Metallic Hearts {Metallic Charms Book #2}

Chapter 7: Black Out

Chapter 7: Black Out

I'd been staying with Tony for a little over a week and life was...good. For most of the day, I helped out Tony in the workshop by repairing the Iron Man suit that was still pretty banged up after the Loki attack. I also gave design and structural input ideas for the new Stark Tower.

When Tony was away on business or was stuck in a board meeting I was usually boxing or hanging out with Happy. Despite our harsh first meeting, we got along surprisingly well -when he didn't get on my bad side.

At the moment, to sure my boredom, Happy was 'teaching' me how to box. I already knew how to, quite well actually, but Happy had no idea about my situation, where I'd come from or how I'd gotten to this point.

"That's right, just hit a little harder this time." Happy coached and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I hit him again, harder, aiming for the face and hitting my target.

He needed to work on his blocking reflexes.

"Shit!" Happy exclaimed in pain, clutching his boxing glove-covered hands to his face before recovering. "That was good. Really good. You shouldn't hold back." 

"Thanks." I muttered, grabbing a drink and finding it awkward to talk and drink with a mouth guard in. "When's Tony going to be back?"  

"Soon." He replied in an annoyed tone, and I didn't blame him. I had asked him that same question about one-hundred times in the past half an hour.

"You said that last time." I retorted.  

Happy sighed, frustrated, and changed the subject. "I can see why Tony likes you. Feisty, snappy and pretty." I stayed quiet, put my gloves back on and hit him again in response.

He saw me coming and blocked, raising his hands and countering my attack by throwing a punch at me. I returned by kicking my legs up into his chest, falling to the ground and placing my hands behind my back to catch myself before flipping back up and throwing another punch to his face as he fell to the ground.

As Happy sat on his butt, shaking his head in disbelief he shouted; "What the hell was that?"  

"Martial arts." I shrugged. 

"No, that was dirty boxing." He retorted angrily.  

"Then next time, think about what your say to me." I replied, "I thought we were past this."

I exited the ring through the ropes and took off my gloves, mouth guard and helmet.

In the lounge room, I was met by Alice Davidson.  

Alice was a blonde bombshell with blue eyes, and a stunning body that I definitely couldn't compete with, and she was Tony's new personal assistant. Happy was still his driver but they halved up the jobs between them both.

"Hello, Ms. Barton." She smiled with a coffee in hand,  

"Alice, please, it's Noel." I told her and helped myself to the cinnamon buns on the bench.  

"Of course," Alice nodded, "Do you need anything?"  

"No thanks, I'm just gonna go grab a shower." I told her, heading towards my bedroom before looking over my shoulder at her and suggested, "But you might want to go give Happy an ice pack."

* * *

I wrapped myself up in a soft, fluffy towel and stepped out of the shower. I felt clean but I didn't feel any better, I was still paranoid. It had been a week and Fury hadn't sent anyone after me? That wasn't normal.

"JARVIS." I called pulling on underwear and a pair of jeans before looking for a clean top.  

"Yes, Ms. Barton." JARVIS replied.