Who: Tony Stark and Merlin When: May 2 Where: Stark Tower What: Discussing Tony’s new hire Rating/Warnings: Low/None Status: Complete
Merlin had just gotten back to his office from doing a virus check on another floor when he got the message that Tony was looking for him. Usually he was in his office since his team handled most queries but every now and then he liked to stretch his legs and put in an appearance, though usually he ended up taking longer as he chatted to people. He’d always been a friendly chap.
Pinging Tony he let him know he was back and asked if he wanted Merlin to come to him, waiting for a response he checked the team inbox to see if there were any pressing issues.
Tony had stopped by Merlin’s office unannounced, and caused a bit of a flutter. Of course, it wasn’t unusual for Merlin and Tony to spend time together at work--they worked pretty well hand in hand. But it was unusual for Tony to come downstairs to the IT department. Normally, Merlin came upstairs. So when Tony found Merlin’s office empty, he was a little disappointed. He smiled and greeted all the other IT folk, passed along the message, and then headed back upstairs to wait.
He got the message from Merlin, and, being mid-solder, asked if the younger man could come upstairs to his lab. Hopefully Jarvis 2.0 could relay the message via voice to text, and not have it come out all garbled.
Merlin found it rather amusing how much it flustered his team when Tony stopped by, he was such a nice guy that Merlin mostly forgot he was a powerful millionaire too. So he was rather bemused by the urgency his team had passed on the message, in awe the head man had come himself. It made Merlin seem more important than he actually was.
Getting the message he made his way up and as he swiped his card was granted access to the lab. “What are you working on now?” he asked curiously once Tony had stopped soldering in case he made him jump.
Tony had been alarmed to Merlin’s entrance to the lab by a light flashing on his visor. He installed that software, just for times like these--it was important not to make big mistakes or startle when working with solder. He set the torch aside and removed the visor to give Merlin a little smirk.
“Nothing. Something for a friend.” Tony and T’Challa had been working on the other’s Dream car downstairs, and Tony had to bring things up to use the finer tools in his own lab from time to time. “I’ve hired a new Personal Assistant, and I was hoping you could set her up with what she needs to get on the Network.” Tony set his gloves aside as he spoke.
Merlin nodded not asking any more, he knew sometimes Tony worked on super secret things and it wasn’t really anything to do with Merlin anyway.
“Oh yeah sure. No problem” Merlin said, “What’s her name?” Once he knew that he could locate the personnel file she no doubt already had from her interview and work from there, “Does she know what she’s getting into?” he added with a cheeky grin.
Tony gave a little laugh. “She has no idea, the poor thing. Kara Danvers,” he added, pulling out his phone to send Merlin the pertinent info. “I’m sending you her file.” Technically she wasn’t an employee of Stark Enterprises, but of Tony Stark. So he might have to fudge a few things. But Tony couldn’t have an assistant who couldn’t help him by managing his work calendar and the like.
Merlin nodded, waking up his tablet, “I’ll take her to lunch and give her the lowdown” he said only half joking, Merlin had no doubt that since Tony had picked her she’d shown him something to think she’d be able to hold her own. “Got it” he said, “It shouldn’t take long to set everything up”
“Good. Thanks.” Tony said, giving the younger man a smile. “I’m looking forward to it. She seems like a really nice kid.” She made it really easy for him not to even dream of mixing business with pleasure. Not like with Pepper. (Not that she was his assistant, but the attraction was still there.)
“Of course” Merlin said with a smile and nod, “Well positivity is a good thing, dreading it wouldn’t have been much of a good sign right?” Choosing somebody he wasn’t attracted to was definitely a good idea on Tony’s part.
Tony paused for a moment, then gave a little grin. “Good point.” If he’d been dreading it, he wouldn’t have gone through with it, would he? He moved around the desk to the dry bar to pour himself a drink. “Can I get you a scotch?”
Merlin hesitated for a moment before nodding, “Just a little one please” he said, he couldn’t pass up the chance, Tony always had good scotch and it was rare that Merlin indulged. It wasn’t too far off going home time though.
Tony chuckled. He poured them each a splash of some really good stuff, then moved to take a seat. “Here’s to the start of a new adventure,” he said, lifting his glass in a cheers.
Sitting near his boss for a moment Merlin lifted the glass he’d been given in response, “A new adventure” he agreed with a smile.