Hello! I present to you my latest creation- a story that will follow Antoinette Stark throughout the Avengers movie and beyond. Its, unfortunately, not betaed. Any volunteers? Thanks for reading! Please review and feel free to PM me!

- C

She is born Natasha Antoinette Stark. Her mother first calls her Antoinette, and the moniker sticks well into her teens. She becomes a spoiled, complex genius with an unbelievable closet full of frilly dresses and stilettos. After her parents die, she defers to Toinette, still playful but increasingly manipulative. She is officially made CEO of Stark Industries and pours herself into her work/play schedule with her new best friend Pepper by her side. She gets turned into a sort of one-night stand playgirl by the media, and in turn, becomes even more afraid of physical affection outside of Pepper and Rhodey. So she lies and uses the persona that the media builds for her, and keeps her walls up. She does bring men home- but often for little more than a movie or card game. It's an unspoken alliance. For at least one night, it's them against the media, against the steely walls that are their reputations. Then, there's Afghanistan. Toni spoke the truth at the expo, never has a greater Phoenix metaphor been personified. Toni is more heroic and selfless than little Antoinette could have ever hoped- which really isn't much but she's trying. She wears her perfectly sculpted features and thick chocolate hair with more confidence than ever before, earning her many an appreciative glance and articles full of praise. Her wardrobe is no longer revealing and daring, it's carefully calculated to disguise the arc reactor. The media declares that the billionaire has finally grown up, and she remains in the public's favor. She takes the opportunity to hide her uncertainty behind her already constructed image. When Ivan- Whiplash- challenges Iron Man, or Woman, technically, it's scary for Toni. Because what if she does die? She knows better than anyone that she's not invincible, after all. Then she discovers her father's element and, for a moment, everything is perfect. Until the Avengers, or more importantly, Steve Rogers comes into her life.

Steve was not having a good day. He already had a pounding headache from one of Loki's hits and it didn't look like the god was going down without a fight. The super soldier doesn't hide his confusion as music comes blasting suddenly out of the speakers. He hears Natasha sigh into the coms, blatant exasperation mixed with a hint of fondness Steve could have imagined. A red and gold figure barrels past him- directly into Loki. Despite how impressive it is, Steve is a little hesitant. Not only is the maneuver intimidating, Loki seems to surrender too easily. Steve has been landing solid hits for a while, but all it takes is one collision from the metal suit? He walks over to the imposing figure and offers a gruff 'Stark', hoping that it is in fact Mr. Stark. He'd only skimmed the file, catching the name Stark and Iron Man. Other than that, he was a enigma. The son of his old time war buddy, but a stranger nonetheless. A metallic voice cuts deep into his thoughts. "Captain."

Iron Man turns out to be a woman. Steve is surprised, to say the least. When Stark removes her face piece, Steve finds himself unprepared for the large amber eyes framed by a curtain of dark lashes. As if to confirm that she was in fact a woman, she has a head full of loose, dark curls and a delicately structured face. With a high voice schooled into a snarky tone, Toni begins rambling in his direction but Steve can hardly tear his attention from her face, which was expressive like no other he'd ever seen. "What?," he chokes out.

She throws a calculating look his way. "You might have missed a few things. You know, while you were busy being a Capsicle. Was that fun? I think I'd like to try it. So, Spandex-"

She's cut off by a powerful strike of lightning. Steve notices Loki flinch out of the corner of his eye, and immediately interrupts Stark- again. "Scared of a little lightning?"

Loki smiles, somewhat amused. "I'm not overly fond of what follows."

Steve risks a glance at Toni and finds her looking equally worried. "What follows?," she murmurs.

A loud thud echoes around the cabin. Steve steps in front of Toni without realizing it, only to have her glare at him and put her faceplate back on. "Worry about yourself, Rogers," a metallic voice growls," I've got this."

As Steve watches her dive out of a plane after the tall blonde intruder who just kidnapped their prisoner and then hold her own against the 'god', he doesn't doubt it for a moment.

Steve lives up to the legend. He's courageous and selfless and everything Toni wishes she could be. His blue eyes make her want to melt- an unusual feeling to her. Seemingly without control she begins to ramble, as she always does. Toni knows it's annoying, but she can't help it. Her brain moves too fast for her to filter her words. She knows Loki knows and he's giving her this creepy smile. But what's not to like about the Captain? She wants so desperately to hate him, to blame him for Howard's distance and his hero worship, but she can't. It wasn't his fault, and as much as she wants to be stupid and biting towards the Captain for all the pain he indirectly caused her, the most she can be is somewhat grating. Which for now is enough, it seems, to keep the Captain at arms length.

No matter how annoying Stark is, he can't stop the instant attraction- no, admiration. She's like Peggy, quick and level-headed under pressure, but also manages to remind him of Howard, alway cracking a joke even when it's inappropriate. Lucky for her, she got the best of both worlds. As soon as he gets a break he sits and reads her file.

Natasha Antoinette Stark, Age: 27, Height: 5'1'', Weight: 98 lbs., Eyes: Brown, Hair: Brown, Notes: Stark is self-centered and narcissistic, perhaps a hazard to those around her but at the same time, an asset with her genius-level intellect and Iron Man/Woman suit. Recommended for Avengers Initiative: Iron Man, yes. Natasha Stark, no.