First Day - Darcy's Dorm
"Okay, honey, let's go inside," Pepper muttered nervously. She squeezed her daughter's hand tightly as they promenaded towards the dormitories' doors. The entrance was bustling with waves of red cashmere sweaters, cool gray blazers and crimson striped ties. Children ranging from the age of 4 to 13 were everywhere with their parents, all pumped and ready for the new school year. Everyone but Pepper and Darcy seemed to know what to do and walked past the entrance doors with ease. Pepper skidded to a stop and kneeled in front of her daughter. Darcy seemed very excited, already vibrating in her place eager to start her new life as a normal student. Pepper on the other hand was completely nervous. She wasn't very used to leaving her daughter all alone, unattended. Usually Happy or Rhodes was there to accompany her but now she'll have to take after herself alone. She was also very uneasy of the fact that Tony Stark's only daughter is finally stepping in the real world. One small mistake can lead to a giant catastrophe. They have to be really careful.
"I decorated my room with Daddy yesterday, Ma. You want to see?" Darcy said as she smiled at the woman before. She giggled as she stroked Pepper's hair, "You look great as a blonde, by the way."
"Thanks honey, but it's really loose today," she grimaced, "Which floor is your room in again?"
"Don't worry, you can take it off when we're inside my room. And it's in the fifth floor." Darcy replied coolly, shrugging. Pepper was still in shock to why her daughter's room would be on the highest floor. She figured maybe that Darcy was just admitted this year and they didn't have any more rooms in the lower floors. But she can't imagine the pain of walking up and down every day on five flights of stairs. Darcy comforted her by saying it'll be good exercise for her. Nothing can beat a healthy, active child.
Pepper nodded and stood up. Her daughter grinned as she started pulling her towards the dormitory. They weaved through the vast amounts of people going in and out of the building. Darcy swerved left and right through the stairs, easily avoiding contact with other children, while Pepper nervously walked up holding her head to keep her wig in place. After climbing what seemed like five thousands flights of stairs, Pepper leaned back on a wall, wheezing.
"Are… you… sure that… that was five floors?" she exhaled out. Darcy snorted in front of her, swaying back and forth as if the feat they just experience was just a breeze to her, "You're only tired because you had to bump on like five hundred people, Ma. It's easier once you get to the fourth floor, there are less people."
"Yeah, I noticed. There's no one in this floor." She observed, straightening her spine to pull herself back together. She scanned her surroundings and found themselves the only occupants of the floor. The air was different, and it wasn't as quadratic as the other floors; it was like a circle. She felt like she just reached the top of a lighthouse, all rounded walls, but instead of seeing a panorama of a scenic view, she saw six doors circling the stairs. The doors were evenly spaced from each other, painted with a mahogany finish. There were no hallways that sprang out from the walls like the rest of the floors, just six doors.
"Is this the attic? Did they just place you in the attic? Why are you the only one in this attic?" Pepper rambled, suddenly somehow annoyed that her daughter was placed in such a barren place. Darcy giggled by her mother's comical analysis, and just shrugged, "I don't know if we should call this an attic. Daddy just said that we should think that this floor is the penthouse, because every top floor is the penthouse. And I think there's someone living in room number 1," she pointed at the door in front of them, a golden metallurgical "1" adorned the center of the door, "I heard violin music from there when I moved in with Daddy. So I guess someone is living there. Oh well, I guess he or she is new too."
"Let's go inside. This wig feels like it's about to fall off any second now. It's so looser than usual." Pepper grumbled earning a big giggle from Darcy. They walked towards the room labeled '5'. Pepper expected Darcy to stick a key inside the keyhole, but there was no keyhole to begin. Instead Darcy pushed her hand over the wall just beside the door knob. The rectangular piece of the concrete pressed inside then glided upwards to reveal a keypad. The pad glowed turquoise blue as Darcy tapped a six letter combination on it. After she pressed the Enter button, the keypad disappeared as the wall slid back down. And then the mahogany door opened on its own.
"Dad doesn't like keys." Darcy explained as she gestured her mother inside her room. Pepper stepped inside a small corridor, the beige walls decorated with scenes of Malibu. She took off her shoes and felt the cappuccino brown carpet beneath her feet. Then by the distance she caught a glimpse of her bedroom.
Right on the center was a queen sized bed, already fitted with silk comforters. Four clocks hung above the bed, showing time zones for New York, Malibu, Tokyo and Paris. On her right was an L-shaped glass office desk already equipped with a laptop, a desktop with 3 monitors and a plethora of school books. On the other side, there were an array of cabinets and drawers for her clothes, a black upright piano. It was just like a miniature version of Darcy's room in Malibu. "Did JARVIS design your room again?" she asked.
Indeed, Ms. Potts. I trust it has come to your liking?
The disembodied voice echoed through the room, making her jump. Was that why Tony insisted so much on decorating Darcy's room?
"Yes, JARVIS. Thank you." She answered breathlessly. Darcy laughed and just gestured her to step inside more. Pepper was suspicious, "Wait, how did your Dad come in here? He can't just waltz in…"
"What else did he do to your room?" Darcy tried to hold back a guffaw by covering her mouth. Now she was more suspicious.
"Daddy built me two computers. One desktop and one laptop. He put a camera and a microphone in each. He also encrypted them and installed JARVIS in case someone breaks in. Also if you go the room on your right is my workshop. I couldn't bring all of my tools though, for shame…" she pouted.
"Your father never ceases to amaze me. And of course, you can't just your creations here without it spontaneously combusting. "Pepper stated, "You still didn't tell me how Tony got here."
"I think you should take off the wig, Ma." She simply said, smirking and with that remark, Pepper realized. She couldn't even picture it. It was just horrendous to imagine.
"I can't believe your father used this wig!" quickly pulling it off from her head, letting her own red tresses fall on her shoulders, "What was he thinking!"
"It was fun seeing the people's reaction of seeing a grown up man wearing a blonde wig. Dad and I couldn't stop laughing!" Darcy exclaimed. Pepper groaned loudly slumping down to Darcy's bed in frustration. So that's why the wig felt so loose. Tony Stark's big genius head wore it. Inhaling deeply, she took a moment of silence to sink everything in. Crumpling the memory of her boss wearing a blond wig and throwing it into the Must-Be-Forgotten trash bin, she thought about more important things. Tomorrow, it'll be Darcy's first day of school. Despite the fact that JARVIS was still with her, Darcy can finally interact with people her age. She can make friends and play under the sun. She'll be a normal girl.
Pepper stood up from the bed and turned to look at Darcy. Clad in ruby red pullover and grey skirt and black knee high socks, she looked so adorable. Then she noticed her brunette hair was growing curlier and bigger that it almost covered her bright blue eyes and the big smile she always loved. She reached her hand towards her face and strokes her pale cheeks gently and smiled. "My little girl is growing up."
"Are you gonna cry again, Ma?" Darcy muttered, eyes flickered with wariness but Pepper just shook her head, "Nah, I'm not crying today, but tomorrow… I don't know about that."
"Don't cry…" Darcy pouted. Pepper couldn't help but pull the girl into her arms, burying her hands in her brunette curls. She fought back tears and just whispered, "Baby, you and I know that I'm not your real mommy. Your real mother, Meredith, is up there in heaven, always watching you. But I want you to know that I care and love you with all of my heart. You're the best daughter anyone could ever have. Let no one tell you any different."
"I love you too, Ma." Darcy whispered back. Pepper released her and cupper her small face, thumbs stroking her porcelain cheeks, "You call every day, okay?"
"Every week." Darcy interrupted.
"Every three days." Pepper offered.
"Deal." The little girl smirked.
"Happy will be there waiting for you outside if your Daddy and I are in town. Your dad will probably be in the city for awhile. He still doesn't like the idea of you going to school." She breathed out, "Also, sometimes, you know if you want but it would be a really nice thought if you call me so we can have lunch or dinner together. You might get a little homesick the first week, so don't hesitate and just call us okay?"
"Mom, mom… I'll be fine!" Darcy giggled. The oh-so stoic Pepper Potts can actually stutter in nervousness. Her mother's anxiety is endearing yet somehow entertaining. Darcy wiggled out of Pepper's hold and pranced towards one of her cabinets. She pulled out the top drawer and pulled out a small box. Pepper narrowed her eyes in suspicion as the girl made her way back in front of her. "You don't need to worry because look…"
Darcy opened the leather box and revealed a small watch. As the sunlight beams escaped through the windows and shone an ambient light on it, Pepper immediately gasped as if someone just flashed a diamond ring in front of her. but she knew that the watch would cost significantly more than a flimsy 5-carat ring.
"Your father…" Pepper exhaled as she slowly took the watch from Darcy, "…is a crazy idiot."
The leather band was sleek and smooth, simple almost, but she knew that it would made from alligator or some kind of other reptile. The case shone with metallic white elegance, scintillated by little crystals that would be none other than diamonds. Behind the crystal glass, showed the metalwork of the clock, each gear moved in its perpetual motion.
"I think Dad said it was by some Swiss guy… Jacob something…" Darcy pondered.
"I correct myself. Your father is one crazy moronic billionaire." She said, "This is by Jacob and Co. They make one of the most expensive luxury watches in the world."
If I may, Ma'am, the watch is called the Crystal Tourbillion made by Jacob &Co. The original piece had an 18 carat white gold case of the Tourbillion, covered in 17.48 carats of baguette diamonds. Behind the diamond crystal glass, as you can see, is the transparent skeleton tourbillion dial embellished by platinum hands and gold interior. The piece is finished with an alligator band with a 2.22 carat baguette diamond buckle, but Mr. Stark requested that it should be replaced with only a silver buckle. He also requested that the diamonds be replaced with sapphires to avoid suspicion.
"Isn't this too much for a first-day-of-school present? Why would he give you a million dollar-
$900, 000, to be precise.
"…a nine hundred thousand watch?" she corrected herself but Darcy merely shrugged, "Daddy just told me not to lose it and to always have it on when I go out of this room. He also said that he programmed JARVIS into it… look…" Darcy muttered while she reached for the crown and pushed it. Almost immediately the hands were pushed back and a black matte material began to close towards the center in a geometric form mimicking the way a camera shutter closes. Then blue lights flickered on the black surface, creating a thing straight line across the center. Darcy leaned in closer to watch and whispered, "What's the weather for tomorrow, JARVIS?"
The straight lines began to break into static lines, almost like seismographic lines as JARVIS spoke from the watch.
The weather in New York City for Tuesday, September 6 will be 70F with cloudy skies. May I remind you that you should wear fall uniform tomorrow for the assembly?
"The one with the blazer?" she asked.
Indeed, Ms. Darcy.
"Okay, cool. Thanks." Darcy chirped as she pushed the crown again, the watch regaining its original state. She straightened her spine to look at her mother's reaction. She was shocked to see Pepper masked with a hard façade.
"Don't worry, Ma. I won't cheat with that watch. Dad said I'm too smart for that." She grinned. Pepper opened her mouth to protest but Darcy spoke again, "And I think it'll be really weird if I just started talking to a watch."
"Just don't be like your Father. I don't want to be back here in two days after being told that my daughter started hacking the school." Pepper groaned inwardly.
"I'm only 7, Ma. Why would I do that?" she smirked mischievously.
"A seven year old kid is a perfect cover." Pepper smirked back, "But then, you don't talk like a seven year old kid. All those years spending time with JARVIS... I feel like I'm talking to a teenager."
"Indeed." Darcy mimicked JARVIS. Pepper recalled the time when five-year old Darcy was sitting in front of the TV watching a children's show, suddenly yelling 'Ignorant children!' at the screen. Apparently Tony updated JARVIS's personality a few days back.
"I'll try to act like a stupid child then." Darcy leered but Pepper shook disapprovingly.
"Just act like Darcy." She sighed, "Darcy is just fine."
"That's what Dad said." Darcy smiled, "He said the genius part was intimidating. And intimidating is good."
"Everything about you is good, Darcy." Pepper pulled her into another heartwarming embrace, "Did I tell you I love you yet?"
"Eight times today, Ma."
"Maaaaaaaaaa. We took at least two hundred pictures already," Darcy groaned loudly. They stood in front of the school, animated by hundreds of children getting inside for their first day. The little girl, already dressed in her fall uniform, a red plaid skirt, grey blazer and dark gray thigh socks, excited to go inside when her mother stopped her to take a couple of pictures. Tony was annoyed that he couldn't come to see her off because of the crowd so he ordered Pepper to take at least a hundred photos. Pepper sighed when Darcy groaned and halted the snapshots. She walked towards and smiled. She should have thought of sending Darcy to school earlier. She looked absolutely divine in a school uniform.
"You have everything? Books, bag, pencils, pen, notebooks?" Pepper asked as she kneeled down in front of her and fixed her tie, "How about your watch?"
"Yup, I got it," Darcy nodded, pulling her right sleeve to show her watch.
"Can you repeat what we discussed again, Darcy? Just to make sure…" she muttered, straightening Darcy's suit. The blue-eyed girl moaned, "But I already repeated it five times already." But Pepper just gave her a sharp look.
"Fine. My name is Darcy Lewis and I came from Ojai, California; zip-code: 93024. My parents are Virginia and Anthony Lewis and they work for Stark Industries as public relation. I have been home-schooled until now. My home school teacher is Jarvis, or Jay, in short and one of my imaginary friends is Happy the Bear. Mom, do I really need an imaginary friend? That's sounds stupid."
"Yes, most children had imaginary friends. I think. That's what I read… Okay continue,"
"I like playing the piano and reading books. I shouldn't correct the teacher if he or she is wrong because that's rude. I should keep my knowledge to myself until needed. Also, if I finished a test in half the time given, I should wait for at least 4 people to hand in their papers until I hand in mine. I should be smart not genius. I shouldn't attract attention. So much for that, 'Darcy is Darcy' advice Mom. Way to go." She commented sarcastically.
"I'm sorry, honey. But we have to take precautions. Be Darcy Lewis as a cover not Darcy Stark." Pepper said apologetically. She didn't really like debasing Darcy. Intelligence is one of her strong points and she's forcing her to hide it, "I'm sorry I'm forcing you to do this. I've been quite selfish lately, aren't I? oh my god this is not good parenting."
"Ma, ma, it's okay!" Darcy laughed, "I understand completely. I was just being sarcastic."
Pepper broke into giggles, ruffling Darcy's head. "You and your father. You two are definitely related."
"Hope that's not a bad thing." Darcy smirked. Pepper loved that smirk. This girl was full of life, it's almost overflowing out of her. Her grey eyes turned soft, almost milky as she held Darcy's face on her hands. She rubbed her thumbs over those little rosy chubby cheeks and held an endearing gaze, "Never. You and I hate to admit it, but also your dad… you two are my greatest treasures… As annoying and egotistic your dad can be, he's one of my friends. Him, and your mom, both of them are my greatest friends. And you… you are a gift from heaven. You're irreplaceable. You're my precious Darcy."
"You're awesome too, Ma. Without you, I wouldn't be here today on my first day of school." Darcy smiled.
Pepper took the last moments to take everything in. Bright azure eyes that twinkled like the stars as always. And her big smile, adorable yet mischievous. Her gorgeous brunette curls, puffy and soft. She's going to miss her.
"To stop myself from crying, I should give you this…" Pepper muttered, holding back a sob, and reached in her magical bag of wonders. Darcy called it that because she seemed to have everything that Tony and she needed every day. Pepper pulled out a small white plastic bag and held it before Darcy, "It's nowhere near as extravagant as your father's gift. In fact, I got it from a small boutique by Times Square … when I saw it I knew it was perfect for you…" she took out the contents of the bag and revealed a black headband. It was simple yet elegant. Ebony black ribbons weaved around the headband giving a sheer sophistication to it. And then saffron yellow and dark ruby roses, made out of organza fabric, adorned the right side. Darcy gasped in response, "It's so pretty!"
"I thought it looked like Flaming Parrots, the colors, I mean. So you can be reminded of home sometimes…" Pepper explained. Tony and Pepper made sure that those flowers decorate Darcy's room at all times. After all, it is such a precious memory of Tony's parents and Meredith. She took the headband and slid it onto Darcy's tresses. The warm colors of the roses contrasted well with her stormy blue eyes, giving them more radiance and emphasis, "Look at you, so beautiful."
"I love it! I love it! I love it!" Darcy quickly embraced her, squeezing tightly with each 'I love it'. Pepper laughed wholeheartedly and hugged her more. "Thanks, Mama. I love you!"
"I love you too, honey." Pepper whispered.
The two shared a long lasting embrace for minutes until a startling ringing bell echoed throughout the place, breaking them out of their trance. Darcy took the cue and gave Pepper a peck on the cheek.
"That's the bell! I have to go or I'll be late!" Darcy chirped, overwhelmed with excitement. Pepper grinned and pushed her lightly, gesturing her to go. The little girl almost galloped towards the doors, dashing with all her might. Pepper stood up and looked on as Darcy stopped by the doors and turned around to give her one last wave of goodbye. She waved back, reflexively shouting, "Call me, okay?" as the girl disappeared behind the school's doors.
Darcy is finally going to school.
After spending one last look of the school, she sighed loudly then turned around. While waiting for a cab, she took out her bulky phone and dialed. She tapped her feet impatiently as waited for someone to answer. The ringing stopped after five sets of rings.
"Oh hey, Pep. Darcy got in?" Tony asked coolly.
"Y-yeah. She's inside now. First bell just rang." She replied. A yellow cab halted before her and she took a moment to settle herself inside. The driver asked where to and she just answered, "MetLife building, please."
"You're coming here?" Tony asked.
"I have to tell you your schedule." She answered.
"Gah. Can't I just take a day off?" he groaned, "Darcy gets to kick ass today, but I don't?"
"No. You have a job, Tony, do it. Darcy is fine on her own. I'll be there in ten minutes, you better be dressed and ready," Pepper said sternly.
"Yes, Mother…" he mocked, then asked, "Did you get pictures?"
"Yeah, I did."
"Darcy's fine?"
"Yeah, she's more than fine."
Then after a pause, he said gently, "Pepper?"
"What?"
"If she's fine, then stop crying."
Thank you for all your feedback for last chapter's poll. All of your insights were very, very helpful. I did not expect so many would answer. Thank you again and the romance part of this story is fully plotted :D
Also, my 3-D rendering of Darcy's dorm room and her watch is posted in my profile. It is also in my tumblr: another-stark-one under summary/chapters, in Darcy's stuff. Hope you like it.
