The Dark Matter Sage

The morning sunlight filtered gently through the floor-to-ceiling windows of their suite at The Beverly Hills Hotel, casting a soft, golden glow over the room. The faint sound of birds chirping outside blended with the delicate clinking of silverware as Tony and Jay lounged on the plush bed, trays laden with decadent breakfast offerings before them.

Jay sat cross-legged, wrapped in the hotel's luxurious white robe, her hair tumbling freely over her shoulders. She popped a perfectly ripened berry into her mouth, humming in appreciation as she chewed. "Carter," she said, pointing her fork at him with mock seriousness, "you've officially ruined me. I don't think I can ever go back to regular breakfasts."

Tony leaned back against the headboard, a smirk tugging at his lips. "What, pancakes from the diner down the street won't cut it anymore?"

She laughed, shaking her head as she speared another bite of her avocado toast, perfectly plated with edible flowers. "Not a chance."

Tony reached for his coffee, taking a slow sip as he watched her. She looked radiant, her face lit with an easy smile, completely at ease in the moment. He gestured toward the tray. "You haven't even tried the croissants yet. Freshly baked, flaky, buttery—absolute perfection."

Jay raised an eyebrow. "What are you, their marketing rep now?"

"I'm just saying, you don't want to miss out," Tony said, handing her a croissant.

She tore off a piece, her eyes widening as the pastry practically melted in her mouth. "Okay, fine. You win. This is ridiculous."

The view from Griffith Observatory was breathtaking, the city's lights sprawling endlessly below as the stars twinkled above. Jay wrapped her arms around herself as the cool evening breeze swept past. Tony draped his jacket over her shoulders, earning a grateful smile.

"It's crazy, isn't it?" Jay said, her voice soft. "How small everything looks from up here."

Tony nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Yeah. Makes you realize what's really important."

Jay nudged him playfully. "So, are you ever going to tell me why Mark Wahlberg seemed to know you? I mean, you're not exactly paparazzi-famous… yet."

Tony chuckled, leaning on the railing as he glanced at her. "Alright, alright. It's not as dramatic as you think. Remember last year, when I told you I helped out with that community event in East L.A.?"

Jay tilted her head, her brow furrowing. "The one with the school fundraiser?"

"Yeah, that one," Tony said. "Mark was there supporting one of the local charities. The fundraiser hit a snag—power outage, logistical mess, the works. I stepped in and, uh... improvised a solution."

Jay raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Improvised?"

Tony smirked. "Let's just say I might've had some help from a certain 'Roomie.' Got the power back online, smoothed things out, and the event went off without a hitch. Mark caught me on the way out, shook my hand, and said something about people like me being the reason the world keeps spinning."

Jay blinked, her eyes narrowing playfully. "You mean to tell me you casually saved the day at a charity event, and Mark Wahlberg just happened to be there?"

Tony shrugged, his grin widening. "What can I say? Right place, right time."

Jay laughed, shaking her head. "You are full of surprises, Carter."

Jay's shriek of delight echoed as the sleek red Ferrari roared to life. Tony grinned as he slipped behind the wheel, gesturing for her to buckle up.

"Ready?" he asked, his hand on the gearshift.

Jay laughed; her excitement contagious. "As ready as I'll ever be."

They tore down the Pacific Coast Highway, the ocean glittering to their left as the car hummed beneath them. Jay's laughter rang out as they took a sharp curve, her hand gripping the edge of her seat.

"You're insane," she shouted over the wind. "But I love it!"

By the time the weekend ended, Jay's energy had shifted from excitement to a quiet, content glow. As they stood on the balcony of their suite Monday morning, watching the sun rise, she turned to Tony, her expression soft.

"This weekend was perfect," she said, leaning into his side. "You've outdone yourself."

Tony wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. "You deserve it, Jay. Every bit of it."

She tilted her head up, meeting his gaze. "You're making it really hard not to fall for you completely, Carter."

Tony smirked, but his voice softened. "Then don't fight it."