Agent Hill: New Beginnings

chapter twenty six

It was the night of the gala and for some reason the more I got ready the more my nerves increased. Applying the last of my makeup, there was a knock on my door, which I didn't turn towards as I told them to come in, thinking it was Natasha since she and Clint were also coming along tonight.

"Hey Nat, I'm nearly done... but what do you think gun or knife tonight?" I asked but when I didn't get a response I turned around after rubbing my lips together after applying lip gloss. My eyes widened when Tony stared back at me, moving freely in my room as he looked me up and down.

"I'm... not who you were expecting. But whilst a gun would be more dangerous it would be more bulky and it would stick out more than a knife would" He said simply. I blinked a couple of times before nodding. "Well... my dress puffs out... so the gun wouldn't be overly noticeable... ok I'm settling for both" I decide he raises his brow amused as I walk over to the end of my bed where my gun holster, gun and knife were laid out.

"Are you ready for tonight?" He asks, not taking his eyes off me as I prop my right leg up, the slit in my dress separating allowing me to pull the gun holster up and secure it around my thigh. "Umm, no? But what can he do to me in a crowded area?" I muse and he shrugs as I turn the safety on and slot the gun in the holster followed by my dagger.

I make eye contact with him as I lean back from adjusting my dress and pacing my foot back on the floor. "Are you?" I ask whilst he stares at me, I smirk as he takes a moment to respond. He licks his bottom lip quickly as his eyes move away from my exposed skin and to my eyes."Always" he responds, I roll my eyes and move toward him, bending down once more to pick up my pair of heels that were next to him and quickly put them on. Standing up, I realized he never moved and his eyes strayed to my lips as I stood in front of him.

The moment seemed to stretch for minutes as we both flicked our gazes from eyes to lips, our body's leaning forward to close the already small amount of distance between us. However, Nat enters the room, since Tony left the door wide open.

"Are you ready yet? We've been waiting for you" She calls not looking up from her clutch as she walks in. My eyes once again widened so I take a step back and advert my gaze from him. "Yeah- we're on our way" I rush out, she turns to us and looks between us and a smirk creeps up. "Oh, sorry was I interrupting something?" She asks knowingly, my face is already heating up so I shove past collecting my things on the way out as I quickly leave, whilst I hear her laughing and can feel Tony's amused smirk and intense stare as his gaze follows me.

When Happy drove us into the driveway and parked out the front of the walkway it all seemed to settle in, this was a lot bigger than she first imagined. Paparazzi were lining the walkway and well-dressed groups of people entered the building, my leg was bouncing as I sat inside the limo. I was tugging at the necklace around my neck, it was a simple gold chain with a small dove symbol on it. It had been my mother's.

Some time between when we parked and when I anxiously gnawed at my bottom lip, Clint and Nat agreed to walk out first whilst Tony, moved from his seat across from me so he was kneeling on the floor of the limo, and timidly placed his hand on my bouncing leg, I looked down at him calming down at his reassuring smile. "Hey" he smiled and tilted his head toward the door. "It's going to be ok, we're all here with you, if you feel uncomfortable or unsafe we will leave... ok?" I nod and laugh shyly, he ducks his head to look at my face. "What's wrong?" He asks. I lean back my head against the seat as I look out, watching as the paparazzi take pictures of Clint and Natasha.

"Every time I'm seen by the media something bad happens, and they already think I'm some freak show who came back from the dead..." I trail off as he squeezes my knee through my dress. "You're worried about the paps?" He asks slightly amused. I roll my eyes. "Not everyone lives in camera flashes Stark" I snark he chuckles but retracts his hand as he moves to open the door. "Just stick with me, smile, that'll be enough to distract them from your... history" He encourages before opening the door and getting out before turning to me and offering my hand.

I take it and step out onto the carpet already hearing the clicks of camera shutters and I take a deep breath in and out quickly as Tony squeezes my hand reassuringly. The buzz of being in the spotlight distracted me from the feeling or even questioning what I was doing holding his hand. Instead, we walked toward the front door, before we do so however a news reporter calls out to us.

"Mr Stark! Mr Stark, how long have you been in a relationship with Ms Hill?" She asked Tony rose a brow at her. "Was it before or after she faked her death, or is that a coverup for Ms Hill being enhanced?" The reporter continued, I tilted my head and turned toward her but Tony squeezed my hand and tugged me along as we ignored her and entered the gala.

When the door closed behind us, he looked over at me. "Are you ok?" He leaned in to ask since the room was filled with music and laughter. "I am... thank you" I smile and he nods but I don't let go of his hand and neither does he.

We walk around and reunite with Clint and Nat who both don't hide their glances down at our hands. When they do, I realize and let go of his hand. Clearing my throat I take a few steps away from Tony and narrow my gaze. Clint looks at me amused but doesn't say anything instead he discusses the plan. "Ok, Nat and I will scope around the outskirts of the room, Tony I suggest you focus on the bar and seated areas and Y/n... don't focus heavily on the lookout rather.." "Act as bait?" I deadpan and he nods and for a moment I see Tony's fist clench.

We separate not too long after and I find myself with a champagne flute in my hand as I walk around the room, having not spotted any familiar faces I begin to think tonight is a bust until I almost walk into someone.

"Clint? I thought you said to lay low?" I ask, he takes the flute from my hand and places it on a nearby table before leading me out to join the other couples on the dance floor. "You look bored... and I did say I wanted to have fun despite the circumstances" He muses I roll my eyes. "Besides Nat is watching over us" He adds to calm me down. I chuckle and we begin to dance.

He makes me laugh as he spins me around, at this point we've been dancing for almost ten minutes and towards the end... so now. I have noticed him looking into the crowd with furrowed brows, his body tensing as he becomes alert. "Hey, Clint? everything ok?" I ask he nods but smiles as he looks down at me then looks at someone over my shoulder and nods.

He spins me one last time before letting go and my hand is grabbed by someone else and I am pulled into someone else chest