Marvel Oneshots

Tony Stark x Reader - Protection

1/3

Y/N's P.O.V.

God, it had been a long few weeks.
I was barely healed from my run in with the Avengers, but my boss wanted more from me. More than I could give her. She was pushing me and when I told her to stop, she pushed me harder.
I worked for an organisation of assassins. My boss would send me a name and a picture and I would get the job done. I'd get paid depending on my speed and efficiency, but it was safe to say I was one of the wealthier employees paid by the company.
She sent me on a job to kill someone under the Avenger's protection and not only did I fail, I barely got out with my life.
I adjusted the towel around my body, before stepping out of the bathroom and moving down the hall to my bedroom.

"You know, I've always wondered what you had hidden under that suit of yours and I've got to say, I'm impressed." The man spoke, standing by my bedroom window. He had a confident smirk on his face and I was frozen in the doorway.
"What's wrong, L/N? Cat got your tongue?"

"Mr. Stark... what an unpleasant surprise." I muttered lowly.
I had met Tony Stark on several occasions, some that he didn't even know of, but it was a part of my job to blend in.
There was nothing in reach that I could use as a weapon and there was no doubt in my mind that he was armed.
"Breaking and entering... isn't that against one of those law things? I thought you were a good guy."

"I have never once claimed to be a good guy." He replied confidently and I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Don't worry, Miss L/N, I'm not here to kill you. I'm here to recruit you."

"Recruit me?" I repeated and he hummed.

"Why don't you put some clothes on, or don't, and meet me in your lovely little kitchen?" He moved passed me.
"I'll be waiting." He winked back at me and I quickly closed the door, abandoning my towel and getting dressed as quickly as possible. I grabbed the .45 from under my bed, checking the bullets, before moving through my spacious apartment.
Stark was exactly where he said he would be, in my kitchen, comparing two bottles of whiskey.

"Give me one reason I shouldn't blow your brains out now." I muttered, holding the gun up, but he didn't even blink.

"Because you haven't heard what I have to offer you." Stark shrugged, picking the bottle he decided to be most appealing, before taking two glasses from the cupboard.
"The little organisation you work for doesn't have much time left. SHIELD agents, along with my team, are moving in on them now. You, unlike your friends, have a chance to not spend the rest of your life rotting away in a cell."

"Oh, yeah? And why's that?" I asked, keeping the gun aimed at him as he poured two glasses of whiskey.
"Why am I special?"

"I don't know. Nick Fury thinks you have potential." He shrugged and I knew he was telling the truth.
"He wants you to become an Avenger."

"Let me guess, if I decline, I spend the rest of my life 'rotting away in a cell'?" I asked as he slid a glass over to me. 

"Pretty much, yeah." He nodded and I lowered my gun, letting my arm rest by my side as I picked up the glass.
I took a moment to weigh my options and I was about to take a drink, when a scream rang out through my home.
My hand tightened around the gun as I ran down the hall and forcing the door open, gun raised.

"Mo-Mommy?" The little girl whimpered as I let out a shaky breath. I quickly tucked the gun into the back of my pants, going over to her bed.

"It's okay, Delilah. It was just a nightmare. You're safe. I'm here." I whispered as she crawled into my lap, hiding her face in the crook of my neck.
I looked up at Stark, who had an unreadable expression on his face. He stepped back and walked down the hall and I knew I should be concerned, but I had other priorities.
"You're okay." I kissed my daughter's head, just moments before Stark appeared again, holding a small glass of water. I looked at him in confusion as he came forward, before kneeling next to the small bed.

"Hey, that was a really loud scream, kid. Your throat has to be sore after that." He chuckled and my daughter looked at me in confusion. I looked at Stark briefly, before taking the glass with a sigh. I handed it to Delilah and she took it with shaky hands, before taking a drink.

"I've got some work to do, okay?" I muttered to my daughter, who looked up at me.
"Go to my room and I'll be there soon." She nodded her head and passed me the glass, taking her favourite teddy bear with her as she rushed out of the room.
"I can't join your little crime-fighting club, Stark. I've got other priorities."

"I can see that, but the life you're living now, that's no life for a child." I stood up and made the bed.

"You think I don't know that?" I muttered bitterly.
"You think I enjoy what I do?" He opened his mouth, ready to say something, but I stopped him.
"Just because I'm good at my job does not mean I enjoy it. I am a terrible person, but I come home and I pretend to be a good person, for her."

"Then stop pretending." He replied bluntly.
"Be the good person she thinks you are."

"It is not that easy." I scoffed.

"Yes, it is." Tony shrugged as we left the room.
"Become an Avenger. If you turn this down, you know what I have to do." He sighed, a frown on his lips.
"You'll be arrested and you might never see her again." He muttered lowly and I glared at him.
"It's not a difficult decision, L/N."

"It's more difficult than you could ever imagine." I glared at him.
"If I make a deal with you, if I join the Avengers, do you know what will happen? My boss will take it as a betrayal. Do you know what she does to traitors?"

"Your ex-boss will be locked up. Far away from you and your daughter." I shook my head, laughing slightly. He didn't get it, of course he didn't.
"We can protect you. Both of you."

"You're not listening-"

"No, L/N, you're not listening. I came here tonight and I decided that if you didn't agree, I'd take you in, dead or alive." I clenched my jaw.
"But I lost my parents and it was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Clearly your kid's dad isn't in the picture and I don't want to be the person to take her mom away. If you don't accept, then I want you to take everything you can and start running. Take the kid far from here, somewhere no one, myself included, will be able to find you."

"You want me to take my kid on the run?" I scoffed.
"Are you insane?"

"No, but if you decline, it's your best option." There was a genuine look in his eyes and I hesitated.
"L/N, listen to me. Accept my offer and we can protect you, we can protect her."

"Can I sleep on it?" I muttered and the billionaire gave me an apologetic look.
Small footsteps caught my attention and I turned my head, seeing Delilah peaking her head around the doorway.
I sighed and made a gesture for her to come forward. Tony gave me a puzzled look and I picked her up.
"I thought I told you to go to my room?"

"You were taking too long, Mommy. I got scared." She muttered and looked at Stark before moving to whisper in my ear.
"Mommy, why are you talking to Iron Man?" She asked quietly, but loud enough for both Stark and I to hear.

"She didn't tell you?" Stark gasped dramatically.
"Your mom has some very important Avengers business."

"Mommy, are you a superhero?" Delilah asked in a whisper and I glared at the smirking man in front of me.

"I will be. Soon." His smirk widened.
"Iron man just came to tell me about a super secret mission, but right now it's bedtime. He's going to come back tomorrow and tell me more then, isn't that right, Iron Man?"

"Yes, ma'am." He mock saluted and Delilah looked at me in amazement.
"Why don't you go into your mom's room, she'll be there in a minute." I placed Delilah down and she quickly ran off, an excited spring in her step.

"I'm going to kill you." I muttered.
"She's going to be up all night questioning me."

"Yeah." He smiled fondly.
"So you agree?"

"If it gets you out of my apartment for the next few hours whilst I get some sleep, yeah. I agree." I sighed.
"The doors that way, but I'm sure you know that already."

"11am, I'll be back. Be ready to go to SHIELD HQ. Fury will want to speak with you." Stark said over his shoulder as he walked towards the door.
"Oh, and L/N? You've got a sweet kid. I meant it when I said she'll be safe. You both will. I promise."

"If you're any earlier than 11, I'll make your death look like an accident." I warned, making him chuckle.
"Oh, and Stark? Thanks."