𝐔𝐒 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏 𝐀𝐓 𝐁𝐎𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐄

𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐀, 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀

TONY

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'He took her?'

How much ever he tried to understand the situation it was the same problem. Elle was snatched under their noses and he was just too slow to prevent it from happening. Just too weak. He knew he was beating himself up for something that was inevitable but damn right, it was his fault. So when Colonel Rhodes came bursting through the tent at the bomb site in Tabora demanding an explanation, he was at a loss of words. The tent cleared out leaving the duo to themselves, knowing the worst was yet to come and Tony was on his own on this one.

'You mean a twink much lower in the danger-o-meter compared to a killer robot took Elle and disappeared into thin air?' He pressed again, his dark eyes prodding him for answers.

Tony was in a state of shock. Certainly, since Elle was the one thing that kept his shit together and now that she was in a position of life or death, Rhodey knew Tony was just as devastated as he was. He was irritated since Tony had not contacted Rhodey about it and he'd gotten to know through his peers and the media. But seeing Tony in a new light quite desperate and out of chances, he felt truly bad to come at him at such a pace.

'Look, Rhodey, we're all behind the eight-ball on this one,' he sighed and leaned onto the chair with a hand over his eyes. He saw blinking lights for a good few seconds to rid off the stress, finally facing his best friend. 'I've secured every single security camera in the subcontinent. I had JARVIS encrypt the files to airport clearances because that's where he was last sighted.'

'You didn't go after her,' he said, much of a statement rather than a question. Because it was the truth.

'If you didn't know, I was under five feet of rubble from the eight-floor blow but yes,' he shrugged, 'I'm fine, thanks.'

'Tony,' he said sternly. This wasn't a joking matter to Rhodey at all since Eleanor quite close to him. How much ever he owed most of his career incidents to her and her press-job, she was like a sibling to him. He knew about her more than anyone and that she had a past that was unlikely to happen to anyone, given she had messed with the wrong family. 'Who's the guy?'

Tony didn't want to say knowing it would only set Rhodey off even more. They had a Stane on their backs years ago and the trophy minority said that there would be no more chances of another younger and more technologically savvy Stane coming back to haul ass.

'Ezekiel Stane, his buddies call him Zeke,' he murmured, waving his hands over the holograph that stood small at the edge of the desk. With a single wave, the phot enlargened, making Rhodey let out an exhale and fold his arms over his chest. 'MIT graduate and being the late Obadiah's son, he was inventing bioweaponry and next-gen armaments since he was nine. Now, a world-known terrorist threat.'

Rhodey shook his head. 'What's this dude got to do with Elle?' 

'This is where it gets tricky,' he said, rising from his seat to fully assist Rhodey on the matter. Reaching across the board, he displayed another sighting of Zeke from ten years ago. 'He went on lockdown for four years, worked from the shadows. Wanted to lay low—he had an incentive, right? He hunted down the black market for my old-time Stark tech for his own purposes, example—autonoetic supplements. Simply put, Iron Man 2.0.'

'He's his father's son,' Rhodey sighed, clucking his tongue. 'He's retaliating, Tony. He's using Elle to give you a reason to go after him. She's bait.'

'That's not it,' he said, lowering his voice to reveal more news. 'He's the one who terrorized Tabora. Classic bait-and-switch. He's going to strike again—'

'Woah, hang on a sec. Stane was behind the initiative?'

'Elle found this yesterday,' he rolled the cylindrical chunk of metal that resembled the old-version, first model of his arc-reactor. It had been out of his hands for years and suddenly it was inserted into three young boys to cause a global catastrophe. 'It all lines up. Elle snatched up, the attack, his next—'

'Excuse me, Mr. Stark?'

A young blonde woman with her eyes filled with fleeting fear, sweating bullets was at the curtain of the tent and a few soldiers flanking her sides. She held a laptop close to her chest, the minimal stickers making Tony peer closer only to remind him that it was indeed Elle's. She was obviously in a crisis and Rhodey waved at the men to leave her. He shifted to her suspiciously.

'Ma'am, this is a secured zone and the reporter's timing was—'

'I'm not here for that. My name is Calico Quinn, I'm Miss Preece's personal secretary,' she explained shakily. 'And, I was hoping maybe I could be of help.'

'How exactly do you presume we just leave you to aid and abet us?' Tony scoffed, rolling his eyes. 'We're going around in circles.'

'Elle was getting intel from someone outside our press depot,' she revealed, flashing the familiar thumb drive that hung from her index finger. 'I thought it was her but, then when I confronted her, she told me she had no clue.'

'False intel?'

'No,' Cal refused. 'This is the real deal. Actual footage.'

'Why would someone send deleted footage to Elle?' Tony questioned, confused.

'I have reason to believe that it's her felon who was behind this,' Cal nodded, sucking in a tough and ready breath.

'Elaborate,' Rhodey ordered, raising a perfect brow.

'She was working on the footage before this and she wrote her article for hand-in,' she said, operating flusteredly. 'Weeks ago, she was gathering evidence for a small-town community in the Philippines and wreckage the recent tsunami it caused. She— '

Tony beckoned her to come in, interrupting her and waving the men out of the tent. He narrowed his eyes in intent at the woman. 'What has any of this got to do with Elle and the attack?'

'She knew this strike was coming without her notice and we now know the next spot,' she said, moving past a concerned Rhodey and laying Elle's laptop over the holographic table. Immediately the spotlit up, gaining access to her every file and all of her web browser history. Cal gasped, freezing on spot and watching the web of holographs in awe.

'Go ahead,' Tony mused. 'It's a technical thing, no need to get hassled.'

'Okay um,' she used the touchpad to open up an article on the StarkExpo that was set to happen this weekend. Tony knew he won't be attending it, with all the nuisance going on right now. 'This will be happening two days from now with a procession. This is similar to the Filipino procession with the Triumph Division that will happen next month. Eleanor was working on all for about a year now.'

'Triumph Division?' Rhodey asked cautiously. 'Another Avengers or something?'

'They're a group of heroes who served the nation a few years ago for the tsunami that struck them,' she filled in quickly, watching Rhodey. 'It's a holy event.'

'What are you implying?' 

'If the criminal slash kidnapper is planning an attack, he has been aiming for anything Stark-related,' she revealed. 'This piece of land was acquired by the Stark International facility for their division which was announced in the news. StarkExpo is the next major event and the Philippines is where the Stark Relief fund is set to open the following week.'

'He'll be there then.'

'I can't say,' she murmured. 'It really depends on—'

Tony butt in without hesitation after a short silence. 'He's after me, Rhodey, what did I tell you?'

'Tony, I swear to god—'

'He took my girl, dude! Now, he wants to take down my industrial rep and next, my tech. He's avenging with an Avenger,' he blasted out, not bothered about a flinching Cal with every stress of his words. 'That sounded way better in my head.'

'I'm sorry, uh,' Cal said in the tiniest voice she could muster. 'Am I missing out on something?'

'Yes, you are.'

Rhodey sighed at a grouchy Tony before speaking to Cal. 'Miss Quinn, we appreciate your input but that's classified—'

'I owe her everything, Colonel,' she interrupted with a vacillating look. It was terse and practically spelt out impossible. 'She helped me in a time of need and now, I have something that can bring her back.'

'I understand you care about Elle,' Rhodey nodded after a sullen beat that passed between them. 'We all do. But, this is an international terrorist we were talking about.'

Tony beamed at the thought of Elle having a giving heart and the thought of not thinking twice to help someone out. He knew one day all these favours were going to be of guidance and in the future and here he was, Elle almost eating his words. 

'Okay, Calico,' Tony said her name weirdly. 'Say you mess up big time, but that's the worst-case scenario. If you end up being wrong and screw it, I'm coming after you.'

She gulped, her eyes widening with fear. 'I—I was... Mr Stark—'

'That's me.'

'He came on to me, sir,' she confessed in a soft rush of breath. 'I came to her room to give her the documents she had asked for. And then, then next thing I know, he had a gun against my back and forcing me to call you out.'

Tony's glare did not budge a muscle. 

'Cool it, hotshot,' Rhodey admonished a diabolical Tony with a pat over his shoulder. He merged his calm gaze with her flitting ones. 'She's on our side.'

'You don't know that,' he pressed, still having a watchful eye on her. 'She could be working with him.'

'I swear,' Cal whispered. 'I mean I still sleep with crystals under my pillow.'

Tony pointed an accusatory finger at her. 'You're the one who's putting those crazy ideas into my poor girlfriend's head! Elle's been on my ass with jades and quartzes since last year!'

'Really, Tony?' Rhodey sighed.

'It's brutal, man. I think I shit one out of manifestation.'

'Elle's secretary put her life in line to get us evidence,' Rhodey reasoned calmly. 'I think she knows the consequences that follow.' He turned to Cal and nodded at her once. 'That'll be all, ma'am. We'll take it from here.'

Cal swallowed hard, casting the duo one last glance and slipping outside the tent. She tripped on her way out, catching herself and sprinting off. Rhodey exhaled sharply and rubbing his forehead.

'He knew her, Rhodey. He knew Elle.'

'What?'

'She recognized him,' he offered on. 'I could see it but she wasn't shocked,' he gave it a while to let it sink in. 'She was afraid. They have something that I don't know about. But I will.'

Tony started to question everything that Elle could have associated herself with. His brain was a mess of strings, trying to link the dots to another and think hard to remember her exact words. Of course, he was a jackass when it came to listening to her but, sometimes he made sure to retain things and little ideas that were important to her. Come on, he thought to himself. Think, Tony, think.

'Whatever the hell he has with her,' Rhodey dismissed, breaking him out of his thoughtless trance. 'I don't care. You find her, Anthony Stark—'

'I know. Elle's mine, remember?' He said, quirking his lips lightly. 

'Find her and that son of a bitch or I'll kick your ass to the curb.'

He pouted, scratching the side of his goatee. 'Woah-o, Rhodey. When have I ever disappointed you?'

'Do you really want to go there, Tony? Now? '

Tony made a puckered face. 'Yeah, no.'

'Then, get to it. We don't have time, this bastard could be anywhere.'

'Language!'

∞

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐘𝐎𝐑𝐊

TWO YEARS AGO...

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Shock was not an effect Elle had taken well. Generally, when someone got hurt it was usually her. And she had grown to go hand-in-hand with fear at those instances. She was persistent to be vigilant of her surroundings and keep her eyes peeled open for disturbances like a hawk.

So when she had walked into her apartment and seen a mail that was usually sat over the fruit basket left to disarray over the shoe rack, all the blood drained from her face. Her movements got stealthy, causing fear to flood through her veins in the form of adrenaline. All she kept thinking was about how it was too soon for her perfect life to be over and how years of meticulous outlining of her future had been washed down the drain.

The past few weeks after strolled by like a blur for her and it was the best thing since her run-in with the man everyone knew. Hand-ins, incident reports and calls more than necessary had her tied down to her office in a blissful pressure. She loved to bustle around, not having time to think and immersed neck-deep in work so that no other vague sentiments would intrude her solicitudes. It was an unnerving liking, enjoying the workaholic nature she had undertaken once she had gotten to the States.

Elle didn't realize the thin sheen of tears that started to sprout under her eyelids when the exhaustion of being caught red-handed started to seep in, her fear now a tangible weakness. Her calculated steps lead her to the lonesome bedroom in the apartment, holding a palm to her mouth to stifle her heavy breaths.

'Don't scream, Elle.'

In fearful haste, she flicked the lights on. She was in crosshairs with the man that had been in her head more than usual when his profile was lightened from the amber lights of the bedroom. The loose, playful grin that was playing on his stubble set like stone, his brows creasing in grimness. He caught the tears in her eyes and she quickly swiped them away.

'Oh my god,' she croaked out in relief, trying to mask her embarrassing tears streaks and unmissable fear in her voice. Taking in lungfuls of air, she kneaded a hand into her chest.

Tony's voice was confused, mortified even. 'Are you,' he drawled, 'are you crying?'

The only reason Tony had vaguely even considered breaking into the apartment because he had almost died that night and he just needed to be in the presence of the one woman who had latched onto his brain like a virus all week. After many failed attempts of trying to restrict these thoughts out of his system, he had taken impulse like a shot and travelled to Iran for rescuing refugees from a hostage incident. After nearly getting floored by a bomb that hurtled into him, the near-death experience's adrenaline refuses to exit him and hence, the breaking in. And the bath. Yeah, he had taken a tiny shower because her place looked like an OCD-infested cavern and he had no intention of tainting its sanctity.

He barely even knew this woman. Had it been two dates, including their one-night stand? Maybe even lesser. but he felt like he could relate to Elle on a metaphysical level. She spoke like she had a vice and it was the sexiest thing to see in a woman, drawing him closer to intrigue. Her mere wordplay set him off, driving him nuts as he pondered over her words and actions without end.

Tony rose up the side of the bed, dropping the white towel back to the bed. Elle was quick to hide her vulnerable nature with a swift swipe of her hand underneath her eyes and watching him with a monotony.

'I can phone the authorities for this,' Elle's tone was firm. He had crossed a line without him knowing it. 'But, could you imagine their surprise if I told them Tony Stark had successfully broken into my apartment?'

Tony accepted her statement with an impressed tilt of his head. 'What I was going to say, actually.'

Her buttery azure gaze was unrelenting as she stared daggers into him. He had definitely overstepped a line. 'This isn't the least bit exciting, Mr Stark. I'm going to have to ask you to leave.'

'And I'm going to have to refute that statement,' he cocked a brow in refusal. 'Technically, this is my apartment, too.'

She scoffed, amused now. 'I beg your pardon?'

'This building? It's mine,' he said, wryness evident in both his voice and smile. 'Both Murray Hill and the one on the Upper Eastside. Figured if I was investing, might as well be something for the community.'

Damn it, he was going to purchase an apartment building now. Two buildings—whatever the hell was up with Murray Hill, anyway? Before his thoughts get more jangled, he saw her blink and shake her head to rid off the awe. Her darkened eyes were back to ruthless and he was loving it.

'I couldn't care less because this is still trespassing,' she seethed. 'Unconsented entry into personal premises could earn you five years in prison and a year of social service.'

He had forgotten about the certificate she held in law. He wondered what Elle's weak threat to stagger him had gone in vain, his next move was to close in on her. She stood unfazed by his advances, her teeth gritting against one another in utmost irritation. Her breathtaking storm-blue eyes were drowning him in rains to come, gleaming amidst tears that were yet to fall.

'You know, you have funny way of calling me in a pain the ass,' he told her, his tone light and trying to lift her spirits. Her gaze only turned darker. 'I like it.'

She rolled her eyes, unfazed by his uneven comment. 'Listen, Mr Stark⁠—'

'Tony,' he corrected with a half-smile, 'come on, Elle. I mean, you've been in my bed.'

That came out wrong. Instantly, Tony regretted the words that left his mouth and chewed his upper lip whilst staring at her. She went beet-red, her face turning away to shrug off her coat and blazer.

If only she were wearing black, he thought. Elle had a body that could turn heads and make anyone look twice. She had svelte bows and carried the indigo fit-and-flare dress like it was tailored for her. It was his natural drive to appreciate a woman's physique but with her, it felt smutty. She was more than just a pretty face, he could see that. She was clever, soft and simple.

'You had a bath in my apartment,' Elle's faint voice made him look away from her wringing hands. She took the towel from his hands and let it hand over a nearby clasp. 'Hang on, how did you even get in?'

'Sorry,' he said sheepishly, 'I let myself in. Cute security pad, by the way.'

'Utterly useless now,' she fussed, walking past him to seat herself over the bed and toe off her heels. 'My password...—'

'Please, Elle. I'm the world's best engineer, I think I can handle figuring out your birthday.'

'Not my birthday,' she said, biting down a smile.

'Graduation?'

'No.'

'First date?'

'Uh-uh.'

He sighed. 'Okay, so I breached a few servers. Sue me.'

She rolled her eyes, impassive to his overstatement. 'I legally should. But look, you rattled me coming in here like this.'

He thought back to her almost waterworks minutes ago. 'Apparently.'

'I understand that I'm being pursued,' she replied quietly, slightly entertained at Tony's expense, 'but need I remind you about a lady's fast limits?'

'Hard pass,' he said breathily, 'I hope they don't include some harmless dinner.'

'At your position,' she smirked, leaning into her bed with her palms pushing into the eiderdown. If it were with any other woman, he would take it as an invite to join her. 'They might.'

'I hate partiality,' he tilted his head. 'A larger turn-off.'

'I wasn't seducing you,' she cocked a brow. He was hanging by a fine thread when her dress hitched up higher with her movement. He willed his eyes away, not wanting to give it easy with her and loving the challenge. 

And Jesus fucking Christ.

She wore the sexiest pantyhose he had ever seen on a woman, subtly coloured and tucked into her nude pair of stilts. All he could think about was having them over his shoulders, dress pulled the seam of her legs as he traced the curve of her—

'Eyes up here, Mr Stark,' Elle snapped her fingers in front of his face. He blinked twice, rearranging the arresting look on his face. 

'I feel so,' he retorted easily, testing the waters. 'Prove it.'

'I am not! And, I apologize if I am coming off as seductive,' she half-laughed, rising from the bed to walk past him once again. He caught a whiff of her perfume, realizing that he smelt like her. Reminded himself that was because he had showered here.

'Purely unintended,' she winked.

Oh-ho... the little minx was pushing so, so many buttons.

'So,' Tony denied straying away from the subject, 'dinner? Pizza?'

She shook her head in a weak effort to refuse him. 'Tony.'

'Oh. Gluten-free, are we?'

'No, it... we can't.'

'Just dinner, I swear,' he raised his hands in surrender, 'no ulterior motives.'

Looking at him for a short beat and making her decisions, Elle knew her choices didn't matter if her outcome was going to remain the same. With a slow drawl of her breath, she nodded softly.

'Alright. I'll join you outside,' she waved to the door, 'and it's not like you didn't make yourself at home already.'

'Undoubtedly,' he saluted her. 'What's the point of me breaking in then?'

She laughed quietly, a finger over her lips. 'I'm convinced it's my claw foot bathtub.'

'Wow. I used the goddamned shower when you had one of those?'

'Outside, sir.'

'My, god. Been so clueless. Coulda had you join me in there instead.' He cleared his throat and made a showy gesture to the bathroom. 'Yes, ma'am. Still a gentleman. You get nice and comfy. I can wait.'

Tony walked outside with a proud smile on his face, halting in his steps to throw a small glance over his shoulders to watch her shake her head not before looking to the ceiling with an elated grin. For a little second, he shared her joy.

While the smug genius left the room pacified, Elle indulged herself in a quick body pamper. A swift shower later, she dressed in a long-sleeved cotton shirt and shorts and soon, sauntered out the door.

'I'm gonna be honest with you,' Tony said from the island kitchen, catching her by surprise. 'I can't cook for crap.'

'You're in luck,' she chuckled, shaking herself out of her blow. 'Neither can I.'

'It's like we're meant to be,' he grinned. 

'I was joking,' she entered the kitchen and rounded the centre-spaced counter to get to his stance. She was smiling wider than ever. 'I grew up in the countryside. I would bring disgrace to my mother if I didn't.'

'Then I guess you can fix us something, cowgirl,' he nudged her shoulder as he attempted to walk out. Elle caught the back of his collar, yanking him back. She prayed that she hadn't crossed a limit, and granted her wish when he let out a laugh.

'Was that a sexual hint?'

He pushed his bottom lip out. 'I mean... if you want it to be.'

She frowned.

'Kidding,' he laughed, tending away from her to sift through some cabinets nearby. He suddenly snapped his fingers. 'Music! We need music.'

Elle looked at him for a while, thinking if she were dreaming, just as a loud rock song began to blare through her TV speakers. A few years ago, if she were told that Tony Stark was going to invite himself to her home and offer to make her dinner, she would have laughed at them in the face.

He was just so darned attractive. Elle couldn't get him out of her head, exhausting herself in hopes of pushing him out of her system. Nothing worked and in the end, she would find herself staring at his number on her phone.

'Thinking of cereal and... milk,' Tony cut into her reverie, producing a carton of milk and a box of cornflakes. She fought off a grin.

'Don't you know a way into a woman's heart,' Elle sassed under her breath, taking the bowl from his hands. She was feeling hungrier than a bowl of breakfast foods, shrouding her voracious appetite and accepting his offer.

Tony heard her mumble, laughing through his nose. 'My approach is through other means. Chef-fing is not it.'

She knew the answer, not bothering to reply. Pouring herself some of the condiments, she tucked herself into the comfort food and Tony was generous enough to not initiate small talk. He did turn around to try and mess with her remote and gave her shit for not having Netflix. 

He gave up and went back to cable TV. 'Let's see... ugh, Tolkien. Rat bastard.'

Elle smirked. 'Not a fan of the Hobbit?'

'You know, Thor's one of my best friends. So when you work with that every day and watch this,' he waved to the characters on the screen, 'it feels like a let-down.'

They indulged in pertinent silence until Elle licked the bowl clean and stopped herself from another serving. The box gradually inched towards her and she looked at him timidly.

'I won't judge,' he said simply. 'Go for it.'

'Anyways,' she cleared her throat, shaking more cereal into her bowl, 'why are you here?'

'I don't know and frankly,' he let out a resigned sigh, 'I've been thinking about you a lot lately. So after multiple near-grave encounters, I just wanted to see you. I was initially supposed to head home and—ah, shit.'

'What?'

'To meet with Pepper and,' he rubbed a hand down his face, 'damn it.'

Elle looked uncomfortable, pushing the remnants of the cereal around her bowl. 'Are you and Miss Potts...—'

'No,' he said, hasty to chase the thought out of her head. 'Even if I were, I have morals. Deception is not my MO.'

'But, why me?' She asked, confused. 'Why here?'

'Let's just say I haven't acquainted myself with anyone who challenges me as you do,' he said in his own way of complimenting her.

Elle's heart dabbled over a flow, liquid heat pooling in her stomach. She brought her hands over her lap, combing her fingers down on the fringe that flopped over her head to fight off an embarrassing laugh.

'Please tell me my relentless pursuit has you a little excited,' he sounded despondent and Elle cast him a soft smile. 'I mean, I just met you. And you are completely out of my league.'

'Er,' she swallowed, 'in a good way?'

'Did it sound bad?' He said dryly.

'No,' she laughed it off simply, 'just checking.'

'Look, Elle,' he shook his head, 'trust me when I say that I have never sought after a woman this hard. I might have meddled some boundaries but I think because becoming the man you deserve, is sort of an unshakeable, pleasant surprise.'

Elle moved her head closer to Tony and he followed the motion. He was frozen, from both excitement and curiosity, leaning in closer.

'That,' she remarked lowly, fighting out words, 'was a splendid thing to say.'

'Oh,' he said, barely louder than a whisper.

Their foreheads relaxed against each other; breaths shaking, mingling and becoming one. Wavering and invigorated from the tautness, Elle closed the distance between their parted lips and kissed him warmly. Her lips lifted to a smile when she tended behind, taking shallow gasps to fill the silence.

Tony, unable to hold back any longer, held the back of her neck to pull her back for a more passionate kiss to fuel his dominance. The world itself was falling away and he didn't want to let go. She ran her fingers up his spine, reaching to tangle her arms around his neck. His hands as if on cue drifted to her hip to yank her into his chest.

'Wow,' he whispered against her lips, impressed. 'You are a great kisser.'

She laughed breathlessly. 'Thank you.'

'And definitely, worth the wait,' he mumbled, making her laugh harder. 'If anything, I'm kissing you more to make up for the weeks of knowing you.'

'Do I have a say?' Her lips teased his.

'No,' he breathed out, quickening in pace when hers did. 'God, you smell amazing. What even...'

 His kisses traversed to the column of her throat, nuzzling her neck delicately. With no wish for their moment to end, he looked back at her with a wry grin.

'Want to take this inside?'

She sighed, adjusting her top. 'I was afraid you wouldn't ask.'

∞

The ominous sound of a bullet meeting flesh shook Elle awake. Startled by the recurring horror and bathed in a cold sweat, she saw the covers twisted between her legs and a wild Tony calling out her name repeatedly. In a drive to find isolation, Elle held her chest and shuffled away into the headboard. The nightmare, as always, clung to reality and continued to whisper the horrors in her ears.

Elle trembled as she watched Tony drop back down on the mattress with a heavy sigh of relief. His eyes were concerned, a hand over her knee which left when she pulled her legs to her chest. At least she wasn't stark naked. Had she hurt him? She couldn't remember yet, grazing her gaze along his arms and neck. Nothing.

'I'm sorry,' she whispered, pushing the hair out her eyes. She felt the wetness on her cheeks and shook her head sadly. 'I'm so sorry about that.'

'No,' he swallowed hard, 'it's fine.'

Without words, Elle blindly patted the top of her nightstand for the orange tube of tablets and upon retrieving it, she popped two of the oddly-shaded tablets into her mouth. Washing it down with the jug of water nearby, she fell back into the cushion with an arm over her eyes. All the while, Tony watched her mutely.

'You can leave, Tony,' she told him quietly, saving him the awkwardness. 'I would understand if you did.'

She was robbed of support when Tony noiselessly rose from the bed with a vaguely confused expression. Elle refused to watch, turning on her front to muffle a hopeless sigh into the pillow. Her watery eyes smudged the white covers, her palms still clammy from the cold sweat.

Once again, she would be left to comfort herself and disconnected from a warmth she craved. Fisting her hands, she controlled the urge to ask him for a hug. Yes, because she caught that Tony Stark was keen on giving out free hugs to people who were alarmed by night terrors.

Maybe she wasn't worth a relationship anymore, hence the living nightmare that fate had indulged her into. This had been a bad idea; this whole idea of a new hope had been terrible.

'Do you,' she heard him ask from somewhere nearer to her, 'do you need anything?'

Jubilant and slightly relieved, she nodded into her pillow. 'It may sound bizarrely blunt.'

'I won't mind.'

'I,' she breathed out, 'I think I just need a hug.'

She heard him laugh out through his nose. 'Well, that's fairly realistic, to be honest. I was expecting seven thousand wreaths or something.'

Ever since the last time Elle had been hugged, one never came as close as this. It was warm, sound and perfunctory. The knots in her muscles loosened, sagging against his chest when he cradled her warmly. His calloused fingers brushed the back of her head, cheek over the side as he let out a soft exhale.

'Can I ask you something?' He asked under his breath. 'I promise it's a mature question.'

'All right,' she said, amused.

'You have trouble sleeping because of,' he fought out his words, 'the scars, right?'

Elle felt the need to pull back and answer. On instinct, her hands went to the divots around her neck, pushing the hair out of the way to show him the darker bruises at the back of her neckband. His eyes rounded in shock. The waning yet changeless, the four-pronged scar at the back of her neck was blooming, setting a rich crimson from the diminishing shade. He swallowed hard, mildly put off the rails.

'He wasn't as good as I thought he was,' Elle shared softly, letting her hair drop back evenly over her chest. She looked embarrassed even when he found the source of her pain, her eyes directed at his feet. 'The usual, of course. Objectified, came to his beck and call and well, taken without consent.'

'Without consent?' He gulped.

She barely smiled. 'It is exactly what it means.'

'Why?' He asked. 'Why stay, in the first place?'

'I was young,' she said, a dark smirk on her lips as if accepting her regretful situation. 'I was stupid and fooled by this idea of love. It's—it's like having this gun in my mouth but, I really loved the taste of metal.'

Tony had to ask regardless of the momentary distaste. She had a way of expressing herself; make herself sound reasonable which made him admire her more. It must've been a long, hard process to make herself fall out the misconception of love. He was alarmed at first, and quite irritated about having to know she went through with this.

'How long did you two, you know—?'

'About five to six years,' she sighed. 'I should've seen it earlier.'

He tried to piece the situation together at his own pace. 'So you came here to—'

'—to start over,' she finished simply. 'Find myself something else to indulge in. Escape, really.'

'Did you?' Her eyes raised to his in question. 'Did you manage to escape?'

'It was not easy,' she felt her throat close up at the thought of actuality she would face soon, 'things went awry by the time I arrived in the States. I've had difficulty sleeping ever since.' 

'How long is that now?'

'Six months, give or take,' she calculated. 'Which is why I overwork myself. I tend to fall asleep more easily when I'm wearied.'

Tony gave off a startled blink of his eyes. Whenever he needed to be lucid and clear, his brain begged for unconsciousness, for sleep at any price. And every time sleep would call for him, it was only those few fitful hours and then rise when he would feel a gunshot penetrate his chest, heart beating miles per hour and as if he were immersed in deep water for too long. So when he did choose to sleep, he wearied himself for the worst, exhausted until he felt nothing in his bones and hit the sack. 

He, to her surprise, let out a chuckle. 'We're not that distinctive in this field.'

'Exhaustion is a wonderful idea,' she joked along, a small smile on her lips. 'I presume your methods include something more... physical?'

'You bet,' he winked.

Elle was ashamed which was a clearcut meaning for her to be left alone. She knew she was more than a wounded dog now, embarrassed and licking her wounds. She wondered if she would ever get to start over normally, arriving at a repulsive conclusion and deciding to get on with it anyway. Luck was never on her side from the first.

'Are—are you feeling better?' She asked quietly, her eyes glancing over the little speckles of bruises and cuts over his neck and face. 

He smiled, realizing what she was speaking about.. 'I feel like if I say "yes", you'll say, "good, then go and never come back."'

'Because you terrified me breaking in like that.'

'I just needed a place to lay low,' he reasoned. 

'So this is what I need to look forward to for the rest of my time knowing you? You just show up here, near flatlining and flirty, I heal you. And you make those gosh darned puppy eyes at me and...'

His eyes reminded Elle of the old outhouse in her plot back home, flecks of deep brown united with more radiant hues, so much fervour dwelling despite the years of weathering, so much life.

'Elle?'

She didn't realize she had been staring. 'Yes?'

'I'm sorry for the intrusion. I, honestly, came here out of instinct,' he said, sounding timid almost.

'Stop it,' she rolled her eyes. So much for philandering. 

'It's true,' he widened his eyes to seem more plausible, 'I needed somewhere safe in the heat of battle, and you were the first, and only, thing I thought of. I didn't know I was here I until I did.'

'...instinct?' Elle tried in her mouth. 

She had not been used to instincts with her old relationship, it had been more of a command, a call or a summoning of sorts. She had never handled it before.

'Yeah,' he laughed. 'It usually occurs when you like someone.'

She choked on nothing, enunciating his words like a toddler. 'You. Like. Me?'

He rounded his eyes in mock horror. 'Son of a bitch, I do.'

'As in—'

'As in, I would very much like it if you would allow me to snatch you off the market,' he said, continuing to look entertaining. 'Seriously, Preece, I can't make it more exclusive than this.'

She let out a small laugh, nodding. His fingers had caught hers, bringing it to his lips to kiss every pad of the soft skin as if worshipping it slowly. Her heart started to hammer in a delectable pace, seeing that no one had ever performed such actions with her.

'I would love that.'

With a vague mumble of his amused agreement, he inclined into her to crush his lips to hers warmly. It was innocent, intimate and electrifying yet, none of it mattered. Not the fact that she had just discussed the fact that she had been used by her ex or that she was an insomniac or that Tony had mentioned that he was, too.

Their lips moved in perfect sync, stealing the words that they didn't need to say. At that moment, Elle felt strong, something she hadn't felt like for years. All of their secrets, passions, lies laid bare and suddenly, there wasn't anything. Just them.

∞

[ w/n: this chapter was the bomb and loved working on it! hope you love it, too and the next chapter is not too far behind. don't forget to check out some of my other works, hopefully, they're worth a read and I would adore the support! thanks, loves :)  ]

[ update (16.01.2020): holy MOLY. what. A. Chapter. we have a little extended look into Ellony's relationship and aw, they're cho cyute! Edited and rewritten! please point out typos as I go, ICYMI! ]