บท 22: Ch22. Not today, buddy
Tony talked to Natasha for a few hours in his office and he was actually surprised when he realized this was the first time the two of them had any kind of heart-to-heart conversation. Not even in his past did they really talk. Neither was interested. He because of his ego and she... most likely because of his ego too.
At the end of their conversation, it was decided that Natasha, who suddenly found herself homeless since Tony arranged her permanent leave from SHIELD, would move into his house in Malibu, after all, he had enough empty rooms there, and Natalie Rushman would become his personal assistant.
The Stark Industries rumor mill will have a field day no matter what so adding oil to the fire with these decisions did not matter. Tony already counted on being secretly married to Natasha and having quintuplets with her that live in a palace in Dubai or something equally outrageous being the newest rumor.
Natasha first wondered what happened with Pepper since she should be Tony's personal assistant at this point in time but Tony just mysteriously smiled at her. He had his own plans for dear Pepper and it was high time for her to move up in life.
She couldn't be Tony Stark's nanny all her life...
Tony was about to leave the office, having done everything he wanted when he noticed a commotion going on at the reception. He quickly connected to the feed from the security cameras and grinned.
Seeing his reaction, Natasha looked at him in curiosity, "What's up?"
"Fury is being a good boy." Tony quipped, watching as the people dressed in FBI attires continued on their way towards Obadiah's office where the clueless man plotted his next great scheme. Eh, everything has to come to an end eventually.
"Let's go out. There will be a spectacle." Tony said and stood up, heading out so quickly that Natasha scrambled to follow.
She would have been fine but as she was standing up from the couch, she realized her clothes were still quite ruffled and her rolling on the couch did not help the matter one bit. Coming out like that from Tony Stark's office? She would have been eaten alive by the media.
It took her just a minute to straighten her shirt and re-do her hair with practiced ease before she hurried after Tony but he, in his typical fashion, did not wait for her.
...
Outside of Stark Industries, Tony stood and watched as Obadiah Stane was dragged out in cuffs, trying to reassure the people from the FBI that were actually SHIELD agents, after all, the existence of SHIELD was supposed to be a secret, that he did no crime and this was all just a big misunderstanding.
When they arrived near Tony, he cheerily waved at Obadiah, "Hey, Uncle Obie! They finally taking you for working with Ten Rings?" He then looked at his wristwatch, "Damn, I thought they would get it done before lunch but beggars can't be choosers, huh? Next time don't hide the evidence in a company computer. Heh, who am I kidding? There won't be a next time for you." He mockingly laughed.
"T-Tony?" Obadiah stuttered as he registered what Tony just told him and anger took over his reason. "You!?" Obadiah was so enraged that the man he had for a drunk sex-crazed little brat was responsible for his arrest. He couldn't even put his feelings into words and got speechless! Worse yet, Tony seemed to find out the evidence in his computer and Obadiah knew it was the end for him. He tried to lunge at Tony to wring his neck but the FBI agents held him tightly.
"I will get my revenge!" Obadiah snarled, glaring at Tony who stood just a few feet from him as if trying to combust him with his gaze.
"Not today, buddy, not today." Tony light-heartedly answered with a cocky smirk. "I heard bald guys are all the rage in prison this time of a year. I am sure you will have loads of fun!" He said and leaned closer to Obadiah before whispering with a dangerous gleam in his eyes, "If you get there."
Tony ignored the surprised and suspicious look the FBI agents threw him because they also heard his whisper. He simply patted Obadiah's shoulder and walked away towards Natasha who waited just a bit further.
"Is it wise? Letting him live, I mean." She idly asked when Tony arrived near her.
"I'd never thought I would hear those words from you, Red. Weren't you trying to redeem yourself?" Tony relaxedly asked, watching as Stane was forcefully loaded into the vehicle, trying to struggle.
Sadly, it didn't bring him much joy. This victory was a kinda hollow one. Despite everything, Obadiah was a foster father to him once upon a time. In fact, this entire event was a bit sad.
When Natasha didn't react, Tony chuckled, reaching towards her, he ruffled her hair which clearly shocked her into speechlessness as she looked at him as if he was some kind of rare animal. "Stane is not a threat. What made him a threat was his connections and money. He is neither smart enough to build himself a weapon nor does he possess his wealth anymore."
Tony retracted his hand away from Natasha's head and put it into a pocket, "What do you think I was doing all these hours in my office? I was draining his accounts and starting the process of transferring every stock he owned to myself. Convenient that he won't be able to stop it now that he was arrested, huh?"
"I thought you wanted to keep your distance from me." Natasha abruptly changed the topic to hide her discomfort and Tony took it as a personal victory.
He turned towards her, standing straight in front of her, and looked her straight in the eyes, slightly leaning forward so their faces were closer. "I don't fear you, Widow. I don't trust you. There's a difference." He said before abruptly turning around and carefreely walking towards his car.
His job at Stark Industries was done for today.
Natasha watched his retreating back in a silent daze, thoughts erratically going a mile a second in her head. She took one big steadying breath to calm herself. Tony Stark was a force of nature in the past and dying seemed to only draw this part of him out even more.
The world was not ready for this. Natasha bitterly smiled. Heck, she was not ready for this. And yet, unknowingly to her, her smile contained just the tiniest bit of fondness.
It was a long time since she felt in control, definitely not since Thanos snapped the world in half, but this Tony Stark... He gave her control of her life back while also showing her what it meant to be uncontrollable.
For some reason, Natasha couldn't tear her eyes away from his back.
...
As he came near his car, Tony smirked to himself and looked at his phone, seeing the blaring red dot on a map, showing him Stane's position thanks to the tracker he put on him while patting his shoulder.
"And besides... who said this is the end?"
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