K I L L    Y O U R    D A R L I N G S

vii. you should know where i'm coming from
chapter seven.

1992.

     STRANGELY ENOUGH, SHE AWOKE TO THE GENTLE PRESENCE OF A SLEEPING FORM. As her eyes fluttered open, an image that she could only imagine being heaven-sent greeted her kindly. Fast asleep before her, Tony looked content, perhaps even having a taste of the utmost feeling of peace. He had abruptly stirred in his sleep, moving the arm that had been dredged around her body, accidentally shaking her awake. His fingers then curved around her side, the touch warm against her skin. They were intertwined in the most innocent of ways, legs tangled together, pressed against each other, his heartbeat steady underneath her fingertips and his hand softly grazing her back. Something about that moment — that moment of intimacy, of comfort, of simply them — it was absolutely riveting how badly she wanted it to last.

Gently brushing her fingers across the surface of his face before prying herself out of his embrace, Novaleigh wrapped herself up in the blanket Tony had brought for her, heading out to the balcony with her phone gripped tightly in her hand, a little dizzy from the thoughts running through her muddled mind.

The offer Obadiah Stane had presented her with would expire within the week, and despite the bubbling pit of loathing she felt for him, she found herself stuck between wanting to support Tony by giving him what was rightfully his and accepting the deal, and running Moon Technologies accordingly.

( Buying such an enormous part of Stark Industries didn't quite fit into her agenda for her company, on the contrary even, but not buying Stark Industries could potentially result in the extinction of Tony's legacy, and he already lost so much. Too much. Maybe all he needed was a gesture of trust. )

The mails flooding her inbox consisted mostly of missed meetings with businessmen that demanded she rescheduled immediately, and unfinished business arrangements she had put on hold that were claiming to step back from her company. So, as most things in her life did, the liberation she once felt was replaced with a nagging feeling of guilt in her gut. It was almost as if the world was falling apart without her to carry it on her shoulders, and only Akemi could word it so thoroughly that it would made her regret coming to Tony's getaway. ( Because in the harsh reality, he had her completely in his grip, and she felt like a fool. )

     Nova,

    I know you said you needed time away to recollect yourself, and I respect that. However, lying to all of us, even him, about what Stane offered you goes beyond my comprehension. Be honest to him and your staff, because I saw the file. You shouldn't even think about doing this for him. He's not worth it, and he knows it, too.

    Four companies you're in bed with have expressed their concern with your involvement with Stark. As your family, I share their concern. You know what they're made of. It's all bad when it comes to Stark men, business and women.

Come home.

Akemi.

Novaleigh sighed deeply. To her, Tony Stark was more than worth it. Atleast, she thought he was.

˚✧ ⁺ ˚ ⁺˳ ✧₊ ˳*˚✧ ⁺ ˚ ⁺˳ ✧₊ ˳*

       STARK MEN NEVER HAD MUCH TROUBLE WITH SCREWING PEOPLE OVER, THEY HAD BECOME QUITE THE MASTER OF IT. HOWEVER, TONY REFUSED TO IMAGINE WHAT DAMAGE HE MIGHT'VE DONE TO HER BY AGREEING TO HELP WITH OBADIAH'S DEAL. Everything he could have ever needed to cause her harm in any form, she had handed to him voluntarily, without a single doubt in her mind, and he really fucking hated himself for using it against her. It wasn't even intentional, at least not anymore, but his father's right hand man knew exactly how to pry information out of him.

Somewhere, Tony was glad he had stepped away from the company. Obadiah Stane might not have been a mechanical genius, nor had he been he the scientist of his generation, but he certainly was one hell of a businessman, applying pressure to the only weak spot the Novaleigh Moon had become known for — her desire to do good. Tony had inevitably become a pawn in their game of chess. It was cruel, but one hell of a move. Tony wasn't sure if he could've done the same thing, or take lying to her any longer.

"Look, I tried, okay? I did my best. She just doesn't seem interested in buying." Tony knew he sounded strained, even despite his ability to lie, but he could feel the uncomfortable ache forming in his chest at the willingness he had seen in her. Fuck, he had screwed up so badly.

On the other side of the line, far from where Tony could see, Obadiah couldn't contain the grin forming on his lips. "Come on, Tones. I only asked you to play good cop. If you do your job right, we won't even have to convince her."

       "Just find someone else to do it." Tony didn't even have to be his father's son to know he would be utterly disappointed by his words. "There are enough companies eager to eliminate the competition."

       "See this—" A moment of silence passed between them, "— this is why I'm in charge, that's shit advice, Tony! If I didn't know better, I'd think you were getting attached. Is that why you're backing out?" Obadiah purred daringly, already aware that that was exactly the case. Perhaps that could work out even better. "Because if that's the case, I have enough men standing in line to do your job, Tones."

      Tony sighed, gritting his teeth at the thought of a guy worse than him with Nova, "I'll do better."

      "Atta boy. Do me a favor and tell Jarvis I didn't receive his Christmas card this year, I was actually looking forward to it."

     With that, his voice vanished, and he could finally allow himself to breathe again. Obadiah might have been using him, but he was almost like family, and that was in short supply these days. He wanted him to stick around, desperately almost.

     "Do better at what?" Her sharp voice cut through the silence. Tony could feel his pounding heart dropping to the floor like a brick, startled by her sudden presence. He hadn't expected her to be outside. "Tony?"

      He turned around and was met with tearful eyes, the phone gripped so tightly within her petite hands that her skin turned into an unexpected shade of white. His head was spinning, because without a single doubt, he didn't want to lose her now. So, debating within his mind, he questioned himself. Should he lie and tell her she misunderstood, or be truthful and prepare for her to leave?

He wanted to be a better man for her. He truly did. But he couldn't stand to be without her anymore, so he swallowed his tongue, despite knowing she deserved the truth and so much more.

"Please tell me that you're not going to use my feelings against me to accept Stane's deal." Novaleigh started, daringly taking a step closer to him, "— or that you are doing this—" Pointing at him, and back at herself, "— just so you can leverage money out of me."

"Nova," Tony tried, but words ceased spilling from his mouth. Maybe this was his sign, a guilty conscience persuading him to be truthful. "I know it sounds bad, but Obadiah—"

She shook her head angrily, "It doesn't sound bad, Tony. It sounds like something your father would do. And you are not him. That is not what I have been fighting for!"

The tremble in her voice made his insides churn, and softly, he said, "Please, just hear me out."

"I don't think that I want to hear anything you have to say right now. You've been lying to me for weeks! Weeks! While I have been giving you all of my energy, my trust, my heart..." The tear that finally rolled down her cheek was something that hurt more than anything he had experienced. It felt like a knife to the gut. "You've been using me. And I don't know how I'm supposed to trust you after that."

    They stood there, helpless, desperate for a sign, waiting for the other person to try and salvage what was crippling apart — could they?

"I'm sorry," Tony finally said.

Novaleigh shook her head, "I find that hard to believe, Tony. Please, just— just don't contact me anymore."

And she left, cursing her heart for allowing herself to be so foolish, for believing Tony Stark; billionaire, playboy, drunk, could ever be redeemed beyond exactly what he was. Maybe there was no happy ending for him. Maybe his future was exactly what it was now — an endless road of loneliness, booze, repression and deceit.

Maybe Tony Stark truly was his father's son.

— so rewritten but not edited. i'm back with pain in my heart after watching endgame and i now appreciate all my favorite characters so much more so i decided to write again!!