Between Destruction

South (4)

      Tony woke up in his car pulled over on the road. He tried to remember what happened, Clint, museum, guy, tired. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck then his eyes with the heals of his hands, something was wrong.

Tony, in all honesty, really liked to work out problems and this was no different. Another secret pleasure of his was mystery novels and puzzles, puzzles really weren't too much different from his machines. He forced mist wrapped mind to clear the thin fog.

"Alrighty," he mumbles to himself. "Just gotta puzzle through it. First things first, Coffee."

He leaned back in his seat and shook his head like that could wash away cotton film that has settled over his senses. He started the car and pulled of the shoulder of the road. Tony left the gear shift low, speed was definitely out of the question. He pulled into the first place that had a sign mentioning his lovely life blood. It was some small family dinner.

"Welcome to Ricky's Rocking Diner. May I take your order," a older southern woman asked then her face dropped. "Oh sugar, what happened to you baby?"

Tony smiled at this simple honesty. "Rough week, can I just have the blackest coffee. Maybe to match the bags under my eyes."

She laughs almost a snort. "One black eye coffee comin' right up."

Tony nods and leans back. He doesn't dare closing his eyes or opening his phone. He just sits back and watches cars drive by. The lady came back eventually with a steaming mug of dark caffeine. She smiled softly and said, "promise me this is just to keep you awake 'till you can drive home and pass out there?"

"Definitely." Tony took a huge gulp and nodded. He reached to his back pocket for his wallet and froze. It wasn't there. He quickly racked his mind for its location only to realize he didn't have it. He payed for the museum in cash from his car, did he have more in the car?

"Are you ok, sugar," the woman asked a hand on her hip.

Stark couldn't look up, he couldn't do it. "I- I forgot my wallet," he says as if it is a death sentence. He couldn't believe it, the great Tony Stark couldn't pay for a cup o' coffee. It wasn't about pride, it was about how sweet this woman was and he was nothing but a drain.

"Oh sugar, don't worry. It's just a bit of coffee," she said, each word of sympathy was a knife to Tony. He glanced around quickly, there had to be something he could do.

"I noticed the air conditioning was making some weird sounds," he basically plead feeling guilty. "Could I fix it for you? I'm good with that sort of stuff."

"A cup of coffee for something I'd pay a handyman much more for?"

Tony nods trying to reassure her. "I'm good with that sort of stuff and I don't have anywhere to be really and I'd like to help."

The woman shook her head but gave in. "Let's give it a shot."

Half an hour later and the air conditioner, stove vent, and the neon 'open' sign were all in tip top condition. The woman gave Tony a big hug as he got in his car. "Bye," Tony called.

"Goodbye sugar," she said with a wave as he drove away. "Your kindness will be repaid!"

(I am so sorry. This book was supposed to update once a week and be over by now. School started and took most of my motivation with it.)