"Some days she felt like she was swimming in lies, treading water in a sea of deception. One day, surely, she would drown in her own secrets."
*~*~*~*
Venetia Sarafian was never like other women. Rather than sitting back and thinking of how she coul...
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Venetia Sarafian had been called many names throughout her life, many of which had been either demeaning or downright hurtful. Few people had ever looked at the woman to see what was beyond her looks, past the dark marks that littered her skin, forever marking her as different from those around her. Few people ever tried to get to know the Sarafian woman, instead doing everything in their power to avoid her, fearful that she would hurt them. However, that changed when the young twenty-two year old woman crossed paths with the notorious Howard Stark.
It was 1940 when Venetia and Howard first met, the second World War having just begun. While the world had been thrusted into a constant disarray of chaos, Venetia found herself fighting to get what she wanted. Growing up she had always been amazed by her father's work, the Sarafian man having worked as an engineer up until his death. He had always told his daughter that she could accomplish anything she set her mind to and that was what she was determined to do. It had been her dream to become an engineer, wanting to follow in her father's footsteps. However, she had been laughed at by every scientist and engineer she had approached, until she met Howard Stark.
Howard had found himself amused by the woman's appearance at his office, having expected her ask about becoming his secretary, but that had been the last thing on her mind. Instead she had arrived with a bag full of paperwork, representing the years of studying her father had provided her with to prepare her for a future in the field of science. After hearing the young brunette lecture for an hour about the mechanics of the weapons and planes the soldiers were using, Howard had come to a decision no other man had.
It was with a smile on his lips that he had held out his hand, cutting Venetia off in the middle of her describing an issue with the preferred plane of the United States Army. She was astonished when he had said the words that she had been craving for years, words that every other scientist and engineer had denied her of.
"Shall we get to work?"
*~*~*~*
"You're an idiot." It wasn't the first time Venetia had spoken those words to Howard Stark and she didn't dare think it would be the last. After three years of working with the man she had become accustomed to his crazy antics, even in the middle of a war. However, this time Howard had truly managed to surprise her.
The pair had traveled to New York for the World Exposition of Tomorrow, Howard having managed to get them a spot to display their flying car. Of course, when he had informed his protege of the event she had rolled her eyes and laughed, reminding him that they had better things to be doing with their time. Still, Howard had insisted on attending, saying it would help them relax. It wasn't until he was minutes away from taking the stage that Howard had pulled her aside, telling her that he wanted her on the stage with him. No matter how many times Howard had presented one of their inventions or devices, Venetia had never gone on stage with him. Instead she had insisted on remaining a silent partner, for the time being, not wanting to rock things when they were in the middle of a world war.
"Just hear me out, Nettie," Howard begged the woman. "Mandy's got a dress ready, all you've got to do is change."
"I'm not going out there," Venetia shook her head. "And unless that dress goes to the floor, has long sleeves and a turtleneck, I'm never stepping foot in it either. We've talked about this, Howard."
"And it's stupid," Howard spoke bluntly. "This car is just as much yours as it is mine. You should be out there too. Besides, I thought you wanted to make a name for yourself? Become the next Madame Currie?"
Venetia narrowed her eyes at the man that had become-- as much as she hated to admit it-- her best friend over the last three years. He knew how much she hated to be on display in front of other people, yet here he was using her own words against her. Of course she wanted to become well known for her contributions to science, but in her own time. She didn't want to be thrusted into the spotlight, especially not without any notice. Yet that was the position the man before her had stuck her in, refusing to give in.
"I'm not wearing that bloody dress," she snapped.
"The audience's loss." Howard shrugged as he eyed the suit the woman was wearing, complete with a turtleneck underneath it.
Venetia only rolled her eyes as she let Howard lead her towards the edge of the stage, just out of view from the crowd that had gathered before the stage. Peeking around the corner, she could see a mixture of men and women, including a handful of men in uniform. Knots formed in her stomach as she watched them talk amongst themselves, waiting for the show to start.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming out!" Mandy smiled widely as she made her way out onto the stage, earning applause from the crowd. "Now, please welcome Mr. Howard Stark and Miss Venetia Sarafian!"
Howard grinned widely as he made his way onto the stage, leaving Venetia to trail out behind him. She did her best to keep a smile on her lips, fighting back the anxiousness that was practically eating away at her insides. However, the nerves didn't stop her from rolling her eyes when she watched Howard kiss Mandy right on the lips.
"I love you, Howard!" A woman from the audience shouted as Venetia finally reached Howard's side at the center of the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, what if we told you that in just a few short years, your automobiles won't even have to touch the ground at all?" Howard's question was met by cheers as women made their way onto the stage. Everyone watched as they removed the wheels from the car that had already been placed on the stage for them. "Yes, thanks, Mandy. With Stark robotic reversion technology, you'll be able to do just that. Nettie?"
Everyone's eyes seemed to followed the brunette as she moved over to the machine and pressed a few buttons. As she worked with starting up the car, a real smile made its way onto the woman's lips, something that several people watching her, Howard included, didn't miss. For it was when Venetia was working that she was truly at her happiest. After another moment the car started to rise off of the ground, hovering a good foot off the stage. However, the moment was short lived as something in the car sparked, causing it to plummet back to the ground.
"I did say a few years, didn't I?" Howard laughed the malfunction off, earning laughs from the audience. Venetia had to bite back her frown, forcing her smile to remain despite her hard work's failure.
Throughout all of this, the brunette didn't notice a pair of eyes in the audience that hadn't left her from the moment she stepped onto the stage. The pair of chocolate orbs that belonged to a young man in uniform that had all but forgotten the woman that he invited to join him at the expo that evening. The man couldn't bring himself to look away from the woman on the stage, something about her seemingly drawing him in without her ever having to say a word.
