Chapter Text
***Time jump***
Ellie spent the next months throwing herself into work to try and sublimate the anxiety of knowing that Tony was still missing so the morning that it was revealed he was found came as a shock to the system. Ellie watched every frame to make sure it was really him and it seemed to be, though she was super confused as to why his chest was glowing under his shirt. Barely noticeable if you weren’t obsessing over the footage.
Ellie’s roommate was one of the only people who knew about her mark and that was just because occupying the same space for 3 years tends to reveal things like that.
Did you see the news? Jess texted
Yeah, I suppose I can breath again. Ellie replied still a little numb.
So are you finally going to do something about it? She asked.
How in the world am I supposed to do that now? Ellie asked. The plan is the same as always and that’s just to let it happen.
Still think that’s stupid. :/ Jess says obviously tired of the same argument. Ellie smiles a little at the familiarity and start working.
***TONY POV and some time jumps****
After 3 months of facing mortality, you’d think that he would have his priorities in order. But the only thing he really wants is a burger. Well, another one anyway.
Shutting down the weapons division of Stark Industries was really a spur of the moment thing but the more he thinks about it, the more he am sure of this move.
Maybe if Yinsen had made it, it would be different but ultimately the what ifs don’t matter.
He really must have freaked out Pepper when Iheasked her to help change the reactor core in his chest. Or maybe it was the fact that she saw his words for the first time but either way she has been really distant. He remembers that he got his words around this time years ago. “So my soulmates birthday must be around this time.” He says to himself. “I should have paid more attention maybe I could have met them by now by process of elimination.”
Don’t get him wrong. He loved being a playboy but now, after everything he really wants to know who they are.
This makes so much more sense now.
Would he be giving a lecture? Should he have Pepper schedule me a lecture or two to see if that helps?
Seriously, what would I be doing to make that the first thing out of someone’s mouth? He starts to go over every scenario he can think of before shaking his head.
Focus Stark. Take out the terrorists first then try and find them.
***Time Jump***
The Mark II had promise but wasn’t right yet.
How did he not factor the cold into it? He’s such an idiot. While working through the kinks, he notices that he has a benefit tonight. Might as well show my face since this will take a few hours. He thinks. Pepper might even flash a smile. Plus it will be a good time to show Obi that I am not incompetent.
‘JARVIS, add the hot rod red to the suit and don’t wait up for me.” Quickly getting changed into a suit and driving the flashiest Audi he has to catch the red carpet.
****Ellie POV a little earlier and then catching up to Tony’s time****
“You can’t be serious.” Elle says to Phil.
“Oh I am completely serious. You’re the only one smart enough to follow anything Stark has to say about the tech if I get him to open up. His assistant said that this might be a great opportunity to catch him.” Phil says with a dress bag in hand.
“So, you want to take me out of the lab, put me into a dress and make me stand in a crowded room with a bunch of people I don’t know on the off chance that Tony Stark shows up in public, which he hasn’t since he came back, to try and interrogate him about the tech that his captors had.” Ellie was outraged on a few levels. She thought, One I’m a spy so why take me. Two I didn’t like parties never mind fancy ones and three the man had been captured and traumatized probably leave him alone!
A very small voice said that this might be the time. It wasn’t as if she was forcing anything, just showing up somewhere that he might also be. That not so small part of her really wanted to meet him now. Like she had almost missed my shot and needed to seize the chance.
“Pretty much. There is a bonus in it for you. Plus I will look less creepy with someone else ther.”
“Yes cause my life’s goal is to make you less conspicuous.” I snark. Phil and I didn’t work together often but were on good enough terms that jokes like that were appropriate.
“I knew you would see it my way. I will pick you up next week at 8pm. That should get us there after the red carpet is finished but not late enough to have missed our opportunity should it arise.”
She huffs and take the dress bag. “This better not be pink.” She says walking away.
The next week, Ellie is standing in a very classy dark blue dress with limited beading. Who knew that Phil had such good taste?
He picks Ellie up and we enter the venue quietly as spi… government agents were wont to do.
“I am going to look for stark. Keep an eye out and signal me if you see him first. Act natural.” He says before striding away.
Natural. Right. And naturally she is going to hide at the edge of the room, snagging snacks and drinks while doing her best impression of a wall flower.
Sounds like a plan.
As she gazes around the room, she questions her every decision that brought her to this moment when she hears from behind “Hey, Tony Stark, you look lost.’
Her side burns pleasantly and she starts to shake.
He actually showed up.
She always thought it was just a stupid pick up line but she is sure that it actually makes sense.
“That makes so much more sense now”
He looks stunned. So not a one sided match. Good to know that she is not the first.
Hs smile widens and he throws his head back to laugh. It’s a deep sound that makes her smile as well.
She am in so much trouble.
****Tony’s POV***
Walking up, Tony flashes his most charming grin at the reports and models milling about. He heads right for the bar.
Some guy comes up and starts to talk to him. Apparently, he is with a government agency with a way too long name to remember and needs to talk to Tony about what happened.
Get in line, He think before saying that he will talk to his assistant about it.
As he is heading over to Pepper, something catches his attention. One of the many vapid models is snickering about someone in the corner.
Looking around, he spies a gorgeous woman doing her best to become one with the wall paper. She looks completely out of place.
He means. She’s beautiful and looks the part but has no confidence and clearly would rather be somewhere else. Either new to this scene or didn’t want to come here in the first place.
Not someone that he normally would have talked to but the model just noticed him and ramped up her attacks on others. Probably to try and point out her own characteristics.
He guesses that he can do a good deed today. Either he raise the confidence of the woman in the corner or he takes the other woman down a peg. Either way probably good for society. He approaches from her blind spot before going for the classic “Hey, Tony Stark, you look lost.”
She says nothing for a few moments before holding back a giggle and saying, “That makes so much more sense now.”
The world seems to stop. So much for the plan to wait until after he has dealt with the terrorists using his weapons. He starts to laugh and notice her smile widening.
This is going to be fun.