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Avengers Annual #001

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[ tony raises an eyebrow. ] You're in luck. This place is going to shit in all your favorite ways. 

Noir AU || Bad Beat (Tony & Carol)

[she stares back, piecing together how serious the question could be. works her cigar for a long moment.] I got bored. Morocco’s very boring, don’t you remember?

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Tony's gaze sweeps down to her hand on his chest, but then his eyes are back on her, almost too fast to notice. One corner of his mouth quirks upwards. "And here I thought you were just getting bored of me."

Nothing To See Here | AU Noir | Tony and Pepper

Pepper leans back into the plush couch. A waiter comes by with glasses for anyone in the vicinity and one is places one on the table as her hand is occupied with her cigarette and her eyes are too focused on the man before her. She shrugs.

“What do we know? Nothing helpful,” she answers before he does. It’s sad, the boy’s death, but she can’t bring herself to be too concerned. She knows it’ll flood her mind like a broken dam and she has more pressing things to think of. Speaking of, she puts out the cigarette and presses closer to Tony.

“I’m glad you’ve graced this place tonight, Mister Stark. A girl wonders what she’s got to do to keep you coming around.” A sly smile and a strategically placed hand on his chest should tell him that she’s trying her hand at flirting. She’s had enough of discussing about politics and death; she’d much rather talk about them.

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Right back atcha, sweetheart. 

[ tony reaches across the table for the deck, shuffling it absently. ] What's got you back in town these days, anyway? Somehow, I'm guessing it's a little more than the pleasure of my company, but, uh. Feel free to say you just missed me that much.

Noir AU || Bad Beat (Tony & Carol)

Oh, I don’t think any of that bears repeating around these fine people. [she waves her hand, not bothering to look around the room where she’s gesturing. leaning back in the chair, she gives tony a quick once-over.] How are you? You look terrible.

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Yeah, yeah. So I guess that week in Oujda's still a blur then, because, uh. Credit where credit is due, lady, that was something for the books. 

Noir AU || Bad Beat (Tony & Carol)

[deadpans, but she’s nothing close to selling it—she’s laying the straight face on so thick the effect is something like if she’d cut loose and laughed. she almost drawls:] Mr. Stark, I’m sure I have no idea what you’re on about.

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[ tony tips back in his chair, and whatever innocent expression he's trying to put on is clearly a wash, because anyone with eyes can see the laughter bleeding through. he's been here before. a couple of times, in fact. ]

Still making little boys cry, huh, Danvers?

Noir AU || Bad Beat (Tony & Carol)

[the grand performance hall and bar at the black cat club is a mess, carol thinks, a shimmering mess of glitter and elbow-rubbing and mingling. there’s a back room, though—worn leather, dim, orangey lamps, card tables, a faded portrait of someone’s great-grandfather. the back room is boys only, until tonight.]

[carol breezes in, before the man at the door can say a word, deposits herself in the chair across from tony. she crosses her legs—trousered, not especially dressed for the glittering scene outside, anyway—and turns, slowly, exaggeratedly, to the waiter gaping behind her shoulder. the guy looks hesitantly at the intruder, then at tony—do i do something about this?—then back to carol as though he isn’t sure he wants to. she produces a cigar, wags it in front of his face.]

Hi, yes, you can light it for me or you can stop staring or I can make you. [she smiles, brightly—it’s not cold, not exactly.] What’ll it be, pal?

[the stunned waiter complies, shuffles off. carol turns back to tony, wordlessly puffing on her cigar, an enormously satisfied look on her face. there’s a conspiratorial little glint in her eyes, as if they’re both in on some tremendous joke.]

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Tony tips his head back and exhales, smoke curling idle from his mouth. He closes his eyes, looking for all the world like a man who has realized the universal truth of a pack of smokes and a beautiful girl: Both'll kill you, if you let them, but damn, what a way to go.

Then, Pepper leans forward, and he flicks open his lighter (real sliver, of course, and engraved with his initials) once more, before bringing his hand to her cigarette. 

"The rumor's that he was in some bad business. Finger in every pie, if you know what I mean, and in a club like this?" Tony lets out a low whistle that suggests he's quite impressed. "I mean, jesus, no wonder things went south."

Tony flashes his teeth. "But then again, the rumors also say he was a secret Fed with a drug problem and a mistress in Bombay, so. Screw it, what do I know, maybe he was straight." 

Nothing To See Here | AU Noir | Tony and Pepper

Pepper pulls her fur boa tighter around her shoulders before pulling out her sleek black cigarette holder and leaning for him to set it for her. The boys always clamber to do it for her and while Tony won’t rush, she knows there’s no difference. He’s always a gentleman for her.

"A lady such as myself, hm?" She decides to let it slide. "Tell me, why wouldn’t it be safe? Is this because of that poor boy Ozzie Coulfied? Such a shame to lose your life at that age."

She looks away, waiting for him to light her cigarette too. She’s truly saddened by the death of the band member. He was always kind to her, never seemed the type to cause trouble. Part of her wondered if she really could be in any danger.

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Tony taps out a cigarette, turning it over in his fingers a few times as he responds. That wasn't why he was late, but he likes the idea of it, so of course, he pretends to be insulted. "Politicking, huh? How vulgar, I -- I'm wounded, Pep, I'm tellin' you, this is all natural charm."

"Or maybe I'm just beyond damage control." Finally, he lights his cigarette.

Then, waggling the box at Pepper, in offering. "But listen, hey, it's probably better you stick around. Not safe out there for a lady such as yourself."

Nothing To See Here | AU Noir | Tony and Pepper

It’s hard not to smile when she’s in his presence, even now. She’d kept her face stoic so many times before, disdainful eyebrows and unimpressed frowns. But he’d always given her a feeling in her chest. It was easier now to just let them flow. She watches him gesture the crowd, but her eyes don’t leave his face. He’s always the center of her attention. 

"I think I just may, actually. That was my final set for the night so if I’m not here with you tonight then I’ll be elsewhere…" With you, she doesn’t add. She’s still not that bold.

"You got here late tonight. Busy day, doing your political rounds? Out being the people pleaser you do so love to be?"

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"Yeah. That's the one," he says softly, somewhat disarmed. He clears his throat, blinks, as if he were subconsciously trying to shake off whatever feeling had just been pulled into view, and it must be work well enough, because the grin returns full force. 

Tony gestures to the seat next to his, stretching out contentedly as Pepper sits down, entirely at home here in the club and in her company. "No such thing," he corrects, and his smile turns to a smirk; he's pleased to meeting the benchmark for "charming" these days. No easy thing with one Pepper Potts. It'd taken a while, but he was determined to grow on her, and that was the thing, wasn't it? Nothing in life worth having was ever easy. 

"Planning to stick around tonight? Actually, you know what, scratch that, let me rephrase: you should stick around tonight. Take a little time off, you know," -- he gestures around the room in a sloppy gesture that's meant to indicate ambiance-- "enjoy the fruit of your labors."

Nothing To See Here | AU Noir | Tony and Pepper

Pepper smiles, looking down and up at him through her lashes. It’s a classic move, normally an act to go with a sway for certain musical numbers, but it’s real with him. He flatters her on a regular basis and it’s maddening. It’s cute, his little hum, and she complies by finishing the line for him.

“Will you still love me, when I’m no longer, young and beautiful?”

It’s quiet and she doesn’t mean it, but it’s the song. It’s one of her favorites and her feet are gliding toward him to sit at his side. She’s grown to love sitting at his table, grown to think of it as something of a throne. She can see the entire club from here and the wishful glances from men and women alike that are thrown their way makes her feel special. A feeling she never knew she could experience until meeting Tony Stark.

"You’re too charming, Mister Stark. I’m beginning to think it’s bad for my health. You flatter me too much."

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NOIR AU || tony stark.

The Stark name is pretty well-known these days, a Rockefeller legacy of monopolies and money and skyscrapers dedicated to their mark on industry. Tony is born with a silver spoon and an ever-present spotlight, and when fingers of war creep through America, everyone is curious to see how the soft-handed boys of the upper upper strata would handle it.

It never touches him. Tony is gone by the time the bombs drop, off on one great adventure after another -- Mexico, South America, uncharted islands off the coast. He returns periodically, well-tanned and grinning and dripping with stories of ancient beliefs and new technologies and borderline-magical wonder. All of the worldliness of the boys overseas, and none of the baggage.

Gossip flies, of course, but criticism seems to stick to him even less than the war had. He's a lothario, a lush, a bohemian, etc etc -- all rumors he enthusiastically encourages with an exhibitionist's glee. Despite the draft-dodger reputation, Tony is never hounded, protected by money and fame and maybe something else. The "unamerican" attitude is brushed off with a laugh -- as far as Tony is concerned, he's giving the Army something better than another gun. No, each time Tony blows into town, he publishes the comic book adventures of everything he's done (+ a few embellishments, of course). Gotta give those poor bastards in the trenches something to look forward to, huh?

This last expedition seems to have been somewhat more tumultuous, though, because Tony's been in town for a little longer than usual. No worries. He has plenty of ways to stay entertained...

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"One hell of an off-night," he replies, and he flashes a smile just for her, the soft glow of the club and last remnants of a healthy tan lighting him up warm against the white tablecloth. A lazy confession: "I sent 'em home. 'Blah, blah, dancing, blah, lipstick, whatever, hold me, Tony!' -- Is it just me, or are people getting more boring with every passing day?"

Tony's been back home for a few months, and almost every night is spent in this club, laughing, drinking, taking in the sights. The sight. Pepper is right, he does have a usual crowd -- beautiful women who flit around him like fireflies, men with more bravado than sense who nonetheless know the king of their kind when they see him. They touch his shoulders, coo at his stories of adventure, and laugh gaily when Tony gets in a Mood and buys everyone at the table round after round. At Stark's table, it's the good times, utterly untouched by Europe's tragedy. 

But he doesn't come to the Black Cat for that, and everyone, everyone knows it. And anyone who didn't didn't be able to tell now, by the way Tony looks up at Pepper, almost exaggeratedly smitten and thoroughly delighted by this cat and mouse game. "Anyway, If I learned anything from the Aztecs, it's that ten trinkets can't compare to the worth of one true gem." His eyes sparkle with mirth, betraying his self-awareness, the sprinkling of humor over the plate of flattery and cheese. 

"I liked that last number tonight, very catchy. Something about a--" He hums a few bars. "What was it?"

Nothing To See Here | AU Noir | Tony and Pepper

Pepper sang her last set, the melody coming easily to her. As she sang, her eyes scanned the crowd as they did every night, searching for him. Most nights, by the time her shift was over, he was there, waiting her for. Sometimes he wasn’t. Sometimes he was laughing and carrying on while some other broad hung on his arm until he’d catch her eye as she walked by him and he’d rush to free himself. Sometimes that was her favorite.

Tonight when she saw him, he was at his usual table. It was a popular setting around him, but Pepper knew how to work the crowd to swirl around her as she took her place by his side. He wasn’t officially hers to be as selfish as she was with him, but there it was. There they were, in the same dance they’d been in for months. 

Tony Stark had been chasing her for an eternity, it had seemed until she finally gave into his charms. Roses, jewelry, candy, and cards. You named it and she had it; he’d tried every trick in the book. But in the end, it hadn’t been any of those things. She just wanted him to be him. And when he finally showed her his true self, she’d done the same. 

And here they were. 

"No flock of women surrounding you tonight? I’m surprised. Must be an off night for you."

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Knew you'd admit it eventually. Want a drink?

[Can no longer contain the laugh] Mmm. You’re definitely the most subtle person I know.

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I've got no idea what you're talking about, I mean, who's more subtle than me?

[She smiles, genuinely amused at the thought] I don’t think anyone’d take you seriously.

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[ tony tucks his hands in his pockets, rocks up on the balls of his feet. ] It wasn't a good time. 

[seems to go tense as it sinks in, that it was Osborn, that Tony’s known for that long] Were you ever gonna tell me, Tony? Or did it never occur to you to that I would’ve wanted to know? 

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[ tony freezes just as briefly; maybe he missteped with that one. shit. he knows as well as anyone that there were some things you joke about and some you just buried, but well, too late now. he laughs, glances over at pepper, testing the waters,  ] Yeah, wacky stuff, I'm thinking about trying to learn. What about it -- think I'd make a good assassin?

[Flinches, but it’s brief] I’m sure.