through space and time || pietro maximoff

HAPPY INN
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
July 4th, 1999
7:58 PM
_____________

I hate this.
I hate this so much. I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate this-

I stare into the fresh hole in the wall. At least something can attest to my hatred. My hatred for HYDRA, for this thing their forcing me to do. And my hatred for myself, for agreeing. I was blinded in the moment, with empty promises of glory and empowerment.

Now all I have is my Dior lipgloss and my gun.

The dress on my bed is too bright, too tight, and gives too much attention to my thighs. Why did I agree to do this! I just had to go over my own head, I was so desperate to be seen as much more than Galina, I wanted to be more than Galina. But did it have to be by dating Tony Stark? Well more like fake dating, at least to me.

A knock on my door disrupts my inner monologue.

"Katy? Are you almost ready?"
Ugh.

"Yes, babe. Just give me a minute." I quickly pin my hair into place and scurry to put on the dress, ignoring every instinct in me to shoot myself. I only pause when I realize I can't zip it up. I'm going to need help.

"Oh- I was worried you'd run off for a second." Tony laughs when I open the door, he tries to come in but I don't let him, the hole in the wall still fresh on my mind. Instead, I turn around, flashing my bare back to him.

"A little help?" I can hear his breath waver. How pathetic.

"Sure, but only if I can help take it off too." He says in his classic Tony voice. I all but gag.
"We'll see about that mister," I giggle the only way a loving girlfriend would.
I'm dying inside if you couldn't tell.

He slowly takes the zipper and drags it all the way up my back, his hands later trailing down to my hips. I spin turn around again, and grin at him. He pulls me close, his cologne invading my nose and making me lightheaded.

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather stay at the hotel, and I don't know, do stuff together?" He asks, his chin on my head.
"I'm not the one who decided to throw a party, Stark."
"Ooh, Stark. I love it when you're formal like that."

He releases me from his grip, and takes my hand in his. Leading me down the hall, to the elevator, I could feel the bass of the music playing in my bones. God, I hating going to holiday parties. Particularly the ones that only Americans think their entitled to. I'm 99% sure the land was here before the date July 4th, 1776.

"Something on you're mind?" Stark looks at me. I smile at him.
"Just preparing," I say honestly. "You never get used to these things."

"I know, but you're doing great. I'm really glad you agreed to be here with me." He takes me face in his hands, and pulls me close. I've learned to just go with it at this point. It would be weird for a girlfriend of 3 months to back away from your kiss. What took me all my strength though, was when he continued to deepen the kiss. It suddenly became hot and the elevator seemed a lot smaller than before.

I could end it now. Tell him that everyone down at the party would be expecting us. But when the doors open, and I have failed to separate his lips from mine, I succumb to the feeling in my lower stomach. It's a new sensation, and I'm dying to feel it for as long as possible.

This feels illegal. We've never gotten this far before. He is the enemy. I can't be doing this, but why does it feel so good. I let him take the lead as he drags us to the nearest bathroom, but it could equally count as a museum with its gold linings and magnificent marble floors. I only get a second to adore the interior design until Stark kisses me again, all the way down to my neck.