Pyromaniacs (Watty Awards)

[]Chapter 1[]

No, I do not own the Avengers or any other Marvel characters that appear in this story. It'd be cool, but I don't. Any other characters like Shania and her friends are mine however, as well as this plot, so I ask that you ask me about using anything. Thanks! ~Wolfsbane

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Today was my twenty-first birthday, and in celebration my friends and I head out to a club for the first (legal) time in our lives. I can hardly control my excitement as I straighten my platinum blond hair and pull on a golden dress. Heels were ruled off, and I wore golden flats instead.

No jewelry. No purse. Jewelry would only get annoying, and my friends were paying. This night was a treat for me. I didn't even put studs in, as I knew my hair would just get caught in them.

Makeup was light, just some mascera. Nothing too fancy. I grabbed the keys to my motorcycle, and my helmet, and dashed off down the sidewalk towards the Harly. I fantasized about a wonderful night, possibly meeting someone. I could tell it'd be fun.

My daydreams were interupted as I crashed into someone walking along the sidewalk. I picked myself up quickly, dusted off, and turned to the other person who was muttering. "Oh my god I'm so sorry!" I said to him, extending my hand. He took it, and stood up. I finally got a good look at his face.

"Holy shit, you're Tony Stark!" I exclaimed quietly, looking around. He placed a finger over his lips in a shush sign and dusted himself off.

"It's fine, just watch where you're going next time," he said, obviously paranoid. I nodded and picked up my helmet. Tony looked over my outfit.

"You've got a rip in the back. Are you going somewhere special tonight?" he asked. 

I groaned and looked at the rip, then nodded in Tony's direction. "Yes. It's my birthday and I'm going to the club with some friends," I replied edgily, now thoroughly annoyed with this encounter. 

"Allow me to drive you, in apologies for making you rip your dress," he offered. I chuckled.

"No, no it's my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going," I replied and started back towards my apartment so I could change. Tony grabbed my arm.

"No, I mean it. I'll wait out here while you get changed," Tony said, forcefully this time. I nodded and headed back in.

~<>~One Dress Change Later~<>~

I skipped out of the apartment once again, this time in a dark blue dress with ruffles on the bottom and some black flats. Tony whistled and I laughed, then he lead me to his car which was just a short way up the street.

"Whoa. No way!" I said, sitting down in the passenger seat of the Corvette. 

"Yes way. A special ride for your special day," he joked, and sat driver's seat next to me. I laughed and studied the interior of the car, and then he turned the radio on to a rock station.

"This ok?" Tony asked, and I nodded. The car pulled out of the parking space and down the street, a little faster than the speed limit.  It was my best fantasy about tonight coming true, except in a slightly different way then I thought at first. 

A phone rang, and I went to reach into my purse, then realized I didn't have one and it wasn't me. Tony pulled out his phone, which was ringing, and answered it. "Hello?" he asked.

A conversation started, and Tony began to look quite concerned. I raised an eyebrow at him, and he glanced at me. "Sure, I'll be there right away," he said to the person on the other line, and hung up. 

"What was that about?" I asked, concerned. It seemed to bug Tony quite a bit.

"Nothing. We just have to make a quick stop, then I'll get you to your club," he said distantly. I nodded and took his phone, and input my number.

"By the way, my name is Shania. I knew your name but you never heard mine," I said to him, and gave him his phone back. Tony nodded, still distant. I got the idea he didn't want to talk, so I closed my mouth and looked out the window at the passing scenery.

 We stopped outside of Stark Towers, the massive building that made every other skyscraper weep. I looked up in amazement, and Tony climbed out. "Stay here," he said to me, and I nodded, continuing to study the giant building. I had never been so close to it before.

After a while my child-like joy in seeing this building died, and I waited impatiently. I waited, and waited, and waited, until finally, about half an hour later, Tony walked back out. I was going to make a smart comment about the "quick" stop, but decided to hold my tongue. I realized how ungrateful that would be.

"I'm sorry about the wait," Tony said, sitting down in the seat next to me.

"It's fine. What was that about?" I questioned. He looked at me for a moment, deciding something. 

"I think I can trust you with the truth. I'm Iron Man, and that was an important meeting with S.H.I.E.L.D.," Tony said, shocking me. I sat there, considering how to respond. It truly made a lot of sense for him to be Iron Man, and I faintly recalled something about him on the news telling the world exactly that.

"Alrighty. Can we get to the club now though, my friends are probably worried about me," I told him. He opened his mouth, and I assumed he was going to ask me if I would keep his secret. "Yes, I won't tell anybody. I promise," I added, and he shut his mouth.

"Thank you. Anyway, which club are we headed to?" he asked.

"We?".

"Of course. Drove you so far. I hope you won't mind me crashing ladies night out.".

I laughed. "Of course not. If you really want to hang out with us tonight it's fine by me, but I'm not so sure about Ashley. She's the one paying and I don't think she'll enjoy paying for another person," I stated.

Tony chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll pay. Ashley won't spend a dime," he said. I punched his arm lightly.

"Thanks. This is a lot more than I'd expect for running into you on the street. Literally," I mused.

"Hey, I did rip your dress. Speaking of which, here's some money to buy a new one later," he said and handed me what I assumed was a hundred dollars. 

"You know, that was just a cheap knockoff. I didn't pay this much for it, and you're already paying for the night," I objected, refusing to take the money. 

"Well then, buy a better dress and some food with this," he said, then noticed my lack of a purse. "I'll hold on to it until later," he added.

I laughed again. "OK, if that's what you want to do it's fine with me," I stated. "By the way, after tonight you better call me. I didn't put my number in for nothing.". 

Another laugh from him. "Oh I definitely will. Now, where are we headed?" he asked again, and I realized we still hadn't moved. I covered my mouth with my hand, teasing myself at my distracted state. I told him the name of the club, and the Corvette pulled away from the curb. 

My original idea of this being an amazing night was absolutely true. We weren't even at the club yet and it was already the best day ever. Here I was, an average New Yorker, sitting in a Corvette with what I assumed was one of the richest men in New York, possibly the wealthiest man in the state. Or the country. Or the world. 

I laughed in my head about my ramblings. It was actually very funny to me, to think that I of all women in New York would be here. Definitely something to daydream about tomorrow. I fell deeper into my thoughts, and didn't even noticed we had arrived until Tony shook my arm. 

He stepped out of his side of the car, and opened the door for me. I smiled, and he helped me out, even though it wasn't needed. "Well, are you ready for a good night?" Tony asked. I chuckled. 

"Of course. I'm already enjoying it," I replied, and we walked past the doors.

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Whoop! *\(^-^)/* Finally wrote the first chapter of my Iron Man fan fic! Good things do come to those who wait! Go procrastionation! xD