"I can't believe you walk like that all of the time." I chuckled to myself as I snapped my suitcase closed.
"I can't believe you still laugh every time I walk into a room." Tony Stark said incredulously.
"Well, it's just so funny that you walk everywhere like you're about to sleep with someone." I heaved my luggage up from my bed.
"Okay, now I'm seeing the funny side."
"Everything all packed?" Mr. Hawkins asked from the doorway. I was spending the summer at the Stark mansion in Malibu. Why? I feel like being nice.
"Yeah. Thanks again for letting me go, Dad."
Mr. Hawkins gave me one of his 'this will make you feel better for the rest of your life' hugs. "Anytime, kiddo. Call me when you get there, okay?"
I smiled. "I will. And you tell Virgil and Richie that I'm just call away if they need me."
"I will." He smiled back. "You know, you've grown up so much since I first met you."
I scoffed. "When you first met me I was standing on the side of the road with a bloody coat."
"Yes you were." Tony sensed us taking a little trip down memory lane and quietly slipped out of the room.
"How did you know it was me?"
"Well, I know most of the folks in town, and Virgil described you as 'yay-high with short dark hair and strange clothing'."
"I dressed weird?"
"Well it was strangely warm that evening and you were wearing a sweatshirt."
I nodded in remembrance. "Right, I guess that would be a little weird."
"So what are you going to do in Malibu?"
I sighed. "Hopefully something productive."
That made him laugh. "It's always a mystery with you, isn't it?"
"Well I guess I can tell you."
He laughed again. "You can tell me anything, and you know it."
"I am actually going to try to help my friend."
"That girl you met? The one can't touch anyone?"
I nodded. "Yeah, Rogue. I figure, why not turn this gun," I pulled out the gun that Stryker stole last year. "Into something helpful."
He smiled. "That's my girl." He gave me another hug. "I'm going to miss you around here."
I smiled and a feeling of sadness filled my heart. "I'll be back before you know it."
"But then you'll be off to college."
"But I'll come back. I'll always come back."
"Promise?"
I nodded. "I promise."
He let me go and pat my shoulders. "You better be going."
I nodded again. "Right."
"You have fun, alright?" It really hurt him to see me go.
"I'd have more fun if you guys came too."
He sighed. "You know we can't. Sharon and Adam are planning their wedding, Trina can't take off from work, and Virgil and Richie are busy doing God knows what. You're on your own for this one, kid."
"I hate being alone." I murmured. Ever since last summer, I had become extremely clingy to the Hawkins – my – family. It's gotten to the point where I've been thinking about skipping out on Langara College in Vancouver and going to Gotham University instead.
"Hey, I am available every minute of every day, you know that. I don't care if it's three in the morning or if I'm in the shower, you call when you need to call, okay?"
"Okay." Unknowingly, tears started to fall from my eyes.
"Why are you crying?" Mr. Hawkins wiped one of my tears away.
"I'm just going to miss you guys so much." I wiped my face viciously.
"You've spent a summer away before." He tried to reason with me.
"Yeah, but…things are just different now. I mean, I almost lost you last time."
He grabbed my face gently and tilted my head so that I could look into his eyes. "We're going to be okay. Have I ever lied to you before?"
"No." I replied sheepishly.
"Then we're going to be fine."
A knock on the doorframe brought us out of our reverie. "You ready to go?" Tony asked.
I looked up at Mr. Hawkins for one last time, and then I turned to Tony. "Yeah. I'm ready."
Tony and I started walking down the hallway when Mr. Hawkins gave a cry. "Wait!" I turned around. "You forgot your hat."
I took the black hat from him. "Thanks, Dad." I slightly pet Johnny's old hat.
"Just in case you need it."
"I'll try not to."
He smiled and repeated, "That's my girl."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"Welcome to Stark Mansion." Tony said when we walked into the house.
I nodded. "Nice. Not as nice as Wayne Manor, but…" I teased him. Tony has become like a long distance brother over the past year or so.
"My house is high-tech." He came back with.
"Pshaw, my house is classy."
"Ouch."
I just smiled. "Thanks again for lending me your lab."
"No problem. What's mine is yours."
"Likewise." He smiled back.
"Come on, I'll show you to your room." We headed up the stairs, me with my duffel bag in hand. "Although, if you're anything like me, you're not going to be sleeping there much."
"Workaholic?"
He nodded. "Very much so." We were silent for about three minutes before we came to what would become my bedroom. He opened the door to reveal a light blue room with a queen sized bed and a matching oak dresser and nightstand. To the left of the room was a full bathroom and to the right was a beautiful view of the Pacific.
"This is beautiful."
"If you have any questions, you can ask Pepper, myself, or JARVIS."
"JARVIS?"
"Yes, ma'am." A smooth, robotic voice answered. Okay, that spooked me a little.
"Just A Rather Very Intelligent System." Tony explained. "He'll be assisting you downstairs."
"You won't be?"
He shook his head. "No, I've got several things on my plate this summer, sorry."
"You mean, working with Fury."
He sighed. "Yes."
"He's your friend."
"His people skills are getting better, trust me."
"The man shot me, trying to get me on his side."
"We're working on it."
"It's true, ma'am," JARVIS piped in. "Mr. Fury has had more interaction with others since your encounter two years ago."
"That is going to freak me out so bad."
Tony just chuckled.
