ᛏᛟᚾᛁ ᛋᛏᚨᚱᚲ (iron) wrote in thedoorway, @ 2015-05-12 23:43:00 |
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His suitcase was packed, and he was ready to take the first plane out of town in the morning. All he had to do now was get through one last night in this godforsaken town before he headed down south to lay low some place Justice Hammer’s goons would never find him. He wished he’d had time to give Bruce a proper good-bye. Hell, he almost wished he’d never told no one about that conversation he’d overheard about the files Danvers had stashed at the Fluffy Bunny at all, but it was did now and Stark had to get out before he was got. Maybe it was better this way. He saw how Banner looked at that Dame. He deserved a good girl like that, someone who knew that even the hardest man could use a gentle hand every once and a while. She’d be better for him that Tony ever was and he knew that too. Maybe in another time, maybe in another life, but sometimes when the chips were down there was just no way to change the cards you’d been dealt. Stark sat on the edge of his bed, looking at his reflection in the vanity that sat in the corner of the room. He pressed his fingers against his eyes. They’d started to water because he was just so tired. Couldn’t have been any other reason. Couldn’t have been regret; ‘cause he decided a long time ago he never had those. It would all be better in the morning, he’d start a new chapter. Maybe make it out to Vegas, the city with enough lights it didn’t have no dark corners. He’d take up in one of those glitzy hotels and forget all about detectives who didn’t know when to quit, and pretty District Attorneys with their sharp elbows and sharper wits. He’d just turn the light off, just put his head down on his pillow. Tomorrow was a new day. * * * * * * * * * “You going somewhere, Doll?” No sooner had Tony started to drift off, did he hear that voice. He sat straight up, pulling the sheets to his chin and reaching to his left to click on the bedside light. There, in the corner of the room, standing over his packed suitcase, was Justice Hammer. And he was carrying iron. “Sure thing.” Tony said, smiling to try and hide the fear in his large brown eyes. He pouted his lips, and shrugged, trying to glance away from the heater in the Judge’s hand as casually as if he was holding a hairbrush. “It’s my Aunt Margaret, see. She’s been real sick. I thought I’d go see her. I would have told you, Baby, but you’ve just been so busy. I thought I’d be back before you even noticed I wasn’t here.” “Who do you think I am, Sweetheart?” Justice Hammer said, raising the heater in his hand a little higher to make sure that Stark got a good look. “You think I don’t know you’re rollin’ in the hay with that gum-shoe? You think I don’t know you been helping him out? Yeah? I got eyes all over this city, Sister, and they don’t like what they seen.” “Ah, honey no. No way.” Tony shook his head. “It ain’t like that at all. I ain’t foolin’ around with him. I never would do that to you, Baby. I was going to see him for something else. It’s that Barton, see, he owes me money. I thought maybe Banner’d be able to get it out of him. Offered him half, figured he was desperate enough he’d take it.” “That’s the story, that’s the story -- What kind of fool you think I am, Tony? That’s the kind of lie that’d make a priest laugh, huh? There’s gettin’ blood from a stone, then there’s getting blood from a stone and then, Sugartits, there’s tryin’ to get money out of a Barton. Not even Banner is that kind of a dope. You’re story is full’a holes, Sister, but don’t you worry about it cause soon you’ll be too!” “Ah, no Baby, please! Please don’t!” But, Hammer pulled back the hammer... |