Tony lands them away from the explosion, but still at the docks. He pulls up his mask, releasing her hold. They watch the explosion rise in silence, letting the fact that it was over sink in.
They won.
Tony climbs out of his suit. It flies off as Brie turns to him. A sense of relief washes through them both at the sight of one another, and they draw closer for comfort.
She has her hands balled against his chest, and his rested on her waist. Their foreheads leaned against each other, their breathing heavy, and bodies aching from extensive fighting.
Still, they spare a smile at one another. "That was crazy," utters Brie, exasperated.
"Absolutely insane," Tony grins,
then bites his lower lip,
drawing closer to her.
About to completely close the distance, they're interrupted by Iron Patriot.
Rhody pulls up the mask. They turn to him, somewhat irritably, though they still stood arm to arm, leaning against each other for support. James doesn't notice as he laughed hysterically. "We did it, man!" he exclaims, pushing his arms up in excitement.
"Yeah, buddy. Sure did," Tony nods happily as well. Brie smirks victoriously.
Rhody turns to Brie, then Tony, then Brie once more. They eye him expectantly as he grins. "Sorry, it's just, there's two of you now," he says semi-amused, semi-worried. They turn to one another and smirk, their faces inches apart.
Rhody eyes his best friend happily, knowing well what he'd found at last.
Still aware of Rhody's presence, Tony turns to him. "Did you get the president?" he asks. James nods dismissively.
"Yeah…I gotta head back and see him off. Where're you two headed?"
The two turn to one another once more, this time in thought. "The hotel," Brie tells.
"I can fly us there," Tony nods.
"Or you could take the boat. You look like you could use a sit down. You more than her," he eyes Tony intently in mock. Tony glares irritably at him.
He turns to Brie. They nod simultaneously, seeing no reason to disagree.
"Right. See you, Tony. And I know I'll be seeing you," he grins at Brie playfully before pulling his mask down and flying off.
XXXXX
Tony and Brie walk some ways towards the ship. The cops had arrived at the scene, and Tony had sent his suits back to the tower.
Tony looks to stir the boat in the right direction. Brie disappears down stairs.
After Tony is set, he heads down as well, looking for her. He heard shower-water running in the bathroom, and smirked to himself silly.
He'd gone to knock, dying to comment a joke on her sense of action, just to tease her, but she suddenly came out, almost walking into him, but stopping fast enough to keep a foot away.
He froze. His eyes tracked down her form, embraced by a bathrobe that teased to hide treasures from him.
Her damp, brown hair darkened with water, and slicked back. Her eyelashes were sprinkled with droplets, and her skin a warm bronze. She left him speechless.
She smirked.
Brie leans in closer. "All...yours," she draws mischievously, ghosting her lips over his. He gulps. She actually got him to lean in as well. Then she smirked and lightly touched his shoulder, sending sparks through his skin.
"But the hot water's out," she last says, walking off to the bed without warning.
She sat down and brushed a hand through her hair repeatedly, smoothing it down and eyeing him expectantly.
It takes him a moment to regain his nerves. "…Yeah, okay," he utters absently, entering the bathroom, though he hadn't previously had any intentions of showering.
It'd be weird if he turned back now.
Tony stripped, thoughts far too clouded by her, until his body resisted extreme movement and he winced.
He hadn't realized how beaten-down he was until then.
He climbed into the shower. The cold water stung sharply at first, but soon cooled his burning skin, fought down the dirt, sweat, and blood, and mended his pulsing bruises.
And soon enough, his train of thoughts led him back to her.
She was so…indescribable.
Attractive.
Definitely attractive.
But that wasn't it. There was so much more.
He saw something in her. He didn't know what it was.
He wanted her.
And he didn't even know in what sense.
Never had a woman confused him so.
XXXXX
"Hey, Trice," Brie calls through, lying on the bed and twirling a strand of her hair around her finger.
"Oh my God! Brie, are you okay?! I saw the news!"
"I'm okay...He's gone, Trice," Brie grins happily.
"…Killian?"
"Bastard got what he deserved." Trice breathes a deep sigh of relief.
"Where are you guys now?"
"On the boat. We're coming back to the hotel."
"You annnd?"
"Me and Tony," Brie smiles to herself like a teenager.
"What about the other one?"
"Rhody's babysitting the president."
Trice takes a moment of silence, then chuckles slightly. "I just can't believe it's over," she utters in disbelief. Brie grins.
"Take your time, sis. Cause it is…I'll see you in a few."
"Wait! Wait!...You and Tony?" Brie could practically hear the smirk in her sister's tone.
"Goodbye, Trice!"
Brie hangs up and tosses the phone aside, turning to lie on her side.
Her and Tony?
…Yeah…
Tony comes out of the bathroom, in his ripped up jeans and tank top, wiping his hands through a towel.
She smiles at him, loving the idea of getting used to seeing him come out of a shower, looking fresh and clean,
and smiling admirably at her the way he was right now.
Not to mention, the showing biceps.
She pats the spot next to her on the bed. He discards the towel and heads to lay beside her as she scooted in.
As soon as his back flattened on the mattress, he exhaled in sharp pain, then sighed in physical relief.
He placed an arm over her head. She pulled closely to him, resting her head on his shoulder, hand lightly on his chest, and bare leg on his. He placed his hand on her shoulder, rubbing up and down the soft fabric of the robe.
They shut their eyes and exhale.
It felt so natural, so comfortable, being near one another, in each other's arms, somehow certain they were safe.
She felt his arc-reactor beneath her palm, and traced its form with her fingertips curiously.
Her eyes squint irritably, remembering something of vast importance. "Ohh," she whines.
"What?" he asks worriedly.
"I kinda lost my suit back at the Mandarin's. Think it's still in one piece?" she asks doubtfully.
He cocks a curious eyebrow, tilts his head to the head piece he laid on the table across.
"Jarvis, can you locate Brie's suit?" he asks.
"Yes, sir."
"Is it still in one piece?"
"Yes, sir."
"Can you link to it, send it over to the hotel roof?"
"Of course, sir."
"There you go," he reassured her.
Brie smiles brightly, impressed by how easily he'd fixed it for her. She cuddled against him, and Tony shut his eyes once more, resting his check on her still cool hair, a soft, content smile, plastered across his face.
XXXXX
Exhaustion wore them down, and the peacefulness of the moment paved a clear path for sleep, shortly lived, at that, for only thirty minutes later, Jarvis notifies their arrival.
Tony wakes up first and shuts Jarvis up. He looks down to see Brie still in his arm, rising and falling softly with every breath she took, and he found himself wishing he could see her face.
He didn't want to wake her up. Just because he barely slept, didn't mean others should too. At least that was how he saw it.
He climbed up, called a car, ordered clothes to the rooms, Trice's and his, then parked the boat himself near a platform.
He then went back down. Brie's semi-folded clothes at the other end of the room caught his attention.
He then turned to her sleeping form in the towel still, but her face shooed away all rational thoughts. He crouched down beside her, and observed her peaceful features admirably.
His hand reached over, and fingers brushed aside locks of loose hair from her face.
She shifted slightly, and her eyes fluttered open, like butterflies spreading their wings, causing him to involuntarily smile at the sight.
"Hey," he calls quietly.
"Hey," she smiles, shutting her eyes once more as he continued to stroke her cheek. "Are we there yet?" she asks curiously.
"Yeah, we're here…And…not that you don't look stunning in a bathrobe," he starts. She opens her eyes at his words, both flattered by them, and amused by the fact that he seemed awfully on edge by it. "But I figured you'd wanna change."
"Mmm," she utters thoughtfully. "Guess I should."
She pushes to a sit-up position. Tony stands and backs away for her to rise. She heads for her clothes by the edge.
She turns to him, smirking mischievously. She twirls her finger in a 'turn' motion. His heart jumps in realization, and the need to oppose, but he turns anyways.
It was maddening, how badly he wanted to turn back, but he didn't.
A minute later he hears her footsteps nearing him, and turns alas as she fixes her shirt tiredly, washing a hand through her somewhat dried hair.
"Shall we?" she asks.
"After you."
XXXXX
Tony and Brie climb out of the boat. He lends her his hand and she takes it graciously. They link arms all the way to the car, fairly content with each other's company.
In the car, they sit leaned against one another as if for support, as their eyelids weighed down, and exhausted bodies threatened to give in to sleep.
Reaching the hotel, they are greeted warmly, and each handed a card-key to their rooms. Brie was to stay with her sibling.
They take the elevator to the top floor, and Tony walks her to her room.
They stop. "Well, this is me," she says, turning to him.
"Yeah."
The fact that they actually had to part sinks in, and their bodies tense in reluctance.
They were close, close enough to divert their attention from parting, to just each other.
Their eyes simultaneously turn to one another's lips. They only ever kissed in haste, and with an ulterior motive.
Not this time.
In that same instant, they both pushed in, diminishing what little distance was left between them, and allowing their longing lips to lock ferociously in ever passion.
He embraces her tightly, and she wraps her arms around his neck, pulling him as closely as possible.
Their hands set fire wherever they touched one another. Their minds felt light in the moment, and hearts raced madly in so much more than just lust.
It was inexplicable, the way they made each other feel, in that very moment.
Inexplicable.
Suddenly, the door to Brie's room opens. Tony and Brie break apart slowly in caution. Trice stands at the threshold, stuttering nervously and flushing red, the sight catching her off guard.
It takes them a moment to regain their focus, and acknowledge Trice's presence. Brie smirks, licking her lips and washing a hand through her hair as Tony smiles awkwardly at Trice, who folds her arms in realization.
He clears his throat. "Beatrice," he notes casually.
"Tony," she retorts.
"Right," he states. Brie turns to him. His eyes lock with her, and for a second, the world around them fades again. "I'm…gonna go now…Goodnight, Brie," he smiles softly.
"Night, Tony," she says happily.
He turns to walk away. She watches him leave. Her sister too. He opens the door that lied a few ways from them, and turns to lock eyes with hers once more, before finally heading in.
Brie exhales in disappointment, then turns to her sister, who was eyeing her expectantly, as if implying something obvious with her eyes.
"What?" Brie asks her irritably, pushing to get past her into the room. Trice rolls her eyes playfully and closes the door.
Brie eyes around. Of course it was lavish. She smiles.
"First off," Trice starts, strolling to her sibling and engulfing her in a tight hug, surprising her slightly. "I'm so glad you're okay," Trice breathes. Brie smiles and hugs her back in relief.
"Glad you're okay too, BT." Trice's smile brightens.
"Okay. And second off," she pulls back, holding Brie by the shoulders. "Tony Stark?! Seriously?!" Brie furrows her eyebrows at her in utter confusion, and slight offense.
"What's wrong with Tony?!"
"Well…he kinda has, you know, a reputation…with women," Trice says worriedly. A look of realization falls upon Brie, then dismiss.
She pulls out of her sister's grasp, and flops down on the bed edge, legs dangling on the floor. "Well, most were blonde bombshells who were looking for a hot fling, Trice…No offense," she notes at her sibling's blonde hair.
"Some taken!" Trice exclaims with crossed arms. Brie flops back down.
"Anyways, it's not like that," Brie states firmly, mulling it over herself.
It just wasn't like that. Not with him. Not with everything that had happened between them.
She could tell the difference; she was a player herself once upon a time.
This wasn't it.
"How do you know?" Trice asks doubtfully.
Trice was never entirely aware what was happening in Brie's life. Even before the household fell apart, Brie was always the picture of perfection and protection for her sister. Less now than before, but still there.
"I just do," Brie replies simply.
Trice takes a moment. She trusted Brie, that was undoubtable, though at times she questioned her courses of action, she trusted her, sometimes blindly.
And, she wasn't entirely wrong. If there was one thing she'd noticed, it was the way Tony eyed her sister. It was different. Not that she would know much anyways.
Trice observes her sibling once more, then suddenly furrows her eyebrows. "Did you shower?!" she asks in shock. Brie grins at the memory and the implication in her sister's voice.
"Yeah," she replies, tilting her head and spotting the bags placed on a chair in the corner.
"With Tony?!" Brie laughs out, rising to her feet difficulty.
"He wishes."
Brie walks to the bags. She opens them up to find sets of clothes, including a pajama. She smiles.
After changing, Trice follows suit.
Though exhausted, Brie grabs a bag of nuts off the counter, flops onto her bed and opens it, turning her full attention to her sibling seated on the edge of her own bed.
"So," Brie starts. Trice, who was lost in thought, turns to her. "Do you wanna talk about it?" Brie asks seriously, tossing a nut into her mouth. Trice furrows her eyebrows at her sibling. "What happened the past two weeks," Brie explains.
A look of realization mixed with grimace crossed Trice's face.
What happened the past two weeks?
"…There's…not much to say," she states as if uncertainly, eyes fixated afar.
That was quite the lie, and Brie knew.
There was, indeed, not much to say. Nothing she'd say would express how she felt during that long duration of those quiet,
pressuring
two weeks,
especially the first few days.
Those first few days…
She was in such distraught. She didn't know what to do, how she'd even get out.
But she knew not to give in.
She wondered if her family would know she was missing, if they'd look for her. And how long would she be gone till that would happen?
She cried herself to sleep most nights, trapped, alone, with no foretold tomorrow.
And though she never gave in, she was close.
Brie knew her sister was holding back a much darker truth, but she didn't push.
It was in the past now. Trice didn't need to relive it.
Brie smiles at her sibling.
Two weeks. Though she looked worn out, Brie knew she fought back stubbornly.
"I'm proud of you," Brie states firmly. Trice turn to her, surprised by her words. Her heart jumps. "You could have given him what he wanted.
You didn't.
I'm really proud of you."
Trice grins sheepishly, blushing in flattery. Her sister watches her in content. Trice turns to her once more. "…Thanks, Brie…It means a lot, coming from you," she tells, slightly tearing up.
She needed that. Really. She needed someone to tell her that holding back was the right thing to do, that she wasn't being foolish.
And making her older sister proud, that was a whole other patch of joy.
Brie winks at her, tossing a handful of nuts into her mouth. "Now get some sleep. We're flying with Tony to Malibu tomorrow," Brie tells, placing the bag on the side table and peeling the blanket aside.
Trice furrows her eyebrows. "He lives in New York. Why's he flying us there?!" she asks in utter confusion and slight irritation.
"A lot's happened in two weeks, Trice. Tony has business there, along with a friend in the hospital," Brie explains, getting under the covers.
Trice process her answer. Once satisfied, she mimics her sibling and gets into bed.
XXXXXXXXXX