Part 25: party poppers and the truth

The party still thudded below - music pulsing, laughter rising in waves. But Emery needed air.The weight of the night, of everything leading to this moment - the ceremony, the speech, the eyes on her, his eyes on her - it was all too much. So she slipped away.

Barefoot now, heels dangling from her fingers, she padded across the cool rooftop tiles, drawn to the furthest edge of the Tower where the city stretched out in shimmering gold.

The skyline blinked lazily against the dark, a million lives buzzing beneath her feet. She sat on the low wall, wrapping her arms around her knees, her fancy hair already beginning to fall out of its updo. Champagne still warm in her veins, but her thoughts were sober. Restless.

Why do I feel like I should be happier right now?"Mind if I crash the brooding?"She startled, but only slightly - because of course it was Tony. Dressed in one of his ridiculous silk party shirts, sleeves rolled, tie long gone. Two drinks in hand.

One for her.

"Didn't think you'd peel away from the celebration," Emery said, taking the glass.

He sat beside her with a soft groan. "Well, your girlfriend speech made me cry in front of Thor, so I needed a breather. Also-" he pointed at her, "-you forgot the 'thank you, Tony, for building me an entire lab and feeding me like a small country for the last year' part."

She smirked, resting her cheek on her knees. "I figured I'd just write that one into your biography."

Tony took a long sip, then went quiet.

After a beat, he glanced at her. "You okay?"

Emery hesitated. "Yeah. I mean... mostly. I should be, right?"

"You are allowed to be overwhelmed. It's a lot, kid."

She bit her lip. "I feel like I've climbed the mountain and now I'm standing at the top... and I have no idea what I'm supposed to do next."

Tony nodded slowly. "Let me tell you a secret. That feeling? It doesn't go away. Even for us geniuses. Especially for us geniuses."

She laughed, soft and genuine.

He leaned back on his palms, eyes scanning the skyline. "You've done more in the last year than most people do in ten. You've studied your ass off, saved lives, kept half this team functioning. And you've still managed to stay you - which, if you haven't noticed, is kind of a miracle around here."

Emery looked over at him, that familiar warmth in her chest. "You think I've done the right thing? Staying? Choosing this life?"

Tony turned to her then - serious, for once.

"I think you've chosen you. That's what matters."

A long silence. Just the hum of the city and the weight of unspoken thoughts between them.

Then...

"You thinking about Barnes?" he asked casually, not even looking at her.

Emery sputtered into her drink. "Wh-what?"

"I'm a genius, remember? I've got eyes. And ears. And F.R.I.D.A.Y. gives me updates even when I don't want them."

She groaned and covered her face.

Tony grinned but didn't tease further. Instead, he leaned his elbows on his knees, voice quieter now.

"Look. I've known Bucky a long time. He's got scars older than this Tower. But when he looks at you... he softens. That doesn't happen often. Doesn't mean you owe him anything, but it does mean he sees you - really sees you. You deserve that."

Emery blinked hard, heart knocking against her ribs.

"I don't know what I want yet," she admitted. "They all... pull at me in different ways."

Tony nudged her shoulder gently. "You don't need to have all the answers tonight. You're not a project. You're a person. And if someone doesn't understand that? They don't deserve you."

She nodded slowly.

He stood, brushing imaginary dust off his trousers. "Now go back down there and enjoy your party before Barnes comes up here looking like a kicked puppy."

Emery grinned, rising to her feet.

"Tony?" she called softly as he turned.

He paused.

"Thank you," she said, voice full.

His smile was small but proud. "Anytime, kid."

And with that, he disappeared back into the Tower, leaving Emery alone beneath the stars - her heart full of questions, but a little lighter.