Hey guys! I'm back! Sorry for the wait, the holidays really distracted me. I hope I didn't leave you in too much heartbreak due to my absence. I know, I know, but you can dry your tears, I'm back now dearies. I hope you like this chapter. After this, Pepper finding out. Sorry if Happy seems a little OOC, but I couldn't really figure out his personality very well, and I went off of rumors about how Happy and Tony met, so if you heard a different version of how they met let me know. I tried to add a little more progression to the story as well, because I've been stalling a little. I hope you like my take on it.
Anyways, let me know what you think. P.S, if you find these chapters boring, don't worry, I plan to have a chapter chock full of gory missions that Tony takes up (some with his family and some without) during his free time. Then after that, a little more fluff (possibly), and then on to the first movie, and finally, the whole reason most of you are reading this, drumroll please, the Avengers! Huzzah! Ok, read now, bye!
Happy was passing the dorms when he heard it. He was making a decent living as a chueffer for fancy companies, but that was only a side job. Normally he was a guard at MIT. On usual nights, he broke up students having PDA publicly, but on occasion he would run into people getting mugged. Many outsiders assumed everyone who went to MIT were rich, due to the tuition fees, but quite a few kids fundraised for their education here, and often students only were there because of scholarships.
So it wasn't too big of a shock when he heard a faked tough voice demanding some poor kid's money.
"I know yous got more 'den 'dat on ya. Hand 't over, ya little shit." The accent was butchered, clearly some guy hiding his voice, meaning the kid he was robbing might recognize him. Happy took no time stepping in. He soon realized that there was more than on thug, three total.
"You let go of that kid, and step away, please." He stated calmly to the man, no, child, in the ski mask (which was quite cliche in Happy's opinion). He couldn't see the face of the kid getting mugged, but the body was wearing a rather nice suit jacket, a black sabbath shirt underneath, black jeans worn as well.
All three thugs wore masks, along with what can be claimed as cliche thug attire. From the saggy pants, to the gold chains around their necks. The one that seemed to be the leader held a small, cheap pocket knife to the student's throat. It didn't even look sharp enough to cause more than a bruise, and the kid knew it too. His entire posture was relaxed, and had a hand in his pocket.
"Oh yeah, and what 'chos gonna do's 'bout it?" Dumbass number one asked, laughing.
"Yeahs," Number two sneered. "Yous just somes donut loving renta cop. Gonna offer me a sprinkled cream?" They all laughed, and Happy smiled devilishly.
"Actually, I've always been partial to coffee cake myself." And sprung into action. A hook to the head, and number three was stumbling, and an uppercut stunned him. A final kick to the stomach knocked him out.
Number two was out with a kick to the stomach, which knocked him into a wall, and his head smacked against the edge of a trashcan.
Number one quickly moved around, holding the knife to the student's throat from the safety of using the boy as a human shield. He backed away.
"Back off, cop. Or I slit his throat." The ridiculously stupid accent vanishd in nervousness, and Happy got a good look at the student's face. With a start, he realized that student was Tony Stark, but he didn't dwaddle on that for long.
"Jarold, is that you?" Stark seemed to brighten at the boy's now un-accented voice. "Hi Jarold!" The boy seemed way to cheerful for about to be murdered.
"Shut it, Stark." The thug, now dubbed Jarold, growled, pressing the blade harder on Stark's throat. Happy was about to interfere, when Stark sprung. He grabbed Jarold's wrist, and spun out of the hold, kicking the boy in the stomach. Stark then twisted behind Jarold, and pressed his hand firmly against the back of the exposed elbow, which was bending the wrong way. Jarold hissed in pain, and dropped the knife. Stark kicked the back of Jarold's knees, causing them to buckled, before putting an elbow in the back of the attempted mugger's head. Jarold was out like a light.
"I never did like you, and I know you cheated on that last exam in Mr. Turner's class." Stark scolded mockingly, picking up his wallet, and counting the money. He finally acknowledged Happy.
"Hi! Thanks for the help there. Say, would you like a job?" Happy blinked.
"Uhhh. No problem. I already have a job though…" Tony nodded thoughtfully.
"Ok…I mean for me though. Work for me, I mean. The big guys are insisting I get a bodyguard, and that there would have just proved them right. Any chance you'll work for me? I pay well." Happy cocked his head.
"No thanks, Mr. Stark. I'm happy where I am." Tony nodded, and pulled out a card out of his wallet, not seeing the paper he pulled out with it, that fluttered to the ground after it. Happy was about to mention it, but Tony interuppted.
"Here. Call me if you change your mind. Thanks again for the help! Bye!" Tony handed him the card and sped off, hopping on a motorcycle, and speeding off. Happy shook his head, blinking a few times to reassure himself that what just happened was real, and looked at the number scrawled messily on the card. He pocketed it, and reached down to grab the paper that had fallen.
Turning it over, he realized it was a photo, and he took a closer look.
It was clearly a younger Tony, along with three other kids, around the age of fourteen. The biggest boy was centered, clearly chastising Tony about something, while a smaller blonde boy was playing host to a blonde girl, a wild look on her face, and a smile on her mouth. Tony was clearly laughing at the other two kids, and the boy in the middle was fighting as mile of his own. Behind them was the Eiffel Tower. Happy blinked (he seemed to be doing a lot of that tonight).
Wasn't Tony missing when he was fourteen? And who were those kids? And right then and there, Happy vowed he would get an explanation before doing anything.
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It took almost three days to find Tony Stark's dorm, due to the fact that SI and the MIT directors kept it quiet for Tony's privacy. Happy got out of his car, and shut the door, squinting in the late afternoon sun. He checked the address once more, and walked up to the door calmly.
He knocked on the door, and wasn't surprised when Stark answered the door. He clearly recognized Happy, from the way his face lit up.
"Hello! Here for the job. You could have just called you know." Tony said, walking inside, gesturing to Happy to do the same.
"Actually, Mr. Stark. I just came to return this." Happy stated, pulling the picture out, and handing it to the surprised Tony.
"My picture! Thanks! I didn't even realize this was missing!" Tony seemed happy (pun fully intended) and unconcerned about Happy seeing the picture, but Happy knew he was worried. If he hadn't been looking for it, he never would have seen it.
"I just have a question though, why are you fourteen in that picture, even though you were missing at the time?" Happy asked, a little surprised when Tony burst out laughing.
"I'm not fourteen, you must have looked wrong. I'm sixteen, clearly. This was about a month after I was found. These kids are childhood friends from when I was young. I needed something familiar, and they decided to send me to Paris with them in order to heal a little while before the start after term. I see them often, they're all at college for various degrees." Tony chuckled, handing Happy the 'same' picture again.
Happy blinked (which was apparently a common reaction around Tony Stark) when he looked at the picture. Where there were once fourteen year olds, there were now sixteen year olds, exactly the same positions, clothing, and background.
Happy, despite having doubts, bought the story. He nodded handing it back to Tony. "Sorry about that then, I'll just be on my way." He said, turning towards the door.
"Wait," Happy looked back at Tony.
"Yes, Mr. Stark?"
"You sure you don't want that job?"
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Around twenty minutes later, Happy Hogan left the dorm with a new job, and a spinning mind.
Tony flopped down on the couch after Happy left, sighing. He ran a hand over his face, and pulled out six almost identical photos. Starting when they were ten, the Mischief Mongers had decided to take the same photo every year as long as they could.
He kept the one from when he was fourteen in his wallet, because that was the first one he grabbed that morning. Yep. Pure luck Happy hadn't noticed his slight of hand when he pulled out the different photo.
Well, at least now he had a driver, and 'bodyguard'...
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Tony's eighteenth birthday was quickly approaching, and he was thrilled. He graduated almost three months prior, and received a masters in other random subjects in his spare time.
Due to some string pulling, his siblings would be graduating in three days time, then celebrating Tony's birthday the next day. Happy had become a close friend, and Riley had almost gotten to the point of trusting him completely. She had started trusting Rhodey completely after his seventeenth birthday with no incidents.
His siblings had started setting up their own professions, doing it all without Tony's help, wanting to do it on their own. Jace had been applying to multiple clinical studies to help psychological conditions, and had gotten a few acceptances. He was just picking which one. He was becoming a clinical psychologist.
Evan had begun searching for a place to begin his residency in California. He too acquired multiple acceptances, and was choosing which to begin at.
Riley had downright refused to work for Tony, but he had been secretly donating to her fundraising to create her own law firm. She didn't know it was him because he donated odd amounts (ranging from twenty to ten thousand dollars) under many different accounts so she didn't notice.
All and all, successful couple years. His media impression was that he was a playboy, and in all honesty he was. To be fair, they all were (Riley and Tony the most, Jace the least).
They were enjoying the life of regular teenagers. Of course, they still took many missions. The Death Walkers were feared aspects of a criminal life, and a few bad guys had even turned themselves in rather than face their wrath.
Tony smiled as the texted his siblings in a group chat, as they were all in boring situations.
Riley: Urrgg. Old Professor Nought just never stops droning on does he?
Jace: Better for you at least you aren't subjected to Prof. Strauss' blabbering on about random acts of rage… For a full twenty minutes at a time.
Tony: Yeah, at least you have class. I've got nothing to do
Evan:You're annoying jace with us isn't that enough?
Riley:Yeah Tony. Don't you love us?
Jace: I'm wounded you three.
Tony Evan Riley: Luv u 2!
Jace: Urgg, please don't do the text talk thing again.
Riley: Whatever do you mean brother dearest. Hold on, brb, ttyl
Jace: Stop!
Tony: Omg, ootd we're gonna get you rofl, but brb, until you get a ikr moment, k?
Evan: I don't understand half of those.
Jace: I hate you both…
They carried on their conversations of randomness, before going off to other activities. Tony chuckled, before putting his phone away, pulling out an old textbook to read.
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The day of graduation came quickly, and they were thankfully at separate times, so they could make each. Riley and Evan's came first, and it was at nine.
Riley's false last name was Lilavo, which meant purple in Bulgarian. Jace went with Reddington (a.n: yes, like the Blacklist, which I also don't own), and Evan went with Ackerman.
After a bunch of cheering, and over excitement, both Riley and Evan got their diplomas, and they raced off to Jace's graduation.
After the incident of Evan false fainting into Tony's arms, and Riley weeping about her 'baby being all grown up', they headed to the car, where Happy was waiting with a fond smile.
"Ready, guys?" Happy asked, shaking his head after their explanation as to why Jace had become a human tomato.
"Yep!" They chirped as one. They slid into the car, and just when Happy was about to shut the door, Tony stuck his head out with a worried expression.
"Wait! I forgot my bag!" They each carried a bag with them, containing their clothes because they were staying at a hotel Tony booked a room in for the next two nights.
What Happy didn't know was that they each had their masks for a classified celebration involving whip cream and throwing knives they preformed every birthday.
"I got it, stay with your friends. I think Jace is about to attack Riley." Happy smirked, as Tony noticed he was right. Tony said thanks, and went to either watch, or split up the small squabble that was beginning in the backseat.
Happy chuckled lightly at the friends' antics. He strolled back to the bench where Tony had left his bag. It was rather abandoned now, as the students had left to go celebrate with their families and friends. He reached down to grab the bag, and suddenly the bag strap ripped. Happy sighed, not really paying attention to the items in the bag as he started scooping them back into the bag.
After a second he realized he was holding something odd to be in an overnight bag for college kids. He looked at the mask in his hand, and gasped. Nearly dropping it in his shock.
IN his hand he held the mask of one of the most feared assassins of all time. And the bag it came from… Was his almost eighteen year old boss'.
The only coherent thought running through Happy's head was: I wonder if he'll fire me, or kill me…
Before anyone else could notice, he stuffed the mask back in the bag, grabbing the rest of the fallen items as well. He rushed back to the car, but hesitated slightly before opening the door. He put on a brave face, and spoke clearly.
"Mr. Stark? May I ask why there is a mask that just fell out of your bag in the shape of one of the most notorious assassins of all time?" Happy wasn't quite sure what he expected, maybe them dragging him into the car before driving him off to a blacksite of sorts, or one pulling out a weapon and disposing of him right then and there, but one thing he did not expect was for Evan, Jace, and Riley to burst out laughing at Tony's surprised face.
"Hahahahahaha!" Riley howled, her bellows of laughter mingling with the others'. "That's twice now someone's discovered your secret, brother!" She settled slightly, and clapped a hand on Tony's shoulder, who was gaping like a fish.
"Wha-how-when-... Huh?" Tony mumbled to himself, staring at the bag in Happy's hand like it was made of vibranium.
"Jeez," Jace's low chuckles broke into Tony's confusion. "For one of the greatest assassins the den has ever seen, you sure are lousy at keeping a secret." Evan was too busy howling to comment, but his expression was readable enough.
"Well," Tony said clearly. "I guess we're going to have to kidnap you." The other assassin teens looked up, and smirked.
"Wait, what?" Happy just barely had time to ask before two sets of hands pulled him into the car. Someone knocked him over the head, and he had just enough time to hear a door slam and an engine start, before darkness overcame him.
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It took almost three hours of explaining for Happy to get the full story out of the three energetic teens, and he could still barely believe it.
Especially right now. With Riley's face covered in chocolate cake, with her and Tony bouncing on the bed in the hotel room. Evan was sitting in front of the television, screaming obscenities at it as he played the newest Halo. Jace lounged next to Happy (who was still rubbing his wrists from the ropes as Evan and Riley insisted on being overdramatic) drinking a diet coke.
He shook his head at the sight of Evan jeering at the tv, Riley joining in as cursing was one of her favorite things to do. Happy was still having trouble grasping the concept that these four innocent seeming children were top level assassins. Jace chuckled, gazing at him.
"I know, right?" He asked vaguely, but Happy knew exactly what he meant.
Happy shook his head again. "Just… How?" He asked, a dazed look on his face.
"I've been asking myself the same question for ten years." Jace snorted, and they each took a drink at the same time, but Happy's held something quite a bit stronger than diet coke…
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Tell me if you enjoyed the texts, I got off topic I know, but I got bored for a minute, and my brain responded. By the way, I've always enjoyed time travel fics, and am currently hooked on reading Harry Potter fics, so if anyone finds any good fics I haven't read yet, will you tell me? I want to know, I'm bored. Ok, reviewpleasesorrysaidIwould'taskIliedbye