Roomies Prequel 1: And so you're with Tony

You grunted, sitting up on your knees and glaring down at your work. You shook your head and wiped your forehead on your sleeve. There was a squeaking noise from behind you and you turned to see Tony’s neglected robot, nicknamed Dummy. You laughed, patting him on the head and taking the bottle of water he held out. You leaned against him as you called out, “Jarvis?”

“Yes ma’am.” The artificial intelligence said drearily, sounding as tired as a computer system could.

You smiled, curling up against dummy as he bent over you. “Anything else on Tony’s list for me?”

Jarvis hummed lightly for a moment, as if he was reading over a list. “No ma’am. After repairing the mechanical assistant and cleaning the suits, Mr. Stark’s instructions run out.”

You sighed gratefully; turning from dummy, the mechanical assistant, to the suit you had just finished polishing. You stuck your tongue out at the stern expression of the metal mask. “These things are creepy.” You decided aloud, thinking Jarvis was still listening.

The voice that answered you was not Jarvis’, but Tony’s, speaking from the doorway of the garage, his hand still on the keypad as he stood in the doorway. “I guess that means you don’t want to take it for a spin?”

You turned to look at Tony, standing and nudging dummy away so he would finish his chores. You smirked and looked at the suit again. “No sir.” You answered. “Never.”

Tony shrugged, walking over to the suit and inspecting your work. “You’ll change your mind.” He said, a little too sure for your taste.

You snorted, bending to pick up your supplies and moving them to a nearby table. “I don’t think so, Mr. Stark.”

Tony frowned, looking at your reflection in the suit instead of you. “You will.” He smirked. “Everyone wants to try the suit.” He frowned then, turning to you, “And I told you, call me Tony.”

You sighed, brushing your hair back and shaking your head. “I’m sorry, Tony, I’m just not used to it yet.”

Tony looked a bit like a hurt puppy, but he nodded and turned back to the suit, busying himself with inspecting it. “You did a nice job.” He commended.

You smiled proudly, moving about the garage to put the cleaning supplies away. “And I fixed dummy!” you called over your shoulder.

Tony’s eyes grew wide as he turned to look at you. “Fixed?”

You nodded, pointing at the mechanical assistant as it worked across the garage at repairing the wall Tony has blasted with his latest suit mock-ups.

Tony moved quickly to dummy, looking him over, removing panels and shifting wires as he looked him over. He smiled approvingly and nodded, leaving dummy to his work as he returned to your side, watching you scrub your hands free of the grease and the cleaner and the dust.

You smiled. “Good?”

Tony shrugged and looked down his nose at you. “For a beginner.”

You rolled your eyes and turned back to your hands, scrubbing them intently.

He turned to look around the garage, frowning as he noticed you had gone above and beyond, scrubbing every surface and fixing every machine.

“So?” You asked

He turned to you with a frown.

You smiled, wiping your hands and throwing the towel away. You turned to face Tony, leaning back on the counter and crossing your arms. “You said you had something to tell me?”

Tony narrowed his eyes. “Really?” He walked past you and poured himself a glass scotch. He brought it to his mouth but paused, glancing sideways at you. “I don’t think I did.”

You smirk, tilting your head. “Jarvis?” you called.

“Yes ma’am?” Jarvis answers gently.

Tony frowns and quickly downs his drink.

“What did Tony need to tell me?” You ask, narrowing your eyes at Tony as he refills his glass.

There is a humming as Jarvis thinks. “Well, ma’am, he has a note here to-“

“Clear notes.” Tony interrupted.

You glared at him as there was a small beep and a sigh of “Done.” from Jarvis.

Tony set his glass down and sighed, looking you over. “I got you a job.” He grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose.

You smiled widely, standing up on your tip-toes and clasping your hands. “Really?” You squeal. “Where? Doing what? How?”

Tony looked up at you with a mournful amusement. He walked over to the counter and started digging in the cabinets, looking for more alcohol no doubt. “With some people… I’ve worked with them a couple of times… I told them they owed me one…”

You laughed, opening the door behind you and pulling out a bottle. “Why so vague, Tony?” You quickly poured a glass and skipped over to Tony to hold it out.

He shook his head and pushed it aside. He smiled weakly at you. “You don’t have to take the job, you know?”

You laughed, setting the glass down and shaking your head. “I need a job, Tony.”

Tony bit his lip. “You could just work here…”

You tilt your head. “Tony… I really appreciate all you’ve done for me… but I need a real job.”

Tony pursed his lips, pulling an envelope out of his coat and pinching it tightly. “You can still live here… just so you know.”

You smiled and nodded, reaching for the envelope. You raised an eyebrow at the strange symbol on it.

Tony tensely extended his arm. “It’s just an interview for starters, so don’t get your hopes too high.”

You nodded, taking hold of the envelope. “What did you tell them about me?”

Tony released the envelope reluctantly and smiled half-heartedly. “Only the good.”

You smiled, opening the envelope and pulling out the information. You frowned and looked up at Tony. “I’m supposed to meet a guy named Fury?”

Tony laughed and nodded, pulling you into a hug as you wrinkled up your nose. “Try not to make a fool of yourself.” He teased.