Bella had never been a particularly social girl, as far as she remembered.
That might be due to the fact she had known few people her own age during her life. Or because she had been designed to make weapons, not be a social butterfly. Or because she had spent most of her life working in labs, building weapons, instead of getting to know people.
Whatever the reason, she was perfectly happy to remain out of sight most of the time at Tony's birthday party. She tried to focus on a book, but couldn't.
Natalie didn't seem to be the only person hiding something. Tony was too. Bella couldn't think what it would be. She could just tell, same as she could tell with Natalie. She hoped she was wrong, but something felt very wrong with both of them.
She occasionally stopped and observed the guests. Pepper and Natalie were there, as was a friend of Tony's that Bella had met once, Rhodey, he'd said to call him. Other than that, it was all people Bella had never seen before.
She was focusing so hard on the book that she didn't notice anything was going on until someone tugged her arm.
"Bella?"
Bella looked up. It was Pepper.
"We need to get out. Now."
Her voice was full of urgency. Bella stood.
"Pepper, what's going on?" asked Bella.
Pepper opened her mouth to respond, then turned her attention to Natalie, who was walking quickly toward them. "Natalie!"
"Miss Potts?"
"Don't you Miss Potts me! I'm onto you! You know what, ever since you came here –"
She was cut off by Tony and someone in a grey Iron Man suit falling through the ceiling.
Bella shrieked. She ran to the entrance and into the crowd of people standing outside.
"What's going on, Pepper?"
"Things have gotten a little… out of control."
"What happened?" Bella asked, then decided she didn't want to know. "Is this how he always is?"
"No. Just since Natalie came."
The two men in the suits were yelling and fighting.
"Come on, let's get out of here."
Bella agreed and they made their way to the back of the crowd.
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Houses can be mended relatively easily. Relationships are harder.
Tony had never thought about that before. But as he surveyed what was left of his house, that thought was what came to mind. He'd had bad ideas in his life, but last night's was his greatest achievement yet. Usually, a person's greatest achievement is something to be proud of. This one was not. He'd gotten into a fight with his best friend, wrecked his house and made almost everyone he knew angry. Rhodey had flown away with the suit he'd borrowed. Tony hadn't tried to stop him.
Tony walked down into the workshop, which was relatively undamaged.
Sitting on a table was the suit he had been building for Izzy. Dark blue and silver, just like she'd said she'd make it if she were designing one for herself.
He had been planning on telling Izzy about in a day or two, it was finished and everything. After he was gone, it would be easier for her to keep people off her back if she was known to have a suit, maybe occasionally be his sidekick. She would be safe in the armor.
"Iron Man doesn't have a sidekick!" he'd yelled at Rhodey.
What had he been thinking?
The building – his house – could be fixed easily. It would cost money, yes, but it wouldn't be so bad.
His relationships – with Rhodey, with Pepper, with Izzy – those would be much harder to fix, and all the money in the world wouldn't help.
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Bella spent the night at Pepper's, on the couch. She woke up in the morning still feeling tired.
"Did you sleep well?" asked Pepper when she came out in the morning. "Never mind, I can tell. Like I said. He's not always like this."
"Do you know where he is?" asked Bella.
"No. He'd probably be happy to see you, though, if you're not angry."
"I'm not," said Bella. "I'm just… I don't know. I need to talk to him. Did all this really start when Natalie came?"
"Yes," replied Pepper.
"Where do you think I could find Tony? Think he's still at the house?"
"I have no idea." Pepper, Bella guessed from her tone, was still angry about the night before. "You could call him, I suppose."
Bella nodded. "Can I please use the phone?"
Pepper nodded.
Bella dialed Tony's number and waited.
"Hello," said Tony's voice.
"Tony. Hi. It's Bella. Where are you? Back at the house?"
"No. I'm outside a doughnut shop, thinking about last night. You don't sound like you're upset at all."
"I've never been particularly good at staying angry. Where's the doughnut shop?"
He gave her an address and she hung up.
Ten minutes later, she found herself staring up into the ring of a giant doughnut. Tony sat perched up there, wearing the Iron Man suit and sunglasses. He had a box of doughnuts next to him.
He dropped down next to her, grabbed her, and pulled her up with him.
"Thanks," said Bella.
"How mad's Pepper?"
"Very mad."
"Anybody get hurt?"
"Not that I heard about."
"Bella, I… there's something I haven't told you or anyone," said Tony. "That I should have."
"Okay," said Bella.
Footsteps sounded below.
"Sir, I'm going to ask you to please step out of the doughnut," said a voice. "You too, Miss."
Bella looked down to see a man with an eye patch standing below them. Judging by the black leather outfit, she doubted he worked at the doughnut shop.
Sorry about taking so long to update... does everyone think I'm keeping Tony in character?