A/N: I gotta admit, despite this story profile being outside my field, it's coming to me rather easily. Chapters and ideas are flowing like a river and I'm liking what I'm writing. And from the recent reviews, so do all of you. And with an average chapter length of 5000 words or more, it's going to be a long one as well.
I own nothing
The rest of the school day progressed more or less the same for the population of Ewan High. Since the last classes were cancelled for the day, everyone was in eager anticipation for the speech that would be given during that time.
When the bell rang, Principal Morton came on the PA system and told all students to gather at the football field. Everyone filing out of the main building and filling the bleachers and the array of chairs that were set up on the grass. Everyone's voices blending together as they chatted amongst themselves while waiting for everything to begin.
A good number of parents, and a few other people from town along with a couple of local news crews were also there filming the event as they prepared for things to get started as well.
In the middle of the field, a small stage had been set up where the teachers were sitting. A podium set up in the middle as the principal stood before it. "Thank you everyone, for gathering here on what I hope to be a very enlightening experience." he said into the microphone, his voice echoing out through the speakers set up along the field.
"As many of you know, our science departments were facing possible cancellation due to lack of funding in the school budget. Because of this, the upper-classman were able to form various events to raise awareness of the need for such education and inturn garnered the attention of a rather large, and well known organization."
The gathered students clapped, a few whistling as they remembered helping with the events in question. Morton held up his hand as everything calmed back down. "Now, Stark Industries has given a very generous donation to Ewan Memorial High to keep all of our classes open for years to come for future graduating classes, along with several other high schools along the eastern coast who were facing the same crisis."
"In addition, a representative was sent to personally see to it that the dontations were given. A representative that I believe that many of you are familiar with." several cheers went out as the Principal continued, "And now, I would like us all to give a strong, Ewan Memorial HIgh welcome to Nathan Stark!"
The cheering reached a new level as everyone looked around for the young genius. Everything slowing down when they didn't see the teen anywhere. Confused murmurs began to resonate through the crowd and the staff as they tried to figure out where their guest was.
Suddenly, the speakers came alive. "Thunderstruck" by ACDC pulsed forth just as a sonic boom could be heard in the distance. All eyes turned skyward as they saw something flying through the air at speeds only jets could manage.
When the object got closer, everyone was on their feet when they saw the sun glinting off a suit of armor. Jets firing from the boots as well as the palms to keep it in flight as it propelled closer to the school. One of the students from the AV club had a camera in hand and was video taping along with dozens of others who had their smartphones out snapping pictures and recording as well.
The armor suit banked, angling itself so that it was aiming toward the ground and launching toward it. Speed increasing the closer it got before flipping around and blasting the jets from the palms to slow the decent so that it was hovering just above the ground.
Music still playing, the power cut from the jets allowing the suit to land on the field in the center of all the cheering students. Walking across the grass with long, meaningful strides and going up the steps to the stage, it paused beside the podium before the parts that made up the back began to shift and separate. Creating an opening as someone stepped out of it.
Nathan Stark stepped around his suit, holding his hand out in greeting to the school population as he walked toward the podium. Shaking Principal Morton's hand, music dying down as he took the mic from the stand and addressed the crowd. "Sorry for the delay. Like my old man, I like to make an entrance."
The students cheered once again as he stood grinning. "Like Mr. Morton here explained, you all really showed your stuff with wanting to keep your science courses running. And dedication to such studies doesn't go unnoticed. Because without science, there is no progress. No questions answered. And this world is full of mysteries that need to be solved."
He paced along the stage as he looked at the gathered faces. "I know that a lot of you don't have a knack for the study. And that's all well and good. Everyone is good at something. But at the same time I would implore at least giving it a try, you never know what you may discover about yourself." the Stark heir motioned to his suit, "And just look at what can be created when you put your mind to it."
"But your a genius and a billionare!" called one of the boys from the front row infront of the stage.
Nathan nodded, "That's true. However, ideas and imagination are both free and priceless. Steve Jobs built the Apple company from his garage and barely had anything to his name. His skills with technology and engineering became the foundation to the very phones and computers many of you use now."
"My grandfather, Howard Stark, was no different. True, he built weapons for the US and took part in the Manhattan Project. But he also believed that ideas could change the world, that the future can exist in all of us if we can aspire to new heights. My own father, who last year realized he could offer more to the world than blowing things up, has started a new generation in renewable, clean energy."
The teen stopped his pacing and stood tall, "That's why giving out such donations is important. Any one of you here today, could aspire to be something great. You could create something, or even discover something, that could change the world we live in for the better. Knowledge is power, as cliche as it sounds, and keeping it thriving so that when new generations step up they too can express their own ideas and creations."
Hopping off the stage, Nathan walked to the front row and stood infront of a male student with a gangly form, messy red hair, glasses and with braces on his teeth. "Jacob Miller? High honor roll since your freshmen year, several scientific awards in technology with a GPA of 4.0?"
The other teen nodded dumbly, mouth agape. The Stark heir grinned and patted his shoulder, "Guys like you are the true movers and shakers of the world, my friend. You may not be strong physically, but your brain will help you with any job you could possibly want in your intended field. That, and the ladies do dig the smarts, dude. Take it from me."
Jacob smiled at him while a few of his friends bumped his shoulders. Nathan headed back to the stage while he spoke more, "Everything is constantly changing, new concepts born every minute. But the only way for us to achieve such things would be to keep our learning institutions running on all cylinders." he turned to Principal Morton and the staff, reaching into his pocket and producing a slip of paper from it.
"Principal Morton, I present to you and your school, a donation of $100,000 dollars from Stark Industries. More than enough to keep your classes open, faculty employed, and your students supplied with everything they'll need to prepare themselves for their future for many years to come."
Morton was speechless, as was everyone else. They were expecting good funding for their courses, but nothing on such a grand scale.
Slowly, he accepted the check and shook the heir's hand rigorously. "Thank you, Mr. Stark, for your generosity and your faith in us." Ms. Desjardin stood up and started clapping, this caused everyone else to do the same until everyone was applauding. The sound going in all directions that people around town could hear it.
Turning back to the crowd, Nathan grinned as he spoke again. "I'll be sticking around for a while today, if anyone's got questions don't be afraid to ask." he sat the microphone down and waved as people approached the stage to get a few minutes with him.
It was going to be a long day.
X
From her spot behind one of the bleachers, Carrie had watched the whole event with wide, unbelieving eyes.
She'd never seen such a spectacle before. How was it possible for someone to fly like that? And that armor...it looked like something out of this world. Did Nathan build it? How? So many questions flowed through her head.
In fact, her thoughts were so jumbled she didn't notice the nearby trashcan starting to rise into the air next to her. She 'eeped' when she did notice and quickly lowered it back down, thankful that no one else had seen it as she watched all the people that were in attendence speaking with Nathan. Some of them getting pictures with him and his armor.
If he did build that suit himself, he must have been very gifted. Something that interested Carrie greatly. That and the way he spoke during his speech really pulled her in. He sounded so confident and unwavering with his words that she found it endearing and inspiring at the same time.
The young telekinetic felt the urge to know more about him. He was so, different compared to everyone else. His eyes showed her something that she wasn't familiar with, kindness. Not with cruelty or hate that she was used to, but honest and true kindness.
While she dwelled on her thoughts, Carrie was also reminded of what he had said when he chased off the boys that were bullying her. He called her name pretty, he called her pretty, no one had ever said that about her before. Not even her mother, who believed that vanity was a sin like many other things that were considered normal for most.
When everyone started to file out of the area some time later, Carrie decided that it was time to leave as well so she could meet with her mother when she arrived. Casting one last look at the young man that was on her mind before she faded into the background.
X
Two hours had passed since the speech that had been given. Nathan stuck around to answer questions from the press, students and even a teacher or two while at the same time posing with some people for pictures or having some snap a few of his armor.
Everything had gone very well, and he had no doubt that he left a good mark on the students here. Now it was just a matter of seeing where it would take them in the end.
At that moment, the Stark heir was finishing up loading his armor pieces in his car. Closing the hood when everything was secured and heading for the driver's side door when he heard someone call out to him.
Turning around, he found Ms. Desjardin jogging up to him from around the school where the field was located. "What can I do for you, Rita?" he asked using her first name.
The PE teacher took a breath or two given that she had run a good distance before she held out her hand to him. "I almost forgot to give you these." she said revealing two colored pieces of paper in her hand.
Curious, Nathan took them and got a better look. An eyebrow raising when he saw 'Ewan Memorial High Senior Prom: June 22nd 7:00PM' written on both of them.
"Uh, okay I'll bite. Why are you giving me these?" he asked, more confused.
Ms. Desjardin gave a confused look right back, "Someone called ahead a day before you arrived. They said that since the prom for our graduating class was coming up that you might be interested in attending."
It took all of a few seconds before the teen realized who it may have been the one to make that call and the reason behind it. "Oh yeah, I remember now. Sorry about that, a lot of stuffs been going on in the last few days that it slipped." he said plastering a believeable smile on his face as he slipped the tickets into his pocket. "I am technically on vacation as well, going to a prom sounds like a good time."
"There certainly won't be a shortage of girls who will hope you take them." said the teacher with a playful wink. "But besides that, your speech was very moving. I really think you inspired a lot of people out there."
"I've got a knack for bringing in a crowd. Must be a family trait." replied Nathan causing both of them to laugh. "Though it did feel good. Maybe people will look at the science branches in a different light now than just another boring class."
The woman nodded, "I hope so too. Too many people take such important teachings for granted when it really could be something great in the end. Though it's good to see young men like you out there spreading the good word the way you are."
Nodding, Nathan paused when he remembered something that he was hoping to ask around about. There seemed no better time than now. "Rita, if you don't mind. Could you tell me a little something about a certain student?"
Ms. Desjardin gave a questioning look, "It really depends on what your asking. Who's the student?"
"Carrie White." the young Stark saw the woman's back straighten and her shoulders tense for the briefest of moments at the mention of the name which spiked his curiousity greatly.
"Why would you need to know?" she asked after schooling her features, but her tone sounded guarded.
Nathan pretended not to notice the change as he continued, "I was walking around the school when I saw her in some trouble. A couple of jocks were messing with her and I straightened them out before they could do any real damage. When I talked with her, she seemed very scared and skittish. I've seen this before in victims of extensive bullying and did my best to calm her down before taking her to her next class."
The red-head breathed out her tension in the form of a sigh, "Carrie's...had it very rough for as long as I can remember. I joined the faculty here at the beginning of the year, but from the rumors I've heard from my fellow staff members and a few of the students she's been ruthlessly picked on since she was in middle school."
Hearing this caused a fire of anger to spark in the young Stark's chest. Pushing it down, he focused on gathering what information he could. "Why are they treating her this way? What reason could they possibly have for stomping her down into the dirt like this?"
"I've heard several, but none of them are even remotely good. There is never a good enough reason for someone, anyone to be treated like that." Ms. Desjardin sounded furious as she glared at the school.
"Rita." said Nathan bringing her attention back to him. "You know where I stand on events like this, and after meeting her and seeing what she's going through I want to try and help in any way that I can. But to do that I'm going to need whatever information I can get on Carrie so that I can go about it the right way."
The teacher looked at him, reading his expression closely before saying anything. She knew that if anyone was capable of helping Carrie with what was happening to her, he would be a safe bet. He showed a lot of conviction and drive when it came to situations like this, and it was easy to tell he never backed down from a challenge no matter the odds. "You're really serious about this." she stated rather than asked.
"It's a hero complex, something I also picked up from my old man." said the young Stark with a shrug.
Ms. Desjardin took a deep breath, "I hope you've got time. Because it's a long and very upsetting story."
X
Carrie sat at the dinner table, picking at her plate while her mother sat across from her. Silence filling the entire house almost like a crypt with neither of them saying a word to each other, a familiar setting for the girl and her parent for as long as either could remember.
She wanted to say something, anything, but she was afraid that she would be banished to her closet again. And if she revealed her powers to Margaret she was terrified at the reaction she would get.
Her mother treated almost everything that was normal like it was a plague. Simple things like technology and expression of one's self were considered sin in her eyes. She also believed that any contact with the opposite sex would lead to intercourse, which would then led to young women bearing the 'curse of blood'.
Even though Carrie knew all of this to be false and not even stated in the bible, Margaret would abuse her if she so much as muttered a word against it. She'd been struck by hand or even with a bible more times than she cared to remember before being forced into her closet to pray.
"How did school go today?" asked her mother making her jump from the sudden break in the silence.
"It was...good." she said hesitantly.
"Did you sin?" asked Margaret pointedly.
Carrie shook her head, "No, mama." she bit her lip as she contemplated her next words carefully. "We had someone come to the school and give a speech."
"A false preacher?" said the older woman sounding affronted.
"No, mama. He just talked about how important it is for people to take science classes and gave the school money to keep courses from closing down." she explained.
Margaret shook her head, "Blasphamer. Spitting in the face of God with lies. 'Science' is the work of the devil, trying to disprove the lord's existence and destroy the belief of those that follow him." she snapped her hand across the table and gripped her daughter's hand, "You didn't listen to his words, did you? Please, child, tell me you didn't disgrace the lord by hearing such blasphamy."
The telekinetic tensed. "You did, didn't you?!" her mother screeched. "You disgraced our lord and savior by listening to the words of a false shepard!"
Carrie shook her head, "It's not like that! He wasn't speaking of lies, only what we already know in school and how we can change the world if we apply ourselves!"
"The lord desides how the world he created is to change, not man!" said Margaret seething. "This person's words have obviously poisoned your mind and your faith. What is the name of this false shepard?"
When the girl didn't answer she gripped her wrist tighter to the point of making her yelp. "Tell me!"
"N-Nathan! His name is Nathan Stark!" Carrie broke.
Margaret White gasped loudly, leaping away from the table while turning pale. "I...I have heard that name...he bares the title of a man who is the physical form of one of the horsemen. A man who rains death and chaos on the innocent in the name of the dark one and profits from the destruction. His spawn is in this town?!" she fell to her knees, hands clapsed together and pressed to her forhead as she prayed loudly.
Looking on, Carrie sat in silence as she held her sore wrist. Her pale skin already starting to discolor with the forming bruise that she would have to cover up before going to school tomorrow.
Minutes passed before her mother finished her prayers and rose to her feet, "Carrietta, swear to me. Swear to me that you will not go near the spawn of Stark. He will be no different than his monster of a father, he will taint your soul and despoil your innocence. Use your body until it is broken and cast you aside like garbage. Swear to me, child!"
The telekinetic could only nod as her Margaret pulled her into an embrace. "Good, little girl. Now go take a bath and get ready for bed. There is much more praying to be done."
Carrie just nodded silently again as she left the kitchen and made her way upstairs. Her mother was wrong about Nathan. She couldn't completely understand it herself, but something in her heart told her that she could trust him. Her mother had been wrong about many things before, there was no doubt that she was now.
Reaching her small bedroom, she got ready for her bath by waving her hand and causing her clothes and towel to levitate from her closet to her awaiting arms before heading across the hall. All the while hoping that she would get the chance to meet the young man again.
X
Nathan Stark rarely got angry. Infact, the number of times he had truely lost his temper could be counted on both of his hands. Such moments included learning the truth why his mother abandoned him, Stane's betrayal, and when he was forced to go to some event for Stark Industries when he was 10 instead of going to a friend's birthday party.
But at that moment, the young heir wasn't angry. Oh no...he was rip-shit pissed!
After hearing everything Ms. Desjardin had to say about what Carrie had endured since the beginning of her senior year, he immediately set out to finding out what else he could. Getting back to his hotel room, he powered up his laptop and started doing research.
The oversized tablet laid on the table glowing with data scrolling across it with three holo-screens hoving above it positioned in a half-circle. Each one showing something different as he went through any and all local files on the girl that he could find.
One of the screens displayed her birth records and medical history, though it was vague at best;
Carrietta Annabelle White.
Born October 12, 1995.
Father: Ralph Alexander White (Deceased)
Mother: Margaret Lilith White.
No Hospital Records on File
Currently a Senior at Ewan Memorial High School.
The fact that she had no medical history was concerning. And the more he dug the more he found that she had never even had a check up appointment when she was little. What kind of parent didn't take theif kids to check their health status?
Then again, from what he heard from Rita about Margaret he wasn't surprised. The woman was a bible thumping nutjob that believed even the simplest of things in life was a sin against God. This had caused many in Chamberlain to either avoid or despise her in some way, and it wouldn't be a surprise that she would be trying to force the same beliefs into her daughter.
Another screen displayed he school files. Carrie got average grades in some classes, but excelled greatly in others such as english, math and sowing. A few of her teachers commented that she's got a strong skill in writing poetry though it seemed she liked to fade in the background instead of being front and center.
Then he got to the files about disiplinary actions. None of which were against her, but against the countless others that bullied her. The list was almost as long as a small school registration, and many of the names appeared over and over again leading from her time in sixth grade to the present.
And the ringleader of it all seemed to be a girl named Christina Hargensen, who had gotten away with what she had done every time because she ran to her daddy who was a lawyer to deal with it. One of those parents who believed that their 'little princess' could do no wrong...it was pathetic.
But all of that was forgotten by what was on the final screen before him. Nathan had found a video on youtube showing the inside of a girl's locker room. A terrified Carrie White crawling back along the tiled floor with only a towel barely covering her modesty. Spots of blood staining the white cloth while a chorus of girls chanted 'Plug it up! Plug it up!' over and over again while pelting her with pads and tampons.
The young Stark felt his rage building. Fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked and turned white from the strain. The horrendous laughter of the other girls, the cries of fear and anguish from the girl they were tormenting, each agonizing second that ticked by ate away at him at a deep level.
Until he snapped.
"PAUSE!" he shouted while slamming his fists on the desk, rattling everything that was sitting on it. The video stopped, freezing on an image of Carrie's terrified face as Nathan sat up and stepped away. Pacing back and forth the entire length of the suite, taking deep breaths and counting to ten a dozen times as he tried to calm himself down. Every instinct telling him to jump into his suit and make each and every one of those girls feel the true meaning of torment.
"No. That won't solve anything." the logical part of his brain told him as he finally managed to calm down enough to think. Multiple ideas already starting to form in his head on how to handle all this and do what needed to be done.
His thoughts were broken by the sound of ringing coming from his laptop. Shaking his head, the teen moved back over to the desk, waving his hand sending all of the files he had been looking at to the screen on the left as he brought up the video call that was coming through.
"Hay, junior. Haven't heard from you in a couple days." said his father as the image appeared on screen. "How's everything going out there in the middle of bore-town USA?"
"Sorry, dad. Got a lot on my mind." replied Nathan running a hand through his hair. "Everything went well, the Principal and his staff were beyond thankful, and I think I got to the students. Really got the crowd moving."
Tony nodded and smirked, "ACDC?"
"Thunderstruck." replied the teen with a similar smirk.
"That's my boy! Rockin' out an entrance with awesome tunes!" the elder Stark exclaimed. "Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, huh?"
Nathan rolled his eyes, "Don't remind me. By the way, is Pepper around? I need to ask her something."
Tony tilted his head, "Yeah, sure. " he leaned back and called out into the house. "Pepper! Nate's on call and wants to talk to you!" There was a short pause before the red-headed woman appeared beside his father.
"Hay, Nathan. How are things?" she asked smiling.
"Good so far, though I do have a question." the Stark heir reached over and picked up the prom tickets and showed them to the ones on the other end of the call. "Care to explain?" he asked.
Pepper didn't look the least bit guilty, "I called Ewan high and had them paid for when I figured out that they were having their senior prom. I figured that since you went all the way out there anyway, that you could use a night to be normal."
"What makes you think I'd be willing to go?" asked the teen.
"Because you missed out on your own senior prom since you were only 13." replied the woman. "I know it was a bit sneaky, but I thought it would be a nice surprise for you."
"I agree with Pep on this one." said Tony, making himself known. "How often does a chance like this come up, Nate? I say grab yourself a tux, find a good girl and have a hell of a time. You're a Stark, we're always the life of the party."
"So long as the booze doens't run out." Nathan thought to himself as he looked at the tickets. Both of them were right, he missed his own prom given his young age at the time and this was almost like a second chance to have that night had fallen into his lap.
"I'll think about it." he said setting the pieces of paper aside. "I'm already considering sticking around here for a little while anyway.
Pepper looked curious, but Tony just raised an eyebrow. "Does this have anything to do with the girl you've been researching about for the last two hours?"
The teen's head shot up in surprise before sighing in defeat. "Dammit, Jarvis!"
"Sorry, Nathan. Your father was just curious since you haven't contacted anyone in some time" stated the A.I.
Nathan shook his head and looked back at his dad and the woman he saw as a mother, who were both waiting for an explination. "Her name is Carrie White, she's a victim of severe bullying that I ran into while I was at the school. The local PE teacher told me some things about her that bothered me."
He spent the next half hour explaining everything he had found, all leading up to showing them the same video that he had discovered. Pepper looked horrified, hand covering her mouth at how horrible those girls treated Carrie. Tony wore a mask of stone, no smirk or smartass comment. No one had seen him this serious since he decided to shut down weapons manufacturing of his company and put an end to the threats they possessed.
"She deserves justice." said the teen dead serious when it was over. "And I'm not going anywhere until I'm sure that she gets it."
"I've already had Jarvis start compiling profiles on the girls responsible along with the one that posted the video. I'll send everything found to you as soon as I get it." said Tony just as serious. He knew how deep situations like this struck with his son and would be willing to help him in whatever way that he could.
Pepper shook her head still stunned at what they had seen, "How can anyone treat someone like that? At a critical moment in their lives where they need understanding and comfort."
"That's why I'm sticking around." said the young Stark. "No way in hell can I walk away when I can help her. I just need a good plan to put it all into action."
"Do what you got to do. We'll hold off your welcome home party for a while longer." said his father with an honest smile, "Make me proud, Nate. Good luck."
Nathan smiled back, "Thanks, dad. I'll call you guys in a day or two." he ended the video chat and leaned back heavily in his chair. Thoughts whirling around inside his head as he tried to figure out what his next move was going to be.
Looking back at the holo-screens, he moved Carrie's file back to the middle and expanded the imade of her face. She was smiling, but it was fake. The light not reaching her eyes as she looked at the camera.
Who the hell would make such a beautiful young woman's life so miserable? The stuff they put her through, it was inhuman, monsterous. They made what people used to do to him look tame in comparison, and worse of all she had no support from anyone.
"Not anymore." he thought with conviction. "But how do I go about this?" Looking to the other side of the desk, he saw the two prom tickets laying there. A light-bulb going off in his head when he was hit with inspiration. "That's it!"
He got back on his private terminal and started doing more research on the town, compiling anything and everything he would need to get the ball rolling. He'd have to go about it carefully, even the slightest setback could backfire in a big way.
But in the end, he'd make sure that it worked.
A/N: Now that Nathan knows the truth, he's going to move heaven and earth to do as much good as he can. Tony never gives up, and his son follows the same path. So expect a lot of awesome, anti-bullying verbal and physical smackdowns coming soon.
Incase you are wondering about Nathan's armor, check 'Iron Man Armor: Mark-24' for a better visual aid. that's the design that I based his off of.
Keep reading guys and tell me your thoughts! Till next time!
