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The steps of the Supreme Court were bustling with reporters, cameras flashing and microphones being thrust into every available space. Tony was making his way through the crowd with Aurora by his side. She was dressed in a suit, her hair tied back in a sleek ponytail, and her expression was set with determination.
They waited outside the court, waiting to be let in. Tony moved to a corner to speak to Pepper while Aurora stood a few feet away from them, until a familiar, unwelcome voice approached her.
"Well, if it isn't my favourite Stark genius!" Justin Hammer, the ever sleazy CEO of Hammer Industries, sauntered over with a smirk. He looked Aurora up and down in a way that made her skin crawl. "Aurora Stark, it's been ages. You look well, as gorgeous as ever. And I hear congratulations are in order! A master's degree? Impressive, really. Just like your brother."
Aurora forced a sweet smile, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "Justin," she said. "Yeah, it's been a while. Not long enough, though."
Justin chuckled as he leaned in just a little too close. "You know, I've always admired that Stark drive. You and Tony, you're a real dynamic duo. But I have to say, you've got that extra spark. Maybe we should catch up sometime, talk about your future. I could see a place for you at Hammer Industries. We could make a great team."
Before Aurora could respond, Tony, who had been observing the exchange with annoyance, stepped in between them, his usual cocky grin plastered on his face. "Oh, Hammer," Tony drawled, throwing an arm around Aurora protectively. "Always sniffing around, trying to poach the best talent. How's that working out for you, by the way? Still running on the fumes of your last failed invention?"
Justin's smile faltered, but he quickly recovered, his eyes darting between the Stark siblings. "Tony, always so quick with the jabs. You know, it's not just about inventions, it's about people. And your sister here, she's—"
Tony cut him off, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Yeah, yeah, Rory's great, we all know that. But let's not pretend for a second she'd ever want to slum it with Hammer Industries. She's got this thing called integrity, might be a foreign concept to you. And also," he leaned in, whispering, "she's not into whatever this is." He waved a hand at Justin's overly eager posture.
Aurora stifled a laugh. "Thanks for the offer, Hammer, but I think I'm good. Like really good."
Justin, sensing he wasn't going to win this one, straightened his tie and took a step back. "Well, the offer stands. Just think about it. We could do great things."
Tony gave him a mock salute. "Yeah, sure, Hammer. She'll get right on that—right after she rethinks all her life choices." He turned to Aurora, nudging her forward. "Come on, we've got a court to dazzle."
As they walked away, Aurora leaned in to Tony, her voice low. "Thanks for that. I don't know how you deal with him."
Tony shrugged, flashing her a quick smile. "Eh, Hammer's like a bad rash. Annoying , hard to get rid of, but ultimately forgettable. Besides you're a Stark. You've got this. Now, let's go show them what those genes can really do."
