No copyright infringement intended here. No profit being made. All our continuity are belong to Marvel. All creative rearranging of it is my fault. I take responsibility, but I make no apologies... Think of this as working with character archetypes, with continuity bits thrown in for lolz.
Chapter 12
Audrey grabbed Hank once they were back at the tower before he could retreat to wherever it was they had him staying. The active members of the Avengers were tied down to a debriefing, so Audrey claimed that she needed a glass of wine and company to drink it with.
Hank blinked at her a few times, as if he was quite sure he believed her, but his body language softened and he followed her. She boldly went to bar the bar in Tony's penthouse and opened a bottle, figuring she'd earned it. She poured two glasses and set one down in front of Hank. "I've never been near anything like that." She admitted and let out slow breath.
"It can be traumatic." Hank said. "You handled yourself deftly though."
"Thanks... I don't know if Tony was trying to distract me, or if the word bored is interchangeable with the word scared for him." She said.
"Quite possibly both." Hank said, and his eyes crinkled at the corners as he grinned. "He really does have an aversion to all cave-like structures. Not that anyone could blame him."
"I suppose not." Audrey agreed. "Can I ask you a question, Henry?"
"I believe you already have the rules on that." Hank replied.
"The Klimts you took. How did you rescue chunks of a ceiling from a building?" She asked. Hank's eyes sparkled in delight at the question. Audrey had a knowledge of where the works had come from and why they were important, and he wasn't exactly sure why, but it made him ridiculously happy that that was the case.
"I shrank them, essentially. It made transport much easier."
"What?" Audrey asked, incredulous at the answer.
"It's a variation of what I used to transport you to safety with the Whelans. Simply put, I have a shrink ray that works down to a sub-atomic level." Hank said. Audrey gaped at him.
"Bullshit." She said.
"No bullshit, I swear. I'll show you if and or when I get my equipment back. It's invaluable for medical technology. We can repair damage on the cellular level, at the atomic level... It's not available to the wider medical community yet, as there is too much potential to weaponize it or use it for something nefarious." Hank said.
"No shit." Audrey said and shook her head slowly, as if she still didn't believe him, but wasn't going to argue with his delusion.
"You think I'm a mad scientist." Hank said.
"A bit, yeah." She said.
"I'm sure that Tony's informed you, but the Shi'ar Empire, an alien race, has technology far beyond even the spectacular things that Tony can concoct at this point. I've made some contacts among them, and they've been generous with their time and resources. It's how I move you to a pocket dimension while you were still in utero, and also how I kept Broo alive, though sometimes I doubt if I should have done that." Hank explained.
"Tell me about Broo. You taught him at the Xavier School, right? You must have some fantastic stories about that place." Audrey said. She was aiming for conversation now, not just plying him for information.
"Well, it's the Jean Grey School now, but yes, it was a wonderful place to be much of the time. Broo, like a lot of children, surprised the hell out of me. Within the Brood species, he's a mutant like us, and but so far is one of a kind. He was lonely for sure, but he never dwelled on it, and managed to make some friends worth having at the school."
"Tony said that he was a great kid." Audrey said, and gave Hank an encouraging smile.
"He was, and his loyalty to his friends remains intact despite the changes in his personality. All I've ever wanted of my students is to foster the goodness in them. I never thought I was much of a fighter or soldier. But with kids like Broo, I thought, I hoped, that that would be my legacy. I like to think that they've done me as much and more good than I've done for them. They kept me from wallowing, kept me hopeful. Broo was one of many remarkable young minds that saw me as worthy of their time, and as someone they could trust." Hank said, and sipped quietly at the glass of wine Audrey had poured for him.
"Shit." Audrey said. "I had maybe three teachers in all of my schooling that cared like that. I used to spend a lot of time bored, so I'd schlub through on C's on account of them knowing I was smarter than my effort showed... But I can't imagine any of my teachers having your attitude, especially after what you've been through."
Hank laughed in a tired, high way that showed he was on the edge of cracking. "Thank you... I wish I could have been there to help you like that as well, Audrey. I feel horribly guilty that I wasn't."
"Well good." Audrey said, but kept her tone light and teasing. "Honestly, Henry, I had great start in life. I really did. My family is pretty awesome all things considered. You... You did what you thought was best. You did it to ensure my safety. I get that. A baby is a far different thing to deal with than a teenage student."
"I'm not sure I could even handle that right now. I just want to hide in a lab somewhere forever. There were fantastic experiences at the school, but I could sit here and start rhyming off an equally lengthy list of horrible things that happened there over the years... Which I won't because that's just too depressing. I feel like a pebble in a well for all the real-world difference I've made." Hank said and sighed.
"Tell me about it." Audrey said and smirked as best as her feline features would allow. Hank's sad expression became curious. "Look, I've lived over a quarter of my life outside of the dimension I was supposed to be in, and I'm pretty sure that this dimension didn't miss me at all. At least you got to make a ripple on the surface, to follow the metaphor... If my presence here didn't matter for a quarter of a century, Hank, what does that say about the rest of my life? Will it matter if I stay here, looking as I do, in a very imperfect world? Ultimately, probably not. All my legacy will be is how I treated the people who are left behind after I'm gone..." Audrey said, but smiled as she did. Hank looked like he was going to protest, but Audrey held a hand up to silence him.
"Hank, I'm talking to a guy who has helped save the world multiple times. I'm freeloading with another guy and his buddies who have done the same thing. What am I compared to that? I don't know. I may never know. But the rest of the adorable nutcases that hang out here seem to think it's a good idea for me to stick around. So I'll borrow that for a while, trust, and take their word for it. It's fucking scary, but since the prospect of not being anywhere remains unappealing, I'll stay here. I lucked out and ended up with people who want me around. The rest will sort itself out. It could be the opportunity to do something really extraordinary, so I would be stupid not to take it." Audrey grinned and gave Hank a dismissive little shrug.
Hank looked at her, and then brought one of his massive, intimidating hands over his eyes for a moment. He shuddered out a breath, lowered his hand, and pulled Audrey into a tentative embrace. Audrey, well conditioned to Tony's behaviour now, went willingly and hugged him back. "You're more than I could ever have hoped for." Hank murmured. "Thanks for being comfortable enough to call me Hank."
"Less syllables. I'm a fan of economy of language." Audrey said. Hank laughed at the contradiction of her statement.
"No tranq dart this time?" Hank asked into the crook of her neck. Audrey laughed softly.
"Not this time. Clint is very protective of those things." She replied. Hank squeezed her more tightly for a moment and laughed low in his throat.
They parted after the wine was gone for some much-needed sleep, and Hank was left wondering how he'd ever thank Tony and Reed for the opportunity to finally meet his lost child.
When she awoke mid-afternoon to Mac shuffling around, Audrey crawled out from under the covers and gave the dog a warm pat. "What do you say big guy, should we try to escape for a bit this afternoon?" She asked him. Mac's adoring eyes were answer enough for her.
She tried to keep Mac as quiet as possible on the way to the communal kitchen, assuming that most of the team and Hank would still be down for the count. She was met with the sight of Pepper Potts, who seemed to be on the winning side of an argument with the coffeemaker. She looked up at Audrey and Mac and smiled without reserve. "Hello, Audrey." She said, and Audrey nodded in return.
"Ms. Potts." She said.
"Pepper. Anybody that Tony warms up to like he has to you gets to call me Pepper. He can be like a choosy cat about who he latches on to." Pepper replied. Audrey smiled at her.
"Coffee seems a bit pedestrian for the CEO of a major corporation." Audrey observed.
"It's for Tony. I had his meeting with R&D moved to an hour from now so he could get some sleep. I figure that having a building fall on top of you warrants moving a meeting and having someone make coffee for you." She said dryly and Audrey grinned. "My afternoon is free. Would you like to get out of the tower for a bit and get lunch? There's a fantastic little place nearby and if we sit on their patio, we can bring Mac."
"That would be really lovely." Audrey agreed. She knew a job interview when she saw one. Pepper Potts had been in the comics too, and she knew that saying no to a friendly Pepper was a bad idea. She definitely wanted to be on the same side as her. "If you think it's safe enough for us, sure I'd love to go."
"I'm sure it will be fine. The bistro is definitely close enough for any of the Avengers to get to us should we encounter trouble." Pepper assured.
"Okay then, I'm in. So, is this a job interview or a shovel talk?" Audrey said, testing the waters of Pepper's sense of humour.
"A little of both, so don't be late. I'll meet you in the lobby in ten minutes. I just have to go raise the dead first." Pepper said, pleased with herself, and headed back to the penthouse with a steaming mug of coffee in her hand.
Audrey was glad for the new length of her legs as they made their way to the bistro. Tall, lean, Pepper Potts walked like she meant it, as did every other New Yorker. Mac trotted along boldly between them, happy as could be, tongue lolling out in the air. Again, there were looks and double takes, but no one showed any aggression to Audrey, and she was relieved.
Pepper didn't even give the staff a chance to question Audrey's presence, and requested a table in the corner of the wrap around patio, that led off to a quieter side street. The table was next to barriers that cut if off from the rest of the sidewalk, and had overflowing planters that further blocked the view of passerby. If not perfect cover, it felt like she was hidden from stares, and that let Audrey relax. Pepper clearly had her needs figured out even before she did, and she could easily see why she was so invaluable to Tony.
Audrey nosed delicately at the flowers in the planters after they were seated and Mac had settled. She found her nose was in a state of hyper-awareness since having to nose Tony out under the rubble, but in this instance, she didn't mind. Flowers still smelled lovely. Another constant.
"First of all, thank you for helping dig Tony out. Not everyone makes pals with the Hulk on the first try." Pepper said.
"You're welcome, but really, it's the least I could have done. The Hulk did all the heavy lifting." Audrey replied.
"It's probably more than many people who found themselves in your situation would have done. I admit that it has set my mind at ease. Both in regard to how you relate to Tony and the fact that he got out much more quickly."
Audrey's gaze narrowed a little as she mulled over Pepper's words. "Relate to Tony... You were or are suspicious of my intentions?" Audrey asked, looking confused.
"Tony has had some odd friends in the past. Friends that have hurt him. Friends that he's let hurt him. He has a flawed sense of what real affection and friendship are." Pepper said. She was trying to come off as practical, and possibly a little hard, but Audrey could see the concern for her friend behind Pepper's eyes.
"Ah, well... I can tell you that I have a less flawed perception of what a real friend is, and so far, Tony has been a very good one. If you're planning on a shovel talk, you can save it for now. I have no romantic or financial interest in Tony. I plan on working for my keep, despite me being shanghaied to this place... I like Tony, despite the fact that he and Richards fucked up my life beyond repair." Audrey looked down at her hands. "I don't think I can go home again, or even back to my chosen career. Hell, I don't even think I can masturbate in a way that's familiar anymore." Audrey said. Pepper's hand went to her mouth to smother the worst of her outburst of laughter.
"I'm sorry." Pepper said, but Audrey waved her off and grinned.
"It's okay, Pepper. That's what I was going for... I know what happens to me, at least for the foreseeable future, is probably inevitable. Either way, I can't change what's already happened. So I'm just going to go forward from here. I'm not playing a long game of revenge. Because a lot of this is awesome." Audrey said and held her hand palm up, her claws glinted in the afternoon light. "Masturbation issues aside of course."
Pepper laughed lightly as the server approached and Audrey left the decision about the wine to Pepper's more educated palate. The server attempted genuine friendliness, because really, Audrey had to suppose that she wasn't that out of place in New York, and was soon on her way. "I'm not only worried about Tony, though my loyalty lies with him." Pepper said once they were alone. "I know he can put people off, or pressure them by coming on too strong. I don't want Tony to hurt you either."
"Oh, you mean his touchy-feely lunatic flirt monster routine? Yeah, it sort of put me off at first until I realized that he does that with everyone he likes... Except for Clint. But there's a weird bromance there that they don't even know is happening... Once I understood he does it to feel normal, and to make others feel normal, especially me now with my haute couture Grover look, I was reasonably assured that it was just flirting. It's not... sexual... At least at this point it isn't." Audrey said.
"You seem remarkably sure of that." Pepper said. She seemed fascinated to know how Audrey had come to this conclusion. Audrey tapped the side of her nose gently.
"I can... Well, I can detect pheromones now, Pepper. I can tell that you're a little scared of this situation, and me, but that you're fighting against that because like hell you're going to let a little fear stop you from doing anything. I can smell the stress of your concern. But I know that your curiosity is winning out, mostly because masturbation jokes really are good icebreakers. I'm also learning that I can detect arousal, which I am learning to ignore out of polite necessity. Tony doesn't... Well let's just say that the flirting is platonic." Audrey said, her expression a bit shy.
"Can you pick up on lying yet? Because I could really use that skill in some meetings I have with government representatives." Pepper said, and Audrey laughed. "I'm relieved that you're on the same page with Tony. So often, being his friend requires what amounts to a psychic ability."
"I like Tony... And while I have a soft spot for independent thinking, funny jerks, because let's face it, we can smell our own; it doesn't mean I tend to fall head over heels for them. Not without a significant amount of time spent weighing the consequences." Pepper smiled at her while the wine arrived and was poured for them.
"Can I borrow you to teach my nieces about dating?" Pepper asked after they placed their food orders.
"Sure, but I warn you, I am the cool aunt or mom's friend that will make the girls in your life want tattoos by age sixteen. I don't consider myself a bad role model, just not what a parent might want for their kid given my day job." Audrey said. Pepper laughed lightly.
"Given what that this world deals with alien invasions and super villains, I don't think them wanting tattoos is the biggest problem they'll face in their lives." Pepper replied.
"Well then, sure. No worries. Kids are great." Audrey said and grinned.
"About your day job, are you genuinely interested in the position that Tony is creating for you?"
"For now, I would say yes. I'm well used to working within a theme to please a client... And I wouldn't have to worry about stupid fucking hipster birds." Audrey said.
"Hipster birds?" Pepper asked, eyebrows raised. Audrey grinned.
"You and Thor have something in common." She said as she pulled up the image on her phone. "Imagine every ridiculous special snowflake in horn rims and painted-on, sperm count killing jeans wanting this embedded in your skin. Same image. All the hipsters. All of them. So, the choice of what I want to create within a theme? Especially when that theme is comic book heroes I grew up loving? It's kind of like getting exactly what I wanted for my birthday, Pepper." Audrey said. Pepper laughed lightly and raised her glass to Audrey.
"It really does sound like a fun project." Pepper agreed, and Audrey raised her glass in return. "I would also like to be able to consult with you on visuals for SI's advertising campaigns. You're age group is the target demographic for our personal tech."
"I'll be my own furry focus group." Audrey said.
"Nonsense. Tony showed me your online gallery. You're very talented."
"Skilled. It takes a lot of practice to be this mediocre." Audrey said and Pepper rolled her eyes.
"You sound like Steve... Speaking of fur, how are you adjusting? There must be some very strange things here for you."
"Honestly, I don't know yet. It's been much better since I got to speak to my family to let them know I'm okay. The dysmorphia is still an issue. I wake up in a state of disbelief. It's going to take awhile... I know that it's not as bad as it might be, and that's why I make light of it... But the adjustment is huge. I should talk to Hank about it, I guess. But I don't know that he's handled it much better than I am. I was never much of a pretty girl, Pepper. And that was fine. Mostly I've only ever got second looks because of my tattoos. Getting second looks because of this is different. This could lead to a lonely life, which is probably why I'm so willing to take Tony's friendship at face value. I won't be able to squander genuine connections with others who can see past the fur... And I really do like Tony. He's fucking fun to hang out with." Audrey looked down at her hands, and flexed her free one. She was getting a feel for the strength in it now, having dug her claws too hard into her palms a few times while sleeping.
"I assure you, that once Tony makes a friend, he keeps them, almost to the point of possessiveness. When you call, he'll always pick up. In fact, he'll usually be the one calling you, to fend off boredom, or because he wants to show you something. I might spend many otherwise lonely hours on the company jet if it wasn't for him just wanting someone to talk to. Our inner circle is small, but we care. Sometimes it can be hard to be his friend. He operates at a level that so far beyond what most people are capable of keeping up with. It can be staggering." Pepper said.
"Well, clearly you made the cut." Audrey said. She smirked at Pepper.
"Yes, and I lack some of the crucial paperwork that says I am qualified to do what I am capable of doing. It was a long play, but safer in the end. I wouldn't have gotten this opportunity with any other company. On the surface, Tony can appear to be sexist and unaware of his status economically speaking. But when it matters, he doesn't see gender or race. He sees competence and adaptability. It comes from his father, who ran Stark Industries as something of a meritocracy. If a person does their job with excellence, then it doesn't matter who they were or what qualifications they had. It's one of the few character traits Tony got from Howard that I'm glad of. But he demands a lot from people both personally and professionally. Though he's making a concentrated effort these days to look more closely at the value people have outside of their possible benefit to him. You're helping him with that, which I appreciate. I can't be there all the time for him, given my own responsibilities, but the picture I'm getting of you now makes me glad you've come into his life." Pepper said. Audrey tucked her chin in a slightly bashful expression.
"Thanks, Pepper."
"But as I said, it's not always easy to be his friend. Sometimes you will need to give him a shake to bring him back to reality. I recommend observing Steve's method for doing this. He does it without being mean or crushing Tony's emotions if he's excited about something. Especially if he's being needy and narcissistic." Audrey nodded, but left her thoughts about Tony not displaying anything other than sarcastic narcissistic traits since she'd met him to herself. Not everyone understood the idea of not being able to love yourself, and hence feeling the only option was to put the show of it on for other people.
"I'll keep that in mind." Audrey replied. "I think watching them fight off various threats will always be harder than being friends with Tony Stark though."
"It is, and it will only ever get marginally better. But you were a fantastic help to the team last night. Tony hates being trapped like that."
"I can believe it." Audrey said and looked down fondly at Mac. "I'm glad I could help. I've... never been asked to anything like that before. All in all, it felt pretty good. The Hulk is fucking scary, but not so bad if you can keep your shit together."
"So you are finding advantages to all this."
"Yes." Audrey said and nodded. "I won't deny that. Tony and the rest of the team are making an effort to make me see that. But there are realities that I am only starting to get my head around, let alone accept. Since my mutation kicked in, this is the first time I've been outside of the tower without a member of the team. That's less than ideal. You know I've never spent any time in Manhattan before this? And I can't enjoy it on my own terms because of not unfounded paranoia. I'm hoping that the general knowledge that Steve Rogers is a pal of mine will help with that though."
"Having Steve Rogers as a friend does go a long way." Pepper agreed and smiled at her.
Pepper then arranged a meeting with a lawyer named Murdock for Audrey to go over the proposed contract Tony was offering. When Audrey admitted that she hadn't had a moment look it over, Pepper pulled it up on her tablet and Audrey's phone, and walked her through it while she picked gracefully at her appetizer.
Audrey stayed quiet for the most part, because her mind was racing. She was comfortable with her ability to comprehend the aspects of the contract, but knew she didn't speak it like another language the way that Pepper seemed so comfortable with. When she caught sight of her projected annual salary before bonuses for meeting with S.I.'s marketing department, Audrey nearly sputtered on her wine. She carefully set the glass down and coughed a few times. Pepper was instantly concerned, but waited until Audrey could speak again before asking what was wrong. Audrey took a breath and relaxed before pointing to the figure on the contract.
"That is the best estimate of a going rate for a commercial artist, with Mr. Stark naturally padding the offer to ensure the best possible quality for the task. He wants you on the payroll, and he's willing to pay generously for that privilege. He wouldn't offer if he didn't believe in your ability. He would have set you up with a compensation package for your disrupted life, but he knows that you're the sort to want to know you've earned something." Pepper said and gave Audrey a reassuring smile.
"I... might need some time to process that. I need to know if I can fulfill the requirements of the job before I take it." Audrey said.
"You're better qualified than Steve. You're a professional working artist with graphic experience, no matter what your medium has been to this point. You know what looks good. You know what imagery will appeal to people and resonate with them... Take a couple of days, think about it, meet with Mr. Murdock... And perhaps speak with Steve." Pepper suggested.
"Talk to Steve... About money." Audrey said, still quite bewildered.
"Trust me." Pepper said. "And for now, more wine, because I would like to consider you a friend and we should celebrate this." Audrey laughed lightly and returned Pepper's smile with as warm an expression her feline face could muster.
Tony showed up as dessert was being contemplated. He strolled toward them, casually nodding to the server, and pilfered a chair from the table next to them. He sat down and scratched behind Mac's ears all while trying to look as if he disapproved of himself for doing so. "I should be terrified by this meeting of the minds. You're planning my tombstone, aren't you?"
"The retrofit of the Colosseum is caught in the permit stages. Seems the Romans have objection to live fornication being projected on to the side of it. " Pepper said dryly.
"Oh, kinky." Tony said and grinned at her.
"Or did you still want your ashes launched into space so you can hang out with Gene Rodenberry?" She asked.
"Joke's on you, Potts. The singularity is now. I'm gonna upload my consciousness and hang out with JARVIS for eternity." Tony said.
"Heaven help us all." JARVIS said from the speaker of Audrey's phone.
"You're breaking my heart, J. We could have nanite sex. It would be way less creepy if I no longer have a body." Tony said, waggling his eyebrows in the direction of the phone. Audrey's hand flew to her mouth to stifle her laughter. She didn't need to attract any more attention to their table.
"Well, perhaps it would be more satisfying than your varied attempts at phone sex over the years." JARVIS said dryly.
"At leas you know I love you for your mind, buddy." Tony said. Pepper rolled her eyes.
"Besides, sir, I thought you were trying to win Ms. Whelan's hand." JARVIS said.
"Ms. Whelan is too smart to fall for my crap. You, however, know me and have forgiven me for my many, many failings. You take care of me, even when I am being an asshat. What more could a guy ask for?" Tony pressed. JARVIS made a small throat clearing noise that Audrey could only describe as Jeevesian.
The server approached their table and Tony placed a drink order with a flirtatious smile, and demanded the girls grab something for dessert. "Or, you could order a meal and not steal off our plates, Tony." Pepper said.
"Rogers is concocting a team movie and dinner night. So I'll eat whatever inspired root vegetable based thing that Hawkass and the Russian Spy Who Wouldn't Shag Me come up with. This is what I'm reduced to, Hobbes. I'll eat food made by spies now. I'm insane... But not so insane as to thumb my nose at turnip things made by Russians and transient carnies... Those people do know their way around a parsnip." Tony said. Pepper watched Audrey take Tony's mini-tirade in stride, her mind keeping up to his patter easily.
"You know, Calvin, if this multi-billionaire thing doesn't work out for you, I know a guy who runs an auction back home. I know he'd think you have potential. You'd have to change your fashion sense though. How do you feel about the After Dawn look by TSC? Audrey asked.
"What or who is TSC?" Tony asked, looking over the top of his sunglasses.
"Tractor Supply Company. It's very chic." Audrey said. Pepper bit her lower lip trying not to laugh. Tony shrugged.
"Embracing plaid and boots as a lifestyle choice? Probably have to give that one a pass. There's only so many turnip using people I need in my life. I think I already have the interesting ones." He said.
"I'm telling Clint you said he was interesting."
"Yeah, but like, as a science experiment. How much explosive can I pack into an arrowhead? What edible food can he come up with using only a combination of American and Soviet army rations, and convincing a local goat to let him touch her mammaries. Or as like, an examination of a huge socio-economic paradigm shift. If social sciences counted. Which they don't. So, Hawkguy is kept around to feed my need to make things go boom in an adult-oriented, responsible, manner." Tony said.
"Even worse, I'm telling Clint that he helps you be responsible." Pepper said and grinned.
"Lies. Lies and slander, Potts." Tony said. Pepper just laughed at Tony's blustering. When Tony's beverage arrived, along with their dessert, Tony spoke up again. "By the way, I have a mission for you when we get back to the tower, Hobbes."
"Oh?" Audrey asked.
"Yeah, we need to drag Hank and Bruce out of the labs for dinner on Cap'n's orders. Brucie Bear will come along if I beg and Hank will follow you anywhere at this point. Movie night goes for you too, Pep. Steve's nesting. I should give him a pregnancy test. Though he always gets this way when there are new faces around." Tony mused.
"I swear, Rogers' humanity combined with his affection for you, is your only saving grace some days, Tony." Pepper said, and they exchanged a smile reserved for old friends.
