Disclaimer: I do not own Iron Man or Marvel in any way or form, including characters, comics, scripts, movies, etc. This is a work of fiction and I own only my OC/OCs and certain plot points.
Tony Stark was a man of many's. He had many mansions, many lovers and many enemies. But he didn't have many friends.
Not that he was pining. He only needed a few friends, and he honestly couldn't blame people for steering clear of him. Still, for a social butterfly such as himself, he had few companions. Pepper, Rhodey, JARVIS and his bots. That was it.
Save for one friend in particular. Actually, 'friend' probably wasn't the correct term; he didn't know what they were.
They'd met in college, MIT. They hit it off straight away, and when she had made it clear he wasn't getting in her pants, Tony began to notice just how smart she really was. After all, they were studying the same course. He was 17 and she was 18; both way too young for MIT but killing it regardless. She had her dark past and he was building up his. They agreed, on the night of graduation, that if either of them needed anything, to call. They'd used that promise a few times since then.
The death of Tony's parents. Her impoverished post-college months (they had tried to live together but it never worked out; in the end Tony gave her a small fortune and she began renting out a one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn). His new responsibility for SI. Her job knockbacks…But most of the time, there wasn't a reason.
Despite the argument Tony would put up, they could both be very lonely people. So, some nights, one would call the other, and regardless of time, or whether Tony was in an SI meeting or she was about to go in for her umpteenth job interview, they were there.
Tony had decided from an early age that he needed someone to confide in, just so he didn't go completely crazy. Rhodey worried too much, and Tony couldn't handle that. He needed someone to listen and not fret.
So, that left Lila Clancy. Lila wasn't a worrier, but she was a listener, and Tony needed that.
At first, Tony didn't think she should've been a Lila. With a name like that you picture a young, gentle girl in a sundress with baby pink lips. He'd often teased her about belonging in Pride and Prejudice with a name like Lila Clancy. But she wasn't what you'd picture her to be. Lila was tough and cunning and if she ever wore lipstick it wouldn't be baby pink, and would instead be made from the blood of her enemies. At least that's what young, easily intimidated Tony Stark had thought. She could swear and shout and speak whatever gibberish was going through her head. In contrast, though, she could also be soft, and she could listen. She was good at that. She was a humanitarian through and through and knew when to shut up (not that it always stopped her). Lila was made of polar opposites, all mixed together to create someone that contradicts themselves with every word. She reminded Tony of himself, he supposed. He was still trying to figure out if it was a good thing.
But they hadn't heard from each other in a long time, and usually that was a good sign.
Then, Afghanistan happened.
Lila heard it in the Brooklyn papers. Billionaire Tony Stark missing in Mid-East. It then went on to say how Tony had gone there to promote his new Jericho missile. Shortly after, on the way back to the airport, a bomb has been planted in their path, leaving bodies and rubble strewn across the road. They hadn't found his body. The media believed that Stark either went missing or was taken hostage.
The only good news in that was that he wasn't confirmed dead.
The first thing Lila did was rifle through her pockets for a crinkled piece of paper. It had all of her emergency contacts on it written in Tony's long ago hand writing. If you can't reach me, call Pepper Potts-my PA. Following it was a number.
Leaning against the wall of a payphone, watching the rain run down the glass, Lila waited for an answer.
"Hello, Pepper Potts speaking." A grief-worn voice informed.
"Miss Potts, this is Lila. I'm an old friend of Tony's. I doubt he's told you about me."
A moment passed before she replied, "You're right, he hasn't." Her tone became tight, then. "Look, if you want answers, turn on the TV; that's as much as we know, too."
"I'm not looking for answers." She most definitely was. "I want to help find him. You see Miss Potts, I, too, happen to be a genius, and I can track him down." She said sternly through the receiver, hand clenched tightly across the plastic.
A soft silence passed before Pepper replied, almost humorously, "You're just as modest as him, too."
Lila had convinced Pepper to by her flight over to Malibu. It didn't take a lot, and Lila could tell the woman was desperate. She'd heard Tony mention her in passing a few times, but she didn't know what their relationship was. Most likely, it was just an employee mourning for her pain in the ass boss.
He isn't dead yet, Lila kept chanting to herself.
Reaching the entrance of the Malibu mansion, Lila approached the large front door, prepared to knock. However, it was open inches before her fist could reach it.
Quirking a brow, she slowly stepped inside. It was all very Stark.
"Miss Clancy, welcome." An overhead voice addressed, and Lila couldn't hold back her smile. "Sir has often mentioned you. I am JAR-"
Looking up at the ceiling, Lila replied, "JARVIS, yes, I know. I helped create your blueprints." She could remember those long weeks with Tony, both getting on each other's nerves. Of course, that was when they tried living together; that didn't end too well.
"I believe thanks are in order." JARVIS said.
"You're welcome, J." she said, already fond of the AI. Hiking her backpack up further, she blew out a breath. It was definitely a mansion, and was a step up from the place they'd lived before. She had to admit, with the huge glass windows and the view of the ocean, it was pretty beautiful.
She shook herself out of her thoughts, and asked, "Do you know where-?"
"Miss Clancy?"
As if on cue, a tall red-headed woman appeared in the centre of the room, wearing a smart dress suit, hands clasped in front of her. She wore light makeup, but her tiredness still showed, and nothing could mask the redness in her eyes. She looked just like Lila imagined.
"Miss Potts." She returned, approaching the woman with her hand outstretched, scarred fingers and all.
"Pepper." She corrected as she took Lila's hand. She still didn't seem so sure about this out-of-the-blue friend. Well, that was a lie. Pepper had heard of Lila before. She hadn't known who she was, but Tony would sometimes mutter things. She could remember a phone call a few months back.
"Tony, you have to sign it." Pepper had been trying desperately to get her child-boss to sign a contract for an interview.
"Yeah, later." Tony huffed from beneath a car's engine.
"No, now." She countered sternly.
With a massive groan, Tony pushed himself out from under the car and gazed up at the woman, covered is grease and grime. A tedious staring contest began, then. Brown against blue, they bore into each other with equal stubbornness.
Hauling himself up from the floor, Tony brushed his hands off. "What's it for, anyway?"
"The same thing it was for last time you asked." Pepper replied sharply.
Tony passed her a warning though playful look before taking the piece of paper and skimming it over.
"Atta boy." She smiled triumphantly.
Tony gave her a lazy roll of his eyes before clicking his tongue. "Fine-"
A harsh jingle echoed from his trouser pocket. Patting himself down, Tony took out his mobile and answered the device.
Pepper glowered over at him. For months, she'd be trying to get him to sign. She wouldn't put it past Tony if he'd planned the interruption.
All the billionaire did was grin. "Yeah?" he said into his phone, eyes not leaving his PA's. A muffled reply was returned, and Tony's grin faltered. "Lil. What's happening, sugar?" his attention was narrowed in on his phone then, and he absently pushed the paper back into Pepper's hands.
Turning slightly, Tony listened. "Hey, calm down, alright. Calm down. Lil, come on." He turned away from his assistant and began wandering around the lab. "Do you want me to come? You're still in Brooklyn, right?" he asked, seemingly searching for his jacket. "Hey, alright! Alright, alright. I won't come. Jesus." He halted his search.
Pepper stared on confusedly. She'd heard hardly anything about this 'Lil'. Was she a prolonged one night stand?
"Me calm down? You're the one having a fucking panic attack at one in the morning!" he scoffed, gesturing wildly to the ceiling. "J, music." On command, the unseen AI cut off the background sound.
Pepper felt like a snoop, then.
"Yeah, yeah, I know it's not your 'first rodeo'." Tony continued over to the lab's kitchen, clicking on the kettle. "Then why call me if you 'can handle it just fine'?"
Another moment passed and Tony stilled his movements. With a tired sigh, he turned around and rested his hips against the kitchen counter, pocketing his hand. "Yeah. Yeah, I know." He said in a softer tone. "Shit, really?" he gave his brow a hasty massage, then.
Pepper took that as her cue to leave, and turned hastily up the stairs. She could still hear their voices as she reached the second floor.
"…just breathe, honey. It's all good. Just breathe." Footsteps on the lab floor. "Yeah, I am a fucking guru, so do as I say." Tony chuckled, then. "Right now, I'm telling you to breathe. I'm also going to tell you all about my new project, so buckle up."
"Of course." Lila nodded, stepping back. "Call me Lila."
Pepper seemed to shake herself, and gave Lila a quick smile before asking seriously, "Do you really think you'll be able to find him?"
Lila looked up at her and shrugged. "That's why I'm here."
Pepper showed Lila around the house, then to the lab. She was hesitant to allow her inside, but after a brief inner battle, Pepper told herself that it was to get Tony back.
"Wow," Lila surveyed the lab. "It's really changed."
"Changed?" Pepper asked with a perked brow, looking over her shoulder.
Lila glanced her way. "Back when we were kids, Tony and I tried living together. He used to have a workshop, but nothing like this."
"Tried living together?" Pepper prodded.
Lila chuckled. "You're his P.A, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about." She wandered further into the lab, gadgets and tools still strewn around the place, cups of half-drunk coffee sitting on tables.
"Feel free to use the workshop, I doubt you can do much more damage than he does in here." Pepper said. "I'll show you your room." She began turning away.
"No, it's fine." Lila said, already striding toward the worn couch with a grin. He'd still kept it. It had been the first piece of furniture they'd bought. Well, Tony had bought it, Lila was broke.
"Sorry?" Pepper faced her.
"I don't need a room; the couch will do just fine." She dumped her back on the depleted cushions for exaggeration.
"You're sure?" Pepper asked, uncertain. "We have beds upstairs, rooms with a view. You could always-"
"Pepper." She interrupted. "It's fine. Thank you."
The red head surveyed Lila for a moment before nodding. "Alright, then. If you need me, I'll be upstairs. Feel free to use whatever you want. I'm thinking about takeout later, any requests?"
Lila felt pampered, and she restrained her grin. "Whatever you think."
Out of habit, Pepper found herself saying, "Will that be all?" She was just relieved she hadn't let her boss' name slip.
Lila gave her a single nod. "That'll be all, Miss Potts." Turning, she went over to the kitchen and clicked on the kettle.
Lila hadn't seen Pepper's wide-blown eyes, or how it took her a good five seconds to turn and leave.
Lila had made herself a cup of coffee that tasted far better than her usual, and was familiarizing herself with the workshop. It was big enough with enough tools, and the shiny cars added a nice view.
"Alright," she laid her coffee on a table. "If I know you, and I know I do because I'm practically your mother," Lila addressed the ceiling. "Then you can help me out a lot. You have Tony's know-how, right?"
The AI had been silent since their introduction, but now his smooth voice filled the room. "Mr. Stark's formulas, equations, blueprints and experiments are all stored in my database."
"Fantastic. What about mutterings?" she began clearing a steely table.
"Miss?" JARVIS said, unsure. Lila was proud to have been able to stump the AI upon first meeting.
"You know, your conversations. I know Tony would talk to you. Do you record them?"
JARVIS seemed hesitant. "On occasion, yes. Do you believe they will come in use?"
"Only for entertainment purposes." Lila smirked. She could only imagine what he would talk about. She knew he liked to babble while he worked.
"I don't believe Sir would appreciate-"
Lila cut him off. "Lighten up, JARVIS; I'm only fooling around." She explained, before adding, "Maybe."
JARVIS didn't humour her with a reply.
Alright, let's get to work, then." She clapped her hands together. "Play something for old time's sake."
The sweet melodies of Moon River filtered through the crispy clear speakers, and Lila halted before letting out a thunderous laugh. "I was hoping for Zeppelin."
"Apologies, Miss."
So, first fic on this website. Love some feedback and critique, enjoy!