Chapter 19

"Stop moving your hand," Tony scolded as he tried to get the proper measurements as FRIDAY scanned Salem's left hand at the moment.

They sat in the workshop of the Stark mansion, early in the morning of the day of Homecoming. It was a couple of days after they had spoken about Salem's treatment at HYDRA, and now Tony was trying to figure out a better style of glove that wouldn't trigger Salem's defences.

Salem laid on one of the tables, having cleared it for a place to lay as she knew she would be in this room for a couple of hours. One leg was bent while the other was swinging off the edge as she laid with a hand held up.

Tony sat on a swivel stool, having holo screens around him as he sketched out ideas on a screen right in front of him before moving the holo away.

"What are your plans for homecoming?" He asked since he knew it was tonight. "Any cute girls or boys? Planning to get drunk?

"While I appreciate the fact you're supporting any relationships I go into," She smiled before shaking her head. "I'm not going to Homecoming, and I'm not drinking.

"Why not?" He tucked his glasses up his nose with the back of his hand, turning towards her in the stool.

"Why would I? It's Homecoming." She said it like it was distasteful. "I've only been going to the school for a couple of weeks. No one likes me besides for Mj, and maybe Ned? But that's probably because he knows."

"Know what?"

"About my powers, and about Parker being Spider-man," She sat up. "Didn't you know?"

"Nope," He tutted. "Can't be helped now."

"Yeah, I'm not fussed about it. I think MJ knows too,"

"Why would you think that?"

"I had a slight panic on the first day, used the suit to try and compress myself since it helps sometimes. I was in the changing room while everyone was in the gym. MJ came in just as I was fine and deactivated the suit."

He nodded, tinkering with the design scheme a little as he crossed the idea of gloves off. "I'll get a Non-Disclosure agreement for her, and for what's his face, Parker's friend."

"What's your opinion on a suit, a proper one like mine?" He asked, turning his stool to face her as he brought up the schematics for a couple of suits.

The blue holos showed three suits, one of his recent suits, one of her suits from when she was younger that were small and very basic, and finally a suit that was basic but more feminine than Tony's and was less restrictive.

"If I say no to a suit, would you listen, Dad?"

"Touche," He snapped his fingers towards her. "You're getting a suit whether you like it or not, and you're gonna help me build it!"

"No school then?" She tried.

"Haha, no. You're going to school today," He pointed at her.

"Fuck."

"Language!"

"Says the man who taught me motherfucker to piss Pepper off!"

)()()(

For the first time in a while, Salem was driven by someone else instead of driving herself. Neither Stark liked being driven anywhere, trusting very few to take them anywhere.

Though, Tony drove himself more because he believed a car crash killed his parents but it was proved false. Salem was more about control, and with HYDRA, she didn't like being in the back seat unless she had to be because that was where Niver and her used to sit.

As they took the orange Audi, Tony asked if Salem wanted anyone else to be picked up, so she texted MJ to ask if she wanted a lift. She agreed and was waiting outside her house, bag slung over her shoulder as she wore an army green jacket over a simple dark t-shirt.

"You're wearing a dress," MJ said as she got into the car, sitting in the middle of the backseat.

"Here," Tony put a set of papers on the panel between the two front seats, sliding it back so MJ could grab it. "Non-Disclosure Agreement. Need it signed."

"Because I know Salem is Medusa or because you're here?" MJ teased, grabbing a pen out of her bag and going through the set of papers.

Tony smirked. "I think I'm a little more important than Medusa."

"Rude," Salem stuck her tongue at him before turning to MJ. "Yes, I am wearing a dress."

The outfit in question was simple, a dark maroon mid-thigh length dress that looked a little more like a sweater with long sleeves, a pair of black, patterned tights, and a pair of boots. And of course her favourite leather jacket.

"I think this is the first time I've seen you in a dress," MJ said. "It looks good. What's changed?"

"I wanna be feminine today, and I look amazing," Salem flicked her hair as MJ snorted.

Tony pulled up to the school, letting both girls get out before rolling his window down and holding his hand out. "Give him to me."

Salem smiled. "What do you mean?"

"You know the school doesn't allow animals," He said, sighing. "Pass me Duke before you get animal control called."

"Oh," She said, looking down as if she just realised she was wearing her snake as almost a scarf. "I didn't know you were there, baby. Go to grandpa, come on."

She snickered as she unwrapped Duke from around her neck, watching him yawn as he landed on Tony's lap and quickly fell asleep.

MJ laughed at Tony's look of being called Grandpa, the sheer look of you wanna play it that way? challenging Salem to say more.

"Bye, Pops," She said, quickly scaling the stairs with MJ.

)()()(

It seemed like the day started off well and went downhill as lessons started and history came as Mr Dell spoke of the Accords and went onto the Avenger Creed as one of their final topics of modern history.

"Put your hand up if you've heard of the Avenger Creed?" Mr Dell asked the class.

MJ and Salem sat at one table near the back of the classroom, Peter and Ned were at a table across to the left and ahead with Flash sitting in front of Salem with Mj to her right.

Around six students put their hands up, including Peter, Ned and Flash. Salem didn't.

Mr Dell scanned the class. "Right. And who knows what it is? Go ahead, Flash."

"It's the laws the Accords of Sokovia made so the Avengers and their allies aren't completely independent," He said. "It stops the Avengers from doing things they're not allowed to, making them have permission from the United Nations. Spiderman and Medusa would be classed as part of it."

Salem sighed silently, raising her hand up.

"Anything to add, Salem?" Mr Dell asked, gesturing to her.

"The Avenger Creed is separate from the Accords. The Sokovia Accords retain the right to imprison any enhanced individual, including those born with powers or getting powers from something, that have gone against the laws which have been placed by the Accords. The members of the Creed, however, do not have to abide by the laws placed by the Accords."

"An example would be?" Mr Dell prompted.

"Use of powers and abilities," Salem simply said. "The Avenger Creed has its own bylaws that have been submitted to the United Nations, allowing any member of the Avengers or a proxy to use their powers if there is sufficient reason to believe damages can be caused otherwise."

"Proxy? What do you mean by that?"

"People such as the examples Flash used, Spider-Man and Medusa, are not Avengers. They haven't signed the Creed but since they are a proxy of a member of the Creed, they're allowed to work. They've been vouched for so there's no need to wait for authorisation from the United Nations."

"Which Avengers vouched for them?" Flash asked, turning around to look at her.

"Iron Man vouched for Spider-Man and Winter Sargeant vouched for Medusa. The United Nations and the Accords Committee only have to be informed if there is a proxy case."

"Why do we know the identities of some of the Avengers but not all of them?" Another class member asked. "Why don't we know all of them? Don't we have the right to know?"

"You have the right to know but they have a right to privacy," Salem said. "Only authorised personnel know the identities of some of the still concealed members."

)()()(

Lunch came and Salem refused to have cafeteria food. While it wasn't disgusting, she wasn't fancying having any of that so she ordered Chinese and left the school to go get it. She came back with Chicken Choi Main for MJ and a Sweet and Sour Toffee for herself.

Both girls sat down at their usual table end, Peter and Ned on the other side. Salem slid the ND agreement towards Ned.

"What's this?" Peter asked.

"Non-Disclosure agreement," Salem said. "It's a formality since you know. Dad just wants to be careful, it's necessary to make the Creed Committee happy. I'll give Ned the other one later."

It took only a couple of minutes of Salem being in the cafeteria before Flash appeared next to the table, a fierce determination on his face as he put his hands on the table.

"So," He began. "If you know so much about the Avengers Creed, you must know who Spider-Man and Medusa are. Tell me."

"Ah, no."

Flash frowned before smiling. "Why not?"

"Because their identities are secrets for a reason,"

"But I'm Flash Thompson,"

"Have they revealed their identities to you personally?"

"No,"

"Then you don't need to know,"

"But you know…"

"I've been to the Avenger Compound, I've met most of the Avengers,"

"So because you're a Stark, you get to meet all of them?"

"Yes,"

"That's not fair."

"Do I look like I care about fairness?" Salem said. "I need to know, and you don't. End of."

She waved mockingly as Flash frowned and almost stormed away with a scowl. MJ snorted at that, shaking her head as she pointed her chopsticks towards him.

"He's an idiot," She said.

"Don't we know it,"

)()()(

As soon as Salem walked into the workshop, Tony handed his daughter a large box with a small black bow on top. It looked like a box one would get clothes in, and the box he put on top of the larger box looked like a shoebox.

"What is it?" She asked, looking from the box in her hands to her dad as he walked around the workshop to get back to work again. "Dad, what's in the boxes?

"Open them," He plainly said, leaning against a table as he set up a holo in front of him.

She put the boxes on the table near her, opening the smaller one first.

Salem's jaw dropped as she pulled out a pair of Christian Louboutin heeled boots, the material being calf and patterned beautifully over the almost five inches of height on the heel. Another inch was on the platform so it felt better on the wearer. They were the black Janis Boot Alta from the winter collection and were expensive for the normal person.

"How did you know?" She said, properly looking at them and their red bottoms in awe. "I've been wanting a pair for ages but didn't want to justify getting them."

"LILITH told me what pair you'd want," He said before nodding to the other box. "Open it."

Salem placed the pair of shoes on the table, perfectly aligned with each other before touching the other box. She lifted the lid, finding three separately wrapped items of clothing with dark red tissue paper.

She lifted the top one, gently ripping the tissue paper to reveal a black bodysuit. It was satin and soft to the touch with a low v neckline that was mostly covered with thin lace.

"Pepper picked out the bodysuit but I chose the suit itself," Tony said, grinning. "I think you'll like the choice I made. Go get dressed, you're going to homecoming whether or not you like it, missy. MJ is coming here and then Happy will pick you up later."

She nodded. "Thanks, Dad."

"No problemo, kiddo," He said. "You need something nice to do."

)()()(

"How do I look?" She asked, coming into the workshop after she finished getting ready.

Tony paused his work, taking a look as she came in.

He just smiled at her, warmth in his eyes as he looked at her.

The suit she wore was fitted to her perfectly, one button done at the front as the black suit was accenting her physique as she wanted and liked. The trousers were tight and showed off her legs but the material was stretchy so it didn't restrict her. The heels poked out of the bottom, showing off the red bottoms with ease as she walked.

Her hair was fluffier than normal, wavy and messy but it seemed like she wanted it that way. It was still the odd mix of blue-black tips with white roots as the Marie Antoinette Syndrome was still affecting her. It didn't seem like the white hair was going away, making her look more like her Medusa counterpart but she didn't care.

Makeup was simple and elegant, with sharp eyeliner and fluffy eyelashes. She had deep red lipstick to show off white teeth and grey eyes. She had her long nails, inch-long claws that were filed into the coffin shape and coloured black with a slight purple shimmer.

"I think I outdid myself," Tony said, coming closer to her as he waved a finger in a circular motion. "Turn for me. Yes, I did outdo myself."

She laughed as she finished turning, unbuttoning the suit and pulling one of the sides away. "I love the inside. The colour looks so similar to my Magic."

"That's why I chose it," Tony said. "I called it Medusa purple, trademarked it and everything."

They laughed at that together.

"MJ will be here soon, and Happy's brought the limo," He said. "Come back whenever, but don't you dare bring anyone home. Not at your age. Or I'd just tell you to use protection too. Wrap it before you tap it, missy."

Salem snorted. "Great conversation, Dad. I'm not really interested in anyone so I don't think that will be a problem."

"You're not taking Duke with you," He said straight away. "I don't need the school trying to sue us for child endangerment even though that thing hasn't hurt anyone ever in his life. Besides for that man that once tried to kidnap you."

"What even happened to that man?"

"Died,"

She hummed. "Duke's not venomous or poisonous though."

"He's not normal though, he's starting to look more like a python as you start to use your powers. We'll have to ask Strange about it later." There was a ping from the ceiling, indicating that someone was at the front door. "That's MJ and Happy, I believe. Come on, give your old man a hug and get going. I know I used to party harder than you at your age."

She hugged him, now being the same height in her heels before leaving a kiss on his cheek. Salem strutted away after saying goodbye.

"Boss," FRIDAY said, "You have lipstick on your cheek."

Tony sighed, rubbing at the area as he then looked at the dark lipstick staining his cheek. "I know. Cheeky bastard."

"True,"