NOTES: First of all I am really sorry for all the delay. I had a hard time translating this chapter since it was so long. My life also took a turn to completely crazy last week and my students were doing their best to drive me crazy.
Second, I finished it in a hurry so I could post soon. I sent it to my beta, but he hasn't returned it yet. I am really sorry about what you might read here. I haven't checked it yet, so I will assume the grammar is kind of sad here. As soon as he sends it back to me I will replace it.
Now, thank you all for the support and for still reading this craziness of mine.
I think I said it before, but just to reinforce: this fanfic has no connection to Age of Ultron. At all.
Hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 01
One year later...
"…and you know, and thank you, by the way. For listening. There's just something about getting it off my chest and putting it out in the atmosphere instead of holding this in. I mean, this is what gets people sick, you know? Wow, I had no idea you were such a good listener. To be able to share all my intimate thoughts and my experiences with someone, it just cuts the weight of it in half, you know? Like a snake swallowing its own tail. Everything comes full circle. And the fact that you've been able to help me process…" Toni looked at Bruce just in time to see the doctor-scientist drop his glasses. Because he'd been sleeping the entire time.
"So, uh…" He started, sheepishly.
"You with me?" Toni asked.
"I was, yeah" Bruce said quickly "Where we, uh, were at…"
"… you were actively napping?"
"I was… I…" he cleared his throat "I, uh, drifted."
"Where did I lose you?" She asked.
Bruce hesitated. "Elevator in Switzerland."
"So you heard none of it." She nagged.
"I'm sorry, I'm not that kind of doctor." He apologized "I'm not a therapist, it's not my training, I don't have the…"
"What? The time?"
"… temperament."
Toni narrowed her eyes. "You know what? Now that I think about it…" she said dramatically, throwing her head back on the couch "Oh God, my original wound. 1993, alright? I'm 14 years old and I still have a nanny? That was weird."
Bruce snickered and mumbled something, when somebody knocked on the door. Cordelia, who Toni started calling Cora when it became obvious that she couldn't get rid of her, came in.
"Miss Stark, Captain Rogers is on the phone. Again." There was a clear tone of reproach in her voice "Can I put him through?"
If Toni was less strong-willed, she might have succumbed to the pressure of Bruce and Cora's looks… But since she wasn't, she gave the same answer she'd been giving since Christmas: "Tell him I'm busy. I'm in the middle of my therapy session!"
Giving Toni one last disapproving look, Cora smiled at Bruce and left.
Toni already knew exactly what the other scientist was going to say, so she decided to go first.
"My new assistant has the hots for you, Bruce." She stated "Usually, that would bother me, because… well, she's mine, but there's no one in this world, except maybe Capsicle, who needs to get laid more than you do. So, you have my blessing." She said magnanimously.
Bruce was completely sidetracked for a moment. "Toni… this is very…" He looked perplexed "Generous of you, I guess, but… I don't need anything."
"Yes, you do!" Toni exclaimed emphatically, getting up from the couch she'd been lying on. "And I've been looking through your files and I know you're scared your heart will start beating too fast and you might turn green and uncomfortably big…"
"TONI!" Bruce shouted, scandalized.
"…but I don't think it's going to be a problem. If you want, we can do a test drive right now! Oh, look, how convenient." She said with false surprise "There's a couch here!" She walked up to Bruce, stopping between his legs and bent over like she was going to kiss him.
"Toni, stop this right now." He pleaded, trying to push her away, but ruining it by laughing "You're being ridiculous."
"Come on, Bruce." Toni insisted. "One little kiss won't kill you."
But Toni was wearing one of those pencil skirts that were tighter than anything that ever existed, so when she tried to take one more step forward, she lost balance and fell on Bruce and her knees almost ruined all of Bruce's chances to ever have children.
"Damn skirt." She mumbled.
Bruce, whose hands were on her waist trying to hold her up, started really laughing.
"It's not funny!"
"Am I interrupting?"
Toni and Bruce, who didn't hear the door opening, jumped and the billionaire almost fell to the ground. Bruce helped her to her feet, before getting up as well.
Cora was standing at the doorway, looking as unimpressed as always and Captain America, the one who had spoken, was beside her.
"How is it that you always manage to show up at the most embarrassing and inconvenient moments?" Toni wanted to know, because, well, it was true.
"I can come back later if I'm disrupting you." Cora replied arching an eyebrow.
"No, that's not what…" Toni stopped and took a breath "Whatever. How can I help you, Capsicle?" She asked Steve, but turned back to Cora before he could answer "And didn't you say he was on the phone?" She accused.
"I called from the lobby, but because you ignored me once again, I decided to come up. Miss Myer had nothing to do with it." Steve quickly defended Cora.
About the "once again" thing… If Toni had the ability of feeling actual shame, she probably would, but since she didn't… "Hm." was all she said.
Steve took a deep breath, as if asking heaven for help. He then looked at Toni with that serious expression he wore when he was going to act like a good boy.
"Are you okay, Toni?" He asked softly, actually worried. "I heard about the surgery."
Toni's hand went automatically to cover the spot where the reactor used to be. There was now only her smooth skin there, and she got reacquainted with low-cut tops.
"Oh, yeah. Everything's fine." She said, like it wasn't a big deal. "The doctor who operated on me was a star, and the plastic surgeon was a god. You can't even tell there used to be something here." Steve opened his mouth to say something and Toni quickly stopped him. "Everything has been overall amazing, like always. My life is incredible."
Bruce sent Toni a look which made it clear that he thought she was an idiot. The doctor walked up to Steve and offered him a hand. "How are you, Steve?" He asked politely.
Steve shook his hand and smiled at him. "Great. And you?"
"All good. What brings you by?"
"I decided to accept Toni's offer. To move to the Tower." He answered self-consciously, looking at Toni like he expected her to tell him he couldn't stay.
She wanted to. She really did.
"Of course, of course." Toni said, like it was no big deal. It was. "Why don't you wait outside? I need to have a word with Bruce here, and then I'll show you around."
Steve looked from Toni to Bruce and then Toni again, but just nodded and left. Bruce and Toni stayed silent for a minute, and then…
"So, I imagine you'd love to take care of the Captain's "not getting laid" problem." Bruce stated.
Toni narrowed her eyes. She must be a terrible influence, because the longer they spent together, the sassier he got. He had an acid, sometimes dark sense of humor that was always amusing to her. Except at that particular moment.
"Shut up, Bruce." Toni muttered.
Bruce seemed to be analyzing Toni attentively, more than she felt like she deserved at the moment. Suddenly, the scientist stood straighter, his eyes carried a mischievous glint.
Crap. When Bruce got like that, it meant he had a plan and Toni would get in trouble.
"Let's make a deal." He proposed very seriously. "I'll ask her out if you sleep with me."
Whatever Toni was expecting, that wasn't it. Her face must have made that very clear. "What?!"
"You heard me." He repeated calmly. "I'll ask Cora out if you have sex with me first."
Toni opened her mouth to speak. Then she closed it. And then opened it again. Then closed it once more. And then she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "You think I won't?" She inquired petulantly.
"Why do you think I'm asking?" He answered his demeanor perfectly neutral. Like they were talking about fucking the weather!
"You know… I would, but…" She started, raising her chin and ignoring how hard it was to complete a sentence. "I don't think that'd be cool. Cora deserves better."
"Really?" Bruce asked, his tone leaving no doubt that he didn't believe a word of what she said.
"What? You don't think I would? Because I'd totally have sex with you. Right now, even. You want to do it on my desk?"
Bruce rolled his eyes. "Toni, be honest."
"I'm serious!" She protested. "Should I start taking my clothes off?" She asked her hands on her shirt.
"Toni…" Bruce started with a serious expression that made him look like a teacher. "Why don't you just admit that you aren't interested in anyone because you want…"
"Shh!" Toni basically tackled him and covered his mouth with her hands. "Don't say it! Don't say that name, or I swear to God…"
Bruce rolled his eyes again and took her hands off of his mouth. "Ask him out, Toni. It won't kill you." He admonished.
"Yeah, but why risk it?" The billionaire replied, backing away from him. "Besides, the good Captain wouldn't touch me with a ten foot pole."
The last part was supposed to be muttered to herself, but Bruce heard it. Toni wasn't usually like that, so… dejected. He opened his mouth to say something, but she was already leaving the room.
"Come on, Capsicle, I have other places to be." She stated, standing in front of Steve. "Cora, come with. You and I need to have a little chat."
"Actually, I need Cora's help with something." Bruce interjected.
Toni arched an eyebrow. "Does it have to be now?"
"Yes." Bruce answered.
She narrowed her eyes and wished, not for the first time, that she could shoot lasers from them.
Cora looked from one to the other and stepped towards Bruce. "I'll go up as soon as I'm done here." She said calmly.
"You'd better." Tony warned "Jarvis! The elevator."
The doors to Toni's private elevators opened and she stepped inside, being quickly followed by Steve. She definitely didn't like the smile she saw on Bruce's face before the doors closed.
"Don't get angry with Miss Myers. I really invaded your office." Steve said quickly.
"I don't believe it at all. But I wasn't planning on being angry with Cora; just don't let her know that."
Steve realized, as soon as the doors closed, that Toni had every intention of ignoring him. She seemed to be in one of those moods and he had the distinct impression that it was his fault. Had he really interrupted something between her and Bruce?
Steve had been dreading his reunion with Toni for almost a year now. Right after the Battle of New York he went on "vacation" and decided to rediscover the United States. He needed some time to accept that things had changed and the world wasn't how he remembered it anymore.
He had been travelling for around two weeks when he saw on the news that Toni Stark had donated money –a whole lot of it – to help rebuild New York. Besides this the billionaire was organizing a ball to help raise more money for the city. The news boasted that the Avengers would be there.
Steve, who was at a diner in the middle of nowhere, called Natasha immediately and asked if he should go back to be in that ball.
Natasha's words were "Don't you dare". The red head explained to Steve that he needed that time out. He needed to accept that time had gone by, had to let some things go and understand that the past couldn't be changed. He needed a chance to grieve.
The Captain accepted it all with a heavy heart, knowing it was the truth.
In the week after the party people hardly spoke of anything else. He knew he shouldn't but Steve ended buying one of those celebrity magazines to see the pictures. Many famous people –none of which he could recognize –and important politicians and businesspeople came as well. Three senators from the New York state refused to attend, blaming the Avengers for all that happened. There was also a protest in front of the building, but it was a peaceful one.
Then he saw the pictures.
Natasha was wearing a navy blue dress with a slit that came all the way to her thigh, her arm linked with Clint's, who wore a grey suit. Pepper looked stunning on her pictures, wearing a white dress that made her look like one of the divas from the 20's. Her date was a man in a military uniform; his name was Colonel James Rhodes –according to the capitation.
Toni was…
Wow.
Toni wasn't what people would call a classic beauty. No, her face was too strong for that. She had something else, it was the way she carried herself, a power and an energy that belonged only to her and it seemed to shine through the pictures.
She was wearing a long red dress – should he be surprised by the color? – The neckline showing very little, just a glimpse of the arc reactor on her chest. But the next picture –one of her climbing stairs – showed how deceptive that dress was. The back of it was non-existent, showing nothing but glorious skin.
The pictures after that one showed Toni on Bruce's arm making Steve wonder –not for the first time –if they were together. They seemed close enough and the magazines were asking the same question. Especially since Toni and Pepper broke up the billionaire had been going stag to all parties.
Steve didn't like the idea of Toni being with Bruce. Then he felt stupid for not liking it. He had no reason to.
He tried to put all this behind him and continue his trip. He traveled the country for four months, and then took a very serious decision: bought a ticket to England. He needed to see Peggy.
During all the time he was awake after the New York Battle, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s therapists tried to convince him to go and talk to Peggy, as a way to get closure on this part of his life. But how could he "close" something? This part of his life wasn't forgotten just because he slept for 70 years! It was ridiculous that they would expect him to act as if it was.
Steve refused to even think on the possibility of talking to Peggy for a long time. Finally he realized he was being unfair with her as well. Peggy had a right to know what happened, that he was there and he had not forgotten her.
The retirement home she was in was very peaceful. The nurse he talked to told him that Peggy was in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, sometimes she would "forget" exactly where she was.
Back in the day, Steve had heard about Alzheimer's disease, but not a great deal. He could recall few things about it, mostly that affected old people and was very similar to dementia. He felt sick on his stomach.
But, to the nurse and his complete shock, Peggy remembered him. Sort of. For her it was like not one single day had passed and they were back on the base, waiting for the next attack on a H.Y.D.R.A. base.
That was actually worse than not being remembered might be. Seeing that face, full of wrinkles that told stories of a life where so much happened and not being able to heart the stories made his heart ache. Peggy had lived a full life and her memory couldn't record half of it.
In the end he prolonged his stay on Winchester and visited Peggy every single day. On the sixth he found her completely lucid.
He didn't think it was possible, but it was worse than before.
Peggy cried upon seeing him. They talked for hours until she started becoming tired and confused with the words and ideas.
Three days later she died while sleeping.
It was the first time since waking up that Steve cried, really cried.
Now he was back to New York, back to see Toni –even if he wouldn't say it out loud – and he refused to remain silent. The doors of the elevator opened and she was preparing to leave first.
"Let's go this way. So, on the top floors…"
"Toni." He blocked her way, leaving both of them still inside the elevator, though the doors were open. "I just wanted to say that it's good to see that you are okay. Better." He corrected himself upon seeing her eyebrow rising. "Well, you know. I heard about what happened on Christmas, the surgery and everything else… And, you look good. Your hair looks good. You look… Good."
Seriously? That's the best he could do? He couldn't sound more like an insecure teenager if he tried. By Toni's face it was easy to see she was quite unimpressed. Maybe he shouldn't have talked about the hair, but it really looked great!
"I feel… Good." She said and Steve noticed that her hesitation on the use of the word was different from his. "Thanks."
She made as if to leave the elevator, but Steve didn't give her space. The doors were still open and he supposed they would remain that way for as long as necessary. Though… If they closed it would be easier to have this conversation, especially because he had the feeling that Toni would like nothing more than run away.
"I've heard about what happened." He said firmly, making her look at him. "About everything that really happened. I was in mission in a place I can't discuss when I heard that you were dead because someone bombed your house at Malibu." The tight feeling on his chest when he heard that had no sane explanation. "I heard about it and I begged Fury to let me come back and figure out what was happening, but he wouldn't let me. Told me to stay and finish my mission. And after that you wouldn't talk to me."
He knew he sound frustrated, but that was because he was fucking frustrated with her. "I don't know what I've done. I know that I annoy you, even without knowing exactly why I do, but I really needed to know how you were. And you don't answer the phone when I call so…" He sighed tiredly, losing his steam. "How are you?"
For the first time since he met her, Toni seemed to really reflect before answering the question, like she had the intention of telling the truth. Maybe exactly because of that, hearing her lie disappointed Steve so much.
"I am fine, Steve. Good. Don't worry about me."
Even her smile was weak and Steve felt that, in great part, it was due being too tired. But obviously she gave him no time to think about it. She was already pushing him to the side, moving, talking.
"This is the communal area." She said, opening her arms to show the room. "Everybody has access. And by 'everybody' I mean me, Bruce, Pepper, Cora and now you. There is a fully equipped kitchen, something of a cinema and a snooker table. I guess here's where we're supposed to socialize."
"Natasha and Clint haven't moved in yet?" He was confused. Natasha had been the moving force behind his coming to the Tower. So much, he was sure she was living there already.
"Not yet." Toni said. "But I guess, since you're here it's a question of time until Itsy Bitsy Spider and Tweety move in too."
"Does Miss Myers leave here?"
"No. She says she already has to put up with me for too many straight hours to willingly live with me." Toni said with a smile that showed she actually liked the attitude. "Above us there are 10 floors of labs and my floor. Your apartment is on the floor below this one, you share the floor with Pepper. Below you are the super spy couple and below them Bruce and Thor, in case Point Break ever decides to come back."
"Bruce doesn't live with you?" Steve asked before he could stop himself.
Toni looked at him like she thought he was particularly slow "Why would he?" Then she started walking before Steve could say anything. "Now come so I can show you the gym and a couple of other floors. Have you already been introduced to Jarvis?"
"The British voice that comes out of your ceiling?" Steve asked.
"I prefer the term 'Artificial Intelligence that control the life of you all', Captain Rogers. But British Voice works as well." The aforementioned voice said dryly.
"Jarvis is the most sensitive computer I've ever seen." Toni rolled her eyes. "But both of you are correct: he does have an accent, speaks from the ceiling and control everything that happens here. If you need to find something, to research something, download songs illegally or find good porn on the internet, he can do it for you."
Steve chose to ignore her.
"Which kind of reminds me…" She snapped her fingers, entering in the elevator that waited for them "We have another dinner for charity this week. Nat and Clint aren't coming, but Pepper and Bruce will be there with me. Can you come?"
Steve was surprised by the invitation, mostly because it was the first time he heard anything about it. "Sure. I'll be there. But I don't think I have anything to wear."
"Talk to Cora." Toni shrugged, after pressing the bottom for a floor. "I'm sure she can find you something. She is annoyingly efficient. I spent three months trying to find a good reason to fire her, before giving up. At least she looks great on pencil skirts and I can watch every time she has to bend."
Steve decided to ignore that too. Most of the time he thought that Toni said those kinds of things just to annoy him, but he rather not find out if it was the case.
They were going to solve this. Toni and him, along the rest of the Avengers, were a team and they had to come to an understanding, even if they didn't like each other all that much. And he knew what was his problem with Toni –she had no regard for rules, no respect for authority, she was too arrogant – he didn't know what her problem with him was. If they were to get along they had to fix this.
There was this little voice inside his head that was warning him: if he ever got the nerve to ask Toni why she didn't like him, he would regret it.
N/A: So here it is...
I decided to start on the end of Iron Man 3, after the whole Killian thing was done. Also I added ten years to Toni's birth date.
Hope you like it, hope it wasn't to bad to read XP I promise to fix this soon.
So, I may have a new thing coming up next week... Let's see how it goes. Did any of you watch "Kingsman" and loved just like I did? hahaha
Xoxo
