Umbra

Chapter Seventeen

"Is there nothing more interesting to watch?"

"Not at the moment, no."

"They're all talking about us."

"Not just us – that woman just screamed how much she loves Thor."

Tony chuckled as he walked into the lounge of his temporary home. Stark Tower was undergoing serious refurbishment. New rooms, new windows, new everything. He collapsed onto the couch in front of the TV, slinging his arm around the shoulders of the girl next to him. Grey was intently watching the news, nibbling on the side of her thumbnail as she concentrated on what the anchor was saying.

"These so called heroes have to be held responsible for the destruction done to the city." A politician argued on the screen. "This was their fight. Where are they now?"

"Two of them are trapped in an ugly apartment for god knows how long." Tony grumbled in annoyance, and Grey nudged him with a small smile.

"Sorry, Billionaire Boy, this was the closest one we could find to the Tower, remember?" she laughed, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

Tony smiled fondly, his fingers tracing absentmindedly over Grey's shoulder as she focused back on the news. A video of a number of fans started playing; numerous girls shouted Tony's name, the occasional screaming about Steve or Thor. Grey frowned when she saw one fan with a sign which read one word – 'Umbra'. The fan looked at the camera with an excited smile, adoration and happiness clear on her face.

"Do you get used to this?" Grey asked in incredulity, referring to the press and the paparazzi she had experienced in the past couple of days. Tony kissed the side of her head.

"Nope."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, before Grey grabbed Tony's hand, peering at the expensive watch which sat snugly on his wrist.

"We should get ready, Thor's taking Loki back to Asgard soon." She went to stand up, but Tony trapped her hand in his and pulled her back down on the couch with a chuckle. She let out a laugh, curling back into his arms.

"I had a thought." Tony mused.

"Hm?"

"When I reopen Stark Tower..." He casually ran his hand up and down Grey's back, a small hitch in his breath from nerves. "I was going to turn it into an Avenger's compound, for the team."

Grey looked up at Tony, her hand brushing against his cheek. "I thought you preferred to be alone?"

"Well," Tony shifted slightly, "Bunking with you for the last week has changed my opinion... slightly."

Grey smiled widely, before she leaned across to kiss the man next to her slowly. Tony kissed her back, his hand moving to grip her waist tightly. They were lost in each other for a few minutes, silently moving their lips in momentum. Grey pulled away, laughing softly. "Come on, we're needed, and for the record," she quickly kissed Tony again, "I'm all for an Avengers Tower."

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Grey arrived at Central Park in one of Tony's fancy cars. During the drive, she had thought back to a few days prior, where she had been huddled alone in her cold London apartment, anxious about her own powers, unknowing about the secret that lay dormant inside of her, and completely unhappy with life.

She remembered opening the door to Nick Fury that evening; she had prepared a night of TV and takeout, perfectly happy with staying invisible for the entire night for there was no one who visited her. She recalled the panic when she saw him, and the anger at having been stalked for so long, and then the dread which had set in.