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darsynia · 3 years

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Tony/OC | In Search of a Fairy Tale pt. I

Hello there! In honor of @patheticallysentimental's birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYYY!!) I thought I'd post a Tony smut fic I wrote in her honor a little while back! It's two chapters which I'll split as it got away from me in some of the best ways, haha.

Pairing: Tony/OC, set during Iron Man 2

Warnings: set up for smut, language

Summary: Shortly after his triumph in the senate hearing, Tony fulfills his yearly obligation to MIT by guest-teaching a lecture there. His celebrity often causes some of the students to react enthusiastically, but this year, a lovely student in the front row catches his eye. Not because she's trying to get his attention, but because she's not.

Length: ~4,500 each chapter

Part II is up now! https://darsynia.tumblr.com/post/667769373637984256/tony-starkoc-in-search-of-a-fairy-tale-part-ii

In Search of a Fairy Tale

Chapter 1

In between searching for a replacement for palladium and turning his PA into his CEO, Tony still has his regular, non-peacekeeping responsibilities. One of these is a yearly promise to guest lecture at MIT, above and beyond the flashy visits he makes periodically. He can’t even remember what the subject is, but the professor had been one of his TAs, and he’s good at his job. Tony shakes the man’s hand and heads for the podium to a standing ovation. The guy had promised to leave him a loose outline, and sure enough, it’s there. Tony supposes he should feel at least slightly guilty when he looks up and sees the sea of excited faces arrayed in front of him, considering his lack of preparation, but then again, he’s Tony Stark.

It’s practically expected.

He starts the lecture with a swaggering kind of false self-deprecation, learning his audience in a way that’s not dissimilar to a stand-up comic. There’s a group of young men who are seated in the very center of the room whose laid-back body language belie their interest in what he has to say. For the first five minutes, Tony circles his words around them. The ringleader calls out a particularly clever answer to one of Tony’s bait questions, and this sets the mood for the whole space. He’d almost forgotten how to enjoy this in the midst of all of his personal shit, Tony thinks to himself. Thankfully, it’s all coming back.

Now that he’s got a focal point for engagement, Tony settles in, lets himself relax into his phrenetic style. He’s always known that people value his attention, and he bestows it generously-- pointing to a good response here, winking at a student there, earning and holding eye contact with multiple people. That’s when he sees her. Front row: black corduroy slacks, long legs, tight sweater, though the young lady in question quickly tips her textbook up against her chest, concealing her curves from view. She turns her head to look behind her at the student answering Tony’s question, which reminds him that he should be doing the same.

He shifts his focus despite being intrigued, because the glimpse of her face he’d caught had been, well. Likely deceptive. Women that beautiful don’t tend to bother with engineering for engineering’s sake, and they certainly don’t tend to hide themselves from him.

When he traces his gaze back in her direction a few minutes later, Tony finds that she’s seated beside the exact archetype he’d been mentally comparing her to. This second student is dressed in stark crimson, pun almost certainly intended. Red stilettos, barely-legal miniskirt, form-fitting top complete with a filmy gold and red knee-length cover-up that he’s pretty sure is sold in the lingerie section. She’s got an Iron Man water bottle on the desk in front of her, and when she sees him looking, the girl coquettishly leans over with bright scarlet lipstick to wrap her mouth around the thick straw.

Happy’s advice has always been to let his eyes linger on women like that precisely once. Deliberately pretending not to notice them never works, but dismissing them does. They can tell themselves Tony’s already found his target for the day and found them lacking in comparison, but only if he clearly notices them in the first place.

He’s sliding his eyes away, his hands moving to illustrate the point his mind and mouth are making on autopilot, when Tony sees Miss Reticent Tight-sweater nudge her friend with an elbow, finally dislodging her from her straw lovemaking. He barks a quick question for the room to percolate on for a few seconds and tips his head to the side, watching. The more conservative of the two girls is hissing something at her companion, who is grinning at him, obviously delighted at having caught his eye twice. Shit.

“Something you wanted?” the red-clad student calls out brazenly.

“Just considering the data on the thickness of that lipstick. Can you count the hours of reapplication like tree rings, do you think?” he asks with exaggerated curiosity. By acknowledging something about her outfit while implying maybe it’s a bit too overdone, he hopes the let down is obvious enough. The reaction of the room implies as much, given the behavior of her classmates. She hams it up, pulling out her lipstick and applying more, right then and there.

He’s meant to be observing this, so Tony positions himself as though he is, but instead, he watches the woman seated beside her.

Her face is uncommonly beautiful. Even from his distant vantage point, he can see that she has sweet features framed by wisps of hair that have escaped her severe bun. It’s early May, but her thick sweater is more suited for deep winter, likewise the corduroy pants she’s wearing. She’s biting her lower lip and watching the seat beside her with trepidation, clearly uncomfortable with the way her companion is putting herself on display. Tony should have long since stopped looking at her, but he can see in his peripheral vision that the other girl’s almost done preening, so he grants himself this one indulgence.

Then, the object of his scrutiny flicks her lovely eyes in his direction, releasing her lip from her teeth in shock to see that he’s actually looking at her. Suddenly, he wants her, this obviously shy, gorgeous girl who is hiding her beauty behind clothing a whole season removed from the weather outside. Tony knows instinctively that while the girl beside her would welcome his interest, this woman would not. In fact, she’s widening her eyes at him, as if pleading for him to look away.

He does, because he has a point he wants to get to before the class is dismissed. For the next fifteen minutes, Tony is disciplined. He doesn’t look at her, he doesn’t look at her tarted-up friend, all the while hoping that the delighted desire that’s curling up his spine and tingling through his veins will be assuaged by a last-minute glance. She’s interested in his mind, that much is clear. That’s the hard part.

Tony’s an expert at the rest.

As often happens, as soon as their professor ends the class, students rush to the front of the room, anxious to get a chance to talk to Tony. The crush of bodies blocks his view, something he should have expected. He’s not surprised when the number of hangers-on thins out and the only student he’d actually wanted to speak with is already gone. He’s supposed to be angling towards monogamy anyway, Tony tells himself. He and Pepper haven’t really talked about the potential that floats between them, but her overall message about his legendary wandering eye was very clear: he’s either interested in Pepper or he’s interested in other women, but there’s no point in a relationship if he’s interested in both.

It’s… taking some time.

Tony takes his leave from the knot of students still hanging around, thanking their professor for ensuring nothing else is scheduled after the class in the same space. The one time that had happened, Tony had needed to call Happy for backup. Hogan had gone overboard, so much so that Tony’s just left him at home for the MIT trip every year since. This had the added benefit of freeing him up to eschew his hotel room in favor of staying with a willing college student (or, memorably, three roommates).

This year was supposed to be different, and now that the shy, lovely student has snuck away, he guesses it will have to be.

If he can’t fool around, he can at least drink, so when (after the fancy dinner Tony treats him to) the professor he’s just guested for invites him to join some of his colleagues in the faculty lounge, that’s what Tony does, late into the evening.

Unfortunately, not even high quality whiskey can chase away the twist of desire that tangles his thoughts with longing.

***

Sometime after eleven PM, everyone goes their separate ways. It turns out that all of the other men are headed home to their wives, and that’s how Tony knows he’s not thoroughly drunk, because he consciously stops himself from making a self-deprecating comment.

He’s still coming up with things he could have said as he makes his way through the building. ‘You go home to your ladies, and I’ll start looking for my lady of the night’ would have been a solid contender-- but then again, maybe he is tipsy. Tony’s never had to pay for sex, and joking about doing so after a few glasses of whiskey is the sort of thing that could show up in a gossip rag by the morning. Especially after that senate hearing.

He ducks into a bathroom and does his business. At the mirror, Tony sees that he’d fucked up buttoning his shirt back up after showing off his arc reactor in the faculty lounge. He does it right this time, but while tucking the shirt in, he clumsily knocks his car keys out of his pants pocket.

Tony heaves a huge sigh, frowning at himself in the mirror. It’s starting to look like a bad idea to leave Hogan at home. He definitely can’t drive to the hotel, and he really shouldn’t risk taking a taxi right now (he doesn’t feel impaired, but he obviously is). The only solution is to kill time here on campus. The low-level arousal that’s been plaguing him since the lecture flares up with that thought. There’s almost no chance that the girl is still awake, even less of a chance that he could find her. Still, what else is there to do?

Tony picks up his suit jacket and puts it back on, adjusting the sleeves. The door swings open and a bearded student walks in, pausing in recognition.

“There a place you kids congregate after hours?” Tony asks. The guy looks at him like he’s crazy, so he adds, “Looking to return something I borrowed.” If he can ‘return’ this attraction, cash it in for a night of pleasure, he’s all in.

The kid eyes him with amusement. “If it was booze, I got some bad news for you, Stark.”

“Yeah, yeah. MIT tenure pays for the good whiskey,” Tony says with a dismissive wave, starting for the door.

“Yo, honestly, check the new media lab building. Final papers are due next week, might get lucky.”

“Thanks, I will.”

Once he reaches the building in question, Tony can’t believe he’d even had to ask. He’d donated funds for its construction! He’d even been at the grand opening, that past March. His access card works in the door, and Tony follows his instincts, passing various closed workspaces in search of the open computer labs.

The girl he’s obsessing over is not in the first two labs he peeks his head into, but he’s got nothing better to do, so he decides to still check the one at the end of the hall.

The setup here is more private, so Tony walks all the way in this time. There’s a single desk at the front facing the rest, obviously meant for a teacher or TA, because its computer chair is oversized and actually comfortable-looking. Seated there is a young woman in a dark blue tank top, her legs curled up beside her in the chair. On her upper arm is a splash of color in a shape that looks familiar. Tony takes a few steps closer, his lips curving into an indulgent smile when he sees her tattoo: a caffeine molecule. He must have made some kind of noise, because she lifts her head.

It’s the girl from class, the one he’s thought about the whole day since.

Both of them freeze, looking at each other. The simulated sound of a church bell starts to toll in the room, probably signalling that open lab time is over. Tony stares at her through the whole sequence, even as the two other occupants of the room pack up their belongings and leave. After all twelve bell tolls are finished, he nods at the delicate sandal that waits for her foot just under the desk.

“I think you were supposed to flee by now, Cinderella.”

“Prince of industry, are you?” she asks, lifting her chin in defiance.

“In a way,” Tony acknowledges. He points with his thumb over his shoulder. “So, evil stepsister or roommate?”

“Roommate, but she’s definitely the ‘toe-mutilating to trick a prince’ type,” the young woman says, dropping her leg down so she can turn and pick up her backpack from the floor. The action lets him see that her shirt is so thin it’s almost threadbare, hinting at the shape of the darker garment she’s got on underneath.

“If this counts as the ball, you might want to have a word with your fairy godmother. She’s skimping on fabric quality,” he remarks. Tony strolls over to the desk, enjoying the burn of arousal as it blazes through his veins. It’s been quite a while since he’s looked forward to an encounter like this, and there’s still a solid chance he’ll be ending the night alone. This girl had obviously not intended for him to see her like this.

“Obviously I’m on India Standard Time, and these are my rags,” she says, smiling up at him sweetly. It’s an unusual answer, and after calculating the time difference in his head, Tony realizes that she is quick as hell. His class had been over at 2:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, which works out to 12 AM IST.

“Nice,” he murmurs. Now that he’s closer, he can see that she’s wearing black lace bra, the kind that’s designed to be seen-- but obviously not by him. He’s a bit stung by that. “I don’t know that I appreciate your turning into a pumpkin for my class--”

“Now you’re just flogging the metaphor,” she says briskly, standing up.

He doesn’t move. Instead, Tony traces his eyes over her face, down to her breasts and back up, to gauge her reaction. A surge of pleasure arcs through him when he sees that she’s looking at his body, too. Her perusal is more extensive, such that when she lifts her gaze, he’s been waiting a while. It’s probably too much to hope that her internal dialogue has followed the same path as his, today. She really is beautiful, but the way her mind works is just as attractive, what little of it he’s gotten to observe. There’s a good chance she’s sexually creative, and he wants to, needs to find that out for himself.

“It’s time to leave. We’re closed for tonight, sir,” she says. There’s an impudent quirk to her lips that makes it very clear she’s chosen her words for the double meaning.

“Even for wishes coming true?” he dares, leaning toward her a bit, pushing the charm.

Her face darkens. She steps back, turning her back on him to shove a rolling file cabinet just far enough so she can slip past it, avoiding him entirely. “With an ego like that, I’d rather kiss the frog!” she mutters, pulling her backpack up onto her shoulder as she moves toward the door.

This stings, but Tony reminds himself that she’d already thought poorly enough of him to cover up for his class on the off chance of what he might do or say, and his very presence is confirming her worst fears. Swiftly, he corrects her, hoping her clever mind will catch the difference before she rushes out.

“I meant my wishes coming true. Your wishes have been communicated quite clearly.”

She stops still, but doesn’t turn around. “Have they? You came here--”

“Coincidence,” he interrupts with a shrug, brushing away the twinge of conscience. She was right, he had come looking for her, but finding her had been sheer luck. “Truth is, I’m not sober enough to drive. I figured, find a lab, maybe I could dip into the Department of Agriculture’s secure servers, swap their Chick Cam feed with a nightclub’s security footage.”

Her shoulders shake, but when she speaks, her voice is rock steady, no sign of laughter. He suspects if she turns around, he’ll see the smile she’s concealing. “You have a long way to go before you qualify as a Prince Charming, you know that, don’t you?”

“Always have.”

Now she turns. “If you’re drunk--”

“Tipsy, please,” he says, mockingly. “You’d know if I were drunk.” Her eyes are kind, and he feels the impulse to press his luck. Already he feels more like himself, like maybe having found her has transmuted the alcohol in his system into anticipation.

“If you’re drunk,” she repeats, more gently this time, “--you shouldn’t be hitting on anything but a soft bed.”

“I’m fresh out,” Tony says, but he inclines his head to acknowledge her change in demeanor.

“No hotel?”

“Risk of bad press if I drive, same thing with a taxi.”

She takes a step toward him. “Do you need a ride?”

“I would love one,” he says, infusing his voice with as much promise of pleasure as he can. His gauge is off, though, because she rolls her eyes. Marching past him, she pulls the chair out from behind the desk she’d been sitting at and rolls it over.

“Sit.”

He regards her with suspicion but does what she asks, led both by aching want and simple curiosity. Something deep down prompts him to goad her about his acquiescence, as if being obedient while impaired by alcohol requires an act of defiance to sit well.

“Okay, but I didn’t bring the fluffy handcuffs, so I don’t know what you’re--”

She rushes to press her palm against his lips, the meaty part just under her thumb. Her touch sizzles through him, aided by her tiny gasp when Tony’s own hand shoots up to hold her there. He quirks his eyebrow and then slowly slides his fingers along the skin of her wrist, watching her. She lets out a shaky breath and her eyes flutter closed.

“God, that is unreal. What did you do, slip iron filings into my soda at dinner?” she breathes.

“Believe it or not, I’ve been worse at this since the arc reactor. Something about facing your own mortality,” Tony says. It’s the truth, not that he’s admitted it out loud yet, not even in the privacy of his own mind. “How’s that for sobering?”

Instead of trying to pull away, she loosens her hand from its defensive fist and rests her soft, warm fingers along his neck. It’s a gut-punch, like maybe she’d meant to cup his face in a loving gesture all along, if he managed to earn it.

He absolutely has not, but under her fingers Tony’s slowly conflagrating, consumed by a wild need that verges on desperate. There’s no guidebook for this; he’s got a sixth sense about women, sure, but not this woman. Last year, he’d learned why he should have spent his evening with Ho Yinsen all those years ago in Bern. Tonight, Tony’s starting to understand that the person he is turning into is more interested in the Cinderella type than her sexed-up wicked stepsister.

“That was a lot of expressions you just cycled through,” she whispers.

Tony smiles up at her, knowing she’ll feel the shift of his muscles underneath her hand. “Coming to grips with the idea that I might enjoy just sitting and talking to a woman, for once.”

The words paint a light blush onto her cheeks, but she scoffs and steps away, removing her hand. “It’s kind of fascinating to watch the way your mind works in real time. I can see you working out how to charm me.” With that, she walks over to one of the student chairs and sits, walk-rolling it with her feet until she’s a yard away. A challenge in her eyes, she leans back and crosses both her arms and legs. She’s turned herself into a fortress of mind and body, daring him to attempt to breach her.

He’s more than up to the task. “Are you saying the key to attracting you is through my mouth? Because that’s a talent of mine.” Her eyes widen, and he feigns embarrassment. “Talking. I was referring to talking. Obviously.”

“I can still read the letters on that neon sign you just built, even if they aren’t lit up,” she says, making flashing light gestures with her hands while mouthing the words ‘OPEN FOR BUSINESS.’

“You weren’t picturing that sign when you put on that sweater this afternoon?” Tony asks, stretching his leg out and setting his heel down on the floor, the rest of his foot angled up.

“It was perfectly lovely, thank you very much!”

“I agree,” Tony says, in heartfelt appreciation.

“You--” she huffs out a breath. “Stop that.”

“Stop what?” he asks, changing nothing.

“That face you’re making. Your whole… it’s-- stop it!” She motions in his direction, and the worn-out neckline of her tank top slips sideways, revealing the wide black lace of the bralette she’s wearing. He wants to look, but she narrows her eyes at him, daring him to look. Naturally, he resists.

“You’re going to have to be more specific,” Tony says, still avoiding looking at her exposed shoulder strap. He rolls his foot down, moving towards her.

She throws her head back and angles her arm over her eyes before she speaks, sounding nervous. “Are you trying to seduce me?”

He chooses a regular voice, sensing that she’ll appreciate honesty, even if it’s not complete honesty. Now that he can freely look at the lace of her bra strap, he wants to trace it with his tongue. Tony knows better than to say that, so he asks, “Do you want me to?”

“I shouldn’t,” she groans.

Tony chuckles, deep and provocative.

She lifts her head but leaves her arm draped over it. “That just encouraged you, admit it!”

He stretches his leg out and plants his heel again, this time with the other foot. “What matters is what you want. What were you avoiding with your granny outfit today?”

“I didn’t want you to think I was anything like my crazy roommate,” she admits shyly.

“Mission accomplished.” Tony rolls his foot down halfway, which moves his chair to within a foot and a half of hers. “Tell the truth, right now:” he says, dropping into a commanding tone. “What went through your mind when you saw me looking at you?”

Her whole body reacts to his question, shoulders lifting defensively, face flaming red, arm dropping to wrap around herself in a way that just so happens to thrust her breasts forward. On seeing this, Tony feels like his foot’s resting on an accelerator instead of thin air, because his body ramps up, full throttle. Possibilities flash through his mind; his tongue flicking out to taste her tattoo, her leg bending as she strokes him with the bottom of her foot, the sweet smell of her hair as he groans his release. It doesn’t take as long to pull himself back from those moments as it would have if he were drunk, and that’s a very good thing for his hopes to make them a reality.

Then, she answers his question, thick lashes nearly brushing her pink cheeks, demure and devastating.

“I wished I was the kind of girl to catch your attention. But--” the whispered confession fills out into a tone that’s almost apologetic. Her eyes are wide, now. “--the man standing there looking at me was different, for just those seconds. I don’t know how to explain it.”

He’d dropped the act just then, and this beautiful, perceptive young woman had noticed. Tony reaches out and grabs the arms of her chair, pulling it to his. “And now?” he asks, and fuck, Tony’s not drunk anymore, but he’s intoxicated by her, enough to have infused the question with far too much vulnerability for his liking.

Her brows furrow for a few seconds, head tipping to the side to regard him. Tony clenches his jaw. Honestly, he’s not sure whether it’s because he doesn’t want her to see that vulnerability or because he doesn’t want to let his facade creep back up. She reaches towards his face, and Tony’s not above being predictable. He leans back.

“Oh no, you don’t,” she mutters, and with a nervous little bite to her lip, she launches forward.

Tony gets ahold of her and shoves her chair away with one foot while the rest of him focuses on pulling her close, like he’s starving for physical contact, and shit, he probably is. They end up with her legs curled up on his lap rubbing pressure that’s just on the good side of too much, her right side leaning against him, left hand pressed to her own chest like a makeshift defibrillator. Tony’s own body has turned his blood to whiskey, and desire-drunkenness has lowered the limits she’s taught him to follow. As she traces her fingertips along his still-clenched jaw (strained by patience, now, not fear), he lets himself rest his hand directly on her ass.

To his utter delight, this causes her to slide her hand softly up into his hair, rather than violently across his face. Tony nudges her with his nose, seeking her lips, but she leans back a few inches to look him in the eyes.

“If I ask you if you’re still tipsy, will you lie?”

“If I were tipsy, I’d have made a ‘stroke of midnight’ joke by now.”

She just looks at him, lifting her eyebrows.

“I won’t have to lie,” he says, giving in to his need to thrust up against her with a bit-back groan. “--if that’s the answer you needed.”

“What even is my life right now?” she whispers, clutching his shoulders and shifting so she can settle herself, yes, fuck, exactly where he wants her to be, her legs bracketing his hips in the thankfully oversized chair. He takes this cue to slide one hand up under her thin top, wide and warm along her back. The lace of her bra is so fine that he can feel the threads catch on the rough skin of his fingers. Her breath hitches along with his as Tony thrusts his hips up again, capturing her lips in an impatient kiss. He can’t help but feel powerful when her hand in his hair tightens its grip in response, especially when she lets out a small, desperate little noise when he strokes her tongue with his.

Her fierce grip and determination shifts to a shy shock when he starts rolling the chair around the desk and then past it, towards the wall. To see where he’s going, Tony kisses his way to her throat, turning them so he can slow-walk and not have to lift his head. He’s seeking both privacy and something more sturdy than the chair. While there’s a rock solid looking desk in the corner he’d aimed for, it’s right beside the window.

He looks up at the angle of the lights and the position of the desk, trying to calculate how much of what he has planned will be visible from outside.

“Oh, your face right now!” she laughs, touching her hands to each cheek before sliding them down so she can push off of his chest to get up. “Hold that thought.”

She rushes over to the door, flipping the lock and then the light switch. It helps some, but the hallway is still lit outside the room, and with the scattered LED indicator lights in the lab, the two of them can still be seen. Tony toes off his shoes and reaches down to retrieve the pair of magnets he keeps tucked into one of them. They’re too powerful to risk ruining anything he’d keep in his pockets, but that strength might be just the thing, tonight.

“Here,” he says, walking over to her. The door is, as he’d hoped, metal. Tony stretches his suit jacket upside-down across the window built into the door and secures it with the magnets.

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you of all people would carry magnets on contingency,” she laughs. He offers an exaggerated shrug, walking backwards toward the desk by the window in the process. He can see the reflected shine of her eyes and her smile, but she’s watching rather than following him. Taking time to make the room less exposed for a sexual encounter has offered her a chance to second guess that encounter. To his relief, she comes up behind him as he runs his hand along the top of the desk, lifting up on her toes to drop a kiss on his shoulder before dropping back down and pressing herself against his back.

===

Link to part II!

#tony stark x oc #iron man fanfiction #mcu fanfiction #iron man x oc #I'm obsessed with Tony/OC welcome to the ride #my fanfiction #a very happy birthday to a very great person omg!#Cinderella references like woah

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theanxiousworldofwriting · 8 years

Text

Never A Shadow

Word Count: 5,864

Chapter: 1 of 19

Summary:

Annabella Vinci is in love with her best friend: Tony Stark. The problem is, he’s in love with Pepper Potts and Anna might as well be dust clinging to his side. Well in her mind, it was better to be his shadow then to break her own heart. And then, Afghanistan happens and suddenly Tony isn’t so blind.

A/N: Please keep in mind, I did not write this recently. So it will not be as well written as my last few stories. It is for background for people who want to read it for my newer story that I am writing. Please see this post for an explanation.

Long black hair, pale skin, and red lips wearing a formal dress sitting in a chair at another awards ceremony. That's me. I'm Annabella Vinci and I'm co-CEO of Stark & Vinci Industries. I'm twenty-six and a Scorpio. You can find all of this in any magazine you pick up. As the world's leading producers Stark and Vinci Industries is known everywhere, in every country, and on every continent. I don't see this as bragging. Don't get me wrong, I don't put it in every conversation I have but I've worked to join my company with Stark Industries ever since back when it was still my parent's company.

Back when it was just Stark Industries, they were only the leading producers in weapons technology. I came to Howard Stark, who was actually a family friend, when I was fifteen and proposed that Vinci Enterprises merge with Stark Industries and then we could lead in more than just weapons.

He took the offer and I've been co-CEO ever since. I met Tony when we were little, because we were both considered exceptionally…bright. The only difference is while Tony finds his passion in mechanics, and technology, my passion is well, a great deal of everything. I've managed to get degrees in psychology, Engineering, and a Masters in Business Management. I even went to medical school for a while, but I was rejected later because of the age in which I entered therefore, I never got the degree.

My dad originally started a company named Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistic Division. I still get reports of the progress, and the successes. Mom though, she was the CEO and owner of Vinci™. It's a company known for just about everything. At first, we specialized in computers. We bought out a small company that was just getting started selling them, and they violated some city codes, it was…Microsoff I think. Apparently my Grandfather bought the programming and the company and took over the entire industry. My mom expanded that by diving into more industries, like the theatre and film. That was her passion.

When I took over, at the young tender age of 15, a genius, I bought out every company I could get my hands on. I invested in companies and bought stock like it was going out of style. I even bought out starting companies. The media tried to take me down, saying that I was going to ruin the company or even the economy with my spending but they were all left slack jawed when my products started flying off the shelves. Some tried to say I was building another monopoly, like the Robber Barons. I scoffed at them by putting half of the money I made back and then some.

Either way you look at it, it doesn't matter. When I was named the world's richest woman by Forbes magazine, the critics all kind of melted into the background, in my mind anyways. It felt like I'd accomplished something, despite what my parents would have said.

My parents, both of them, have passed away. My mother was murdered by her butler, cliché I know but apparently the butler was an old flame that she ditched when she married my father. It was an arranged marriage anyway, my mother and father's. I grew up with no love from my family, both of them were much to centered on work. My Dad died via a murderer, someone who is long since dead.

I'm telling you this, because I don't know if I'll make it through this boring ceremony. Oh it was all well put together, with the blue fabric hanging from the walls and the shining silver plastic shreds that bounced off the lights from the big screens they were using to display videos to honor the people they were giving awards. I can't even forget that it's an awards ceremony because they are only two types. The one where the audience is as if they were in a large theatre, then there are the ones just like this, where we sit at tables and we are provided food before the awards are given out. This one is the Apogee award. We've won it for the last four years running.

"-by ensuring freedom and protecting America and her interests around the globe." I tuned back in from my monologue to hear the last few words of the very deep voice that was giving a very generic overview of Tony and I's success since our company's have combined. Tony and I's lives have become a great deal more important to the public since Tony came to be the co-CEO of Stark and Vinci Industries, at twenty-one. When I say our lives, I mean our personal lives as well. Half of our popularity comes from speculation about our social lives, like who we are dating, or who we went to the party with. It can be very irritating and angering having every moment of your day interrupted for no reason other than to catch a glimpse of your day to day life.

As soon as the video they had, with leaked pictures of Tony and I through the years, finished the lights shined back on the stage. It was pretty cheap. In the center of the stage stood a Caesars Palace podium, the place where the ceremony was taking place actually, and a few security ropes lining the back of the stage.

Standing in the middle of the stage, behind the podium that now had the two transparent apogee awards resting on its polished surface, was none other than Colonel Rhodes, a friend of Tony's.

"As liaison to Stark & Vinci Industries," Rhodey, as we call him, started his speech. I felt bad for him really. Tony had actually showed up at first, sat down with us, even had a bit of the food. Then, halfway through the awards, some minor ones, he whispered to me that he was leaving and then just got up and walked away. I felt even worse for Pepper Potts, Tony's personal assistant, who was going to have to do the most damage control. Me, myself, and I will just have to accept the award.

I glanced over at Obadiah Stane. He's probably going to be upset to. Poor Obie is retired now, though he still tries to pitch in. I don't think he really wanted to retire but the company was rightfully Tony's. Of course, he holds a loose position on the board because he owns a bit of stock in the company. A very little bit of stock. Seeing as Tony and I own over 90 percent of the stock, simply because we not only own it but are acting CEO's.

"…I've had a unique privilege of serving with two real and honorable patriots." Rhodey continued on. "Tony and Anna are my great mentors." He continued. I wonder if anyone had informed him that Tony wasn't here. I wouldn't blame him if he just out right took Tony down. To be completely honest Tony really needs to be knocked off his pedestal.

"Anna, do you know where Tony is?" Pepper whispered across our table to me. I grimaced and shook my head, but I could guess that Tony was at the casino that was also connected to Caesars Palace. No doubt he was going to make headlines for blowing off this ceremony.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to present this year's Apogee Award to Mr. Tony Stark and Annabella Vinci." Rhodey said. Before he was even finished saying my last name the crowd was cheering. I rose from my chair, tucking the green fabric of my gown into submission, and started weaving through the maze of tables towards the front of the room. Rhodey's face looked completely confused for a second before it looked furious. I couldn't blame him.

As I mounted the steps to the stage Rhodes moved towards me, and conveniently away from the microphone. "Do you know where he is?" He muttered to me as we hugged for the watching audience.

"The casino, most likely." I whispered right back, grinning at him so the world would have no idea that Rhodes and I were both plotting Tony's doom in our heads. No, I couldn't do that. I slipped behind the podium and to my annoyance I was again short compared to the podium. So I kicked out the small kickstand that matched the wood of the podium and stepped up onto it to smile at the audience. In my hand I held my own apogee award but for now I left the one with Tony's name on it on the stand, so I could grab it on the way back to my seat.

"I'm really happy that this award was given to Tony and I. I want to thank everyone for supporting me throughout my life, and making sure that I could get the education I craved. Thank you everyone who buys our products but really, I want to thank the marines, Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, National Guard, and really all of you for keeping me and America safe!" I said the practiced speech. Nothing was a lie in it but giving so many speeches in one life time, it just got kind of easy to say the words.

People exploded with clapping again but I didn't move until they died away.

"Now, I guess you guys have noticed that my co-CEO didn't make it. I'm sorry to say that Tony is working right now, very diligently for the safety of all of us. He wants me to tell all of you how honored he is to receive this very prestigious award." I lied straight through my teeth. The only ones who would know that though would be Rhodey, Obadiah, and Pepper. "It's really the best thing about Tony, and of course the worst thing. He's always working." I smiled at them. The cameras shot off again and the clapping was noticeably smaller but still quite loud. I carefully stepped off the steps, Rhodey helped me down the stairs, because he was done as well. I make sure to grab Tony's award in my other hand so I could give it to him.

Twenty minutes later, the entire ceremony was done. They'd saved our award for last, but then I'd stayed back at the table to avoid the rush to leave. Obadiah Stane sat beside me, and Pepper on my other side. I'm not as close with Obadiah as Tony is, because he's Tony's father figure. Pepper though, she's my best friend. You'd think we wouldn't get along at all. I was born into money, raised in money, and even made more money. Pepper had to work for every penny she had and then some more work. I'd been there the day she'd been hired by Tony to. She'd waltzed in trailing behind Obadiah. He'd commended the very ground she walked on while Pepper blushed until she almost even matched her red hair.

I sighed as Pepper took down another champagne glass of what I have expected was generic red wine. It's a pity; I have some vanilla rum at my home that would suit the situation much better. No doubt she'd have to deal with Tony tomorrow and now she'd probably do it with a hangover. She went to take down another one but I reached out and took it from her grasping hands. "Pep, I think enough is enough." I chided lightly. Obadiah chuckled beside me.

"It's just not fair." She sighed, rubbing her forehead. I felt sorry for her all over again. She may get paid a great deal more than most personal assistants but putting up with Tony Stark is an art. I've long since mastered it, being his friend since I was still in pampers had me mastering it to a degree that I don't think anyone but Obadiah, who has also known Tony and his father since Tony was born, could reach.

I leant over to Obadiah and rolled my eyes. "I don't think she's in any shape to go find Tony." I said, eying her as she giggled. Pepper doesn't usually drink…in public. I sighed and Obadiah's smile was tight but I didn't understand why. It wasn't like this was the first time that she had been drunk and he had taken her home.

I picked up my small green purse that had matched so well with this outfit. It really was a magnificent forest green dress, short and just barely formal enough for this event. Not that it would matter because the one man who I wanted to see hadn't even noticed. Rhodey approached me now in his air force uniform. He'd dressed up in it to give the award to us, after I had begged him. I'd hoped if his best friend was presenting the award then Tony would have come to the award ceremony. I should have known from the beginning that he wouldn't have done it. Tony never likes doing anything because he has to.

"He's in the casino." Rhodey supplied to me. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. I kind of expected him to be gone already.

"Which one?" I asked him. Obadiah was leading Pepper away, whispering in her ear furiously. I frowned at him. That was uncharacteristic of him; I wonder what's going on with those two this evening. First Pepper gets drunk and all sad and then Obadiah is getting angry with her for it when he's usually so in control of himself and laughing. I shook off the feeling that something wasn't right, for now. Whatever was worrying those two so much would have to wait for when Tony and I came back from Afghanistan.

"The one in this hotel." Rhodes muttered. I winced. Of course, just to spit everyone Tony would get here and then just decide to go to the casino. I swear, the guts that man has…if I didn't admire the fact that he could get away with that, I'd probably be mad right about now.

I chuckled anyway and took the arm that Rhodes offered me. He was furious; it showed all over his face to. He wasn't good at controlling his emotions in front of the press, mostly because he hasn't grown up having cameras pointed in his face all the time. If my parents did one thing, it was to make sure I knew how to handle myself in a calm and professional manner.

Rhodes guided me through the greatly diminished crowd and through the large entrance hall. It didn't take us that long to reach the casino part of the hotel. It was full to the brim with its loud colors and machines. There were so many people and half of them were surrounding one table in particular. I didn't even have to wonder where my best friend, that's right the guy I'd been complaining about is my best friend, was stationed in this room. Anywhere with a crowd like that is where Tony is.

I released Rhodey's arm to see if I could get through the crowd and to Tony. It took a lot of work but once one woman, with fake hair I might add, realized who I was and stated it to everyone in the room, I could get all the way to Tony. The woman, who ever she was, had screamed my name so he probably knew I was here now. He stood at the table with a glass of probably the finest scotch this place had to offer in his hand.

Tony wore a gorgeous maroon button up shirt that he currently had unbuttoned so that everyone could just get a glimpse of the toned muscle and tanned skin that lay underneath his clothing. His dark brown hair was slicked back and a pair of maroon tinted shades covered what I knew to be mesmerizingly, dark brown eyes. He had sleek, tailored black pants and he has his signature facial hair.

He's like walking sex personified.

I know what you're asking yourself. Who thinks their best friend is walking, talking sex? Well, someone who's in love with their best friend that's who. I can't remember exactly when I fell in love with him, but I can remember the day he told me he was in love with Pepper, right after I'd talked myself into telling him I was in love with him. Thank God I at least didn't tell him before he told me that important information.

Now though, Tony was leaning against the body of a gorgeous brunette with long hair, red lips, and a short, almost too small for her body, black dress. She was running her hands down the aforementioned muscles that Tony and I had both worked hard for. I don't mean to brag but I took a keen interest in working out and I even helped Tony get the wonderful physique he now has. Though, to be honest, I thought maybe if I helped him that he'd finally see me as something more than just a friend. But who am I kidding? I'll always be a shadow to him.

"You are unbelievable." Were the first words out of my mouth to him. He turned from the woman in front of him to look at me and he groaned.

"Did they rope you into this?" Tony groaned in his deep husky voice. I almost sighed at hearing it again. Instead I sighed because I was amused.

"Rope me into what exactly? Trying to get you to work?" I teased him. He grinned at me, showing all of his bright, naturally that way, teeth. God, his smile…sometimes I just want to screw him sideways. "Please, I gave up on getting you to do anything when I was nine and you threw away my Alice and Wonderland book just to spite me." I told him but it seemed that Rhodey didn't agree with my 'give up' philosophy. He pushed his way past me but I lost concentration on them for a moment so I could talk to Happy.

Happy Hogan was Tony's bodyguard, and he's put up with Tony ever since Happy saved Tony's life. It was back when Howard had just died. Someone thought it would be a good idea to target Tony at the funeral. I'd watched as Happy, who'd been there because his father was Howard's bodyguard, jumped in front of a bullet for Tony. He's been on our payroll ever since.

"Happy, could you go ahead and get Tony's car ready? And have the Valet pull my car around?" I asked him. He nodded at me and disappeared in the crowd. While Happy was also Tony's chauffer, I had long decided to have as few people on my personal payroll as possible. Seeing as how Mom was killed by our butler I thought it was a pretty good idea in the end. I have a few people that I've checked the background out of at least twice a week that clean my house.

I checked back in with Rhodey and Tony, just to make sure that Rhodes really hadn't taken Tony out. You never know, one day Tony might actually step on one toe to many.

"-presented you with an award, you'd be deeply honored." Rhoedes was saying. I slipped up close to them and rolled my eyes as the crowd tried to get closer to Tony and I. Some male, with a butch haircut and piercing in both eyebrows and three in the side of his lip hesitantly handed me a piece of paper and a pen. I scribbled my name on it for him and smiled warmly. Just because he freaked me out didn't mean I couldn't be nice. I turned back to Tony and Rhodes but I heard the guy say something that mysteriously sounded like, 'I'm in love.' But I digress.

"Of course I'd be deeply honored. And it's you, that's great. Isn't that great Anna?" Tony turned to me and smiled, pleading with me to save him from another of Rhodes' lectures. Rhodes has known Tony for two years, you'd think by now he'd stop getting so mad at his antics. Of course, Pepper's known him four years and she's advanced to where she drinks just to get away from Tony's annoying persona. I don't see what everyone is always so pissed at him for, he's only being himself. Of course, I do kind of understand that some things are important and Tony doesn't quite understand that.

"It was fabulous." I deadpanned, and shoved Tony's apogee award into his chest. I'm not going to lie; I did it mostly to feel just exactly what that brunette had been feeling. And, God it felt good. Tony winced and took the award from me while Rhodes fumed beside us.

"There it is." Tony looked the award over. "That was easy." Then he turned to Rhodes and for a second seriously apologized. "I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, it's okay." Rhodes said. I could still see a little anger in his eyes but I could also see that he was slowly growing accustom to Tony's way of doing things. After tonight, there is no doubt in my mind that Tony will try and do something over the top to try and make up for it and if it isn't over the top then it's going to be so subtle that you won't even know it was him until you've already forgiven him.

"Wow, don't have any of those floating around." Tony muttered to me and I rolled my eyes and smiled. The crowd was larger now, and Tony had to shuffle forward toward me to avoid getting crushed. As his body moved closer his pelvis was pressed against mine and I nearly looked to the heavens and asked myself why. I barely resisted.

He grinned apologetically at me but all it did was make that little crack in my heart go a little farther. I swear, ten more months and I'll be one of those celebrities that end up going to a mental asylum. It didn't help that I could feel his breath blowing on my face, minty fresh to. He, with one hand, pushed some chips out onto the board and grabbed the red and white dice.

"We're gonna let it ride." Tony said and then he put his hand holding the dice up to – surprise, surprise – the brunette's face. "Give me a hand, will you? Gimme a little something-something." He said. Trying to be sexy the brunette blew her Botox injected lips on his hand. Then to my surprise he turned, moving his hips again against mine, and held them in front of my face. I rolled my eyes skyward. "Okay, you to." He told me.

"I don't blow on dice." I said and was it just me or did his eyes just dilate? Na, probably just me. It was always just me because he almost always does something after it that puts me back into the 'childhood friend' zone.

"Come on, honey bear." He pouted cutely. He even poked his lip out, going the whole nine yards. He even slid his eye-shades down his nose and looked me directly in the eyes with his gorgeous mouthwatering gaze. And guess what? I crumbled. Taking a deep breath, and hoping my breath didn't smell like that chicken I ate at the ceremony I blew on the dice. For a moment nothing changed but Tony and I's eyes stayed locked together. And then the moment ended. Tony's eyes were defiantly dilated, but I couldn't make sure because he moved back, breaking contact with me. He was still smiling though. I frowned because if it had been my breath then he would have told me – being my annoying best friend.

He threw the dice down on the table and I could see Rhodes mouth opening, about to start lecturing him again. "Winner." The dealer called. I rolled my eyes as all of the chips on the table were pushed to Tony.

"Congrats." I sarcastically said. Tony smirked and motioned to someone beside himself.

"Color me up, William." Tony said and then turned back to me. "All right, you ready to go then?" He asked me. I snorted and for a moment I even thought about telling him that I wasn't going anywhere with him, just to see what he'd do but alas, I didn't. Instead I nodded.

'William' soon had the chips together. Rhodes, being the beef cake that he is, pushed everyone out of the way for us so that we could get out. Tony was behind me as we left; he even put on his jacket. The William guy went and switched out the chips for cash, though he had to almost run. Tony promised him half of it if he got it to us before we left.

He made it back in five minutes. Apparently there was three million in chips. I nearly laughed at the face the teenager made when Tony just waved off his amount of the money. We made it all the way to the entrance hall again and to the doors.

"This is where I exit." Rhodes said and shook Tony's hand, and we kissed each other on the cheeks. "Tomorrow, don't be late." He pointed at Tony as he walked away. I rolled my eyes as Tony put his arm around my shoulders so we didn't get split up.

I couldn't help but to think about the trip to Afghanistan. Only Tony would want to go to a war zone to demonstrate weapons.

"Yeah, you can count on it." Tony said as he pointed back. I could just see the 'probably not going to happen' running through Rhodes head. I had my purse in one hand, and the apogee award in the other and it was horribly heavy. I couldn't give it away though, but that didn't mean that Tony couldn't do it with his. Now that Rhodes was gone he could do it without him even knowing, at least until it came up in the media or something.

So when we passed a couple that was desperately looking through their luggage for something, Tony pushed it into the hands of the obvious new bride. "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's. There you go." And then he just kept walking. I snorted and waved at them as we walked out the door. As I suspected there were a group of reporters waiting out there. I put on the obviously fake smile that in every one of my photos you could tell didn't reach my eyes.

"So, are you coming back to the mansion? We could work on the laser system for the next version of the Jericho." Tony remarked, releasing me from under his arm as we made it past the people. Now walking around us were our bodyguards, all of them having been silently making sure we weren't absolutely mobbed.

I opened my mouth to reply but as I did I heard someone running up behind us. We'd reached Tony's car now but that didn't stop me from groaning when someone called out to us.

"Ms. Vinci! Mr. Stark!" She called. The bodyguards stopped her and I looked back. It was the atypical female reporter. They look pretty, do themselves up to look gorgeous, get a few things nip and tucked, just so that they might entice you into telling them all of your little secrets. "Christine Everhart, Vanity Fair magazine." She stated. "Can I ask you two a couple of questions?" Though she said two, I could see she only had eyes for Tony.

"She's cute." Happy muttered. I let out a long suffering sigh. I could already tell, as Tony turned around, that the previous offer he'd made me to spend some time with me had flown off into the wind, never to be seen again. This is the part about Tony that I don't like. I want the Tony who loved to spend time with me, who enjoyed trying to work problems that, at our age, we had no business doing. I miss the Tony who would never blow me off for some pretty girl, or drink until I had to rub his back in the bathroom on the floor.

"Well," I false smiled. "I'm afraid I don't have any time. I'm sure Tony can answer any questions you might have." My fake smile dropped as I walked away, towards where I could see my beautiful sleek black Lamborghini waiting. It soothed me to see it because it had been a gift from Tony for my last birthday. Normally I wasn't a car person but the Lamborghini was my dream car, and Tony had seen to it that I'd gotten it. It reminded me, every time I saw it, why it was I loved Tony. Under all of his layers of annoyingness and cockiness, Tony really was a person who if he cared about someone he'd make sure they were taken care of and happy.

I slid into my beautiful car and threw my purse into the passenger side seat and wasted no time in throwing a wrinkled hundred at the valet and driving off. I was ready to get home. I have a standing date with a box of Ben & Jerry's vanilla and caramel ice cream.

"I'm hopeless!" I muttered to myself. I was completely in love with him but he didn't see me as more than that shadow that follows him around. If I just quit this wouldn't be a problem. All I'd have to do is attend a few meetings at Stark & Vinci Industries as an owner, where I would see him but otherwise I would be busy doing other stuff. I could retake over my father's company; my father was partnered with Howard Stark to create the company but Howard had given up the rights to my father when he focused on Stark Industries.

Howard Stark had the money and the resources to help with making it and my father had the man power. The company was full of spies, and people unnaturally talented in preventing end of the world scenarios. If I remember the status updates that I get in the mail correctly, Agents go on missions and save the world from psychopaths who want to do different kinds of things that would be bad for the whole world. It's not part of the government like I used to think when I was a kid but it does answer to the World Council. I don't think we should, and the last time I checked the Director I appointed didn't think so either but who really likes their boss? Unless you're me and you're in love with your boss.

I blinked out of my revere as I finally pulled into the driveway of my house. It took three minutes alone just to get to the house from the driveway. I'd had to buy out everyone around me so that I could put up a fence. People had started trying to get into my house to see me when I became actively famous.

The house itself is my main house. I have so many in places that I don't even remember most of them, but I do have a list, somewhere. My house is free and open, with most of the security being in the fence and the hidden technology. It was made of mostly windows and wood with multiple rooms inside. When you came up to it you were on the first floor which was carved into the side of a cliff on the Malibu coast line. Then you could go inside there to the entrance hall or you could head up the stairs on the side and walk past the pool and inside from the balcony. It was even better on the inside, with beautiful open rooms. I had a workout room where I spent three hours every day, and three living rooms my black and white bedroom and a lab in the basement for my secret passion in engineering and chemistry.

I parked my car inside the garage and hopped out to walk up the stairs. I glanced at the pool longingly but there was no way I had time to go swimming. What I needed to do was sit down in my study or on my bed and get some of this paperwork that's been piling up in my study done. I walked through my halls, with all of the pretty pictures. They weren't expensive abstract pictures that no one really cares about, like you would think of me. Instead they were all of drawings fans of mine have made. My favorite, a painting of me and Tony standing with each other in formal attire but with mischievous smiles on our faces, was done by a fan who was a professional. I thought it spoke clearly of our friendship.

"Welcome home, Miss Vinci." Jarvis' smooth voice flooded through my mind as I entered my study to grab my paperwork. I felt a sense of nostalgia. I remember the first day I'd come home with him in my house. I'd nearly throttled Tony for putting him in. But then Tony said something so sweet that I'd had to keep Jarvis.

"I know you don't like butlers ever since…your mother…so I just made you one that can't possibly hurt you in any way possible. Plus, Jarvis is state of the art and can not only take care of you, but also tell me all of your dirty little secrets."

I'd nearly melted into a puddle of Anna goo. He can be so sweet sometimes. Other times I think he does it on purpose just to keep me buttered up for when he does something wrong. Well, I showed him… "Good Evening Jarvis."

I flopped onto my black and white themed bed and for a moment I contemplated just going to sleep, but I've got responsibilities, people counting on me. I pushed myself up into a sitting position and started on the top file in a box that was at least five feet thick. I paused for a second and glanced at the clock. "Jarvis, don't let me work for more than two hours and have Dummy 2 pack me a bag for Afghanistan tomorrow." I told him while I looked curiously on this week's report from S.H.I.E.L.D. it looked more or less like the Director didn't believe that I even read these. It was scribbled half-heartedly and in a fast manner.

"Make a note to get in touch with S.H.I.E.L.D. in the future." I told Jarvis again.

"Yes ma'am." He returned. I sighed and got down to work.

Two hours passed pretty quickly, and after Jarvis' reminder I shuffled all of the paperwork onto my desk in the corner of my room so that I could go do my two hour work out, with a one hour workout in the morning, and then I took a shower and was off to bed.

#Never A Shadow #Tony stark #Oc #Tony StarkOC #StarkOC #TonyOC #theanxiousworldofwriting

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