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[mutantgirl80]

The Lost Girl Chapter 3: The Lunch Date

Pairing: Female OC x Tony Stark 

Word Count: 3481

Rating: MA ( sexual content, memory loss ) 

Summary: Mariko runs into a ghost from her past while out on a lunch date with Tony. 

Mariko wakes as she ended the night. Her small body lays curled against Tony's. After spending so long in a cage, the alarm is a sound that is unfamiliar but not one she had missed. Tony groans and reaches over her, slapping the clock to shut it up. His hand rests on the small of her back and his lips meet her forehead in a soft kiss as the tone stops.

"So is this still a yes?" He asks, moving his hand up along the curve of her back and running his fingertips through her curls.

"Hmmm." A sarcastic smile spreads across her lips. She can feel his chest rise and fall against her cheek with each breath he takes. "I think it might be." His hand moves further into her hair as he pulls her up closer to him. Reacting to his touch, she arches her back up and presses her lips to his in a kiss. She woke worried the night before had been a mistake, but it appears this isn't his intention.

He moves his hand to caress her cheek as his lips turn up into a grin. "I've got a meeting with some military suits today. Do you want to come with? I'm sure Rhodie would be happy to see you." He sits up, letting the blankets wrapped around them fall back onto her.

"No," Mariko shakes her head, quite certain of her answer. "I've got something I need to do today." Her nerves are already on edge for the task at hand, but she knows it needs to happen. She can't go back into the world he wants her to be a part of without at least trying to fix things at the school. She hadn't left on bad terms, but her life as a mercenary did her no favors there.

"Ah. Ok." He gives a sad nod. "Lunch then?" He stands, still naked, and walks to a dresser on the left side of the room. Rummaging through the drawer for a moment, he tosses something in her direction. Mariko has only a few seconds to react before it comes within inches of her cheek. Her hand snaps up and her fingers clutch a set of keys as they smack into her palm. "I know you like the Lotus. It's yours for the day." He casts a devious look her way before grabbing a towel and walking toward the shower.

Wrapping the blanket around her as she stands, Mariko wanders into the bathroom after him. Stopping beside the door, she tosses the keys onto the pile of her clothing from the night before. Frowning at her lack of choices for the day, she drops the blankets and walks the rest of the way to join him in the shower.

Hot jets hit her from all angles as she steps past the glass door. A heavy stream of water falls from the ceiling. It is such a drastic change from the icy trickle she had in prison. Even the shower in Wade's apartment paled in comparison. Raising her hands over her head, she breathes in the heavy steam of the shower. The water rushing over Tony's body draws her attention. Raising a hand, she traces the path of a drop of water as it trickles down his back. As Mariko's hand moves down his body, he turns to face her.

"I'm so happy you're here." His hand raises to rest on the curve of her hip, drawing her closer to him as he speaks. The heat of the water warms the air between them as his hand glides over her body. Steam fills the small space of the shower, making them both breathe heavier.

"Me too." Mariko smiles up at him before resting her cheek against his chest. She can't help but wonder how he showers with the metal device there. His right hand moves up to her hair, pulling it in a slow, deliberate motion to turn her face up to his. Leaning in closer, opens his mouth as his lips meet hers. His other hand moves down along the curve of her ass. Grasping the back of her thigh with a soft growl, he lifts her leg and pushes her against the back wall of the shower.

Mariko tightens her legs around him, pulling him in closer to her as his tongue traces along hers. His hand moves down to her stomach and between her legs as he holds her against the wall of the shower. His fingertips play against the soft folds of her body, opening her up to him.

His teeth press against her plump bottom lip with a moan as she feels him press inside of her. Pushing her back hard against the tile wall, he moves with a slow, deliberate passion. This side of him had been absent in his hunger for her the night before. Her body tingles as his hands slide over her, burning hot beneath the warm stream of the shower. Continuing to kiss her through each thrust, he moves faster. His breath falls harder against her lips as his eyes meet her.

Mariko moves her arms from his shoulders and curls her fingers into his hair. Her eyes remain locked on his. The expression on his face as he gazes into her eyes turns her on even more. "Mmh. Fuck me, Tony." She whispers as she feels the muscles in her stomach begin to tighten. Her slick wet lips move against his as she speaks. He moans again and presses his lips harder to hers. His movements before faster, harder, more deliberate. He begins to throb inside of her seconds before she clutches his hair. A soft cry lands against his cheek as waves of pleasure wash over her body.

Mariko's legs shake beneath her as he pulls away from her and lets the water wash him clear. She slumps back, resting her head against the wall as she catches her breath. Closing the distance between them again, he traces the back of his hand along her cheek. "I could do that all day." He grins before stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around himself. Fog spreads across the glass door, obscuring her view of him as he walks further into the bedroom.

Mariko spends several more minutes in the shower. She tries to not let his wealth and privilege go to her head. Still, she can't help but enjoy the luxuries available to her. She had spent so long with nothing. Even before she found herself in prison, she had so little. Money was a come-and-go kind of thing with Wade. Even before meeting him, she spent months homeless and alone on the streets.

By the time Mariko finally returns to the bedroom, Tony has already left for the day. Walking over to her pile of clothing, she spots a note on a nearby nightstand. As she picks it up, a stack of hundred-dollar bills falls from the table. Holding the note up she reads it, 'Surprise me with something pretty. Love, Tony'. Mariko rolls her eyes, angry with the idea of him spending money on her again. She reaches down to grab her clothes and slides them back on. Grabbing the keys, she folds the money and stuffs it into a back pocket. Gathering the rest of her things, she walks out of the apartment and down the hall to the elevator.

Once in the garage, she walks past a string of cars. Tony had always been one to enjoy various high-priced toys. Cars were no exception. Thinking back, she remembered the various gadgets and devices he always had. Walking past five cars, she finally finds the Lotus. Its license plate, surprising no one, read STARK 6. Of course, he keeps them in numerical order. He was a bit hedonistic, but he was also such a giant nerd. Giggling at his quirks, she clicks the button to unlock it. As she nestles down into the driver's seat, she adjusts the mirror. Catching sight of her reflection she gazes for several minutes.

A heavy sigh breaks the silence as her gaze moves over the tattered clothes she wears. She had let herself go recently. As much as she hates the idea of being a charity case, there was no way she could continue to dress like this around him. Deciding to take him up on his offer, she types into the GPS and a list of malls appears on the screen. Picking one, she turns the engine on and the Lotus purrs into action.

As she drives, Mariko watches for police. She knows she's done nothing wrong. Still, she can't shake the feeling that being out in the open exposes her and makes her more vulnerable. For the first time since her release, she feels alone. The idea chills her to the bone. She always felt so carefree and independent with Wade, but she didn't have a fear of going back to prison back then. She always knew the life they lived was criminal. Still, in the moment, it always felt as though they were invincible.

After a short time wandering the mall, she walks into one of the bathrooms, arms loaded with bags. Pushing past the swinging metal door and into the stall, she drops the bags at her feet. Sitting on the toilet, she begins the task of removing her old clothes. Digging through the bags, she pulls out a burgundy pencil skirt. The length is a few inches above her knee, but the slit on the left side goes well up over her thigh. Turning her back to the small mirror in the stall, she reaches for the zipper. A white half tank and pair of black panties come from another bag.

Remembering the lingerie set she bought, she removes the skirt and rummages for the bra. Pulling the bra and panties over her body, she adjusts the straps and returns the skirt. Adding the half tank, she tops it with an oversized fuzzy tan cardigan. Sitting on the toilet, she pulls a shoebox from one of the bags. Removing the lid from the shoebox, she retrieves a pair of white stilettos. She slips them onto her feet, adjusts the straps, and fastens the buckles. Finally, she tops the outfit with an oversized pair of black sunglasses. She feels like a caricature, but at least she looks a little more like someone that would hang out with Tony.

Mariko wobbles for a few moments as she stands, trying to gain her balance. The prison flats and boots she wore for the past several years hadn't done much to train her for this. For a moment she wonders if the old Mariko knew how to do it. Shaking her head, she forces that thought from her mind. That is the last thing she needs to think about right now. She has enough going on without depression rearing its ugly head.

Finally stepping out of the bathroom, she hoists the bags over her shoulders to return to the Lotus. As she walks through the mall, she watches her reflection in each window she passes. It is so different from the image she had looked at for so long. Walking through the last row of stores before the parking lot, she spots a makeup store. Ducking into the store, she looks over the testers available. First, she puts on grey eyeshadow. Dark black mascara and red lipstick finish the look.

Reaching the car, she sits once again staring at her reflection in awe. She can't shake the feeling of disbelief that this was her life now. Narrowing her eyes, she gazes at herself, trying to strengthen her resolve to not get used to this. As much as she doesn't want to get sucked into Tony's lifestyle she knows she has no better alternative. For the first time in her life, there is no one around to make plans or decisions for her. She is completely alone and terrified by that fact.

A jingle plays from the car's steering wheel, startling her out of her thoughts. Mariko extends her finger to press a flashing button on the dashboard. As she does a screen materializes over the windshield. An image of Tony comes into focus as the screen continues to solidify. Three men in military uniforms stand in conversation a few steps behind him.

"Wow.." Tony stares at her for a minute without saying another word.

"I look that ridiculous?" Mariko giggles, looking shyly up at the screen.

"You're kidding, right? You look amazing."

Mariko's grin widens. "Well, don't get used to buying me things." She pauses, but adds "I don't enjoy being bought."

"I'll get right on that after I buy you lunch." His familiar smirk returns. "I'm sending coordinates to the car's GPS. See you in a few?"

Mariko hasn't begun the day's task but can't bring herself to tell him no. "Can't wait." She smiles, pushing the button to turn the car back on. Another button press and the GPS coordinates load into the main console screen on the car. Clicking the gearshift into drive, she follows the path as the GPS guides her to a restaurant. As she pulls into the parking lot, she can see Tony standing outside the door with a group of men. He immediately spots the car and walks over to pull the door open as she parks.

"Hey, gorgeous." His lips move against her ear as he places a soft kiss on the edge of her cheekbone. His arm rests on her back, leading her as he walks to join the other men. He introduces her as the hostess comes to lead the group to their table.

Mariko is disinterested in the conversation going on at the table once they are seated. Although she respects the work Tony does, it isn't an interest she shares with him in the least. She immediately feels better by his side, though. He has a commanding presence that makes her feel safe regardless of where they are. Of course, knowing that he is a snap of the fingers away from full body armor and lasers may have helped.

Picking at her salad, she lets her attention wander to the others in the restaurant. Her gaze makes it to a peculiar woman sitting at a table on their left side. She wears a deep purple dress and has flowing raven hair that frames her shoulders. Half staring over at the woman, Mariko nods at the 'weapons blah blah' talk at her table from time to time. Her eyes move over the table, studying the food the woman has ordered. Reaching the woman's companion, her mouth falls open in a gasp. "...Wade..."

As though he hears her, the man turns to look in Mariko's direction. He is missing the scars that once lined his face, and he actually has hair. Even so, there is no denying his identity as their eyes meet. Hoping he hasn't seen her, Mariko fumbles to move her oversized sunglasses down over her eyes. Her hand raises to her hair, fluffing it over the left side of her face to obscure his view of her.

"You ok?" Tony's voice breaks through her panicked thoughts. She is so flustered she forgot he is beside her for a moment.

Taking a steadying breath, she smiles in his direction. "I'm fine." She lies. "The sun was in my face." Trying to change the subject, she picks more at her salad and nods, feigning interest in the conversation going on around her. As Tony returns to the discussion, she can't help but let her attention drift back to Wade and the woman in purple. Her mind had to be playing tricks on her.

She wants to see him so badly he is appearing where he isn't.

There is no way he could have lost his scars. If hair was even possible for him anymore it would have taken a lot longer. The last time she saw him he still looked the way she knew him to. Counting on her fingers under the table, she tries to tally up how many months had passed since she last saw him. Giving up, she returns her gaze to the pair. As odd as it feels to say about her former lover, this woman is definitely out of his league. The two seem in deep conversation as Mariko peers in their direction. None of it makes sense. Here he has a whole new life. Hell, apparently even a whole new skin.

After several minutes, the pair gets up to leave. Not wanting to lose sight of them, Mariko whispers to Tony, excusing herself from the table. Getting up, she trails far enough behind them to be inconspicuous as they walk through the room.

A woman with a microphone walks through the room, drawing Mariko's attention. A man with a thick beard and large gut trudges behind her with a camera. Mariko turns her head to watch the pair as they march through the tables. A crowd begins to form around them, causing her to lose sight of them. As she turns back around, Mariko finds herself face first in Wade's arm.

"Shit..." She growls under her breath before looking up at him. "Hey, Wade..." She smiles, completely unsure of what to say or why she felt such a powerful urge to follow them. His familiar scent sends waves of nostalgia through her as she tries to fight everything it awakens.The bridge of his nose wrinkles in confusion as he looks down at her. "Her there. Um. How do you know my name?" His head tilts a few inches as he studies her.

"Wade...?" Mariko's eyes widen. For a moment she questions if she has tackled a stranger. "I uh, well..."

Before she can form her sentence the woman in purple swoops in. "Please excuse my husband. He does get clumsy sometimes." She flashes a fake smile and pulls Wade away as he stares back at Mariko.

She stands for several minutes, watching the woman pull Wade through the room and into the hall. Her words slowly processing in her thoughts as the shock of the encounter fades.

"Husband?!?!" Mariko exclaims in amazement as the word finally registers. He sure has moved on. He's moved on so much that he completely forgot her. With this new revelation, she doesn't feel so bad about what has happened, twice now, with Tony. Mariko curls her hands into tight fists as the woman's words play in her mind. She can't believe she had ached to see him again, and this is what she finds. Still, the electricity of being close to him still courses through her blood.

As she walks back to the table, she realizes where the reporter was going. Trying to inch her way over to a corner of the room to hide, she slumps against a wall. Her eyes meet Tony's and he motions for her to join the group. Reluctantly, she walks back to take her seat next to his.

One of the other men finishes his interview and the reporter turns the microphone to Tony. "Mr. Stark, I understand that the missile system isn't the only news for Stark Industries this week." She looks over to Mariko with a smile as she awaits an answer. Tony looks at the woman with a grin, not willing to give her the gossip she's looking for.

"We hear Miss Yashida was recently released from federal prison. Would you like to comment on that, Mr. Stark?" The woman presses on, getting a little too personal for Mariko's liking.

"We all make mistakes," Tony replies, still not giving the woman what she is hoping for. Feeling quite small, Mariko smiles nervously at the camera.

The woman laughs and turns to the cameraman, motioning for him to follow her as she makes her way back through the tables and out of the room. Mariko had forgotten that being in the spotlight is part of the territory with Tony. No matter how much she dislikes it, it is something she has to get used to if she plans on being around him.

Wanting to get out of there after the way the day has turned out so far, Mariko whispers a goodbye in Tony's ear. Excusing herself from the table, she rushes back to the car. Once inside, she turns the engine on but sits for several long minutes as tears stream down her cheeks. Of all the things Wade could have done to her, he had to do this. The same as Logan. Perhaps she is that replaceable.

As she drives to the Xavier school she knows she isn't ready to go there yet. In an attempt to clear her thoughts, she drives aimlessly through the outskirts of town for just under an hour. Finally turning down the highway that leads to the school, she slows her speed to a near crawl until she reaches the driveway.

Parking the car, she sits for several minutes trying to will herself to go in and round off an already miserable day.

[mutantgirl80]

The Lost Girl Chapter 2: New York

Pairing: Female OC x Tony Stark 

Word Count : 7507

Rating: MA ( sexual content, manipulation ) 

Summary: Mariko leaves the prison to return to New York. Once there, she has to decide if her next action is to return to the apartment she shared with Wade or to thank Tony. 

Freedom is such a strange feeling. The air is stifling as she walks down the long hall and out of the corridor she called home for months. The smells of the prison overwhelm her senses after so long with only her own recycled air. The same way they had put her into the cell, a man drags her by the heavy shackles on her wrists. Her feet shuffle as she tries to keep up without falling despite the chains that drag behind her.

"In here." The man grunts as he pulls the door to a small cage open. His other arm gestures for her to move, indicating that this would be her holding cell, for now at least.

"Oh thank you." Mariko smiles, ducking her head as she steps into the cell.

The man tosses a paper bag onto the bench next to her. "You can change. Or not." He shrugs. "I don't care."

Mariko studies him. Ok, sure. She is a prison inmate but did he have to be such a jerk? She did nothing to this man. Rolling her eyes, she tries to move so she can reach the bag but is unable to get far with her restraints on. "Can I take these things off then?"

"Nah." The man laughs as he swings the heavy metal door of the cage closed.

"Then how am I supposed to...." Mariko protests but her voice fades as the man turns and walks away.

He has to be joking. There was no way she could change clothes like this. Twisting her back as she bends to the side, she gives one more try at reaching the bag without luck. Grumbling, she rests back against the cell wall. Her arm bends at an awkward angle that she tries to adjust, but no position helps. With a heavy sigh, she leans forward a few inches, trying to will away the

frustration in her mind. This would all be over soon enough.

A few hours later the man returns, not bothering to say a word as he walks up and unlocks the cage. His arm extends in a gesture again as the door swings open.

"Oh, time to go already?" Mariko asks with a grin as she looks up at him, but he was in no mood for jokes. "lame..." She says under her breath as she stands to walk out of the cage. "I need help

with my things, though. I can't exactly carry them like this."

The man remains silent, but steps into the cage to retrieve the paper bag. Elbowing her as he steps back out, he pushes her out of his way before swinging the cage door shut. He leaves it unlocked and turns toward the heavy wooden double doors in front of them. Walking through those doors meant they would be in the main office of the prison. Her freedom was only a few steps further. Taking a deep breath, Mariko walks behind the man, shuffling her feet to not trip on her shackles.

Once they are through the doors there are only three options to go. To the left side is a hallway. Its light green and white tiling reflect the ceiling lights so much it burns her eyes. To the right side is a pair of offices, equal in size, that meet in the center with side-by-side doors. Several papers and notices line the outside of one of the offices. The other has a gumball machine outside that has to be at least 30 years old. In the center of the hallway is another set of double doors. The large glass panels in each give Mariko her first real view of the outside world in months. It is a different season than the one she entered the prison in. She could almost smell the sweet perfume of the dogwood trees lining the courtyard.

"Hurry up." The man grumbles, shuffling past Mariko as she stops to stare out the door. He stops in front of the office with the papers on the wall and pulls the door open. Standing in front of the door, holding it open for her, he points into the office as his eyes narrow. Mariko makes a point of taking her time to walk into the office.

As she enters the room, her gaze meets with one of an older woman standing behind a large metal counter. The top of the counter is higher than a bar, and as Mariko walks up to it she has to stand on her toes to reach it. The guard walks in behind her, tossing her bag of things onto the counter. As he does, it tumbles onto its side, spilling the contents across the counter in front of her. Although Mariko protests, neither of the other two in the room seems to care.

Stepping behind her, the guard raises a set of keys, flipping one after the other over a large ring. Finding the right one, he grasps the bar between her wrists. With a yank, he pulls her arms until her hands are at eye level. Mariko lets out a soft gasp as pain burns down her bicep. She hears the click of the cuffs unlocking and as she turns to look, her wrists fall free. Raising them in front of her, she rubs her hand across the grooves in the flesh of her wrist. Once the cold steel falls from her arms, the raw purple marks below sting as the air creeps over.

As she gathers her belongings from the tall counter in front of her, they feel alien to her. Her hand slides across the the nicks and scratches in the fading plastic that covers the counter. Grasping her cell phone from the pile, she turns it over in her hands, feeling the need to go over every tiny detail on the cupcake-clad case. As she does, her mind returns to the many times Wade picked on her for it.

The clothing she wore the night of her arrest was freshly laundered and folded in a plastic drawstring bag. The blood and ash that covered them months ago were now little more than a bad memory. Her weapons, of course, sat in an evidence locker. They would not be leaving with her. Not that it matters. She has little use for them nowadays.

Mariko had been contemplating the proposition Tony brought to her most of the night. She expected her release to be sooner, but it took the prison almost 24 hours to get everything in order. It seemed they were as surprised as she was by her sudden procurement of bail money. Although she wants nothing more than to see him again, she knows going back to Wade would be a mistake. She has a chance to make things right. She has to take it. While her time with him had been an adventure, it had done her no favors. The last thing she wants is to find herself back in a facility like this any time soon. The uncertainty of Tony's offer terrifies her, but she knows it's her best option.

Grabbing the bag of clothing, she nods her head back toward the small bathroom in the right corner of the room. "Can I go change?" The woman behind the counter barely looks up as she grunts back at her and waves her off with the back of her hand.

Nodding, Mariko walks over to the small, square bathroom. The door catches on the peeling linoleum floor as she tries to push it open. Putting more of her weight into it to force it, she stumbles forward as it finally gives way. Bracing her shoulder against the back of the door, she closes it behind her. Slumping down against it, she stands in the claustrophobic space. A single dull incandescent lightbulb illuminates the small space. Looking over, her reflection distorts as it stares back at her from a greasy mirror. Flipping the cracked plastic lid of the toilet down, she sits. Even with the lid closed, the stifling aroma of the dirty old toilet fills the stagnant air in the small room. Still, she can't help but smile as her fingertips trace across the familiar fabrics of her clothes.

Dropping the bag to the ground before her, she stands and unties the fraying drawstrings of her prison uniform. Letting the pants fall to the floor, she kicks them away ceremoniously. The accompanying shirt followed in short order. Crumpling it, she tosses it as far away from her as she can get it.

Reaching into the bag, she pulls a black skirt from its contents and unfolds it. Stepping into it, she pulls it up over her hips. Her hands trace over her curves, gliding against the soft fabric as she searches for the zipper. Adjusting the skirt, she reaches into the bag once more. This time she pulls out a skull-clad tank top. Pulling it over her shoulders, she adjusts it over the skirt and tops it with a long sleeve black lace top. Her fingers play at the small threads that have come loose at the edges of her sleeves. The feeling of having her own clothes again made it all finally seem real to her. The prison uniform was a thing of the past and soon enough this whole place would be too. She still marvels at how the whole thing went down every time she thinks of it.

Gathering the clothing she tossed, she crumples them into a small ball and stuffs them into the bag. Pulling the drawstring to seal them from her sight, she lets the bag fall to the ground at her feet. One large boot follows the other as she pulls them up the length of her calf. Threading the laces, she adjusts them here and there until they fit the form of her leg. A few spots of blood are visible now that she inspects them. They weren't cleaned with as much care as the rest of her things.

Picking the bag up, she swings it over her shoulder and yanks the creaky door to open it. Once again, it sticks in the linoleum, opening only enough for her to squeeze out of the room. Sighing, she lets the door remain in its position as she walks back over to the counter and tosses the bag onto it. Her fingertips trace over the raised lettering of the keycard Tony left for her as she picks it up. Turning it over, she tries to remember the location of the hotel before stuffing it into her back pocket. His words from the day before ring in her ears.

"This is yours too." The guard behind the counter tosses a stack of $20 bills her way.

"No. I didn't have any money." Mariko smiles up at her as the cash lands next to her hand.

"Well, it was in your things. So it looks like it's yours. Must be your lucky day." She flashes an over-exaggerated smile Mariko's way. She doesn't care whose money it is. Not giving it to her meant more paperwork, and that is the last thing she wants to deal with.

"Tony must have left it..." Mariko mumbles to herself. Feelings of anger and shame fill her at the idea of him doing so much to help her. She refuses to be a charity case. Still, she has to admit she could use the help. She had little more than spare change when she arrived there. Picking up the cash, she counts it and makes a mental note of how much she needs to pay him back.

"Huh?" A frown of disgust twists on the guard's face as she casts an impatient glare down at Mariko.

"Nothing. Nevermind." Mariko shakes her head. It is a waste of time to try to talk to these people. She puts the money in her back pocket, moving her phone to one of her front pockets to make room. Taking a deep breath, she stands in a moment of awkward uncertainty. Her gaze turns up to the guard "So, what's next?"

"That's it. You're free. I don't know how you got that much money, but you did." She rolls her eyes. "Verify your address here." She scoots a piece of paper across the counter toward Mariko. Although she has no idea where she will stay, she initials the fake address she gave during her arrest. "Don't leave the country. Don't miss your court dates. You screw up and it's right back here. And no getting out a second time no matter how much money your friends've got." Mariko does her best to ignore the part about coming back. That wasn't going to be happening. Not if she could help it.

As she puts the pen down and slides the paper back over, she hears the tapping of footsteps echoing down the hallway. The creak of one of the heavier doors of the building follows and a different guard walks into the room.

"This one ready?" He asks the woman behind the counter without acknowledging Mariko.

"She's all yours." The woman replies. Her demeanor seems to have softened instantly upon this man's arrival. Mariko can't help but wonder what that is about. She reminds herself that the people here were about to be the last of her concerns. To so many of them she was scum, so why should she care about their lives? She did her best to be kind, which they met with cruelty more often than not.

"This all you've got?" The guard finally turns to look at Mariko as he grabs the drawstring bag from the counter. Stepping closer to her, he clicks a new set of handcuffs onto her wrists.

"Oh, no. I'm not taking that." Mariko smiles over at him and shakes her head as she tries to adjust the cold metal around her already sore wrists. She laughs, but he sees no humor in the situation.

"Whatever you say." He shrugs before gesturing toward the door.

Mariko turns to look at the woman behind the counter once more before taking a few steps toward the hallway. Stepping out of the office, the guard follows closely behind, gun raised.

The outside light is painfully bright as they near the large glass panes of the exterior doors. She can't help but squint as the pair pass through them and into the courtyard before a U-shaped driveway. A yellow taxi waits for them on the far right corner of the sidewalk. As they near it, the back door pops open. This is it. This is freedom. Mariko turns to the guard and raises her arms in front of her. Pulling the keys from his belt, he clicks the handcuffs open and pulls them from her wrists.

"So, this is it?" She mumbles as she looks up at him. She feels like it's all a daze as she stands inches from the taxi that would take her away from that place. The man stands, arms folded, as he waits for her to leave. Her hand runs through the side of her hair, pulling it back from her face. She gives a slight nod to answer her own question. Turning, she steps into the back of the taxi. "Central station, please." She smiles at the driver whose eyes study her in the rearview mirror.

Mariko sinks down into the back seat of the taxi, watching buildings and others cars whir past as the taxi makes its way downtown. She only has a vague idea of where the prison is, but knows it is somewhere in DC. It would be at least three hours to make it back to New York on the train. She tries to convince herself the overwhelming fear taking over her senses would fade once she was home.

After several blocks, she pulls a twenty from her pocket and hands it through the plastic window. Taking the long stairway down to the station, she studies the map to find the right train. The busy corridor flusters her immediately. So many lights, sounds, and smells. It is all so overwhelming compared to the cold, sterile cell she had come from.

Finally finding the right train, she pushes her way through the turnstile, sticking her ticket into the machine. As it pops back out at her on the other end, she grabs it and hurries to the right platform. Stepping onto the train, she finds a seat and slumps into it. Lowering the back of her seat, she does her best to get comfortable. It would be several hours before she moves again. During the trip, she manages to borrow a charging cord from a young woman a few rows away. Of course, she has no service. The phone company cut that off when she wasn't there to pay her bill. Any texts or messages were long gone, but her pictures remain. She sits, thumbing through the camera roll. So many pictures with Wade. Tears stream down her cheeks by the time the train pulls into Penn Station.

Walking up the long flight of stairs, she steps out into the loud, pungent streets of New York. Drawing a deep breath into her lungs, she smiles. She is home. Stark Tower looms in the distance, but she knows she isn't ready to go there yet. Instead, she turns and walks into a Starbucks right outside the station. She has to take a minute to decide what she is going to do.

Sitting at a window seat, she sips an iced latte and watches tourists wander the street in front of her. The rich chocolate and espresso flavors fill her senses after months of bland prison food. Curling the straw wrapper around her index finger, she contemplates her options. She has to at least go say thank you to Tony, but that can wait. Looking out into the street, she realizes she's only a few blocks away from Wade's apartment. She knows it's a terrible idea, but something in her compels her to walk that way. After all, she needs to get her things. There isn't much there, but it's better than the one outfit she currently has on.

Sipping the last of her latte, she tosses the plastic cup into the recycle bin. Her hand raises, rubbing at the bridge of her nose to will away the brain freeze trying to form in her sinuses. Pushing the door open, she steps out onto the sidewalk to begin the trek to her old apartment. She would stop in to get her things, say goodbye, and that would be that. She knows full well she wants to see him again, but she does her best to convince herself otherwise.

As she turns the key and pushes the door open, it's clear that he hadn't been there in some time. Clothes litter the floor and the smell of rotting food fills the air. Walking back to the bedroom, she scans the closet only to find most of his favorite weapons missing. Most of her things are as she left them. Saddened by his absence, she gathers the essentials and looks for any clue of where he had gone.

A few pieces of paper sit on the kitchen counter. A strange script is scribbled across them and it looks as though they were torn into small pieces. Looking it over, she's unable to decipher what they once said. Although she thinks about holding onto them she places them back on the counter. Her hands curl into fists as she leans back against the counter. She can't get wrapped up in this. She can't let herself get involved with him again. She knows she would be too weak to find her way back out if she let her guard down and that just wasn't an option anymore. She had to leave mercenary life behind. Saying goodbye to the killing is easy, but the mystery and adventure are a lot harder to let go of.

As she walks back into the sparsely decorated living room, she considers leaving a note. She has no idea what she would even put in it though. Would he even see it, or care? Deciding against it, she stuffs her things into a backpack. Giving it one last sad glance, she pulls the door shut behind her, making her way back down the stairs.

Darkness is already creeping across the sky as she finally makes her way to the hotel. Checking in without issue, she makes her way up the elevator. The backpack falls to the ground as she pushes the door open and steps into her room. Falling backward, she sinks into the plush bed. Taking several deep breaths, she takes in the feeling of the bed, and the fresh smell of the hotel. It was such a stark contrast to where she had been only hours before. Dozing off as the warmth and soft fabric envelops her, she wakes a few hours later from pangs of hunger. She had missed meal time at the prison and had nothing more than the iced coffee since leaving. Fliping onto her stomach, she crawls over the thick blankets to get a better look at the clock. It's a little after 8:30. There has to be something nearby she can get to eat.

After fixing her hair, she makes her way back down the elevator and into the street. Leaning against the large staircase of the hotel she pulls her phone from her pocket. Luckily, she could pick up a wifi signal and still use the internet on it. She opens google maps to search for nearby restaurants. There is a small French bistro not far from the hotel. It looks like a good enough choice for the evening. As she eats and sips on a glass of wine, she contemplates Tony's words again. She still can't figure out why he would help her, or why he even cared to look for her.

Finishing up her salad and drinking the last of a second glass of wine, she leaves money for her bill and walks back out into the street. Looking first one way and then the next, her gaze lands on Stark Tower. It has to be late, but she considers stopping in for a quick visit. Meandering, she starts walking her way in that direction. Even as she walks, she's unsure what she would even say to him.

Several blocks later and the Tower looms overhead. Mariko stops for a few minutes to stare up at the penthouse. The lights are on, but she isn't sure if it always looks that way. The building is more office than home, after all. She argues with herself as she stands, trying to decide her next action. She has to thank him, and let him know she made it to New York. It would be a quick visit, and then back to the hotel. Making her way into the building, she is surprised to see that she is still on the access list. As she walks to the elevator, she studies the many pictures of inventions that line the hall. It had been so long since she was in that building. Even then she only had a reason to visit a few times. It feels so odd to be visiting this place and to be doing so to thank him for freeing her from prison.

Stepping off of the elevator, she stands for several minutes in front of the door. Voices echo out from the other side. She hesitates, second-guessing her decision before knocking. The door swings open seconds after her knuckles leave it. Tony stands before her with a grin on his face. Several familiar voices escape the open door from within the room.

"Oh, it's a bad time..." She says in a soft whisper.

"No, not at all. Come in." he reaches out for her hand. "I've been waiting to hear from you." He smiles, reassuring her as his arm rests on her back. Moving slowly, he guides her into the room.

"Look who's here!" He calls out to the others as he nudges her in front of him and rests his hands on her shoulders.

Mariko feels as though she could melt through the floor as everyone turns their attention to her. The group is full of individuals she had once considered friends. She couldn't help but wonder how many of them knew of her life of crime if Tony found it so easily.

"Mariko!" Bruce stands first, walking over toward her and wrapping her in a brief hug. "How have you been?"

"I...I'm good." She smiles, replying in a shaky voice. It is a relief that her past isn't the first thing to come to their minds. At least, no one seems interested in questioning her on it for the time being. Natasha offers a wave and Steve motions for her to join him on the overstuffed brown leather couch.

"Good to see you again, kid." He pats her arm in a friendly gesture as she sits next to him.

"Miss Mariko. I trust you are doing well." Thor smiles up from where he sits on the floor. "You're just in time to join us for a toast. What better time? To old friends!" He roars as he hands her a glass that smells of rum. The wine she drank with her dinner is the first alcohol she had in months. It was already making her a little dizzy. The smell is overpowering as she raises the glass to her lips. She tilts her head back, taking it all in one drink. As she places it back onto the table, she shakes her head from the sting in her throat and sinks back down into the couch.

Tony walks over holding two freshly opened bottles of beer. Tiny bubbles foam near the top as he hands her one. Setting his on the table in front of him, he takes the seat next to her on the couch. Feeling his gaze on her, Mariko turns to look in his direction. She can feel her cheeks burning hot as their eyes meet.

"Are you sure this isn't a bad time?" She whispers, turning to face him.

"We'll talk later." He rests a hand on her lower thigh with a grin.

The party goes on for a few more hours before drinking turns into hunger. Most of the group decides to visit a nearby diner for midnight snacks. All but Natasha go, leaving Tony and Mariko in an uneasy silence.

"So you wanted to talk?" He flashes a half-drunk smile her way. Mariko questions if it's the best time or if she should wait to have a sober discussion.

"I just..." Even as the words leave her mouth, she is unsure of what she wants to say. "I guess I just don't understand what's going on here."

Tony's signature smirk plays in the corners of his jaw. "It's really not that complicated. I learned through some intel that one of the X-Men was in some trouble over at Fed. After a bit of research, I learned who it was and stepped in to see if I could remedy the situation."

"Yeah." Mariko hesitates. "...but why?"

"Oh, I don't know." His smirk remains. "Helping an old colleague?"

Mariko isn't so sure she buys that. Sure, it makes sense, but it feels like there is something more going on here. "So what do you want from me in return?" She says after puzzling over his words for a few moments. Her time as a mercenary led her to believe that nobody did things out of pure kindness. Besides, she wasn't about to accept help without paying him back for it. "I have no money to repay you right now, but I will..."

"I don't want you to repay me." He moves in closer to her as he speaks. "I want you to be safe."

She definitely feels a lot safer being back with her old friends than she ever did in that cell. The sudden change made her uneasy, but she hoped that feeling would be temporary.

"I want you to stay here until you get on your feet again." He adds, moving in and hooking a finger under her jaw to pull her gaze up to meet his. "Or longer..."

"I don't..." She gives him a puzzled look. "I'm sure Pepper wouldn't like that much." Mariko giggles at the idea of how awkward it would be to stay in the house with the two of them.

"She isn't here." He corrects her. "She hasn't been in the picture for a while now, Momo."

"Oh." Was all Mariko could manage through her confusion.

"I can keep you safe here." His gaze remains locked on hers. "Do you think it's a good idea to go back to him?"

Mariko knows exactly who he is talking about. It is almost painful for Tony to bring that up. She spent so long trying to push it from her mind and here he is wanting to talk about it. "It's not like that." She quips back. "It wasn't like that with him."

"I know." He laughs, it seems he isn't that worried about offending her. "but there's nothing but trouble waiting with him."

Mariko sits in silence, unsure of how to take his words. There is no way he's hitting on her, and yet? If that isn't what this is then what the heck is it? It was so unexpected coming from him. They had been good friends in the past, but she never thought of him like that before.

"Look. I know it seems strange. Manipulative maybe." He begins. "I've always had an interest but the timing was always wrong."

He is right. The last time they were together they were both with someone else. Perhaps that is why she never thought of him in that light. The idea plays through her thoughts as he speaks. He is certainly charming. He could always make her laugh. He did have a lot going for him. Sure, there is the obvious like his status or money but that kind of thing never mattered to Mariko much.

"I just want to see where this goes." He moves closer until they are only inches apart. "I mean, you can say no. I don't want you to feel obligated." He adds. "I would have helped you regardless."

Mariko looks away for a brief moment. It's all too much for her. Whether he would have helped her anyway or not, it does feel manipulative. Sure, she agrees that she owes him something after what he paid for her bail, but this? She still isn't so sure she's ready to completely give up on Wade yet. Looking back to see a glimmer of hope in his eyes she smiles with a soft giggle. "I don't know what to say..."

"Don't say anything. Just stay." He smiles back at her. "That's it for now. Just stay so I know you're safe."

She gives his words a few moments to settle in. "Ok." She agrees, nodding her head. Surely none of the people who might have a bone to pick with her would think to look here.

His hand moves from where it rests on her thigh and traces along the edge of her jaw. Leaning in closer to her, his lips brush against her as he places a soft kiss on the delicate bones of her cheek. Mariko blushes as his facial hair tickles against her soft skin. Raising her hand up to his jaw, she turns her head, grazing her bottom lip against his as she returns his kiss.

"Thank you." She says with a smile, still lingering close to him.

The pair is so engrossed in their conversation that they don't notice Natasha leave the apartment. Realizing they're alone, Tony stands and begins to pick up the empty beer bottles that line the table in front of them. Mariko, although a little flustered, follows behind him with an armload of bottles to help.

"What am I doing?" He laughs as he places his bottles on the kitchen counter. "I pay people to do this for me."

Mariko places her bottles down with a giggle. His life is so foreign to her. She couldn't even imagine having staff to do whatever she asked.

Before she knows it, he has her cornered against the counter. Her breath catches in her chest as the warmth of his body radiates against hers. His hands curl into the tips of her hair as he gazes down at her. The height difference between them isn't' much, but it is enough to give him a commanding presence over her. Mariko looks up at him as her teeth sink against her bottom lip. Wade lingers in the back of her thoughts, but Tony has definitely captured her attention. As much as she tries to resist the idea, her body aches to be touched again after months alone.

His hands move from her hair and follow a slow path along the curve of her neck, pulling her close to him as he goes in for another kiss. She returns it, letting him pull her close to him as her hesitation begins to fade away. After a long, lingering kiss, he steps back and adjusts his belt.

"So." his voice cracks as he speaks. "Let's get you settled in." He turns and walks down the long hall to the right of the kitchen. Mariko is unsure whether she should follow so she stands awkwardly in the kitchen for several minutes. She isn't sure where this is going, but she is definitely enjoying the ride. There is something so alluring about his presence. Of course, the fact that he was the first person to touch her in months likely played into it a little too. After a while, she hears his voice from a distance and scurries down the hall to find him.

"There you are." He laughs as she finally finds him. "You can stay in here." She walks through the doorway into a plush bedroom. More pillows line the bed than she has ever seen together before. "I'll take the couch for now." He adds as he grabs a couple of the pillows and walks over to the closet to grab a blanket."

"No. No, no, no, no." Mariko shakes her head. "I can't kick you out of your own room." She laughs. "I'll be fine on the couch." She walks over to take the pillows from him.

As she nears him, he hides the pillows behind his back, shaking his head. "Nope." A grin crosses his face as she tries to go behind him to retrieve the pillows, refusing to accept his answer.

"Oh, it's like that, is it?" She giggles. Tony nods his head in agreement.

"Ok, you want to be like that," Mariko smirks as she stops in front of him. She stands on her toes as she curls her arms around his neck and plants a soft kiss on his lips. The alcohol coursing through her system is having a say, but something inside of her wants to be close to him. She lets her hands fall to his shoulders and reaches for the pillows, trying to pull them from his grasp.

"Sneaky, sneaky." He laughs, dropping the pillows onto the floor and moving his hands until they are on her waist, pulling her closer to him. It had been so long since she felt anything, let alone this. She feels herself grow eager for more as she takes a few steps back, luring him over to the bed.

Turning, she wrestles him down onto the bed. He doesn't put up much of a fight. Before she can stop herself, she climbs over him, straddling him as she leans down to kiss him again. His hands move up to her hips, pulling her down harder onto him. She breathes a soft sigh, pressing her teeth against her lips as her eyes meet his. Her body feels electric as his hands move over it. There is no way she could deny what he was awakening in her any longer.

Tony sits up, pulling her close to him. His hands move to the bottom of her lace shirt, pulling it over her head between kisses. Her tank top follows, landing on the floor beside the bed. Mariko's hands move along the buttons of his shirt, popping them open one by one. His hands curl into her hair as he kisses her. She can feel him bulging hard against the thing fabric that now separates them as her skirt rides up over her hips with each movement they make.

She can't help but stop to look at the odd glowing metal device in his chest once his shirt is off. She assumes it has something to do with the Iron Man suit, but it is startling to see.

"It's ok. You can't hurt me." He stops for a moment, realizing what her attention is drawn to.

"What is it?" She asks, tracing a fingertip along the edge of the device as she looks at it curiously.

"It's a reactor core." He replies in a matter-of-fact tone, as though she is supposed to know what he is talking about. Realizing that her look of confusion seemed to grow rather than dissipate, he adds "It keeps me alive."

"Oh." Mariko gasps, quickly withdrawing her hand after hearing his words.

"It's ok." he laughs., moving his own hand to knock at the device. "It's not going anywhere."

Mariko nods and raises her hand to his jaw. His hands move behind her, unhooking her bra and pulling it from her shoulders. As it falls to the bed, his hands trail along the flesh of her back, pulling her closer to him. His hips move upward, pressing the bulge in his pants harder against her. She rolls her hips, riding him as her body tingles from his touch.

Without warning he moves, tossing her back against the pillows as he hovers over her. Steadying himself with one hand, his tongue passes her lips and curls against her. His free hand traces a trail along the edge of her stomach. Mariko raises her hands to his hair, grasping it tightly and pulling him closer to her. Fumbling along the edge of her skirt, he finds the zipper. In one motion, he has it unhooked and is pulling the fabric away from her body. She moves, helping him pull it over her hips.

Tony's hand returns to her stomach, playing along the lacy fabric that separates them. Mariko draws a sharp breath as his hands move across the fabric, teasing her. His hand moves low and lower as he kisses her. The fabric grows wet beneath his touch as he moves in soft circles. His fingers play against her as his kisses move along her jaw and down the curve of her neck.

Mariko's back arches up to his touch as she squirms against his hand. Slowly, he increases the pressure of his touch, rubbing harder against her as he traces his tongue along her neck.

"Mmmh, Tony." She sighs in a half-whisper as her hands move from his hair to grasp the pillow below her head. One hand curls into the sheet below her as she feels her body throbbing against his touch.

"I love the sound of my name on those lips." His lips move against the flesh of her neck as he speaks.

"Tony Tony Tony Tony" She giggles. Her breath falls against his cheek as she squirms against his hand. He growls and moves his hand beneath her panties, pressing two fingers inside of her. His kisses move along her neck, the weight of his body pressing against hers. His hand curls, pressing in deeper as his thumb circles her clit. Mariko's back arches up as she lets out a softer moan at the feel of his lips moving further down her body.

She pulls him up closer to her as she grasps the edges of the shirt that still hung open against the sides of his chest. Pulling it off of him, she sits up, hungry for his kisses as her hair falls around her face. As she moves, he works to remove his pants. Kicking them off, he leaves them on the bed before pulling her back onto him. His rigid cock presses hard against her wet panties as she lands back on his lap. His hands comb through her hair, grasping it and pulling her head to the side to expose the soft flesh of her neck to him as he kisses a path along her collarbone.

"Tony..." Mariko's voice is shaky as his hands move over her body. "Is this too soon?"

He stops, his hands moving to her cheek as he brushes a stray hair aside with the edge of his thumb. She can feel her heart pounding in her chest against the cold metal device in his. "You don't want this?" His eyes narrowed questioningly as he gaze at her.

"I REALLY want this." She giggles, her lip trembling with anticipation as she speaks. "I just don't want to screw things up." She rests her hands against his chest, drawing circles against the curve of his muscles with a fingertip as she speaks. She isn't sure if she is ready for this yet. It's all so sudden. She still can't stop thinking about Wade. And honestly, she has no idea what Tony even wants from this. Is this a one-night stand? Is it going to make things weird between them afterward? There is something so irresistible about his confidence and intensity, though.

"I know." He kisses her softly. She can sense a slight note of aggravation in his voice. "Let's promise then. No making it weird."

Mariko frowns. "You know it isn't that easy, right?"

Lifting his hand to her lips to shush her, he laughs. "Of course I do." Replacing his hand with his lips, he grasps her hair again, holding her close to him. Her flesh tingles, feeling the prickly hairs on his chin move against her cheek as his head lifts. "So what's it going to be, Momo? Yes or no?" His lips move against her neck as he whispers into her ear.

She only needs a second to think, but thinking is a bit hard at that point. All she can focus on is the feel of his skin on hers. She manages a short "Yes" as she pulls his mouth to hers, curling her tongue into his and letting him push her back against the pillow.

His hand traces along her side, grasping her ass and pulling her up as he continues to kiss her.

Ripping her panties down, he moves in closer. With a soft gasp, her muscles tighten as he presses inside of her. Her legs curl around him, pulling him closer to her as he thrusts harder and harder. Her hands grasp his hair as she feels pressure building inside of her. His kisses move back down her neck and she moves up, pushing him onto his back before climbing over him. Rolling her hips with each thrust he makes, she rides him hard. His hands grasp her hips, holding her down onto him. Her hands fall to his chest, pressing against it for balance as her hair falls around them.

Her fingers tighten into the flesh of his chest as she feels her body begin to clench around him. Arching her back she grinds her clit against him, feeling him pulsing inside of her. With a soft cry, her body is overcome.

"God damn it, Tony." She whimpers as she falls against his chest. Arching up to kiss him, she works to catch her breath. His arm moves around her back as he gives her a questioning look.

"That wasn't supposed to be that good." She narrows her eyes in a feeble attempt to glare at him.

"Oh. I'm so sorry." He gives her a sarcastic grin.

"You should be." She can't help but giggle.

"I'll make it up to you tomorrow, but... I'll try to make it suck?" Planting a soft kiss against her forehead, he leans back against the pillow beneath him. "I've got to admit, though. I've been wanting to do that for a long, long time."

"Really?" Mariko turns, looking up at him in disbelief.

"Mmm-hmm." The grin remains on his lips.

"Even when you were with Miss Perfect?" Mariko regrets her question the minute it leaves her lips.

Tony rolls his eyes. "Yes, even then."

"What happened to you two, anyway?" Mariko asks, and again scolds herself.

"Difference of opinion." He isn't going into any details. Pulling her tighter to him, he yawns.

Mariko pulls the thick blankets up closer to her as she frowns. That wasn't the answer she had hoped for, but she had to accept it for now.

[mutantgirl80]

The Lost Girl Chapter 1 : Prison

Pairing: Female OC x Wade Wilson ( in flashback ) Female OC x Tony Stark 

Word Count: 4405

Warnings: M for mentions of gore and violence. 

Summary: The past few years were a whirlwind for Mariko. First her decision to leave the X-Men, then teaming up with Wade Wilson ( in more ways than one ), and now rotting away in federal prison. When an old friend arrives with an offer at a new life, she finds herself torn between love and a chance at redemption. 

One foot, then the other. Each morning, Mariko walks the same worn path along the edge of her cell. The thin plastic soles of her prison-issue shoes slap against the concrete below with each step. It was one of the few ways she could slow her mind. To stop thinking of everything, but especially the memories of her time before this. So much confusion and pain filled her each time she let her mind wander back to that life.

Stopping at the outside edge of her cell, she flattens her palm to the cold glass as a sigh escapes her lips. One leg stretches up and she catches it in her hand. Pulling at her toes, she extends her thigh muscle to stretch it out. Exhaling a long, slow breath, she changes to the other leg. Her gaze trails out to the cell across from hers. It seems her neighbor isn't up for the day yet. Only his fading green hair is visible over the edge of his bunk.

She had no idea how anyone could sleep in around here. The noise, the lights, the cold. The apartment she lived in before this wasn't anything special by NYC standards. It always had a faint smell of metal and gunpowder, and there was the rat problem. Still, even that sounded luxurious compared to the cot and four glass walls she now called home.

Turning her head, her eyes narrow as she tries to focus them on the cell to the left of hers. It's a weird angle to be able to see much of anything. Still, sometimes she would see its occupant pacing back and forth. He would yell things to the camera keeping watch over him from time to time, but not in a language she understood. Mariko couldn't help but watch in wide-eyed amazement each time he started it. He looked young, but couldn't be naive enough to think they actually cared what he had to say.

The last to occupy the corridor, and arguably the most interesting, had only recently joined them. His was the most guarded of the four cells and even once in it, they chained him to a special chair for almost a week. There was an air of mystery surrounding their new neighbor that fascinated her. Sure, there wasn't exactly anything else going on, but there was something about this guy. A shining silver prosthesis took the place of his left arm. Cold anger poured from his features as he stared at the air in front of him. His soft puppy dog brown eyes hinted at something human still in there somewhere, though. From time to time, Mariko would make up a back story for the man as she walked. She wondered if any of the crap she could make up would even come close to what he must have done to get in that position.

Looking down at her arm, she ponders the idea of a metal addition. As her eyes meet the flesh of her forearm she notices the small hairs standing on edge. Flatting her palm against the glass once more, she gauges the temperature. It was a lot colder than she thought this morning.

The fingers on both hands stretch as she traces her hands against the edge of each arm. Wrapping herself in a hug, she stands trying to warm her body. The thin, scratchy fabric of her prison jumpsuit scratches against her forearm as her arms tighten. Ambling over to the cot, she lets her weight fall down onto it with a loud creak. She wasn't so sure she wouldn't fall right through it one day, but it was a risk she was willing to take. The sticky plastic-coated mattress creaks and crackles as she climbs over it. Turning, she rests her back against the cold glass wall. Pulling her knees up close, she hugs them to her chest. Her head rests back against the wall as her eyelids meet.

The dullness of her environment was taking its toll on her. They allowed her no media. Even the few books she managed to get were scarce. Had she been in a lower-security ward of the prison, things would be a lot different. Once you get into maximum security they don't exactly care how entertained you are.

She had a visitor for the first few months of her incarceration. She looked forward to each weekend for her one hour of visitation. Not only was it the one time she could leave her cell, but she left to see him. A mixture of shock and relief filled her the first time she walked into the room to see him. She stared several minutes at him on the other side of the glass before picking up the phone. The faint buzzing sound on the line indicated that they were being recorded. Of course, she would have expected it anyway based on her former profession, or his. She knew not to ask how he was there or how he got away.  She was just glad to see him.

The hit they were working on that day was his. She was along for the ride. Her teeth grit together along the side of her jaw as her mind goes back to that day. It was like any other job for Wade. A quick in and out to take care of some businessman. It was a task the two of them had done so many times before. This time, the job knew they were coming. He was already hiding in a panic room as the pair stormed into the office. Never one to listen to reason, Wade placed a large load of C-4 to take out the door. With the blast still ringing in her ears, she followed him into the rubble as the door disintegrated before them. They had no way of knowing how many bodies they would find on the other side. They were all collateral damage, anyway. They chose to be on the wrong side of things. One had to distance themself from these things when working as a mercenary. This was one of the first lessons Wade taught her after taking her under his wing.

As the smoke cleared, it was clear their target wasn't the only one in the room. Blood soaked the generic blue office carpet. Scattered body parts littered dusty computers and desks stacked with papers. As he walked through the ruins of the door, Wade picked up an arm. Muscle and sinew still hung from one side as he waved it at her with a dumb grin on his face. Mariko rolled her eyes as she loaded a magazine into the rifle she carried. It was the length of her arm, but he trained her to use it well. Pulling back on the mechanism, she heard a click as a bullet enter the chamber. Adjusting the gun on her shoulder, she turned to storm the room in search of survivors. She was ready to get the job done and get out of there. Already, the sickeningly sweet stench of death and spilled entrails filled the air.

Before she could take more than a few steps, a sound from the stairs behind them drew her attention. The thundering of boots and indiscernible yelling echoed up from the first floor. The noise overtook the whining siren that had been going off since the blast. Before she knew what was happening, Mariko found herself staring down the barrel of a shotgun. Although she tried to turn and run, a large hand on her back forced her to the ground. The gun she held skidded across the floor in front of her as her small frame smashed to the floor. The tread of a large boot pressed down on her temple so hard she could feel each of the ridges boring into her flesh. Her long red hair stuck to the other side of her face in a matted clot as it soaked into a puddle of blood. A snap echoed through the room as her arm wrenched back and handcuffs clicked her wrists together. Pain seared through her shoulder from the awkward bend the cuffs forced it into. Her skull felt as though it would crack any minute from the pressure of the boot still pressing it into the ground and tiny hairs pulled from her scalp with even the slightest movement.

With a yank, the agent pulled her up to her feet. Pain shot up her arms as the cold metal of the handcuffs dug into the flesh of her wrists. Her eyes darted from one corner of her room to the next. Wade was nowhere to be found. Her heart raced as she struggled to escape. As the men drug her out of the building, her chest burned as her lungs struggled for air. Her mind raced, but she scanned every corner she could see as she passed through the halls and out the door. Wade had to be somewhere. He would jump out at any minute to save her. They made it to the police car where they tossed her into the backseat and slammed the door shut behind her. Even as she fought against gravity to adjust her position, her eyes scanned the surrounding buildings. He was somewhere. He wouldn't leave her. He wouldn't do that to her. Tears streamed down her face as the adrenaline left her body. Pain surged through every inch of her as she sank back against the seat and gasped for air.

Two weeks would pass before she saw Wade again. She hadn't expected to see him at all, so was quite surprised the day they came to retrieve her for visitation. His weekly visits were the only things helping her hold onto hope that he would get her out of there. The day he stopped coming her world shattered around her again. She tried to tell herself that he was busy. As more weeks passed without seeing him she knew he was not going to be her savior.

"Food's here." A gruff voice echoes from the other side of the glass. It breaks her out of her thoughts, forcing her back to the cold, dark reality of her cell.

The food in the tray the woman pushes through the small slot in her cell door looks less than appetizing. But, she knew it was her only hope for a meal until much later in the day, and even that one would likely be more of the same. She learned to choke down whatever was being offered as the only alternative was to starve. Looking over the day's presentation, she picks a hunk of bread odd the tray. Turning it over in her hand, she inspects it before taking a bite.

"Word is you've got a visitor." The woman's voice came through the food slot as their eyes met in an awkward stare. Mariko raises an eyebrow. "Oh?" She gives a quick glance over to the camera watching her cell. She didn't want to show too much emotion. The last time one of her neighbors did that they got a cattle zapper. "Do you know who?" She knows better than to get her hopes up. Still, her mind is already piecing together ways that Wade could sneak in again.

"No.." The woman shakes her head, a thick New England accent heavy on her words as she speaks. "Sounded like someone important. Maybe a retrial?" As she speaks, her soft well-kempt brown hair shakes around waxy cheeks that are a strange contrast to it. Her sunken eyes seem eerily dull in the low light of the corridor. Despite her rough appearance, she was one of the few who were nice to Mariko since entering the facility. She often stopped to chat for a few brief but wonderful moments of human interaction. Of course, Mariko didn't want the camera to pick up on that either, or they would likely put a stop to it at once.

"Oh." Mariko lets her gaze fall back to the bland food on her tray. "Wade definitely wasn't on the 'someone important' list." The last thing she wants is to get her hopes up again, but she plays with the idea of a disguise of some kind. He did something similar the last time they were in Europe. Besides, it was Wade. He wasn't exactly known for being the most rational or predictable of people.

Taking a few more bites of her food, Mariko grabs the small carton of milk from her tray. "Thank You" She smiles at the woman before pushing the rest of it back through the slot and turning to walk back to her cot. Placing the milk down on the floor beside it, she lets herself fall back onto it once more with a creak. She extends her legs, resting them up against the wall until she was laying upside down on the bed. Her gaze softens as she stares up at the flickering lights overhead. In her mind, she goes over the possibilities of this visitor's identity.

It feels like only a few minutes have passed when she hears a knock on the glass wall of her cell. As her eyes adjust, she can see that a certain evening stillness had begun to wash over the darkening halls of the corridor. Blinking a few times, she yawns and sits up. Focusing on the group of men standing outside her cell, her body freezes as her eyes land on the last man.

"Tony...?" She whispers in disbelief as she squints to look at him better. It was a sight she hadn't seen in years. A cautious, but unavoidable smile traces its way across her lips. There were a few missions with The Avengers during her time with the X-Men so he had become a good friend before she left the school.

"Hey, Momo." A familiar smirk makes its way across his features. "Long time no see."

"Mr. Stark." A voice begins as she sees a second armed guard walk up behind him. "I'm afraid she's not allowed out of..."

The guard's words fall on deaf ears as Tony stops him. "Look. Here's what's going to happen. You're going to open that door and I'm going to go in and speak with my friend." He turns to look at the guard as he speaks and points toward Mariko as if to solidify his intentions.

"...but Mr. Stark. This is a maximum security facility. She's in there for a reason. She's highly dangerous...." The guard replies only to have his words cut off again.

"Door. Now." Tony points again at the cell. The guard lets out a heavy sigh as he fumbles with the keys. Shaking his head, he begins walking to the glass door, realizing that it is pointless to try to argue with this man.

Not knowing how to react or why he was there, Mariko fidgets as she waits for him to enter her cell. She is so confused, but also so happy to have anyone to talk to. Although her mind races, she tries her best to keep her wits about her.

"Don't be dangerous." He winks as his arms fold around her, pulling her into a tight hug. Mariko instinctively curls her arms around his back. Her head turns and her cheek rests against his shoulder. The scent of his clothing is almost intoxicating as it envelopes her. She had been in that sterile environment for so long, and his scent reminds her so much of her life back in New York. He holds her for several minutes before letting her go. Although confused, she puts up no struggle. The feel of a warm body next to hers is a welcome one, even if she had no idea why it was there.

"Tony. I..." She begins in a shocked whisper, choking on her words as she looks up at him with wide-eyed amazement. He steps back and presses the edge of his index finger to her lips before she can get another word out. A small rush of electricity courses through her spine at the feel of his finger against her lips. It had been a long time since anyone had touched her, but a strange charge fills the space between them.

"Look. I know what happened. It's ok, Momo. You don't have to explain anything." He walks over and sits on the rickety cot. As she trails behind him, Mariko fidgets with the thin fabric of her prison jumpsuit. Settling a short distance from him, she crosses her legs and curiously studies her old friend.

"What are you doing here?" She finally blurts out, leaning in closer to him after a painfully long silence. "How did you even know I was here?" She lost contact with so many when she left the Xavier School. When she began working with and then dating Wade, even more of her old friends disappeared from her life.

"You don't want me here?" Tony's eyes met her as a strange tension fills the room. It's something she's never felt in his presence before. He was always intense but this was something different.

"No. It's not that. I just..." She keeps her gaze met with his for a few seconds longer before looking down at the torn ugly flats on her feet. A swell of embarrassment fills her senses. It was mortifying for one of her old friends to see her here, to know her shame and the things she had done with Wade. Shuffling her feet, she looks back up into his eyes. "Why would you want to see me?"

"This isn't you." A stern look crosses his face. "You know that as well as I do."

"Apparently, it is." She lets out a defeated sigh as she searches his eyes for an explanation. Was he trying to be some kind of father figure? Sure, he had a few years on her but he never seemed that way before with her. The idea of being some kind of "older influence" or parental figure made no sense coming from him.

"No. You know it's not." He turns to sit facing her, pulling one leg under him as he leans in closer to her. He seems so relaxed in her presence. It is a welcome change from guards and guns. "I know you went through a lot. You were looking for something when you found him. I understand. I do, but this isn't you."

Silence hangs heavy in the room as Mariko processes his words. Her gaze remains on the crumbling shoes on her feet. He was right. She was hurt, lost, and homeless when Wade found her. After falling out with the man who found her in Canada and brought her to New York, she was lost. She tried to leave the school and make it on her own but failed miserably.

Wade had been her savior. He taught her to be self-reliant, but also to take care of herself in ways her former friends would frown on. She knew it wasn't the best way to live, but in some odd way, it was the best for them. All the guilt and shame she felt the first few times she robbed someone disappeared when she was with Wade. He made it seem so right to do whatever it took to get the job done.

"Look, we all miss you." Tony begins again. "The school needs a good flamethrower again." His hand raises to her chin in an attempt to pull her gaze up to meet his. Mariko takes a deep breath. The tension in the room is near suffocating as the conversation continues.

"The X-Men..." The words leave her lips in a near growl. "Yeah. I'm pretty sure Professor Xavier is doing fine without me messing things up." A wave of shame and sadness wash over her, but she does her best to push it away. "I'm sure Logan is doing just fine too..."

"You're wrong..." He cuts her off, not elaborating on whether he means her ex-coworkers or her ex-lover.

"I can't go back to that life after this." She raises her arms, gesturing to the cell walls that surround them.

"Then don't." His hand moves to her knee as he moves closer to her. His eyes remain locked on hers.

Mariko tries to look away and dodge the feelings enveloping her. Her eye narrow in confusion at his words. "Tony, I..."

"I've paid your bail money." He smiles, but speaks in a matter-of-fact tone as he closes the distance between them. "They're freeing you in the next few hours." His hand moves along the edge of her arm. As her eyes meet his, her breath catches in her chest. A strange emotion washes over her body as her brain catches up with what is happening. " I want to help you." He adds, not moving his hand from her arm.

Mariko sits staring at him in confusion, unsure that she had heard his words correctly. The idea of freedom seems surreal at this point. She doesn't much like the idea of charity either. As she looks up at him, his hand moves down to hers. His pinky curls against the back of her hand and around the edge of her fingers.

"Tony. You can't. That's so much money!"

He rolls his eyes. "How long have we been friends?" His grasp tightens on her hand. "I've always cared about you Momo. Let me help you. Let me get you out of this life and back where you belong."

"I don't think Pepper..." Mariko begins, still unsure of what he is proposing.

"Pepper has nothing to do with this or much else for that matter." As she looks up into his eyes, Mariko is met with a smirk.

"Oh. I'm so sorry." She replies, even more confused by the situation. Wade makes his way to the forefront of her thoughts as she goes over Tony's words. Saying yes to whatever Tony was offering meant saying goodbye to Wade. She couldn't go back to life as a mercenary after an Avenger had bailed her out of jail. Is this what she wants, though? She could stay there and wait for Wade's return. If he ever returned. Decisions were never her strong point, but this one is excruciating.

"I can give you anything you've ever wanted. Can he say that?" Tony's eyes glimmer as he works to convince her.

"I'm not like that, Tony. I don't care about those things." Mariko shakes her head, almost offended that he would try that as a bargaining chip.

"I know that." He laughs "...but you deserve better than that idiot, Deadpool."

Mariko frowns. She isn't so sure she agrees with him. That idiot had helped her finally find herself again. She had thrived in the new life she had been forced to start with him years ago. He believed in her and forced her to grow rather than protect her like Logan and the others always did.

"I need to think about this." Mariko adjusts her position on the bed. She had no idea what to think of the day or what she would do with his offer.

"Of course you do." He smiles. She can't gauge the emotion playing on his features as he stands from the bed. Reading people was never a strong suit of hers, at least not since getting her memory back. She was still working on understanding herself, never mind anyone else. "You have a train ticket and hotel key. I'm sure you know how to find me when you get back to New York."

Mariko can't help but giggle as she tucks a stray hair behind her ear. It was a little hard to be inconspicuous when you live in a giant skyscraper with your name on the side of it. "Yeah, I think I can figure it out." She grins.

Tony turns and begins walking toward the door. The guards huddle around anxiously, waiting for the encounter to end.

"Tony, wait!" Mariko calls out after him, scrambling to get to her feet and reach a shaky hand out to grasp his to stop him. "Thank you." Her arms fling around his shoulders in another hug. She almost doesn't want him to leave her sight, but knows it would be ridiculous to ask him to stay. His warm hands move along her back, pulling her closer to him as a soft kiss meets her forehead.

"The choice is yours. I wanted to help you. I know the real you is better than this. I hope you realize that, too." He smiles and pulls her even tighter into the hug before releasing her and walking out of the cell.

Mariko watches him walk through the corridor until he is out of sight. A sigh escapes her lips as the sound of the heavy metal door blocking them off from the rest of the prison echoes back down the hall to her. Growing eager for her potential release, she returns to pacing her cell. Her mind races as she tries to find the right way to respond to his offer. Part of her wants to stay and wait for Wade but she knows there's no use. He wasn't coming back. It had been too long. Maybe Tony was fate's way of telling her it was time. Time to move on and get back on the right track. Wade was fun but she knew life with him wasn't sustainable. She continued pacing throughout the night as she went back and forth through various scenarios in her mind. The next morning, the guards came to transfer her to a holding cell for her release.  

[mutantgirl80]

The past few years were a whirlwind for Mariko. First her decision to leave the X-Men, then teaming up with Wade Wilson ( in more ways than one ), and now rotting away in federal prison. When an old friend arrives with an offer at a new life, she finds herself torn between love and a chance at redemption. Chapter 1 - Prison 

Chapter 2 - New York