Jenna felt pretty bad for what she'd said. It may have been how she felt but she knew that didn't mean she had to say it. She looked up at the ceiling and sighed. He was definitely different than she'd expected. Well, to a point. For the most part he was EXACTLY like she thought he'd be but there had been that moment, that millisecond where he'd been different. Maybe… maybe she'd misjudged him. She shook it off. No. One moment of vulnerability did not make up for his other actions. He was a dick. He didn't deserve her pity.
Jenna decided to focus on more important things, like getting out of there and getting her knife back. That knife was way more important than Mr. Stark would ever know. If he lost it… Jenna bit her lip. If something happened he would pay for that. Her best friend, who was now dead, had given it to her before she'd left for the mission that would be the end of her. Jo Harvelle was one of the best people Jenna had ever known.
"Damn hellhounds." Jenna whispered as she took a moment to think about the girl who had been the closest thing she'd ever had to a family.
"Hell hounds?"
Jenna's face drained of color as she looked towards the door.
"I knew there was something off about you." Tony smiled confidently "You're insane aren't you?"
Jenna raised an eyebrow at him "Ummm no. I was thinking about a TV show. You have a problem with that."
"No." Tony had brought in yet another coffee for himself "I just have one question for you Miss Winters. It is Miss isn't it?"
Jenna clenched her jaw. He definitely did not deserve her pity.
"Thought so, anyways. I was just wondering, what were you really doing in the middle of the street with a man and a rather odd looking knife?"
"I already told you, I-"
"Lies."
Her eyes narrowed,
"One thing, among many things, I'm great at is reading people." He paused and pointed at her "You, Miss Winters, are a liar. Probably the biggest liar I've ever met."
Jenna refused to acknowledge his accusation or answer his question.
"What did you find out?" she questioned.
"About leaving? Forgot to ask." Tony shrugged and took a drink of his coffee "I'll tell Pepper to find out."
"You're impossible."
"And you're a liar." He insisted again, crossing his arms "There's something different about you Miss Winters, I just can't figure out what it is." He pulled out her knife again "And this thing, why do you even care about it? I could get you a better one in an instant. Hell I could get you an entire arsenal but you want this." He examined it closely "Why?"
Jenna watched him carefully, debating what to tell him. "It was a friend's… she died and it's all I have left of her."
"A knife? That's a bit odd isn't it?" Tony tossed the knife into the trashcan "No more lies Miss Winters, I want the truth."
"You can't handle the truth!" She snapped.
"I just saved then entire planet, I'm pretty sure I can handle your story."
Jenna laughed "Really? Who are you kidding Mr. Stark? You're more of a mess than I am."
He glared at her.
"You don't think I saw that earlier? You're broken aren't you?" Jenna started "You put on that mask that you're better than everyone but you really aren't are you? What broke you? When did life slap you across the face and wake you up from your little dream?"
"Stop." He mumbled, closing his eyes
"Was it the other heroes? Seeing there are others better than you? Was it the missile?"
He backed away from her and into the wall, his body shaking "Stop… stop. Please." Tony begged as he blinked and tried to steady his breathing.
"You're not invincible Mr. Stark."
He turned and put his hands on his head as he closed his eyes yet again. His chest was heaving and his heart was pumping rapidly. Jenna watched with a mixture of pity, confusion, and curiosity as he slid down the wall and slowly calmed down. Tony looked up at her, pain and fear evident in his eyes. An eerie silence fell over the room as they locked eyes for a moment and Jenna saw him as he really was, broken and alone.
After a few minutes he stood and looked away from her "Because of your progress and insistence to leave this place, the doctor's said they'll release you tomorrow."
Jenna released a soft sigh. "I-" Well now she'd really gone and screwed herself over hadn't she? "I'm sorry I didn't know."
He waved his hand dismissively before starting towards the door "Have a good life Miss Winters."
Author's note: DON'T WORRY! This is not the end, this is merely the end of the beginning