Story: Armored Heart

Chapter One: Yes to One Night Stands

Almost there. Almost there. And… got it! Iron Maiden just installed the proper reactor to officially power up her new and improved Stark Tower that she bought on a sudden whim. She smirked proudly and flew out of the river bottom then took to the night sky. The water droplets rolled off her red and gold armor, drying it almost instantly as she picked up speed. The beautiful lights of New York were dazzling, even more so when flying through it at a rather intimate proximity, a sight she'd never get used to.

"How's it going? Has it stabilized yet?" she asked through the coms that naturally hooked her up to all of her contacts in her phone - way better than bluetooth.

"Looking good," Pepper said. "Things are... happening." she sounded incredibly uncertain.

"Well, that's… something," Toni laughed shortly. "I can see the lights on from all the way over there, so that means something's working at least." she said as she soared through New York with people, mostly kids, snapping pictures of her. The novelty seemed to never wear off. It certainly helped boost her ego. "It's kind of like Christmas, but with, you know, more me."

"Ha! You're hilarious," Pepper said sarcastically.

The brunette arrived. She stepped onto the platform atop and outside the Stark Tower. Each step she took removed each item of her suit. She couldn't help the pride swelling in her and the definite ego boost at the fact that she designed all of this and was able to achieve what man's been trying to do for about a hundred years after just a long weekend in her lab without a single interruption. Clean energy. "How's it looking?" Toni asked her best friend that could tolerate the inflated ego while also keeping her grounded.

"Fine… I think," Pepper said, clearly not getting any of it.

She looked intently at the screen, not really understanding it one bit. The levels on the screen were moderately high and green; she figured that meant it was a good thing. Her strengths lied in organization, planning, preparing, and dealing with people not inventions and computer language. That was all Toni and being an organizer who basically kept the company afloat when it came to people and due dates that was fine by her.

The billionaire appeared right behind the strawberry blonde to inspect the levels and numbers over her shoulder. Pepper looked over and saw the smile form on Toni's lips and took it as a good sign. She knew the dark haired woman like the back of her hand and knew even though the playgirl could be the most insufferable human being in the world, she had a lot of positive attributes and she had certainly done a lot of growing up over the years. So yeah, she knew things were going well.

After all, Pepper wouldn't be able to stand Toni at this point if she was anything remotely like she was four years ago. What with the heavy drinking — albeit still heavier than it should be — the hard partying, and the countless men she kicked out in the middle of the night after one-night stands. All of that still occurred, but not to nuclear levels like before. Now, every time Toni came back from somewhere, when she clearly did something stupid, Pepper didn't want to pop her head off or scream until she went hoarse.

Which is definitely an improvement.

"I say it's about that time to celebrate," the brunette said. She grabbed a bottle and looked at it. "Ha, wine! It helps me drink!" she laughed shortly.

"Toni, wait, maybe we should—"

Too late, she popped the top off and the alcoholic liquid sprayed and painted the white tiles a deep purple. Pepper frowned at the obvious mess the billionaire caused and how she took a big swig straight from the bottle uncaringly. She was glad that there was another one for her and at least the billionaire had the audacity to spill it on the tile opposed to the carpet — wine left a permanent stain after all. It was clear the playgirl was still a mess, but hey she supposed everyone was a mess in someway.

"This building isn't christened until somebody spills something right?" she laughed.

"I guess," the strawberry blonde smiled with a long sigh, actually pouring hers into a glass. "So, what's the next big project for the great Ms. Stark?" she said it like she was interviewing America's Next Top Model.

The philanthropist took a seat on one of the white chairs and sat up straight, playing along with her friend's game. She crossed a leg over the other, folded her arms on her knees, and pulled off a perfect hoity-toity expression. The strawberry blonde supposed that she pulled it off so well because the brunette pretty much grew up in a very pompous lifestyle with probably very many etiquette obsessed people who cared more about image than what lies within. I mean, who names their child Antonia Elizabeth Stark unless the family was a member of at least three country clubs?

"Well, tonight, I'm spending my time with my best friend the very lovely Ms. Potts," she said playfully as took a swig from the bottle.

"Very nice. Is there anyone else you want to celebrate with? Like that special someone?"

She didn't want to play this little game anymore. Toni deflated faster than a popped balloon. She didn't like the fact that Pepper kept bringing up her lack of a love life, you know, beyond the one night stands. It wasn't like her friend was trying to be spiteful by bringing it up. No, quite the contrary. She wanted to set her up with a permanent boyfriend, someone who was a constant in her life in a romantic sense. And wasn't like Toni didn't want constant sex with someone; no, that wasn't an issue, it was the fact that she didn't want to deal with someone's baggage and possible clinginess. She cringed at the thought.

"Pepper," she began.

"I know, I know, just hear me out," she said putting her hand up with a friendly smile. "I have a cousin who's single, nice, solid, and—"

"Let me guess, wanting to settle down, right?" the brunette asked with a sigh. "How many times do I have to tell you? I'm happy being single with just friends like you and Happy…. I mean, why does society to depict women as these needy little—"

"Ms. Stark," Jarvis' voice interrupted her little rant before it really got started, "Agent Coulson is requesting you."

"Well, you can tell him he can stick it where the sun don't shine. I'm having fun right now," she said through gritted teeth rather ironically.

"I'm afraid he's insisting."

"Oh let him in," Pepper said rolling her eyes, standing and walking over towards the door. "More the merrier."

"Ugggghhh, Pepper!" Toni whined, throwing her head back in exasperation. "I don't wanna deal with him right now!"

The strawberry blonde rolled her eyes once more and answered the door, letting Coulson in. Immediately, Toni stood up and began yelling about a security threat and generally getting nothing from her A.I. Jarvis who was effectively ignoring this. Pepper shook her head even though she continued to smile. Coulson simply took at as a uniquely 'Stark Moment' and set out what he came here to do. He handed a folder towards the dark haired woman.

"I need to you to look this over," he said.

"Ugh, I don't like to be handed things," she told him, looking at it disdainfully.

"Well, I love to be handed things, so here let's trade," she switched the wine glass with the folder and then she took the brunette's bottle and handed her said folder. "See how it all works out?" she smiled and took a sip from the bottle.

Toni sighed and threw the folder on the coffee table before looking over at Coulson. She was still miffed about what they did about a year ago and yet now they choose to come crawling back like a battered house wife demanding her attention again. She really wished Pepper didn't let him in because honestly if she answered the door she would do it just to slam it in his face.

"Yeah, my consulting hours are like every other Thursday. It's Tuesday and I'm off the clock," she said, flopping back back down on her chair and crossing a leg over the other with her arms resting across the back. "So why don't you find somebody less volatile, less self-obsessed, and, oh, a team player?"

Coulson briefly looked away, but his convictions were always on point.

"We need you, Ms. Stark," he said. "I suggest you look this file over before snubbing S.H.I.E.L.D. All of what you need to know about associates and our intentions are in there." he pointed to the file she tossed away like it was nothing. She followed where his finger pointed and over towards it with annoyance and general apathy.

"Fine," she said, sounding like she was whining, "if it'll get you off my back."

She stood up flipped it open and looked through it. At first it was a general sweep through as she pulled up the files on her database with a flick of her hands. Many files on the Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Captain America appeared. Both Toni and Pepper's eyes were absorbing the images and videos passing before their eyes of these people in combat. The brunette couldn't look away from the man clad in red, white, and blue with a giant round shield in hand. She couldn't help this bitterness in the pit of her stomach; that was the guy that she was intended to be like to gain her father's love and attention.

"I'm taking a plane out to DC tonight," Pepper said softly.

Toni looked over at her with a small pout. "Why so soon? I thought we were going to hang out," she said.

"No, you've got homework. A lot of homework," she said. "Once you get that done, we can go have fun."

The brunette pouted, "You know, all work and no play makes Toni a very dull girl."

"Psh, you'll never be boring," the strawberry blonde walked away from her and appeared beside Coulson. "Is there any chance you're going to DC or anywhere remotely close?"

"Yeah, I can drop you," he said, as they headed towards the door, ready to leave the genius to her muses.

"Great! So how are you and the cellist?" she asked, making small talk.

Coulson shrugged, as lovely and classy as she was they ended it on good terms because their careers simply got in the way. She needed to move all the way out of state to further her passion as a cellist. He respected that, considering he was the exact same way. Career and duty came first. Especially considering how important he considered his job to the world's safety.

"We broke up. She moved back to Portland."

"What…? Boo!" Pepper said.

Toni didn't get to hear the rest of their little conversation as they left the room and shut the door behind them. Plus, she wasn't particularly listening to them anyway. She was already immersed deeply in the material at hand. She sat on the couch as she continued to look over that file Coulson gave her. She couldn't help the curiousity. What was so important that they needed the Iron Maiden to help them out after snubbing her like that? Well, she supposed Dr. Banner's research on Thermonuclear Astrophysics was a good start.

It was going to be a long night.

Well, Toni Stark wasn't the only having a long night, long day, a long everything. Steve Rogers, Captain America, was at a lost — at a complete list of what to do with himself. The war was won, his friends were either dead or obscenely old, and he had no clue what to do. S.H.I.E.L.D. provided him clothes, an apartment, and what happened during the last seventy years. But they didn't provide a time machine to send him back where things made sense and where he belonged.

No, he was left to his own devices to stew in his own mild depression. He decided to go out, get some fresh air, and cheer himself up. He brought out a notepad and a pencil, wanting to do something familiar in his home city.

Steve sat out at one of the open cafe just above a building that read 'Stark Tower'. Stark. He remembered Howard Stark. He was outrageously wealthy, popular with the ladies, a genius, and most importantly to him the man responsible for making him who he is today. Without Howard he'd be a scrawny little asthmatic kid and wouldn't be able to do any of things he did. According to S.H.I.E.L.D. he had a daughter….

"Hey, are you ready to order?" a young woman asked.

He looked up from absentmindedly drawing what was on his mind and what was actually there to look up at the waitress.

"Sure. Just a coffee for me," he said, smiling politely.

Her eyes looked down at the sketch the super soldier drew. She smiled at the outline of Stark Tower and the tiny dot of Iron Maiden flying towards the entrance ramp. It was a pretty good interpretation.

"Nice job," she commented. "I see you and everybody else loves to watch Iron Maiden make her way across New York, snapping pictures and everything. We've definitely gotten more foot traffic since she put up Stark Tower."

Should he introduce himself to Howard's kid or just leave it alone. She wasn't Howard, but in a way she kind of was. Maybe she had some of the same personality traits, hopefully not the annoying ones, and— And what? Become friends and constantly talk about the good old days? That sounded… depressing. He needed to move on to this time period, this century. But he just didn't know what to move on to.

The waitress took notice of Steve zoning out while looking at the tower. "I'll be back with your order soon," she said before leaving him to his own devices.

After a moment he shook his head and said, "Did you say something?" but she was gone.

Steve went home again, sitting in his dark and empty apartment and looking through the files S.H.I.E.L.D. provided.

His mind still lingered on meeting and getting to know Howard's kid. He flipped open her file, deciding to just get a feel of who she is. At the top he saw a little picture of a dark haired woman, looking as if she didn't know her picture was taken — knowing S.H.I.E.L.D. she probably didn't. And she definitely had some of Howard's features: dark, long hair pulled into a ponytail; dark eyes; olive skin. She was very pretty simply because Howard, being one of the riches men alive at the time, could've had any beautiful woman he wanted for a wife and a mother of his children.

Now, what was her name? Antonia Elizabeth Stark. Whoa, that's a name alright. It must be a rich person thing to name your kids obnoxiously fancy names. At least she didn't have two middle names. Did she have a nickname that would make things easier to call her by like Ana or something? He looked down and saw that it was Toni. She went by Toni? He hoped she wasn't severely bullied in school.

How old is she? He looked down at the sheet in front of him and saw that she just turned twenty-nine this past month. Sheesh, Howard sure waited a long time. After all, Toni and Steve, biologically that is, are the same age. Wait… maybe just maybe… no.

He shook his head, bringing that train of thought to a screeching halt. He couldn't seriously be considering something happening between him and Howard's daughter. He may be lonely and everything, but he didn't know her and Howard would probably come back to haunt him for the rest of Steve's days.

The stress was driving him crazy.

So later on he went to the local gym during the odd hours of the night. He couldn't sleep and that meant he had his privacy since it didn't seem likely people would be up at this hour. Either way, he needed to work off the tension and stress that seemed to line every inch of him. And he worked it off via punching bags.

He started off slow, deciding not to tire himself out too quickly. But flashes of memory appeared before his eyes: ones of his buddies getting shot at, Bucky flying off the side of a transport cart to his death, Peggy saying a tearful goodbye to him, and sinking the enemy's ship into the Atlantic ocean. Before he knew it a fatal punch had his punching bag flying off the chain and smacking the back wall. He was sweating and fighting for breath, stress still present but alleviated just a little bit.

He turned to get another bag and continue his 'routine' until his eyes met a familiar-ish face. He paused for a moment before lifting another bag and hanging it up on its chain. Then Steve began punching at it again, going about his thing as if he wasn't there.

"Captain Rogers," Fury said announcing his presence, "isn't it a late for workout routines?"

"Sir, I've been asleep for over seventy years; I've had my fill," he said, stopping his brutal series of punches before turning to face S.H.I.E.L.D.'s leader.

"I get it," Fury acknowledged with a small nod. "You're feeling out of place and a little stir crazy, but I've got something that'll take your mind off of things: a mission." he handed the file to the super soldier.

Steve looked back and forth between the oh so familiar tesseract and the coated man. He was trying to decide whether or not this would be a good cause to get behind because the loneliness was pushing him to move forward in this regardless of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s intentions. But he was still able to think clearly about this before jumping in all willy-nilly and doing something incredibly stupid.

"What do you need the cube for?" he asked.

"We're in the clean energy business and that cube supplies an endless amount of energy, so you see why we would want it," Fury said. "But, of course, someone stole it, a guy named Loki and, you see, that's where you come in. Take him down and get it back. That's your mission, Rogers."

It sounded pretty solid. Maybe just maybe he can do something with his life now and find a place he might belong. It was a start.