Chapter Text
Luke didn't know what was happening to him.
He had a normal life, he worked in the local New York library, he lived in a fairly priced apartment (that he still could barely afford) and had a black cat. He had a loving family yet they were all but lost, stuck in his memories with no phone number to call to reach out, he was alone- but his kitty gave him company.
Luke used his spare money for food for himself and his cat, the rest was put into savings, so far he had only saved up $100 bucks.
He spent his free time in the library, reading Shakespearean books and listening to classical and foreign music, Stevie - his coworker- said he was a stereotypical librarian.
“Si un jour la vie t'arrache à moi
Si tu meurs, que tu sois loin de moi
Peu m'importe, si tu m'aimes
Car moi, je mourrai aussi.” He loved Celine Dion, especially her songs in French, but the music couldn't be treasured enough with his $5 earbuds.
In the quiet early morning on a tuesday, no one was here apart from the studying college students or those having a lecture in a private meeting room. No one but one man was here. “Excuse me.” He heard, muffled through his music.
Luke looked up from his book, half way through now. He took one ear out, “What do you need sir?” He said as politely as he could while he was going through a wrack of emotions in this book's chapter. “I need some help reaching a book.” The man did appear to be shorter than Luke, but Luke was just tall compared to most.
“Sure.” Ever since that morning, Luke had a new special sense of awareness, a good sense of when he’s being watched and where.
The man was staring at his ass while he walked to the book shelf. ‘Weird," he thought to himself, what a weird man.
“Name’s Tony Stark by the way.” The name rang a bell yet Luke didn’t know who he was.
“I’ve heard your name somewhere, are you an artist or an author perhaps?” The man - Tony Stark, laughed.
“I guess you could call me an artist, a technological one.” He smirked at his little brag.
Luke bid him goodbye after helping the man and watched fondly as he left to his seat. Possibly the only nice conversation he has had at work.
Working at a library wasn’t very fun, but enjoying the library after work was the best. Luke would stay in the library for a couple hours after work sometimes, just reading old and beautiful literature. And so he stayed after work after his shift today.
Half an hour went past of deep reading but after another five minutes something caught his eye, the man - Tony stark, was sitting near him, Luke was surprised he was still here. Luke almost wished for the next hour he was there that Tony would come up and sit with him, there was something different about him, something that made Luke happy while barely even knowing the guy.
Tony stark had come back the next day and a few days after that and then the day after that, always asking if he needed help.
He loved talking to him.
To the man who said hi every day, the same man who would talk to him about Shakespeare and classical music.
It was only until Luke had his coworker overhear his conversation with the man. “That’s fucking Tony stark - iron man!” Suzanne said dumbfounded. “What’s he doing talking to one of us? And why would he be at a library?” She laughs, “Didn’t strike me as the ‘read for fun’ type.” She said quickly as the man -Tony stark- had left.
Luke looked at Suzanne, “he was talking to me about classical music and Shakespeare, like he always does.” Why was that a surprise? “He comes here all the time - never when you’re working. This is the first time he didn’t wear a hoodie.” Luke didn’t know who Tony stark was, apart from the man who liked Shakespeare. he didn’t use technology, he stuck to using it only for work purposes- using a flip phone.
Tony stark “the billionaire, playboy, genius, scientist, and philanthropist- also iron man.” So he wasn’t just some dude who liked Shakespeare, he was a fucking superhero.
Luke didn’t like the sounds of that. See, Luke wasn’t very normal, and he knew that. Especially when one day he wanted a can of soda from the Bench but was too lazy to get up and it magically(literally) came to his hand in a split of a second. “Woah.” As quoted.
Luke didn’t understand himself.
He had a life, a family, a career… yet they were all just memories now. He couldn’t find his family, didn’t even know what happened to them, one day he was just… there.
Though it seemed his new abilities he possessed to be more important, especially to the secret organisation S.H.I.E.L.D.
“Uh, yes well, we’ve been trying to find the perfect agent to work with you to see if we can control your powers but they all seem to be busy, but…” He sighs, “someone we aren’t on very good terms with but nonetheless, has accepted to help you.” He raised a brow, anxiously fiddling with his shirt’s collar.
“Tony stark, Iron man, is going to build a,” he stumbles his words, “Make a restraint- like a cuff, to stop the “green”.” He finger quotes.
Luke didn’t know how to feel about it, the person he sees at work now wants to help him with his powers. He knows who he is, who he truly is:
A freak.
How long did Tony know about him and his abilities? Has Tony been trying to sabotage their “friendship in the making”?
“Sounds great.” He smiled through his lie, “at least I won’t hurt anyone anymore.” He didn’t want to get rid of it, only control it, maybe he could have used his powers to save people like iron man does.
“Actually, Tony stark actually wants to see you tomorrow, his chauffeur Happy will pick you up at 10am.” Then the meeting ended.
Luke went to his apartment, had a shower, heated up his microwave meal, and went to bed with classical music playing in the background to block out the intruding voices.
“All is well, I’ll be fine.”