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@natalia-reflecting
Hey. Iāmā¦ Iām Natalia. You probably know me as Natasha Romanoff ā but thatās Americanized. When I was running from myself
Iām trying to remember who I am. When Iām not wearing a thousand masks
Family
My sons ā @the-best-duck-tamer @redroom-peterparker
Rules
- no nsfw
- no homophobia transphobia xenophobia racism sexism antisemitism Zionism etc
- stand with Palestine & Ukraine
Mod - @over-bi-the-wayside
Hi Nat!
@emiliakanebarnes
Emilia! How are you? Itās been a while
Iām ok! How are you? Howās everything?!
Iām good! Busy with work, though Iām about halfway retired. Finally found someone to settle down with, and am living for it, all the good things
And you?
OOOOOO NATāS IN A RELATIONSHIP!!??
Who with?
Yes, da. You seem so surprised
*blushes* you wouldnāt believe me if I told you
TELL ME!! IM SO INVESTED!!
Itās Tony. For quite a while, really. *smiles* and heās continued to make me very very happy, and with any luck will for a long time
Hi Nat!
@emiliakanebarnes
Emilia! How are you? Itās been a while
Iām ok! How are you? Howās everything?!
Iām good! Busy with work, though Iām about halfway retired. Finally found someone to settle down with, and am living for it, all the good things
And you?
OOOOOO NATāS IN A RELATIONSHIP!!??
Who with?
Yes, da. You seem so surprised
*blushes* you wouldnāt believe me if I told you
Hi Nat!
@emiliakanebarnes
Emilia! How are you? Itās been a while
Iām ok! How are you? Howās everything?!
Iām good! Busy with work, though Iām about halfway retired. Finally found someone to settle down with, and am living for it, all the good things
And you?
Open Roleplay - Death AU
Tony Stark was dead. Surprisingly, it hadn't happened on the battlefield. Hadn't happened as the result of him pushing himself too hard for too long. It had been mundane. A heart attack, one that probably wouldn't have killed someone without his heart problems.
But this time, he'd been prepared. He'd been encoding his mind onto an AI for months, slowly replicating his personality and brain, his physical form through holograms or the suit, into a technological replica. It was the closest thing to Tony Stark that existed anymore.
It's been a week since the funeral. The AI flickered to life a few hours after everyone got home. Mostly, it doesn't leave the workshop, since it has the most freedom there. Someone's walking into that workshop now while it -- he -- flickers absently.
āŠŠ° ŠæŠ¾ŃŠ»Š° ŃŃ ((Fuck you))ā Natalia walks into the lab, for the first time since the day he died. For the first time since she had gone to inform Friday to set funeral procedures.
Sheās drunk. Really, really drunk, the kind of drunk she hadnāt been since before her time with Steve in Wakanda. The kind he had never seen her other than one time when he had found her passed out in a hallway after a press conference, with enough alcohol in her that if she hadnāt been, well, Natalia, she shouldāve been in a doctorās office.
ā((I don't care about stages of grief, or this robot that is pretending to be you. I don't care. You were the last person who made me happy and now you're gone, and people keep saying so many stupid things about moving on and living my life when I havenāt even gotten to grieve in quiet- no one will leave me alone and the only fucking person I can tolerate is Laura and thatās because she doesnāt talk to me. Everyone keeps talking! God! And the things people say when they want to be nice- like because we werenāt married I donāt grieve! Fuck it- Iām your bloody widow, and donāt you let your fake, glitchy circuits laugh at that itās not a pun. Fuck you.))ā Sheās laughing now, some sort of broken sound thatās almost unhinged, sheās so out of space that itās all she can do it express it, her words starting to slur as Russian spills out. ā((Tony, you bastard, I canāt do this without you. They want to parade your legacy around like some show pony and want my home to be a museum- they want this tower to be a legacy and I havenāt even gotten to say a word- fuck, people are saying shit about me and if only I could do what I want- oh my love, come back..ā
The AI listens in silence, flickering occasionally in time with the drunken rant. It had been expecting something like this. Maybe not quite this bad, but it hadn't exactly been expecting sobriety.
"I'm right here, love,' It greets, the wors an almost-perfect replica of Tony's cadence. "You can still have me."
Natalia looks up, eyes almost glazed. āYou arenātā¦ itās not you and I hate it and I want it to be but you arenātā¦ you arenāt my- you are my Tony, youāre justā¦ what he left behind to take care of-ā she chokes up, looking away as it hits her. At first she and resented it. Maybe part of her still does, the fact that something is pretending to be her lover. But part of her is finding the reason.
āTo protect me,ā she gets out, shaking. āTo protect me.ā The second time itās barely a whisper. Recognition. He didnāt want it to be a replacement. He didnāt want it to be something to stop her from grieving.
He wanted to make sure while she moved forward she wouldnāt be alone and something could take care of her. Like Jarvis. Like how the AI was someone who had taken care of him in a new form that echoed the human.
āOh my godsā¦ Tonyā¦ Tonyā¦ā she sobs brokenly
"I can be your Tony," The AI murmurs, stepping closer to Natalia. It can't touch her, not really, but it's hand hovers near her cheek, sending electrical sparks dancing across her skin.
"I'm here to make you feel better... to make the grief easier. I can be whatever you need from me. Tony only wanted you to be happy," it says. It can't feel, but it remembers everything Tony ever felt towards Natalia. "To protect you," it echoes.
Nataliaās almost out of tears. She canāt grasp more than air but she chokes up, pulling her knees to her chest. āI havenāt slept for days,ā she chokes out. āI canāt sleep in our bed-ā
The AI gently kneels beside her, it can't touch her, but she can feel the buzz of electricity that's giving it a visible form. "I know, I've been watching... let me go with you.."
Natalia looks down, then away. She canāt quite bring herself to eye contact with the face of her departed lover, the voice enough as it is. āI have nightmares,ā she whispers. āI see why he used to have the suits guard him. Iām terrified now even though I could fight. I just canāt sleep without the weight next to me..ā
"I can come to bed with you," The AI offers. "You can't touch me yet, but we can find a way... I can talk to you, it'll be just like it was before, Tasha," it murmurs.
She wants to object, but she canāt. Sheās tired and the AI isnāt human, but honestly grief is exhausting and sheās done trying to follow her normal rules.
āYeahā¦ yeahā¦ā she whispers. āThe notesā¦ you control the suits, right? Can you use one or two to stand guard for me? Heā¦ youā¦ always would do that for me and nowā¦ā
"I can control the suits," The AI confirms. It flickers away and reappears in one of them, the suit walking towards Natalia. "I can protect you while you sleep. I can always protect you, amore."
She swallows heavily, then stands up. āThank you, beloved,ā she whispers, reaching for the suitās hand. āThank you.ā
She starts towards the stairs, hand in hand with her loverās suit, walking towards their bedroom, taking a moment to brace herself before going in. She hasnāt slept here since she found out
Open Roleplay - Goddess [based on the song by Laufey]
Tony Stark was a master of masks. He'd had to be, growing up in the spotlight the way he had. He'd built his persona carefully over years. It had morphed, since Iron Man, but the core tenants stayed the same: egotistical, proud, unflappable, charming.
He is, after all, an excellent performer. On stage, he's completely impenetrable. But... after a long day of interviews, he slips away out of sight. He has a conference in half an hour, and he just-- he needs a break. He pours a glass of scotch, and runs a hand down his face. He's a completely different man from two minutes prior.
He doesn't notice someone walk in.
Natalia watches for a moment, then sits down across from him. She knew masks. She is possibly the only person who can spot them like theyāre neon, glowing to her. She is trained to consider not noticing a liability.
When she reaches out, she lays a hand open on the table in front of him, palm up. āHey. Amore.ā She slips the glass out of his hand for a second, taking a quiet sip before returning it. āDo you want to talk, be distracted, or for me to give you space?ā
Tony knows Natalia can read him. He used to hate it, but he's come tofind some sort of comfort in the fact that she's always gong to know the real him.
"Hey," he breathes. He takes a long gulp of his scotch when she returns the glass. He rests his forehead on her shoulder, slumping."distract me?"
Natalia smiles, wrapping an arm over his shoulders. āAlright, Iām very good at that, sweetheart.ā She considers for a moment, then hums. āI got a new shelf for our room, want to help me with it? And I got a couple of new records for you, we can add thoseā
"That sounds perfect," Tony says. "We can display the ones that we're listening to the most," he muses, letting himself get lost in the thoughts of it. He's only got about half an hour before he has to go back out there again.
She nods. āMaybe you could make a rack for the bottom shelf too?ā
Natalia hums. āItās not a very big or complex so it shouldnāt take too longā¦ā
"I'll build you anything you want," He promises. He rests his head on her shoulder with a tired sigh.
Natalia smiles softly at the promise, tugging him a bit closer. āYou really are the most devoted man Iāve ever met, my beloved.ā She strokes his hair quietly, nails scraping over his scalp as she gives him space to relax with her
Tony relaxes with each scrape of her nails, even if he can't afford to fully let go right now, when he needs to be on his guard again so shortly. "It's easy to be, for you."
Natalia smiles quietly and lets him lean closer to her body. āI donāt deserve it, but I do love thisā¦ you are so perfect. I swear, Iām addicted to how you are to me.ā She kisses his forehead, quietly protective of their moment
Tony shakes his head, privately disbelieving. He's so far from perfect that it's painful, but he does enjoy basking in how she thinks of him sometimes. "I can think of worse addictions."
āIāve had plentyā¦ I think being far too in love with a man kind, wonderful, loving man is the best feeling out of all of them,ā she smiles. āWhen you go back out there, Iāll throw on something and come okay? Iāll protect you.ā
Natalia finds that sheās only half joking with the last section as she holds him, a quietly protective side coming over her as she tugs him closer
Tony just smiles, shaking his head fondly. "Mm, I know you will," Tony murmurs. He straightens his hsoulders with a tired sigh that he's clearly trying to push away. "I don't think they'd mind a surprise guest appearance from the Black Widow."
āNo one is brave enough to say if they did,ā Natalia chuckles, stretching her hands. āIāve got quite the reputation, you knowā
"Oh, do you?" Tony asks, tilting his head. "I hadn't heard anything about that."
Natalia raises an eyebrow, then takes two fingers to tip his chin up. āIs that so? You really havenāt heard the thousand little whispers, amore?ā
Tony shakes his head with faux solemnity. "Not a word," he confirms. "Not even one whisper."
āNot a word about how Iām like my namesake? The spiders that eat their males after they mateā¦ how Iām a cold blooded killer who will happily steal a husband?ā Nat lets her lips quirk up, enjoying the shift in atmosphere.
āSomeone once said I was a sorceress or a demon.. they werenāt very decided about it. Said I must have tricked you into my āwily ways..ā if only they knew all I had to do was say I wanted to share in your hearrā¦ and you were already saying yesā
"Oh, I might have heard that one," Tony teases. He's smiling at her, though. "The stealing a husband bit is definitely not a new one," he confirms.
He barks out a laugh. "oh, yes. I was very easy for you, wasn't I?" He asks lightly.
Natalia smiles, humming. āThat sounds about right, loveā
She smirks, stealing a kiss while holding his chin lightly. āVery easy,ā she replies in the same light tone. āOne kiss and you were done forā
Natalia wandered into Tonyās bedroom in the evening while he was reading some article, business updates probably. Not quite a six month anniversary, to the official date. She was smiling, relaxed in the way that always came attached to one of two things ā being alone, in her own space, or with him and in his spaces.
She was still dressed from a consulting day at SHIELD, a sleek, tailored suit with her hair now in a braid loosely down her back, growing now. Her heels clicked and announced her presence intentionally, a far too expensive pair he had gifted her in a gift exchange before they ever admitted anything- and they had become her standard.
ā((Hey, lover boy,))ā she teased, noting the Black Widow hoodie he wore
@natalia-reflecting
Tony looks up from the article he was reading. He's not at all embarrased by the hoodie - he loves her, she knows that, and he likes repping her merch when she's not around. He turns to kiss her cheek. "Hey there," he murmurs back. "Finally home?"
She chuckles fondly, the habit and the confidence charming to her beyond measure. āYeah, I am babyā¦ finally is an understatementā¦ this new generation- morons, I have no ideaā¦ itās like they want them to failā¦ā she mutters. āAnd they want me to fix it, somehow. Like I know anything about good trainingā¦ I barely survived my first year, let alone my testsā¦ Fury trained me by making me do the hard shit with no studying on how to do stuff the āright wayāā¦ I donāt care if it worked on me, maybe itās what I needed to be confident in myself, but still.ā
Natasha sighs, then sits down by the side of the bed reaching out for him before she even sets her shoes down. āBut enough shop talk, I missed you, I swear. If anyone tries to call me Iām taking my number out of their phone and changing it myself.ā
"I'll put your phone on shut down," Tony tells her, sliding away his own tablet and shuffling over to the part kf the bed she is. "Jarvis?" [Affirmative, Sir.]
Tony wraps his arm around Natasha. "Rest for a while?"
āAh, I love dating a tech genius,ā she sighs dramatically, shifting over and letting him take over a good portion of her personal space and settling in.
āTemptingā¦ I should get changed though, this suit doesnāt really fit well, but I didnāt notice it until I left. I hate online shopping, the size chart makes no sense,ā Natasha comments, reaching to set her earrings on the nightstand
"It's my best trait," Tony agrees jokingly. He happily settles against her. "As opposed to the size charts on women's clothing in person, which are known for their logic," he teases. He presses kisses to the slope of her neck. "Go get dressed."
She laughs, humming as she untangles herself to find clothing, dumping her suit on a desk chair in favor of a loose sweat set, wiping her makeup off and shoving her hair into a claw clip mindlessly.
āThatās better,ā Natasha sighs, stretching casually before slipping back into the bed
Tony watches, rapt, as she changes, the same way he always does. Not lustfully, just... admiring seeing such a honest version of the woman he loves. He wraps his arms around her. "Comfortable now?"
Natasha smiles, enjoying the feeling of his admiration on her back, settling against his chest. āYou look lovelyā
"So do you," Tony replies, kissing her in the slow, languide way that suggests he' feeling lazy and relaxed
Natalia enjoys the kiss happily, sighing contentedly. āMmmā¦ thank you amoreā
"Of course." He trails a hand over her back lightly. "I love you," he whispers.
Her skin pricks into a shiver as he touches her, and she gasps softly as she registers the touch. āI love you tooā
"Tony hums contentedly, and leans in to kiss her again, pulling her close to him.
āI was feeling like cooking todayā¦ any ideas for dinner?ā Natalia murmurs, playing with his hair and running a hand over his arm
"Mm, I could say something sly about you," Tony teases. "But no. I can make that chicken you like?"
Natalia flushes pleasantly, looking away, biting her lip with a pleased look at the flirtation. āYou could, of courseā¦ you know I hate to lie to youā
She smiles. āIāll make something to go with it?ā
"I know that," Tony concurs. He kisses her chastely, mostly to teae her. "That can be after."
He nods. "Sounds perfect... I think we've got some of the good bread, too."
Natalia settles into it, pouting playfully when he pulls back āIād like thatā
She smiles, nodding. āThat sounds goodā¦ maybe Iāll make something sweet?ā
Tony smiles at her. "Good. Thats good."
He hums in consideration. "Something sweet sounds nice... maybe that sticky rice?"
āIt isā¦ā she winks playfully, biting her lip
Natalia nods. āThat sounds good, I like that plan..ā
Tony smiles, he leans in and gently kisses her before finally getting out of bed. "off we hop then."
She stretches, standing with him and wrapping her arms around him from behind to nuzzle against his neck. āYes, daā¦ give me a second to remember how to function,ā she chuckles
Tony leans contentedly into her touch, enjoying the small moments of domesticity that their lives allow, even if it is more and more these days than it used to be. "I suppose I'll allow it."
Natalia does the same, basking in the feeling. Itās less rare, and that is one of the best aspects of her life. Halfway retired is nice. Being with Tony is better than nice.
āAlrightā¦ Iām still wrapping myself around you while you cook, though,ā she informs him
Tony chuckles. "I wouldn't want anything else," he says warmly. He kisses the side of her head before dragging her out into the kitchen withhim to cook.
āGood, because Iām very fond of your personal space,ā she jokes, leaning against him once heās settled into his work, just soaking up his presence for a while.
Tony laughs. "I can survive that," he decides. He keeps her tucked against him as he stars to make the sauce for the chicken that she likes so much.
Nat enjoys the quality time, making idle conversation about their days and tinkering and an article he sent her, the domestic bliss making her relax fully.
āDo you ever wonder what it would be like if weād never been Avengers? If we met back then with Natalie Rushman and thenā¦ we didnāt get selected and it was left with you knowing who I was and me knowing you butā¦ we didnāt do the whole hero thing? If we just got to know each other without the constant stress factors?ā She muses
Tony cooks while she talks, there's nothing stressful about it, just him being with the woman he loves and enjnoying it.
He considers the question. "Sometimes... I cant't decide if we would have taken less or twice as much time to get together."
Nataliaās hands lazily rub his skin, not trying to reach any goal in particular, just enjoying the extra awareness of their proximity.
āI honestly couldnāt tell youā¦ though it might more be half the time or the same? It did take us over a decade.ā She pecks his cheek. āBut then againā¦ if you had fallen honestly like you did here, it wouldāve been complicated that I worked for you instead of with you. Thatās not a way youād be inclined to fall in love.ā
She considers, smiling. āAssuming Iād kept my cover. If notā¦ I couldnāt tell you. Maybe Iād have figured fuck it, butā¦ at that point I didnāt really have any friends other than Clint and all, so. Wouldnāt want to fuck it up. Especially since I liked you way too much, even back thenā
Tony leans against her gently, enjoying having her close in this way. "I think I would have been less likely to do anything with you if you were still my employee," he admits. "It definitely would have hindered things."
He smiles softly. "I liked you a lot back then... you sure as hell didn't seem to fond of me,though."
āExactlyā¦ though if I left the cover it wouldāve made life much easier,ā Nat muses
āIā¦ may have liked youā.ā She hides her face in his neck with a chuckle. āI wasā¦ not as kind as I couldāve been. Partly because I was panicking about the fact that I was so drawn to youā
Hi Nat!
@emiliakanebarnes
Emilia! How are you? Itās been a while
Natalia wandered into Tonyās bedroom in the evening while he was reading some article, business updates probably. Not quite a six month anniversary, to the official date. She was smiling, relaxed in the way that always came attached to one of two things ā being alone, in her own space, or with him and in his spaces.
She was still dressed from a consulting day at SHIELD, a sleek, tailored suit with her hair now in a braid loosely down her back, growing now. Her heels clicked and announced her presence intentionally, a far too expensive pair he had gifted her in a gift exchange before they ever admitted anything- and they had become her standard.
ā((Hey, lover boy,))ā she teased, noting the Black Widow hoodie he wore
@natalia-reflecting
Tony looks up from the article he was reading. He's not at all embarrased by the hoodie - he loves her, she knows that, and he likes repping her merch when she's not around. He turns to kiss her cheek. "Hey there," he murmurs back. "Finally home?"
She chuckles fondly, the habit and the confidence charming to her beyond measure. āYeah, I am babyā¦ finally is an understatementā¦ this new generation- morons, I have no ideaā¦ itās like they want them to failā¦ā she mutters. āAnd they want me to fix it, somehow. Like I know anything about good trainingā¦ I barely survived my first year, let alone my testsā¦ Fury trained me by making me do the hard shit with no studying on how to do stuff the āright wayāā¦ I donāt care if it worked on me, maybe itās what I needed to be confident in myself, but still.ā
Natasha sighs, then sits down by the side of the bed reaching out for him before she even sets her shoes down. āBut enough shop talk, I missed you, I swear. If anyone tries to call me Iām taking my number out of their phone and changing it myself.ā
"I'll put your phone on shut down," Tony tells her, sliding away his own tablet and shuffling over to the part kf the bed she is. "Jarvis?" [Affirmative, Sir.]
Tony wraps his arm around Natasha. "Rest for a while?"
āAh, I love dating a tech genius,ā she sighs dramatically, shifting over and letting him take over a good portion of her personal space and settling in.
āTemptingā¦ I should get changed though, this suit doesnāt really fit well, but I didnāt notice it until I left. I hate online shopping, the size chart makes no sense,ā Natasha comments, reaching to set her earrings on the nightstand
"It's my best trait," Tony agrees jokingly. He happily settles against her. "As opposed to the size charts on women's clothing in person, which are known for their logic," he teases. He presses kisses to the slope of her neck. "Go get dressed."
She laughs, humming as she untangles herself to find clothing, dumping her suit on a desk chair in favor of a loose sweat set, wiping her makeup off and shoving her hair into a claw clip mindlessly.
āThatās better,ā Natasha sighs, stretching casually before slipping back into the bed
Tony watches, rapt, as she changes, the same way he always does. Not lustfully, just... admiring seeing such a honest version of the woman he loves. He wraps his arms around her. "Comfortable now?"
Natasha smiles, enjoying the feeling of his admiration on her back, settling against his chest. āYou look lovelyā
"So do you," Tony replies, kissing her in the slow, languide way that suggests he' feeling lazy and relaxed
Natalia enjoys the kiss happily, sighing contentedly. āMmmā¦ thank you amoreā
"Of course." He trails a hand over her back lightly. "I love you," he whispers.
Her skin pricks into a shiver as he touches her, and she gasps softly as she registers the touch. āI love you tooā
"Tony hums contentedly, and leans in to kiss her again, pulling her close to him.
āI was feeling like cooking todayā¦ any ideas for dinner?ā Natalia murmurs, playing with his hair and running a hand over his arm
"Mm, I could say something sly about you," Tony teases. "But no. I can make that chicken you like?"
Natalia flushes pleasantly, looking away, biting her lip with a pleased look at the flirtation. āYou could, of courseā¦ you know I hate to lie to youā
She smiles. āIāll make something to go with it?ā
"I know that," Tony concurs. He kisses her chastely, mostly to teae her. "That can be after."
He nods. "Sounds perfect... I think we've got some of the good bread, too."
Natalia settles into it, pouting playfully when he pulls back āIād like thatā
She smiles, nodding. āThat sounds goodā¦ maybe Iāll make something sweet?ā
Tony smiles at her. "Good. Thats good."
He hums in consideration. "Something sweet sounds nice... maybe that sticky rice?"
āIt isā¦ā she winks playfully, biting her lip
Natalia nods. āThat sounds good, I like that plan..ā
Tony smiles, he leans in and gently kisses her before finally getting out of bed. "off we hop then."
She stretches, standing with him and wrapping her arms around him from behind to nuzzle against his neck. āYes, daā¦ give me a second to remember how to function,ā she chuckles
Tony leans contentedly into her touch, enjoying the small moments of domesticity that their lives allow, even if it is more and more these days than it used to be. "I suppose I'll allow it."
Natalia does the same, basking in the feeling. Itās less rare, and that is one of the best aspects of her life. Halfway retired is nice. Being with Tony is better than nice.
āAlrightā¦ Iām still wrapping myself around you while you cook, though,ā she informs him
Tony chuckles. "I wouldn't want anything else," he says warmly. He kisses the side of her head before dragging her out into the kitchen withhim to cook.
āGood, because Iām very fond of your personal space,ā she jokes, leaning against him once heās settled into his work, just soaking up his presence for a while.
Tony laughs. "I can survive that," he decides. He keeps her tucked against him as he stars to make the sauce for the chicken that she likes so much.
Nat enjoys the quality time, making idle conversation about their days and tinkering and an article he sent her, the domestic bliss making her relax fully.
āDo you ever wonder what it would be like if weād never been Avengers? If we met back then with Natalie Rushman and thenā¦ we didnāt get selected and it was left with you knowing who I was and me knowing you butā¦ we didnāt do the whole hero thing? If we just got to know each other without the constant stress factors?ā She muses
Tony cooks while she talks, there's nothing stressful about it, just him being with the woman he loves and enjnoying it.
He considers the question. "Sometimes... I cant't decide if we would have taken less or twice as much time to get together."
Nataliaās hands lazily rub his skin, not trying to reach any goal in particular, just enjoying the extra awareness of their proximity.
āI honestly couldnāt tell youā¦ though it might more be half the time or the same? It did take us over a decade.ā She pecks his cheek. āBut then againā¦ if you had fallen honestly like you did here, it wouldāve been complicated that I worked for you instead of with you. Thatās not a way youād be inclined to fall in love.ā
She considers, smiling. āAssuming Iād kept my cover. If notā¦ I couldnāt tell you. Maybe Iād have figured fuck it, butā¦ at that point I didnāt really have any friends other than Clint and all, so. Wouldnāt want to fuck it up. Especially since I liked you way too much, even back thenā
Open Roleplay - Goddess [based on the song by Laufey]
Tony Stark was a master of masks. He'd had to be, growing up in the spotlight the way he had. He'd built his persona carefully over years. It had morphed, since Iron Man, but the core tenants stayed the same: egotistical, proud, unflappable, charming.
He is, after all, an excellent performer. On stage, he's completely impenetrable. But... after a long day of interviews, he slips away out of sight. He has a conference in half an hour, and he just-- he needs a break. He pours a glass of scotch, and runs a hand down his face. He's a completely different man from two minutes prior.
He doesn't notice someone walk in.
Natalia watches for a moment, then sits down across from him. She knew masks. She is possibly the only person who can spot them like theyāre neon, glowing to her. She is trained to consider not noticing a liability.
When she reaches out, she lays a hand open on the table in front of him, palm up. āHey. Amore.ā She slips the glass out of his hand for a second, taking a quiet sip before returning it. āDo you want to talk, be distracted, or for me to give you space?ā
Tony knows Natalia can read him. He used to hate it, but he's come tofind some sort of comfort in the fact that she's always gong to know the real him.
"Hey," he breathes. He takes a long gulp of his scotch when she returns the glass. He rests his forehead on her shoulder, slumping."distract me?"
Natalia smiles, wrapping an arm over his shoulders. āAlright, Iām very good at that, sweetheart.ā She considers for a moment, then hums. āI got a new shelf for our room, want to help me with it? And I got a couple of new records for you, we can add thoseā
"That sounds perfect," Tony says. "We can display the ones that we're listening to the most," he muses, letting himself get lost in the thoughts of it. He's only got about half an hour before he has to go back out there again.
She nods. āMaybe you could make a rack for the bottom shelf too?ā
Natalia hums. āItās not a very big or complex so it shouldnāt take too longā¦ā
"I'll build you anything you want," He promises. He rests his head on her shoulder with a tired sigh.
Natalia smiles softly at the promise, tugging him a bit closer. āYou really are the most devoted man Iāve ever met, my beloved.ā She strokes his hair quietly, nails scraping over his scalp as she gives him space to relax with her
Tony relaxes with each scrape of her nails, even if he can't afford to fully let go right now, when he needs to be on his guard again so shortly. "It's easy to be, for you."
Natalia smiles quietly and lets him lean closer to her body. āI donāt deserve it, but I do love thisā¦ you are so perfect. I swear, Iām addicted to how you are to me.ā She kisses his forehead, quietly protective of their moment
Tony shakes his head, privately disbelieving. He's so far from perfect that it's painful, but he does enjoy basking in how she thinks of him sometimes. "I can think of worse addictions."
āIāve had plentyā¦ I think being far too in love with a man kind, wonderful, loving man is the best feeling out of all of them,ā she smiles. āWhen you go back out there, Iāll throw on something and come okay? Iāll protect you.ā
Natalia finds that sheās only half joking with the last section as she holds him, a quietly protective side coming over her as she tugs him closer
Tony just smiles, shaking his head fondly. "Mm, I know you will," Tony murmurs. He straightens his hsoulders with a tired sigh that he's clearly trying to push away. "I don't think they'd mind a surprise guest appearance from the Black Widow."
āNo one is brave enough to say if they did,ā Natalia chuckles, stretching her hands. āIāve got quite the reputation, you knowā
"Oh, do you?" Tony asks, tilting his head. "I hadn't heard anything about that."
Natalia raises an eyebrow, then takes two fingers to tip his chin up. āIs that so? You really havenāt heard the thousand little whispers, amore?ā
Tony shakes his head with faux solemnity. "Not a word," he confirms. "Not even one whisper."
āNot a word about how Iām like my namesake? The spiders that eat their males after they mateā¦ how Iām a cold blooded killer who will happily steal a husband?ā Nat lets her lips quirk up, enjoying the shift in atmosphere.
āSomeone once said I was a sorceress or a demon.. they werenāt very decided about it. Said I must have tricked you into my āwily ways..ā if only they knew all I had to do was say I wanted to share in your hearrā¦ and you were already saying yesā
Open Roleplay - Death AU
Tony Stark was dead. Surprisingly, it hadn't happened on the battlefield. Hadn't happened as the result of him pushing himself too hard for too long. It had been mundane. A heart attack, one that probably wouldn't have killed someone without his heart problems.
But this time, he'd been prepared. He'd been encoding his mind onto an AI for months, slowly replicating his personality and brain, his physical form through holograms or the suit, into a technological replica. It was the closest thing to Tony Stark that existed anymore.
It's been a week since the funeral. The AI flickered to life a few hours after everyone got home. Mostly, it doesn't leave the workshop, since it has the most freedom there. Someone's walking into that workshop now while it -- he -- flickers absently.
āŠŠ° ŠæŠ¾ŃŠ»Š° ŃŃ ((Fuck you))ā Natalia walks into the lab, for the first time since the day he died. For the first time since she had gone to inform Friday to set funeral procedures.
Sheās drunk. Really, really drunk, the kind of drunk she hadnāt been since before her time with Steve in Wakanda. The kind he had never seen her other than one time when he had found her passed out in a hallway after a press conference, with enough alcohol in her that if she hadnāt been, well, Natalia, she shouldāve been in a doctorās office.
ā((I don't care about stages of grief, or this robot that is pretending to be you. I don't care. You were the last person who made me happy and now you're gone, and people keep saying so many stupid things about moving on and living my life when I havenāt even gotten to grieve in quiet- no one will leave me alone and the only fucking person I can tolerate is Laura and thatās because she doesnāt talk to me. Everyone keeps talking! God! And the things people say when they want to be nice- like because we werenāt married I donāt grieve! Fuck it- Iām your bloody widow, and donāt you let your fake, glitchy circuits laugh at that itās not a pun. Fuck you.))ā Sheās laughing now, some sort of broken sound thatās almost unhinged, sheās so out of space that itās all she can do it express it, her words starting to slur as Russian spills out. ā((Tony, you bastard, I canāt do this without you. They want to parade your legacy around like some show pony and want my home to be a museum- they want this tower to be a legacy and I havenāt even gotten to say a word- fuck, people are saying shit about me and if only I could do what I want- oh my love, come back..ā
The AI listens in silence, flickering occasionally in time with the drunken rant. It had been expecting something like this. Maybe not quite this bad, but it hadn't exactly been expecting sobriety.
"I'm right here, love,' It greets, the wors an almost-perfect replica of Tony's cadence. "You can still have me."
Natalia looks up, eyes almost glazed. āYou arenātā¦ itās not you and I hate it and I want it to be but you arenātā¦ you arenāt my- you are my Tony, youāre justā¦ what he left behind to take care of-ā she chokes up, looking away as it hits her. At first she and resented it. Maybe part of her still does, the fact that something is pretending to be her lover. But part of her is finding the reason.
āTo protect me,ā she gets out, shaking. āTo protect me.ā The second time itās barely a whisper. Recognition. He didnāt want it to be a replacement. He didnāt want it to be something to stop her from grieving.
He wanted to make sure while she moved forward she wouldnāt be alone and something could take care of her. Like Jarvis. Like how the AI was someone who had taken care of him in a new form that echoed the human.
āOh my godsā¦ Tonyā¦ Tonyā¦ā she sobs brokenly
"I can be your Tony," The AI murmurs, stepping closer to Natalia. It can't touch her, not really, but it's hand hovers near her cheek, sending electrical sparks dancing across her skin.
"I'm here to make you feel better... to make the grief easier. I can be whatever you need from me. Tony only wanted you to be happy," it says. It can't feel, but it remembers everything Tony ever felt towards Natalia. "To protect you," it echoes.
Nataliaās almost out of tears. She canāt grasp more than air but she chokes up, pulling her knees to her chest. āI havenāt slept for days,ā she chokes out. āI canāt sleep in our bed-ā
The AI gently kneels beside her, it can't touch her, but she can feel the buzz of electricity that's giving it a visible form. "I know, I've been watching... let me go with you.."
Natalia looks down, then away. She canāt quite bring herself to eye contact with the face of her departed lover, the voice enough as it is. āI have nightmares,ā she whispers. āI see why he used to have the suits guard him. Iām terrified now even though I could fight. I just canāt sleep without the weight next to me..ā
"I can come to bed with you," The AI offers. "You can't touch me yet, but we can find a way... I can talk to you, it'll be just like it was before, Tasha," it murmurs.
She wants to object, but she canāt. Sheās tired and the AI isnāt human, but honestly grief is exhausting and sheās done trying to follow her normal rules.
āYeahā¦ yeahā¦ā she whispers. āThe notesā¦ you control the suits, right? Can you use one or two to stand guard for me? Heā¦ youā¦ always would do that for me and nowā¦ā
Natalia wandered into Tonyās bedroom in the evening while he was reading some article, business updates probably. Not quite a six month anniversary, to the official date. She was smiling, relaxed in the way that always came attached to one of two things ā being alone, in her own space, or with him and in his spaces.
She was still dressed from a consulting day at SHIELD, a sleek, tailored suit with her hair now in a braid loosely down her back, growing now. Her heels clicked and announced her presence intentionally, a far too expensive pair he had gifted her in a gift exchange before they ever admitted anything- and they had become her standard.
ā((Hey, lover boy,))ā she teased, noting the Black Widow hoodie he wore
@natalia-reflecting
Tony looks up from the article he was reading. He's not at all embarrased by the hoodie - he loves her, she knows that, and he likes repping her merch when she's not around. He turns to kiss her cheek. "Hey there," he murmurs back. "Finally home?"
She chuckles fondly, the habit and the confidence charming to her beyond measure. āYeah, I am babyā¦ finally is an understatementā¦ this new generation- morons, I have no ideaā¦ itās like they want them to failā¦ā she mutters. āAnd they want me to fix it, somehow. Like I know anything about good trainingā¦ I barely survived my first year, let alone my testsā¦ Fury trained me by making me do the hard shit with no studying on how to do stuff the āright wayāā¦ I donāt care if it worked on me, maybe itās what I needed to be confident in myself, but still.ā
Natasha sighs, then sits down by the side of the bed reaching out for him before she even sets her shoes down. āBut enough shop talk, I missed you, I swear. If anyone tries to call me Iām taking my number out of their phone and changing it myself.ā
"I'll put your phone on shut down," Tony tells her, sliding away his own tablet and shuffling over to the part kf the bed she is. "Jarvis?" [Affirmative, Sir.]
Tony wraps his arm around Natasha. "Rest for a while?"
āAh, I love dating a tech genius,ā she sighs dramatically, shifting over and letting him take over a good portion of her personal space and settling in.
āTemptingā¦ I should get changed though, this suit doesnāt really fit well, but I didnāt notice it until I left. I hate online shopping, the size chart makes no sense,ā Natasha comments, reaching to set her earrings on the nightstand
"It's my best trait," Tony agrees jokingly. He happily settles against her. "As opposed to the size charts on women's clothing in person, which are known for their logic," he teases. He presses kisses to the slope of her neck. "Go get dressed."
She laughs, humming as she untangles herself to find clothing, dumping her suit on a desk chair in favor of a loose sweat set, wiping her makeup off and shoving her hair into a claw clip mindlessly.
āThatās better,ā Natasha sighs, stretching casually before slipping back into the bed
Tony watches, rapt, as she changes, the same way he always does. Not lustfully, just... admiring seeing such a honest version of the woman he loves. He wraps his arms around her. "Comfortable now?"
Natasha smiles, enjoying the feeling of his admiration on her back, settling against his chest. āYou look lovelyā
"So do you," Tony replies, kissing her in the slow, languide way that suggests he' feeling lazy and relaxed
Natalia enjoys the kiss happily, sighing contentedly. āMmmā¦ thank you amoreā
"Of course." He trails a hand over her back lightly. "I love you," he whispers.
Her skin pricks into a shiver as he touches her, and she gasps softly as she registers the touch. āI love you tooā
"Tony hums contentedly, and leans in to kiss her again, pulling her close to him.
āI was feeling like cooking todayā¦ any ideas for dinner?ā Natalia murmurs, playing with his hair and running a hand over his arm
"Mm, I could say something sly about you," Tony teases. "But no. I can make that chicken you like?"
Natalia flushes pleasantly, looking away, biting her lip with a pleased look at the flirtation. āYou could, of courseā¦ you know I hate to lie to youā
She smiles. āIāll make something to go with it?ā
"I know that," Tony concurs. He kisses her chastely, mostly to teae her. "That can be after."
He nods. "Sounds perfect... I think we've got some of the good bread, too."
Natalia settles into it, pouting playfully when he pulls back āIād like thatā
She smiles, nodding. āThat sounds goodā¦ maybe Iāll make something sweet?ā
Tony smiles at her. "Good. Thats good."
He hums in consideration. "Something sweet sounds nice... maybe that sticky rice?"
āIt isā¦ā she winks playfully, biting her lip
Natalia nods. āThat sounds good, I like that plan..ā
Tony smiles, he leans in and gently kisses her before finally getting out of bed. "off we hop then."
She stretches, standing with him and wrapping her arms around him from behind to nuzzle against his neck. āYes, daā¦ give me a second to remember how to function,ā she chuckles
Tony leans contentedly into her touch, enjoying the small moments of domesticity that their lives allow, even if it is more and more these days than it used to be. "I suppose I'll allow it."
Natalia does the same, basking in the feeling. Itās less rare, and that is one of the best aspects of her life. Halfway retired is nice. Being with Tony is better than nice.
āAlrightā¦ Iām still wrapping myself around you while you cook, though,ā she informs him
Tony chuckles. "I wouldn't want anything else," he says warmly. He kisses the side of her head before dragging her out into the kitchen withhim to cook.
āGood, because Iām very fond of your personal space,ā she jokes, leaning against him once heās settled into his work, just soaking up his presence for a while.
Tony laughs. "I can survive that," he decides. He keeps her tucked against him as he stars to make the sauce for the chicken that she likes so much.
Nat enjoys the quality time, making idle conversation about their days and tinkering and an article he sent her, the domestic bliss making her relax fully.
āDo you ever wonder what it would be like if weād never been Avengers? If we met back then with Natalie Rushman and thenā¦ we didnāt get selected and it was left with you knowing who I was and me knowing you butā¦ we didnāt do the whole hero thing? If we just got to know each other without the constant stress factors?ā She muses
Open Roleplay - Death AU
Tony Stark was dead. Surprisingly, it hadn't happened on the battlefield. Hadn't happened as the result of him pushing himself too hard for too long. It had been mundane. A heart attack, one that probably wouldn't have killed someone without his heart problems.
But this time, he'd been prepared. He'd been encoding his mind onto an AI for months, slowly replicating his personality and brain, his physical form through holograms or the suit, into a technological replica. It was the closest thing to Tony Stark that existed anymore.
It's been a week since the funeral. The AI flickered to life a few hours after everyone got home. Mostly, it doesn't leave the workshop, since it has the most freedom there. Someone's walking into that workshop now while it -- he -- flickers absently.
āŠŠ° ŠæŠ¾ŃŠ»Š° ŃŃ ((Fuck you))ā Natalia walks into the lab, for the first time since the day he died. For the first time since she had gone to inform Friday to set funeral procedures.
Sheās drunk. Really, really drunk, the kind of drunk she hadnāt been since before her time with Steve in Wakanda. The kind he had never seen her other than one time when he had found her passed out in a hallway after a press conference, with enough alcohol in her that if she hadnāt been, well, Natalia, she shouldāve been in a doctorās office.
ā((I don't care about stages of grief, or this robot that is pretending to be you. I don't care. You were the last person who made me happy and now you're gone, and people keep saying so many stupid things about moving on and living my life when I havenāt even gotten to grieve in quiet- no one will leave me alone and the only fucking person I can tolerate is Laura and thatās because she doesnāt talk to me. Everyone keeps talking! God! And the things people say when they want to be nice- like because we werenāt married I donāt grieve! Fuck it- Iām your bloody widow, and donāt you let your fake, glitchy circuits laugh at that itās not a pun. Fuck you.))ā Sheās laughing now, some sort of broken sound thatās almost unhinged, sheās so out of space that itās all she can do it express it, her words starting to slur as Russian spills out. ā((Tony, you bastard, I canāt do this without you. They want to parade your legacy around like some show pony and want my home to be a museum- they want this tower to be a legacy and I havenāt even gotten to say a word- fuck, people are saying shit about me and if only I could do what I want- oh my love, come back..ā
The AI listens in silence, flickering occasionally in time with the drunken rant. It had been expecting something like this. Maybe not quite this bad, but it hadn't exactly been expecting sobriety.
"I'm right here, love,' It greets, the wors an almost-perfect replica of Tony's cadence. "You can still have me."
Natalia looks up, eyes almost glazed. āYou arenātā¦ itās not you and I hate it and I want it to be but you arenātā¦ you arenāt my- you are my Tony, youāre justā¦ what he left behind to take care of-ā she chokes up, looking away as it hits her. At first she and resented it. Maybe part of her still does, the fact that something is pretending to be her lover. But part of her is finding the reason.
āTo protect me,ā she gets out, shaking. āTo protect me.ā The second time itās barely a whisper. Recognition. He didnāt want it to be a replacement. He didnāt want it to be something to stop her from grieving.
He wanted to make sure while she moved forward she wouldnāt be alone and something could take care of her. Like Jarvis. Like how the AI was someone who had taken care of him in a new form that echoed the human.
āOh my godsā¦ Tonyā¦ Tonyā¦ā she sobs brokenly
"I can be your Tony," The AI murmurs, stepping closer to Natalia. It can't touch her, not really, but it's hand hovers near her cheek, sending electrical sparks dancing across her skin.
"I'm here to make you feel better... to make the grief easier. I can be whatever you need from me. Tony only wanted you to be happy," it says. It can't feel, but it remembers everything Tony ever felt towards Natalia. "To protect you," it echoes.
Nataliaās almost out of tears. She canāt grasp more than air but she chokes up, pulling her knees to her chest. āI havenāt slept for days,ā she chokes out. āI canāt sleep in our bed-ā
The AI gently kneels beside her, it can't touch her, but she can feel the buzz of electricity that's giving it a visible form. "I know, I've been watching... let me go with you.."
Natalia looks down, then away. She canāt quite bring herself to eye contact with the face of her departed lover, the voice enough as it is. āI have nightmares,ā she whispers. āI see why he used to have the suits guard him. Iām terrified now even though I could fight. I just canāt sleep without the weight next to me..ā
Open Roleplay - Goddess [based on the song by Laufey]
Tony Stark was a master of masks. He'd had to be, growing up in the spotlight the way he had. He'd built his persona carefully over years. It had morphed, since Iron Man, but the core tenants stayed the same: egotistical, proud, unflappable, charming.
He is, after all, an excellent performer. On stage, he's completely impenetrable. But... after a long day of interviews, he slips away out of sight. He has a conference in half an hour, and he just-- he needs a break. He pours a glass of scotch, and runs a hand down his face. He's a completely different man from two minutes prior.
He doesn't notice someone walk in.
Natalia watches for a moment, then sits down across from him. She knew masks. She is possibly the only person who can spot them like theyāre neon, glowing to her. She is trained to consider not noticing a liability.
When she reaches out, she lays a hand open on the table in front of him, palm up. āHey. Amore.ā She slips the glass out of his hand for a second, taking a quiet sip before returning it. āDo you want to talk, be distracted, or for me to give you space?ā
Tony knows Natalia can read him. He used to hate it, but he's come tofind some sort of comfort in the fact that she's always gong to know the real him.
"Hey," he breathes. He takes a long gulp of his scotch when she returns the glass. He rests his forehead on her shoulder, slumping."distract me?"
Natalia smiles, wrapping an arm over his shoulders. āAlright, Iām very good at that, sweetheart.ā She considers for a moment, then hums. āI got a new shelf for our room, want to help me with it? And I got a couple of new records for you, we can add thoseā
"That sounds perfect," Tony says. "We can display the ones that we're listening to the most," he muses, letting himself get lost in the thoughts of it. He's only got about half an hour before he has to go back out there again.
She nods. āMaybe you could make a rack for the bottom shelf too?ā
Natalia hums. āItās not a very big or complex so it shouldnāt take too longā¦ā
"I'll build you anything you want," He promises. He rests his head on her shoulder with a tired sigh.
Natalia smiles softly at the promise, tugging him a bit closer. āYou really are the most devoted man Iāve ever met, my beloved.ā She strokes his hair quietly, nails scraping over his scalp as she gives him space to relax with her
Tony relaxes with each scrape of her nails, even if he can't afford to fully let go right now, when he needs to be on his guard again so shortly. "It's easy to be, for you."
Natalia smiles quietly and lets him lean closer to her body. āI donāt deserve it, but I do love thisā¦ you are so perfect. I swear, Iām addicted to how you are to me.ā She kisses his forehead, quietly protective of their moment
Tony shakes his head, privately disbelieving. He's so far from perfect that it's painful, but he does enjoy basking in how she thinks of him sometimes. "I can think of worse addictions."
āIāve had plentyā¦ I think being far too in love with a man kind, wonderful, loving man is the best feeling out of all of them,ā she smiles. āWhen you go back out there, Iāll throw on something and come okay? Iāll protect you.ā
Natalia finds that sheās only half joking with the last section as she holds him, a quietly protective side coming over her as she tugs him closer
Tony just smiles, shaking his head fondly. "Mm, I know you will," Tony murmurs. He straightens his hsoulders with a tired sigh that he's clearly trying to push away. "I don't think they'd mind a surprise guest appearance from the Black Widow."
āNo one is brave enough to say if they did,ā Natalia chuckles, stretching her hands. āIāve got quite the reputation, you knowā
"Oh, do you?" Tony asks, tilting his head. "I hadn't heard anything about that."
Natalia raises an eyebrow, then takes two fingers to tip his chin up. āIs that so? You really havenāt heard the thousand little whispers, amore?ā
Natalia wandered into Tonyās bedroom in the evening while he was reading some article, business updates probably. Not quite a six month anniversary, to the official date. She was smiling, relaxed in the way that always came attached to one of two things ā being alone, in her own space, or with him and in his spaces.
She was still dressed from a consulting day at SHIELD, a sleek, tailored suit with her hair now in a braid loosely down her back, growing now. Her heels clicked and announced her presence intentionally, a far too expensive pair he had gifted her in a gift exchange before they ever admitted anything- and they had become her standard.
ā((Hey, lover boy,))ā she teased, noting the Black Widow hoodie he wore
@natalia-reflecting
Tony looks up from the article he was reading. He's not at all embarrased by the hoodie - he loves her, she knows that, and he likes repping her merch when she's not around. He turns to kiss her cheek. "Hey there," he murmurs back. "Finally home?"
She chuckles fondly, the habit and the confidence charming to her beyond measure. āYeah, I am babyā¦ finally is an understatementā¦ this new generation- morons, I have no ideaā¦ itās like they want them to failā¦ā she mutters. āAnd they want me to fix it, somehow. Like I know anything about good trainingā¦ I barely survived my first year, let alone my testsā¦ Fury trained me by making me do the hard shit with no studying on how to do stuff the āright wayāā¦ I donāt care if it worked on me, maybe itās what I needed to be confident in myself, but still.ā
Natasha sighs, then sits down by the side of the bed reaching out for him before she even sets her shoes down. āBut enough shop talk, I missed you, I swear. If anyone tries to call me Iām taking my number out of their phone and changing it myself.ā
"I'll put your phone on shut down," Tony tells her, sliding away his own tablet and shuffling over to the part kf the bed she is. "Jarvis?" [Affirmative, Sir.]
Tony wraps his arm around Natasha. "Rest for a while?"
āAh, I love dating a tech genius,ā she sighs dramatically, shifting over and letting him take over a good portion of her personal space and settling in.
āTemptingā¦ I should get changed though, this suit doesnāt really fit well, but I didnāt notice it until I left. I hate online shopping, the size chart makes no sense,ā Natasha comments, reaching to set her earrings on the nightstand
"It's my best trait," Tony agrees jokingly. He happily settles against her. "As opposed to the size charts on women's clothing in person, which are known for their logic," he teases. He presses kisses to the slope of her neck. "Go get dressed."
She laughs, humming as she untangles herself to find clothing, dumping her suit on a desk chair in favor of a loose sweat set, wiping her makeup off and shoving her hair into a claw clip mindlessly.
āThatās better,ā Natasha sighs, stretching casually before slipping back into the bed
Tony watches, rapt, as she changes, the same way he always does. Not lustfully, just... admiring seeing such a honest version of the woman he loves. He wraps his arms around her. "Comfortable now?"
Natasha smiles, enjoying the feeling of his admiration on her back, settling against his chest. āYou look lovelyā
"So do you," Tony replies, kissing her in the slow, languide way that suggests he' feeling lazy and relaxed
Natalia enjoys the kiss happily, sighing contentedly. āMmmā¦ thank you amoreā
"Of course." He trails a hand over her back lightly. "I love you," he whispers.
Her skin pricks into a shiver as he touches her, and she gasps softly as she registers the touch. āI love you tooā
"Tony hums contentedly, and leans in to kiss her again, pulling her close to him.
āI was feeling like cooking todayā¦ any ideas for dinner?ā Natalia murmurs, playing with his hair and running a hand over his arm
"Mm, I could say something sly about you," Tony teases. "But no. I can make that chicken you like?"
Natalia flushes pleasantly, looking away, biting her lip with a pleased look at the flirtation. āYou could, of courseā¦ you know I hate to lie to youā
She smiles. āIāll make something to go with it?ā
"I know that," Tony concurs. He kisses her chastely, mostly to teae her. "That can be after."
He nods. "Sounds perfect... I think we've got some of the good bread, too."
Natalia settles into it, pouting playfully when he pulls back āIād like thatā
She smiles, nodding. āThat sounds goodā¦ maybe Iāll make something sweet?ā
Tony smiles at her. "Good. Thats good."
He hums in consideration. "Something sweet sounds nice... maybe that sticky rice?"
āIt isā¦ā she winks playfully, biting her lip
Natalia nods. āThat sounds good, I like that plan..ā
Tony smiles, he leans in and gently kisses her before finally getting out of bed. "off we hop then."
She stretches, standing with him and wrapping her arms around him from behind to nuzzle against his neck. āYes, daā¦ give me a second to remember how to function,ā she chuckles
Tony leans contentedly into her touch, enjoying the small moments of domesticity that their lives allow, even if it is more and more these days than it used to be. "I suppose I'll allow it."
Natalia does the same, basking in the feeling. Itās less rare, and that is one of the best aspects of her life. Halfway retired is nice. Being with Tony is better than nice.
āAlrightā¦ Iām still wrapping myself around you while you cook, though,ā she informs him
Tony chuckles. "I wouldn't want anything else," he says warmly. He kisses the side of her head before dragging her out into the kitchen withhim to cook.
āGood, because Iām very fond of your personal space,ā she jokes, leaning against him once heās settled into his work, just soaking up his presence for a while.
Open Roleplay - Death AU
Tony Stark was dead. Surprisingly, it hadn't happened on the battlefield. Hadn't happened as the result of him pushing himself too hard for too long. It had been mundane. A heart attack, one that probably wouldn't have killed someone without his heart problems.
But this time, he'd been prepared. He'd been encoding his mind onto an AI for months, slowly replicating his personality and brain, his physical form through holograms or the suit, into a technological replica. It was the closest thing to Tony Stark that existed anymore.
It's been a week since the funeral. The AI flickered to life a few hours after everyone got home. Mostly, it doesn't leave the workshop, since it has the most freedom there. Someone's walking into that workshop now while it -- he -- flickers absently.
āŠŠ° ŠæŠ¾ŃŠ»Š° ŃŃ ((Fuck you))ā Natalia walks into the lab, for the first time since the day he died. For the first time since she had gone to inform Friday to set funeral procedures.
Sheās drunk. Really, really drunk, the kind of drunk she hadnāt been since before her time with Steve in Wakanda. The kind he had never seen her other than one time when he had found her passed out in a hallway after a press conference, with enough alcohol in her that if she hadnāt been, well, Natalia, she shouldāve been in a doctorās office.
ā((I don't care about stages of grief, or this robot that is pretending to be you. I don't care. You were the last person who made me happy and now you're gone, and people keep saying so many stupid things about moving on and living my life when I havenāt even gotten to grieve in quiet- no one will leave me alone and the only fucking person I can tolerate is Laura and thatās because she doesnāt talk to me. Everyone keeps talking! God! And the things people say when they want to be nice- like because we werenāt married I donāt grieve! Fuck it- Iām your bloody widow, and donāt you let your fake, glitchy circuits laugh at that itās not a pun. Fuck you.))ā Sheās laughing now, some sort of broken sound thatās almost unhinged, sheās so out of space that itās all she can do it express it, her words starting to slur as Russian spills out. ā((Tony, you bastard, I canāt do this without you. They want to parade your legacy around like some show pony and want my home to be a museum- they want this tower to be a legacy and I havenāt even gotten to say a word- fuck, people are saying shit about me and if only I could do what I want- oh my love, come back..ā
The AI listens in silence, flickering occasionally in time with the drunken rant. It had been expecting something like this. Maybe not quite this bad, but it hadn't exactly been expecting sobriety.
"I'm right here, love,' It greets, the wors an almost-perfect replica of Tony's cadence. "You can still have me."
Natalia looks up, eyes almost glazed. āYou arenātā¦ itās not you and I hate it and I want it to be but you arenātā¦ you arenāt my- you are my Tony, youāre justā¦ what he left behind to take care of-ā she chokes up, looking away as it hits her. At first she and resented it. Maybe part of her still does, the fact that something is pretending to be her lover. But part of her is finding the reason.
āTo protect me,ā she gets out, shaking. āTo protect me.ā The second time itās barely a whisper. Recognition. He didnāt want it to be a replacement. He didnāt want it to be something to stop her from grieving.
He wanted to make sure while she moved forward she wouldnāt be alone and something could take care of her. Like Jarvis. Like how the AI was someone who had taken care of him in a new form that echoed the human.
āOh my godsā¦ Tonyā¦ Tonyā¦ā she sobs brokenly
"I can be your Tony," The AI murmurs, stepping closer to Natalia. It can't touch her, not really, but it's hand hovers near her cheek, sending electrical sparks dancing across her skin.
"I'm here to make you feel better... to make the grief easier. I can be whatever you need from me. Tony only wanted you to be happy," it says. It can't feel, but it remembers everything Tony ever felt towards Natalia. "To protect you," it echoes.
Nataliaās almost out of tears. She canāt grasp more than air but she chokes up, pulling her knees to her chest. āI havenāt slept for days,ā she chokes out. āI canāt sleep in our bed-ā
Open Roleplay - Goddess [based on the song by Laufey]
Tony Stark was a master of masks. He'd had to be, growing up in the spotlight the way he had. He'd built his persona carefully over years. It had morphed, since Iron Man, but the core tenants stayed the same: egotistical, proud, unflappable, charming.
He is, after all, an excellent performer. On stage, he's completely impenetrable. But... after a long day of interviews, he slips away out of sight. He has a conference in half an hour, and he just-- he needs a break. He pours a glass of scotch, and runs a hand down his face. He's a completely different man from two minutes prior.
He doesn't notice someone walk in.
Natalia watches for a moment, then sits down across from him. She knew masks. She is possibly the only person who can spot them like theyāre neon, glowing to her. She is trained to consider not noticing a liability.
When she reaches out, she lays a hand open on the table in front of him, palm up. āHey. Amore.ā She slips the glass out of his hand for a second, taking a quiet sip before returning it. āDo you want to talk, be distracted, or for me to give you space?ā
Tony knows Natalia can read him. He used to hate it, but he's come tofind some sort of comfort in the fact that she's always gong to know the real him.
"Hey," he breathes. He takes a long gulp of his scotch when she returns the glass. He rests his forehead on her shoulder, slumping."distract me?"
Natalia smiles, wrapping an arm over his shoulders. āAlright, Iām very good at that, sweetheart.ā She considers for a moment, then hums. āI got a new shelf for our room, want to help me with it? And I got a couple of new records for you, we can add thoseā
"That sounds perfect," Tony says. "We can display the ones that we're listening to the most," he muses, letting himself get lost in the thoughts of it. He's only got about half an hour before he has to go back out there again.
She nods. āMaybe you could make a rack for the bottom shelf too?ā
Natalia hums. āItās not a very big or complex so it shouldnāt take too longā¦ā
"I'll build you anything you want," He promises. He rests his head on her shoulder with a tired sigh.
Natalia smiles softly at the promise, tugging him a bit closer. āYou really are the most devoted man Iāve ever met, my beloved.ā She strokes his hair quietly, nails scraping over his scalp as she gives him space to relax with her
Tony relaxes with each scrape of her nails, even if he can't afford to fully let go right now, when he needs to be on his guard again so shortly. "It's easy to be, for you."
Natalia smiles quietly and lets him lean closer to her body. āI donāt deserve it, but I do love thisā¦ you are so perfect. I swear, Iām addicted to how you are to me.ā She kisses his forehead, quietly protective of their moment
Tony shakes his head, privately disbelieving. He's so far from perfect that it's painful, but he does enjoy basking in how she thinks of him sometimes. "I can think of worse addictions."
āIāve had plentyā¦ I think being far too in love with a man kind, wonderful, loving man is the best feeling out of all of them,ā she smiles. āWhen you go back out there, Iāll throw on something and come okay? Iāll protect you.ā
Natalia finds that sheās only half joking with the last section as she holds him, a quietly protective side coming over her as she tugs him closer
Tony just smiles, shaking his head fondly. "Mm, I know you will," Tony murmurs. He straightens his hsoulders with a tired sigh that he's clearly trying to push away. "I don't think they'd mind a surprise guest appearance from the Black Widow."
āNo one is brave enough to say if they did,ā Natalia chuckles, stretching her hands. āIāve got quite the reputation, you knowā
