Chapter Seven: Lies

~ on the top floor of Stark Tower ~

"Tony, if I told you, you'd never believe me. There's no point," she tried to convince him.

"There is a point, you just can't see it. Tattoos don't just magically appear, Andra," he said in a raised voice, and she caught the irritation.

"Are you really getting mad about this?"

"What, you expect me to be happy?"

Andra heaved a heavy sigh. "No, but I'd like it if you'd stop getting irritated."

"How do you suppose I do that?" he almost snapped at her.

Her ears flattened back and she gave him a look of annoyance. "First of all, drop the snippy attitude. It's getting on my nerves. And just forget this whole tattoo thing ever happened. I'll explain it later. And Tony... can we just leave the past behind us? You asked me to stay, but you won't get over me leaving you."

"Oh, I've been over it."

"No, you obviously aren't, or you wouldn't be bringing it up."

"You're the one who brought it up."

"You've been bringing it up since I got here, and you mentioned it first."

"Whatever you wanna believe, Kitty Cat."

She let out a pent-up breath and it hissed between her teeth. Her green eyes bored into his as she glared at him, her pupils mere slits in the middle. "Can you please stop acting like a child for five minutes?"

"I am not acting like a child. I'm just asking for–"

"You are so acting like a child, don't pull that shit with me."

"Yeah, well, if I'm acting like a child, then why don't you act like a responsible adult and be honest with me?"

"I can't be honest with you, To–"

"Obviously not. You know, this is why our relationship never works, 'cause–"

"Oh no, you are not going to pin that on me. What about you and your cheating, huh?"

"I never cheat–"

"Yes, you did!"

"One time. Name me one time when I cheated."

"Oh, let's see, the girl from Time, not to mention the girl from Vanity Fair, who you slept with while I was home, and then–"

Tony scoffed. "Okay, in my defense, I didn't know you were home, and–"

"That doesn't make it okay, Tony!"

"I'm not saying that makes it–"

"Yes, you are!" she yelled in desperation, "You're trying to pretend like–"

"I'm not pretending anything. You're pretending like you've done nothing wrong, when you're the reason–"

"Tony, I know I've lied to you, but I didn't have a choice about it, unlike you!"

"Well, maybe I wouldn't have cheated if you'd actually been honest with me!"

"Well, maybe if you hadn't cheated, I wouldn't have wanted to leave!" Her mouth hung open at her own accusation and they both stayed silent. Then she swallowed and drug a hand through her hair. "Okay, forget I said that. I never wanted to leave. I wanted to stay. I wanted to tell you the truth. Fury wouldn't let me."

He also swallowed and looked down at the floor. "I never meant to be unfaithful. Every time, I was drunk off my ass and that happened more often than I care to admit. I was terrible to you and… I'm sorry."

Andra smiled weakly at him. "I'm sorry, too. I want to tell you everything. But I can't, because I'm not allowed. I have to keep secrets and it sucks. It sucks that I'm a spy; it sucks that you cheated; it sucks that I left; and it sucks that I didn't say goodbye. It sucks worst that we're having this argument two years late."

Tony nodded mutely as he got up and walked back to the bar, pouring himself another scotch. He stood behind the counter and sipped it quietly for a few minutes. She reached over and picked up her Diet Coke, only holding it for something to hold, not really drinking it at all. They both sat there for a while, neither saying anything.

Tony cleared his throat and their eyes met. "Come here."

She stood up and came over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and hugging him. "We should so something fun to counteract that stupid argument."

"I have an idea..."

Her hands moved to his sides and she raised her head to stare fully into his eyes, which now held a glimmer of mischief. That could only mean one thing. She couldn't stop her mouth from stretching into a smile as she thought about what he was implying.

"You sure about that, Mr. Stark? Don't you remember how overly enthusiastic I am?"

"Oh, I remember," he mentioned, and took another sip of his drink. "Can't say I'm not looking forward to it."

"Really?" Her smile became a smirk.

"Of course," he returned, their eyes locking again.

She turned around and walked back down the stairs, then stopped and looked back at him, tail swishing back and forth. "I'm waiting."

"Follow me," he commanded, and the two entered the elevator, his arm resting at her waist. "JARVIS, if anyone asks for me or Andra, tell them we're... busy."

"Busy doing what, sir?" JARVIS's metallic voice asked.

"Anything. You're the super-computer, come up with something."

She chuckled. "JARVIS?"

"Yes, Miss Forsythe?"

"Tell them we're out somewhere drinking. That should buy us some time, at least," she rationalized.

"Very well, Miss Forsythe. I shall tell anyone who asks for either one of you that you both are out 'drinking'."

"Thanks."

Tony gave her a look that she didn't catch.

"What?" she asked, turning her head to him.

"You're very good at lying, you know that?"

"It's my job, Tony. I have to be good at it, or I'll die."

"Right. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents lie about everything, don't they?" his voice didn't sound angry, but it didn't sound happy either.

"Telling the truth can get us killed and the entirety of S.H.I.E.L.D. exposed. We can't risk the nation's most powerful secrets getting into the wrong hands," she explained calmly, not wanting to get back into the livewire argument they ended up in minutes before.

The elevator came to a stop and they walked out into his mechanics shop and garage. Tony knew for a fact she loved it down here because every time they were here together, they did something amazing. And not sexually, but intellectually. The two, if working together, could make the most advanced inventions in the world, and it fascinated her. The gleam in her eyes when he created something or had an epiphany was the best thing he'd ever seen. When she got an idea for something or had a brilliant plan, oh... stand back, 'cause that girl was gonna be on a roll, and her tail would not stay still. Not only that, but she loved all of his music, which was just another bonus. He could play it as loud as he wanted and she'd just be telling him to turn it up. Tony released her waist and caught the sparkle in her eye as she looked at the blueprints on the screen in front of her.

As she flipped through the plans, one in particular caught her eye. It was the plans for an Iron Man suit that was the size of a briefcase and there were two mentioned bracelets that were connector points. She looked over the plans and then turned to its mastermind, still slightly confused.

"Okay, explain the expandable suit to me." She pushed herself up onto the worktable and Jarvis projected a 3-D holographic image in front of her that she manipulated and played with.

Without turning around, he said, "The Mark VII deploys automatically from the case and expands into the suit, instantly fitting onto my body wherever I am. What those two little bracelets do is serve as a locator, basically, so if I'm laying straight out, it can do its thing."

"Wow, Tony. Not that the invention of the Iron Man suit itself wasn't cool enough, here you go improving it. You just cannot get enough, can you, Tony?"

"Of you? Never," he quipped, sending her a wink, then turning back to the worktable.

"Ha ha, very funny. Now that we know you're dying to get in my pants–"

"I thought we already had that established," he interrupted.

"Well, you've reminded us," she teased.

"I think we need a better reminder."

Tony got up and walked over to her, positioning himself between her legs and putting one hand on either side of her. Her hands rested on his shoulders gently, and she wrapped her arms around his neck as he pulled her closer by the waist. Both leaned in and their lips met. Andra had a wave of energy as she remembered how good it felt to kiss this man. The kiss was passionate, sensual and desirous, neither one wanting the other to pull away for fear the moment would be ruined. She wrapped her legs around his torso and he grabbed her off the table, carrying her to the elevator and placing her against the wall. Her whole body felt good, and she never wanted it to end. She'd forgotten how good it felt to be with Tony again. As they reached a floor two above what was labeled as the top floor, he hoisted her up again and carried her into his bedroom. They laid on the bed and he positioned himself on top of her. This was going to be a good, long night.

"Sir, there's a call for Miss Forsythe from Phil Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D.," JARVIS's cold voice mentioned.

Tony broke the kiss and quickly said, "Tell him she's busy."

"Sir, I'm afraid they're insisting on–"

"Mute."


Uh oh... little bit of trouble in Paradise, maybe?

Team Tony or Team Loki? Anyone else you'd like to see her end up with?

Any questions, comments, concerns? Wondering what Coulson wants? REVIEW or drop me a line!

- Emmy