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hughiecampbelle · 7 years ago

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I Miss You (Tony Stark Oneshot)

Character/s: Tony Stark {Pepper Potts, James Rhodes mention}

Word Count: 1,800

Inspired By: Gorgeous by Mansionz

A/N: I hope you like it! Feedback is always appreciated! 💜

You could always see right through him, like the glass that had separated you for so many years past and so many to come. He’d liked that about you, how easily skin and bone turned to pages in a book, a story so easily read you’d become a best friend and the perfect enemy in a matter of seconds. Your lack of judgment towards his stories made you that much more dangerous, sometimes unbeatable, but never unbreakable. One of a few things that drew him to you in your adolescence, a time of short lived passions and mistakes you’d later regret.

“Do it again.” Always an instigator, this boy. Young, baby faced with nothing to lose. You sat across from him, holding his hands, a memory you’d always cherish. They were much less calloused, less worn and aged, more sticky from the lunch table. Something sweet, possibly a leaky fruit cup. You’d spent most of your free period convincing him you knew exactly who this strange boy was. You threw words out like intelligent, egotistical, narcissistic, seeing which ones made him tick. Layer after layer until his kinder attributes shed some light. Soft like his mother, hardworking like his father, someone with a bright future ahead of him, one with endless possibilities. A sad boy, messy brown hair and tired brown eyes. Tony listened patiently, his mind buzzing. You could hear it, the gears shifting, clicking into place. After seconds of silence, his hands still in yours, he leaned back, your faces no longer a few breathes away. “Liar.”

His skeleton slouched in the hard plastic seat, elbows resting on the table. His smiles were always genuine, no matter how much sympathy glazed over it. He dressed up for you, this time with a shirt he’d obviously slept in and frazzled bed head, dark strands standing in its perfectly disorganized manner. He stared at you, the bags beneath his eyes more prominent than last week. Eleven was early for a man who’d only fallen asleep a few hours before. Restless nights and the ever growing fixation to avoid bed as much as possible could do that to someone.

“You look horrible.” Nothing these days could be sugar coated. You were competing against the clock, a game no mortal has yet to win. “You know, you didn’t have to come today. There’s always next week, and the week after that, and so on.” The reality of it quite hadn’t sunk in yet, not even as you held the bulky telephone in your hand, the hideous,shapeless jumpsuit becoming part of your daily wardrobe.

He waved the words away as soon as they reached him, an almost pained look washing over his previously emotionless features. In his eyes this gesture was seemingly unimaginable, a sin. Though you aired your concerns on more than one occasion to the few who’d be willing to listen, you’d never gotten the real answer, at least not from him. Who needed it more, these weekly visits, you or him?

Strangers turned to partners in crime in a matter of months. He was infatuated with you, and you loved him. Life wasn’t so lonely anymore. Sneaking out beneath the stars, childish giggling combined with the roar of an engine or the rushed sound of footsteps against concrete. You two were always causing trouble. You were the conductor, thriving off the smallest amount of danger you could get your hands on. He followed, his voice the only one speaking of responsibility and safety. He was happier though, and that’s all that mattered. Everything was going right. You were both so happy.

He sighed, rubbing the stubble he’d neglected to shave, “Don’t say that y/n,” he said, picking up a sides of his mouth into something resembling the playful smirk you’d first seen him wear decades ago, “you’d miss me too much.” That young face flickered beneath the wrinkles and lines you’d grown accustomed to. “So, what’s the new gossip? Tell me everything.”

Everyone warned him about you, even those who didn’t seem to care. Your long list of suspensions and multiple chances paved the way to the nasty ideas so many assumed regardless of the truth. Those around him were no exception. While he maintained his perfect student status, your grades slipped. More late nights, less homework until finally there was no point, no saving those failing classes. Life was full of parties, and you intended to attend each and every one.

You shrugged, at a loss for words. Your days were full of routine. No stories, no gossip, barely a person sitting before him as a result of the lack of total freedom and countless eyes on you at all times. Part of him knew this. The most exciting part of your week was seeing him, that, besides these visits, there was no one else. Sure a few friends, but they’d be getting out sooner than later. The family had stopped showing up after the first few sentences, calling only to deliver their obligatory holiday wishes and an added year to the life you’ve lived. “What about you kid, how’s the world treating Iron Man and his band of misfit heroes?”

Your first arrest was no surprise. Barely graduated and already in trouble. Something petty, a slap on the wrist at best. It wouldn’t be so bad today if a string of arrests and run-ins hadn’t followed. He was always there to bail you out, offering not only the last remaining support system in your life, but a place to sleep too. He was moving on, leaving behind those reckless days while they engulfed you whole. Tony matured, he’d lost too many and wasn’t willing to let you go.

“Good, we’re all good.” They weren’t, but he didn’t need to know you knew. The television was a small luxury for being on your best behavior, and for the last six months their faces were plastered across every new channel. The world had become obsessed, addicted, and they needed their fix. He came early, left early, most of the time unrecognizable from the man they saw.

Guilt chewed away at him. He never brought up the really good things, the perks of being this so called “genius, billionaire, philanthropist, play boy” everyone talked to highly of. The parties, the expenses, the lifestyle he’d become so accustomed to. The rest took it for granted, but he knew better. Every event he’d silently toast to you, to your freedom and your health, hoping that one day you’d be there at his side, clinking glasses together.

He was there, waiting for you. Always waiting, always so patient. Every release date was like a birthday. Usually it only came once a year, on a good year, and a reason to celebrate with cake and cheap cards. It only lasted a week, the inseparable and slightly intolerable way you wouldn’t leave each other’s sides. But the real world was different from the one you’d called home for so long. Things were moving too fast for comfort and there was no way of stopping it. You missed phone calls, ignored text messages, vanished into the night to breathe in every last bit of independence because you knew sooner or later you’d end up in the same place like always, and he knew it too.

“Pepper and Rhodey are good, too.” His voice had picked up at the mere mention of their names. They supplied his happiness out there when you couldn’t. He spoke a lot about them, and at one time even suggested they come along with him, but you threatened to cut your visit short, and he was careful since then to bring them up. You’d do anything to see them, to meet two of the most important people in his life, just not like this. Not here. You made a secret promise, the next time you get out you’ll see them.

Running out of things to say had been a constant problem you ran into, long before now. You two didn’t need words to suffocate in, to choke on. Those were dangerous. Families and friends beside you babbled and cried and sobbed, pressing their bodies to close to the glass they were in danger of getting sliced. He wasn’t like that, neither were you. You spent your week collecting yourselves enough to put on a happy face for however long you had together.

Before the curtains could close and the crowd could applaud at your performance, you two sat there. Being in each others company was a blessing. There was no need for declarations of love or longing, no crying, no begging. You two were stronger than that. You let your smile drop, phone pressed against your ear, trying to remember every crease in his face, wondering when they’d gotten there and when you started considering them normal. You wanted to remember him, your Tony. He did the same, tried to memorize every miniscule detail of you. The fear was always there, it sat heavy in you, both of you, that maybe there’d be no next visit, no next time, you had to make each second count.

“I should get going.” There was regret in those words. He wanted to stay there forever as much as you did, grow old in that seat and turn to dust. You nodded, neither of you moving.

“Go on, you first.” You urged.

“We’re really doing this?”

“You hang up first.”

“No you hang up first.”

That one last smile of his would get you through the week.

Tony had always admired the way you read people so easily. Even after all these years he was convinced he’d built a shield, an immunity against it, that somehow his words had faded, but he was still the same boy at the lunch table. It hurt him to walk away, more than any physical wound could. He would go home and shut out the rest of the world, spending the next twenty-four hours in solitude. Part of him wanted to know what it felt like, the other part knew he’d never get the full experience and never wanted to.

He would send mail, mostly silly pictures, and the occasional lette no matter how cheesy he said they were. Rhodey and Pepper would sign their names too, their distinguished signatures undeniably comforting next to his. He would write when he could, the words on the page livelier than anything he could muster up. He scribbled those three little words at the bottom, the ones that reminded you he cared. He always would, weather he saw you or not. In a way that was good, he would move on. Not now not in a year or two, but he would eventually, so things had to be treasured now.

I miss you

#tony stark #tony stark oneshot #tony stark drabble #iron man #iron man oneshot #iron man drabble #avengers #avengers oneshot #avengers drabble #marvel #marvel oneshot #marvel drabble #oneshot #drabble #tony x reader #tony stark x reader #x reader #writing

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atiyasnake · 2 years ago

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Another part :p Pretty long 2,000+ words. * P.1 P2. Ao3

Danny found himself staring at a map. The first one of Gotham he had seen since arriving. Which was a bit concerning since he had already been there for more than a month.

It belonged to Martin who was sitting beside him on the bench. The man had gladly offered to show it to him when Danny asked where he could get one.

At that moment Martin was pointing out the different areas.

"-ich people live in this part. Fancy mansions and the like. They got old money," Martin said, pointing at one area labeled Bristol. "But don't worry about that, there's nothing to worry about there. What you do need to worry about is where we are." His finger moved and Danny's eyes followed. "We're right along the edges of Crime Alley which you already pointed out to Eric and then to the North is the Bowery. That part has a lot of the trouble you kept breaking up and folks like Dawson."

Danny screwed up his face at the reminder of Dawson. "Yeah, I didn't like him. Do others like him show up around here?"

Martin leaned back against the bench and sighed. "Depends on who's in charge. Some like Hood don't stand for messing with the kids or the likes of me. But in other areas, they're not as strict or caring. Then there are the Bats."

Danny nodded, remembering the bits he's heard about the Bat and Birds. When he asked Eric about one of the recent ones mentioned on the radio, Signal, the kid seemed more than glad to essentially give him a rundown of the whole operation. It was honestly impressive how much Eric had known and when Danny told him so, Eric seemed to preen before running off to the other kids who proceeded to look at him with a glint in their eyes.

The next time he stopped a drunk from getting too close to Tick and Tack’s hideout, they had called him back to tell him about how a few cops were bound to come around if the rumors they heard were true. Oddly, they had looked hesitant to tell him the information but seemed to settle when he thanked them and said he'd keep an eye out for any cops.

"The Bats don't really come here that often," Danny noted.

Martin sighed and waved his hand dismissively. "They're caught up with bigger rouges and there hasn't been anything big enough to get any attention around here. East End always has trouble but mainly in Bowery and Crime Alley. And since you came along we’re not in li-"

Martin was cut off by something crashing into their bench from behind. The man cursed and Danny turned around to look at the ground where a kid just a bit taller than Eric was. He realized it was Tack from the metal nails that spilled out of the boy’s hand. Tack seemed unharmed and his eyes went straight to Danny's.

"Have you ever went across someone's haunt without permission?" Tack asked quickly as if the words were trying to run off.

"Um yeah," Danny responded hesitantly, still thrown off by Tack crashing into the bench. "Ended up fighting with them."

At his response Tack's eyes widened. "Didya win?"

"Yup!" Danny quipped back smiling. He still remembered the energetic thrum of his core when he first won a fight with a ghost after crossing their haunt on accident. It had been a good fight and a lesson in one. He avoided the mistake again but after the other ghosts learned that he just needed to be told the rules along with what was polite, the fights and spars became less anxiety-ridden and more fun. "I've been in a bit more scuffles since then, but those were more for fun. And they stopped causing trouble in my haunt."

Tack was about to ask another question when a yell broke out and they looked to see Tick standing not so far away. She was out of breath and her eyes filled with fury.

"Oh shit," Tack muttered before he scrambled to get up and away. Tick quick at his heels.

Danny watched the two of them go. He heard Tack’s laughter get more distant before he looked back at Martin who was watching him carefully. "You okay Martin?"

Martin hummed. "Just wondering what made you leave your last haunt."

“Ah,” Danny began to fold up Martin’s map to give back to him. He tried to speak lightly despite how the reason hurt so much. “You know circumstances happen. Apparently, it was time to go.”

He thought back to Clockwork’s face where he found him. Yeah, he had been annoyed when CW first dropped him off, but honestly, he was much better off in Gotham with little kid shadows compared to wandering. At least here he actually had an inkling of a haunt whereas back at home there wasn’t anymore. He didn’t even think there was anyone anymore, not after what happened. Not after what they did. No-

“-ey kid.”

Danny’s head whipped in the direction of the sound and he found Martin crouching in front of him, their hands on his shoulders. He looked worried and Danny noticed the ache in his chest and how his hands shook. He could see how tense Martin was, even hearing how quickly the man’s heart was beating.

He smiled apologetically. “Oh sorry about that Martin,” Danny said, getting up and guiding Martin to sit back down on the bench. Even setting the map on the man’s lap. “Didn’t mean to worry ya, but thanks for showing me the map. And be careful about tonight, I think there’s gonna be a rainstorm despite how clear it is right now. Make sure to tell the others.”

Danny walked away before Martin could stop him. He ignored the calls for him and kept walking.

___

That night, despite the weather reports of a clear evening, it poured and poured. Thunder and lightning filled the sky. There was some light flooding in some areas including the park. Martin and the others like Patty, and Joe were dry, having learned that Danny’s warnings were more accurate.

But unlike other times when the mood was relatively light, the conversation seemed as somber as the rain outside. Martin had shared what he heard and learned about Danny with the others.

Questions about where Bright Eyes had come from were muffled by thunder and answered by lightning.

* * *

The next week or so was predicted to be filled with storms. Apparently, there had been a sudden influx of storms spanning a few states. Reports were saying it may have been due to forces outside of Mother Nature. Not that it really mattered. People still had to deal with nonstop rain and flooding either way.

Even at one particular manor, one butler was making sure that all household storm protocols were being followed. Along with keeping young masters from going outside where surely they would get sick or injured. Already, the biggest one sick despite his grunts that roughly translated to “I’m fine”.

Despite the many attempts, this butler was successful in their endeavor. Unaware of a certain rouge looking at the storm as an opportunity.

* * *

The lightning strikes in the sky made Danny feel as though there was lightning dancing underneath his skin. Yet he still walked. Martin had managed to spread the word before the worse of the storm had come, but there were still a few stragglers. That and a few kids that didn’t manage to find a safe spot in time.

Already he had led 12-year-old Zipper and Jimmy to the small apartment that Sandra and Eric lived in. Delivered some blankets made by Ms. Juni to where Gina and some other women were. Along with fixing the radio that broke the night before that Martin and the Joe were listening to.

It had been pretty busy, to say the least, but Danny kept going. The rain and temperature wasn’t bothersome like it was for others. He walked the same route as he would have done in better weather while checking some of the nooks and crannies where one could hide. But so far, they were empty. He could feel that Lady Gotham was muffled by the weather, probably from trying to do damage control. He let himself send her his thanks and for a moment the rain went silent as it fell. He continued walking and the silence faded away. Danny made his way closer to the edges of the neighborhood.

It was when he was nearing the haunt that was Crime Alley that he sensed something. Following the sensation, Danny found himself crouching at the mouth of an alley, a cat hiding under a dumpster looking back at him.

“Hello Cookie,” he said quietly. “Ms. Juni has been very worried about you.”

At the name, Cookie meowed and Danny presented his hand for them to sniff. He smiled when the wet cat pressed its head against his hand.

Slowly he scooped Cookie and pulled her to his chest. Cookie trembled but made no move to bite or scratch, Ms. Juni had said she was a rather sweet cat. He let her settle and try to leech off any warmth he still had, not bothering to get up just yet.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t attack me,” Danny said.

The sound of rain continued. Though there was a flash of lightning.

In the alley Danny was at the opening of, there were a pair of eyes that reflected the flash. The following growl sounded joined the clap of thunder that followed.

Danny watched as out from the shadows a 7-foot figure emerged. Their body covered in scales rather than smooth skin. Clearly able fight and by the sharp teeth Danny could see, able to bite a man’s arms off if given the chance.

Though the figure hadn’t moved. As intimidating as they were standing over him they didn’t even touch him. Their eyes watched him closely and Danny had the sense that they were waiting for some sort of reaction.

Danny didn’t exactly have one to give them.

Slowly Danny stood up, continuing despite the tension he saw build up in the stranger’s frame. But he kept petting Cookie in his arms and his kept his own body relaxed. He kept staring at the stranger.

The longer he stared the less tense the stranger seemed.

Danny tilted his head slightly.

The stranger mirrored him.

“I suggest finding somewhere to hole up, the storm isn’t bound to end for a while,” Danny said as if he wasn’t soaking wet with a wet cat in his arms. “With that said, if you stay in this area I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mess with anyone.”

Rain continued to fall and those eyes continued to stare.

“You’d get the same treatment too, of course.”

There was a grunt in response from the stranger.

Danny gave a slight nod “Well then...I’ll be going. Take care.”

With Cookie settled securely in his arms and wet clothes clinging to his skin, Danny walked away fully aware of the eyes still on his back.

The storm continued.

___

Danny kept up his routine.

Ms. Juni had given him a small lunchbox with several sandwiches made for him as thanks for returning Cookie to her. Old Man Elijah gave him a black raincoat after the third time Danny checked up on him soaking wet. He didn’t believe Danny when he said he was fine.

Danny had to admit it was more comfortable even if the coat was a bit big on him.

The other folks he checked up on seemed to nod in approval when he checked on them with the new coat. It was the kids that snickered at how it hung off him.

“It covers your knees!” Jimmy had wheezed out through his laughter while Zipper tried to hide the fact that they were laughing too.

Danny simply sighed before throwing the blanket Ms. Juni had given him the mission of handing out at Zipper’s head. “Less of a chance of someone stealing my kneecaps then. It's a preventative measure.”

Sandra suddenly appeared with a mug of something warm and a smile. She offered it to Danny. “More like Old Man Elijah is a giant compared to you,” she said. “Maybe we should call you Twig instead.”

Eric was crashing into his sister right after Danny grabbed the cup. “No! Bright Eyes is so much cooler than Twig and he’ll grow right?”

Danny took a sip, enjoying the taste of lemon in the tea and the warmth it left behind. “Ancients I hope not, what would happen to my kneecaps then when they’re exposed?”

“No one’s gonna steal them,” Eric said like it was the most obvious thing (and he was right). “You’d fight them off.”

“True,” Danny agreed and let himself take a few more sips of the tea before heading out again. “I’m rather protective of my body parts. Not fun to have them taken and it’s just plain rude.”

Jimmy narrowed his eyes at Danny. “When is it polite to take someone’s body parts?”’

“Never really.” Danny shrugged handing back the cup to Sandra with a nod of thanks. “But sometimes things get weird. If you find yourself in that sort of situation, please come get me.”

“Sure thing, Boss,” Zipper said and Danny was too busy with his mental checklist to do to comment on the new nickname.

Instead, Danny let himself look over the occupants of the room. Taking note of how Sandra’s bruise seemed to be much better than before and how the kids didn’t seem all too worried about the storm outside. He nodded to himself. “Alright, I’m going then. Stay inside and stay warm. I know this building apparently has some heating gimmicks. Ms. Juni let me know so I’ll probably stop by again later with another blanket from her, Ancients knows where she’s getting them.”

When Danny left the apartment Zipper let out a huff of amusement. “Do you think Red Hood ever worries about someone stealing his kneecaps?”

Sandra ruffled their hair. “Hood’s the one shooting them.”

“You don’t think Hood would shoot Bright Eye’s kneecaps right?” Jimmy asked.

“Nah,” Eric said. “There’s no beef between ‘em and Tack said Bright Eyes been in scuffles before, he probably knows how to keep his knees unshot.”

“True, but maybe later we should ask how to make sure no one steals our kneecaps. Just to be safe.”

The kids nodded in agreement while Sandra smiled in the kitchen and began to make herself a cup of tea.

* * *

Danny continued his check-up with and heard a few more snickers from the kids. Even teasing from the working girls. Eventually, he found himself walking the empty streets checking on the nooks and crannies again, getting nearer to the edge.

It was there that he sensed something inside one of the condemned buildings. No one was usually there because of how often things fell inside, but that didn’t prove to be a threat to Danny. He made his way slightly inside but stopped when he felt the eyes on him again. Though this time the stranger decided to remain in the shadows, not that Danny didn’t know where they were.

“Nice spot, no one comes here considering the safety hazard. Storm’s still going on but the flooding doesn't seem like it’ll get worse,” Danny said, knowing he wouldn’t get a response. “Anyways” - Danny took out one of the sandwiches he had stowed away in the raincoat - “Ms.Juni made some sandwiches when I returned her cat, Cookie who you met. Thought I’d give you your share considering Cookie was in the alley with you and you didn’t kill either of us. Pretty sure she wouldn't give us a sandwich for a dead cat”

Danny placed the tinfoil-wrapped package on a piece of rubble. “Supposed to be chicken salad.”

With that, Danny made his way out of the building. The whole time not bothering to look back at the stranger who followed until he reached the outside. As Danny walked down the street, he wondered if the stranger thought his too-big raincoat was funny like the kids did.

Later, Danny took a bite of the sandwich and hoped that Ms.Juni wouldn’t mind giving him another one once he ate the others.

After all, it was a pretty good sandwich.

The next day Danny stopped by the condemned building and left another sandwich. Repeating the same thing the next day and the day after that. Along with dropping the tidbit that the storm was said to settle down by the next night. Though a cold front was coming in. Also that there was talk of the cops coming around for some reason

When he stopped by Ms.Juni’s apartment he made sure to compliment her chicken salad sandwiches as she placed yet another blanket in his arms. This one was to go to Old Man Elijah himself.

When he delivered it the man seemed to inspect Danny before accepting the blanket. Then he proceeded to shove a hat in Danny’s hands before closing the door on him.

Outside, Danny was left looking at a dark blue knitted fisherman’s hat.

Sandra laughed when she saw it on him while he still wore the raincoat with the hood up.

“Sandra, you laugh at my confusion of old men,” Danny said as he accepted another cup of tea she was placing in his hands.

Sandra waved him off. “You’re not alone in being confused by him.”

“Oh, so you also have clothes from him?”

“Nope!”

Danny groaned and sipped his tea. He ignored how Sandra looked too pleased and how the kids in the hallway tried to hide the fact that they were staring and giggling.

This is Clockwork’s fault, he thought.

Sorry but for some reasons not all the tags work!

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DP x DC Prompt - Accidental Crime Lord

Danny didn’t want to be a crime lord.

In fact, he didn’t even know how he became one.

One minute he was a starving immortal unemployed teenager, and the next he was running a relatively respectable “crime” empire.

If he had to blame someone or something, he would blame his bleeding heart (and his empty stomach)

It all started when Clockwork dumped Danny in this new dimension with nothing but the clothes on his back. He had managed to get back the first couple weeks but he knew his luck wouldn’t last. One night, when he was walking back to his crappy apartment (that had “illegal” written all over it), he heard a scream of terror and pain. When he ran to check it out, he saw some drunk jackass behaving in “ungentlemanly” ways. He knocked the guy on his ass and helped himself to some of the guy’s cash (hey, strong morals had no place to talk when rent was due). The jackass’s girlfriend invited him over for dinner as thanks.

Well rumors spread, and SOMEHOW Danny became known as the guy who would “take care” of the more unsavory bunch of people in the neighbor for some cash or food. It later evolved to include information. And maybe a few “liberating” of some artifacts that definitely belong back in their home country.

Some of the older street kids joined in (and by the Ancients if these kids are joining in, Danny’s gonna make sure they are safe, be it with proper housing, equipment, money, and food)

Next thing Danny knows, he’s gotten his own “nickname”

#Batty ghosts #Atiya writes #Bright Eyes Au #Accidental Crime Lord #dc x dp #dp x dc #oblivious Danny #Danny just being polite and protective and overall trying to be a good dude without realizing what image he is creating #its like a game of telephone except at the end somehow you are a crime boss #protective Danny #nicknames #Tack literally just always had metal nails and will throw them at people if needed #Ms.Juni is a very nice lady with sooo many blankets #Short Danny #Danny looked like a wet cat as he carried Cookie the wet cat #Polite Danny

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