A.N- This one is shorter than the rest, because I don't do smut well. I'm a "close the bedroom" door type (though I love reading it).
Chapter Nine
Jemma and Fitz adjusted to life in the Avengers Tower almost immediately.
With Darcy by his side, Fitz was becoming more like his old self, the way he had been before Ward. There had been no hesitant 'getting to know you' period for the two of them, they had jumped in head first and seemed deliriously happy. Skye was thrilled to see Fitz so happy, he deserved it.
Jemma and Bruce were taking it more slowly. They were both cautious by nature and preferred not to make rush decisions. "We're having a proper courtship." Jemma told Skye primly. "We're getting to know each other as friends and colleagues first."
Skye wasn't going to tease her friend, after all she hadn't been ready to rush into a relationship either and Tony didn't have an 'other guy' to consider.
Skye's apartment had two bedrooms, each with their own bathroom; so instead of Jemma moving into a guest apartment, she'd moved in with Skye. Fitz had moved in with Darcy immediately, neither of them seeing any reason to wait—Skye envied them their certainty.
Tony was being very patient about her need to wait and the fact that she now had a roommate. He never pushed her, he was charming and attentive. It was wonderful and Skye would have been worried it was just act, if he wasn't also arrogant and pig-headed, proving he was far from perfect.
They had their first fight a few days after Fitz and Simmons arrived at the tower, each convinced that they were right and the other was wrong when it came to a computer algorithm they were putting together to infiltrate HYDRA, They stood there glaring at each other, until JARVIS had politely suggested that they should try and combine their ideas.
"Why didn't I think of that?" Tony muttered.
"Because compromise does not come naturally to you, sir." JARVIS had replied.
Skye had to laugh at the AI's snark.
Tony shot her a look.
"I probably shouldn't have dismissed your ideas entirely," he admitted and Skye knew it was the closest she'd get to an apology.
"I shouldn't have criticized your plan without considering it," She conceded.
Tony pulled her towards him for a quick kiss. "Why don't we see what we can do when we work together?" He suggested when he released her.
Skye smiled, liking the sound of that.
Weirdly enough, the fight was what convinced Skye she was ready to commit to a relationship with Tony. They had had a fight and they'd resolved it and managed to make good progress on their new program.
Normal couples fought, Skye knew that and she knew it wasn't the last fight that she and Tony would ever have. But the fact that they'd had a fight and it was no big deal, it gave her a new feeling of confidence.
That night, Skye and Tony had dinner in his apartment, just the two of them. Afterwards, they started watching a movie on the couch, but quickly got distracted.
"You should probably go back to your apartment," Tony said after a few moments, pulling away to regain his composure.
"I'd like to stay," Skye said softly, almost shyly.
Tony looked her in the eye. "Are you sure?" He asked. "I don't want to rush you, but I can't keep this casual… That's why I've given you time. If we do this…"
The soul bond was a powerful thing. There was a desire to be with your other half and to consummate the bond and just an overwhelming feeling of rightness. In fact, it was that powerful feeling that had made Skye so cautious, wanting to make sure that she wasn't just blindly going into this because he was her soulmate. And because she knew that once they took that step, it would change everything.
"I understand." Skye told him. "I want this. I want you." She leaned forward and kissed him. Tony responded with a groan, running one hand through her hair and pulling her closer to him.
"You're gorgeous." He whispered against her mouth. "So gorgeous. I want to see all of you, explore all of you."
Skye felt heat flood her entire body at his words. She wanted that too. She'd wanted Tony before she even met him—though she admitted mostly it had been the idea of Iron Man she'd been attracted to. But now that she'd met Tony and gotten a chance to get to know him, she was even more attracted to him. It wasn't just that he was gorgeous, but he was also funny and charming, but also kind and generous and brilliant. And he was hers.
It was a frantic rush of hands and mouths, eager to explore every part of each other's body. Their clothes were thrown everywhere in chaotic action, littering the floor of the apartment.
Finally Tony wrenched himself away from her.
"We need to move this to the bedroom." He told her and he picked her up off her feet as if she weighed nothing and carried her in that direction.
