Dented Iron (Hiatus)

Uneventful parties

Before Alex could think it was July, her birthday. She stuck to her word... she did not want a huge birthday party, she hated having so many people in her home, but it was the life of the party girl. One last bang, one last look inside the Stark Mansion before she died. She stayed in the lab as long as she could, she rebuilt the Mark II, the one she knew Rhodes was going to take.

In the end she decided to prove to them all no one could do what she could, the new and 'improved' Mark II was essentially the Mark V, with less power and the inability to fly like she could.

"Fifteen minutes... that's all you'll get. If you're lucky" Alex smirked.

"Ma'am that suit is not reliable for sustained flight let alone protecting the military" Jarvis said when she had finished.

"that's the point... Tonight we're making a scene, lots of fireworks. When I give the signal I want you to destroy all the suits except the Mark II and the Mark IV, which is disassembled currently"

"as you wish"

With a sigh Alex left the lab, locked it and went to prepare for the night. Alex was prepared, tonight was about her... she had DJ's, sculptures, alcohol, and a fireworks show waiting, not just for her party guest but the masses that sat out on the ocean waiting. The fourth was more than just her birthday and she always had a massive fireworks show, this year would be no different.

The only thing left to do, before Natalie returned with the blazer was to check her Palladium levels. She pricked her finger and waited; she almost didn't believe the little radar, so she had Jarvis put it on the mirror.

89%

She could fool everyone around her, but she could no longer fool herself... She couldn't do it. "Jarvis you remember our deal?" she asked quietly.

"of course ma'am" Jarvis replied just a quietly. If not if anymore but when she died, Jarvis was to destroy the last suit, the reactor and all data he had about it and any weapons she ever made. When everything was said and done Stark Weapons would no longer be possible, because no one would have the information to do so.

"I got your blazer, Ms. Stark. Would you like to choose a watch?"

Alex quickly buttoned her shirt up so that none of the lines could be seen.

"I'll give them a look" Alex replied making sure the shirt was closed completely before approaching Natalie. "you probably think I'm crazy... maybe regretting taking that promotion"

Natalie brought the watches over and sat down on the corner of the chair Alex was in. Alex looked at the woman, who was taking to covering the black eye that was just now starting to heal.

"makeup's never been my strong suit." She admitted then watched Natalie, she still didn't believe that Natalie was just some legal temp or intern or even worker.

"You know, its hard to get a read on you... strange. Where are you from?"

"legal"

Alex dropped it, she understood the evasiveness. "Can I ask you a question, hypothetically?"

Natalie leaned back.

"it's a bit odd. If this was you last birthday party how would celebrate it?"

After a moment Natalia answered with as much sincerity that Alex had ever seen "I'd do whatever I wanted to do, with whoever I wanted to do it with"

Alex smiled slightly "if only it were that simple" she whispered. The one she wanted to be with the most was Pepper, she couldn't believe it took her so long to realize she loved her but Pepper would never. And she couldn't even count on a fun night with Rhodey, like MIT where they used to stay up to all hours playing the stupidest of board games or video games. It was so much simpler back then... what she wouldn't give to have one night like that.