there? Say Saturday, around 8 pm?"
Their jaws dropped with shock. Even Virginia had lifted her head from her book and was looking at him quietly.
Tiffany was the first to speak. "Like dude! Of course!"
Christine stood up and came closer to him.
"Hey Eddie, no offense but can you actually afford to go to such a place? I mean, come on... you aren't exactly working in a bank or a job, that eh... pays well?"
He smiled flirtatiously at her. "Let me worry about the money. I can handle it. What about you girls? Are you game?"
Alyssa pushed her dark hair out of her eyes and said hesitatingly, "Just you... and us? Going to a swanky place like that?"
"Of course not!" He pushed the hood down and rubbed his hands on a rag.
"I'll call a couple of my friends and we can... hang out." Tony said casually, locking eyes with Tiffany, who was smiling widely at him.
Christine laughed derisively. "Sure! I will believe it, when I see it!"
Tony didn't take his eyes off Tiffany as he said easily, "So Saturday 8 pm. Should I come to pick you girls up?"
Alyssa said, "No, it's okay. Our chaperone will drop us. Anyways she's going to insist, so she can see if the place is alright."
Then she startled Tony by jumping up and clasping Tiffany. Both squealed loudly with glee, "Party Time!".
Christine rolled her eyes but then winked slowly at Tony with a soft smile. He grinned back and began to write down the bill for the car.
It was a cool, starlit night, the perfect night for necking. And more... thought Tony as he smugly took a long sip of beer.
They were at Sammy's Steakhouse, sitting at a long table on the outer deck. Normally, it would be next to impossible to get a large table on a Saturday without prior notice. And the girls were minors, so mention was made about the legal drinking age. But he had flashed the hostess his best smile and promised that everyone would stick to beer only. Two Benjamin Franklin bills also sweetened the deal. And so the outer deck was theirs.
The girls had been there at sharp 8 pm, their buxom but boozy chaperone Lena Panzetti in tow. She took one look at the venue and an even longer look at Tony and was alright with the girls staying. In fact, she had wanted to join the party but then Tiffany had a word with her quietly and she left.
He had called three of his acquaintances from college. Stuart Townhill, James Van Houten and Chadwick Leagrave, all fellow students of MIT who came from rich Boston Brahmin families and who were bored out of their minds at home.
On getting his call, they had hurriedly driven down to Somerville, a mere 12 minutes from Boston. He had made them swear to keep his identity a secret and he knew they would because who would want to cross a Stark.
Introductions had been made and they had all sat down. The conversation had been very stilted, the girls nervous and the boys awkward. That is until the alcohol was served. Then tongues and attitudes had loosened amazingly and the party actually started.
An hour after that, he was sitting back in his chair with a beer in one hand and a very tipsy Tiffany in the other. The others had disappeared to god knows where, he really didn't care as long as he got his privacy.
Why should I? I have a drink, this beautiful night and... he watched as Tiffany took a deep breath and snuggled up to him, pressing herself against him. And the loveliest girl from the bunch.
"Eddie..." she said with a giggle, looking at him tipsily. "Eddie, you are the handsomest mechanic I've ever seen."
He chuckled lightly and then swallowed hard as she moved her hand over his chest.
"Tiffany..." Tony whispered. "Tiffany, you are so hot, baby, I just want to touch your beautiful body."
Her response was to sit up and pull her dress up but not before giving him a good eyeful of cleavage.
"I don't know, Eddie..." she said, looking confused. "I am... I am not that type of girl, I just met you today."
He knew how to play this game, how to turn "No's" into "Yes" and make her want him.
Tony moved closer to her and lowered his lips to neck. He kissed her ear, she squirmed against him with a soft sigh. Then he moved his hand and cupped her breast, making her moan.
"Hold on! Hold on...I gotta pee..." Tiffany said childishly, her face flushed with drink. "When I come back ..." she stroked his jaw. "You and me are going to get busy, Eddie."
He nodded with a smile, then stood up to help her as she struggled to stand up. He caught her by the waist and took her to the washroom, enjoying the feel of her body pressed against his.
Once Tiffany had gone in, Tony looked around the restaurant. There was half an hour left for closing time and the waiters were busy clearing tables and cleaning up. There were a few customers now and the dance floor was occupied, only by two couples, Christine and James being one and the other being, Alyssa and Stuart.
He raised his eyes at the way Alyssa was grinding herself suggestively against Stuart. Christine was chiding her and James, the pervert, was taking advantage of her distraction, to look down her dress.
Tony shook his head at the proceedings and ordered another beer. He took the drink, pulled out his pack of cigarettes and walked back to the outer deck.
He walked towards the edge of the deck and leaned on the railing, lighting his cigarette and took a long appreciative drag.
As he looked at the night landscape, he heard voices and turned sideways. At the other end of the deck, he could see a man and a woman standing close to each other.
Tony narrowed his eyes, trying to place the woman.
Straight, long, lean build... she's taller than the dude..
Then the woman moved and the moonlight shone on her, illuminating her coppery red hair.
Hey, that's no woman! It's that cousin of Tiffany's... darn it, what's her name? Oh yeah! Virginia!
He moved a little closer. And that's Chadwick with her. Good old Chaddy, never one to miss an opportunity to neck.
Tony was going to turn back to his corner, giving them privacy but he tensed when he heard Virginia say loudly, "Chadwick please, leave me alone."
He moved towards the couple quickly as he saw the young man lurch forward drunkenly at Virginia. Tony was about to yell but then he was stunned by what happened next.
In a rapid succession of short but powerful movements, she punched him in the throat and then shoved him back with both hands.
Chadwick fell to the floor hard, crying out in pain. Virginia stood there in a defensive pose and watched him warily. She started nervously when Tony reached her.
"Are you alright?" He asked gently and the young girl nodded, her eyes focused and calm. But he could see the slight tremor in her raised hands and didn't touch her.
He turned to Chadwick, who was rolling around on the floor, groaning in pain.
Tony bent over him. "Leagrave, it is alright. Just walk it off, come on."
He hoped that Chadwick was too drunk to seek revenge. The fallen young man groaned out, "Ah man! She floored me! I was just..." he started to swear and Tony gestured at a nearby waiter.
Together, they helped Chadwick up and Tony paid the waiter, saying, "Sit him at a private table, he just needs to sleep his drink off."
The waiter took Chadwick away and he turned back towards Virginia, who was looking out at the city below, her hands wrapped tightly around her.
She was wearing a plain sleeveless summer dress and he saw her shiver.
Shit, she must be feeling cold!
He shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to her.
"No, it is alright, I don't need it..." she murmured, her eyes downcast but Tony silently insisted and she wrapped it around her shoulders, huddling into it.
Virginia raised wary eyes to him and he tried to defuse the situation. "Chaddy just had a little too much to drink. Don't mind him. He's normally a nice guy but he got a little carried away..."
"A little carried away?" She said sarcastically and Tony flushed, aware that he was defending Chadwick who had tried to force himself on a fifteen year-old girl.
He sighed and ran his hands through his hair.
"Look, Virgie? Virginia," he said hurriedly at her icy glare. "I know what he did was wrong. And you are a minor and he shouldn't have done that, alright? I know it... but..." he looked at her pleadingly, "Please do not press charges, please. He's a nice guy normally, if this reached the MIT board, they would kick him out. Please."
She looked at him coolly. "It is nice that you are defending your friend. And I won't be pressing charges."
"Alright then." he said with a grin. Tony looked at his watch. "Shit, it is getting late, I'll take you home."
"What about Tiffany?"
He stuck his tongue in his cheek because he had completely forgotten Tiffany. Tony hummed and hawwed, not sure what to do.
Crap! I want to get with Tiffany but I've got her cousin here as well! Crap! What do I do?!
He thought hard and then Virginia said clearly, "When I last saw Tiffany, she was drunk out of her mind. I think she should come home with me, don't you, Mr. Stark?"
For Tony, time stood still as he took in what the young tall girl said.
What the!? How the hell does she know who I am?
He said out loud, "Mr. Stark? Why... why would you call me that, my name is Edward."
"Your middle name is Edward. I know that you are Anthony Stark, the only son of Stark Industries magnate, Howard Stark." She said simply.
He was still shocked and the girl smiled and continued, "You know, you look a lot like your dad. When I saw you yesterday in the garage, the family resemblance struck me. Then the incongruity of your situation. You were a mechanic but you could apparently afford to take four girls out to a five-star restaurant. You look very young but I remembered that you are a child prodigy and got in MIT when you were 15. Today, when I saw you here in this setting, my suspicions were confirmed, especially thanks to your three friends, upper-class college students from Boston. Not the average company kept by mechanics."
Tony was dumbstruck by her deducting and the matter-of-fact way she laid it out for him. He couldn't think of a counter-argument.
Virginia tilted her head and said coolly, "Mr. Stark, you needn't worry. I am not going to divulge your secret. I respect your privacy but I would like to mention that while my cousin and Nora are oblivious, Christine isn't. So if you want to keep your identity a secret, don't get too close to her. Like me, she's up to date with current affairs and has definitely recognized you but just can't place you."
He nodded and murmured, "Thanks."
Then she stepped towards him. "One more thing. I can go back home in a taxi. Tiffany is a big girl and I don't want to interfere in her affairs but..."
Virginia took a deep breath and said softly, "Mr. Stark, Tiffany has just come out of an abusive relationship. Her childhood sweetheart hit her so badly that she was in the hospital for weeks. That's why we came out here for spring break. To give her a change of air, so that she could recover. She is still traumatized by the incident and has gotten drunk today to forget her pain. Please..." she looked at him and gently shook her head, "Please don't hurt her. She doesn't deserve more pain."
Tony really didn't know what to say to that.
I was just going to ... bed her... but this... this changes things... and she actually is very drunk...
He was interrupted in his thoughts by Virginia holding out his jacket. He took it from her and she walked away, towards the restaurant.