Avengers Imagines

Envy (Pt. 1/2)

[Slight au to the effect that the team doesn't split up after the events of CA:CW because I needed the characters to write and also the tension]

If the intensity of a gaze could invoke fire, Tony would have been reduced to ashes, along with the woman beside him. Who was she? Just some UN personnel who was sent over to moderate the Avengers facility after the accords and everything that happened in Germany.

That was not the problem. As fate would have it, Brittany was also very passionate towards mechanical engineering and before you knew it, she was spending hours with Tony tinkering away in his lab. 'Brittany.' You repeated her name your mind in a rancid, high-pitched tone.

At this point, what was flowing through your veins had to be liquefied jealousy instead of blood. She was always standing too close to Tony, smiling too much or talking too animatedly. It was difficult to tell whether Tony was merely being polite or he liked her and your concious mind refused to delve into that any further for the sake of your own sanity.

"Brittany!" You greeted cheerfully through gritted teeth, "How are we doing? I hope our performance is satisfactory and we're not keeping you here longer than you need to be."

"Oh, the Avengers are doing wonderful, (Y/N). Personal tension aside, they have excellent on-field coordination, which is all I am concerned about. In fact, I would have left this morning if Tony hadn't asked me to stay a bit longer." Brittany merrily chirped, oblivious to your sarcasm.

"Tony did what, now?" You arched your neck toward the man in question with a grin plastered to your face, feeling, in the moment, that either you or him should spontaneously combust into flames. Tony sensed the wrath beneath the smile and quickly countered, "We've been working on something and I think we will finally hit a breakthrough. I will show it to you when it's done."

"Will you? Nice. It's all I can do not to hack your system and see it right now." You smiled, positively fuming, eyes slowly traveling from Tony to Brittany. "We're going to hit no such thing if you keep wasting time in talking." Brittany booped Tony's nose and turned to you, "Such a silly one, he is!" It was the last thing she said before the both of them went back to their work, rendering you to feel alone and intruding.

Eyes almost rolling back in a lethal mixture of rage and envy, you exited the lab and went back to your previous position of staring at them from behind the glass doors. You could have been staring at them for hours for all you knew, since you had lost track of time, when Tony walked out.

"Are you aware that there is smoke coming out of your ears?" He quipped. You folded your arms and narrowed your eyes. "Don't play coy with me, Stark. What are you doing with her?"

"My, Miss (L/N). Are you jealous?" Tony feigned surprise, placing a hand on his chest. You felt like you had been caught stealing candy from a child and embarrassment rose red on your cheeks. "What? Jealous, me? No! Why would- does this- what are you- I'm not jealous! Pffffft. If any-"

"As much as I am enjoying this very articulate conversation," Tony interrupted your sputtering, "I've gotta run to the bathroom. I don't wanna pee in these pants and ruin them. Brittany really likes them, you know." With a wink and a boop on your nose, he half-jogged out of your sight.

As your gaze turned back to Brittany, her presence seemed to hurt you physically. You wanted her gone, quick, and in a way that made her return impossible. Somewhere, from a dark corner of your mind, an idea emerged. It was not ethical and might not even be legal but if could pull it off, she would have to leave and Tony would be yours, forever.