Chapter Nine
Genius Wrangling
"Stark," Walter's voice was cold. With an apologetic glance at Bruce – who looked totally understanding – Paige hurried over to her boss.
"Mr Stark, what an honour to meet you." She inserted herself smoothly between Stark and Walter – who was already bristling – and held her hand out.
"Ah, the famous Ms. Dineen, or possibly Daniels!" Dark eyes slid over her in a surprisingly non-sleazy way, considering Stark's reputation, and then Stark looked past her at Bruce. "Can I shake her hand or is Hulk gonna get mad about that?"
Bruce folded his arms, grinning. "You can shake."
"Marvellous!" Tony seized her hand. "It really is good to meet you," he said very sincerely, staring straight into Paige's eyes. "And I'm very glad Hawkeye managed to bring you here safe. You and your son – and your friends – are welcome here for as long as you need to stay. No matter how much Walter and I aggravate each other."
His charisma was nearly overwhelming. Paige could quite see how he'd gained a reputation as a playboy. He'd surely sweep women off their feet without effort even without his riches. His charm was enough. "Thank you very much, Mr Stark," she said, giving him sincerity in return. "I'm very grateful. We're very grateful."
"Call me Tony." His dark eyes slid across to the glowering Walter. "I really do mean it," he said to Walter, "you and I don't see eye to eye, but you are welcome here."
It took Walter a moment – and a nudge from Paige – but then he nodded. "Thanks," he mumbled.
"Good, well that's settled." Stark turned away, and his eyes fell on Toby. "Toby Curtis! Did you learn to play cards yet?"
Toby didn't rise to the bait. "Sure, but I don't think I can afford to gamble with your stakes, Stark."
"Eh," Tony waved his hands expansively again – Paige realised it was a common gesture for him – "that's fine. We have regular poker nights for pennies. Darcy's broke and Thor really still hasn't got the rules down."
"Because you insist on playing a different variant of poker every time we play," Jane pointed out, butting in.
Tony clapped a hand to his heart theatrically. "Me? I'm wounded!"
Paige failed to suppress her laughter. Tony gave her a wink and turned to Happy – treating her to a long look up and down that had Toby bristling. "Well hello-o-o," he said brightly, picking up her hand – and then he startled and turned it over, looking at the pattern of her calluses. "What do we have here?" he said in a very different tone.
"This is Happy Quinn, our mechanic," Paige introduced.
"Yes," Tony was still studying her palm, before looking up and grinning into her eyes. "I've got a Happy, too. And labs. And tools. Lots of tools. You and I are going to have fun."
Happy had been the only one of the team really excited about meeting Tony Stark. She just about melted now, giving him a smile that could only be described as adoring. But then, Paige supposed, to someone like Happy being offered the chance to play in Tony Stark's toybox would be rather like being handed the moon on a silver platter.
"And this is Sylvester Dodd," Paige said.
"I don't shake hands…"
"I'm not all that keen on it for the most part. I really don't like being handed things," Tony gave Sylvester a grin. "JARVIS told me about you. He wants to play chess. I'm not enough of a challenge for him any more."
"Oh," Sylvester's shy smile broke out. "I've never played chess with a true AI before."
"But where's Ralph?" Tony glanced around. "I'm dying to meet the mini-Bruce."
"With Clint, hanging out," Bruce came over then. "Didn't want to overwhelm him with strangers." He introduced himself too, and Paige found herself on the receiving end of impressed looks from both Happy and Toby at his quiet charm.
Between Bruce and Jane, they managed to soothe Walter's ruffled feathers at being in a room with Tony Stark quite nicely. It was Toby who might be the problem, Paige realised, as Happy just about swooned over Tony Stark. She sighed, visualising extra geniuses to wrangle. Both Tony and Jane seemed the type to forget to eat on a regular basis. And she knew well that Bruce had his moments.
"We'll leave you to get settled in, anyway," Bruce eventually gently ushered Tony and Jane back towards the elevator. "It's getting late. We can thrash out tomorrow what you want to do," he addressed Walter, who nodded.
"I'd better go fetch Ralph…" Paige headed for the elevator too
Tony and Jane got off on different floors, leaving Bruce and Paige alone. She looked at him rather shyly from the corner of her eye, caught him looking back.
"Stop the elevator, JARVIS," Bruce said suddenly, and it stopped moving.
"Bruce?" she glanced up at him questioningly.
"Tell me now if this isn't happening," he said it rather thickly, moving in front of her and taking her hands in his gently, "but you're still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, Paige. One look at you and all those feelings came roaring back, strong as ever. I fell so hard for you ten years ago, it almost killed me to give you up…"
She shut him up by tugging her hands from his, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him.
"Unf," Bruce mumbled, his arms suddenly very full of Paige. He stumbled back against the wall of the elevator, holding onto her tightly. "Mm."
She stopped kissing him and pulled back, smiling. "Does that answer your question? I don't want to rush into anything, for Ralph's sake. But yes, Bruce, I'm still interested in being romantically involved with you."
"Good," he still felt a bit dazed from the amazing intensity of that kiss. "That's, yeah, very good."
Paige smiled. Leaned against him. "Let's go, JARVIS," she said confidently, and the elevator started to move again.
They found Clint and Ralph still deep in the game, although Ralph was starting to yawn. It had been a long couple of days travelling for a small boy. "Okay buddy," Paige settled on his other side. "How about you finish this level and then we can say good night, huh? There's food downstairs in our new apartment, which is really cool, by the way. I'm sure tomorrow you can come play some more."
"Of course, I'm looking forward to the rematch," Clint said cheerfully, ending their current level with a couple of expert shots.
Ralph made a grumpy noise, but set the controller down. And at Paige's gentle whisper in his ear, remembered his manners.
"Thank you for the game, Mister Hawkeye."
"Any time I'm here," Clint said genuinely, "I'm happy to give you a game. Steve will be too. He's great with kids as well," he told Paige. "Good night, Ralph."
"Night," Ralph mumbled, but he was snuggling into Paige's side and watching Bruce, who'd perched on the arm of the couch beyond her, with wary eyes. He waited until Clint was gone before asking, "Are you really my father?"
"Yes," Bruce said quietly, "I am. But I didn't even know you existed until today." He glanced at Paige, unsure what she'd told their son about him.
"Mm," was all Ralph said, and Paige stood, tugging him gently to his feet.
"Come on, we're going to go eat before you're too tired. He's eaten nothing but junk since we left LA," she told Bruce, who grinned.
"Well, that's not good brain food." He hesitated. "Could I invite the two of you to join me for breakfast tomorrow morning, in my apartment? You can just ask JARVIS to bring you there when you're ready." He glanced at Ralph, and Paige could almost read his mind, his desperation to get to know his son. She nodded.
"We'll be there."
"Good." He didn't kiss her. Just traced a fingertip lightly over the back of her hand as she passed him on the way back to the elevator. Paige still felt a shiver of desire run up her spine.
Well Walter/Darcy came back with a resounding HELL YEAH (just one single dissenter. Sorry, luv, you're outvoted). Okay, I'll take that as a yes.
