I finally fell asleep at 2 am only to wake at 5 from a nightmare. I grabbed a sweater and made my way to the kitchen, desperate for a cup of something hot. A light in the kitchen was on. A silhouette, sitting at the counter.
"Another nightmare Tony?" I asked as a reached for my favorite mug. The handmade one with a small chip in the edge. I filled it with coffee and doctored it with cream and sugar. Tony slumped further into his chair in response.
"I thought you had an entire floor upstairs, what are you doing down here?" I asked quietly.
"I had to make sure… had to check- everyone was ok." His words came out ragged, bloodshot eyes searched the shadows. "What about you? Didn't know you were such an early riser, Midas." Deflecting.
"I don't turn things to gold." I chuckled low. "And I can help your nightmares. Just doesn't work on myself." I took a long sip and sat beside him.
"Really? Cause that sucks."
"Yeah, tell me about it." My morning voice was dry and I coughed a little.
"I'll tell you mine, if you tell me yours?" He suggested.
"Sure, You first."
"Aliens. Wiped out this entire floor, left me in my bed, safe. Killed you all." He grunted out the words in short jagged bursts.
"Mine seems more mundane, after yours… I was walking into my apartment; someone was waiting for me." I felt my anxiety rising, my heart pounding. I didn't want to go on.
"And then?"
"I got shot." my hands clutched my abdomen remembering, "and I died."
"I didn't think dying in a dream was possible."
"Well, I can tell you, it's entirely possible." I released a shaky breath and wrapped my hands around the chipped mug.
Tony turned bloodshot eyes on me. "How long?"
"Most of my life. It's been getting worse. I haven't had a nightmare when I've stayed here, before this one. But lately, when I go home. It's been… bad."
"So, move in." His tone was casual.
I raised startled eyes to his face. "Just move in? Just like that?"
"Why not? You're here a couple times a week already."
I stared into the depths of my mug.
"What's the going rate for living with the Avengers?" I tried to keep the tremor out of my voice.
"If you're on the team, free."
"Uh…"
"So, are you on the team?"
"Isn't that up to you?"
"Yup." Tony extended an expectant hand. I shook it, unthinking.
"Wait, shouldn't there be some sort of terms, a contract or something?" I asked blearily.
"Details can wait. Welcome to the team." He took the last drag from his cup and rose to leave.
"You should get some more sleep. I can help, you know."
"Barely get you on board, and you're already bossing me around." The grumbling was halfhearted and Tony shrugged his consent. I placed a hand on his shoulder letting truth permeate the touch. *calm, everyone is safe, sleep, no dreams*
"Let's be real, I've been telling you what to do since the first time we met." I heard him chuckle as he made his way to the elevator. "A full glass of water when you wake up Mister, and don't think I won't ask Pepper to verify." The doors closed on my final words and his rolled eyes.
Having shaken off the terror of the dream, I crawled back into the bed. Casper uncurled and re-curled himself into my neck, and I drifted off for a little more sleep.
The sense was tripping, telling me someone was in my room, I jerked awake, one hand covering my head and the other holding the knife off my nightstand.
"Woah, hey! It's ok. It's just me, Natasha." My eyes focused in on the red head standing near the foot of my bed in the dim light. "Sorry, I tried knocking, but you didn't answer." She held up her hands to show me she meant no harm. "I didn't realize that you'd-" her eyes followed the knife "-but I get it," understanding and apologetic.
"Tony said you joined the team?" She settled onto the edge of the bed as I gathered myself, and slid my legs over the side, resting my feet on the floor. "When did that happen?"
"About 5:30 am." I grimaced at the taste of my teeth. "Early morning coffee meeting."
"I'd say. Well? welcome to the team!" She smiled, nudging my shoulder with hers.
"Thanks. I'm… still not sure what that means exactly."
"Come join us for breakfast and we can talk through it." She rose gracefully and exited the room, sneaking a smile over her shoulder as she closed the door. I gathered some fresh clothes, and prepared for the day, texting Pepper as I went to ensure Tony drank the water. Pepper and I had met a week after my first visit to the tower, we hadn't really meshed, but I realized she could be an ally in trying to keep the machine that was Tony Stark alive, and running smoothly. The response was swift, she would take care of it.
I grinned in the dark, pulling on a new t-shirt. It read " : The original Iron Man"
I grabbed a pack of strength tape and tested the pain in my leg, still tender but workable. I'd need an assistant for this wrap so I stepped into the common area. Steve and Sam were sitting at the table, Bruce was grabbing a bite at the counter, and Natasha was sitting in the lounge. I made my way over to her, turning my back to the table.
"Can you give me a hand?"
"Sure, what do you need?"
I offered her the diagram from the package. She read as I rolled up my pantleg. "I can manage these first two, but those crosswise ones are difficult from this angle." I positioned my leg at a 90° and she got a good look at the mottled colours across my skin, the bruise had developed further overnight.
"Don't let Bruce or Steve see that." She spoke in a rushed whisper.
"I won't." Quickly and efficiently, I applied 2 full strips of tape over the front of my leg, hiding most of it. Nat was gentle, applying the tape across the front of my shin, the first strip over the fresh injury, the second over the old one. I gingerly rubbed the tape, heating it up to adhere properly, wincing as the rubbing inflamed the swelling.
The elevator doors opened, and Tony exited with a casual elegance, shades on, arms out like he was announcing his presence, Happy just a step behind.
"Good morning, everyone. Shay has agreed to join the team! And, I come bearing gifts." He had a bag slung over his left arm. Sweeping into the kitchen he deposited it on the table with a flourish. Everyone clapped as I took a position behind a chair, not sure what was coming. "Well?" Tony slid the bag over to me.
I opened it, hesitant. The boning of a corset was the first thing my fingers recognized. Pulling it out I noticed the metallic shimmer of the fabric, it was light, much lighter than the one I was wearing, though shaped very similarly. "It should be essentially bulletproof, just let me know if the fit needs adjusting, I built it off the dimensions of the original." I didn't know how to respond and Tony never really gave me a chance.
"There's more. Go on." The bottom of the bag was filled with a shoe box. The sneakers were jet black, lightweight, with a space-age concept, lots of curved lines and circles, with a gap between the arch and the sole. "Best suspension money can buy." A tear welled up as I remembered my conversation with Happy weeks ago. I gave Tony a hug, that he pretended not to enjoy, and then turned to Happy who stopped me with an outstretched hand. In it was a new security badge, instead of 'visitor' the word 'Resident' flashed into my awareness. The hug I gave Happy was more exuberant yet.
"Thank you. So much. Really." Words failed me.
Never one to miss an opportunity to step on a moment Sam hollered from his seat at the other end of the table. "Hey, where's my hug?" The table erupted into laughter and I patted Sam's outstretched arm as I passed to go get food.
"You have to be extra nice to get a hug from me, my fine feathered friend." I chuckled at his indignant squawk, I knew Sam didn't live in the Tower, so I assumed he had grabbed a spare bed after the late movie.
"So, are you moving in? I wouldn't blame you for wanting to stick to your apartment. They can be a bit... much." Nat spoke, dishing up beside me.
"I am moving in, unless the tin man changed his mind?" I called over my shoulder.
"Nope, on the condition that you stop snitching on me to Pepper." I read the humor in his demeanor and responded in kind.
"Can't promise that, she can be rather daunting. Besides, you secretly like having me around." He chuckled wryly and gestured at me but I ignored him and turned back to my plate.
Home.