In the clearing stands a boxer

The world worked in mysterious ways and she wasn’t about to question it. She had worked her ass off for years to build up her reputation as an artist and finally all that hard work was paying off. By some miracle she had been hired by Stark Industries to paint a mural in the lobby of one of their newest buildings that was set to open in a week and a half.

She would’ve taken the job no matter what. Having her name attached to a project like this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. But it didn’t hurt that the paycheck she was offered was finally going to be her ticket to her own apartment in Queens. While she loved her brother and her sister in law, she knew that she had overstayed her welcome a while ago.

After spending the entire morning sketching out her line work on the wall and preparing her work space and her paints she was finally ready to get started.

As she was about to make her first mark on the wall she heard a group of people walk into the lobby. Normally she didn’t mind working with a lot of noise. She preferred it actually. But it was one voice within that group that stood out to her the most.

Her head whipped around towards the group and her eyes landed on the one person she never thought she would see again.

He made the group give the mural a wide berth, proud of himself that no one even commented on it. And avoiding May.

Besides he had more important things to do. He had to go check on the painter who had arrived before he had and make sure all of her credentials were in order. Pepper had hired her... and Happy had vouched for her. Of course. It wasn't a matter of if she was trustworthy, but Happy didn't want her getting stuck outside arguing with some random guy on his team because she didn't have the right badge.

Happy moved from the press room to the security office, picking up the badge and chit chatting with Bambi outside of Pepper's office nearby a little trying to get his nerves out... Trying to prove to himself he wasn't nervous, before heading back towards the lobby, new badge in hand.

How was he supposed to play this?

Happy waved the badge in one hand, clearly not doing a great job at hiding his nerves, striding up to his ex-girlfriend. He hadn't seen her in years. He hadn't seen her since starting this job. He took a deep breath, tried to look more confident than he felt.

"Hey. Hi, May. Here. Security badge." Happy handed over the lament badge attached to a lanyard. "So you don't get locked out." He shrugged, not realizing that had been the same thing he had said to her, giving her the key to his apartment. Years ago. When she still loved him. When she wasn't so disappointed and angry with him. When he hadn't been so damn angry with her for leaving.

“Hmm? Right handed?” Tony frowned, leaning forward, thinking hard, then put his own hand around this throat, squeezing lightly. He switched to his left hand, humming, “Yeah, Stern is right handed.” He confirmed, nodding as the car wove effortlessly through the LA traffic, heading back to Tony’s manor.

It was Happy's job to keep Tony safe. He planned on doing just that. Maybe paying a visit to Stern, sweet talking Stern's own security staff, a little business to business talk... Maybe bring a few hundred dollar bills to let them look the other way if it came to it. And give Stern a taste of his own medicine.

If Tony could open up a little more about it... It wasn't fair, putting them both at risk with Stain. But Happy needed to do something. Stop feeling so fucking helpless. Maybe crossing a line and getting into it with Stain would somehow help things.

He didn't want to think about getting fired. He wouldn't think about it. Tony had hired him, Stain just paid him.

"These gala things can't be all misery, can they?" Happy tried to change the subject back to something a little less serious for now. When they were home and more relaxed... If Tony let him help with anything... It wasn't in their nature to talk so seriously about what was really going on. But Happy wasn't sure how much longer he could ferry Tony back and forth knowing this was happening to him. Allowing it.

“Everything okay, Pep?”

“Yes I get stressed out watching you fight and yes that means I bite my nails from the stress. But I don’t want to stop coming to support you.”

"I told you, May. I don't want you here. I love you. But--" Harold sighed heavily. He had told her before. They had argued over it. She came anyway. And now she was seeing him like this, her nails a mess, her heart rate to God knows what.

"But I told you, I don't want you seeing me like this. I can handle it, but I don't think you can. Please, May--" He kissed her head. "Just get out of here. I'll see you at home."

If she had a nickel for every time she had heard that she would never have to work ever again. First from her father, and now from the one man she had thought would never ever hurt her in the same way.

She wasn’t even a fraction as strong as he was, but she still shoved him with all her might when he kissed her.

He doesn’t get to say anything of it. And by the time they do speak again it’s too late. Because he said nothing now.

Later that night, after finding her suitcase and several clothes and bits of jewelry gone, he’s surprised to find it’s the missing toothbrush that makes him realize she wasn’t just over reacting or trying to get a rise out of him.

He starts in on a few beers and ices his face and falls asleep on the couch. Harold won’t call May until the next afternoon, knowing she’s staying with family.

His eyes drifted closed, and he inhaled deeply, taking in Happy’s comforting scent, trying to ignore the scent of the senator still embedded in his skin. As the car pulled away from the curb, he breathed out a long sigh, lifting his head. He was glad the back windows were tinted, so he didn’t have to worry so much about the paparazzi.

Like it wasn't obvious. He knew next week or sometime soon there would be a function where Stern would try to get Tony alone. To hell if the Senator thought he was going to have a chance for that... Happy stuck to Tony like glue in public. So he could prevent those kinds of things. That was his job, after all.

But sending Tony off like this... Happy felt helpless. Mentally he kicked himself for not offering boxing lessons sooner. He would love for Tony to have the opportunity to defend himself. But he knew Omegas weren't really allowed that luxury. The least he could do was teach Tony how to take a hit and get back up.

Disguising it as 'unwinding' wasn't a total lie either. Happy could take a hit, he'd made a whole career out of it, just out lasting the other guy for the most part. He was sure Tony had a lot of anger to let out. Happy would gladly take those hits. But he had to start with the basics.

"I think we could both use a few rounds of beating the shit out of a bag."

“I don’t know how well I’d do at that,” Tony sighed, “But I’m willing to give it a shot if you think it will help.” He agreed, enjoying the air from the AC, “Do you think Obi will ever let me stop doing this?” He asked, looking up to meet Happy’s gaze in the rear view mirror.

“I don’t know, boss.” Happy said, his hands white knuckling the steering wheel for a moment. His voice was a bit quiet but he looked up at Tony again, not wanting to sound defeatist. “Maybe there’s somebody worth meeting at this gala Friday night. We can hope, right?”

Someone who would look at Tony and not see dollar signs and stocks and power. Someone who saw Tony for the genius he was, the quick, funny, generous young man who was hurting even more than he wanted to show. The guy who didn’t feel he had anyone in his corner.

His eyes drifted closed, and he inhaled deeply, taking in Happy’s comforting scent, trying to ignore the scent of the senator still embedded in his skin. As the car pulled away from the curb, he breathed out a long sigh, lifting his head. He was glad the back windows were tinted, so he didn’t have to worry so much about the paparazzi.

Like it wasn't obvious. He knew next week or sometime soon there would be a function where Stern would try to get Tony alone. To hell if the Senator thought he was going to have a chance for that... Happy stuck to Tony like glue in public. So he could prevent those kinds of things. That was his job, after all.

But sending Tony off like this... Happy felt helpless. Mentally he kicked himself for not offering boxing lessons sooner. He would love for Tony to have the opportunity to defend himself. But he knew Omegas weren't really allowed that luxury. The least he could do was teach Tony how to take a hit and get back up.

Disguising it as 'unwinding' wasn't a total lie either. Happy could take a hit, he'd made a whole career out of it, just out lasting the other guy for the most part. He was sure Tony had a lot of anger to let out. Happy would gladly take those hits. But he had to start with the basics.

"I think we could both use a few rounds of beating the shit out of a bag."

SAM stood near the edge of the park, rainbow flag draped over his shoulders. No Captain America gear today, though a few folks still recognized him anyway. He didn’t mind. He smiled as a kid waved at him shyly. Sam grinned, gave them a salute, then crouched down and handed them one of the little shield stickers he'd brought just for this. ❝For a future hero.❞ He said with a wink. The kid beamed.

He stood again, taking a long look around — drag queens, couples dancing in the grass, someone proposing under a giant balloon arch, and a flood of colors. He didn’t know everyone here, but he knew he belonged and so did they. And if anyone was looking for a little safety, a little hope, or just someone to walk with for a while — Captain America was right there with them.

"Sam, you know I'm trying to keep off sweets. My doctor-- Holy shit they have cherry cheesecake funnel cake. You're paying."

Happy was dressed casually, not something he did very often at all. But it was June and it was fucking hot, so shorts and a black teeshirt with "Bi & Badass" in the appropriate colors it was. It was a debate between that shirt and "Straight was my phase" (though it had been a long phase.) Both shirts given to him by Pepper and Tony when he'd casually mentioned his gaze drifting to women... and men. He had hand waved it, but really, it was touching. Now even more so.

Happy debated the heavenly saturated fried fat of a funnel cake over the delicious cooler idea of ice cream as they walked towards the long line. And he had to hand it to the confectioner, the Trans sundae with blueberry, strawberry and vanilla scoops of ice cream as big as his fist with matching syrups dizzled over it? That was starting to sound really tasty. The Bi sundae was raspberry and blue raspberry sherbet and something called taro for the purple. He wasn't a sherbet guy and not that adventurous.

"I think I've learned how to show a bit of mercy." Natasha said with a small smile.

"I fink you broke my nos'd," Happy covered his face, applying the right 'stuffy' inflections to his words. He knew it wasn't broken, he wasn't so far away from his boxing days yet. He uncovered his face, showing he wasn't even bleeding when he decided either A) He didn't really want her to feel badly that she might have really hurt him and B) Remembering she was a trained assassin and not the sexy assistant Tony had hired. Well, at least she wasn't the assistant part. In other words, thinking on it, she probably knew exactly how hard or how soft her blows were.

He tossed the boxing gloves in his arms onto the floor of the ring before lifting the rope to let her out of it first. She'd wiped the floor with him (and luckily not literally like the last time she had stepped into Tony's ring).

An eyebrow arched up. He was trying to get her going. "If you think that's what it takes to get a woman going, I feel sorry for you." Her lips curved up into a sly smile before she slipped out of the ring.

"Well, I always enjoy talking to you, Nat." Happy's eyebrow rose at the smile. Was... she flirting with him? He never could tell with women. That was probably 99% of his problem with shooting his shot and failing spectacularly. He'd always flirt back, but when they were only being friendly he found himself coming off like a creep. Bad for a security guy. How did Tony do it so effortlessly?