Chapter 2: Chapter 2
A/N: I'm still not sure how people are liking this, so I thought I would toss out a second chapter. If you guys like it, let me know... and maybe I'll continue.
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Katie stared out the window of Stark's private plane already thinking up a plan of escape. Her only issue was getting access to Tony's phone and deleting the picture. Well that wasn't her only issue. It had been one week since she walked into her apartment and found him snooping around. There was no telling where he had her picture. So here she was being blackmailed by someone who before she met only mildly irritated her, but now, with each passing day, she found herself trying to restrain from murdering him. So when she wasn't planning an escape, she was usually plotting Tony's murder and the best way to leave behind no forensic evidence. It was a long shot, but… doable.
"Water?" a voice asked from beside her and Katie turned to see a flight attendant with a tray holding a glass of water. Katie simply shook her head and watched as the attendant went about her business. She looked over to see Stark asleep, his sunglasses on, as his head rests on the back of the seat, his mouth slightly open. She rolls her eyes before turning back to look out the window. The last thing she wanted to do was leave New York and go to Malibu, but at the moment she had to move at the whim of her blackmailer. So much for simple lives.
"This is the captain" a voice called from a speakers causing Tony to jilt awake. Katie let out a snort at the man's expression. "We will be landing soon, please fasten your seat belts." Tony looked over to Katie as he attached his seat belt. He could see a flash of nervousness as she glanced out of the window. At least that's what he thought it was. Ever since he met the woman, nothing about her made much sense. But something about all of her mystery intrigued him, like a puzzle he just wanted to figure out.
"So" Tony said and she looked over to him with a look of disgust that he has come to recognize. "Ever been to Malibu before?" she simply sighed before turning to back to look out the window. "You know you can't ignore me, I mean we're going to be working together"
"Why?" she asked angrily. "I mean you know next to nothing about me, won't know anything about me unless I let you, and I don't see that happening anytime soon" she turned a bit in her seat to face him. "And I know I may have started this whole thing, but c'mon, I don't see what you could possibly get from this"
"Knowledge" Tony answered simply. "You see what separates Stark Industries from the rest is the amount of brain power, we have the strongest minds, and I think you would be a perfect fit"
"So is blackmail how you recruit all of your employees Mr. Stark?" Katie asked folding her arms over her chest.
"Call me Tony and no, this—" Tony said gesturing a hand toward her. "Is a first, I mean we literally turn down thousands of people and here you are being handed a golden ticket and you can honestly say you don't want it?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying Mr. Stark" she replied saying his name with obvious distrust. "I don't want a golden ticket, I don't need a golden ticket, I want a quiet life and working for Iron Man does not give me that" She turned in her seat as the plane begin sputtering as it touched land. She glanced out of the window making sure this landing wasn't greeted by paparazzi. That was another one of her fears. How was she supposed to stay hidden when she was now going to be latched to the attention whore that is Tony Stark?
"Don't worry" Tony said snapping Katie from her thoughts. She looked over to him. "I made sure no one knew of our arrival, Pepper has taken care of everything" Virginia "Pepper" Potts. Another figure Katie knew already. The woman was the acting CEO of Stark Industries and former assistant to Tony Stark. What she knew of the woman, she was smart, very capable, but also someone who cared about the well being of her boss.
"She won't just accept Cher" Katie muttered and Tony looked over to her confused. "Me" she added with a roll of her eyes.
"Your name's Cher?" Tony asked and Katie sighed.
"No, Cher is an actress slash singer who is widely known with only one name" Katie replied and Tony nodded still trying to understand the reference. "You may be ok with the lack of information on me, but she may not"
"She doesn't have to be" Tony replied turning forward in his seat. "I am still the boss" Katie shook her head, even she didn't believe that.
Katie still didn't take any chances,while exiting the plane she pulled the hood of her hoodie over her head, and slid on a pair of sunglasses.
"Well at least now it looks like I'm smuggling in the Unabomber" Tony said as he followed her down the stairs. Katie looked up to see a man in a suit waiting outside of a car. "Happy?"
"Boss" Happy replied before turning to the woman who was walking with him. "Interesting trip?"
"You could say that" Tony replied as Happy opened the door. Without any greeting or acknowledgment, Katie simply stepped inside of the car.
"Who's the girl?" Happy whispered when Tony walked in closer. Tony glanced in the backseat of the car and shook his head before turning back to his driver slash body guard.
"I'm still trying to figure that out" Tony said before slipping into the backseat as well. Happy closed the door a bit confused, but after years of working for the man he wouldn't go as far as saying he was surprised.
"Where are you taking me now Mr. Stark?" Katie asked her arms folded as she looked out the window.
"My house" Tony replied and Katie turned to him with wide eyes. "What?"
"You do not-!" she took a deep breath glancing up to the driver who she noticed stealing glances of them. She moved in closer to her new boss. "You do not bring people you know absolutely nothing about to your home, that's just plain common sense" he squinted his eyes in thought as he tilted his head. "What's with that look?"
"You're not dangerous" it was statement, not a question. He didn't think she was, but the longer he spent with her, the more he picked up. That was one of them. She scoffed and turned away from him.
"I guess you're going to find out" she muttered. He smirked before turning back to his driver.
"So how've you been Happy?" Tony asked.
"Pretty good boss, still waiting on you to look at my proposal" Happy replied and Tony looked confused. "The head of security position at the company"
"Still not ringing any bells" Tony said with a shrug and Happy shook his head.
"C'mon boss, you have no idea what it's like to tell people you're Iron Man's body guard" Happy replied. "My own mother laughs at me. You made my mother laugh at me"
"Don't be dramatic" Tony replied. "Fine I'll look it over and get back to you"
Katie closed her eyes and sighed. The reason she ran was to finally take control of her life and here she was losing that control. She needed to find a way out.
"I don't want to be here" she said and Tony turned to her. She hoped that if she was just honest about how she felt about this, he would just let her go. She opened her eyes and turned to him. "I really just want to be left alone" he looked at her for a moment, as if searching for something she wasn't saying.
"I don't believe you" he said. He pointed to his eyes. "Your eyes say different"
"Well how about I pick you up an eye to English dictionary so you can realize that my mouth is usually where the truth comes from" Katie replied. "You see this as some game, but this—this is my life, do not make me some pawn to add some spice to your life"
"Did you miss the part about me being Iron Man?" Tony asked and Katie rolled her eyes.
"I can't see how I could since you mention it probably in every other sentence" she replied turning to look out the window. "You want to figure me out, but I'm telling you I'm not someone you want in your life" she glanced over to him. "So here I am, warning you to get out while you still can, sirens ringing and red lights flashing, just take it, take the warning and let me go"
"You say that like I'm keeping you hostage" Tony said and she looked at him as if he were crazy. "You're not my hostage you're my—my protégé" Katie snorted, letting out a laugh turning back to the man. "What?"
"You're funny" Katie replied shaking her head. "Ok, please do not assume that there is anything that you can teach me, lets not forget how it is we ended up in each others lives"
"How did that happen?" Tony asked leaning in a bit closer. It was still a question he very much wanted an answer to. " I mean I've been racking my brain trying to figure out how you recognized a completely altered theory" For the first time since they'd met he saw her smile. It was an honest to god smile and he couldn't help but wonder the reason for its presence. "What are you smiling at?"
"You, for the simple fact that you would ask me to be your protégé when it would seem I may know more than you" Katie replied shaking her head. "I have an idea, lets just stop talking" he opened his mouth to speak but she turned clasping a hand over his mouth. "And I know that request for you is like bleeding gold, but please lets just stop talking" He nodded and she removed her hand and turned back to the window.
They pulled up to the massive seaside mansion and Katie rolled her eyes at the sight of it. It was big and gawky and too attention grabbing, the one thing she wanted to get away from.
"You know most women are literally giddy to come here" Tony said and Katie scoffed turning to him. "But you roll your eyes."
"Maybe I'm not a woman" Katie replied and Tony's eyes widen as he looked over her frame. "Does that make you want to run for the hills?"
"Actually quite the opposite" Tony replied and she snickered with a shake of her head. They stepped out of the car and headed inside of the mansion. She glanced up at the high ceilings.
Always know your exits
She frowned at the little voice in her head that sounded too much like someone she'd rather forget. It was the voice of the person despite all efforts would not leave her. She turned back to Tony who was watching her, waiting for a reaction.
"So…?" he walked over glancing around the place before turning back to her. "What do you think?"
"It's dope dog" she replied flatly and he smiled with a shake of head.
"You know I'm starting to get used to your sarcasm" Tony replied.
"Why am I here?" she asked folding her arms over her chest. For someone who wouldn't shut up, she couldn't help but notice that there were some things he was being tight lipped about.
"Well I want you to see my play room" Tony said before turning and walking off. Katie watched him with slight hesitation before turning to follow after him. She followed him to a flight of stairs that lead down to darkness. "JARVIS, lights" soon the darkness was gone and was replaced with every computer geek's wet dream. Katie looked around with wide eyes, totally impressed. "So" he turned to her. "Nice huh?"
"Yeah, this is a nice set up you have here" Katie replied trying not to show her total awe of the room. She feared the moment she showed the slightest bit of acceptance, he really wouldn't let her go. Tony folded his arms over his chest as he watched her poking around his workshop. That was the first time he'd gotten that reaction. She turned back to Tony. "So show me the piece de resistance"
"JARVIS" Tony said turning. Katie followed his line of sight as the floor on the other side of the workshop began to open up and soon appeared Stark's many Iron suits. Katie walked passed him over to one of the suits. She'd seen the suits on television like most people, but it was something else to see it this close. She was able to closely see the intricacies, and their impeccable design. "You're being quiet, is that a good thing?"
"Who's JARVIS?" Katie asked turning back to the man.
"Oh, JARVIS is my AI, created by muah of course, and I've programmed him throughout...well everything." Tony replied. "Think of him as my own personal computerized jeeves"
"I think I find offense in that sir" a voice said and Katie looked around for a source. "And Greeting Miss—"
"Katie" the woman replied still looking around. "Call me Katie, JARVIS" she looked back over to Tony. "It's kind of weird talking to someone who's not there"
"But definitely cool" Tony said and Katie nodded. He outstretched his hands. "So this is it, this is my playground and I am letting you in"
"Whooptee doo" she replied flatly shaking her fists in the air. "Now if you do not mind, I'm tired and would like to be taken to where I shall call home"
"Oh, you're here" Tony said with a quirked eyebrow. "I mean this place has lots of—"
"No" Katie interrupted holding up her hands. This definitely wasn't happening. She walked over and planted herself in front of him, letting him see the seriousness in her eyes. "You want to be an idiot, invite the strange woman who hacked your unhackable program—"
"That's not—"
"I know it's not a word Mr. Stark, but you understand what I meant right?" he nodded. "So just leave it alone, you do not invite strange people to move into your home, the truth is you do not know me, and it would seem I will have to have enough sense for the both of us, I'm not staying here, get me a motel"
"You'd rather stay in a motel then in my oversized Malibu mansion?" Tony asked.
"I would rather camp in a desert in Guadalajara" she replied seriously. "If I'm going to even attempt to give this a shot then there will be limitations, one of them being me not staying here"
"I would hope not" a new voice said and both Tony and Katie turned to see the tall cherry blonde haired woman standing there watching them. "Tony—" she looked from Katie to Tony, the crease in her forehead speaking volumes. "What's going on here?"
"Pepper I would like you to meet my protege—"
"I'm not his protégé" Katie interrupted.
"Well we're still working on titles, but I think she would be a real asset to the company, to Iron Man" Tony replied giving her a nod before turning back to his former assistant.
"I'm sorry" Pepper says shaking her head. She'd witnessed the crazy antics of Tony Stark, but this was beyond crazy. She looked over to Katie. "Who are you now?"
"Katie" she replied and Pepper looked at her for a moment, waiting for a last name. It would be needed to thorough background check on the woman.
"Last name?" Pepper asked and Katie turned to Tony with a quirked eyebrow.
"Uh, she doesn't have one" Tony replied and Pepper turned to him with a look of disbelief. "Like Cher" Katie and Tony turned to Pepper who just shook her head.
"Can I talk to you?" Pepper asked.
"I thought we were—"
"Upstairs" She ordered not bothering to wait for a response before turning and heading upstairs.
"I told you boss man." Katie whispered and he glared over to her. She hoped that Ms. Potts would talk some sense into her boss, and she would finally be able to get the hell out of here.
"Don't worry, I have everything under control" he said before climbing up the stairs.
Katie was left alone in Tony Stark's workshop surrounded by his toys. She sighed before rubbing her hands together. Well since she was here, she might as well explore.
"Before you even start, let me explain" Tony said before Pepper turned her look of judgment on him.
"Ok, then explain" Pepper replied folding her arms over her chest. Tony stood there for a moment not expecting her to actually let him explain.
"Well she's—" Tony tried to think of a way to explain his madness and was coming up with nothing.
"Is she a prostitute?" Pepper asked suddenly.
"No!" Tony replied a little offended that she thinks he would go there. Sure she's seen him in some of his darkest moments, but he hoped she'd seen the change that was happening with him. "She's a techie. To what degree, I'm not sure, but I do know she's good."
"How do you know that?" Pepper asked.
"Because she broke through my unbreakable wall" Tony replied and Peppers' eyes widen. The whole allure of Tony's firewall was that it was next to impossible to penetrate. She slept better at night knowing their company was protected, safe, and now he just told her that it wasn't.
"And she's not in a jail cell!" Pepper snapped. She was pacing now, which she usually did when she was lecturing him. "Do you have any idea what bringing her here could do to us, the company?" she fumed as she paced back and forth thinking of what this could mean. "Do you know what this will do to us once it gets to the media?"
"It won't" Tony replied and Pepper looked at him. "I'm not saying anything, and she's definitely not saying anything"
"You trust her?" Pepper asked in disbelief. He'd only been gone for a week .
"Well trust is a strong word" Tony replied . "She has something, something I don't think should be wasted" he pointed to his head. "She's smart, but not just smart, she also thinks beyond the box, I mean that kind of thinking could do wonders with the suit-"
"The suit!" Pepper snapped throwing her hands up in frustration. "Is that all you care about, this woman could be a threat to the company, to people who've worked their blood and sweat for you and this company, are you saying you're willing to risk that in some girl you think is smart"
She was right, of course she was right. Pepper Potts was usually always right, which is why he hired her. He needed someone to see through his bull and be bold enough to tell him when he was doing something stupid. He turned back to her about to reply when he was interrupted.
"Sir, you may want to return to your workshop" JARVIS informed. Tony and Pepper shared a look.
"I knew something wasn't right with her" Pepper said before stalking off back down to the workshop, Tony right on her heels. They both walked down, but at first didn't see anyone. "Tony, where is the strange woman you invited into your home?"
"I don't—" he stopped when he saw her crouch behind one of his suits. "There she is" Pepper followed his eyes and both walked over. Katie was so engrossed in what she was doing that she didn't notice her audience until they were inches away from her. She glanced over to them and stood up straight in surprise.
"Oh, hey" she greeted with a slight nervous smile. She was getting two different expressions and she had no idea what was going to happen.
"What are you doing?" Pepper asked the question already accusing. "Did you do something to his suit?"
"Uh, no" Katie replied looking back down to the suit, the back panel opened exposing the suits insides. "I was just curious as to how Mr. Stark was able to power the repulsors"
"You won't find it in there" Tony said and Katie looked over to him confused as his eyes dropped. She glanced down at the glow beneath his shirt. "My arc reactor" Katie looked down to the small ball of light in his chest. "This little doodad is whats keeping the shrapnel from my heart" Katie looked back up to him. "This is keeping me alive"
"What powers the reactor?" she asked and Tony opened his mouth but Pepper shot up a hand to stop him. He looked over to her with confusion.
"Why are you so interested in Tony's suit, and what powers them?" Pepper asked another question full of accusation. Katie sighed glancing over to Tony who shrugged.
"I'm not, actually just don't tell me" Katie replied sighing in frustration. She closed the back panel of the suit before walking around them snagging her hoodie and turning to face them. "So were you able to talk some sense into your boss?" Pepper looked over to her confused before turning back to Tony. "Look I don't want to be here, you obviously don't want me to be here, so how about we make everyone happy and—" she stopped mid-sentence as something hit her. Tony watched her curiously as she tilted her head.
"What?" Tony asked and she looked over to him.
"It's palladium, isn't it?" Katie asked and he looked at her shocked, but she shook her head. "Whatever, like I was saying, you don't want me to be here—"
"Wait, slow down for a second, how—" Tony says trying to figure where that little information came from in just a matter of minutes. "How did you do that?"
"Process of elimination" Katie replied quickly before turning back to Pepper. "If there's anyone this stubborn man will listen to it you, so just convince him that it would be in his best interest to just pretend he never met me"
"Tony when it comes from the horses mouth—" Pepper looked over to Katie. "No offense"
"Some taken" Katie muttered.
"Look, Tony I know you get these ideas, but this one just has too much risk, you don't know this woman and she obviously seems to not want to be here—"
"Yes she does" Tony said his eyes on Katie. "She just doesn't know it yet"
"Ok, you're insane" Katie replied turning back to Pepper when the woman's phone suddenly rang. Pepper sighed before taking out her phone.
"I have to take this" Pepper said before turning to take her call.
"Mr. Stark, I don't know what you expect to come from this, trust me it just won't work" Katie was now pleading. "Right now the last thing I need is to be here and the last thing you need is to be tangled up with the girl with no last name"
"Well the truth is you have a last name, you just refuse to tell me" tony countered. " And I get it, you want to stay hidden from someone"
"Yeah I do and being here with you does not help me do that" Katie said. "You're too exposed and that much exposure is what I'm trying to hide from"
"Ex husband?" Tony asked out of the blue and Katie rolled her eyes. "Right, I said I wouldn't pry, at least tell me if it's in anyway illegal activities" Katie shook her head.
"If it was, would you delete the photo and let me go?" Katie asked as Pepper walked back over.
"That was the office, I have to get back" Pepper said looking over to Tony. She stood there for a moment waiting for him to finally tell her what he has decided. "So, what are we doing?" Tony looked between Katie and Pepper studying them both as he thought of the pros and cons and maybe the cons at the moment outweighed the pros, but for some reason that didn't matter. Tony turned back to Pepper.
"She needs an apartment" Tony replied and Pepper sighed in both disappointment and annoyance. "Today, some place nice, but nothing too flashy, and make sure there's nothing that can come back to me, we need a clean paper trail"
"Why does this feel like we're planning a heist?" Katie asked rubbing a hand across her face. She turned to Pepper who was just as unhappy about this as she was. "Look it doesn't have to be fancy, as long as there's a bed and at least a laptop, I will be fine" Pepper shook her head before turning and walking away.
"I guess I'll call when everything is ready" She called over her shoulder, not sparing the pair another glance.
"She doesn't trust me" Katie said with a shake of her head. "And because of that, she will not let this go" she looked over to Tony. "She's going to dig"
"Probably" Tony replied turning to her. "What will she find?"
"Nothing" Katie replied with a shrug. "Which will only make her hate me even more"
"How does one wipe away their life?" Tony asked and Katie let out a snort. This woman was all sorts of crazy, but he couldn't help wanting to figure her out. She looked over to him.
"Wifi and beer" she replied with a light chuckle before turning and heading back over to the Iron Man Suit. "Now explain to me just what I will be doing?"
Pepper stormed into her office, dropping her purse on her desk before taking a seat. She still couldn't believe what she'd just witnessed. Tony had just brought some strange woman into his house who could possibly be the ruin of everything they'd work for. She doesn't care what he said or what he believed. There was something not right about this Katie woman and she was going to find out what and there was only one person she knew who could help her. Pepper reached into her desk pulling out a business card, before pressing in the familiar number.
"Uh, Yes, this is Virginia Potts, I need to speak with Agent Coulson" she said. She sighed, hesitating for a moment, but only a moment. "Could you tell him that it's urgent"
A/N: Well there you go. I really would like to hear from you guys... should I continue or just let sleeping dogs lie?