[I don't own Ironman or Marvel…Wish I did…I'd be super rich by now…and popular…]
[UPDATE: OMG! SO SORRY THIS IS DELAYED! I didn't realize I never posted it. I am so incredibly sorry~ Please forgive me. Ugh, I've been working on other stuff and got distracted and didn't realize it. So SO very sorry guys. /bows/ Forgive me for all the mistakes and stuff.]
Chapter Two "Pretty Please~?"
I opened my eyes feeling pretty darn confused. I was on someone's couch. I sat up quickly, noting a silver bracelet on my arm. I started messing with it. It had a tiny little red dot light on it that was pulsing slightly. A small box had a number icon on it, like a heartbeat monitor.
"Wouldn't do that if I were you," Tony Stark said from the kitchen area. He was drinking coffee. I could see something blue faintly glowing under his white t-shirt. "Your heart stopped…Your 'suit' screwed up the electromagnetic pattern of it…That bracelet is regulating it by sending small pulses through you to keep it active…" I noted some folded clothes on the coffee table with a note on top of them. Emma's familiar cursive.
'Lucky girl. Here's some 'stylish' clothes ~Emma.'
"Sweet…" I mumbled, getting up and wincing. Bruised and battered.
"Showers down the hall…second door on the right…," Tony said, not even looking up from his newspapers. I was starting to dislike the guy. I scooped up my clothes and limped to the bathroom. I stripped, wincing as I studied my reflection. Bruises, cuts and scrapes. Ow. Hot water stung but felt good as I washed away the grime, dried blood and who knows what else. Dressed in a dark purple t-shirt and black pants, I limped back to the kitchen where Tony still was. I waited quietly.
"what?" Tony demanded, glancing up at me almost irritated.
"What am I doing here?" I replied. I could tell he wanted to make some kind of sassy comeback.
"Because…S.H.I.E.L.D. has you classified as a potential threat to the world…You possess high intelligences…that needs guidance…Fury think you're safer here…under a responsible adult," Tony said trailing off and letting it sink in. Something about Emma's note clicked.
"You're…you…my…guardian?" I stuttered, trailing off as my brain died. Tony made a face.
"Care-taker…babysitter…mentor…prison guard," he told me as if disgusted with the idea," Yeah…take your pick."
"How…How are you classified as a RESPONSIBLE ADULT?" I snapped at him," OR EVEN A-A…ARGH!" I screeched frustrated.
"What?" he asked, confused and indicated my wrist," I saved your life-"
"Yeah! But why? Why you? Of all people? Why did I have to be ASSIGNED to you?" I demanded. I groaned, putting my hands to my face." Life is ruined…" I went over to his couch and flopped down on it, wincing as pain kicked up. He followed me, perplexed.
"What do you mean?" he asked me, gently prodding at my leg to get my attention. I moved my hands to look at him.
"My…reputation…suddenly I go from ignored intelligent nerd…to…'attention' because I'm your…your…" I said with a wave of my hand with a grimace.
"Technically…You're my adopted daughter and I'm your adopted father," he informed me, confirming my fears. He seemed to realize what I was saying and his grimace matched mine," I hate Fury sometimes…."
"Hey Tony?" The other black guy from earlier said, entering the house.
"hey, Rhodey," Tony said, walking away from me. Emma entered after him and excitedly rushed over to me, hugging me.
"oh my gosh! You are NEVER going to believe it! Tony Stark is none-other-than THE IRONMAN!" She squealed," And he's-" A gesture at Rhodey," THE WARMACHINE!" My eyes flicked to Tony.
"oh…" I muttered shaking my head. Emma tapped my bracelet.
"Wicked pacemaker…It keeping you alive?" she asked and went on without time for an answer," He uh…has a mini-ark reactor in his chest…uh…keeping him alive…" she was closing up again, getting shy on me. Her brain must've caught onto the fact that she was in Tony Stark's presence.
"Thanks for the uh…clothes," I replied, bringing her back to me.
"oh yeah….um…Selena, Your ex?…foster-father's house was caught in some kind of explosion late last night…wiped out everything," Emma informed me.
"Brilliant," I replied rolling my eyes. She giggled. Miss. Pepper came in.
"Ah Pepper good," Tony said giving her a look," Can you uh…do me a big favor?"
"Want me to take Selena out and buy her a new wardrobe?" Pepper asked and Tony peeked a kiss on her cheek.
"What would I do without you?" he asked and beckoned for Rhodey to follow him as we left.
*********** / ***************** ? *************
"So…What's like…my price-limit?" I asked Pepper as we entered our first clothing store. Emma had gone home after promising to visit me. Wouldn't miss a chance to gawk at Tony Stark. She'd given me a folder with some papers, insisting it was 'Top secret'. I knew what was in it.
"…Anything ridiculous…You can only wear so many clothes," Pepper informed me, presenting me with a credit card. Ultimate Power. I pretty much got my entire wardrobe in that store, without going over the limit. She took me back to…home? Was that what I would call this place now? Tony Stark was my…adopted father. Any normal girl's dream come true. So why did I hate it so much? Was it because this S.H.I.E.L.D. organization had arranged it? Because I wasn't in control of my life anymore?
"Greetings Selena," Jarvis greeted me as I went in. Pepper had to go deal with things at Stark Industries.
"Hey…Is Tony home?" I asked the…A.I.? He was silent for a few seconds.
"He is no longer on the premises," Jarvis replied. I took my folder and went downstairs to Stark's office/lab. I sat down on his desk, flipping through my new schematics from Emma.
"May I?" Jarvis inquired before scanning the blue-prints. A projected model floated in the center of the room. One of those touch things.
"Hey…does Tony have spare stuff laying around that I could use?" I asked. Silence followed.
"If you are suggesting to build this model…I could have it made in a few hours," Jarvis told me.
"Really?" I asked shocked.
"Indeed," he replied almost smugly," Master Stark has let me handle several of his suit inventions before-I can certainly make him one more based on these." Oh. Jarvis thought this was for Tony. Well? Who was I to argue?
"How long did you say it would take to make?" I asked casually. Silence.
"Procedures are under way," Jarvis informed me. Machines whirled to life. "Approximately…five hours."
"Only that long?" I demanded, farther taken a back.
"Miss. Selena, Things like this can not be rushed. When we first started this process took days to refine-" Jarvis started.
"OH! I meant it's a short time!" I exclaimed. Jarvis was silent. "Thank you Jarvis…oh…and can you notify me when it's done…only me?"
"Of course Miss. Selena," Jarvis replied and I left to go find a movie to watch. I'd changed into a tighter fitting black shirt, some blue jean shorts and dark purple leggings. I had on slim-fitting black boots that were mid-shin ones. I'd made it though Hellboy I and II and was now working on the Wish master series. "Miss. Selena. The suit is done."
"SWEET!" I exclaimed, hurrying to the lab to see. It was just like Emma's drawing. Definitely feminine if the curves meant anything, but it was slender. She'd definitely taken my measurements for this without my knowledge. The suit suddenly folded down on itself into some sort of briefcase thing. "WHOA! How do you get it one?"
"Merely tap it with your foot," Jarvis replied," I assume by the smaller measurements and more…feminine features of the suit that it is meant for you?" I nodded, feeling guilty for abusing the overly helpful computer system. I tapped the thing with my foot and the suit shot out, sliding into place around me. There was still some room inside but just barely. I'd have to watch what outfits I wore in this thing.
"So…" I said, looking at it. The only difference was the newly install mini-ark reactor in the chest.
"I replaced your energy-converter with Stark's own more stable power source," Jarvis replied, guessing what I was asking," It is basically the same as that of the Ironman sit of course…with a few modifications based on the submitted blueprints…" I nodded, considering it. My voice had that metallic ring to ti due to the suit, but female.
"Can I fly?" I demanded.
"Your suit possesses the same capabilities as that fo the Ironman armor," Jarvis informed me. Sweet.
"So…Is there a tutorial on this thing or-" I started to ask and several screens seemed to activate in my helmet. Exactly what I needed. "I think I'll take this for a test run…OH, and Jarvis…Tony already knows about this so-"
"I will not bore him with tedious details on it," Jarvis promised me.
"Thanks J-ster," I told him, activating my …jets?…Things in my foot that created flight. I'd have to look up all this stuff later. A heavy thrust shot up, before I wobbled and landed hard on the ground. Trying again I climbed a few feet before zooming out of Tony's house. I pulled up a map locating Emma's house. I landed hard in her hard. Her dogs ran over to me, howling like mad. Emma hurried outside to get onto them and stopped when she spotted me. She squealed excitedly, running over to me. My mask plate slid up and out of the way. I had my hands on my hips.
"Oh my gosh~" she squealed.
"Iron Maiden…At your command," I said seriously before smiling. "How's it look? You did great on the design."
"Don't I always?" she asked cackling gleefully. "How'd you get it built so fast? Surely Tony-"
"Jarvis…uh…built it for me," I replied, "Well…he built it for Ironman…or he thinks he did…"
"When he finds out…He'll be furious," Emma said grinning madly," You know what this means?" She clapped her hands together," Iron Maiden! The NEWEST superheroess…ess…Whatever~" I gave her a thoughtful look. "You'll kick butt…AND I'll help direct you via communications!" She hurried off inside. I deactivated the suit, letting it hold down to briefcase size before going after her. She tapped her computer, showing me what she mean.
"Someone's been busy," I commented.
"Eh~ I just like to keep up with things," she replied grinning. I'm fairly certain I was the one who'd originally loaded those programs onto her computer. I sighed, looking around her room. The interior was nice. She had an eye for detail. Fashion that is. "AND!" She showed me her headset. Originally used for W.O.W. but now refurbished. "I can talk to you!" She slipped it on, hooking it up. "Well…go all Iron Maiden on me…" I set the case down and tapped it with my foot, causing it to reactivate. A toggle screen popped up on my screen. It was Emma via webcam. "Testing?" Her voice crackled a bit until the signal become clear.
"I think that's a good connection," I agreed, watching her face light up as she must've heard my voice in her headset. She clicked on something on her screen and it pulled up on mine.
"Now I can direct you better~" she said excitedly, clapping her hands together. I called my eyes, just what I needed.
"Well…I should get back…no telling how long Tony's suppose to be gone," I replied, exiting her room. She was still on screen though.
"Oh…I've been thinking about a new type of bio-suit for underneath the armor," Emma told me seriously. She pulled up a few schematics. Let me stop you right now. Flying was hard enough on its own. Flying while distracted? Even worse. I almost crashed THREE times before I had to make her shut up. I made it 'home' safely and stripped myself of my suit, hiding it under my bed. I carried my laptop out to the living room, opening a live chat with Emma.
"Home safe," I told her and she laughed at me. The door opened and Tony entered with Rhodey.
"Now Poly-memory fabric is supposedly the latest trend in fashion week-even used by military to expand the whole bullet-proof concept. It's eventually going to get to the stage where it redistributes the energy force behind the impact to other places. It's not the greatest out but I've reviewed the fi-" She stared saying and I rolled my eyes. "What?"
"By now, you should know me well enough to know that the details in the history bore me…I like to see actual logic…on paper…blue-prints schematics…the works…you name it," I informed her. Rhodey grabbed a drink and sat down near me. A glance at my computer screen and he took it form me. "Hey! Personal!" Tony grabbed himself a drink and sat down.
"These are classified defense files," Rhodey snapped giving me a look," Just WHAT are you doing with it?"
"It should be 'Just what is she doing with it'," I replied. Rhodey only stared at me,"…Emma's really into fashion…models and clothing and stuff…This is cutting edge fabric that'll change 'fashion-trends' everywhere." I noticed Emma had ended our chat. Coward. Well, I didn't really blame her. She froze up around Tony Stark, or any older attractive man. I worried she'd give herself a nosebleed at some point. She'd done it before. Rhodey handed my laptop back.
"I'll be keeping an eye on you," he muttered as Tony flicked on the news.
"-Girl found. Emma Chambers was rescued and I quote our sources 'by an Iron friend'. Does Ironman have a partner?" The reporter was asking as a picture of Emma floated around the screen. "Just who is this mysterious person?" An amateur video started to play. Yay…sarcasm. I saw my…disturbingly warped suit landing and heading into a warehouse. Fire exploded and the suit…me…zoomed off clutching Emma. Bullets whizzed through the air and the video stopped. "Does a new face join Ironman and Warmachine?"
"ugh…can't they just drop it…suit was a piece of crap anyways," I muttered, closing my laptop. Rhodey took a sip of his drink.
"It's news…Admit it. You built something from complete scratch, pulled off a rescue stunt and lived…You really expected that to go unnoticed?" Rhodey asked chuckling.
"Also new. Tony Stark's adoption of Selena Travis. She too was involved in an apart random 'terrorist act'…Who is this mysterious young girl? What's Stark's interest in her?" We tried to find out today…" the reporter continued and a video popped up.
"Stark stark! Hey Stark!" Reporters were crying out to get a busy looking Tony Stark to pay attention to them. "Stark! Why the sudden interest?" Stark stopped and looked at them.
"Well…I…I see something in her that reminds me of myself at a younger age….I think she could use some guidance…I feel partially to blame…She was touring my industries when the bus blew up…it was her friend kidnapped…and she'd got no one else," Tony replied, leaving the screen.
"And that's all we got," The reporter said," Later tonight-" Tony clicked off the TV set.
"…S.H.I.E.L.D. isn't too happy with the way the news is going," Tony said and stood up, grimacing.
"Did you hurt yourself?" I asked, eyeing him suspiciously. Rhodey was watching us out of the corner of his eyes.
"Being Ironman has its…risks," Tony told me seriously, meeting my eyes and holding my gaze.
"What do you mean? I thought the suit-" I started and he cut me off with the action of pulling up his shirt to reveal his chest. Now, you'd either be admiring it because he's attractive or grossed out because he's an older guy. I was fascinated by the mini ark reactor in his chest. I got up, going over to touch it gently.
"This is what's keeping me alive," He told me seriously,"…Being Ironman has its risks because everyone wants to get their hands on this…" he touched his glowing chest. "it also powers Rhodey's suit…"
"The suits aren't everything," Rhodey said and Tony pulled his shirt down. I noticed an ominous bruise on his side. "You can get hurt…They break…just like anything else does…"
"I've got some work to do," Tony said heading for his office.
"Well…bye Miss. Selena…Take care of yourself…and try not to irritate Tony," Rhodey said before leaving. I suddenly felt alone and lsot. I was in Tony Stark's house due to S.H.I.E.L.D. That didn't mean I belonged there and I was pretty sure Tony didn't' like me or want me there either. I was considered a threat because I'd sort-of figured out how to make Ironman's suit. If I were Tony, I wouldn't have liked me either. I swallowed, sitting down on that expensive couch to do some reflection with my laptop. I was a girl for plans. Life had to be planned out. It was like a giant math equation with variables and formulas. I'd planned life out, knowing my real parents had been killed in a car wreck with my brother and that I'd be a foster-kid for life. I'd been in the 9th grade, just started when it'd happen. So, I'd made up my mind then and there to get the best education that I could to make my life better for me. Made good grades, got into Physics and high math courses. I was going well. But now I was in a problem. I'd gotten so enraptured with the idea of rebuilding the 'Ironman" suit. I'd gotten so close to the truth and I'd gotten noticed. Someone…I wasn't sure who…had held my best friends ransom for the Ironman prototype. That person was still at large. It worried me-
"You're thinking too hard," Tony's voice cut into my thoughts. He was holding a glass with some unidentifiable liquid in it out to me. I raised an eyebrow. "Just drink it." I accepted it, sitting up and setting the laptop to the side. I'd had Emma's files up and had unconsciously started making corrections to the formulas. Tony sat down beside me. "What' son your mind?" I took a sip of the drink and fought not to choke as it burned. Tony took the glass away form me.
"Life is," I replied, able to breath. Tony sipped form the glass. "…I just…I had life planned out…I'd figured it out…Now I've been thrown a curveball… Someone's taken an interest in the Ironman suit…realized I had an interest in it as well…They probably meant to kidnap me…" I ran a hand through my hair, feeling sick.
"…And you would've built it?" he questioned.
"Honestly?…I don't know…I'd of done some reflecting…" I said, looking away. I knew what probably would've happened. I'd of had to live with the guilt of giving up-No…I would've died before giving some 'bad' guy one of the world's most powerful weapons. Tony's hand tapped my forehead.
"Thank you," he told me. I gave him a confused look. "for keeping the secret of the Ironman suit safe." I looked away, almost guilty knowing I had a female replica of the suit in my room. I stood up.
"I'm going to bed," I informed him and went to lay down. I woke up feeling vaguely confused. I didn't know where I was. Then it came back. I was at Stark's. School was on break right now. Luckily. I glanced at het clock. 2 a.m. Ugh. I got up and padded out to the living room, noticing my laptop was flashing. New video message. My heart chilled briefly, considering the last message I'd gotten. I pulled it open. Emma.
"Suit up and get to my house ASAP!" she hissed, looking like she was moving something. The laptop? "It's…1:30! HURRY!" The video ended. I shut the computer, and went to my room-grabbing the small case that was my suit. I went outside, nothing the alarm wasn't activated. Luckily. I tapped the case-one swift transition. I was ironically wearing my pg short boxers and my red tank top. I blasted off into the sky, getting the hang of this now. I was at Emma's in no time.
"Emma?" I called out. I headed to her storage, noting the open door. The place looked like a wreck. Signs of a struggle. I crept across the yard and an explosion ripped through it-sending me flying backwards. I hit a few trees taking them out with me and realized what Tony and Rhodey meant about the suits. I groaned, getting up.
"Well well…Iron Maiden wasss it?" a voice sneered out cold and whispery. It looked like a lizard creature. Metallic. Missile-pack launcher. Possible A.I.
"Must've missed yours," I retorted, holding up my left arm as it kind of morphed into a canon thing.
"heh heh…Mine iss of little importance to you," the creature hissed at me, clinking in place. Without much time to react, the tail of the creature-machine thing-whipped out, wrapping around my throat. I was being dragged towards the creature. I blasted it with a surge of energy and the tail broke off. It hissed at me, leaping at me. A heavy force slammed into my chest knocking me onto the ground. Warnings were flashing all over my visor screen. Distracting. "Thissss isss what we need!" The machine hissed at me, digging its claws in my chest plate. It was going after the ark reactor.
[Heh heh…Hope you guys are enjoying this as well. I hope my friend is liking this too. She's drawing pictures of the two main characters Emma and Selena. I'll give you guys a link when she gets them up.]