Chapter 13: Stark-ish revelations
They spent almost another hour in the tub before Tobias got out and helped Tris as well. He dried her off, helped her to put clothes on and gave her some pain meds Jemma gave her the day before. Tris refused to lie down so now they are both sitting together in the living room watching Netflix while Tris eats her bowl of oat meal. Tobias holds her close to him, his right arm around her shoulder, while she snuggles closer to him, relishing in the feeling of being at peace.
Tobias doesn't pay much attention to the show they're watching but instead thinks of what will happen next.
"Do you want to move in with my parents?" he asks. He really doesn't want to, but he understands how it would make SHIELD's job easier protecting them all.
"No way!" she says quickly and a small smile forms on his face.
"May I ask why?" he asks and she looks up into his deep blue eyes. How come she hasn't seen them before? Well, she did, but right now they seem mesmerizing.
"Uh," she stutters. Tobias smiles and reaches out his left hand. Using his left thumb, he cleans the oat meal that got stuck to the side of her mouth before licking it clean. Tris regains her voice, even though still raspy, and says with a grin "that's why". Tobias looks at her curiously. What does she mean? And then it dawns on him. While he intended nothing sexual about it, he really just wanted to clean her up, he realizes the way he did it must have been arousing. Tobias grins back.
"I guess you're right, but we could always behave," he suggests, even though that's the last thing on his mind. But for now, he had to keep it in his pants. She was hurt and needed time to rest properly.
"Forget it, Eaton. Once I'm fit again I'm gonna fuck your brains out," she says nonchalantly. He smirks and kisses her gently, trying not to inflict more pain.
"I gotta ask, babe," he says using the pet name more frequently and with a lot more ease than before. Even in previous relationships he had a hard time using silly pet names. He just didn't get why he had to. The women always tried to call him "teddy bear" or "fluffy". What exactly about him said either? And they got so emotional when he didn't call them babe or baby or God knows what their minds came up with. He just didn't like it. But with her… He has no idea why, but calling her babe feels right. A lot of things that seemed impossible at first now seem right. Like this is how it's ought to be. Maybe it is. Maybe his dad's superpower was to find the right woman for him. Jesus, he started sounding like some chick in those romantic movies girls like so much. "By now I've seen you in different roles so to speak. How come when you're with me or your friends you swear like a sailor?" he asks genuinely interested. He didn't really mind, especially since at work or in the presence of high society she really behaved.
"Does it bother you?" she asks and realizes that she had become a little too relaxed. She was used to this kind of language with the team, because they ridiculed dangerous situations and tried to avoid the huge elephant in the room. Their job was anything but easy. It was dangerous and she lost count of the people they lost. Acting out like that helped most of them to cope. Obviously, SHIELD had some of the best therapists, but only someone who really lived that life could get it.
"Uhm, not really. I was just curious," he answers. Tris nods in understanding, but makes a mental note to reduce the swearing. She could always use that language with Uriah or Bobbi or anyone from her team who is used to this.
Tris tells him in as few sentences as possible why she or any other SHIELD agent talk and act that way. They were trained to be on their best behavior while on missions, especially if the mission required the gathering of intel, but while unwinding at the base they spoke more freely.
After that Tobias tried to persuade her to go lie down, but she refused. Instead they ended up watching "Mission Impossible" and Tris pointing out flaws or things she would have done differently.
Around noon Tris was fast asleep. Tobias carried her into their bedroom when suddenly the doorbell rang. Opening the door, none other than Tony Stark was standing there with a wide smirk on his face and a metal suitcase in each hand.
"Howdy," he greets and Tobias swallows the lump down that has formed in his throat.
"Hello," Tobias answers.
"Where's Angel?" Tony asks and walks past the younger man and into the apartment.
"Uh, Tris is asleep."
"Okay. I thought she would be resting, but I promised her to stop by today and help her secure this place."
Tony sits down on the couch and Tobias just watches the Avenger. He knew Tris called him over to help her with something, to secure the place, but he didn't really understand what that meant.
"Can I offer you something to drink?" Tobias asks politely.
"A Red Russian and make it dirty," Tony smirks.
"I don't know what that is," Tobias tells him earnestly.
"Oh my. Seems like Angel needs to teach you a thing or two," Tony says grinning. "A coffee would be best. Don't want little Angel turn into a demon and pegging my ass with some monster dildo she hides under her bed for not making sure her beloved hubby is safe and sound," Tony says nonchalantly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Tony!" came Tris' hoarse voice from the hall.
"Oops," Tony says and stands up. "What's wrong with you, pumpkin? Did lover-boy make you come so hard you screamed your lungs out?" he asks.
"Tony, stop it. You are making him uncomfortable," Tris says looking past Tony and to Tobias.
"It's okay," Tobias says. "I think," he adds in a whisper that neither his wife nor her billionaire friend heard.
"Come on, sugar plum," Tony says and walks toward her embracing her. Tris lets him. They've been friends for a long while and even fought alongside.
Tobias looks at the casual interaction between his wife and another man and suddenly feels jealous again, just like the day before with Uriah. What was going on with him?
"How come you're not in bed?" Tony asks and Tobias realizes she really shouldn't be here.
"I can't sleep," Tris says honestly but doesn't elaborate. She is afraid of going back to sleep, afraid of the dreams that will plague her if she does.
"Tris, you need to rest," Tobias says coming closer.
"Your husband is right. You should listen to him," Tony says seriously. "I'm not saying you should be the obedient wife," he adds when she glares at him. "I'm just saying you are hurt and need rest. I will secure everything and let you inspect everything after I'm done," he offers.
"I think this would be best," Tobias approves, glad that he isn't the only one who sees how exhausted she is. How did she even get up? "Uh, babe, how come you are up? You took two pills. They should have knocked you out for at least a few hours," he says wondering.
"You took pills?" Tony asks incredulous. Tobias wonders why this fact would be so incredible to believe.
"Yeah," she says, her voice low.
"What's so strange about her taking pills?" Tobias asks the billionaire, curious to understand his reaction.
"Little Angel never takes pills. Coulson told me sometimes the doctors need to strap her down and inject the pain meds into her blood stream," Tony says seriously and looks from Tris to Tobias while talking.
"What?" Tobias asks confused.
"I hate it when I'm out. I can handle the pain," Tris says stubbornly.
"You do realize that by not resting you'll feel shitty like this a lot longer," Tony argues.
"Yeah, but," Tris tries to counter but Tobias doesn't let her. He picks her up, his right arm under her knees, his left arm cradling her back, he carries her back into the bedroom and lies her down.
"Please, even if you don't want to sleep, at least lie down properly. Mr. Stark is right. You won't heal if you keep pushing yourself."
Tris wants to argue, but the look he gives her makes her shut up. He looks worried and pissed and something else. She nods her head and crawls under the covers. Tobias hands Tris her cellphone and tells her to text him if she needs anything. She should remain quiet and let her vocal cords heal as well. He will help Tony secure the apartment in her stead. Tris nods again. Tobias bends forward and kisses her forehead before pecking her lips.
"Try to sleep, but if you don't at least stay in bed. I'll be right outside if you need me," he tells her smiling.
Tris lets him go. She watches as his frame disappears and wonders why she cares. She isn't made of stone and of course she cares about people. But Tobias is different. Why is he different? Is it because of her dream or vision? And then the other thing. Should she tell Coulson? Or the Avengers? Maybe she should talk to Nat or May. What if all that was just a nightmare, the boogey man trying to scare her. She stops killing herself over the meaning of that dream when a headache splits her head. She closes her eyes, trying to will the pain away and soon fatigue takes over and she falls into a restless sleep.
In the meantime, Tobias sits in his dining room with the eccentric billionaire, watching the latter set up something. From time to time Tony sips his coffee, ignoring the younger man completely. Or so it seems.
"How long have you known Tris?" Tobias ask curiously.
"Uh, about four years. We met in New York," the Avenger says, his eyes glued on the screen. "Jarvis, run diagnostics," he says and Tobias wonders what the hell he means or to whom he talked to.
"Right away," a British male voice says and Tobias' eyes widen.
"That's Jarvis. He is an AI that I've created that helps me with my everyday work," Tony explains when he sees Tobias's surprised expression. Tobias only nods. "Tris saved a lot of people that day," he continues, changing the subject back to what really interests the young man. "She fought valiantly against an enemy none of us knew. She didn't have superpowers back then, but she is that kind of person who keeps fighting till her last breath. And sometimes even beyond. I saw her take beatings that day and afterwards too and she always stood back up. Sometimes I wonder if this girl even feels pain anymore," he says chuckling. "She saved one of my fellow Avengers, Clint Barton a.k.a. Hawkeye and she made sure that several civilians reached a shelter when all hell broke loose. You have got yourself a real heroine," he says with a kind smile.
Tobias remained quiet. He knew from Tris that she fought in New York but other than a few basic details she didn't reveal much.
"How are you going to secure my apartment?" Tobias asks genuinely interested.
"I asked Jarvis to scan the premise inside and outside to see what points are vulnerable. Tris and I will then reinforce walls with military grade steel and replace the windows with bulletproof ones. I have a few additional ideas that I'll run by the Little one, but I think she'll be okay with it."
"How much will all that cost?" Tobias asks. He knows that Tris' family doesn't have too much money, even after the help from his father. Not that he would ask her to pay for all this. After all, this was about his own safety as well and now that they were married everything she had was his and vice versa.
"Don't you worry about that. I owe the Little one something. Besides, she would kill me if she found out I took money from you."
"But this is my apartment. I can't let her buy all this," Tobias argues.
"Relax. Most of what we'll use Tris already had in storage. Do you really think a master spy such as herself would leave anything up to chance? Please," Tony says dismissively. Tobias was once again speechless. Each day he learned something new about the woman he married. And each day he respected her more for what she did. She might have been a pain in the ass, but Shauna was right. Tris has the biggest heart anyone ever knew. He thought that his friend exaggerated since Tris is her baby sister, but after all he found out about his wife, from her or the people she works with, he realized just how big of a heart she has. She is prepared to sacrifice herself no questions asked and in return she was forced to marry him. No wonder she looked down on him their first few meetings. How could he ever consider himself worthy of her? No, he needed to change things. It wasn't like he wanted to impress her (or was it?), but he needed to do more, to work harder, to help her keep them all safe. No wonder she is exhausted. She handles everything and makes sure everyone is safe. Uriah himself said so. Maybe it's time to step up and be the man. But for that he needed help. He didn't have the time nor was he sure he possessed the skills to be as badass as any SHIELD agent, but he'll be damned if he didn't try.
"Scan complete, Mr. Stark," the artificial voice reports and breaks Tobias out of his day dream.
"Thank you, Jarvis," the billionaire says and starts typing on an invisible keyboard. Tobias looks in awe at the high tech gear the older man has and wonders if Tris is familiar with all this too. What a stupid question; of course, she is.
Tobias decides to order something to eat for the three of them. Tris needs her rest so going out is out of the question and while he can prepare a thing or two he isn't confident enough to cook, especially with such a prestigious guest present.
After checking on Tris and seeing she is fast asleep, Tobias asks what the other man would like to eat. Tony grins widely and says shawarma at first but then changes his mind and orders a succulent steak. Tobias decides to order some chicken soup for Tris and some rice with mushrooms and turkey, while he gets a steak as well. Funny, he hasn't known Tris for long, but he remembers her telling him that she liked simple food. He smiles to himself as he ends the call and places his phone down on the kitchen counter.
Returning to the dining room Tobias finds it deserted. He walks around the apartment, thinking Stark might have gone to the bathroom, but to his unpleasant surprise the billionaire is sitting on his bed next to his wife. Tobias clenches his fists and grits his teeth, when the older man speaks up.
"It still amazes me how someone so small can be so strong," he says with a fond smile.
"Well, she is a strong person," Tobias says, trying to maintain his calm.
"Whoever looks at her doesn't realize the hardship this girl went through. And all the hardship that is coming. When she said she was getting married, it wasn't like I didn't know. She didn't really keep it a secret. But I knew she didn't want me there because I might have revealed her secret by accident. I tend to do stupid things, you know," he adds and chuckles. "I really hoped that the Little one would stop with this life. I know she is good, heck she is one of the best, but she is so young and I really don't want her dead. After all, she is the closest thing I have to a baby sister and it would really suck losing her."
Tobias looks at Stark dumbfounded. He feels ashamed for thinking something else was going on between them, but Stark sees her as a sister. But does Tris see him as a brother? What if she likes him? Or even loves him? What if by marrying Tobias Tris gave up on a huge opportunity? The Eatons were wealthy, but Stark was a different league.
Ugh. He hated this situation. His life was so less complicated two months ago. His biggest problem was to buy Nita some fancy jewelry to make her shut up and get his dick wet. But Tris… She doesn't care about jewelry or anything material as far as Tobias could tell.
"You are lucky, Eaton. This girl is a treasure. Whatever the arrangement is between you, don't hurt her. There are plenty out there to do the job for you," Stark says and turns around to face Tobias. The latter winces at the comment.
"I wouldn't hurt her," he says forceful.
"This girl is very important to a lot of people. I know she could destroy you with her left pinky without even breaking into a sweat. But you see, her heart is so fragile. She loves so much that sometimes I wonder how she can even muster all of it in a world filled with despair and death. She is a ray of light in an otherwise dark world and I would hate seeing that light gone."
"I'm not hurting her," Tobias says again and steps closer, trying to be more intimidating than he feels he could be.
"I'm just saying. I know you two didn't get married because you fell madly in love with each other. Being me has its perks. I know what your old man did for hers and I can only assume this marriage was the price she had to pay. All I'm asking, nicely mind you, is to not hurt her. If you want to fuck around, just go and fuck some of your girlfriends and let her be. If you want, I can provide you with a hook-up for as long as you like. Don't go and make her fall in love with you if you're not committed. Knowing her she probably made a deal with your dad to get out of this ASAP. Don't make her fall in love. It'll destroy her. You weren't there the last time, but she wasn't herself after it happened." With that Stark gets up and leaves the room. Tobias looks over Tris' motionless body wondering what Stark meant. Tris never mentioned anything about an ex-boyfriend who broke her heart. Did she lie to him?