ᒪITTᒪE ᗰEᖇᗰᗩIᗪ " ѕιяєη " | σℓ∂ тαℓєѕ ѕqυα∂. (
bubblesong) wrote in
synthneon2025-05-15 08:25 pm
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🫧 ー idk some marvel/nikke psl apparently we'll name later.
"It's Tony's birthday today. Now, he won't want you to make a big deal out of it. Don't even mention it. Because, last year was a disaster. I mean a huge disaster. He and Rhodey broke the house with suits! It was bad. Really bad. So, this year, he has to save face publicly. It's part of having your name on a company and having a Board of Directors. He needs to look good so they look good. So, a big fancy party that isn't here at the house. He'll probably make a flashy entrance because thats just Tony."
"... And you need me to stay here otherwise it might cause a problem. Because I'm a NIKKE."
Pepper Potts frowns slightly. "More because of his reputation with women. I'm only there because he made me CEO of the company."
"Aoou... I see. Okay. I understand." Little Mermaid nods slowly.
This is what happens when you insert yourself into someone's life. You aren't the center of their world. They have obligations, duties, and relationships already in play. She can't try to over shadow them or be more than the place she has already carved out. She understands. The world isn't meant to know NIKKEs still even exist. Maybe she's the only one...
"I've already asked JARVIS to help with anything you need. Tony probably already has, but, I wanted to make sure too." Pepper tries to smile. It feels like telling someone she's not accepted by the crowd and purposely kept away. She doesn't like it, but, Rhodey also felt the same way. Tony has to save his face with this event. "Is there anything I can do before I go, Siren?"
"Ahh? Uhm, no! It's okay. I'm used to being alone! Although it really isn't being alone with JARVIS here."
Pepper feels her smile falter just slightly. "No. I guess it's not. If you need anything have JARVIS call me."
Little Mermaid nods before raising her hands to shoo Pepper away. The woman is busy and has her things to do! In a way, it reminds her of her old friends. Abe always had meetings or tests to run with them. Hansel and Gtrel would stick to themselves mostly unless it was to cause trouble. Cinderella was the closest one to her, while Red Shoes...
Her hands tremble slighy at the memory of the woman.
"Tony's birthday..."
She thinks for a moment before nodding to herself. Within moments she is in her room, placing on her old uniform wet suit, and then heading out the back door that would lead outside. The path she takes is familiar to her. Diving in the sea is an enjoyable hobby. Especially as her bubbles allow her to dive deeper than NIKKEs normally are capable of due to their heavy bodies. She spends enough time underwater that when she finally returns to the surface, night has settled in. A bubble rests gently in her hands as she quickly returns to the Malibu mansion. The bubble is tucked under her arm as she enters the home, making her way to grab a few towels. Water isn't appreciated in the workshop.
Little Mermaid presses her hand to the glass door. The system recognizes her and allows her to slip into the workshop.
"Good evening, Miss Siren. Is there something I can help you with?"
She jumps at the voice and coughs to regain her composure. "Ah! JARVIS..."
"Apologies for frightening you. Mr. Stark and Ms. Potts are far more accustomed to my random interjections."
"Oh, it's not that! I just... am used to being alone." Little Mermaid comes to stand in the middle of the workshop with a towel wrapped around her main body to dry her suit and what she could fit of her hair on a towel on her head. "Uhm... ah... JARVIS? Could you help me with something? I need a strong wire. It doesn't need to be thick! Thin is okay."
"That is a simple request. Shall I have it brought to you upstairs?"
"No! Here is fine."
Little Mermaid stops in the middle of the room. Then, she moves down to the landing area. She makes herself comfortable and moves the bubble in front of her. With a gentle tap the bubble dissolves showing variations of shells. A smile spreads to her face. She starts to work on organzing by shape and size, humming slightly to herself. It's only when the arm stretches the flexible wire out to her she remembers that she isn't quite alone. The smile simmers slightly into something else sadder.
"Uhmmm... JARVIS?"
"Yes, Miss Siren?"
"Oh! Siren is fine. Even Little Mermaid is okay." She fidgets slightly before taking the wire from the arm. She snaps it easily then begins to bend it into the shape she wants. "Could... you look for something for me?"
"Of course, Siren. I will note that anything searched for will be recorded on the database for Mr. Stark to see as well. If that has your approval we can proceed."
Little Mermaid bends one of the ends of the wire. "That's fine. I don't think he'd really care anyways..."
"Very well. What should I look into? I have access to several public databases as well as certain top secret databases. Some would require further access requests from Mr. Stark."
Little Mermaid places the wire down. Her hands extend out, bubbles forming at her palms into exact shapes of two women. One taller with twin tails and one slightly older with a lab coat and glasses. The small bubble replicas walk forward and stop a few feet from their creator.
"Can you find anything about them...? Cinderella and Abe. My dear friend and out creator. I tried for a long time to find them on my own before I was captured..."
Blue laser lights project from the ceiling and wall. They scan the two bubbles before disappearing.
"I will begin a facial recognition scan. May I ask how long ago was "a long time"?"
"Uhm... its 2011 now...? So, uhm... sixty years ago?"
"The time of World War Two. If I might say, Siren, you hardly look a day over twenty."
She laughs a little. "Thank you."
JARVIS gets to work and she returns to her own arts and craft project. While certainly not on the scale of what Abe or Tony can do? She's at least certain her little project here will have some meaning. Even if it's a meaning that ends up on a shelf and forgotten for years and years. The two bubbles she has created stand by and watch her work. The twin tails nods or shakes her head at the order of shells being threaded onto the wire, while the one in the lab coat points to where errors of sizing have happened. Little Mermaid nods along with them.
Her humming has stopped and is instead replaced by the whirling of the robotic arm and hums of the machine.
"It seems as if I may have found something. May I show it to you, Siren? It will help narrow down the search."
Little Mermaid raises her head at the announcement. She ties the two pieces of wire together and begins to secure it before standing. A hologram projection of an old newspaper comes to view. Her hands sink in front of her at the faces she sees. A man and a woman standing next together. The man looks familiar, but she can't ever remember knowing exactly who he was. The woman she knows very well.
"Abe..."
A hand raises to gently touch the hologram. Fingertips slide through the projection. A woman with unruly blonde hair and glasses, an old lab coat and period dressing of the time. She stands beside the man. Behind her another woman with short hair stands with a smile on her face. Little Mermaid feels her hands begin to tremble at the sight of the other woman. She is a part of the story that Little Mermaid wishes she could forget... or at the very least no longer feel afraid of when she thinks or sees her.
"It would seem not many public records exist of the woman you identified as 'Abe.' She disappears from census records sometime after World War II. I have yet to find public records of the other woman you presented for the facial recognition scan. However, it could take time, as records from this time period are still in the process of being digitized."
"You probably won't find anything." Little Mermaid lowers her hand and looks at the strung together seashells in her other hand. "We were secret... meant to be unveiled to the public after the success of our mission. That never happened."
She pauses.
"Are there no records of them being seen anywhere recently...?"
"Not that I have identified yet, but these searches can take time. Shall I widen the search to include other parameters?"
"N-no. It's okay. Thank you for looking anyways." Little Mermaid forces a smile on her face. The bubbles of her two friends then dissipate into smaller bubbles. "Do you have a pen and paper I could use?"
"Of course."
The mechanical arm returns once more with the requested items. She gives a gentle pat of thanks to the arm before walking over to the desk that is filled with various pens, notes, drafts, and cups. A quick note is written with the string of seashells neatly placed onto it.
She places the pen on the table before smiling. Once more she bundles what hair has fallen out of the towel in her arms. She heads to the workshop door and pauses.
"Good night, JARVIS. Thank you for trying to find anything. S-sleep well."
"While I do not require sleep, the sentiment is much appreciated. Sleep well, Siren."
"I don't need to sleep either."
She leaves the workshop and quietly heads to the room that has been given to her and shuts the door. The lights dim and she shuts the curtains. She sits on the bed in the dark drying her hair before laying back on it. Then, she rolls to her side and closes her eyes. Sleep doesn't necessarily come though. Maybe that's for the best. Her dreams would probably be filled with memories of how her team fell apart. How they were betrayed from the inside. How their heroes had to come in and stop ...
Little Mermaid sighs and rolls over to put her back to the door. There's definitely no sleep for her tonight.
"... And you need me to stay here otherwise it might cause a problem. Because I'm a NIKKE."
Pepper Potts frowns slightly. "More because of his reputation with women. I'm only there because he made me CEO of the company."
"Aoou... I see. Okay. I understand." Little Mermaid nods slowly.
This is what happens when you insert yourself into someone's life. You aren't the center of their world. They have obligations, duties, and relationships already in play. She can't try to over shadow them or be more than the place she has already carved out. She understands. The world isn't meant to know NIKKEs still even exist. Maybe she's the only one...
"I've already asked JARVIS to help with anything you need. Tony probably already has, but, I wanted to make sure too." Pepper tries to smile. It feels like telling someone she's not accepted by the crowd and purposely kept away. She doesn't like it, but, Rhodey also felt the same way. Tony has to save his face with this event. "Is there anything I can do before I go, Siren?"
"Ahh? Uhm, no! It's okay. I'm used to being alone! Although it really isn't being alone with JARVIS here."
Pepper feels her smile falter just slightly. "No. I guess it's not. If you need anything have JARVIS call me."
Little Mermaid nods before raising her hands to shoo Pepper away. The woman is busy and has her things to do! In a way, it reminds her of her old friends. Abe always had meetings or tests to run with them. Hansel and Gtrel would stick to themselves mostly unless it was to cause trouble. Cinderella was the closest one to her, while Red Shoes...
Her hands tremble slighy at the memory of the woman.
"Tony's birthday..."
She thinks for a moment before nodding to herself. Within moments she is in her room, placing on her old uniform wet suit, and then heading out the back door that would lead outside. The path she takes is familiar to her. Diving in the sea is an enjoyable hobby. Especially as her bubbles allow her to dive deeper than NIKKEs normally are capable of due to their heavy bodies. She spends enough time underwater that when she finally returns to the surface, night has settled in. A bubble rests gently in her hands as she quickly returns to the Malibu mansion. The bubble is tucked under her arm as she enters the home, making her way to grab a few towels. Water isn't appreciated in the workshop.
Little Mermaid presses her hand to the glass door. The system recognizes her and allows her to slip into the workshop.
"Good evening, Miss Siren. Is there something I can help you with?"
She jumps at the voice and coughs to regain her composure. "Ah! JARVIS..."
"Apologies for frightening you. Mr. Stark and Ms. Potts are far more accustomed to my random interjections."
"Oh, it's not that! I just... am used to being alone." Little Mermaid comes to stand in the middle of the workshop with a towel wrapped around her main body to dry her suit and what she could fit of her hair on a towel on her head. "Uhm... ah... JARVIS? Could you help me with something? I need a strong wire. It doesn't need to be thick! Thin is okay."
"That is a simple request. Shall I have it brought to you upstairs?"
"No! Here is fine."
Little Mermaid stops in the middle of the room. Then, she moves down to the landing area. She makes herself comfortable and moves the bubble in front of her. With a gentle tap the bubble dissolves showing variations of shells. A smile spreads to her face. She starts to work on organzing by shape and size, humming slightly to herself. It's only when the arm stretches the flexible wire out to her she remembers that she isn't quite alone. The smile simmers slightly into something else sadder.
"Uhmmm... JARVIS?"
"Yes, Miss Siren?"
"Oh! Siren is fine. Even Little Mermaid is okay." She fidgets slightly before taking the wire from the arm. She snaps it easily then begins to bend it into the shape she wants. "Could... you look for something for me?"
"Of course, Siren. I will note that anything searched for will be recorded on the database for Mr. Stark to see as well. If that has your approval we can proceed."
Little Mermaid bends one of the ends of the wire. "That's fine. I don't think he'd really care anyways..."
"Very well. What should I look into? I have access to several public databases as well as certain top secret databases. Some would require further access requests from Mr. Stark."
Little Mermaid places the wire down. Her hands extend out, bubbles forming at her palms into exact shapes of two women. One taller with twin tails and one slightly older with a lab coat and glasses. The small bubble replicas walk forward and stop a few feet from their creator.
"Can you find anything about them...? Cinderella and Abe. My dear friend and out creator. I tried for a long time to find them on my own before I was captured..."
Blue laser lights project from the ceiling and wall. They scan the two bubbles before disappearing.
"I will begin a facial recognition scan. May I ask how long ago was "a long time"?"
"Uhm... its 2011 now...? So, uhm... sixty years ago?"
"The time of World War Two. If I might say, Siren, you hardly look a day over twenty."
She laughs a little. "Thank you."
JARVIS gets to work and she returns to her own arts and craft project. While certainly not on the scale of what Abe or Tony can do? She's at least certain her little project here will have some meaning. Even if it's a meaning that ends up on a shelf and forgotten for years and years. The two bubbles she has created stand by and watch her work. The twin tails nods or shakes her head at the order of shells being threaded onto the wire, while the one in the lab coat points to where errors of sizing have happened. Little Mermaid nods along with them.
Her humming has stopped and is instead replaced by the whirling of the robotic arm and hums of the machine.
"It seems as if I may have found something. May I show it to you, Siren? It will help narrow down the search."
Little Mermaid raises her head at the announcement. She ties the two pieces of wire together and begins to secure it before standing. A hologram projection of an old newspaper comes to view. Her hands sink in front of her at the faces she sees. A man and a woman standing next together. The man looks familiar, but she can't ever remember knowing exactly who he was. The woman she knows very well.
"Abe..."
A hand raises to gently touch the hologram. Fingertips slide through the projection. A woman with unruly blonde hair and glasses, an old lab coat and period dressing of the time. She stands beside the man. Behind her another woman with short hair stands with a smile on her face. Little Mermaid feels her hands begin to tremble at the sight of the other woman. She is a part of the story that Little Mermaid wishes she could forget... or at the very least no longer feel afraid of when she thinks or sees her.
"It would seem not many public records exist of the woman you identified as 'Abe.' She disappears from census records sometime after World War II. I have yet to find public records of the other woman you presented for the facial recognition scan. However, it could take time, as records from this time period are still in the process of being digitized."
"You probably won't find anything." Little Mermaid lowers her hand and looks at the strung together seashells in her other hand. "We were secret... meant to be unveiled to the public after the success of our mission. That never happened."
She pauses.
"Are there no records of them being seen anywhere recently...?"
"Not that I have identified yet, but these searches can take time. Shall I widen the search to include other parameters?"
"N-no. It's okay. Thank you for looking anyways." Little Mermaid forces a smile on her face. The bubbles of her two friends then dissipate into smaller bubbles. "Do you have a pen and paper I could use?"
"Of course."
The mechanical arm returns once more with the requested items. She gives a gentle pat of thanks to the arm before walking over to the desk that is filled with various pens, notes, drafts, and cups. A quick note is written with the string of seashells neatly placed onto it.
𝐻𝒶𝓅𝓅𝓎 𝐵𝒾𝓇𝓉𝒽𝒹𝒶𝓎, 𝒯𝑜𝓃𝓎.
She places the pen on the table before smiling. Once more she bundles what hair has fallen out of the towel in her arms. She heads to the workshop door and pauses.
"Good night, JARVIS. Thank you for trying to find anything. S-sleep well."
"While I do not require sleep, the sentiment is much appreciated. Sleep well, Siren."
"I don't need to sleep either."
She leaves the workshop and quietly heads to the room that has been given to her and shuts the door. The lights dim and she shuts the curtains. She sits on the bed in the dark drying her hair before laying back on it. Then, she rolls to her side and closes her eyes. Sleep doesn't necessarily come though. Maybe that's for the best. Her dreams would probably be filled with memories of how her team fell apart. How they were betrayed from the inside. How their heroes had to come in and stop ...
Little Mermaid sighs and rolls over to put her back to the door. There's definitely no sleep for her tonight.
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Damn. Not every day someone makes me go speechless. You should write that down.
[ Tony's unsure how this actually makes him feel, but it seems clear enough that Little Mermaid knows how to get right under his skin. Ordinarily, he doesn't make admissions or confessions like the one he just did. Maybe it's nothing for the average person, but like Tony said, he's always talking, and he hardly ever goes speechless. Maybe Mermaid's power isn't only in her Kotodama. He already thought there was more to her than that, but now he's really thinking that's the case. ]
You know, I’ve had a lot of birthdays. Some loud, some flashy, some that ended with property damage and a helicopter ride I don’t remember.
[ He grins faintly at that, like he’s poking fun at a version of himself he’s outgrown, but still recognizes in the mirror. ]
Not a lot of people say things like that to me. Not without wanting something. Not without already knowing what I can give them.
No, you know what? You're a hell of a birthday gift, Ariel. [ He knows most people wouldn't like being called a present, but he thinks Little Mermaid will get what he's saying. He genuinely means it, too. It's not a flirtation or a joke. It's just a fact. ]
And for the record, this is how I want to celebrate my birthday. Just like this.
[ A second or two passes, and Tony just sits there quietly for those few seconds, before he adds: ]
I’m glad I met you too.
no subject
There are so many things she wishes she could say. How she likes his name for her--a human name. How she sees him as her hero. Not for only saving her and pulling her back into the world, but for reminding her what it was like to be a human girl. How much it means to her that he would want to spend his birthday with her when he has so many people he could be spending it with. Parties, music, cars... women. Pepper is sure to keep bringing up the last fact. Little Mermaid may be naive in many things, but, a simple search into the life of Tony Stark would show why.
Still, a part of her can't help but hope she might be different. Like Pepper is different.
Even if the emotion she feels may not be returned in the same way.
That's for the best, isn't it? He should focus his attentions on a human woman. Someone like Pepper. ]
You've already given me a place to stay. [ A place to call home. ] That's more than I should ever ask from you! Especially when you could of turned me over...
[ Her story doesn't matter right now. It's Tony's story. His birthday. The ending to her story is already being rewritten, just like Cinderella said it would. That means she needs to live up to how she can be a Goddess of Victory: celebrating the life and existence of someone who took even a handful of minutes to acknowledge her.
She smiles more at his final statement. ]
You should have JARVIS pick a song.
[ She puts the cake piece down on the bed. Her hands come together and from Spindrift comes a clear bubble. She releases it to float down onto the floor, and proceeds to make a few more. With how the light bounces off of them they look just like balloons.
Little Mermaid stands up then and pats her bodysuit down nervously. She turns to Tony, hands extending her hands out to him. ]
We can have a small party before your birthday ends! One dance and then you can say it wasn't a boring birthday at all. Uhmm... if that's what you'd want to do!
[ If she really is a "hell of a birthday gift", then, she wants to make sure he really has a smile on his birthday. That he gets to celebrate it the way he wants.
One he'll remember with a smile when they inevitability come to take her away. ]
no subject
He really didn't expect anything like this, not from her, not on his birthday. ]
You know... Most people just show up with a bottle of scotch and a “Happy Birthday, Tony,” before angling for a ride in one of the cars or an invite to the next gala.
But you? You give me balloons made out of light and magic, offer me a dance, and you actually mean it.
[ There’s a pause, not long, but just long enough. Then, feeling like he's about to do something incredibly stupid that will look even more incredibly stupid, he steps forward, holding out a hand like some wannabe prince to a lady who extended her hands out to him like they're royalty and this is some fairytale ball.
A fairytale ball in a place that's nothing like a palace. ]
Alright, Ariel. You win.
[ He gives her a grin, the kind of grin that not many people get to see. It's not the smarmy press smile, or the one he uses when he's trying to schmooze someone. Or schmooze Pepper when there's something he wants that he knows she won't approve of. Not that that works, because Pepper sees through him every single time. He figures Ariel can probably see through that too, which is why he doesn't use that one. She gets the real thing. ]
You’re officially my favorite birthday present. Sorry, Lamborghini I didn’t want. You’re being outclassed by a girl who makes balloon-light magic and still thinks I’m cool.
[ He raises her hand slightly like he actually knows what he's doing. He's good at faking it, at least, so that probably counts for something. ]
So, about that dance. Fair warning: I do a mean robot, a questionable moonwalk, and something that vaguely resembles the Charleston if I’ve had enough champagne. Pepper thinks I can't really do any of them, and she's probably right, but it's all in the attitude.
So, you still wanna dance?
no subject
She wants him to remember all of their time together in a happy light. All their conversations. Tonight especially. It needs to be happy for him. Something to remember fondly.
If she is the only NIKKE left? Then, there is no doubt in her mind that the ones who oversaw the program will find her. They will take her with them and... maybe she'll be scrapped as they intended to originally. The failed second generation Fair Tale models...
A blush immediately takes to her face at his out stretched hand. She shyly has hers sit in his, all the while only being able to think of what Cinderella would have thought is she saw the whole display. She seemed to embody the concept and idea of being a Fairy Tale model. Then again, Cinderella adored the Godesses . They were her heroes.
Just as Tony is hers.
His smile makes herself grow. ]
They're bubbles! Not balloons, not really. [ The small giggle in her voice shows she finds it amusing rather than offensive. ] They won't leave a mess. I'll be sure of it.
You are cool! You're a hero. A real hero. Someone who has saved lives. Someone who turned his life around and his company around. Maybe that isn't impressive to others because all they see is the past you, but, I can see who you are now. You're Iron Man.
[ She gives a nervous sound. ] Uhm... I don't know any real dances. Cinder--my squadmate showed me the box waltz dance? She said it was elegant and what every one of us should know how to do!
So... we can figure it out together!
no subject
Right now, though, he's not Tony Stark, rich guy extraordinaire. He's just Tony. His thumb gently brushes over her fingers, almost as though he's not even thinking about it. Instinct is driving him now as it does most times. Well, there's times when he's laser focused, zeroed in, every move he's doing calculated and determined. Precise. Sometimes, though, instinct takes over the driver's seat. That doesn't mean he's checked out, but he's just reacting. Moving with intent and purpose, but it's all instinctual.
Maybe some would say there's no difference, but Tony knows the difference. ]
You know, I never thought about it before, but bubbles are better than balloons. Sure, neither of them last forever, but- there's something different about bubbles. They shimmer, they float, and then they just disappear. Yours don't disappear, though. One of these days, I'll ask if I can study them. Not right now, though.
[ It surprises him somehow, when he sees her blush. There's something about it that makes him feel... something. Maybe it's because she's so endearing. Maybe it's because she's just real. Maybe he doesn't know what to do with these feelings, so he deflects a little. ]
That's a big word, you know. "Hero". I'm not one, not really. Those characters you see in old school comic books? Now that's who people think if when they think about heroes.
[ While he's still talking, he moves slowly, still holding her hand. And then he grins his trademark grin, full of confidence and bravado, but beneath that, if she's looking, she might see just a hint of nerves. And Tony Stark doesn't do nervousness. ]
The box waltz, huh? Cinder had good taste. But for the record, I don't fall into any one style, or so people tell me. "Chaotic" is what they usually say, with a side of stepping on toes. Literally. [ He does a playful flourish, exaggerated for effect. ] You can't blame a guy for sometimes getting caught up in the music or whatever. [ He waves his free hand like it's nothing really important. ]
But whatever, let’s figure it out together. Just know that if I step on your toes, it's not on purpose. Not like the time I was dancing with... God, I forget what her name was, but she was fighting me the entire time because she wanted to take the lead. People said that was interesting to watch, kind of like how watching a bullfight is interesting. I was never into that, by the way. Bullfights.
no subject
It is, however, nice to indulge in the dream and concept of it all in the moment.
She laughs--a real laugh--at his continual appraisal of her bubbles. ] They'll break down when I tell them too! Or, when what I made them for is done or not needed any longer. I sent a lot of bubbles out from that facility hoping they'd find my old squadmates... and they'd find me... ahh, but, you found me instead.
[ At least someone found her. ]
I-I don't mind! Whenever you want to know more about them we can!
[ Little Mermaid nods with his surmise of the "dancing skills" and the flourish. She takes a moment before hesitantly stepping into what she remembers of the position that Cinderella had taught them. Hansel and Gretle found it "silly" and Red Shoes of course had no time for it with her scientific studies aiding Abe. Which just left her, but Little Mermaid didn't mind. Dancing was something she didn't need to speak to be able to accomplish. ]
Cinderella. [ She says the full name to correct herself, having realized Tony caught how she attempted to stop herself from sharing the name. He already knows about her squad (vaguely) and that things fell apart. Sharing the names can't hurt now. ] She was Abe's favorite and the most beautiful that Abe made. She truly wanted to embody what the Goddesses did... and become a goddess of victory. The most out of all of us. They were her heroes.
[ Then, she gives him a wide smile. Nothing is going to change her mind on the fact in her mind. ] Everyone else can have their heroes from the old comics. Cinderella had the Goddesses. And, all of that is okay. They can have those heroes because those are their heroes.
Because, Tony Stark--Iron Man? He's my hero.
no subject
He's been called a lot of things, either by himself or by others: genius, billionaire, warmonger, and worse besides. But hero? No one's really called him that, and no one wants to call him that, for the most part. He could brag and make claims that he's a hero, but he's really not. But hearing that from someone who still believes in heroes?
That one gets past the armor that he's worked so hard to build. It's not armor like his suits, but something harder to see and even harder to break. Except one word from one person managed to do it. ]
Damn, you really know how to hit a guy right in the arc reactor, don’t you?
[ It's half a joke and half not. Of course he has a heart, despite his efforts to pretend otherwise, but it's almost easier to deflect and just reference the arc reactor, not the real thing. ]
Listen, I’ve been a lot of things. I’ve done a lot of things. Some good. Some... really not good. The kind that people pick apart and question until there's nothing left to question. Hell, I'm not even really a good guy, not if you look at my record. But if I ever needed a reason to keep pushing? Well... I'd say moments like this count as a reason.
[ He nods toward her, as if to say "moments like this, with someone like you." ]
So, Iron Man's your hero, huh? Believe it or not, I didn't start all of this wanting to be a hero. I just- there was a problem that I caused and I had to fix it.
[ He's not sure why he's really telling her this, but it's something to do to fill up the space as he moves around slowly with Mermaid. ]
The thing is, Ariel? And yeah, I know how this sounds, coming from someone who's always front and center, but... It's not always the front and center people who end up being the real heroes. Sometimes it's the ones people don't even notice.
[ He pauses before he adds: ]
I notice you, by the way. And if I had to choose between you and Cinderella, I know who I'd pick every time. Don't get me wrong, I bet she's great. The whole package.
[ He tugs lightly at her hands in a somewhat playful gesture as he eyes her with a suddenly serious but obviously playful look. ]
You've got better hair, though, and a better laugh.
[ It's obviously meant to be funny, as he's never even seen Cinderella, but at the same time, Tony means every word. ]
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A man who wishes to do good and will accept the wrong doings in that strive to be better.
His question simply makes her smile. She doesn't mean to make him uncomfortable or left feeling awkward. She's simply honest about how she feels... and forward about it when the time is needed.
Otherwise? She simply keeps to herself trying to be unseen.
Her eyes widen slightly. 'With someone like you.'
She isn't the only one who knows how to get past protective walls.
He tugs at her hands and she steps closer to him. Didn't he want her closer by that motion? A tinge of pink comes to her face at the realization of how close she is, but she doesn't step away either. A shy smile overtakes her gentle one.
Her hair and her laugh? ]
Not just Iron Man. You! With or without the suit. [ Her hands squeeze his in an attempt to make her point obvious and known. ] That's what makes you a hero, Tony. You don't need to be perfect in order to be someone that people admire.
... sometimes seeing someone still pushing forward to make something right gives you the courage and strength to keep going too. I think that's the kind of hero you are. That's why people admire you now.
[ How many times had she nearly given up on being found? On the idea that the doors would open and she would see the silhouettes of Cinderella and Abe standing there; that her bubbles had led her friends to her in order to save her. She couldn't get out on her own--she tried. A different silhouette had shown up one day, but that isn't hardly a bad thing. She met a human that cares about her regardless of a Nikke.
Just like Agent Oswald had.
Even if he doesn't care about her the same way she cares about him. ]
It's okay if you stop noticing me one day. [ She smiles but there is something else to it that lingers.
An expectation or maybe even an acceptance. She always stood behind her squadmates--supporting them because she couldn't stand on the same level. Just like she can't stand on the same level as Tony. He's a real hero. Not one that failed before she could even become a hero.
Let alone a Goddess of Victory. ]
Someday someone will swoop your attention away and they'll be the one you notice! You'll find the person that catches all your thoughts and you should. Because, you deserve it for all the good you've done. Maybe you didn't always do good, but you are now!
[ That person, romantically or not, in her mind is Pepper Potts. The one Tony should notice the most. ]
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That’s the thing about people like you. You say stuff like that, and I don’t know whether to thank you or tell you you’re way too good at handing out second chances.
[ He pauses again, another long one that seems to stretch on for too long. This isn't uncomfortable for him, exactly, but vulnerability is something he's never been really good at. ]
You really think I'd just stop noticing you? You're probably going to say I'm full of shit, but- believe it or not, I notice things sometimes. I mean, okay, I forget things a lot, like what Pepper's allergic to, but- [ He's trying to say that he tries. ] The point is, I notice things. Especially the stuff I pretend I don’t. You think I pulled you closer by accident?
[ He squeezes her hands gently now, because while he's not the most touchy kind of guy, this feels like the right time for a little physical contact. ]
Look, if I ever stop noticing you, it’s not because someone better came along. It’s because I messed up. Because I let my head or my tinkering or whatever get in the way. And if that ever happens?
Kick me. Hard. And if you're really not happy with me, go for the cars.
[ He smiles at her, and maybe it's weird to smile after he just gave her permission to kick him and then destroy his stuff, but it makes sense in his head. ]
I don’t know where this thing between us goes. I’m not exactly a safe bet. But you’re wrong about one thing.
[ He leans in a little closer. ]
I already noticed you. Too late for me to notice anyone else now. You're stuck with me.
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[ Abe had always told her that and her squadmates lovingly agreed. Even in times she felt she wasn't good because she couldn't control the Kotodama and potentially hurt her friends. She decides its good if Tony feels the same way. It means, not only has nothing changed, but that he sees in her the exact same things her long lost friends and creator saw. It means so much to her that she doesn't feel she can really explain it in a way that would make sense.
At his question she simply gives a nervous smile. Yes, she does think he would notice someone else. He should notice someone else. Barely anything of her is human anymore by physical means. Information on how she was made or who she even was as a human girl is lost to time. He deserves a woman he can share his legacy with and have children with. That can't and won't ever be her.
Part of her would wonder why she is even debating things at such a level, but, she supposes it must come with the territory of Tony Stark. Especially with the constant warnings and reminders from Pepper about his past with women.
Or, maybe, she already has a feeling and simply doesn't want to admit it to even herself just yet.
At least that is what she thinks before leans in closer. It feels like the air leaves her lungs and her heart--at least what would be considered her heart--pounds in her ears. It almost feels like a fairytale with the prince and princess getting closer. Not that she is anything like a princess and she would never say Tony was something like a prince to her... out loud. ]
If I kick you? It'll break your leg... [ Little Mermaid tries to add something like his humor into the very suddenly intimate moment. ] And it'd break your cars...
[ Her hands curl around his more as if accepting the offer of being "stuck" with him. Not that she thinks he would think of her like she thinks of him. Regardless of the hero factor? She thinks about him quite a lot. If he's healthy, if he's eaten, if he's upset or needs to go out and be outside for a bit before going back to whatever problem he's trying to fix with his suits. If he really likes all the music he listens to
She hasn't noticed how close they are, not really. How if they leaned just a bit closer they would be in the range that would give temptations to kiss one another. She wouldn't suggest or even hint at it. Especially when his birthday should be about him, not silly thoughts in her head. ]
Little Mermaid gives him the most genuine smile she can give him. One that shows how truly happy she is to be here with him. ]
Then, I guess you're stuck with me too. [ Her head tilts back slightly. ] I know it's not much, and you said this is how you'd want to spend it, but... is there anything else you would like to do for your birthday?
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You know, I’ve had a lot of birthdays. Some loud, some explosive, literally. There was one year where I got a crazy idea and tried to make my own cake. I know, crazy idea, but I'd never done it before and those shows on Food Network make it look easy. Let me just say that the kitchen's still mad at me.
[ His voice lowers, like he's about to tell her a secret that's for her ears only. ]
Let me just tell you right now that this birthday might be the best one I've ever had.
And for the record? I'm going to tell you something else right now. I don’t need you to be something else. I don't need you to change who you are. Why's that? Well, because you're you. You're who you're supposed to be.
[ And then since he's not very good at being serious too long, he breaks the moment just slightly with a smirk, nudging her shoulder with his. ] Also, for the record, if you do break my leg, I’m calling dibs on the best wheelchair. And I expect it to be customized.
[ He's well aware how ridiculous that sounds, but making a spectacle of himself comes with the package. Sometimes that means being ridiculous. He's learned to live with it, more or less. ]
But, to answer your question: I meant it when I said this is how I wanted to spend it. Just being here, with you.
[ But then there's just the briefest of pauses and he adds: ] Although if you did have any top-secret, bubble-themed surprise parties planned, I wouldn't object. Maybe something with floating cupcakes. You know, modest requests.
[ He tries but doesn't quite manage to conceal a grin. ]
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Did they stop dancing at some point? She hasn't noticed.
Her eyes widen. One of his best birthdays? He mentioned already this was how he wanted to spend his special day; that she was his best present ever.
Even then? What he says touches a part of her she keeps under lock and key. A part of her that she felt people could see but never truly grasped, and that was fine, because they didn't need to really understand. How could they? Everyone else could talk without fear of hurting those around them. They could have conversations without hurting themselves. She's long out grown that particular problem. But... there had always been the underlying worry:
Am I good enough for my squad? Who do I need to be to help them the most? I can't be anyone else but me... and it's not enough.
How much does Tony truly notice about her and never say?
Little Mermaid tilts her head down slightly.
Then, she rests her cheek against his chest. She can feel the arc reactor underneath the suit and shirt, but it doesn't bother her. She has something similar inside her that keeps her alive. It's been something she's thought about here and there--that some technology keeps them both alive. They're similar in that regard.
If Yinsin taught him how to live his life? Then, it's a lesson he's passing down. His friend would be proud. She's sure of it. ]
Next year? I'll make a cake for you. That way you won't need another board approved cake. [ The emotions are evident in her voice. They flow through her like water. Her voice wavers somewhere between awe, love, and gratefulness. ] Or cupcakes... or bubbles that look like cupcakes. Maybe all of it!
[ Her hands comfortably lock around his. ]
I'll make sure your wheelchair has red and gold paint on it! And that JARVIS connects to it!
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God, you’re dangerous, you know that? No, really, I don't know if you know the kind of pull you have. And before you start getting all worried and freaking out, I don't mean the kotodama. I mean you. Some people call it magnetism, I just call it you being so good at just being you, that you draw people in. It's a skill, and a good one.
[ One of his hands lifts to touch her cheek carefully, with slight hesitation as if he's reaching for something so special that it could break apart if touched the wrong way. ]
So yeah, this one's for the books: best birthday ever, literally.
[ But then he pauses for a second, mouth twitching with mischief, before he adds: ]
If you do rig the chair with JARVIS, at least let me try to race it down the hallway once. For science.
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[ She leans into him as she feels the kiss to her hair. Her cheeks turn pink again, and it feels like her heart pounds again. If she has a natural magnetism? Then, he had a natural way of making her feel like a human woman again.
Little Mermaid doesn't see how she has anything like a natural magnetisim. Not like he has. She hides behind people. She does everything she can to support them and make sure they can do what they need to do. It took her years to be able to talk to people. How can she have anything like that? ]
... maybe it's just you that's drawn to it?
[ She would be okay with that.
Little Mermaid leans her cheek entirely into his hand. It feels nice. Special. Her bubbles are like her. They look fragile, but there is an unexpected strength there. One that can take damage and be hurt, but it won't break and fizzle out. She won't burst or turn into seafoam. ]
Okay! [ She giggles at the idea of Tony racing through the house on a wheelchair. Not that she plans on kicking him or hurting him ever. ] I'll put bubbles down to mark the way you're supposed to go too. And, Pepper and Rhodey will never know!
[ A voice over the intercom of the familiar AI: ] Might I remind you, sir, that neither Miss Potts nor Mr. Rhodes check the security footage. However, if a large enough accident occurs, I would need to notify either one of them.
Oooh? [ Little Mermaid looks up at the ceiling, but doesn't move an inch. Her head remains on his chest, leaning into him, one hand still holding onto his. She hadn't expected JARVIS to comment. ]
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Maybe it really is only him that's drawn to it, but from where he's standing, is that a bad thing? He doesn't think so. ]
Hey. [ His voice is lower now, having dropped down a few notches. ] I don't think it's just me, but if it is? Then it's going to be our thing. You know, every couple has a thing: something that's them, that if they opened up a dictionary, that would be in the entry written about them. Maybe that's our thing: we're like magnets, pulling each other together.
[ Of course that would be the analogy he uses. It's fitting, somehow.
She giggles about the wheelchair and then makes the suggestion about how she'd use her bubbles. It makes him chuckle in return. ]
Bubbles as lane markers, brilliant idea. Obstacle course version 2.0., and don't ask what happened to 1.0. JARVIS might find a way to smack me if you do. Also, bonus points if I don’t wipe out in front of the lab cameras.
[ And then at the sound of the AI that Tony is fonder of than he admits, he glances towards the ceiling keeping his voice deadpan but grinning from ear to ear. ]
JARVIS, I want selective memory loss installed by tomorrow morning.
Of course, sir, whatever you say. [ JARVIS may be an AI, but Tony can tell when JARVIS is having a laugh at his expense. He designed JARVIS to not just take whatever he says at face value, so of course he knows that's JARVIS's way of rolling his eyes and completely ignoring his orders, at least in this instance. ]
So, any other suggestions for JARVIS to disapprove of?
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They're... a couple?
Little Mermaid tilts her head up, amber eyes immediately locking onto his. Her chin rests on the surface of his arc reactor, the fabric of the dress shirt being the only real barrier between her and physically touching it. He probably wouldn't want her to anyways--it's something deeply personal to him. Something that keeps him alive. She doesn't know all the details, just the facts that she knows he would die without it and it powers his suits.
It's his birthday... they can pretend they are a couple for his birthday. ]
... I'd like being your other magnet. [ She's not lying in that regard.
The idea makes her "heart" thud powerfully in her chest; being his someone. Being the one that he does notice more than anyone else and that occupies his thoughts. Being the person that he comes home to be with at the end of the day. It's romantic and she never thought she'd romantically think about anyone.
She leans a bit more against him. ]
Uhm.... [ she trails off in thought. An idea lingers in the back of her mind, but she knows she shouldn't suggest it. She probably shouldn't have even thought it. Would JARVIS really disapprove of it? ] Maybe sneaking out in the middle of the night without telling him?
[ That's definitely not what she thought. ]
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Kinda hot in here, don't you think? [ She doesn't look like she's overheated at all, so it's 100% a him problem. Probably. Most likely. ] Don't mind me if I...
[ He starts unbuttoning his dress shirt as he replies: ] Yeah? You'd like that, huh? Well, that's settled then. We're magnets. [ He grins widely at her and there's a fondness bordering quite heavily on something more in his eyes.
Eventually he manages to undo all the buttons, but he doesn't toss his shirt away just yet. Maybe he found himself distracted by her leaning against him. Maybe just her closeness in general is distracting him.
Then she proposes an idea, and a very mischievous grin takes his face. ] Ariel, I really like the way you think.
[ And if AIs could be scandalized, it's not difficult to imagine that JARVIS would be scandalized right now. ]
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She leans back just enough so he can finish unbuttoning his shirt. Maybe it is hot? The offer to open the window is almost given, but how bright the arc reactor is catches her attention more. His shirts always dim it's brightness or hide it entirely. She's never realized how bright it is, nor how much space it takes up on his chest. None of it bothers her in the slightest. It's apart of him, just as her core or her bubbles are apart of her.
Her hand raises to touch it, but, stops a few fingertips away from it. The whole notion strikes her as extremely intimate all of the sudden. This is effectively Tony's heart. The thing that somehow keeps him alive. Her fingers curl and her hand pulls back. That is far too much to ask of him.
Thankfully, his comment pulls her attention back to his eyes. ]
Well, they don't need to know what you do all the time. You're a grown man. [ She smiles at him as if the world hardly sees him as such. ] If you sneak out in the middle of the night and go for a drive along the coast? You could.
[ Little Mermaid almost smirks then as she glances up at the ceiling, expecting a remark or comment from the AI that oversees Tony's house. His friend in her mind. ]
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You know what else I can do, being a grown man and all? [ He can't stop his grin from growing, and he doesn't even want to. He doesn't just fling the shirt away, because it's expensive or something like that, but it does get slightly tossed somewhere out of the way.
Once it's gone, then he reaches for her hand, the one that reached out to touch the arc reactor and stops. He simply holds her hand until she's had enough time to react to his hand taking hers, and once he decides it's been long enough, he slowly begins moving his hand towards his chest and towards the arc reactor. ]
I know, you're probably thinking: what kind of weird, self-absorbed person just assumes another person wants to, well... you know, get handsy? [ He lets his grin widen even further. ]
Hi, I'm Tony Stark, nice to meet you.
[ It's his way of dispelling any notions she might have that he's not occasionally a little wild and flirty and not above taking the slightly sensual route. Which, this may or may not be that route. Or maybe it's both: it's sensual and intimate and personal and revealing.
Or maybe it's just that he's decided he trusts her with seeing what is essentially his heart. ]
So, what do you think? [ About the arc reactor, not necessarily himself. Although given he's presently standing there shirtless, he imagines that she's probably thinking something about the sight in front of her. ]
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She squeezes his hand gently and let's him guide it to the arc reactor.
Her fingertips gently trace the triangular shapes that make up the glowing pattern. It's so bright and full of life. She can feel the hum as the reactor spins. It's barely noticeable, just like so much about Tony, but she can feel it. She notices it. The hum of life and technology that keeps him alive underneath all of the showmanship. It's a rather layered way of expressing Tony Stark and yet it seems perfectly appropriate in her mind.
Little Mermaid looks up at him then. It's not as if she is really seeing him for the first time. She notices so many things of him that this is just another piece in the puzzle. This isn't a reintroduction, but somehow, it feels as if it could be. ]
Hello.
[ Did they actually say "hello" the first time they met?
Her fingers curl slightly along the arc reactor.
Then, her other hand reaches for the one that has been grounding her. She lifts it and places it against her chest with no hesitation. Her hand presses his palms against her so that he can feel not a heartbeat, but source of energy. Her core--what keeps her alive. ]
I'm Little Mermaid. Everyone always calls me Siren. [ A smile comes to her face as she gently presses her fingers against the smooth surface of his arc reactor. ] But, someone I know and care about calls me "Ariel."
[ She takes the half-step closer. ] It's bursting with life and energy! It glows bright for everyone to see if they look close. It's so full of life. Just like you.
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Maybe that's his type: someone who's just as attracted by the mechanical stuff as she is by the more... physical.
He holds still as she explores the reactor, letting her check all of it out as she sees fit. He'd be the first to say that it's a fascinating invention that he happened to construct from a box of scraps in a cave, so it makes sense to him why she'd be curious. ]
Hey. [ He smiles at her as they introduce themselves to each other again. ] You know, I'd ask if you being Little Mermaid means you have a prince waiting for you somewhere. You've got a leg up on the actual Ariel, though, because unlike her, you didn't trade your voice away for legs. [ Surprisingly, he didn't intentionally put "a leg up" in the same sentence as "legs". It just worked out that way. ]
Then that means it's doing its job and that I know what I'm doing. Lucky for me, since I kind of need this thing to keep kicking.
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A technological puzzle to put together that makes Tony Stark.
She wasn't the one that helped Abe with the maintenance, testing, or tuning of her team. She could barely control her own powers or voice. Engineering is not quite beyond her, but she lacks the deeper knowledge to understand it as Tony does. What she does understand is the emotions and the feelings that relate to everything he builds. The care, love, and devotion to his suits, the arc reactor, even the little robotic arms in the workshop. JARVIS too.
It's not that Tony Stark doesn't have a heart. He has a very deep heart. It just doesn't show in the way that most people can understand. He doesn't communicate it in conventional methods.
Just like her.
The tips of her fingers trace along the metal patterns that break up the light of the arc reactor. Her other hand presses his palm to her chest once more; trying to communicate that she can understand what existing in such a way is like. That her "heart" is similar. The communication may be breaking down and he may not even realize what she is trying to say to him without using words. However, her fingers still lightly brush along the back of the hand pressed to her chest.
It's his birthday, and he's chosen to spend it with her. Beyond a dance that has stopped and bubble balloons? She wants to give him a present that is uniquely from her. Not just what she is capable of doing as a Nikke, but to connect as the woman she is underneath all the machinery that has kept her alive for fifty years.
That gift might be too personal for him to truly see...
"You didn't trade your voice away for legs."
Little Mermaid tilts her head slightly as her gaze drifts to the side in a rare visual sign of the thoughts she keeps to herself. No, she didn't. Instead she traded away nearly everything that made her human in order to become something greater that was supposed to protect humanity. Something that could last longer than Captain America. Her loss of her human self netted her powers she could barely control and the loss of those she called her friends, her family, her sisters.
Her hands still.
Maybe the real Ariel was the one with success.
She blinks and simply gives a slight shake of her head. No signs of her customary small sounds. Her gaze raises to him and she finds herself unable to meet his smile all the way like she normally would. ] No. There's no prince or anything like that... there never was.
[ There hare no memories left from her time before being a Nikke, but she doesn't need them to know the fact there was no one.
Little Mermaid blinks a few times to place away the sudden introspective and quiet mood. Not on his birthday. It has to be a happy memory for him in case the day happens where she is whisked away. That way something leaves a smile on his face if he ever thinks back on the last few months they've known each other. Even if it's just being a couple for the night.
The hand covering his lets go in order to reach up and gently touch the side of his face, just as he had done to her. Her eyes close as she tries to search for the words to describe what she believes she can feel radiating from the arc reactor. ]
Things have currents, don't they? Like a magnet pulls or pushes. [ She can only use the basic terminology that she is sure he knows at such a deep level. The tip of her finger gently presses to the triangle at the center of the arc reactor. ] It's more than just the energy current inside it. If you took it out to power just your suits, your cars, or even your house? It wouldn't be the same. The current of life inside it is you. That's why it's so bright. It's you--your heart.
Maybe no one else noticed, but I noticed it. [ Little Mermaid chooses to use the words he spoke earlier once more. ]
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But that was before he met Little Mermaid and his entire world seemed to shift. He tried his best to make it seem as though nothing had changed: he was still him, being too grand and loud and too fond of showing off, and he definitely didn't have a heart. He definitely didn't have feelings and he absolutely wasn't falling in love. Why not? Because that felt way too much like something out of a chick flick.
But then, he registers her fingertips tracing along the arc reactor, following the patterns on its surface, and then... She presses his palm to her chest again, and he realizes all at once what this means. They might still be very different in a lot of ways, but where they are similar comes down to his arc reactor and her core as well. Both of them are powered by something more than just a heart, and that is one thing that makes them alike.
Well, that and a budding interest in each other. And yes, Tony is very interested in her, even if he hasn't said as much in plain English. If he wasn't interested, she wouldn't be here, and they wouldn't have danced, and he wouldn't be looking at her like she's the most beautiful person he's ever seen.
The look on his face is vulnerable and open in a way that Tony rarely is, but he's not bothering to hide it right now. ]
No prince, huh? [ That's what he says instead of saying the actual words that are on the very tip of his tongue. But maybe it would be too ridiculous, too laughable, to even begin to propose that maybe he could be her prince. She probably wouldn't want him anyway, no matter how many times she presses his hand against her chest, against her heart.
There's better men out there who are better suited to being in a relationship with another person. Tony isn't the most attentive unless it's something mechanical or something that he can fix, and as his past girlfriends would attest, he really isn't the most thoughtful either.
... But then again, did any of those girlfriends ever meet the real Tony? Did they see the man beneath the too-practiced grin who liked to move fast and keep up a relentless pace even in the bedroom? ]
You know what, Ariel? You really have a way with words. [ He puts as much admiration into his tone as possible as he listens to her talk about currents, magnets, him...
When she stops to pause or take a breath, that's when he leans in, closer than before, and his lips brush lightly against hers for just a fraction of a second, before they deepen further against her mouth. ]
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He's still Tony Stark--loud, a show off, an earned ego (in her mind), quick witted and crass, and certainly enjoys being the smartest one in the room. From her perspective? None of that has changed at all. He simply seems to soften when she is around... but she likes to think that is because he trusts her with certain things the rest of the world doesn't get to know exist. ]
Uh huh. [ The soft sound comes from her with a shake of her head.
No prince, no husband, no boyfriend, nothing like that. Not even a team or a circle of friends like he has with the Avengers. Not anymore. Most likely never again. The Avengers are Tony's friends and team. They are his world and that is more than fine with her. She had her time to be in a team and with other people that could of been heroes... even if they were never truly allowed the time to shine. ]
Ooh? [ She's surprised at the comment. How could she have a way with words when most of her life had been spent not uttering a single one? Or, maybe that is why she is good with them. She knows the weight words can carry and their meaning. How important they can be. How they can hurt or make someone happy.
Then, another wave of surprise.
Everything feels alight in her the moment he brushes his lips to hers. This was what she was going to suggest, but instead suggested running away in the middle of the night. Before she can even finish the thought or respond he kisses her. One might expect her to stand surprised or in shock without moving at all. However, her emotions flow from her like water, and her arms are wrapping around his neck and her mouth pressed to his. An embarrassment clings to her as she knows he'll realize that she has never kissed someone. It will be obvious to him and maybe even laughable. Still, she moves with the motion and tries to communicate all that she feels in that point of contact.
She hopes it really will be his best birthday ever. ]