An Assassin Never Tells

T W E N T Y - S I X

May 28th, 2011

I guess you could say that I had some issues with being ignored. But I mean, if Tony Stark knew what I had done for him, he wouldn't've been asking for better security. It was his own fault that he got attacked. If he hadn't decided to race, then the situation probably could've been avoided. But, oh, of course, Tony just had to make yet another reckless decision that put his life in danger. I told him the day we met that my job was to protect him from the more dangerous threats that Happy couldn't protect him from. But I couldn't do my job if he wouldn't let me, which meant that Uncle Nick would likely pull me off the mission, which meant more academy training. I guess just because I grew up a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent at the academy doesn't mean that I got regular treatment.

I had told Pepper when we landed back in L.A. that I "wasn't feeling too well," and that "I was still a little shaken up from the events in Monaco," and that, "A while at a semi-easy job takes away your tolerance for things like that." And Pepper, being the wonderful woman she is, told me to take as much time off as I needed.

I had been alone in my room for quite a few days, only leaving for food and water, before I was disturbed by a knocking at my door. I sighed and continued to do what I was doing, looking over my suit. The door opened, but I didn't register it.

"Hey, kid," said a voice I knew to be Tony's.

"Can you go away, please? I don't feel great right now," I said, but Tony didn't leave, "please, Mr. Stark."

"Oh, so we're back to Mr. Stark now?"

"Tony-"

He sat on my bed next to me, "Whatcha got there?"

"Something I got a while ago," not a total lie.

"Sure. And what do you use it for?"

"Training. Practice."

"Right. Because you're from a league of highly trained assassins."

"Yes," I wanted to be left alone.

"Mhm. And what's the name of this 'league.'"

"That's classified information."

"Sure it is."

"It is."

"Lilith, look at me," I had never made eye contact during the conversation, hoping that he would get fed up and leave. He didn't.

"What," I looked at him. He looked sad, worried almost, and he had these lines going up his neck, "What's going on with your neck?"

"It's nothing. What's wrong."

"Nothing."

"Nuh-uh, don't pull that bullshit with me. I know something's wrong. Tell me."

I sighed, "I'm your better security."

"What?"

"I said I'm your better security. Back in Monaco, you were saying you needed better security because of the attack, and that was supposed to be me."

"Lilith-"

"I'm not finished. You can't just walk into dangerous situations without telling anyone. You could get seriously injured, or worse, you could die. If I'm supposed to do my job, you have to tell me what you're going to do and when; otherwise, we all end up in a sticky situation."

"I'm sorry-" he looked remorseful.

"I'm still not done. Ok, and it's not just that. It's also the fact that ever since Natalie arrived, I've been pushed to the side. I mean, if she and I are together and we're trying to talk to you, you'll give your full, undivided attention to her. And it's for the wrong reasons. Natalie is far more than a pretty face. She is brilliant. She's kind. She's trustworthy. She's a wonderful woman, and you're not looking at the other great qualities that make her an amazing asset to the company. You're not giving her the respect she so greatly deserves," I stared at him; he stared back, "oh, right, I'm done. Sorry."

"Lilith. I am sorry that I've been," he wracked his brain for the right word, "I've been a bad friend. Are we friends? Yeah, we're friends. These past couple of days... You're right, I was distracted by Natalie's beauty at first, but I have to say, it was the same situation when I met Pepper. She was beautiful and held herself in a way that made it look like she owned the whole world. She was incredible...and she still is, of course. But, she made me distance myself from my friends like Happy and Rhodey, and I missed out on that time with it. Now, being older and wiser, I greatly regret it. Time is precious, and you can't get it back. So Lilith, first, I am sorry for pushing you to the side. I understand how much that probably hurt you, and I will try to be better at paying you the attention you should have. As for the security, I think it ties in greatly to the whole Natalie situation, so I will definitely try to let you know all my plans before I go through with them. So, second, I am sorry for putting myself in unnecessary danger."

"Thank you, Tony. Now, about your neck. Are you sick?"

"I guess I should tell you. The core of my arc reactor is a Palladium alloy, which is harmful to the human body. It's slowly killing me. The only way to stop it is to create a new element that would be less harmful, hopefully on its own, and replace it.

"Does Pepper know?"

"No."

"You're gonna have to tell her."

"I know. I don't want to."

"Do you want me to help you with the whole new element thing?"

"Do you think you could?"

"Yeah, I mean, I may not look like it, but I double-majored in college with Chemistry and Public Safety. I got my degree at 18 just because I was bored. I got my master's in Public Safety at 20, and I'm taking classes to get my doctorate in Chemistry right now. They were requirements for training."

"Well, come on then, let's get started." 

A/N~ Hello, hello, and hello to all of you lovely people out there! I'd first like to apologize for my sudden disappearance; school was getting hectic and l couldn't bring myself to write something halfway decent. The support I received from you all over my little (long) break, however, has been incredible and so motivating! When I would go to try to write and see my inbox full of people voting and adding this book to their reading lists, it warmed my heart! And almost 5K reads??? That's absolutely incredible! Thank you all so much!! I love you all and I look forward to putting out more chapters for y'all to read! :) <3