Chapter 44: Cadence Chapters: I Won't Dance

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Whitney was perched in her hiding spot as she watched Tony work on the armor he designed for the Mandarin. Tony felt like he had to revert back to the stone age. He had to use certain tools and equipment that could have been considered medieval, but he adapted and carried on.

His full focus was on the gloves of the armor. He refused to give his plan too much attention in his mind just in case the Mandarin decided to READ HIS DAMN THOUGHTS OR SOME SHIT. He tried to stress the materials he worked with to cooperate with him and Whitney noticed that he was tired. Tony lacked sleep and it was her fault.

She wanted to pull him away from his work and take him off to bed but she decided against it. Each night she went to bed with him became a night where she was denied his warmth. She wanted to feel his touch again and it became a form of torture for the woman. It had been over an entire month of torture.

Whitney finally had enough and she put an end to the torment that she felt. Tony didn't obtain as much sleep as he normally did. He resisted her every night for over a month. He resisted her except for the night that just passed. The two slept too close together and the contact caused them to go "down that road" again. She made sure it happened. Her behavior initiated it and she was glad to feel him once more. She felt his touch and she got to kiss him like she wanted to. She got to explore him and enjoy him without any form of drug between them.

Tony was very upset with himself and he told Whitney exactly how he felt about his Yankee. That was the nickname that he gave to the person that he was in love with. She listened to him until the sun rose and she felt conflicted. She believed Tony's words and she made a decision that she kept to herself.

Now, he immersed himself with his work on the suit. It was a clever distraction because she knew that his resistance to physical behavior only went so far. He was very flawed just like her. Tony had established a work and sleep routine and Whitney remained by his side like a companion.

A non-romantic companion at that point. He only slipped up once. She supported his devotion to Steve Rogers despite her own feelings toward Tony. The more Tony spoke about Steve the more she liked him. He seemed very genuine. Tony was so damaged Whitney considered herself allied to the snarky brunette. She decided that she was no longer allied to the Mandarin or allied to the arrangement that was established by her family.

She watched as he started to weld multiple materials together and sparks started to fly from his work. The orange glow from the sparks danced and were reflected off her mask. She knew it was dangerous to look at the sparks, or any light source that came from welding but she just couldn't look away.

She could not look away from him.

Tony shut off the unit and he leaned against the table. He wiped at the sweat on his forehead and he hunted around for his water bottle. Ugh, he couldn't find jack shit. She could see the armor as it took shape and she knew that meant he would leave soon.

Whitney hopped down from her perch and she grabbed his water.

"You left it over here." She held out the water and Tony wiped a bead of sweat off his cheek. He stared at the woman in the gold mask and he reached for the water. He gently gripped it and she released the bottle. Tony brought the bottle to his mouth and started to guzzle down the contents.

"Thanks." He turned his back to her and he stared at the table. Tony ignored a question that nagged in the core of his chest. He wiped his brain of the thought and he slipped over to the other part of his project. Tony felt so guilty and so horrible.

He needed to get the fuck out of there. Whitney noticed his change in focus. She decided to be brave and she walked over. She stood beside him and looked at what he constructed with his hands. It was a circular device, it had a center and from where she stood the object looked like an eye.

"What part of the suit is that going to be?" She asked as Tony looked at her. He stared for a little while and then he answered.

"It's the power source. I'm going to put it in the chest cavity of the suit just like mine."

"I see. So, does this mean you're almost finished?"

"Just adding the final touches. Mandy can try on his suit today if he wants." Tony watched Whitney's eyes. They were focused on him but then they shifted their attention to the table. He could sense a sadness within her and he did NOT WANNA GO THERE. He cleared his throat and got back to work.

"Right now, this operates the generator." Tony pointed at a switch that was on the table. Whitney listened and Tony continued to explain.

"Just flip the switch and presto... it's go time."

"Would you let me flip the switch? Later on, I mean?" Tony thought about it. Hmmmmmmmm sure why not.

"Yeah, you can. I'll give you a signal." He saw the smile in her eyes. He smiled back at her and then he broke away from the eye contact. Tony knew he needed to be ready, because he had a hunch that the Mandarin was full of shit. Tony thought that he would to have to fight his way out of captivity. His trap was set and all he had to do was get the Mandarin in the suit.

Tony turned his focus back to his work and Whitney went back to the little nest she created. The object he had in his hands was not an actual power source for the suit. Tony had created a very intense electro-magnet with a very direct purpose.

He needed it to latch itself to some non-ferromagnetic metals. Which meant that he intended to use an electro-magnetic force to hold those gold rings in place. Gold on it's own was not magnetic. But, he had to calculate and create a way to get his hands on those rings.

The suit itself was made of titanium and iron, it was fully operational but it was going to behave as a conductor. Gold and Titanium are not magnetic until you combine them with just the perfect mix. Tony needed to get home to his Yankee and he needed a friggen cheeseburger.

He finished up his work as fast as he could. Several hours later he told his watch dog that the Mandarin was able to put on his suit. Tony was unable to test the electro-magnet to avoid any suspicion but he was very confident with his calculations.

Tony dumped some water over his head and he waited for the Mandarin. The bastard let him wait too. What a diva. Eventually the door to the lab unlocked and opened. The Mandarin and his team walked into the room.

Tony felt a force manipulate his body. A strange glow surrounded him. He was lifted up into the air and he was launched back against the wall of the lab. More like he was slammed into the wall of the lab. Ouch. Tony's body was forced to stay against the wall.

He tried to move, but he was unable. Whitney stood up in her little nest and she stared at Tony. The mask she wore turned in the Mandarin's direction.

"Ay! Mandy what gives?"

"Just a precaution little prince. I've been sensing some negative thoughts from you and I think restraining you is necessary."

"What, was I supposed to like you? I missed that memo. You have a suit now so you're welcomeeeeeee." Tony rolled his eyes. Ugh he was stuck and that complicated things. Whitney remained quiet. She counted the number of men the Mandarin had in the room.

"I am ready to try on my suit."

"It's right there your highness, I'm stuck against the wall so you're on your own." Duh. The Mandarin had his men pick the suit up off the table and they began to assemble it around the Mandarin's body.

"Attach the front first. Make sure the entire front fits right because that side has more detail to it and the back side of the suit is easier to alter if we have to make changes." Tony gave the men some direction as they fumbled around with the front pieces of the suit. Tony watched as it started to take shape.

The gold rings were inside the armor. Once the arms were connected to the chest of the suit it was go time. Tony waited but the amount of time it took was TORTURE. The guys SUCKED at puzzles apparently. Tony yawned and he looked over at Whitney.

Damn. He tried not to stare too long at that one. That body was rockin. She stood with her entire focus on the Mandarin. Her body was at a tilt and she processed her thoughts.

The arrangement that her family had with the Mandarin was changed in her opinion. She looked at Tony and she was surprised when she caught him as he stared at her. Tony looked away and just remained stuck to the wall.

Ugh it was a new form of torture. Oh wait! The front of the suit was on.

"Whitney." Tony got her attention and he signaled for her to look over at the table. Hit the switchhhhh. Whitney hopped from her location and she flipped the switch. Boom yah. Tony smirked and watched as the Mandarin was hit with the force of the electro-magnet. It sent a strange pulse through the man's body.

His body rejected the pulse and he struggled to get himself out of the suit. He fell out of the back side and he gasped as he looked up at the shell of the suit from the ground. Tony's body slipped from the hold he was under and he crashed down to the floor as well.

The rings remained locked to the top of the fingers of the armor. The Mandarin's power was stripped from him with the rings inside the suit. Fuck yes! Tony leapt up and he charged to the suit as fast as he could.

"Whitney! Hit the switch again." Tony ignored the vibration of the electro-magnet. He forced his smaller body into the suit and he placed his fingers inside each one of those fucking rings. He heard the switch turn off and Tony clenched his fists.

He drew in a deep breath, and with that breath he felt his body fill with all this... power. It felt like a jolt of electricity. His blood began to pump at a very quick pace. The power he felt was not only intense, it felt dark.

Tony processed and he got a bit lost in focus. He stared at the hands of the suit and he spaced out. Luckily for him, he had a companion in the room that had a grip on her concentration. Whitney understood what Tony had accomplished and before the two of them lost their control of the room she reacted.

Whitney reached behind her back and clutched a small dagger that was concealed in her suit at all times. She launched it into the throat of one of the Mandarin's men. She grabbed the magnum revolver from her boot and she shot one, two, three times and all four of the men in the room fell to the ground.

All head shots, one throat shot. She killed all of the soldiers that were in the room and she approached the Mandarin. Tony's focus was returned to him as soon as she launched her attack on the men. She hovered beside the Mandarin and she shoved the magnum against the side of his head.

Tony witnessed Whitney kill the soldiers and his heart almost pumped out of his damn body.

"I FUCKING KNEW IT. you.. who the hell are you?"

"Concentrate. You have the Mandarin's power in your possession. Learn to use it and end him." Whitney advised Tony to stay focused. The Mandarin was helpless at the moment. Whitney kept the gun in place and the Mandarin began to negotiate.

"I was told you were evil princess, but to shoot an unarmed defenseless man? Where is the honor in that?"

"This is not about honor. Survival of the fittest." She looked at Tony. Whitney knew that the Mandarin did have combat skills and he did have some powers that existed without the use of the rings. She needed the man in the armor to pull himself together.

Tony closed his eyes and he listened to several voices. He wondered if each ring had a voice attached? Did they have souls? He brought his focus to one of the rings. It manipulated an opponents physical or mental state.

He held the Mandarin in place with the power of the ring, then he used the other rings to fully assemble the suit.

"You're done Mandy. I'm ending you right now and I'll be wrecking every dirt hole arsenal you've been hiding."

"You'll be consumed. The power of the rings are too much for you to handle. I can teach you.."

"SAVE IT. I'm done being manipulated." Tony punched the Mandarin hard with the full force of the suit. The impact broke bones. Once he struck the man the power of the rings took over. Just like with Obidiah, Tony hit the man again.

Whitney watched as he struck the body over and over. She didn't stop him. She enjoyed what she saw. Tony beat on the older man until he was lifeless and still. He stepped back and he looked at the blood on the suit.

"More will come. We should go." Whitney warned Tony as she picked up an assault rifle from one of the soldiers she just murdered. Tony snapped back a response.

"UH where are WE going? I know where I'm going. But WE aren't going.."

"You're taking me home as soon as we're done. Or do you plan on leaving me here?" Tony scoffed and he hovered up in his new gold suit. He looked down at Whitney and thought it over. Tony began to sense... something. Or someone?

"More soldiers are coming. I can feel them." His body felt strange but he tried to ignore it.

"I'll clear them out. I'll come back for you and take you home. Got it?"

"Got it. I need to grab my things anyway." Whitney ran off before Tony could respond.

"AY! YOU'RE NOT MOVING BACK HOME..." tch Tony only planned to give her a damn ride. He flew off and blasted by her. Tony launched an attack on the men that blocked the hallway. He decided to test out a different ring.

He sensed the ring on the middle finger of his left hand. It emitted a green aura around him and sent an electrical current in the direction of all the men. The suit he wore acted as a conductor so the energy it produced became amplified.

Tony watched the men scream out in pain as their bodies were electrocuted. The electrocution was so intense they all fell to the ground. It actually melted their flesh. The destruction made Tony grin. He hunted down and slaughtered every single soldier in the building. Then he destroyed all the tech.

Tony stopped on the rooftop of the compound and he stared at his blood covered armor. He was not fatigued. Each death made him feel stronger. That was kind of a bad sign. He tried to think of someone he could take the suit to so he could understand the power he just created.

His older self was his best bet. Tony really needed to talk to himmmmmm. After the inner works of the compound were demolished he went to gather Whitney. He opened the door to her room and he looked at his other suit.

Tony debated which suit to wear. He wondered if the Mandarin was right about being "consumed". He had a doubt in his mind and he didn't want to wear the rings for too long. Whitney walked up to him. She only had a few of her belongings in her hands.

"I'm ready." He studied her and he tried to suppress what was going on in his mind. He sensed something about Whitney and it was so bizarre for him. What he sensed nagged.

"Anthony?" She touched the suit and he closed his eyes. He had to think. Tony regained his focus then he walked over to his old suit. He took the transmitter and his father's cigarettes out of the compartment. He handed them to Whitney and he picked her up.

"Time to go." He aimed a free hand in the direction of his old suit and he opened fire. He destroyed every trace of the tech and he flew away from the compound. Whitney decided to drop her belongings once they were in flight. It was too much for her to hold onto it all. She held Tony's transmitter and the cigarettes in her boot as he flew.

After an hour in flight the two had to readjust. It was night where they were so it was dark in the open sky. Whitney was exhausted, and it wasn't an easy flight. Tony flew because the altitude made Whitney sick and they had to take multiple breaks.

"Where do you live Whitney?" Tony didn't know jack shit about her.

"Italy. My family lives in Italy." She was almost asleep as she answered. She had her face pressed against the back of the suit and she hugged him tight so she wouldn't fall off. The young woman drifted in and out of sleep as Tony flew.

It took an eternity, but he finally reached her home. Whitney told him to take her to the back balcony and they let themselves into her bedroom. The home looked like a palace. Tony started to get the impression that she was some form of royalty or some crap.

He was too exhausted at that point. His suit deconstructed and Tony gasped when he looked at his hands. The rings were gone. He hurried to the armored gloves and he felt around for the rings on the inside.

"What's wrong?" Whitney had to get out of her clothes. She set her mask on her vanity and she began to undress. She watched Tony as he panicked. Tony kinda freaked out at first but then he was amazed at what happened within his new suit.

"The rings fused into the suit." He put his hand inside and clenched his fist. When he did he felt that jolt within him. He removed the hand, returned to normal, and then he glanced at Whitney. She was almost naked and Tony turned away.

"You'd better keep your eyes on that armor then." Tony said nothing to her and he rubbed at his face. He felt so tiredddd and he still had a long journey ahead. Tony felt those fingers lace together with his. He swallowed and looked down at his hand.

"You need sleep. You can go back to your elopement after you rest."

"Actually, I can sleep in my suit and just set it on an auto-pilot mode." He only removed his suit so he could breathe a bit.

"Oh. Well .." Whitney let go of Tony's hand and she put on a sheer robe. She refused to finish her sentence. All she did was hand Tony his transmitter and his father's cigarettes. Whitney couldn't look at him any longer.

"Before I leave I want to know who you are."

"Why?" She forced herself to look at Tony as she began to brush her hair. Tony didn't know whhhhyyy he just wanted to know.

"I just wanna know." Whitney set her hairbrush down and she grabbed something to pull the hair out of her face. She needed it up and out of her face so she could sleep for days.

"My real name is Giulietta Nefaria. Family drama made me rename myself so I prefer to be called Whitney. My father and your father go way back." She ended her explanation and Tony rolled his eyes.

"Oh greaaaattt. Who is your father? Have I met him? I dunno you, never met you, so why why why? how how how?"

"You really are immature. My father's name is Luchino Nefaria. He runs an organization called the Maggia. That's all you need to know about me or about us. Satisfied?" She was done with her hair and her bed was in high demand. She had a devious thought. Whitney smirked and she tugged Tony close.

They were connected at the hip and she tried to keep it that way.

"Spend the night with me and I'll tell you what you really want to know." She hated that he was committed to some blonde. It broke her heart. She like Steve but, it broke her heart.

"Hah. Nope. It's time for me to go. I'll ask my dad about you guys whenever I get around to speaking to him again."

"You do that. And if it doesn't work out between you and your blonde now you know where to find me." She gave him a sarcastic grin.

"Keep dreamin." Tony quipped back a response. The two stared at each other for a long while and Tony took a step back. He added distance but Whitney pulled Tony back toward her and she forced him into a gentle kiss.

After a moment he returned the kiss. It became a little more than gentle. He continued to reciprocate until the guilt set in. Their lips parted and Tony shook away one of the thoughts that nagged in the back of his mind. He sensed something when he had the rings on and it nagged.

He took that step back and he began to assemble his suit again.

"Goodbye Whit. Thanks for killing those people back there it uhh.. helped." He hovered up in his suit and backed away to the balcony. It was nice to meet you?

Bye?

Tony was really at a loss. He had never had an encounter quite like that before. His helmet latched in place and he flew away. She did not say goodbye to Tony. Whitney just gave him a small smile and she let him leave. She needed to sleep.

Tony took off into the now Italian sky and he set some damn coordinates. HE ALSO PRESSED THE DAMN BUTTON ON THE TRANSMITTER FOR THE NINTY-MILLIONTH TIME.

"Come on! come on older ME what the hell is the problem?!" Tony spoke to himself and fuck his brain hurt. He needed to rest and digest everything that had happened in the month or so he had spent in a dirt-hole. He knew he wasn't ready to go home to Steve at that point.

Tony needed to talk to his older self and work some shit ouutttttttt. He set his destination to his favorite landmark and then he got a few hours of sleep as his suit flew on it's own.

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CHAPTER END
thanks so much for reading. xoxo