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Ch.7 Drinkin’ Bone

Tony’s parties were always over the top but his birthday was in a whole other league. Two hours before the party Bennett found herself in his room helping Tony decide which suit to wear. “Why don’t I just go with an Ironman?” he asked.

“If I let you wear an Ironman suit you will end up in trouble,” Bennett shot the idea down. “What about this one,” she pulled a grey pant suit and jacket.

“I don’t know,” Tony reached for a black pinstripe. “You really don’t think I can behave?”

“No and I think I can find plenty of people to back me up on that,” she pulled a maroon colored suit from the closet. They both looked at it, “why do you even have this?” He took it from her hand chunking it in a corner of the room to be properly disposed of later.

“You know let’s not focus on me for a minute,” he pulled a garment bag from the back of the closet. He held it out to her, “a gift, something for you to wear tonight.”

Bennett took it with a skeptical look. “Boss, I don’t wear dresses. I don’t care how much you spent on it.”

“It’s not a dress. Besides if I bought you a dress as a gift I would be giving it to Rushman.”

#ironman #natasha romanoff #tony stark #Black Widow #black widow imagine #The Avengers #avengers imagine #marvel imagines #original female character #phylax

Ch. 6 Start of Something Good

As their jet carried them back across the Atlantic, Bennett’s mind spun. There were so many things that didn’t add up, variables that didn’t make sense. Tony was acting strange. It had developed slowly over a couple of weeks. He was withdrawn, secretive. He offered only forced smiles and laughs. His voice was colder. He didn't speak to Pepper unless they were fighting and that was far more often than usual. He didn't seek out Happy just to share a stupid joke. While he still talked to Bennett if the topic was turned to him he found an excuse to leave.

The newest problem was this Vanko character. She needed to run an extensive background search and discover all she could about his family and connections to Tony.

And last but certainly not least, Natalie Rushman. Who is she?

To solve the "Tony Problem" she would have to get him to talk. Which would more than likely require alcohol, lots of alcohol. She didn’t have to worry about getting drunk herself. As long as she didn’t down full bottles like shots she would be fine. Her body treated alcohol like a poison, diluting it as quickly as possible to keep it from damaging anything internal. That had it's good sides and drawbacks. Those issues wouldn't be resolved on the plane so she pushed them back.

#Black Widow #phylax #tony stark #original female character #The Avengers #ironman #natasha romanoff #avengers imagine #marvel imagines #black widow imagines

Phylax Ch. 5 Scare me Avengers x oc

Bennett woke to the familiar feeling of pins and needles, right hand completely asleep. She tried to soothe the nerves so she could sleep a little longer but something else was off. Her pulse felt off. Too many beats or the wrong cadence, something. Her right arm seemed to be pinned to the bed from the shoulder down. That would explain the “pins and needles”. A quick inspection gave the reason. Natalie was sound asleep snuggled into her side, using her shoulder for a pillow. The redhead seemed to fit there. The blonde didn’t really care to move but Tony would be knocking down her door any minute, so she needed to get ready to start the day. Unless he actually slept in although that was highly unlikely.

So began the debate: lay there until Natalie wakes up or try and slip out without waking her? As Bennett lay there debating Natalie snuggled closer. Red hair tickling her nose. Every cell in her body decided right then that it had no desire to move, so her mind was made up. She was getting up.

Sliding out of bed was harder than she thought. She tucked a pillow under the other woman’s head where her shoulder had been and forced herself to walk away. She grabbed a pair of track pants and tank top and headed down to the hotel gym to get in a morning run. Leaving a note for Tony so he wouldn’t wake up Natalie.

A quick stretch and she jumped on one of the treadmills. Plugging in a pair of headphones she started a playlist of instrumental music. Mainly rock covers done with violins and cellos but there were a few variations on classics and some epic movie themes. She started the machine slow to warm up her stiff muscles, the room was empty due to it being a few minutes before 5. She lost herself in the rhythm of her steps as the treadmill increased it’s pace. Taking in the music and trying to bleed off the last of the nightmare that still clung. This morning it wasn’t near as bad as normal. She could still remember and felt the guilt but curiosity outweighed all of that. Why didn't she slip into oblivion this time? What had pulled her back from that edge?

#The Avengers #Black Widow #Black widow imagine #natasha romanoff #natasha romanov #Tony Stark #Ironman #MCU #avengers imagine #original female character #phylax

Phylax ch 4 Who you’d be today Avengers x OC

Bennett stood in the hotel lobby, the sun was beginning to set outside. She surveyed the area. Entrances/exits, windows, emergency exits, stairs, elevators, security personnel, housekeepers, receptionist, valet, doormen, security cameras, safes, keypad entry doors. This place would take a while to get locked down. With Happy helping though they would get it done. “Alright, kid,” and speak of the devil, “do you wanna room with Tony for security purposes,” he gave his head a few subtle nods, “or sleep in the room across the hall,” a few subtle shakes. He held up the room keys in turn.

“What are Tony’s late night plans for the next few days?” She asked apprehensively.

“Happy and I have big plans. Gonna make friendship bracelets, a spa day, manicures, I am thinking movies and facials tonight,” Tony walked up to their conversation.

The girl reached out and plucked the card for the second room with a smirk. “My decision has been made for me.”

“Lancaster?” A man approached, the head of security for the hotel according to his uniform. He held a hand out to Happy. Happy looked from the man then to the blonde and back.

“That would be me. Nice to meet you Mr?” she shook his hand.

“Alvarez,” he had the same shocked look they had all seen many times before.

#The Avengers #Black Widow #tony stark #natasha romanoff #natasha romanov #ironman #marvel imagines #MCU #original female character #black widow imagine #avengers imagine #phylax

Phylax (Avengers x Oc) Ch. 3 Here’s a Quarter

It turned out Bennett didn’t have to talk to Pepper at all. Tony being Tony just did what he wanted, regardless of the consequences.

The first week after Tony hired Natalie was tense. Pepper was ticked. Bennett became the mediator between them. She spent that week passing messages on to Pepper and delivering her replies to Tony. She along with everyone else was walking on eggshells. Tony needed to make things better fast.

Bennett was scrambling to catch up on the paperwork she hadn’t gotten done because she had become Tony’s personal delivery service.

“Lancaster,” she looked up to the door of the security office, it was Natalie. “there is someone here for you.”

“Okay, send ‘em in.” Natalie stepped back out of the office, returning a few seconds later. Bennett focused on keeping her voice in check. No “Texas twang”. “Ms. Rushman, Tony said we need to start self-defense training. So what time would you be free?” She felt a bit of pride; no odd contractions, no drawn out vowels.

Stark’s assistant checked the schedule on her tablet, ”We are about to start the last meeting of the day and then Mr. Stark doesn’t have anything else scheduled until a business dinner late this evening. So I could meet you in the gym in an hour?”

“Yes, ma'am. I should be done here, so I’ll see ya then.” Crap. She mentally slapped herself. She had been ok until “ma’am”. It was impossible to keep the south from slipping on that word, especially since Ms. Rushman showed up.

Natalie walked out of the security office and back to her own desk.

Only then did Bennett notice who her visitor was. “Emily? I didn’t know you were coming by today. All your stuff is at the secretary’s desk.”

She looked at the blonde then looked back to the hallway, where Natalie had gone. “What the hell?”

“What?” she looked at her ex in confusion.

“Who is she, Bennie?” Emily shot her a glare.

“Ms. Rushman?” She shrugged, “she is Mr. Stark’s new assistant.”

Emily rolled her eyes. “Nevermind. Look, Madison and I talked and we really want to try this. All three of us together,” she sat on the corner of the desk.

Bennett pulled the report she had been working on out from under the other woman’s hand. “All three of us. Making our relationship what? Polygamous? An open relationship?” She refocused on the report. “Now, I need to finish this, so get your stuff and leave.”

“Bennie, I know we should have approached you a different way about this. If you just give us a chance, one week,” she placed a finger under her chin forcing her to meet her eyes, “we will make it worth your time.”

Bennett pushed her hand away. “That is never going to happen. Now please get your stuff and go.”

She hopped off the desk and circled behind the bodyguard draping her arms over her shoulders “Bennie bear, please, I really miss you.”

When she placed the first kiss on her neck Bennett jumped up from her seat, knocking Emily off balance. Reflexively Bennett reached out a hand to steady her. “That is something you probably should have thought about before,” She tried to push her way to the door but the other woman blocked her path.

“Bennie if you just meet her, give Madison a chance, give me another chance,'' she begged.

“No.” she shook her head. “Emily, you made your choice. You slept with someone else for 18 out of the 24 months we were together.”

“21.” She at least had the decency to look ashamed.

“21 months,” Bennett scoffed. “Tell me one thing,...why?”

“I just... It was all sweet at first, the no sex until we are sure thing was sweet but. One month led to two and then three, and in the third I met Madison and it just happened.”

“That doesn’t just happen, especially not for 21 months,” Bennett knew this was a no win situation, she would see herself as the victim no matter what.

“I was lonely ok. You got this job with Stark and you disappeared. I didn’t matter anymore. You left during dates, or called to cancel half the time, because Mr. Stark needed you to tie his shoes or something. You weren’t the person I met anymore. You were married to this job and I didn’t even get enough of your time to be considered your mistress.”

“I had Tony rearrange as much as I could when we had plans, but galas, premieres, and charity events are a bit hard to reschedule and I always told you about them beforehand. You tried to make plans anyway.” She could feel her anger building and tried to help her body pump enough serotonin to counteract the rush of epinephrine racing to her brain.

“You missed our anniversary. Our first. You missed it, all to help Tony Stark and his evil empire,” she spat fake sobs building in her throat.

“I was half an hour late and I called to tell you that. Tony blew something up in the lab. It took a while to clean it up and I figured coming to dinner covered in ash and slime was a bad idea. It was an accident,” she tried to explain as calmly as she could. "Besides I think after the whole "I've been sleeping with someone else" bomb you dropped a few months ago you have no room to talk."

“All those late nights you HAD to work. Stark probably had any number of girls up here for you. So don’t act like I am the only unfaithful one in this relationship,” here come the waterworks.

“And “training” with Stark’s assistant. I wonder what that could be code for,” she started in on Natalie. “You only keep women like her around for one thing. I can guarantee she got this job only one way. She slept her way to the top. She’s a whore. She is no different than that Potts woman, Stark making her CEO is a joke.”

Bennett finally snapped. “Shut up,” her voice was deadly quiet. “You don’t know the first thing about Ms. Rushman. She knows how to do her job and does it well. She has already helped Mr. Stark with several big deals, and she has only been here a week. She works hard. That is how she got her job.”

“See you're sleeping with her,” she crossed her arms over her chest, “why else would you be defending her.”

“She is a good person. So is Tony. Pepper is more accomplished than you could ever dream of being. Now Ms. Hennings, as you are aware I am normally a very patient person, but you have about pushed mine to its limit. I swear if you try to blame our failed relationship on Tony, Pepper, Happy, Ms. Rushman or anyone other than me and you I will have you forcibly removed from the premises. They are employees here, it is my job to protect them from anyone I deem a threat. I also consider them my friends, so I WANT to protect them.”

Her jaw dropped. "You want to know why I kept Madison around? She is so much better than you, in every sense. All your nobility about waiting. In the long run it puts you way behind the curve."

Hey BOBbie connect me to the security team. “Right away, Kid,”

The blonde reached the “com” in her ear, “Mars, Davis, I need you in the security office.”

Moments later two burly men stepped through the door. “Please escort Ms. Hennings out of the building. She is no longer allowed on any Stark properties. And Emily leave my friends alone.”

The two men led her out of the office before she even had a chance to reply. Bennett collapsed in her chair. She thought back through the conversation with Emily and their relationship. Something about the timeline didn’t add up. Her job with Tony didn’t push her into Madison’s arms. She said three months. When Bennett got this job they had been dating six months. So it wasn’t Tony. She could only think of one reason for Emily to look somewhere else. She had failed. Bennett was the problem. She pushed Emily to Madison. Maybe she was just too old fashioned in her thinking. This was probably not the first relationship she killed because she didn’t kiss on the first date and sex was not on the table until the relationship had time to be stable and well established. Her dad taught her and her brothers and sister that a relationship had to be built on more than just the physical stuff. If you couldn’t see the relationship as long term then it didn’t need to go past the first date. The reason to date is to find the right person, not just to fill time. Maybe her thinking was too backwards.

A knock at the door snapped her out of her thoughts, “hey, you ok?”

“I’m fine, Ms. Rushman, just an uncomfortable conversation,” Bennett tried to plaster a smile on her face but it failed to reach her eyes.

“Mr. Stark’s last appointment just canceled so if you want to go head down to the gym now, I’m free.” She smiled.

Bennett was mesmerised by the sight. She had never seen Natalie smile before, not like this. Shy smiles and seductive ones, flirtatious smiles even deadly ones. A week working with the woman had shown an array of smirks and grins, scowls and glares. The redhead knew how to present herself to get what she wanted in a situation. This could be just another presentation, a manipulation to get her way. For some reason Bennett didn’t think this was. A real smile. People talk about a smile reaching someone’s eyes. Her’s was the opposite: her’s seemed to hide in her eyes long before reaching her lips. “Of course, Ms. Rushman.” Bennett left the reports on the desk. She could always finish them later.

Bennett grabbed the gym bag from the back corner of the office and began the walk to the gym with Natalie. “How long have you trained?” She asked the redhead as they reached the elevator.

“Just a couple of self defense courses here and there,” Natalie answered.

“Right,” she laughed, “ I saw you take down Happy,” the elevator dinged open and both women stepped inside. “That was beyond impressive. And that wasn’t learned in a self-defense course.”

“My parents had me training my entire childhood,” Natalie admitted, “never learned for fun. I was always taught that the world was cruel and you had to be prepared or people will take advantage of you,” she shrugged.

“I don’t really think there is much I can teach you,” Benn said honestly. “I tried to tell Tony. He dund’t listen.” She cringed. “He doesn’t listen. That’s one of Tony’s things… not... listening.”

Natalie’s bright green eyes sparkled at the accent slip. ”Maybe we can go a couple of rounds in the ring. It has been a while since I sparred.”

Bennett, still recovering from her embarrassment, took in the other woman’s attire for the first time. A black pencil skirt and white blouse with the top two buttons tastefully undone, black heels. “Sweats or shorts? I have a couple extra pairs stored in Tony’s gym. We can train there today.”

Making it to Tony's private gym Bennett found a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. Pointing the other woman in the direction of the locker room. Bennett had spent most of her day in the company gym with some security team member or another so she was already dressed to fight. She slid her gloves from her bag and strapped them in place, waiting.

Normally Bennett would just physically stretch out, not depend on her abilities to loosen the muscles. This was not a normal fight. So she focused on forcing the muscles to relax and stretch further than normal. She wanted to impress the redhead, and she already knew Natalie was not going to be an easy fight. Bennett focused on her body loosening each muscle allowing it to stretch to the fullest extent. Proper distribution of blood and oxygen to the body, a steady, controlled supply of dopamine and adrenaline to focus and fuel the fight. But not overwhelm the fight. Bennett was lost in thought and jumped when the locker room door shut.

Natalie was tying the drawstring on the sweat pants Bennett had lent her. “Thank you again,” she smiled at the blonde, “I promise I will bring my own stuff tomorrow.”

“It’s no big deal,” Bennett shrugged it off. “What kind of gloves do you prefer?” On the side of the ring she had laid out a pair of vinyl sparring gloves, a pair of boxing gloves, and a pair of fingerless gloves. Natalie surveyed the collection before looking back up, clearly having no idea which to choose. Bennett grabbed the vinyl ones sticking them back in the locker against the wall. “Student gloves don’t apply here. Punch heavy or grappling?” She pointed from the boxing mitts to the fingerless gloves.

Natalie reached for the black fingerless pair, “these are what I need if I plan on pinning you to the mat?”

“If that is your strategy then yeah. You want those,” Bennett grabbed the mitts throwing them in the locker as well. Taking a second to calm her erratic pulse and pull the blush from her cheeks. “Kicks?” She turned to find Natalie already in the ring. She jumped up throwing a spin kick that would have knocked out a full grown man, landing gracefully without a sound, continuing a three kick combo, wheel, hook, side, without ever setting her foot down, before doing the same on the other side. Bennett winced at the anticipated headache. “Kicks, yes.” She grabbed two pairs of shin pads with instep guards and a new mouthpiece for the other woman. Gear on they squared up, this was the first fight the bodyguard had been excited for in a long time.

An hour later they both lay on the mat completely spent, breathing heavily. “So how do I rank?” Natalie asked, turning her head to look at the blonde.

“Well,” Bennett tried to force more air back into her lungs and slow her heart rate. “Some of those combinations I have never even imagined before and your flexibility is beyond impressive. Good choke and you know pressure points. Could kill everyone of Tony’s security guys.” She looked over to meet Natalie’s smile. “You sure you’re not like a ninja or something on the weekends.” Natalie chuckled and Bennett pushed herself off the floor before offering Natalie a hand up. “Any tips for me?”

“Watch out for those sweeps,” was the redhead’s immediate response. She climbed through the ropes and headed for the locker room. Bennett watched her for a few steps before following.

“I was thinking about heading over to the park since we have a couple of hours until the business dinner tonight. If you wanna tag along.” Bennett suggested as they returned to the locker room.

“I would love to but I have some housekeeping I have been putting off all week, and now I have to shower before dinner too,” Natalie grinned.

“Well if you would have just tapped out when I had you pinned like a sensible person you wouldn’t have gotten near as sweaty,” Bennet replied.

“Obviously you didn’t have me pinned or else I wouldn’t have been able to get out of it,” was her response.

Bennett turned meeting Natalie’s gaze, a smart remark ready but her words died on her lips when she caught sight of the other woman. She stood there in nothing but Bennett’s sweats and a bra. The blonde stumbled for a coherent thought. She spun back around knowing her face was the same shade of red as Natalie’s bra. Bennett ran a hand through her short hair as she left the room as fast as she could without running.

Natalie’s smirk grew seeing the girl blush. She had to admit Bennett had a certain charm. It would be fun to see how many times she could make her blush.

“Here’s a quarter, call someone who cares.

A/n: I’m sorry I missed my normal update yesterday. Started a new therapy for my PTSD this weekend and was exhausted. Any way I don’t know if anyone is enjoying this story or even reads it. I know I need to finish it for me if no one else. It’s gonna take a while. If you are reading, Thank you for hanging with me through this story.

#The Avengers #Black Widow #natasha romanov #natasha romanoff #tony stark #ironman #marvel imagine #mcu #original female character #black widow imagine #avengers imagine

Phylax Ch.2 Southern Voice

Having everyone together at Stark tower was great but Bennett had been enjoying the peace. The two days alone at the tower were apparently the calm before the storm that was about to become her life. When Bennett had gone to get Tony for a morning workout the first day they were all back she heard raised voices. Pepper and Tony were at each other's throats again. And the last thing she wanted was to get drawn into the middle of it.

“Hey Hap, you probably don’t wanna go that way, Mom and Dad are fighting,” he spun on his heel matching pace with the bodyguard.

Phylax Masterlist

Bennett Lancaster grew up with stories of heroes in her head from the oldest of greek myths to the latest superhero comic. She never dreamed that taking a job with Tony Stark would land her in the middle of the next generation of heroes.

Prologue

Part 1

Ch.1 Young

Ch.2 Southern Voice

Ch. 3 Here’s a Quarter

Ch.4 Who You’d be Today

Ch. 5 Scare me

Ch. 6 Start of Something Good

Ch. 7 Drinkin’ Bone

#Black Widow #Tony Stark #Ironman #natasha romanov #Natasha romanoff #The Avengers #marvel imagine #Avenger imagine #Black widow imagine #original female character #phylax

Phylax Part1 ch.1 Young

Three months later.

“You ready for this kid?” Tony’s voice rang through her earpiece.

“Go big or go home, boss,” Bennett smiled, answering over her com. It was the grand opening of the Stark Expo and Tony planned on making it the event of the century. Even with 90 years left in this century.

“You sure this isn’t too extreme?” he questioned.

"For anyone else, yeah. For you jumping out of a plane might be a bit lowkey,” the blonde pressed herself against the wall of the small changing room as another of the “dance team” girls bumped her. This one too was wearing next to nothing. That makes 5 in the last half hour. They might have been comfortable in the small changing room, stripping in front of each other but it was completely out of her comfort zone.

Tony insisted they had to have a member of the security team in the room at all times as well as posted outside the doors. As there was only one female member of the security that job got handed to Bennett. “The twenty “Rockettes” running around me and stretching out before your big show, that might qualify as extreme."

“Not enjoying the show? I chose that job especially for you. We could trade spots.” Tony's voice held a touch of laughter in his tone. “Seriously not one of them is hot in your book?”

“Not the time, boss.”

“There is one?” He perked up. “We will compare notes after the show.”

“Just get ready to jump,” she said, checking the time. “Alright ladies. Showtime.”

#Black Widow #Tony Stark #Original female character #The Avengers #Ironman #Marvel imagines #Black widow imagines #Avengers imagines #natasha romanov #Natasha romanoff

Phylax Avengers x oc Prologue

Phylax: Ancient Greek. Watcher, protector, sentinel, guardian.

Bennett Lancaster grew up in her small hometown with her head full of stories of heroes, from the latest action flick to the oldest of Greek myths. Going into private security and moving away from her small hometown, she knew would bring her adventures. She never imagined that it would put her in the middle of the next generation of heroes. (Rating Teen.)

Tony x oc (platonic), Natasha x oc (slowburn)

Word count: 4212

Chapter warnings: cheating, child death, blood, injury

Mrs. Bethany Lancaster watched her four older children as they ran out of the house. Nora would watch the three little ones and it would give her some peace and quiet as long as the baby stayed asleep. Thirty solid minutes with no disasters was a small miracle. It gave her time to catch up on housework, which she had lacked since baby number five, Zach, arrived. She checked on the three month old before turning back to the chores at hand.

She had the most recent pile of laundry folded and stacked the only thing left was matching the socks. That was when she heard the scream.

“Momma!” Beth looked up to see her 6 year old daughter, Bennett racing towards the house. Her face red and there were obvious tear tracks. Panic. That was what was in her daughter’s face. She ran to the yard meeting her half way. The girl was crying so hard that understanding her words was near impossible. “Fitzy, Fitzy. Momma...Fitzy.” Beth scooped the crying girl in her arms and headed farther into the open fields. “Nora, Leo,” she called for her two oldest children.

Bennett buried her head in her mother’s shoulder. “Fitzy.”

Bethany’s heart raced as she ran towards the distant call returned by her 15-year-old daughter. “Momma. Help it’s Fitz.”

The sight that met Bethany Lancaster’s eyes was one that every mother fears. A small body lay in the creek, blood soaked through his short blonde hair. His face pale and lips blue. Bethany handed the crying Bennett to Nora and knelt by the boy. “What happened?” She felt for a pulse and then listened for a breath but found neither.

“I don’t know. We were playing in the field. Fitz wanted a turn with the kite but Leo had it. The next thing I remember we were here and Fitz was like this.” The older girl took deep breaths trying to calm herself to take care of her sister.

Bethany began the process of CPR knowing it was no use. She sent Leo to the house to call 911. Blood slid down the creek bed as she tried to pump life back into her young son.

“Fitzy!” Bennett cried, kicking Nora sharply in the leg so the older girl would drop her. As soon as she hit the ground the girl scrambled to her twin brother. “Fitzy, wake up,” her tears dripped to his cheeks, “Fitzy!”

When the ambulance arrived it was too late. Bennett cried in her mother’s arms pleading for her brother to get up. Nora had returned to the house shortly after Leo and was caring for Zachary.

Bennett’s mother clung tightly to the girl. Small bloody handprints appeared on the fabric of her shirt as the girl fought to reach her brother as the coroner zipped the body bag. Fitz’s face disappearing from their view. The small girl went weak in her mother’s arms. Sobs wracked her body as she cried. Her brother’s name came out as only a whimper. Bethany Lancaster allowed her first tear then holding her daughter as her son was taken away.

Frost coated the ground of the small park closest to Stark tower. Normally Bennett would take her bike out of town to a small nature trail nearby, today there wasn’t time. The steady pounding of her sneakers hitting the pavement was Bennett's sole focus. After a nightmare an early morning run was soothing. The cold morning air brushed against her face, turning her cheeks and nose rosy. Her breath froze in the air in front of her. 18 years had passed since that day and she still felt the loss. If she managed to outrun her memories during the light of day, they always caught back up to her in her sleep.

Back at Stark Tower again Bennett made her way to the gym. She pushed her short hair back out of her face, and made her way to the heavy bag. The bag buckled under the weight of her first few punches. The rough leather grated against her knuckles as she tried to bleed out the last of her nightmare.

For a year and a half Bennett had held a job in security at Stark Industries, as Tony Stark’s personal bodyguard. She had been with Pepper through every second of the incident in Afghanistan. She had helped Tony weather the introduction of Ironman and subsequent fall out.

Tony was the first big job Bennett had in her field of choice. She had applied for numerous other positions at companies around the city but was passed over because she was too young or inexperienced. Today marked her 24th birthday.

She was qualified for the job. Top of her class at the academy, marksmanship was in the top 5%, hand to hand combat top 3%, surveillance and observation top 7%. The problem came in because she didn’t look 24. She didn’t even look 20 most days. On a really good day the blonde could pass for 21 but most days about 16 or 17. Resembling a teenager was not exactly intimidating. The clothes Pepper bought, and Tony paid for, helped. Pepper insisted though, that this was an asset. It made it easier for her to fade into the background. Unassuming and nonthreatening. So when she selected Bennett’s work attire, it was professional but always carried a young, carefree air to it. Usually in the form of colored Converse, lightly distressed jeans, or a graphic tee under her button down or jacket.

Tabloids had been fun the first couple months after she was noticed. According to those reporters Bennett was Tony Stark's love child from his wild youth. The papers had new stories released every week. "Birth mothers" were lining up to back their stories. There were a few similarities between Bennett and Tony. Skin tone, brown eyes, although his were a darker brown than hers, and a few other overlapping "roguish features", to quote Tony. But past that nothing. The women claiming to be her mother, ranged from hispanic to Irish, from waitresses to swimsuit models. Each story was more ridiculous than the last. Simple math would disprove every one of the women, they were all too young. As would Bennett’s nearly platinum blonde hair. Seriously not one paper thought to find a blonde.

Quick punch combos rocked the bag on it's chains. The bag caved around her heel as she sunk a kick in. The bag was inviting. Granting a release. The anger and fear. The nightmares, the memories. A release for all of it. Bennett poured them all into the bag where they would stay buried in the sand contained in the canvas. She worked the bag over and over, punch after punch, blow after blow. The combinations becoming more deadly as she worked.

Tony entered the room watching the girl work and the bag rocked on it’s chains. He watched not wanting to interrupt her. Her fist slammed hard into the bag and he winced. She seemed to deflate holding on to the bag. Letting out an exhausted breath she whispered, "Happy birthday, Fitz"

He gave her another moment heart breaking slightly at the sight. Opening the door and shutting it again Tony approached her as if he had just gotten there. "As my bodyguard, are you not supposed to be aware of your surroundings? I mean if I can sneak in on you anyone can." He crossed the room towards her. "You gonna talk about it this time?"

"I am supposed to be aware of threats, I would hardly classify you as a threat," she walked over taking the bottle from his hand for a drink. The liquid had barely touched her tongue when she spit it out, gagging. "What on earth are you drinking?" She opened the bottle giving the substance a tentative sniff, it was thick and green.

"It's, uh, protein shake from one of those MMA magazines you get."

"Why is it green?" The blonde sniffed it again, wrinkling her nose at the smell.

“Kelp?” Tony took a moment to answer.

“Your answer to that shouldn’t be a question,” she quipped, handing the bottle back and turned to get water from the small fridge.

Tony nodded towards her hand, “you’re bleeding.”

She looked down examining the knuckles. Sure enough the skin was broken on the first two knuckles of each hand and the rest were smeared with blood. “It’s probably just a little scratch.”

He gave her a disbelieving look. “You never even let me look at the bag without wrapping my hands.”

“It’s fine, Boss. It looks worse than it is,” she shrugged it off. “Go grab your mouthpiece and meet me on the mats.” Bennett headed into the locker room to grab her mouthpiece and take care of her hands. She knew better, but the rough material of the bag had felt good. Pain always brought relief. Physical pain was manageable.

Turning the water on she waited the few seconds it would take for it to heat. She ran her hands under the water scrubbing them clean. The water diluted the blood. Bennett squeezed her eyes shut as her nightmare rushed back. The onslaught of images making her slightly nauseous. Wiping her hands dry the skin looked new. It had knit itself back perfectly. That’s why it had escaped her notice, something small like that was less bothersome than a mosquito bite. There is no telling how many times the skin had broken for them to bleed that much. In the most extreme case so far her healing factor was effective enough to heal 12 gunshot wounds simultaneously. So a busted knuckle from the heavy bag was something she wasn’t worried about.

Wrapping her knuckles she returned to the gym, mouthpiece in hand. Many things are socially acceptable now. Many things the government has legalized. They tolerated Ironman. There were rumors of Captain America being found. Talk of other survivors of genetic experiments. Negotiations for the rights of Inhumans. One thing that had not been changed, that had not been legalized, had not been repealed. The Mutant Registration Act.

Mutation was still seen as an abomination, an affront to nature. Mutants were closely monitored if they managed not to be thrown in jail. To date only three mutants from the registration had not been incarcerated for any length of time, and only because their mutations were purely cosmetic. Horns and tails posed no real threat to humanity's safety. It would be safe to say Tony didn't know about her abilities. No one knew, not even her parents. She intended to keep it that way. She pulled on her fingerless gloves and headed back into the gym.

Ground fighting was the order of the day. After reviewing some of the pins and chokes they had worked on they began to grapple.

Round 1: 2 minutes, submission, guillotine, Bennett.

Round 2: 45 seconds, submission, arm bar, Bennett

Round 3: 3 minutes, submission, Darce choke, Bennett.

It continued for seven rounds. Some of the rounds could have been shorter but Bennett liked to play a bit. The third round for instance had taken so much time because Bennett wanted to win with the Darce choke. Other times she just drug the fight out to make Tony work harder. Tony got close a few times. After each round the blonde showed him how to lock in the choke to prevent escape.

Training with Tony was a good warm up for the day and Bennett truly loved teaching him. He didn't really need it. He had the suit. Hand to hand combat was kinda obsolete against that.

"Okay," he coughed, tapping the mat to signal Bennett to let go. "I'm done. Besides we have a full day." He stretched to work out the kinks in his spine from the fights.

Bennett pulled up the schedule on her phone, the Stark tech projecting the application off the screen for her. "We have 30 minutes to clean up, eat, and get to the board meeting."

He nodded drinking from the bottle of green goo. "Thanks, kid. Next time I am going to win one." She chuckled, pulling her gloves off before heading back upstairs to change.

The meeting seemed to drag on and on. No matter how many of these things she sat through Bennett never could find it in herself to follow along. The phone buzzed in her pocket. A new text.

Tony: kid, watch this.

A few seconds passed and one of the board members grew noticeably irritated before he swatted the air. Upon closer inspection Bennett could see a small black object darting around the man’s head. Bennett would have simply assumed it to be a fly except for the small red light blinking from it. Almost indiscernible.

Tony flicked his fingers across his phone and the small object darted at the man again. It was a drone. The man grew more distracted by the second. Bennett and Tony bit back their laughter.

“Tony,” Pepper snapped, “do you have anything to contribute?”

“Uh,...no I think you covered it rather eloquently,” he tapped his screen once more before shoving the phone back in his pocket. Bennett watched the drone zip away probably to some charging dock across the building.

“If no one has any new business I think we can adjourn,” Pepper dismissed the board members with a smile. As the last man stepped out she turned a glare toward the two. Focusing on Tony she spoke “do you think this is a game, I am trying to run a company here, your company. You could at least pretend to care.”

Pepper dragged Bennett and Tony upstairs. If Tony kept this up he would run the company into the ground. He needed to take his responsibilities seriously. Happy met them in the kitchen where lunch was being served. JARVIS with the help of a bot or two had prepared a salad with grilled chicken.

Bennett inwardly groaned kelp shakes and now salad. Tony was on a health kick, which meant it was time to stock up on junk food.

Pepper excused herself when she received a call from one of the overseas investors during lunch leaving Tony, Bennett, and Happy alone for a moment. "Tonight's the night, right? Are you sure you wanna do this kid?" Tony leaned back in his seat trying to make his voice sound casual.

Bennett’s face lit in a smile. "I think so. Emily and I have been together for two years. Our lives fit together seamlessly. We have talked out our plans for the future together. Almost never fight." She chuckled lightly. "Everyone says that proposing is nerve wracking. But I thought it all through and planned it out. Honestly I'm not nervous at all. We fit too well together. She's gonna say yes." Bennett took the small box from her pocket examining the ring.

Tony held out his hand and she passed the box over. Tony nodded his approval before handing the ring to Happy.

"Not a bad choice, kid. You want me to drive you tonight. I could get the limo."

Bennett tucked the ring back in her pocket. "No I got it. Gonna take one of Tony’s cars and pick her up, take her to her favorite restaurant. That I can pass off as birthday privileges. Limo would be a bit over the top. Might tip her off."

"Public proposal? At the restaurant? Pretty gutsy." Tony quipped.

"No, she wouldn't want that kind of attention" Bennett shook her head, "a walk in the park after, to a spot I know she loves. I'll ask her there." Bennett could see it all in her mind from the bench by the lake to the smile on Emily’s face. Tonight was going to change everything. Tonight would be the start of a new life, a better life.

Happy's phone buzzed. "Sorry, Pepper needs me to pick up someone at the airport. If I don't make it back in time, good luck, kid." He smiled before running out the door.

"Benn are you really sure about this? Not a doubt in your mind that Emily is the one?" Tony wore a serious expression. "You're young. Not many people find their soulmate at 24."

“I didn’t,” Bennett smirked, ”we met when I was 22."

Tony's expression grew more serious if possible."Benn. This is a big decision. I don't want to see you heartbroken if things don't work down the road. Just make sure you have thought this through. Does Emily really make you happy?"

The blonde gave his words careful consideration before replying. "I think so. I mean we've had rocky places sure. Everyone does, but I think she makes me happy."

Tony locked his gaze with hers "marriage is a lifetime thing."

"Who are you and what have you done with Tony?" He didn't even smirk at the attempted joke. Bennett let out a deep sigh "I know it's a lifetime thing. I am prepared to sacrifice a lifetime if she needs me to.” She let the silence hang for a few seconds before allowing a smirk to slide in place, “Pepper is gone for the day and Happy is out so...Smash bros showdown." Tony didn't move immediately but the corner of his lips turned up. " Come on, Boss. It will get my mind off things."

He gave a sigh before a genuine smile spread across his features. "Alright, best of 75. If I win I get your bike for a week if you win you can use my suit."

"No safety mode?" Bennett cocked one brow in question.

"Weapons hot." He held out his hand which she in turn took shaking it.

"Deal."

Several hours later Pepper walked into the common area to Tony's shouts of victory and Bennett’s groans of defeat. "The bike is mine for the week." He crowed.

"Yeah, yeah," She scowled at the tv screen “you can use the Harley or the Honda this week.”

“No I get the Ducati,” he insisted.

“The original deal said you get my bike for a week not which one. You should be more specific next time, I have seven.” She smirked.

"Well, well." They both jumped at the new voice spinning to see Pepper standing in the doorway. "I see you two got a lot done today."

"It was bonding time, really." Tony explained.

Bennett shot a cheeky grin towards the older woman shrugging, "while the cat's away…"

"Obviously." A soft smile played on her lips even as she tried to hide it. "Bennett, don't you have to be somewhere in an hour?"

She tapped the screen on her phone, her Ducati lit up in the background as she checked the time. "Crap. Yeah thanks Pep." Jumping up from the couch the girl pressed a kiss to Pepper’s cheek before heading to the doorway.

"Are you both coming back tonight? I have a few things saved for the occasion. Wanted to celebrate a little with you, both of you.” Tony explained.

“More than likely. But Tony: no party! If you guys want to say “hi” and stuff fine, but no extras. No party.” Bennett set the rules for Tony’s “celebration”.

"Alright. Be safe and have fun tonight" Tony wrapped her in a tight hug. "Good luck, kid."

“Thanks, boss." Pepper pulled the girl in for one more hug as she rushed to her room.

Bennett pulled up to Emily’s apartment at 6:30 sharp. Knocking at the door she rocked back on her heels as she waited for Emily to answer, a bouquet of roses in hand.

“Bennett!” Emily opened the door with a broad smile. She leaned forward pulling the blonde into a kiss. “Those for me?” She asked, pulling away for a second.

“Who else would they be for?” Bennett pecked her lips again.

She took the roses, “I’ll just put these in water right quick,” she slipped inside pushing the door closed before Benn could follow. Seconds later she came back out, “ready to go?” Her smile was bright as she took Bennett’s hand, heading to the car.

Bennett opened her door for her, before climbing in the driver's seat. They drove and talked, laughing occasionally. The blonde couldn’t keep the smile off her face.

The night started at an art gallery. Emily led Bennett through the gallery pointing out her favorite pieces. They talked over the exhibits as they went. Emily gushed over a large metal sculpture in the middle of the museum. She rattled on talking about lines and angles to convey the artist’s meaning. Benn nodded along and agreed when she was asked what she thought. Her only real thought about the piece though was the welds were crap.

Bennett lagged a bit behind as they came across an exhibit of statues from Greece. Athena, Artemis, and Apollo were displayed alongside sculptures of gorgons, minotaurs, and chimaeras. Emily tugged her along to finish up the last few exhibits.

When they pulled up to the restaurant Bennett quickly hopped out of the car, rushing around the front of the car to open Emily’s door. Bennett held out a hand and Emily took it. Her hand resting in the blonde’s made Benn feel as if Emily trusted her with her whole world. It was a responsibility the young bodyguard was happy to take on.

“This really isn’t necessary, Bennie,” she tucked her hand around Bennett’s arm, “but thank you.”

Dinner was slightly more expensive than she had originally planned but for tonight it would be worth it. Next stop was the nature park. They walked through the park under the stars hand in hand. The little box bounced in her pocket as they neared the spot.

Bennett took in the night sky. North star was straight ahead. Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. A story of jealousy. Zeus’ wife Hera was jealous of Callisto after Zeus fell in love with her. So Hera changed her into a bear. Callisto was hunted for years. Zeus and Callisto had a son named Arcas. When he grew Arcas became a great hunter, he was moments away from unknowingly killing his mother but Zeus interfered. Sending them into the sky creating the two constellations.

“Bennie,” Emily pulled her from her thoughts. “Bennie babe, what is it about them that you find so fascinating?” She gestured towards the heavens.

“Everything. The stories, history, science…”

Smiling Emily pulled her girlfriend around to face her. She beamed at the blonde, “you always have your head in the clouds, aren’t there more interesting things down here on the ground.” She pulled Bennett in close for a kiss, wrapping her arms around her neck deepening the kiss.

Bennett pulled away after a moment, leading Emily further into the park.

Bennett steeled herself. “Em, I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Of course. I wanted to talk to you about something too,” she followed happily.

“You go ahead,” Bennett said, “what did you want to talk about?”

“No, no, go ahead, it can wait,” she threaded her fingers through Bennett’s.

“Well,” they came to the spot by the edge of the lake. Taking a deep breath Bennett began her speech “Emily, we have been together for two years now. You helped me adapt to New York, out of the security of my college campus. New York is quite a bit bigger than I am used to,” a grin spread across Bennett’s face, one side slightly higher than the other. Lopsided.

Emily placed her hand on Bennett’s cheek leveling out her smile “Yeah, your little “no where” Texas is a bit tiny. Population of what, 23?”

“That wasn’t the population, that was the size of my graduating class,” Bennett gave her an indignant look. “Give me some credit.” Emily laughed. “I couldn’t have made it this far without you, and I don’t want to spend any of my future without you by my side. So Emily, will you marry me?” Bennett pulled the ring from her pocket and waited for her answer.

Bennett parked the car in the garage, killing the engine. She walked in the living area to see Tony, Pepper, and Happy all waiting. Champagne on ice. She let out a long sigh, there was no way to avoid them.

Tony was grinning from ear to ear when she entered, “hey kid, how did it go?” He looked over her shoulder. “Where’s Emily?”

The girl plastered a smile on her face. “I...not as planned.” she ran her hand through her hair, brushing her bangs behind her ear only for them to fall back in her face, too short to stay tucked.

“What do you mean?” Pepper was concerned.

“Turns out we...don’t want exactly the same things. Her future and mine... there’s this other girl, Madison. Emily has been with her for most of our relationship.” They were all dumb struck. She pulled the box from her pocket, setting it on the coffee table in front of the couch. “Guess I will have to figure out the return policy for that in the morning.” She gave the others a half hearted smile. “I think I am going to bed. Good night.” Apparently Tony was right, no one finds their soulmate at 24.

AN: won’t leave many of these. First I don’t own Marvel or their characters just Benn and her story.

Second give me any feedback or ideas you have on this story. Any critic is welcome. It is a slowburn as far as the romance aspect goes but it will get there and there is plenty of other stuff in the meantime.

Hope you enjoyed this introduction to Bennett and my story. Ch1 should be up in a week.

#Black Widow #The Avengers #Tony Stark #natasha romanov #Ironman #OFC

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