holdplease | ( closed to fightlikehell. )

Just me. It's all good though. I get to spend time with this one when she's not in school.

[ Plus there are the hours and hours of working on their own experiments outside of homework. Gotta get those science fair ribbons. She has high aspirations already. ]

It does. We make time for the important stuff. [ Like juice pops! ] Yeah, like juice pops.

Juice pops...do sound like they're pretty important.

[Not that he has had one. The exuberance from the little one cannot be denied.]

Well in that case. I look forward to your call. I uh...

[He remembers that he has business cards now and reaches for it.]

I don't know if you'd ever need any legal services but--[It feels like Tony is doing him an enormous favor.]

They are. This one's always got them on her mind. Pretty sure if I looked in her ear that's all I'd find. Juice pop sticks.

[ A giggle and a no! She gives a small smack to his arm. ] Oh, ow, hey. I don't know I might need some getting so viciously attacked here.

[ He takes the business card to tuck away with his files. Well, the files Pepper so graciously organizes and keeps. Obie would be seething if he knew Tony would rather work with someone outside of the company. ]

The brutality.

[He feigns surprise, complete with the hand to his chest. Matt is smiling all the while.]

Thank you, sir. Miss. You both have a wonderful day.

>[The cane extends and he feels over the counter top for his shoulder bag now empty of his broken electronics.]

[ Repairing those particular electronics had been a bit of a challenge, mostly cause Tony hadn't every worked on them before. He had to teach himself what he needed to know, and then there was making sure it did what Matt needed it to when he picked it up. Still, it only ended with running into him when it was time to give him back his stuff, and the few minutes it took to go over it all and make sure he was happy with it.

Tony can admit he wouldn't have minded just ---finding an excuse to talk with the man for any other reason.

Today is a new day, though, and he's at the Chelsea Water Park with Morgan cause it's too hot to be at a regular one or just cooped inside all day long. He's one of maybe a few adults that actually ever gets out there, chasing after her and being chased. It ends with both of them drenched from head to toe, but it's totally worth it. Daddy, can we go over there for lunch? They have cheeseburgers.]

Yeah, baby, let's find out shoes and head over, okay? You cooled off? Huh? Who won that splash fight. You? No way.

[Running across Tony was really a treat. Out and about with his items no less. Well, that was just kismet. A few moments of breezy conversation. It was just what he needed after a brutal day in court. The energy this man exudes is so refreshing. His positive nature and curiosity. They haven't known each other very long but he can say without hesitation that Tony is not like anyone else he has ever known.

The hot weather was challenging for everyone. He wasn't the type to stay indoors as it was. L and Z said go to Chelsea and see a client. On the way back he was hungry for stimulation, food and something easy going. A water park? Why not.

Kids laughing, clear and dirty water beat the stench of sweat in Hell's Kitchen. So he's waiting for his order. There's a small voice in the distance. It's...familiar. An adult voice answers.]

[ Tony helps Morgan get her shoes on, and brushes her hair back out of her face. It's easy to do it up in a ponytail for her so that it doesn't stick to her face and neck. His own hair is a bit of a wreck until he can get it looked at, not that he minds it sticking up at the ends. Holding onto his daughter's hand, he heads across the street to one of their favorite little trucks. ]

What time is it? [ Cheeseburger time! He chuckles and swoops her up into his arms, and then up and over his head so she can sit on his shoulders. ] That's right, cheeseburger time!

Hey, Joe. [ He greets the guy who owns the truck with a smile. ] Our usual. No rush.

[ Morgan taps at his cheeks gently. Daddy, the man from our house is waiting! Can we go sit with--- And before he can manage to try and persuade her otherwise, or explain that he might want to eat on his own---]---Can we sit with you?

[The distinct smell of water over shampoo and soap it's all starting to be familiar. Strange. Though the closer they are he straightens. Tony. Tony and his daughter. He turns his head and feels his face heat. Should he try to go over to them? No, no. That's not subtle.

Either Morgan is psychic or very intuitive, at any rate Matt is removed from his dilemma.]

Oh...sure. There's plenty of room.

[It is after all just one table in the shade. Matt has his tie loosened and his jacket off. The weather is not working with the suit life.]

[ He wouldn't be lying if he didn't say that he wasn't happy to run into Matt again. That he wasn't glad that Morgan decided to take overthinking out of the equation cause she liked the guy that came into the shop as well. He'll also try not to overthink the conversations they have. Ones that usually ask if he likes anyone, or if he ever wants to do things like go on dates, etc.

He tries to avoid those conversations, not because he doesn't want to share it, but because it's difficult to explain. Not just for Morgan, but for allowing himself to get so close when there's a lot at stake for him. Still, she seems adamant that something needs to give, and here they are. Again.

Once they get close enough to the table, he lifts Morgan up off his shoulders, and sets her down on the bench. ]

Thanks. Lunch break? [ He can hazard a guess from the loosened tie and ditched jacket for the moment. ] Don't see how you can manage in that outfit in this heat. It's insane.

[Children are fearless. Social engagement is cut and dry. Matt has lost that breezy ability. Studying law has made verbal exchanges a kind of warfare. All is fair in love and war. Playing close to the vest keeps himself secure. The last relationship he had was catastrophic. He almost didn't make it out in one piece. Navigating attraction is messy business. And that was as a college co-ed. He has never seen someone with a child or had a same sex relationship longer than a fling.

And yet here we are.]

I'm on a field trip. [At least taking the work on the road.] Professionalism never plans for weather. It's a lot warmer than I thought it would be. That didn't stop the two of you though.

[Two heartbeats. That strange metallic noise once more. It's a humming and yet not.]

[ Tony was never really that kind of kid. Not naturally, at least. It was always cameras and talk shows and ridiculous get ups and stop fidgeting and stand up straight. Still, despite it all, he wishes that his parents could have been around to meet Morgan. The last fling he had was before Afghanistan.

His life hasn't exactly left a very open place for another person that wasn't already there after surviving that. ]

Field trip, huh? Send the intern off for the hard stuff in the heat. Sounds a little like hazing. [ We did a field trip. We went to the zoo. Is that where you went?

Joe takes a moment to come out of the truck and bring them all their food, and gets a chorus of thank yous from the two of them. ] No, it didn't stop us. We had to get out of the house for a bit. Daddy was staring too hard at circuit boards.

[From a very young age Matt was fearless, a smart ass and observant to boot. Jack said that some day he was going to get put in his place. If not by himself than by life itself. That hasn't happened yet. Hit but not knocked right down.

Matt rubs at his forehead.]

That did cross my mind.

[The delivery has him perk up. His thanks blending in with Tony and Morgan. He's very glad he got a frozen lemonade too.]

How long is too long?

[ Tony can't help the chuckle as the mild agreement as to just what this trip really was is brought up. He leans over to get Morgan set up with her food, cutting the cheeseburger into more kid-friendly pieces, and gets the straw in her drink. She went for the fizzy orange soda. ]

Well, I guess I might have to thank somebody if it means I got to run into you, right?

[ God, was that too over the top? Terrible. Honestly just awful, Stark. Jeez. ] What is it, after 2? Most of the morning, since I did actually eat breakfast, Madam Secretary.

We had---what did we have? [ Waffles! ] That's right.

[The grilled meat smells even more decadent than usual. Sweating out his life essence in this weather he needs to be restored. Sitting in the shade is one thing, sitting here with the father-daughter pair and this meal, Matt didn't know what he needed. The first sip of the sweet-tart frozen lemonade and he is heading in the right direction.]

I'll thank them as well.

[As though the certain someone wasn't here. Giggling ensues.]

They say it's gonna keep going.

[ Tony can't help the bit of heat that comes to his cheeks when Matt agrees that he'll have to thank his daughter for not wanting to be cooped up in this weather if it means they ran into each other. He's lucky he can blame it on the actual heat for the most part. Also, that Morgan doesn't know what it means yet. ]

You should, I'm a treat.

[ That wasn't narcissistic at all, Stark. Way to go. ]

The heat? I'm ready for it to be over with. Give me sweaters and scarves any day of the week.

[That world of fire vision is a might confused with the weather. It still illuminates the face of the man close by. Matt clears his throat before another drink. The parched feeling hasn't gone away just yet.]

More than pleasant to be sure.

[Now they're getting to a very transparently flirty territory. How did it get here so soon? He's not sure. Except he's not about to shy away from a chance.]

I'd rather freeze than fry myself.

[ Tony takes a bite of his cheeseburger as Morgan takes the opportunity to swipe a fry. There's a muffled noise of complaint and a giggle. Not long after he finishes his bite, he swipes one from her. ]

If you were trying to appeal to my ego then congratulations, you've succeeded. You're not half-bad yourself.

[ Lay off already? That's a bit much. Is it? Maybe. Who knows? ]

That and it's perfect weather for c-o-c-o-a.

[A college graduate and aspiring attorney, he has no right to feel this fluttering feeling in his rib cage...but he does. Matt beams and tries to remind himself that he needs to eat. Tony is just distracting. And truly is this the way to be picking up a date? In the ridiculous heat while his daughter is right there?

Apparently he lost his sense of shame. Maybe he sweat it out.]

Thank you. [A personality based compliment, more flutterings.]

Is that a forbidden word?

[No need to guess who is left out of the loop here. Morgan is swinging her legs as she munches. Matt can't see her very quizzical look at the mystery word.]

[ One could argue the same for the single father who runs his own business out of a shop underneath the apartment he shares with his little girl. Still doesn't make the feeling go away. Maybe it can just be a friendly talk. Who knows, they might run into each other another time?

Or they could just enjoy the moment and see where it goes. ]

No problem. [ He chuckles a little at the question. ]

Let's just say it is when it's this hot outside. I think the only way to justify it would be to crank the AC to a ridiculous temp and wait until we needed all the blankets in the house.

[They are here. They are talking and this has become rather flirty. Appreciate it for what it is,he tells himself. The first bite of his burger has a muffled mmmmm no act because damn is it good.

Ah, well, with the enthusiasm behind waffles he can imagine that hot cocoa really is worth getting into a tizzy over.]

What uh....what are you both up to after your meal?

[That has just begun and it's none of Matt's business. They're both so very darling. Real. Happy. He's been swimming in the shark tank at work and seeing and hearing people be so very cutthroat and vile this is restoring.]

[ Cocoa is a very dangerous word to throw around the Stark household. Once it’s said out loud, it can’t be taken back. End up committed and have to follow through. Tony gets a bite of his own burger, and reaches up with a napkin as he chews, humming a little because he got caught right in the middle of a bite. ]

After? After this lucky little lady is going to visit Pepper, my associate, for a Girl’s Night. Isn’t that right? Little light talk of world domination and My Little Pony? Isn’t that what you do as an evil overlord?

[ Morgan giggles and gently smacks at her dad’s arm with a no! ]

Oh, right I’m not supposed to know. That’s probably on the docket for next week. This week it’s manis, pedis, and face masks. Me, though? I’m free. Just heading back to the shop to work on a few things, and not much else, I guess.

You?

[He can wait. Really he can wait. Sweet that his question is being treated seriously. He listens, head tilted at attention his way.]

Oh. I think that would be an easy mix up.

[This little girl is the center of his universe and it pulls hard at Matt's heartstrings. This is something like he recalls life way back when. Just Matty and Jack Murdock.]

I'm--really not up to anything. I'm done for the day. I can bring my findings to the office tomorrow.

[Meaning..... what are you going to do now, Murdock?]

( closed to fightlikehell. )

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