A/N:
The public doesn't know about Bucky being the Winter Soldier, or even still being alive. They also don't know he is in Stark Tower.
Enjoy!
Previously on the Girl Who Doesn't Exist:
"Remember to downplay the dramatic act, alright? This isn't a visits from Iron Man it is a visit from Tony Stark."
"Well, we're the same person, so, isn't it technically a visit from both of us? I mean me? Look, don't worry about it I have everything under control," he assured her but Pepper just raised an eyebrow, handed the paperwork back, and returned to the elevator, yelling over her shoulder.
"No dramatics, Tony!"
Rogers and Wilson chuckled at the interaction from their seats at the table. Tony rolled his eyes before grabbing his coffee mug and the file and heading back down to his workshop. It was going to be an interesting day.
Now:
Nim strode toward Stark Tower with her head high, weaving her way through the early morning commuters. Her hair was pulled back into a smooth ponytail and she was dressed business casual in a button up shirt covered by a soft blue sweater with her tight black slacks tucked into her shiny new brown work boots. Her sweater had a Captain America shield on it. A brown leather backpack hugged her shoulders and two coffees occupied her hands; a folder was tucked neatly under her arm. She blended in. She had been busy the previous night, collecting the last items essential to mission: infiltrator as she liked to call it. It made her sound professional, at least in her head. The clothing had come from a Nordstrom Rack warehouse just outside of town, her prime picking spot for things that wouldn't be missed. Her pack contained what any normal person's work bag had: a laptop (a bit beat up, sure) notepads, pens and pencils, her old flip phone, and a turkey wrap for lunch.
All week she had watched the Tower, studied the workers filtering in and out the door- how they entered how they left, what they left with- studied the security system- all automated by the AI known as JARVIS except for a few guards and the head of security known everyone called Happy. She had watched the people inside the building- especially Pepper Potts- as they buzzed about their business. The walls of her makeshift camp on the roof of The States were now covered in the Tower's schematics and its residents profiles. Nim was no genius but she was creative and had taught herself to survive in America by spending a considerable amount of time studying their culture and technology. Nine years after she and her brother came through and five years after he had since gone back Nim could operate in the world how she best preferred, unnoticed.
As she approached the building she breathed deeply to calm her racing heart. I have a plan, she reminded herself, this is nothing compared to what I've been through. She joined the crowd to stream through the doors with the rest of the worker bees. The inside of Avengers Tower was amazing. Just beyond the entrance was a maze of security scanners, beyond which was bulletproof glass wall. On the other side of the wall was the organized chaos of an open work space interspersed with desks and workstations divided by low and high walls. It was a normal office space on steroids. Coffee and espresso machines could be found at avery fifth desk and touch screen computers and tablets, paperwork, blueprints, sketches, and spreadsheets filled the few empty surfaces. Workers bustled around consulting one another or filling their empty coffee mugs. Nim's eyes widened in amazement. It was like a beehive. Everyone had their own part to contribute to the functionality of the company. And this was only part of it. To Nim's right was the elevator leading to the employee break room, the higher-up's workplaces, and further up to the Avengers' floors. And at the top the infamous Tony Stark's personal suite and workshop. Where the magic happened.
Acting like this was where she belonged Nim went straight to the elevators while most of the crowd joined the workers behind the glass. Only a few well dressed individuals remained. The blonde allowed herself a smirk. Despite her age she blended in with her caffeinated tired stance. She couldn't pull off their blank stares.
The elevator pinged and Nim was the only one to exit. There was a break room before her packed with stocked mini fridges and comfortable lounge chairs circled around a coffee table and facing the largest flat screen TV she had ever seen. She kept her chin high and navigated past the kitchen area to a line of roomier offices lining the wall, to the one on the far right that stated Virginia "Pepper" Potts: CEO. When Nim had learned Pepper's office was so low in the building she was certain she had gotten something wrong. However from her weeks of surveillance she learned that Miss Potts liked to be in the thick of things.
Nim knocked politely and Pepper's voice told her to enter. She did just that and glided over to the oversized desk.
"Good morning, Miss Potts, here is your double shot dirty chai tea latte and today's schedule. I'm Nim Hall by the way, I'm your new personal assistant, nice to finally meet you," Nim gave her a warm smile. Pepper blinked at her.
"I-I don't have an assistant," she responded, confused. Nim's smile widened.
"Mr. Stark thought it would be a good idea if you had someone to help you out, he's seen how hard you've been working lately and wanted to surprise you. Oh! But don't tell him I told you, he thinks you'll refuse an assistant if you know it was his idea. He said you prefer to do most things yourself, I'm just here to help out with the little things." Slowly Nim's new boss returned her smile and a slight blush covered her cheeks.
"Oh, well, that... sounds exactly like Mr. Stark," she drew the schedule toward herself and took a look. "I guess I would benefit from someone looking out for me," she took a sip of her coffee and nodded in approval and shook hands with Nim. "Yes, ok. It's nice to meet you, Nim. And please, call me Pepper."
For the rest of the morning Nim followed Pepper around to learn her routine and Pepper explained how things work along the way. She gave her a tour of the bustling ground floor and the upper offices and introduced her to Happy, who a bit upset he hadn't known she was coming, but Nim won him over with a firm handshake and an innocent smile. Afternoon came and with it the moment Nim had been waiting for. Tony Stark A.K.A Iron Man made an appearance. He strode into the higher-up's break room with his security entourage just after the lunch hour to give a slightly self-absorbed speech on the difference between trying your best and actually succeeding. Nim watched her boss barely manage to keep a straight face. When he was finished the crowd erupted in cheers and Pepper rolled her eyes, clapping along. As the workers cleared the two women approached Stark who pulled of his sunglasses to rub his eyes in token exasperation.
"No press in the workplace," he spoke directly to Nim, "It ruins the flow."
"I'm Nim, Miss Potts' new assistant. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Stark," she replied and held out a hand. A look of shock crossed his face before he could hide it and then he shook her hand.
"Wow, thought I'd never see the day," he mumbled, "Pepper with a Pepper of her own. Well, nice to meet you Pepper's Pepper." Nim hoped he wouldn't question Miss Potts about it. Her alibi only held up if each thought this was the other's idea. Luckily he changed the subject. "I see you're enjoying the merchandise," he gestured to her sweater.
"Well my grandfather would always tell me stories," Nim shrugged, "His mom grew up with him in Brooklyn."
Stark looked impressed.
"Name? What's your family name?"
"My last name is Miller, but my great-grandmother's was Barnes before she married. My great-uncle was Bucky Barnes," she made sure to sound casual. Stark got this look on his face like he swallowed a sour orange, then it turned to thoughtfulness, and finally a smug smile took over. If Nim was honest, it made her wary, made her wonder what could have caused that reaction.
"Is that so? Tell you what, join us for dinner tonight and I can introduce you to a few friends of mine," he spoke as if he was offering the world.
"Really? I mean, me? Are you sure?" Nim fangirled.
"Yes, I'm sure Cap would love to meet his old buddy's progeny. Pepper's would you be a dear and bring her along, family dinner tonight at seven? Be there," he replaced his sunglasses and spun around to march to the elevator. "Be there!" he shouted before the doors closed behind his bodyguards.
