After All

Chapter 4

Tony Stark stared at the one of the gauntlets of his newest version of his suit. He had been tinkering with it for the last few hours, trying to figure out a way to produce different types of blasts from the plasma cannons.

The man sat back in his chair, sipping his now lukewarm coffee as he stared at the disassembled piece of tech. He vaguely noticed a halo screen pop up beside him, only humming when Friday spoke up.

“Sir, there is a call for you from Japan,” The AI informed him.

Tony didn't look at the screen as he tried to figure out who would call him at such a time. As far as they knew he should have been asleep as it was currently one in the morning. He vaguely wondered if it was that businessman in Tokyo he had tried to work with once. Tony frowned as he tried to remember his name.

Toji?

Takeru?

Toshi?

The billionaire shrugged, deciding it didn't matter at the moment.

“Who is it,” he asked, figuring he would recognize the name if he heard it.

Tony took another swig of his coffee as a name appeared on the holoscreen.

“It appears to be Higurashi Rumiko, sir.”

Tony choked on his coffee, spraying it everywhere when he heard a name he hadn't since his twenties.

Tony spun around, looking at the name to make sure he heard right. He blinked, his eyes confirming for him that it was in fact his old flame calling him in the middle of the night.

He wondered what it could have possibly been for, as she hadn't so much as spoken to her since he sent her a wedding gift about 20 years ago. 

Should he answer it? 

Was she in trouble?

Had one of his enemies found out she had dated him once and decided to kidnap her instead of going for his wife?

His hand shot out, snatching up his phone so he could hit the answer button. He brought it up to his ear nervously, trying to regulate his breathing and pounding heart. He stood, pacing as his mind raced.

“Hello,” he asked, attempting to make his tone sound like it normally would when he answered the phone.

“Tony,” A sweet, feminine voice came over the speaker, sounding just as nervous as him,” It's Rumiko.”

“Are you ok,” Was the first thing that spilled from the man's lips, the tremor in her voice making him come to the worst conclusions as to why she had called him.

Sure they may not have been together in two decades but she still had a special place in his heart, both as a friend and as his first long lasting relationship.

“Yes, I'm ok,” She breathed, and he could almost hear the smile on her voice as the tremor seemed to dissipate slightly.

“That's good, great actually,” Tony chuckled as he stopped pacing. He leaned against the back of his chair, a small smile on his face.

“Well then, to what do I owe the pleasure of this call,” He joked.

It was silent for a moment, making Tony's smile drop slightly.

“Tony… I have something important I need to tell you. Something I should have told you a very long time ago.”

Tony tensed. What was happening? Was she going to tell him she regretted breaking up and that she still loved him?

His heart raced at the thought of having to turn her down if that was the case, as he was happily married to Pepper.

“What is it,” He only barely managed to keep the worry from his voice.