A/N - robbie - I couldn't NOT let Storm try to help her buddy. She is the BEST wingwoman for all the guys - and she knows it! and yes. Wanda never thought about a LITTLE GIRL! What a great idea! lol. Jan neeeds to know that no matter what happens with K and Tony - that Tony will be okay, and she won't LOSE him. It's a big deal.
Arly- I know. It's hard to read, but I promise you it's even harder to write! he's just ... so freakin' reasonable! WHY?
KJAX - K and Tony's social engagements is HILARIOUS. Be real.
Chapter 50: Stark Contrast
If anything, the number of galas and appearances has started to pick up now that the worst of the mutant-human conflict was getting further behind them. So the number of 'dress up nights' kept popping up since Tony knew K was game to go with him. He honestly didn't care for them any more than she did but … considering that many of them were being hosted by Stark Industries, he had to fulfill his social obligations.
It was just … he never really realized that the only thing that had kept him showing up at those things before was the fact that he had been looking for someone or someones to have a quick fling with. And now that he was comfortable and mostly relaxed in the actual adult relationship with K …
Tony was almost frowning to himself as he adjusted his tie in the mirror. He really would have preferred staying in and curling up with her watching movies with Katie and Peter- like they did most nights. But admitting it to K felt too much like showing all his cards - and the truth was that after she'd shut him down on Katie's name change, he was a little wary of trying again for anything serious so soon. Unfortunately for Tony, he really wasn't very good at waiting on anyone though. He'd gotten better over the course of the year or so that he'd been chasing K, but the truth was - it was easier to hold back when she was borderline a captive of Magneto. And now? Now she was right there. And everyone knew it. And no one was giving them a hard time if they curled up together just to soak it up.
Going slow was just so hard when he was more or less getting what he wanted already.
Across the hall, K was putting on the finishing touches to her attire for the night. She was a little tired - and if she didn't heal and recover from everything as quickly as she did, she was very sure she'd have some serious bags under her eyes.
After their very first endeavor into the world of the press that Tony had grown up in, K had made a point to do what she did best. And every night, once the house was asleep, K had gone to Tony's laptop and started digging. Not on him, of course. No. But on every single one of those smug, vile reporters that thought they were safe hiding behind their veil of relative anonymity.
No one looked into the reporters while they dug and tried to find whatever they could to make the focus of their livelihood look bad. They were dealing in scandals where there was none, and though Tony said it didn't bother him … K knew it was a bald-faced lie. Even if he believed it, she could smell it on him. The fact that his anxiousness ticked up before every one of these events was only more proof of that fact.
So with a little work, she'd determined who, out of the pool was the worst offenders in horrible things said and written about Tony - and began digging on them. It had taken several appearances on the red carpet, but K was confident as she put on her gold eyeshadow that the tip offs to the more reputable news organizations would hit timing wise to dish it right back to them.
Especially considering that the worst offenders were doing things far far worse than Tony dating a questionable mutant. She'd been inside the Bugle when Jameson saw the dirt on his reporter … and he'd lost it entirely.
K double checked the back of her hair - which was pulled into an elegant but simple updo then slipped her shoes on and applied her lipstick. She was reasonably sure that the black, backless dress was tasteful enough for whatever Tony was taking her along to - but it was also close fitting enough that it almost looked painted on at her shoulders and arms. K was very sure that Tony would appreciate it anyhow, even if it wasn't like the blatantly obvious cries for attention that most women wore to those things.
When they met up in the hall, Tony paused and gave her a solid once over with a smirk. "That looks … incredibly conservative," he said - though even at that, it was clear it wasn't a complaint.
"It's not entirely conservative," she argued as she made her way over to take his arm. Tony only smirked a little wider - though he broke into a little laugh when he rested his hand at the small of her back and realized there wasn't any fabric there.
"Oh. I like this one," he said with a grin.
"Thought you might," she replied - just as they came up on Jan - who looked relieved to see them ready to go.
"I didn't think you had a dress," she said in a breath. "You could have told me if you needed something though." Jan gestured to K. "This is one of those that expects a racy tone to the outfits. I mean … not too racy, but - "
Tony took a moment to pick up K's hand and spin her so Jan could see the back - and earned a delighted sort of laugh out of her. "Ooooh, okay, never mind," she said with a grin. "Who's the designer? Armani?"
"Yeah," K said. "I knew you were busy. Didn't want to bother you."
"No, no! I like to take a break and shop, too!" Jan insisted. "But this … this will be perfect." She flashed them both a brilliant grin. "I'll see you there!"
Before either of them could say a word, Jan shrunk down and zipped off - admittedly a bit faster than Tony had expected of her. "Okay. I guess … we'll see her there," he said, shaking his head. "She's usually not so ... "
"Maybe you should investigate that further, Mr. Stark," K said.
"Maybe after this thing is over," Tony agreed, resting his hand at her hip again with a smirk and stealing a long kiss. "You look like you're up to something though."
"Who, me? Not likely," she replied, letting him lead her off, and absolutely looking like she was hunting by the expression on her face.
As they passed through the kitchen area, Logan glanced up with one eyebrow raised and couldn't help but smirk, knowing that someone was about to get torn into by the way K was moving …. but he wasn't about to say a word to anyone about it. Not when he didn't know who the target was.
He was still smirking, in fact, when Jan came by not ten minutes after Tony and K had left - and she positively skidded to a stop and backed up with her head tipped to the side as she looked at him. "What's got you looking like that?" she asked.
Logan tipped his beer back and shook his head. "Keep an eye on your buddy's girlfriend. Someone's gonna regret their life choices tonight."
"Wait. Who? Is it Tony? Is he going to … what's she going to do?"
"No idea," Logan replied. "But she had a look. An' someone's gonna get it. Don't think it's him though. If it was I doubt she'd be lettin' him touch her."
"Oh … kay," Jan said, shaking her head slowly before she crossed the short space to give him a kiss on the cheek. I'm honestly surprised she's still going to these. I know she hates them."
"She's too stubborn not to," Logan said off handedly. "Can't let 'em get know they irritate her."
"Well that's a good skill to have if she's going to be with Tony," Jan said in an airy sort of sad tone as she swept out of the room.
As it turned out, Jan somehow got there before Tony and K did - though she really didn't want to know what they were up to that had them that late. Not that she had to guess. Though K's makeup was perfect still … Jan didn't miss the fact that there was a little wisp of hair out of place, and Tony was grinning obnoxiously. She could only roll her eyes at her old friend's idiocy, but .. she hadn't quite gotten into the building when she heard how entirely … tame the press was behaving. It took a moment for her to realize it - but the most vocal objectors to K dating Tony publicly were no longer in the press pool.
For a moment, Jan paused, wondering what it was that K could have done … no. She knew what K could have done … she just … it wasn't exactly a move befitting an Avenger if she'd … "Oh, Tony, I hope for your sake they didn't mysteriously die," Jan said under her breath. She knew K had been angry at the things being said about the two of them - that was a given. Anyone with a brain and even a shadow of a heart would be upset with the things they were saying about the two of them. The rumors started by the press had been cruel at best - but the man that had been at the root of most of those rumors was mysteriously missing.
For a moment, Jan was very sure that K had gotten fed up and stabbed him- it wouldn't be the first time she refused to deal with male idiocy, after all. K for her part, looked perfectly relaxed even if Tony looked as if he was trying to place what about the group outside was different. He wouldn't bring it up in public - he was too much of a pro for that, but Jan could see the gears turning. It was obvious that Tony had the same doubts about K that Jan did.
Jan got into the gala not two minutes before K and Tony - she just gotten a drink in her hand when the rumors started to reach her ears … Namely the fact that somehow word was out that the nasty reporter that pestered Tony non-stop was having a torrid affair with his just-turned-eighteen intern. He wasn't the only one that was suffering either. One was sleeping with their step-daughter, another was embezzling from the newspaper they worked at - there were all kinds of dirty things that had gotten out - and those inside the party were not only shocked at some of the news, but how it had come out.
No one knew what had happened or how, and when Jan turned to watch K - she was hiding it with a look of concern and confusion that would have been believable - if not for the way Tony was watching her.
"What did you do?" Tony asked low.
K turned his way and gently shook her head. "What do you mean?"
"Honey, you can't tell me you didn't have something to do with this."
K stepped in closer as she drew in a breath and rested her hand on his chest, looking from the subtle blue glow under his tie - up to meet his gaze. "Is it easier or harder for you to enjoy your evening?"
"That's not the point."
"No," K agreed. "Turnabout is fair play. That's all. Only … I didn't make anything up."
Tony smirked at that but schooled his expression quickly. "Did you kill the guy?"
"I should," K said, but that had Tony shaking his head quickly before he pulled her into a more private corner under the guise of stealing a kiss - though he did that too.
"You can't murder anyone that offends you," he said in a low urgent tone once the kiss broke.
"Oh, of course not," K said seriously - though it had Tony taking pause. It was the first time since they let their relationship known that Tony felt as if she was honestly dangerous.
"Please, just leave them alone and ignore them," Tony said before he kissed her near her ear. "If they're getting to you, I can back off of these events - make Pepper turn 'em down. Something. Just … don't … go hunting reporters."
K let out a sigh and let him lead the way through their little moment alone. "You're tying my hands here," she said.
"Well no. Not yet. But I could."
"Tony."
"This is the nature of the beast, sweetheart. There'll always be more blood thirsty reporters waiting to step in and make themselves famous off of my bad choices-"
"So this is a bad choice?"
"That's not what I said - and it sure as hell wasn't what I meant," Tony replied quickly before he looked around the room and again took a hold of her arm. "Don't try to twist this around on me. I'm just trying to tell you not to let them get under your skin. That's all. Come on. You have more important things to focus on." He smirked and tipped her chin up. "Like Katie. And Peter."
K couldn't help but smirk right back at him for that. "Right. Yours and mine."
"For now."
"Yeah … we still haven't come close to discussing that…"
"Not tonight," Tony said. "We're not going there tonight. And sure as hell not doing it here."
"No kidding," she agreed before she went up on her toes and put her arms around the back of his neck - at least until he wrapped his arm around her back and picked her up for the kiss.
"I don't want you to feel like you need to do anything to protect me," Tony said. "You've done that plenty."
"And I don't want to see anyone screw you over," K said. "It just so happens that before it was a super villain - and now -"
"Now it's just the same kind of jerks saying the same kind of crap I've dealt with my whole life," Tony said. "It's not reason enough to go after them. Really. I know what I'm doing with these guys."
K let out a tiny growl that Tony felt against his chest for how tightly he was holding her to himself. It was clear that she was frustrated. Since the merger of teams, sure, she'd been doing a few runs here and there with Steve or the X-Men, but … it wasn't enough. And she didn't like feeling useless. "I'm not making any promises."
Tony shook his head and stole a quick kiss. "Close enough," he said - though neither of them noticed that Jan was hidden away on the bookshelf for the whole conversation.
She waited until they left before she left her hiding spot. She'd thought Tony had gotten around to talking with K about the kids thing … considering she'd turned him down weeks and weeks ago …
With a little frown, she started to mingle - and work her way to where she knew Tony usually hid with a girl, intending to get a better feel for what exactly was happening here. But … at least for now, they seemed fine. Tony had his game face on for the crowd, and K still looked like she was 'hunting' if she went by Logan's description.
But just as she was ready to give up on her quest to corner him, she saw it. Just for a moment. His smile slipped while K's head was turned and she could see that Tony was concerned. Jan bit her lip and took a moment to weigh it out before she turned on her heel slowly and slipped away, sure to grin and wave at one of her friends across the room that had been helping to push Jan's fashion lines.
As much as she wanted to see what had happened to get Tony concerned, she really didn't want to feel like she was being nosy - or stirring up the pot. But … she could see that something was weighing on his mind. With a sigh, she simply went to trying to enjoy the party. If he wanted to talk about it - she'd … be in the lab in the morning anyhow.
When Jan got to the lab, Tony was already there - his music cranked up and his focus on tearn apart some gadget or another, though he was taking notes as he went along. She slipped over and simply sat down near by - not wanting to set him off if he was in a bad mood. Especially since by the expression on his face - it was hard to tell.
He almost did a double take and smiled quietly at her before he turned the volume down substantially. "Didn't notice you come in," Tony said. "Were you tiny when you did it?"
For a moment, Jan's heart jumped, wondering if he knew she'd been on that bookshelf at the party. "No," she said, wide-eyed. "You are just less than observant today, Tony. What's going on with you? You're clearly distracted."
Tony hedged and held his breath before: "Nope. No, not gonna say a word."
"So it's personal, then," Jan decided. "What? You planning to propose or something and you're afraid I'll wreck it?"
The expression on Tony's face was one that Jan hadn't seen before - and she'd knew she'd hit too close to home one way or another. "I don't know about that," Tony said finally, very slowly before he set his tools down and turned to face her. "She …"
He paused, his eyes closed as he considered what and how to say what he was thinking - and Jan was holding her breath, both anticipating and dreading what he might say. "I think … she used my laptop for mild espionage."
Jan frowned. "What qualifies as mild?"
"Screwing with a couple of pain in my … well. Reporters, anyhow."
Jan couldn't help but smirk at him. "You know, she didn't kill them."
"Yeah, and that's not exactly much of a comfort knowing that she both could have and would have preferred to."
Jan tipped her head lightly. "That's ... "
"It's not right," Tony said. "And it's something we haven't really talked about." He started fiddling with the little device in his hands. "I don't think she'd stop if she got it in her head that's what needed to happen though…."
"Well we know she wouldn't," Jan said gently. "If it's a bad enough … I mean …"
Tony turned her way and set the device down long enough to stand up and give her a quick hug. "I really shouldn't be complaining to you about this."
"No, it's fine," Jan said, though she didn't deny him the hug. "I just … I'm glad you have someone that's so protective of you. In her own way … it's pretty … well, it's sweet. Kinda."
"I'm thinking it's just a barrier .. you know," Tony said before he pointed at his own face. "Breakable human thinking versus damn near invulnerable feral? It's a curve."
"It is," Jan said, smirking. "But you like it, and I can see that you like it."
"I do, but it's kind of ... " he drifted off, not continuing his thought.
"Intimidating?"
"Ha, no. I wouldn't ever say that."
"You wouldn't admit it," Jan corrected.
"No, absolutely not," Tony laughed before he let out a sigh. "I'm gonna have to find a way to bring up some serious stuff, and I'm not … very good at that."
"Hey. It'll work out," Jan promised, though every word hurt because she knew that one way or another it would - and she didn't want to give her friend (that she was crushing on) bad advice. Even if it meant he'd end up more permanently taken.
"Right. Just gotta rip the bandage off," Tony said before once again, he gave Jan a smirk. "Hey. What about you? You seem to be drinking with Logan a lot lately. What's the story there?"
Jan was shocked for just a moment - not that anyone knew, but that Tony looked concerned. "We're just blowing off steam," she said with a wave.
"Yeah, that's how it starts," Tony said, tipping his chin to his chest. "I'd know."
"Oh, shut up!" Jan said before she hit him in the chest. "It's not like you and your previously secret girlfriend. Oh my gosh."
But by that time, Tony was laughing along with her. "I don't know that for sure."
"Yes! Yes you do! I'm not … oh my gosh, NO."
"Same taste in colors."
"Anthony Edward Stark!" she shouted, hitting him with every part of his name, backing him across the lab. "Not everyone just … ugh!"
Tony was still laughing at her as she finally quit smacking him around and went to her side of the lab to get to work. "You're terrible," she said, still smiling to herself.
"Ah, you love it," Tony replied automatically as he went back to work, leaving Jan biting the inside of her cheek as she tried not to smile so widely at him.
