Quinn was elbow deep inside her Iron Man suit, welding wires to the inside. Oil smeared parts of her face, her hair was up in a messy bun, with some hair falling around her face. TJ was in the training room, practicing. Tony and Kim were out on a date. Clint and Gage were mostly just chilling around the house when suddenly JARVIS spoke up. "I hate to interrupt but there is a young man at the door." Both Gage and Clint stood quickly. Gage spoke first. "A threat?" "I have not detected any form of weapons, unless there is a bee hidden the flowers he brought." Gage and Clint shared a strange look before heading toward the door.

Gage started to open the door, Clint stood back, his hand over his gun. It was just a young kid, probably 16, with flowers in hand. Roses. Classic but not original. "Hello. Is there something you need?" The kid looked nervous, especially for such a large fellow. The kid swallowed before speaking. Gage knew he must be intimidating to this kid. "Is Quinn home? I'd like to speak with her." Gage nodded, ignoring and hating the pang of jealously he was feeling. "JARVIS, can you tell Quinn to come up here?" "Yes sir." The kid looked up as Gage let him inside the house. "Whoa..." He nearly jumped when he saw Clint. "Oh...hi." Clint nodded. Quinn moments later was coming out of the lab and into the living room, oil over her face and over her hands. Her hair a mess in it's messy bun. She stopped when she saw the boy. "Mason...Hey..." Mason smiled nervously. "Hey, can we talk? Like privately?" At this point TJ was coming up to the living room, he stopped when he saw what was happening. Quinn groaned, grabbing Mason's hands before this poor kid got some sort of lecture "Yeah, lets go."

She quickly got them outside to speak. But Gage, Clint and TJ all went to the window, watching curiously. Quinn looked at Mason. "Ok, what is it?" Mason sighed, handing her the flowers. "First, I got these for you. I wasn't sure what kind you liked." She smiled weakly, taking them. "Thanks." Mason took in a deep breath. "I know we've gotten off on the wrong foot, several times and I think I know why we've gotten into so many fights. I like you. Like, really like you and I wanted to know if you'd want to go on a date." She sighed. She really had no interests in dates. But she didn't want to make this kid feel bad. It's obvious he built up a lot of courage to ask her. "I suppose one date wouldn't hurt." He smiled. "Oh. Good. When's a good time? Tonight? Around 7?" She shrugged. "I have to ask my parents first but it shouldn't be a problem." Mason grinned. "Great!" He looked about to hug her before stopping himself. "Can I hug you or kiss your hand?" She smiled. "Sure..just the hand." He took a gentle hold of her hand, kissing it.

Inside the living room, the three boys were watching. TJ whistled. "He did not just do that." Clint spoke next. "He did." Gage had to move away from the window. He wanted nothing more then to shove that kid away from her and have her for himself. He knew how wrong those feelings were. Quinn and Mason exchanged phone numbers before she told him she'd see him later that night. Clint and TJ went to Quinn. TJ was the first to talk. "So it's a date?" She raised an eyebrow. "Were you three watching the entire time?" "Yeah." TJ replied. She rolled her eyes but Gage cut her off. "Of corse we did. What if he wanted to hurt you? We had to be ready." Quinn gave him a look, placing the flowers on a nearby desk. "Yeah, I'm sure that's why you were watching. You wernt curious at all about a possible first date." She crossed her arms. He glared. "Excuse me princess if I care more for your well being then some stupid date." Clint and TJ both looked at them before backing away. She glared. "Stupid date? Not only is it a first date, you know how much courage he must have built to ask me. He bought me roses for fucks sake!" Gage took a step closer, glaring down at her. "Yeah well those roses won't fucking matter if dear old dad says you can't go on this date." She nearly growled, shoving away from him. "Fuck you." Ahe started making her way down to the lab.

Gage groaned, making his way to the training area. He had a lot of anger and feelings to work thru. Clint and TJ just stared at each other, shaking there heads. It was a little while later that Tony and Kim came home. JARVIS had alerted them. Quinn and Gage both nearly raced to get to them before the other. She glared at Gage as she got into he kitchen to see her parents. Gage putting on a neutral face. "Hey, I have a question for you guys, promise you won't freak out?" Kim looked over at Tony with a skeptical look. Tony smiled. "We can try not to. Whats going on?" Quinn was about to speak when Gage cut her off. "That boy, Mason asked her out on a date. Her first date." Tony looked like he was thinking. "Mason? Wernt you friends with him in grade school?" Gage cut her off again, having her glare. "And got into a fight with him when she stopped him from bullying someone." Kim frowned. "Is it really a good idea to go on a date with a so called bully?"

Quinn frowned. "No, but he's never like that around me. Even when we were really little. He likes me, he just never knew how to show it. He got me roses for goodness sake just to ask me out. I'm just asking for one date." Tony smiled, looking like he was thinking it over. "I'll approve of this just because he's put in enough courage to ask. When is this date?" Quinn smiled triumphantly toward Gage. "Tonight at 7." Tony nodded. "ok. Gage, I want you to follow her, at a distance." Quinn frowned. "What? Why?" Kim frowned. "What if something happens? Not just to you but him?remember, your a target." She groaned. "I can handle myself and I can protect him, not like he needs protecting." Gage glared softly to Quinn. "That's not the point. The point is that what if you face something bigger then yourself. Your not exactly battle ready. You need protection." Quinn glared. "I'll be just fine. Dad, please, let me go out like normal girl, without the watch dog." Gage glared at her, ignoring the sting from her comment. Tony gave her a stern look. "No. and that's final. I can see if TJ or Clint can but your having someone follow to keep an eye out for danger." She groaned. "Fine. I'll be in the lab." She huffed out, needing to vent. Gage followed as well, turning to go the training room.

It was going on 6 and Quinn had calmed down from everyone making a huge fuss over a date. Granted, it's her first date but still, was all this fuss needed? She was in her room now, trying to find something to wear. What do girls normally wear on dates? She sighed before putting down a shirt. She was starting to feel awful for the things she said to Gage. She decided to go out of her room to find him. She spoke as she opened he door. "Jay, wheres Gage at?" "In the training area mam." "Thanks." She made her way down to the gym, finding he was the only one in there, going to town on a poor punching bag. She stepped in, smirking weakly. "Now what did that poor punching bag do to you?" He stopped, not even turning his head to look at her, stopping the bag from swinging with one hand. Sweat went down his chest. He had forgone his shirt long ago. His muscles tight from the strain. "Something you need princess?" She looked away, swallowing. God he was gorgeous. "I came down to apologize. I said some pretty nasty things. You know how I tend to speak without thinking when I'm emotional." He nodded. "I do. Is that all?" His tone was clipped and short. She narrowed her eyes. Was he still mad? She walked closer.

"I apologize and that's what I get?" He didn't look her in the eye as he started punching again at the bag. "Yeah. It is princess." She glared, going in front of the punching bag, stopping it from moving. "Talk to me. Look, I'm sorry for all the shitty things I said, you know I don't mean any of it and I know I hurt you but I'm trying to make it better and your shunning me away." She was hating how much his indifference was hurting. He still refused to look at her. She was so close to him. He could reach out and hold and her kiss her but he could lose a lot more then his job if he did. She glared. "Look at me." He kept his face between neutral and angry, not wanting to know the affect she was having on him. "There? Better?" "Yes. Do you accept my apology?" "Yes, I do. Can I get back to training now?" God shes beautiful. She has no idea. She glared, letting go of the bag. "Yeah. Because you don't get enough of it." She said in the most sarcastic tone she could muster up. Now she had a bigger problem. Her date. Just what the hell was she gonna wear? She need to get her moms help.

Gage groaned once she was out of the area and out the door, leaning his head against the punching bag. She was so damn close and so damn gorgeous. God, those eyes. Her lips. He wanted nothing more then to crash his own against hers. He ignored his feelings for a while now. He knew this wasn't right but something was pulling him to her, like a moth to a flame. He tried hard to not think about her, about kissing her. When she came around the punching bag, he was already starting to get a semi. Now he was totally hard and he was doomed. He needed a cold shower. A very cold shower.

AN: reviews please! :D