Chapter 19 - RedEye

Stark analyzed the scene and Brock stood up, "What the hell are you doing?"

"Me?" Tony replied and He looked at you standing up from the picnic table. "Are you ok?"

You nodded and Brock shot up and strode to Tony. "Is she ok? What are you insinuating?"

Brock was face to face with Tony just waiting for a reason to hit him. The tension is thick, "Don't you have a party to get back too?" Brock asked

Tony glanced to you as you were watching the scene. You were frozen unsure what to do. Not to mention you were still regaining strength in your legs. " Come on it's time to go home."

"Home? Don't make me laugh." Rumlow bit his cheek. "Her home is back in New York City Stark! She is only in California because she needs to learn about the arc reactor. You know that!"

"I also know that you told me you would keep your hands off." Tony looked at him.

"She isn't your property."

"Maybe not but she made a promise to me."

You couldn't believe your ears, "You both can fuck right off!" You took your heels off and strode towards them. "You!" You pointed at Rumlow, "You made a promise to Tony that you wouldn't touch me? What the hell is that?"

"It's not when you think." He tried to lower his voice towards you. "Fury, made me promise that I wouldn't act upon my feelings. Tony just so happened to be standing there."

Tony chimed in, "You obviously failed that order."

"AND YOU!" You pointed your shoe at him. "I am not your property, your home is not mine, and right now I think we're done being partners."

You started towards the gate, "Wait!" They both shouted at you and you gave them the middle finger. You started to walk down the street wishing you had a jacket from the chill of the night. "What a bunch of assholes." You thought to yourself.

Just than a black car pulled up and rolled it's window down, it was Happy. "I don't know, I don't want to know but if you want to get ice cream hop in." You looked and saw Tony and Rumlow walking out of the gate. They stopped seeing you in a distance and you didn't think twice before hoping into the car.

You turned to Happy, "Can we please make it a cheeseburger?" He looked at you for a minute and smiled, "Sounds great." He drove forward and ignored Tony's call that showed on the dash of the car.

"Thanks Happy." You were in the passenger side and let out a sigh while you leaned back into the seat and fastened your seatbelt. "Can you explain something to me?" You looked at him

"What's that?"

"Why are men so stupid?" You smiled and he let out a little laugh.

"Well I am not agreeing with you but I think when we really care for someone it is hard for us to separate our emotions."

"Elaborate."

"Well, when I really care for someone it's hard for me to express it. I feel so happy but angry at the idea of anything hurting her. Then I feel protective but can become over protective. I am also consistently worried about if I am doing enough and what I can do to constantly do more. She floods my mind and sometimes I end up doing stupid things because I overlook what she really needed."

You looked ahead as Happy turned into a drive thru, "I don't think that's the case. Listen I know it might be too much but Rumlow and I acted on our feelings towards each other tonight."

Happy made a disgusting face, "Oh stop!" you let out, "But anyways, Tony noticed us laying together and Brock got mad and it ended up coming out that he promised Fury he wouldn't act on his feelings for me."

"I don't understand why that would be any of Fury's business." Happy chimed in, "Listen, Fury may seem strange but he is a very smart man. He isn't worried about intercompany relationships. If Fury has a concern about you two being together, there is another reason."

Happy placed an order and you mulled over what he said. You didn't know Fury well enough to justify his response. When Happy pulled ahead and waited for the food at the second window you continued. "Then Tony acts like he owns me, he referred to me leaving with him as going home."

You watched as Happy pulled to the window and handed you a coke and the bag of food.

Happy shook his head, "Listen, off the record, he acts differently around you."

"Oh Happy don't try to tell me he has feelings." You could smell the food from the bag but didn't want to eat in the car. You could tell Happy would not have been Happy.

Happy shrugged, " I am not saying that but what I can say is he trusts you. There are very few people Tony consistently keeps around but there is something about you. He has cancelled plans just to spend more time in the lab with you. Other then your first night he hasn't gone out, he would rather stay in. I can promise you, that has something to do with you."

"I think that you might be a bit bias." You watched Happy pull into Stark's driveway. You were too busy mulling over his words to care that you were back at Stark's house.

"Maybe, but I think that you are someone genuinely good. There isn't very many people I would ignore Stark for. Believe me I am going to hear about that later. Plus Y/N?"

You opened the car door and looked back at him, "What's up?"

"I saw your friend May before we left New York when I helped to drop off the supplies. Could you put in a good word for me?" He smiled at you

You returned his grin, "Of course Happy. Thank you for the ride." You shut the car door and walked into the entrance of the house.

Jarvis greeted you and you let out a deep breath and set up the cheeseburger bag on the counter. You pulled out your cell phone and made two calls. You noticed Tony's tie was hanging on the stairway and started to hear noise from the lab. You grabbed your meal and headed down.

Tony's tux jacket was draped over a chair and he was in a black shirt welding some metal. You pulled the door open and he turned to you and lifted his mask. "Y/N Listen I." You sat on the counter crossing your legs and he walked towards you. You interrupted him.

"I didn't want to come here." You bit into your cheeseburger. "I had a great night that I planned on finishing with Rumlow." You licked your fingers from the grease dripping. "We even had a hook up tonight." You remained straight faced and matter of fact with your words.

He crossed his arms and you looked up at him. "Can you tell me why the second I saw you I felt guilty?" He uncrossed his arms looking surprised but not breaking his stare on you.

You took another bite of your burger and even followed it with a French fry. "I think I am falling for you." A tear came out and you tried to hide it, "I can't continue working with you because it's not professional for me anymore." You put your empty wrapper in the bag and jumped off the counter. "I called Fury and let him know I quit.

I also have a cab outside and I am taking the red eye back to New York City. Keep the water conservation project and Iron Man. I will come up with better ideas ." You walked to the lab door and opened it, "Take Care Tony."

He watched you walk up the stairs and out of sight.