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the life of a stark.

LIGHT STREAMED THROUGH the windows, illuminating the dust particles hanging in the air, spreading throughout the vast room and filling it with a warmth that only the sun could possess. One flaw with the chance of equation was the manner of state of the decor of the room- from very expensive white Egyptian cotton bedsheets to the mahogany wooden floors all the way to the ivory colored walls, light seemed to reflect off almost every surface, much to the inhabitant in the bed dismay.

The tan skin of a muscular figures back shoulders, dotted with small moles and specks akin to freckles clotting together, peaked out from under the covers in feeble attempts to shield away the light from blinding his eyes. Attempting to retain more sleep from his exhausted state.

Trendils of red curled its way into his vision, even with it being partially blocked by the pillow above. A hand crept its way up his back, nails drawing occasionally over the raptures of his spine. Fingers danced their way into his mess of curls and followed by a simple tug. A soft groan drew from the man's lips as he shifted in reply.

A chuckle bubbled out from the woman above him throat, softly rolling her neck back to brush away the red locks from over her shoulder. "You always liked it when I do that."

"What can I say?" The man hummed with a slight muffled sighed. "I'm just a simple man with needs- to which, hair pulling adds too."

"You are anything but simple Tony Stark." The woman retorted, lowering her well manicured nails to pinch at his bare hips. Katerina Marchelli had rolled her way into the billionaires life like a hurricane. Sugar coated red lips almost as dark as her hair, words soft as silk that hummed like beautiful melodies within his ears. Contrary to popular belief (or what the tabloids had believed), Tony had known the woman for longer than just a simple one night stand. It seemed rather miraculous how they had met at one of his guest speaker lectures during a particular moment in his life. Sharp, calculating brown eyes bore into his and, for a moment, he forgot exactly why he had been in such a sour mood in the first place. Ever since then when either got the chance their encounters were filled with nights of passion, that left him craving more.

Or maybe it was just aching hole that had once been filled was now empty.

"You should be up by now," Katerina said, her short frame itching towards the floor. Tony turned to glance at her, eyes tracking over the haphazard state of his blue dress shirt which was pinned to the redhead's body by simply two measly buttons leaving nothing to the imagination. "You have that meeting with Pepper, remember?"

Tony mumbled into the soft cotton of his sheets. He body felt sore, drained in ways he couldn't even beginning to disect further on. In that moment, all he wanted was to rest easy just a little longer. Maybe even an aura of warmth at his side.

"What if I cancelled it?" He offered, watching as Katerina fluttered around the room, her bare feet echoing softly against the wood floors as she made her way over to a dresser nearby. "I'm the CEO, so it's not like they can fire me."

"No, but they can unanimously vote you out." Katerina fluttered her lashes at him over her shoulder as she toyed with bulky fabric of the dress shirt. "I know I would, given the chance. You always did have a taste for redheaded vixens."

A short smile pulls from his lips while he tries to ignore the jab in his chest at the thought of redheaded vixens. Especially within in the aspects that involved his company. But he was always a sucker for a witty glint and sharp smile.

No, no. Not always. There were times were...even when he tried his damn hardest not to think about it, the memories seem to always find a way. Sometimes even in his dreams. Anyone could catch his attention with the gleam of intelligence surfacing in their gaze, but not many could hold his attention.

But she did. Her smile was never sharp, but soft and gentle with everything around her.

"She's gone now. You don't have a right to think about her like that anymore." He told himself many times over. Sometimes, he wondered when he start to believe it. Other times, he prayed that that moment would never come.

The sound of fingers snapping drew Tony from his inner perils, to which...he wasn't necessarily sure that he had wanted to happen. Katerina, now dressed in floral blouse and pencil skirt, stood over the bed with raised brow, defining her expression. "Lost in space again, I see." She clawed her nails over the edge of his chin, smiling proudly when he leaned into the touch. "I have to go to work, and you have a meeting to go too."

Tony begrudgingly leaned closer, urging his cheek to rest on the jutting of her hip to find some solace of warmth from her prescence. But that was just to good to be true as Katerina was already pulling away. Her heels brandishing against the cold floors echoed down the halls of the studio, stretching further and further away until there was no sound at all, the exception of Tony's own breathing.

He wasn't sure exactly why he couldn't tell her that he didn't have a meeting that evening. That he had cancelled it for her. That the only thing he had planned, had hoped for was just a moment between the two of them to last longer than a few measly nights under the shadows. It seemed the universe held intentions for other plans.

"Jarvis," he groaned out, rolling back the muscles of his shoulders as he stretched, letting out a sound of satisfaction when a loud bop had riffled through his ears. "Call Eddie."

"Of course, sir," came the reply as a soft British accent flirted through the air and sent a bubble of warmth blooming within Tony's chest at the familiarity. For moment, he waited in silence, twisting his lips in boredom when a voic had finally picked up from the other end.

"Tony," a face came into view, wearing an unimpressed look, that seemed to be a the usual expression for the man on the other line given how natural it seemed to sit. "if you're going to call me, could you at least put some clothes on."

"But I'm a sight to behold!" Tony whined in defense. He leant forward to shift his body higher up on the bed, wrapping the bed sheets around his waist to bare his brother some of his modesty. "It's our in our genes to look this good."

Eduardo rolled his eyes. "Yes, I am sure of that as I can seen given the tabloids. Said it was a redhead this time...what's her name Jarvis? If you don't mind."

"Certainly not, sir. Ms. Katerina Marchelli."

Tony coughed lowly under his breath. "Rat," he muttered towards the A.I. before turning back to his brother. "Besides, it's not like you didn't already know her name-"

"I have no idea what you're talking about-"

"C'mon," Tony scoffed. "Just because I'm declared the resident genius doesn't mean you aren't far behind. I know you and your little hacker buddies probably run background checks with everyone I encounter."

Eduardo raised an eyebrow. "Thanks for the compliment. And again, I have no idea about what you mean- and hacker buddies? Really?"

"Did I lie though- hey, where are you?" Tony questioned, eyes scanning the recipients surroundings.

Eduardo ignored the question. "It's a far stretch."

"Not when it comes to you. Anyways, you're deflecting. You always do when it comes to who I sleep with. Why is that? Jealous?"

"Far from it." The younger Stark brother muttered, massaging the base of his nose.

"You never like anyone I date-"

"Within good reason." Eduardo commented quickly, almost taking the elder by surprise. A sigh escaped and Eduardo sunk down far into his seat, combining his fingers through his tossled hair. Tony felt sorry for him in those regards. Their hair was all to similar to their father's, in shade and all. "Tony, you know how I am when it comes to your relationships. You can try to pretend like you don't meddle into mine but at the end of the day, that's what we do. Especially given how neither of us are exactly great at finding healthy partners."

Tony paled slightly at the hinting of his past. "What's your point? I didn't exactly call you just to bring up past trauma."

"I know that, and that's not how I had planned for things to go." Eduardo replied sternly but the drain was evident on his face, his tan skin seemingly paler under the cool blue light. "Listen, you know how we are. You know how we can be with each other's relationships. I just..." He trailed off.

Don't want it to end badly like the others, hangs in the air. Tony drags his palm over his face, wiping at the drowsiness trying to sneak its way back into the fog that was his mind. "All right how about this- you in California? Or can get here within a few hours?"

"Depends. What's the occasion?"

"What? Can't have lunch with a my baby brother every once in a while?" Tony retorted with an exasperated expression, lips pulling into a pout when his hair draped over his face.

"Okay, firstly, you're not that much older than me so stop playing that card-"

"Says every younger siblings ever." Tony muttered to no one in particular, though just loud enough for his statement to be heard.

Eduardo's left eye was practically twitchy under his attempt to not end in the conversation right then and there. "Secondly, I'll have to see what work says. You know how busy things can get."

"Yeah, I'm sure you and the hackers have so secret cooperation to look into. Hey, if you plan on hacking Stark Industries- which, would kind of be a low blow, even for you," Tony pointed out, ignoring the evident way in which his brother looked ready to hop through the screen. "At least give me a heads up. You know, so I can clear out some back logs. Hide no disclosure agreements. You know, the works."

"Very funny, Antonio." Eduardo laughed unenthused, reaching to disconnect the call but not before Tony could get out the last play.

"Love you, dearest Eduardo," he called out, blowing a dramatic kiss in his brother's wake even if the youngest quickly disconnected the call, leaving Tony to fall back on the bed with a loud whine. His blinked up at the ceiling, as if someone was standing over and watching him from afar. "You know, Eddie's always been a stickler for rules."

"Perhpas he obtained that virtue from watching his elder brother throughout all these years?" Jarvis uttered hopefully. However, all it seemed to do was cause his creator to burst into chuckling fit at the meer idea.

"That was a good joke, J." He sighed, scratching at the messy of hair dotting his chest. "We really know gets his rule schist from the ol' man." A cold, bristle tone had befallen over the atmosphere. Jarvis respectfully remained silent. "Come on, let's get to work."

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Here's an update. I'm not so sure how I feel about this chapter but I wanted to provide some substance for that "mysterious redhead" from the last chapter. Her name is Katerina Marchelli because-

but what do you guys think of her? Any thoughts? 👀

Also- EDUARDO STARK has made an appearance everyone! The youngest Stark (though, who was gonna tell me Pedro Pascal was older than Oscar Isaac 🤡) who is checking up on his older brother. Anyways, hope you enjoyed it.

©sukibenders.