FIC: The Zeroth Law (Part I)
Oct. 31st, 2008 11:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ficwizeTitle: The Zeroth Law (Part I)
Fandom: Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles/Iron Man
Warnings: Spoilers for Iron Man. Takes place after the movie. General spoilers for T:SCC.
Rating: Teen
Summary: Tony Stark likes women and machines. When he meets someone who is both, his whole world changes.
Word Count: ~1,500 for this part
Disclaimer: Neither of these fandoms are mine.
A/N: Written for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dramady who asked me for a fic where Tony and Cameron met. I hope you like it hon! And because I fail at writing short things lately, this is the first of several parts. Many thanks to strangevisitor7 for the beta!
Title is from Isaac Asimov's Laws of Robotics and can be further explained here.
Also this fic was the winner for the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
multific Finish-a-thon. I failed at finishing the whole thing, but at least I got the first part done, right? Yes, I am duly shamed. But still, here is fic.
As always, feedback is welcome and appreciated.
*************
Tony Stark prided himself on having good taste. He drank only the best liquor, had standing reservations at the best restaurants, and drove only the fastest shiniest cars, not to mention his other ride. Plus, his parties were the biggest and the best, even the ones he didn't receive an invitation to, it turned out.
When he walked into the Getty Villa’s main exhibit hall, Tony's eyes bypassed the one of a kind paintings hanging on the wall and focused instead on a slender brunette wearing a stunning gold evening gown that clung to her like a second skin.
"Tony." A voice to his left caught his attention and he turned.
"Ms. Potts." He smiled at her, amused at her flustered expression. "Why is it I never seem to get invitations to my own parties?"
She arched an eyebrow at him and smiled a little. "Yes. And in this case, one wasn't listening when the event was mentioned."
"Oh." Tony shrugged off the accusation. "In the future, make sure I don't miss soirees involving such incredible specimens."
Pepper’s other perfectly arched eyebrow joined the first. "I trust you're speaking about the paintings, Mr. Stark, and not the female guests."
Tony grinned. "Of course, Ms. Potts."
Pepper shook her head, but he could see a smile tugging at her lips. "Just make sure this one doesn't write scathing journal articles about you, please."
His grin changed to a smirk. "I'll make sure to leave her with a very good impression." He looked around. "Are you here alone?"
"No." A slow blush spread up her neck. "Happy escorted me."
"Really?" Tony did his best to hide his surprise. "I didn't realize..."
"Well," Pepper looked away. "There's a lot you don't realize, Mr. Stark." There was a wealth of regret in her words and Tony swallowed a sigh.
"For what it's worth, Ms. Potts, you look beautiful."
She smiled at him, suddenly radiant and, he realized with a bit of a shock, happy. "I should, Mr. Stark. This was a bonus present and you really do have the best taste."
"I do, don't I?" Tony reached around her and snagged two glasses of champagne. Pressing one into her hand, he clinked the glasses together. "To bonuses and happiness."
Pepper sipped the drink, but her eyes were slightly troubled. "Are you all right on your own?"
"Pepper, really." Tony scoffed, handing his still mostly full drink to a passing waiter. "I'm surrounded by art enthusiasts. This is probably the least danger I've been in for a month! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to find something a little stronger to drink. Go, have fun now. That's an order."
"Yes, Mr. Stark." Pepper smiled again and Tony watched for a second as she made her way back to Happy Hogan. Happy raised a glass to his employer and Tony nodded back, smiling and noting the way Happy's hand slid around Pepper's waist. They really did make a beautiful couple. For some reason, that thought made him feel a bit lonely and he turned around to find that drink and that brunette.
A drink was easily found at one of the bars set up along the walls. The brunette proved slightly more difficult to relocate, but Tony finally found her in one of the side chambers, standing in front of a marble statue of a nude Greek man wearing an olive leaf crown. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
She turned, and looked at him. The expression on her face suggested something but before Tony could decipher it, her smile was firmly in place and he dismissed the moment of disquiet. "It's called the Victorious Youth." She turned back to it and fell silent. Tony turned slightly to look at it again.
"He doesn't seem very happy about his victory." Tony observed, taking a sip of his drink. She tilted her head slightly, looking closely at the statue's face.
"No," she conceded. "He doesn't."
"Why not, do you think?" Tony asked and for the first time she looked at him closely. Clearly, she wasn't one for much conversation, but it gave Tony a chance to study her. She was striking, seemingly both tiny and powerful. Her long brown hair was twisted into a complicated style and the youthful glow of her skin was matched only by the decidedly womanly body she displayed in her dress. She was beautiful, but almost like one of the statutes, cold and slightly untouchable. Of course, Tony was never one to turn away from a challenge.
"I'm Tony Stark." Tony stuck out a hand and she took it slowly.
"I know."
"My reputation precedes me."
"Yes." She smiled again, like she was laughing at a private joke.
"Do I get to know your name?" Tony teased.
"If you'd like." She squeezed his hand lightly. "I'm Cameron. Cameron Phillips."
"Do you like art, Cameron?" Tony asked, amused when she shrugged slightly.
"It's complicated. Most of it, I don't understand." Despite himself, Tony was charmed. He didn't think that her awkward social grace had much to do with him, for a change.
"Me either." Tony finished his drink. "I like machines personally. They make more sense?"
"Do they?" Cameron was smiling that same indecipherable expression on her face.
"Are you interested in mechanics?"
"Yes." He waited a moment, but she didn't elaborate and Tony decided to throw caution to the wind.
"Would you like to see some of my designs?"
This time her smile was bigger. "Very much."
"Are you here with someone?" Tony asked, looking around.
"No." Cameron shook her head. "I came alone.”
“Then it’s my lucky night.” Tony held out his arm gallantly and she took it. He led her through the museum, past the long Roman pool in the front and to the valet. He passed the attendant a ticket. Cameron stood almost unnaturally still beside him and Tony observed her thoughtfully. She was different from most of the women who went home with him. She didn’t seem that awed by who he was, nor did she seem particularly interested in matching wits to prove that he was one of the bad guys. In fact she was so unlike some of the stalkery girls that he’d met lately that if she asked for his autograph, he would give her the car out of shock. Signed of course.
The Saleen S7 pulled up with a low roar and a flash of orange. Tony hid a grin as he watching the valet shoot a smug look at his friends as he climbed out. Holding the door open for Cameron, Tony slipped the valet a generous tip and then crossed to the driver’s side. “Do you like it?” He climbed inside, ducking low to avoid the door jamb and settling himself in the driver’s seat.
“Like it?”
“The car.”
“It’s…” Cameron seemed to struggle for words for a second and Tony shot her an amused smirk.
“Flashy.” He changed gears and the car shot forward down the street.
“Fast.”
He blinked. “Yes, it is.”
“It’s capable of more than 200 mph and can do 0-60 in less than three seconds.” Cameron continued, her fingers dancing over the dash. “It has an all-aluminum 750-hp, 7-liter, rear-mounted V8 engine.”
“Wow.” Tony nodded, impressed. “You do know machines. What do you do?”
“I’m a student.”
“Where?”
“Berkley.”
“How did you get an invitation to the museum?”
Cameron turned to look at him, the gown pulling tight across her chest. “I didn’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t have an invitation. I came in through the back doors once the party had begun. No one noticed me.”
“That’s a lot of trouble to go to for someone who admittedly isn’t an art fan.” Tony glanced at her curiously, driving the car around the curvy roads with practiced ease. “What was so important?”
“I was on a mission.”
“What kind of mission?” Tony felt a return of his unease earlier and he slowed the car, wondering if he should call some sort of security. He felt ridiculous almost immediately. He was Iron Man. He could handle one woman.
“I was supposed to kidnap you.”
The answer was so shocking that it didn’t register for a moment, then Tony hit he break and the car skidded to an uneasy halt. “What?”
“I was supposed to kidnap you.” Cameron repeated, looking at him calmly. “You were most helpful in the plan. It was much easier to manage once you invited me to accompany you.”
“I don’t understand.” Tony shook his head. “Why me? Who are you?”
Cameron lifted her shoulders in an imitation of a shrug. “It’s complicated.” Then, she reached over and casually drove her palm into his chin. His head snapped back, and the last thing he remembered before losing consciousness was thinking that for such a tiny person, she packed a hell of a wallop.
Fandom: Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles/Iron Man
Warnings: Spoilers for Iron Man. Takes place after the movie. General spoilers for T:SCC.
Rating: Teen
Summary: Tony Stark likes women and machines. When he meets someone who is both, his whole world changes.
Word Count: ~1,500 for this part
Disclaimer: Neither of these fandoms are mine.
A/N: Written for
dramady who asked me for a fic where Tony and Cameron met. I hope you like it hon! And because I fail at writing short things lately, this is the first of several parts. Many thanks to strangevisitor7 for the beta!Title is from Isaac Asimov's Laws of Robotics and can be further explained here.
Also this fic was the winner for the
multific Finish-a-thon. I failed at finishing the whole thing, but at least I got the first part done, right? Yes, I am duly shamed. But still, here is fic.As always, feedback is welcome and appreciated.
*************
Tony Stark prided himself on having good taste. He drank only the best liquor, had standing reservations at the best restaurants, and drove only the fastest shiniest cars, not to mention his other ride. Plus, his parties were the biggest and the best, even the ones he didn't receive an invitation to, it turned out.
When he walked into the Getty Villa’s main exhibit hall, Tony's eyes bypassed the one of a kind paintings hanging on the wall and focused instead on a slender brunette wearing a stunning gold evening gown that clung to her like a second skin.
"Tony." A voice to his left caught his attention and he turned.
"Ms. Potts." He smiled at her, amused at her flustered expression. "Why is it I never seem to get invitations to my own parties?"
She arched an eyebrow at him and smiled a little. "Yes. And in this case, one wasn't listening when the event was mentioned."
"Oh." Tony shrugged off the accusation. "In the future, make sure I don't miss soirees involving such incredible specimens."
Pepper’s other perfectly arched eyebrow joined the first. "I trust you're speaking about the paintings, Mr. Stark, and not the female guests."
Tony grinned. "Of course, Ms. Potts."
Pepper shook her head, but he could see a smile tugging at her lips. "Just make sure this one doesn't write scathing journal articles about you, please."
His grin changed to a smirk. "I'll make sure to leave her with a very good impression." He looked around. "Are you here alone?"
"No." A slow blush spread up her neck. "Happy escorted me."
"Really?" Tony did his best to hide his surprise. "I didn't realize..."
"Well," Pepper looked away. "There's a lot you don't realize, Mr. Stark." There was a wealth of regret in her words and Tony swallowed a sigh.
"For what it's worth, Ms. Potts, you look beautiful."
She smiled at him, suddenly radiant and, he realized with a bit of a shock, happy. "I should, Mr. Stark. This was a bonus present and you really do have the best taste."
"I do, don't I?" Tony reached around her and snagged two glasses of champagne. Pressing one into her hand, he clinked the glasses together. "To bonuses and happiness."
Pepper sipped the drink, but her eyes were slightly troubled. "Are you all right on your own?"
"Pepper, really." Tony scoffed, handing his still mostly full drink to a passing waiter. "I'm surrounded by art enthusiasts. This is probably the least danger I've been in for a month! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to find something a little stronger to drink. Go, have fun now. That's an order."
"Yes, Mr. Stark." Pepper smiled again and Tony watched for a second as she made her way back to Happy Hogan. Happy raised a glass to his employer and Tony nodded back, smiling and noting the way Happy's hand slid around Pepper's waist. They really did make a beautiful couple. For some reason, that thought made him feel a bit lonely and he turned around to find that drink and that brunette.
A drink was easily found at one of the bars set up along the walls. The brunette proved slightly more difficult to relocate, but Tony finally found her in one of the side chambers, standing in front of a marble statue of a nude Greek man wearing an olive leaf crown. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
She turned, and looked at him. The expression on her face suggested something but before Tony could decipher it, her smile was firmly in place and he dismissed the moment of disquiet. "It's called the Victorious Youth." She turned back to it and fell silent. Tony turned slightly to look at it again.
"He doesn't seem very happy about his victory." Tony observed, taking a sip of his drink. She tilted her head slightly, looking closely at the statue's face.
"No," she conceded. "He doesn't."
"Why not, do you think?" Tony asked and for the first time she looked at him closely. Clearly, she wasn't one for much conversation, but it gave Tony a chance to study her. She was striking, seemingly both tiny and powerful. Her long brown hair was twisted into a complicated style and the youthful glow of her skin was matched only by the decidedly womanly body she displayed in her dress. She was beautiful, but almost like one of the statutes, cold and slightly untouchable. Of course, Tony was never one to turn away from a challenge.
"I'm Tony Stark." Tony stuck out a hand and she took it slowly.
"I know."
"My reputation precedes me."
"Yes." She smiled again, like she was laughing at a private joke.
"Do I get to know your name?" Tony teased.
"If you'd like." She squeezed his hand lightly. "I'm Cameron. Cameron Phillips."
"Do you like art, Cameron?" Tony asked, amused when she shrugged slightly.
"It's complicated. Most of it, I don't understand." Despite himself, Tony was charmed. He didn't think that her awkward social grace had much to do with him, for a change.
"Me either." Tony finished his drink. "I like machines personally. They make more sense?"
"Do they?" Cameron was smiling that same indecipherable expression on her face.
"Are you interested in mechanics?"
"Yes." He waited a moment, but she didn't elaborate and Tony decided to throw caution to the wind.
"Would you like to see some of my designs?"
This time her smile was bigger. "Very much."
"Are you here with someone?" Tony asked, looking around.
"No." Cameron shook her head. "I came alone.”
“Then it’s my lucky night.” Tony held out his arm gallantly and she took it. He led her through the museum, past the long Roman pool in the front and to the valet. He passed the attendant a ticket. Cameron stood almost unnaturally still beside him and Tony observed her thoughtfully. She was different from most of the women who went home with him. She didn’t seem that awed by who he was, nor did she seem particularly interested in matching wits to prove that he was one of the bad guys. In fact she was so unlike some of the stalkery girls that he’d met lately that if she asked for his autograph, he would give her the car out of shock. Signed of course.
The Saleen S7 pulled up with a low roar and a flash of orange. Tony hid a grin as he watching the valet shoot a smug look at his friends as he climbed out. Holding the door open for Cameron, Tony slipped the valet a generous tip and then crossed to the driver’s side. “Do you like it?” He climbed inside, ducking low to avoid the door jamb and settling himself in the driver’s seat.
“Like it?”
“The car.”
“It’s…” Cameron seemed to struggle for words for a second and Tony shot her an amused smirk.
“Flashy.” He changed gears and the car shot forward down the street.
“Fast.”
He blinked. “Yes, it is.”
“It’s capable of more than 200 mph and can do 0-60 in less than three seconds.” Cameron continued, her fingers dancing over the dash. “It has an all-aluminum 750-hp, 7-liter, rear-mounted V8 engine.”
“Wow.” Tony nodded, impressed. “You do know machines. What do you do?”
“I’m a student.”
“Where?”
“Berkley.”
“How did you get an invitation to the museum?”
Cameron turned to look at him, the gown pulling tight across her chest. “I didn’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t have an invitation. I came in through the back doors once the party had begun. No one noticed me.”
“That’s a lot of trouble to go to for someone who admittedly isn’t an art fan.” Tony glanced at her curiously, driving the car around the curvy roads with practiced ease. “What was so important?”
“I was on a mission.”
“What kind of mission?” Tony felt a return of his unease earlier and he slowed the car, wondering if he should call some sort of security. He felt ridiculous almost immediately. He was Iron Man. He could handle one woman.
“I was supposed to kidnap you.”
The answer was so shocking that it didn’t register for a moment, then Tony hit he break and the car skidded to an uneasy halt. “What?”
“I was supposed to kidnap you.” Cameron repeated, looking at him calmly. “You were most helpful in the plan. It was much easier to manage once you invited me to accompany you.”
“I don’t understand.” Tony shook his head. “Why me? Who are you?”
Cameron lifted her shoulders in an imitation of a shrug. “It’s complicated.” Then, she reached over and casually drove her palm into his chin. His head snapped back, and the last thing he remembered before losing consciousness was thinking that for such a tiny person, she packed a hell of a wallop.
