( I WAS JUST CHECKING )

WHEN CHERRY WALKED INTO THE OFFICE AFTER HER DAY OFF, IT WAS WEIRD TO SEE TONY WAITING AT HER DESK. He was leaning on the front edge, flirty chat spilling from his lips as he crossed his arms over his chest. Cherry made sure to give him an odd look before settling herself in the comfy chair she had, tucking her purse underneath the desk and brushing some stray cat hair off of her pants.

"Good morning, Mr. Stark," Cherry smiled at him. She would have called him Tony, but she could see Obadiah approaching from the left and she would be damned if she was caught being unprofessional around that man. "Mr. Stane, how can I help you both?"

Tony looked at her, then at Obadiah, then motioned for the older man to go first. Even at Obadiah's strange look that flitted between them, he still opened his mouth and asked if Cherry could cancel his appointments today because something came up. She nodded, smiled, then wished him a good day with a smile on her face. Tony was fidgeting by the time Obadiah had fully left, making Cherry ignore him for that much longer as she logged into the Stark Industries server to be able to cancel Obadiah's meetings. She made sure to click onto his schedule and have the first appointment opened up before turning to the billionaire that was tapping his fingers on the desk. 

"Tony, how can I help you?" 

Tony, who was watching his fingers tap against the sleek desk, looked up at the question and a smirk appeared on his face. Cherry raised her eyebrows at him, watching as he checked the expensive watch on his wrist before he was giving her a look. "Coffee. We're going for some. You don't mind, do you, Renee?" 

"Of course not, Mr. Stark," the other receptionist told him, clicking on something before her fingers typed quickly across the keyboard to change it. Cherry sent her a smile, giving her shoulder a thankful squeeze before she was getting up and following Tony out of the lobby, purse back on her shoulder. 

She greeted Happy when she climbed into the car beside Tony, smiling at the driver cheerily, now that she was going to get some caffeine in her system. Cherry herself could feel the headache from not having a sip of coffee already, so she was more than glad that Renee hadn't minded that Tony stole her. Even if the only reason she probably did was because he was technically their boss. 

"So, how do you take your coffee?" Tony asked, where his eyes were on his phone, furrowing his eyebrows on what was on the small screen before he was turning back to Cherry. "Let me guess, something sugary sweet, like you, sugar." 

Cherry rolled her eyes, before she was shaking her head and running a hand through her hair, "At this point, I'd take it black just to get some into my body. But I generally have a little bit of cream in it."

Tony was tapping on his phone now, which made Cherry feel the slightest bit awkward. Did she have to repeat herself? She'd rather not, if it could be prevented. It was annoying always having to repeat yourself to people, but if Tony asked her what she said, she would most-likely tell him an abridged version. 

"By a little bit of cream, do you mean half the cup like most other girls I have seen," Tony asked, his blue eyes moving from his phone to look at her. Oh, so he was listening to her. That's good. He waved his phone at her, "Sorry about that, Obie sent me an email telling me I needed to come up with some new weapon for the military to showcase soon." 

They pulled up to an expensive looking coffee place, making Cherry raise her eyebrows. Tony's hand went to the small of her back to lead her in after he was out of the car, Cherry making sure to fire back over her shoulder and ask if Happy wanted anything. Upon his decline, Cherry made sure to watch where she was walking, even if she almost tripping on the small lip that separated the entrance to the cafe and the street. 

"So, what you're saying, is you're gonna be disappearing to that infamous workshop Pepper has told me about for days at a time?" Cherry asked, walking up to the counter and ordering her coffee the way she liked it in a to-go cup. Tony following immediately after with a flirtatious comment to the cashier, who giggled at the fact that Tony Stark flirted with her. Cherry grabbed her own wallet and made sure to dump a generous tip into the tip jar because she knew what it was like to work in these kinds of jobs. 

"I may be persuaded to make an appearance to the public with someone like you on my arm," Tony smiled, looking at her, before he was shoving some more money into the tip jar. Cherry is pretty sure it was a fifty, but there seemed to be more bills clumped with it. 

"Well, if there is free food and free coffee, I'd gladly go with you," she told him, smiling at the barista as he passed her the cup that held her coffee. A second later, Tony had his own cup, and they were making their way back to Happy. 

"I'll have to take you up on that offer," Tony said as they got back into the backseat of the car, Cherry sending Happy a wide smile after taking a sip from her cup. 

▪ ▪ ▪

The next day, Cherry's coffee order was waiting on her desk, the perfect amount of cream, on top of a note. Which read: Cherry, sorry I couldn't take you out for coffee again. Pep's on my ass about some paperwork that I've been putting off since before the charity gala. Tomorrow though. - T.Stark

▪ ▪ ▪

Tony kept his word, about the coffee and about taking her to events. Cherry was waiting outside some super exclusive art gallery, which was opening a new exhibit and Tony was on the guest list. Cherry had asked if they could meet at the venue because she needed to do some things to make sure that Scottie was doing alright and that his left leg wasn't bugging him in a way that made it difficult for him. 

The dress that had been sent to her was a gorgeous shimmery black. It was a one shoulder dress and was shorter than the one that she wore to the Gala, but just as beautiful. Cherry wondered if Tony was going to buy her new dresses for all of these events or if she was going to be able to wear some of her own clothes. 

A chilly breeze swept through the Californian air, making Cherry glance around, hoping to see Tony approaching. He was running late, apparently, and Cherry was wishing that she could enter. But, she felt rude if she did because Tony was the one that had the invite. 

The next breeze that swept through the air had Cherry thinking fuck it and approaching the entrance. There was an older man there, dressed in an immaculate suit and looking down at the podium he was stationed behind. Cherry walked up to him cautiously, smiling in a hopefully disarming way. He looked up at her, his gaze scanning her person, before asking, "Name?"

"Uh-" Cherry thought about it, knowing her own name wouldn't be on the list. She took a chance and told him, "Tony Stark?"

The man scoffed. "Yeah, and I'm George Clooney. Nice try, Miss. It's gonna take more than that to get in." 

"I expected George Clooney to age better," Cherry told him, cocking her head to the side and watching the expression on the man's face turn from one of smirking superiority to raging anger. He opened his mouth to probably tell her off and to get the fuck out of there when Cherry felt a hand on her lower back. The man's expression went pale, and Cherry accepted the kiss that Tony placed on her cheek. 

"Cherry, sugar, you look lovely," Tony complimented, before turning to the still paled man and told the man his name again. Cherry fought the urge to stick out her tongue at the man as the two of them passed by, Tony leading them into the venue with a smirk on his face. When they were a safe distance away, Tony turned to her. "I didn't know you could be a little shit."

Cherry found herself shrugging, "It usually only comes out with the people who deserve it. His sarcasm was very unprofessional."

Tony only smiled at her then, before he was hooking her hand in the crook of his elbow and dragging her around the room to look at the art. For each picture, he made little comments about it, mostly making fun of the style and Cherry tried to hide her laughter behind her hand when other people approached Tony to ask his opinion. He always answered in confusing ways that never really stated his opinions, or went totally off topic and talked about something random that somehow worked for each picture. 

As Cherry was laughing into Tony's shoulder, hopefully covering it well from the people that Tony was talking to, the man called over a waiter and grabbed the group the champagnes. Cherry simply held onto it, not taking a sip, mostly to not seem weird as everyone else drank their flutes. Cherry's pretty sure Tony finished his in a swallow or two. Which made her to look at him with concern because why was he drinking so intensely?

She didn't ask, however. It's not like it wasn't splattered on every credible and non-credible gossip magazine. Tony Stark; billionaire, playboy, alcoholic? Reasons why Tony Stark drinks as much as he does! Exclusive pictures from Tony Stark's latest weekend bender! And as much as Cherry wanted to mind her own business and not read the articles, sometimes she couldn't help herself. Some of them told a tale of him trying it in college and then boom! he was addicted. Others painted a picture that the more he got into weapons making and the more he sold had him falling deeper and deeper into the bottle. One magazine, however, had a recollection of Howard's own drinking and the stress to be perfect he placed of Tony's young shoulders drove the son to follow in his father's footsteps. 

Cherry thought that was the most believable one. None of the newsstands did though. 

▪ ▪ ▪

Cherry was reading a book when there was a knock on the door. Scottie, who was laying curled up in her lap, popped his head up and meowed in the direction of the door. Cherry gave him an affectionate scratch between the ears before she was shooing him off her lap so that she could get the door. Whoever was behind it got impatient and knocked again just as Cherry was nearing it. She really hoped it wasn't her neighbor asking for some of her milk again. 

It wasn't her neighbor. On the other side of the door was Tony Stark, dressed in a pair of old jeans stained with grease, a rock band t-shirt that was obviously well loved, and not sporting any sunglasses that she could see. In his hand was a bag that obviously held takeout, Cherry could smell it from where she was standing and her stomach grumbled. Tony flashed a smile, one that made Cherry think of him trying to act innocent. 

"So, I was thinking takeout, you know, but I didn't want to eat it alone and I'm pretty sure Pepper and Happy are on a date. Then, my mind went to you!" Tony said, side stepping Cherry to get into her apartment. Scottie, who had been waiting patiently by the archway that separated the entrance area from the living room, meowed at the new comer. Cherry watched as Tony bent down to pet him, the cat immediately starting to purr and rub himself against the billionaire in any form he could. "Cute cat. I got your address from Pepper. I'm here, with Chinese takeout, ready to hear all about what you've been doing since I last saw you." 

Scottie was still purring loudly and assaulting Tony's legs with his body as he walked to place the food on the coffee table, but the billionaire didn't seem to mind one bit. In fact, once the food was placed, he bent down to give the cat all the attention he seemed to crave, which elicited a meow of gratitude and somehow even louder purring. 

"His name's Scottie. Yes, like beam me up, Scottie!" Cherry mused as Tony opened his mouth to ask the obvious question. Thinking that they'll need cutlery and plates, she turned to go get them from her kitchen, returning to see that Tony had moved to the couch and was setting everything up on the coffee table. Scottie had made himself comfortable on the space next to Tony's thigh, his face nuzzled into the man's jeans and his claws kneading at the sofa. "And some of us don't have insane amounts of money to be throwing around so they have to work." 

Tony had been taking her to most of his Galas now. It had been a little less than three weeks since the whole George Clooney accident, but now a lot of the venues knew that Cherry was there with Tony Stark and let her in if they arrived at separate times. Generally how the Galas went was that they'd arrive together or meet up there, mingle/talk/laugh while Tony gets drunk (which Cherry was now trying to limit his drinks), and then they would leave when appropriate, Tony taking a model home while Cherry excitedly went back to Scottie. Sure, maybe sometimes Cherry wanted to be the woman on Tony's arm, leaving with him, but she decided early on that she would much rather be his friend than a one night stand he wouldn't remember. 

She settled down beside him, passing out the spoons and forks they were going to use to serve the Chinese, before she realized that they probably needed something to drink, so she hopped up to go grab some water for them. When she came back, Tony was already filling up both plates with all the food he had gotten, which was a lot. This was when she got a really good look at him, saw the way he was operating, and narrowed her eyes. Cherry reached over and grabbed his chin, turned his face to her and got a look at the pure exhaustion that was shown in and around his eyes and in the furrow of his eyebrows. 

"When was the last time you slept?" Cherry asked, in which Tony's eyebrow furrowed more and he seemed to be thinking about it - a bad sign. It was a good thing that she had finished her cup of coffee before he had arrived and got rid of the old stuff that had been in the pot. She was going to make him sleep, even if it meant that he was going to on the couch. 

"Fifty seven hours ago," Tony mumbled, immediately started to dig in after he passed Cherry's plate to her. "I've been avoiding Pepper for that very reason - which now thinking about it, maybe I shouldn't have texted her about Chinese food." 

Cherry sighed and ran a hand down her face, "We're eating then you're sleeping. I have the guest room set up. It may not be as comfy as your California King, but it'll do for the night." 

"Awe, come on, Cherry! You're supposed to be the cool friend!" Tony whined through a mouth of chicken fried rice. "I just got caught up in SI stuff, so sleep escaped me! I was in the zone!"

Cherry just raised her eyebrows at him, which made Tony deflate, but nod grudgingly in agreement. To help pass the time, so either weren't rude and talking with their mouths full, Cherry turned on her TV. A movie was playing, one she didn't recognize but let play, both her and Tony being enraptured by the slightly stupid plot. Even after they finished their food, Tony eating a lot which made Cherry know he hasn't been taking care of himself, the two of them were too invested in the movie to go to sleep. 

That was, until Cherry awoke the next morning against Tony's side, head on his shoulder with his resting on her's, the two of them wrapped in the throw that had been on the couch. Scottie was sitting on the floor, staring up at her, blinking his blue eyes up at her. Then, he opened his mouth and yowled, which made Tony jump away, looking around frantically. 

"No, Pepper, I swear I wasn't asleep on my desk," he ground out sleepily, making Cherry snort before getting up. 

"I'm going to put on the coffee," Cherry told him, Tony blinking owlishly up at her before the words seemed to process in his mind. 

"Oh, God, you're a literally angel, Cherry," Tony moaned, before he was leaning back on her couch, his eyes closing with his head resting on the back. Cherry kicked his leg on the way past, making sure he didn't go back to sleep. Scottie jumped on him as Cherry left, letting out another loud meow that had Tony sighing, but petting the cat anyway. 

▪ ▪ ▪

"You!" Tony shouted, making both Renee and Cherry look up from their computers. He was pointing at the blonde, who raised her eyebrow in question. She may have looked a little worse for wear due to Tony inviting her to some restaurant opening and the two of them getting lost in the conversation between them that was mostly them giggling about some gossip and staying way past what they said they were staying for. Getting home at three and getting up at five was not good for her somehow Cherry had managed. 

"Me?" Cherry asked, to which Tony nodded and told her to get up. Cherry did as told, casting Renee an apologetic look, who just rolled her eyes and waved her off. "Tony, I am working." 

"Nope, me, you, and Pepper are going out for lunch because she sent me a formal complaint that I was stealing her best friend," Cherry blinked at him. Pepper had been at her desk for a small break just an hour ago and had told her that she was happy to have Cherry's help with the whole 'take care of Tony' group. She knew all the members, having met Rhodey at some Gala that was for the military and hit it off. She couldn't believe that Tony had been making eyebrows at the colonel whenever Cherry and him started laughing at a joke. As much as Rhodey was an attractive man, getting to know Tony had worsened the crush she had on him. 

Which was bad.

"If it means you're getting actual food in your stomach, then I'll see you in an hour, Renee," Cherry smiled at her as she reached under the desk to grab her purse. "I'll bring you something back, Tony's buying!" 

Renee laughed at the sound of indignation, which sounded like a bird squawking, before Cherry was being lead out by Tony with his hand on her back. She made sure to wrap a hand around his own waist and give him a squeeze, smiling at him, before dislodging so that she could get into the car. She gave Happy a smile and a greeting, then being told that Pepper was going to meet them at the restaurant. 

Once there, they got a secluded table at the back and the next thing Cherry knew, she was laughing loudly at something Tony said, gripping onto the table as to not fall over as she laughed brilliantly. Pepper was snickering beside her, making sure to have her hand on Cherry's shoulder so the woman wouldn't tip over, and Tony was smiling victoriously at the snorts that where making Cherry cover her mouth with her hand. 

She wasn't even sure why it was so funny, it was just a joke about some physics concept she vaguely remembered from taking in high school. But, it was funny and it brought that brilliant smile out of Tony, so she guessed he would always laugh at those types of stupid jokes. 

▪ ▪ ▪

Pepper was painting Cherry's toe nails as they sat on the latter's couch, Scottie hopping around with his toy, movie playing in the background. The wine had been popped awhile ago for Pepper, Cherry's mug that proclaimed but first, coffee sat filled with said liquid. It was girl's night for them, but Cherry was still hoping that Tony would send a text when he got out of the workshop so that she knew he was okay. The fact that it's been a couple of days since he had contacted her didn't bug her. (She was lying, it bugged her. Probably a little bit too much.) 

"He's probably working on some fantastic invention that Obadiah is gonna reject because Stark Industries is a weapon manufacturer, Tony," Pepper did a pretty good impression of Obadiah, which made Cherry raise her eyebrows and stare at her. 

"But, it's Tony's company. Why doesn't he tell Obadiah to shove it and make some crazy smart phone that blows the iPhone out of the water?" Cherry asked, knowing that even with how much time she was spending with the man, Pepper would always know him better. 

"His dad," Pepper said, didn't elaborate further as she fixed the toe nail that she was painting on. Cherry nodded, grabbed her coffee and took a sip so that she couldn't say something completely stupid. She had known Tony had daddy issues, could relate to the fact that he had daddy issues (hell, she had a scar running down her thigh because of her own), but with Howard dead and the Stark legacy left on Tony's shoulders, she couldn't understand that amount of pressure. 

It was silent for awhile, Pepper and Cherry watching the movie as a way to not talk, when Pepper finally spoke up, "You know, Tony's good with machines. He knows machines. But people... Tony's not very good with them. So, if he ever does something to push you away, which he very well might, he's not gonna know how to apologize. He likes you a lot, Cherry. Please, don't give up on him." 

Cherry blinked, then reached out and grabbed Pepper's hand, giving it a squeeze. "Pep, I was half-way in love with him before he even started talking to me. I don't think I could give up on him, even if I tried." 

Pepper smiled, squeezed her hand back, "I know. I was just checking." 

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oop, we love some character development and time skipping. we have some moments before the whole getting kidnapped thing that are going to be fluff, and then we're on to iron man! ayeeeeeee