8
Three months was a long time, and yet they hadn't heard anything from Tony. She nervously tugged at the collar of the graduation gown she was wearing. She looked towards the family seating and got a smile out of Pepper and Happy. Rhodey was still deployed and was searching for Tony. Her leg bounced in agitation before a glare sent her way caused her to stop. There wasn't much she could do at the moment, she needed to be seen by the reporters. If she missed her own graduation, people would trash talk Tony, if she showed up, they'd still do it, but it wouldn't be as bad. Pepper also wanted pictures for her office.
"Astrid Stark, your valedictorian," Her name was called, and she stood up to the stage and ended up behind the podium.
"Well, I'm not one for speeches that's more of my dad's thing really," She started, and a light laugh went through the crowd, "oh, pity laughs, off to a great start."
That got some genuine laughter out of people and her shoulders relaxed slightly. She stared at all the different students in the crowd. It was mostly young adults, people in their early to mid-twenties, but there were also some older students as well. Some people that were old enough to be her grandparents. She had respect for each and every one of them for going out and getting their degrees and being able to succeed in doing so.
"I think I'm not alone when saying congratulations to everyone that's here today," She continued her speech, "for the people who sacrificed their time with their families, for those who worked double shifts to make sure to have the funding they needed. You have shown that you were capable and able to get your degree even when time was against you, that takes dedication and whatever field you go into should be proud to have you."
A few of the parents in the crowd smiled at that as some family members looked towards their grandparents or parents. Astrid gave a small smile, one that Pepper noticed was nostalgic and sad at the same time. She couldn't help but wonder why it was sad. The smile turned into a crooked grin that was a staple of the Stark family.
"Now, let's get out of here and celebrate!" Astrid finished her speech, and a loud cheer came from the students it increased when confetti rained down upon them.
Astrid accepted her degree with a smile and a shake of the Deans hand before walking off the stage. The next few names were called as she took her seat and waited for it to end. A few of the younger adults started talking to her as they came down with their degrees. She took a few selfies with them, knowing that they were going to end up on a Myspace page. Oh, she hadn't thought about Myspace in years, it had been before she had internet access. Twitter and Tumblr had been the in thing when she was in primary school the first time around. She was dating herself, and she needed to stop. A part of her was learning to live in the moment instead of the future. She could easily die within the next few days and have to start all over again. She'd rather not, but live was unpredictable like that.
"I better be getting a picture," Pepper informed her as the graduates were released and able to mingle with their loved ones.
"Of course, Pep," Astrid smiled.
Happy was able to get someone to take a picture of the three of them, and then a picture of them with Astrid holding a large picture of Tony. A few people thought it was in bad taste, but she knew that Tony would want to be there. He would be proud, that and he wanted to be twice the father his own was. Their phones rang in unison and Astrid held a hand to her ear to allow Jarvis to answer it for her.
"We've found your Dad," Rhodey informed her.
"Thank you, Uncle Rhodey," She quietly said, "let me guess, you're already on your way back?"
"We'll touch down in a couple hours," He answered, "sorry we couldn't be there for your graduation."
"Honestly, I'd rather have Dad back safe and sound then anything," She admitted.
She could hear him telling someone something and her face burned in embarrassment as she quickly hung up. She turned to Pepper and noticed that Happy had already gone to bring the car around. The red head seemed amused by her reaction to admitting something so sentimental. A hand slipped into her's, and she gave it a small squeeze. Pepper did know how to get her to calm down. It was also for her benefit as well.
"You have such small hands," Pepper commented, and she got a dirty look out of the teen, helping her to forget her embarrassment.
"So do you," Astrid countered.
They got into the car, a nice Bentley, and headed towards the airport to pick up Tony. It was a quiet ride, where both women were trying to keep their relief under wraps. Pepper had a slight redness to her eyes as she got her poker face under control. Astrid was messing with the sash around her neck. She hadn't even taken off the clothes for her graduation. They'd be taking the private jet all the way back to California so she could see Tony. She was anxious about seeing Tony again, and hadn't stopped pacing since they entered the jet. It impressed Pepper that she hadn't somehow created a pathway in the lush carpets. The moment they touched down Astrid was the first one out of the jet.
"Hopefully he wasn't hurt too bad over there," Happy said as they stood on the runway waiting for the military plane to land.
"Same," Astrid agreed.
The plane touched down and a gust of wind was created by its turbines. No one on the runways was bothered by it, their gazes focused on the back of the plane as it began to open. Tony sat there in a wheelchair and slowly stood up from it with the help of Rhodey. He eyed the first responders with slight annoyance as they walked down the ramp.
"Get them out of here," Tony rasped to Rhodey as he waved them away.
Rhodey shook his head and moved to do so as Tony continued towards the small group that was waiting for him. Pepper had red eyes and Astrid was still dressed for graduation. He felt pride at the fact that she was valedictorian. That was his kid, and his kid basically rammed into him and wrapped her arms around him as gently as she could. He got the feeling that he was missed. He brought his good arm and returned the hug.
"Miss me?" Tony questioned.
"Yeah, I did," Astrid admitted and his teasing towards her stopped, because he could tell she really did.
"Eyes looking a little red there, perhaps tears for your long lost boss?" Tony turned his teasing towards Pepper.
"Tears of joy," Pepper quipped with a smile, "I hate job searching."
"Yeah, vacation's over," Tony informed her.
They got into the car. Pepper noticed his fatigue and immediately wanted him to head to the hospital to get checked out. He also still had a hold on Astrid, whether it be her arm or shoulder. He rolled his shoulder and winced as they got comfortable in the car.
"Where to sir?" Happy asked, looking at them through the rearview mirror.
"To the hospital please, Happy," Pepper answered.
"No," Tony immediately said, and everyone looked at him.
"No? Tony, you have to go to the hospital," Pepper tried to dissuade him.
"I don't have to do anything," Tony informed her, "I've been in captivity for three months and there's two things I want to do, I want an American cheeseburger, and the other—"
"That's enough of that," Pepper shook her head.
"It's not what you think," Tony stated, "I want you to call for a press conference now."
"Call for a press conference? What on earth for?" Pepper questioned.
"Happy, drive, cheeseburger first," Tony ordered.
Happy started to drive as Astrid smiled slightly. She couldn't blame Tony for wanting something he found comforting. It was a cheeseburger of all things, hell she'd probably join him in one even though she wasn't a big fan of red meat. He was most likely reeling from his time in captivity, and she wanted him to relax a bit. She'd seen what trauma did to people, sometimes she wondered if her strange need to help people was an extension of her own from dying the way she did. She'd be there for him every step of the way because he needed someone on his side. They stopped at a burger kind and Happy turned to Tony as the older man moved to where he could see the menu.
"Want anything kiddo?" Tony asked.
"Surprise me," Astrid answered, and his crooked grin was enough for her to know that his childish nature was still there.
"Don't encourage him," Pepper lightly chided.
"I'd rather him be like this then completely destroyed," Astrid murmured to her as Tony put in an extensive order, including two strawberry sundaes and a large order of apple doughnuts, "have you seen some of our troops when they come back?"
Pepper had to agree with her, even as Tony sat back and ruffled the newly short hair that his daughter was sporting. It happened due to a run in with Kingpin again. The man sliced her braid when if freed itself from the mask and Astrid let it be cut instead of loosing her head. She had stayed behind to pick up all the hair she could before any of Kingpin's men got a hold of it and tried to find out who she was. She removed the graduation robe and sash before folding it up into a square. She was wearing a black suit underneath with an ice blue tie. She had dressed well for her own graduation, hoping that the pictures that were taken at the afterparty would be enough for Tony. Well, she wasn't too upset at not going to the party. She had her dad back. The order was paid for and soon the entire car smelled like Burger King. Pepper sighed as she gave in and had some food with them, Happy already enjoying his own as he drove.
"You've got a plan," Astrid commented to Tony, "just know you've got my support in whatever you're going to do."
"As always?" Tony questioned.
"As always," Astrid confirmed, before her expression turned serious, "while you were in captivity, I've noticed some strange going on's at the office."
"They put you in charge?" Tony asked and the muscle in his jaw twitched as he grew a bit angry at the fact that she had been tossed headfirst into the company without any guidance.
"Pepper was there to make sure I didn't do anything stupid," Astrid said turning towards the red head with a smile, "she's also aware of you know what…it's not anything I heard around the office, but more or less the energy coming from them, someone's hiding something, and I can't place who it is."
She could, she knew it was Obadiah but without concrete evidence there was nothing she could do about him. Tony also trusted the man, and she didn't want to bother him with her suspicions seeing as she just got him back. Tony was a smart man; he'd figure it out quickly. He nodded as he finished his first burger, filing the information away so he could think back on it at another time. She bit into her sundae, making sure not to get any of the filling towards Pepper, her allergy to strawberries worried Astrid sometimes because it was like her own to mangoes. She typically never ate at places without knowing what went into everything. She finished the ice cream just as they came up to the office. There were reporters and workers outside, clapping as the car came around. Obadiah stood there with a smile on his face, though Astrid got the feeling he wasn't as happy as he appeared with Tony being back. Tony got out of the car, finishing his second burger, and wiping his face.
"You should be in the hospital," Obadiah informed Tony as he gave him a hug, a few reporters getting pictures of it, "look at you."
Happy came around with another bag of burgers and Tony picked another one up as Obadiah began to lead him away. Tony looked towards Astrid, and she quickly took her spot at his side, showing her silent support. Tony gathered that the three months he was away was a growing period for her. She seemed a bit more confident and mellow compared to the chaotic teenager he had left behind. Obadiah may have had an issue with him adopting her all those years ago, but he never once regretted it.
"Did you get me one of those?" Obadiah joked as they headed into the main foyer where the conference would be held.
Astrid watched as Tony slipped another cheeseburger into his pocket, an amused smile appearing on her face. He wasn't as happy to see Obadiah as she thought he would be. That was petty that was on her level. It was incredible. Three months away and he understood how she could be so petty towards the bald man.
"It was the last one," Tony informed him as he opened the wrapper to the bag.
Astrid knew the reason why the burgers had been in the movie in the fourth dimension. RDJ had a bad burger it and it caused him to turn his life around. Her respect for the man was high, and her respect for her dad even higher. They were one in the same sometimes, and it was maddening. She put her hands into her pockets as they waved to the reporters. Obadiah was riling them up as Tony finished his third burger. Astrid had to wonder how badly his stomach was going to react when it was all said and done. Her spidey sense went off and she looked back towards Pepper to see her talking with Coulson. The red head gave her a slight smile but a serious look. Pepper knew that if Astrid had reacted so quickly then something was off. It was a silent agreement between the two to be extra cautious around people who set off the spidey sense, one of which was Obadiah.
"Why don't we get started," Obadiah told the reporters as Tony sat in front of the podium, patting a spot next to him for Astrid.
"Hey, would it be all right if everyone sat down?" Tony questioned as he took out another cheeseburger and held it in his bad arm, holding up his good one and motioning everyone to take a seat, "Just sit down, that way you can see me and it's a little less formal."
He took a bite out of the burger as the reporters did as he asked, clearing the view for the tv cameras that had been in the back. Obadiah joined the two Starks in front of the podium and gave Tony a slightly confused smile. He had no idea what was going on. No one knew what Tony was going to announce, save for Astrid. Tony turned towards Obadiah and got a smile from him.
"It's good to see you," Tony informed him, and Obadiah gave him a nod of agreement, "I never got to say goodbye to Dad."
Astrid wondered just how close she had come to that, and felt a chill go through her body. She almost lost Tony because she was stupid enough to believe that Jericho was a fixed point in time. She wouldn't allow that to happen ever again. He had her back, so she would have his. There was nothing the Watcher or the TVA could do about it. She seemed immune to them, so she was going to abuse the absolute shit out of it.
"I never got to say goodbye to my Father," Tony informed the reporters before turning towards Astrid who gave his shoulder a gentle pat of understanding, "there are questions that I would've asked him, would've asked him about what he felt about what this company did and if he was conflicted or ever had doubts or maybe he was every inch the man that we remember from the old news reels."
Astrid watched as a few of the reporters looked at him with understanding. It was the look of people who had lost loved ones before they could ask them questions. Greif was a universal feeling, no one was safe from it. Tony finished his last burger and grasped Astrid's hand before looking over at the reporters. He needed the support and comfort, something he didn't have originally. She'd be there.
"I saw young Americans killed, by the very weapons I created to protect them and defend them," Tony continued, "and I saw that I had become a part of a system that is comfortable with zero accountability."
A few of the reporters called out and Tony looked at a man in front who raised his hand with a pen. Astrid wondered if he was reminded of the young marine that had raised his hand to ask him a question. She pursed her lips slightly, no one should have to go through the horrors of war. Yet, it was fundamentally a part of human nature. It was why homo sapiens was the species of human that had survived, they most likely had something to do with the extinction of the Neanderthals and Denisovans.
"What happened over there?" The reporters question pulled her from her thoughts, and she looked over at Tony.
"I had my eyes opened," Tony answered as he released Astrid's hands and stood up, moving to stand behind the podium, "I realized that I had more to offer this world than just making things that blow up, and that is why, effective immediately, I am shutting down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark Industries until such a time that as I can decide what the future of this company would be and what direction it should take. One that I'm comfortable with and one that is the greater good for this world and the future of this country."
The uproar his words caused was deafening. Astrid found herself wincing, bringing a hand up to her forehead to try and stop the pounding that began the minute the voices became raised. Her hearing was better than the normal human, so the amount of noise surrounding her was enough to be an annoyance. Tony was being led away from the podium by Obadiah so that he could take over the conference and she moved to get away from the noise, giving reporters slight smiles when they tried to ask her questions.
"Miss Stark," Her last name being called caused her to pause as she turned to face Coulson, "may I have a moment of your time?"
"Sure," She agreed, knowing that it wouldn't do to try and get away from talking to SHIELD, "follow me, there's a room that's private."
Pepper gave her a look and she waved off her concern with a tiny smile. The red head shook her head as Astrid began to lead the way towards a private office, not even surprised that Pepper joined. She was a minor and as such needed a guardian with her to talk to someone that worked in the government. She also didn't want Tony to worry.
"Please, take a seat," Astrid said to Coulson as she turned to grab a cup so she could make some tea, "coffee or tea?"
"Tea, I hear the English make a wonderful cup of tea," Coulson said with a small smile that gave away nothing.
Astrid turned to look at him and he wasn't surprised to see a sly smile appear on her face. Coulson had gathered that the youngest Stark was sharper than she lied to portray. The kid was sneaky enough to hide her identity for years. She knew more then she let on.
"I think we're going to get along very well," Astrid informed him, "earl grey it is, Pep, coffee as usual?"
"Tea," Pepper said, her tone was tense.
"All right," Astrid muttered as she grabbed two more ups and a tea pot.
The moment Tony adopted her the breakrooms in the Stark Industry buildings were stocked with the items to make tea with. Their English office was quite pleased with the new development. Tea had been quick to make and soon they all sat together with cups.
"What did you need from me?" Astrid asked Coulson.
"I'm with the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division," Coulson informed her, "I'm Phil Coulson, I've been sent here to ask about your father's time overseas."
"Well, I'm not Tony Stark so I can't exactly tell you anything," She stated as she brought her tea up and took a quiet sip.
"No, our organization is more concerned by the fact that the Brown Recluse knows how to hack into satellites," Coulson stated, and he watched as her gaze sharpened but her expression stayed the same.
"You had my attention, now you have my curiosity," She informed him.
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Coulson asked and she gave him a secretive smile.
"That will be up for you to decide," She answered, and Pepper looked between the two of them with slight worry, "I won't be joining your little group, I have no interest in government work."
"We expected that," Coulson informed her, and she took another sip of her tea, "but you've brought attention down upon yourself."
"Can you blame me for trying to find my dad?" She questioned, almost using emotional manipulation.
Astrid knew it was low, but it was enough because she truly wasn't interested in getting involved with Shield, unless Tony was first. Where he went, she went. Tony wasn't used to being in the spotlight that being a superhero brought down. She was, and had been for a long time. J Jonah Jameson was still around and was starting to call her a menace again. She couldn't wait until another Spider was running around New York, he was going to be so confused. She crossed her legs.
"Personally, no you did what most kids would," Coulson said, giving her some insight as to who he was, "professionally, yes we can."
"Oh joy," She said, not even bothered.
"There won't be charges pressed, will there?" Pepper questioned.
"Not at all, it doesn't help that Miss Stark covered her footsteps before any evidence could be gathered," Coulson said.
Pepper was relieved by that. She was proud of Astrid for doing so, but upset at her for going into the satellites in the first time. She gave the teenager a sharp look and was a bit placated when Astrid ducked further into her cup of tea in an attempt to dodge it. Coulson looked between the two of them, slight amusement showing in his eyes. He saw that there was a familial connection between them, a mother and daughter that didn't have the label.
"Congratulations on your graduation," Coulson said watching as both women turned to him with similar looks of surprise.
"Thank you," Astrid stated, showing that she had manners.
Her phone went off and she looked at it. She stood up and shook his hand, thanking him for his time before Pepper did the same. They had to go; Tony was waiting for them at the car. He had a strange expression on his face, but it disappeared the moment the two showed up. They headed home and he let his head lean back to rest against the headrest.
"So, you've been looking into the arc reactor?" Tony's question wasn't unprompted, and Astrid smiled slightly.
It was good to have him back.