Chapter Text
February, 2010: Berlin Congress Center, Berlin
“And to my colleagues who refuse to entertain any possibilities that might go against the grain, you are all staggering wastes of carbon—especially you, Doctor Hammond. Thank you, and have a great day.” With a decisive mic drop, Doctor Ryland Grace stormed off the stage, face hot and pulse racing.
His father had once told him, “To the extent that it will feel good to say something is the extent to which you should not say it.” Well, it had felt pretty fudging good to go off at the experts attending the International Multidisciplinary Science Conference just now, which probably meant his career as a molecular biologist was over.
Grace wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He’d been laughed at over papers and theories, and he was accustomed to being derided by his peers due to his stance that water was not necessary for life. And, while he’d spent a good deal of time and money to get where he was, maybe it was time to try something new.
He’d figure out what “something new” was later. For now, he needed to cool down. Grace veered into a public restroom just off the main event hall. A long mirror stretched from one side of the restroom to the other, with a dozen standalone sinks positioned before it. Grace marched over to the sink furthest from the entrance and pulled his glasses off, setting them behind the faucet, before twisting the sink on to its coldest setting and splashing water on his burning face. He stared down at the drain, watching the individual water droplets slide down the pipe. Just like his career, he thought.
“That was a hell of an exit,” he heard a familiar voice say, though he couldn’t pin down why it was familiar. Grace straightened and turned to see the blurry form of a man standing three sinks away. He fumbled behind the faucet for his glasses and slipped them back on, only to freeze when he took in who was speaking.
That’s Tony Stark.
The man was the picture of put together, wearing a perfectly tailored Armani suit and a red and gold necktie. His goatee was trimmed, his hair gelled, and his lip quirked upwards in a smirk.
“Uhm.” Grace was struck speechless. His work had caught the attention of many, but usually they were experts in his own field of molecular biology. Of course the day he had a meltdown would be the day the smartest man in the world was in attendance.
“If more people had your attitude, these conferences would be far less stuffy,” Stark continued.
“Thanks,” Grace said, barely suppressing a wince. “You caught me on a bad day.”
“No, I caught you on a day where you finally stood up for yourself,” Stark continued. “Maybe in a less-than-professional manner, but I’ll be adding ‘wastes of carbon’ to my catalog of insults.”
“What were you doing in a molecular biology presentation? Aren’t you an engineer?” As if there was any person alive on planet Earth who didn’t know Tony Stark was a brilliant inventor and engineer.
Stark turned to his reflection in the mirror, running a hand over his chin. “I like to see what other disciplines are working on every now and then. I never know what might inspire my next big breakthrough.”
“Ah,” Grace said dumbly, because what else was he supposed to say? What did he have in common with the genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist?
Stark paused and cast a sideways glance at Grace. “And of course, I’m always looking for a good lay. The life science experts seem to be my type.”
If Grace didn’t know any better, he’d think Stark was coming onto him. Thankfully Grace did know better, and he wasn’t going to make a fool of himself and pretend like he was anywhere near Stark’s league.
“Well, if that’s all…” Grace started to walk past the other man, but was stopped when a hand caught his bicep. The engineer ran his thumb over the firm muscle and nodded approvingly.
“A scientist who keeps fit. You must have the ladies falling all over you.”
Okay, so maybe he was coming onto Grace. Grace swallowed thickly.
“Ladies aren’t so much my type,” he said. Stark’s expression turned absolutely lascivious.
“And what would your type be?”
Were there hidden cameras in this bathroom? Because it was impossible for Tony Stark, the most eligible bachelor on every continent, to have set his sights on the likes of Grace. He was being punked. He had to be.
“Oh, you know,” Grace said, his traitorous voice cracking just slightly. Stark’s eyes dropped to Grace’s lips and it was suddenly very hard to think. “Tall, dark, handsome.”
“Rich?”
“Not so much. But smart…”
“I don’t mean to brag, but I am a genius.”
“A great use of carbon.” The line was lame, but Stark laughed, and that laugh went straight to Grace’s other head. He shifted his stance so it wasn’t quite so apparent. But of course Stark noticed. He stepped forward into Grace’s space, and the molecular biologist had to admit he was proud that he stood his ground. They were inches apart, and he could smell Stark’s expensive cologne wreathing around them.
“I’ve got the penthouse of a nearby hotel,” Stark said. “What say we leave these staggering wastes of carbon to their stuffy lectures and go do something fun?"
Sex with Tony Stark was every bit as mind-blowing as Grace expected. The man was practiced. Grace, unfortunately, was not nearly as proficient, but if Stark was disappointed he did not let on. After round three Stark lay with one arm under Grace’s head, the other draped over Grace’s abdomen, fingers absently playing with the soft brush of happy trail below his navel.
“So what’s next for you?” he asked.
Grace was still piecing together the mush his brain had become, and he couldn’t quite follow. “What do you mean?”
“As hot as you telling off all your peers was, I imagine there’s not much left for you in that particular career field.”
Grace swallowed. “Not sure. Kind of a spur of the moment thing, really.”
Stark smirked. “Jumping headfirst without a game plan? That’s the kind of risky behavior that most employers don’t usually like.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Hey, I said most. Not all.”
“I don’t suppose you’ve got a job offer for me?” Grace joked, and blanched when Stark nodded.
“I like risk takers. Stark Industries has a biomedical division that could use some new blood; there’s an up-and-coming program in the realm of cancer research in need of a director.”
“You screw me senseless and now you’re offering me a position at your company?”
“I’m your very own genie in a bottle. What’s that third wish?”
A position at Stark Industries would be life-changing. No more flash-in-the-pan startups, no more lobbying for grants, no more clawing for a foothold and half an ounce of respect from his fellow scientists. But it also meant responsibility, people depending on him. And he just wasn’t sure he had it in him.
“How about round four, and I sleep on that position?”
Stark grinned. “Your wish is my command.”
Rounds five and six followed, and when at last they called it a night and Stark rolled over, snoring softly, Grace was all ready to join him. But the thought of disappointing the engineer that he had only just met was nearly debilitating. Sleep didn’t come, and the more Grace kicked around the job position, no matter how much he thought it might change the entire course of his life…he knew he couldn’t do it.
He would tell Stark in the morning. Grace would thank him profusely for the incredible night and the amazing offer, but he just couldn’t do it. But what if Stark tried to persuade him? Or worse? What if he disappointed the best sexual partner of his life because he lacked the confidence to back up the words he’d spat on stage? Grace spiraled from there. He couldn’t tell Stark. Best to just leave before he ever had the chance. Stark would understand waking to an empty bed; Grace was sure he’d done it multiple times. This would be no different.
So he slipped out from under the covers, pulled on his clothes, and left.