Sorry for all you guys waiting. Schools just been tough and I've been doubting all my work in this adventure because I'm not a doctor and I don't want the future doctors reading it to cringe so much. Um, the next chapter is going to be just me using my medical knowledge that I got from watching TV and movies and making it more dramatic to fit my story line. Just pretend that medicine is practiced and experienced this way in alternate realities for the sake of my sanity. Happy reading.
IDon'tOwnMarvel
"You doing alright, Tony?" I asked, wandering down to the garage where the guy was definitely going to be.
"Yeah, better than ever." He answered in the middle of testing the Mark-42. The suit walked in circles while Tony directed it with a headset he had on.
I frowned at them before shaking my head and moving to sit down at my desk. "Rhodey's worried about you."
"That's really all he ever does." Tony muttered absently. "Don't read into it."
"Okaaay." I drawled, "Pepper's worried about you too."
Tony started making the suit do push-ups with the wave of a hand. "I thought you didn't talk to each other."
"I don't know." I murmured, opening my computer and passing him a glance. "I don't think she likes me."
"That's ridiculous. You have such a charming aura." He smiled over at me condescending, making me roll my eyes. "Hey, before I forget- What did, uh...how did you know?"
I kept my eyes on the screen but I could tell Tony was looking at me. "I know a lot of things, you'll have to be specific."
"A- That's debatable, and B- The panic attack thing." He crossed his arms at me. "You know what I'm talking about."
"Okay well then A- It was an anxiety attack."
"Same difference."
"And B- It happened in my world too, but I thought I had stopped them from happening." I shrugged, trying to navigate the new dark web platform I found.
"Stopped it, how?" Tony asked, eyeing me suspiciously.
I turned my head to give him an annoyed look. "Do you really want to know what the fake you did?"
"I am interested."
"Fine." I rolled my eyes again, huffing in disapproval. "'Fake You' carried a nuke into the wormhole before it was closed because the government decided it would be a good idea to bomb the whole city. He got PTSD from it, but it looks like that wasn't the only thing you got it from otherwise 'Real You' wouldn't have it too. Happy now?"
He narrowed his eyes in thought, tapping his foot on the floor. "So I have PTSD?"
I looked back at my computer and shrugged indifferently. "Probably."
He looked at me for a moment more before turning back to whatever the hell he had going on at his desk. Barely five minutes later, he picked up a portable screen as it started ringing. I sat up and looked over at him while he mumbled something to himself until the person on the other end answered.
"Hello?" Happy's voice fed through the handheld device, making me smile a little to myself.
Tony frowned at him. "Is this forehead of security?"
"What? You know, look, I got a real job, what do you want? I'm working, I got something going on here."
"What? Harassing interns?" Tony mocked, starting towards the stairs that led further down below the garage.
"Let me tell you something, you know what happened when I told people I was Iron Man's bodyguard?" Happy snipped back in an annoyed tone. "They would laugh in my face. Not to mention the whole incident with the kid. I still don't know why you kept her by the way."
Tony laughed to himself and started down the stairs while I perked up at the mention of me. Did they not want me around?
"I had to leave while I still had a shred of dignity. Now I got a real job, I'm watching Pepper-"
What did he mean by that? I frowned at my computer. Honestly, what was I thinking? Of course they didn't want me to begin with. A messed up kid who's chock full of information they don't need getting out isn't exactly anyone's idea of a good roommate.
I stood and crept to the top of the stairs trying to hear if they said anything else about me. Morally, it was a little wrong, but they were the ones talking about me, so I felt a little obligated to get to listen to what they were saying.
"Look at what? You're watching them? Flip the screen and then we can get started."
"I'm not a tech genius like you." Happy sighed. "Just…just trust me, get down here."
Tony got increasingly more annoyed at the man. "Flip the screen. Then I can see what they're doing."
"I can't! I don't know how to flip the screen! Don't talk to me like that anymore. You're not my boss. Alright, I don't work for you. Not after Lincoln. Now, I don't trust this guy-"
I winced at the mention of my name again. Did I make him quit? No, he had quit in the movies too...right?
"A giant brain?" Tony asked incredulously.
"Yeah, there's a giant brain, there's a shifty character. I'm gonna follow this guy. I'm gonna run his plates and if it gets rough, so be it." Happy said back, sounding more determined by the second.
"I miss you Happy."
"Yeah I miss you too. But the way it used to be. Now you're off with the 'superfriends' and taking on fatherhood. I don't know what's going on with you anymore."
"Wait, wait. Back up. Who said fatherhood?" Tony shot back in a panicked tone, making me smile. "Is Pepper pregnant? Why didn't she tell me?"
"No, I'm talking about the teenage delinquent you've got living with you." Happy clarified. "Did you know she's selling malware to Shield?"
"That's not fatherhood, Happy, that's called choosing the better of three options." I could just hear the eye roll Tony had done.
"Options?" I mouthed to myself, furrowing my brow in confusion. What were the other options? And is Tony just keeping me because he feels he doesn't have another choice?
"Yeah, sure-"
"Hey, I-I hate to cut you off. Do you still have that taser on you?"
I stopped listening and went back to the table to grab my computer. I found myself moving back out of the garage before Tony came back. Happy had called me a delinquent. I wrinkled my nose at that, completely neglecting the malware part of their conversation. Happy was going to be hearing from me about that.
And why did he keep me around? I went up the stairs and paced across the house before settling onto the couch with my Laptop, slowly losing myself in my continued research for the Transformers Fandom. It didn't seem to exist here which had to be one of the worst parts of this reality. I only looked up from my work when a bunch of delivery guys dropped off an oversized stuffed Bunny.
That was about the time when I remembered that I wanted nothing to do with Tony and Pepper's 'date night disaster' that was imminent at this point. I retreated back to the bedroom I occupied at that thought and made a grab for the journal under the bed. Flipping through the pages, I read the familiar writing just to make sure I wasn't going to miss anything tonight. Any interruption or hesitation could cause problems or have some serious side effects.
Honestly, how can the Ancient One just trust me (A sixteen year old kid, mind you) with the security of the timeline? I scoffed to myself. I burnt my toast this morning after I got distracted by a shiny beetle on the floor. You'd think they'd have more precautions on who they let fuck around with time.
With that noted, the Chinese theatre explosion was supposed to take place with Happy and 'Savin' and that one weird guy who got addicted to the...glowy...stuff. Okay, I didn't know a lot of specific facts, but my past self from three months ago had not been very descriptive with her writing, so this could not be on present-me. My gut churned uneasily when I also remembered that I had to be at that theatre too for the plan I laid out in the journal.
It was technically going to be my first real mission to help correct the past. To recap my information- there were eight civilians that needed more time to escape the theatre or they would be disintegrated. However, I also had to be very careful not to mess with Happy's business there. The User had to explode and hurt him so that Tony would get mad and threaten the Mandarin, otherwise a lot could change and more people could die or Tony just won't get involved at all. I hated that thought. How am I supposed to willingly let a man explode when I knew how to save him too? That wasn't something I wanted to witness or have on my conscience. Unfortunately, I was just going to have to suck it up.
I also didn't want Pepper to be kidnapped and tortured, but she was crucial to the plot. If I stopped her from being taken, the Mandarin (Killian) could succeed in killing Tony on the oil rig. Oddly enough, I didn't feel super bad about that. It just made everything simpler to let Pepper be the one to kill the Mandarin even if it did come at a cost. It was also a cost that I couldn't tell anyone about if I wanted to have a chance at not being Tony's next target.
God, time is a mess. I pressed a hand to my forehead and sat down on the couch while I read over the plans, memorizing them. And Tony thinks that Pepper dies… Maybe I can try to catch her for his sake? Then he won't hate me?
With a sharp sigh, I stood again and tucked the journal back under the bed. "Jarvis I need a ride somewhere. Can you drive?"
"Absolutely, Miss Patel." He replied easily while I changed out of my favorite sweatshirt to a darker one. "If you proceed to the driveway, there will be a car waiting for you."
Before I walked out of the room, I stopped short and ran back in, digging a bandana out of the closet. Can't have Happy recognizing me...
I had only just stepped out of the house in a pace towards the car when Pepper rolled up in her own car.
She stepped out and offered me a small smile and a wave. "You leaving?"
I nodded, pausing outside the car Jarvis got for me. "Yeah, just for the evening. I kinda figured you and Tony could use a break from my constant presence."
"We really don't mind." She smiled, only giving a passing glance to the bunny.
"It's alright." I shrugged it off and checked my watch before sliding into the passenger seat. I rolled down the window too. "If Tony asks, tell him I'll be back around eleven, so don't wait up."
She frowned slightly. "Where are you headed?"
"Downtown. I don't really leave that often and I got some money from work so I'm gonna go look around a bit." I smiled at her, lying between my teeth.
"Okay, you'll stay safe, right?" She asked, seemingly showing genuine concern for me which was pretty heartwarming coming from the woman I hadn't had much of a chance to get to know better, despite living in her house.
"Yeah, I will." I assured her, waving back. "Have a nice night."
I saw her shake her head with a smile before turning to go inside with one final look in the bunny's direction while I drove off. Jarvis got the memo on where I was headed and took me straight there. After a twenty minute car ride, I climbed out at my destination and sent him home. Tony would be pissed if I let one of his cars get scratched from an explosion I knew about. Though, to be fair, he might be more worried about Happy at the moment, so I'll probably be the least of his problems. Or, you know, most of them since I know his best friend is going to get injured…
My stomach did a flip as I walked in. Oh my god, if Tony finds out I know, he'll hate me for letting it happen. I am so totally screwed. Maybe SHIELD will still take me...
The sun was still setting when I started to wander around, looking for the scene. Happy wouldn't be getting here until after it was dark. That is one of the fun things about gaining all your knowledge from a movie franchise. Nothing ever had an actual time or date, so I was stuck making broad assumptions and hoping that I was right.
I spent a good hour scouting out the theatre after I found where the explosion would be. That part was bustling with people at first, but the crowds died down after a while. Supposedly, there were going to be eight people left behind that didn't run fast enough, so my job was to get them out. And after establishing a good place to watch from, I stopped by a small stand of trinkets to keep myself occupied and not suspicious. I took a few moments to look over the small bin of stress balls that had some obscure logo on them that seemed familiar but I couldn't place it.
Ah, the joys of alternate universes.
I purchased one and stuffed it in my pocket anyways. My current one was getting a little worse for wear, so it wasn't beneath me to get a second and better one. I also grabbed a magazine to 'read' like any good spy when I leaned up against a pillar, watching the scene and also learning about weight loss pills that 'Work Overnight!'. Every word I read made me feel dumber than Thanos.
It was a good amount of time after the sun set that the first man showed up. The time on my watch read 9:08. I took a mental note of him before turning all my attention to everyone else in the area, tracking the bystanders and pretending not to notice his anxious state. I wasn't really paying attention to how long it took for his connection to show up- Savin. One of the more terrifying beings in this universe was carrying a briefcase and standing about a hundred feet away by a little shop cart that sold watches and necklaces. Now, it might have been because I knew what I was planning on doing or just simply my nerves getting the better of me, but my hands were starting to shake while I stood there with a pit in my stomach.
About four minutes after Savin showed up, Happy did too, hiding behind a sunglasses stand and trying on some pairs while attempting to be inconspicuous. As soon as I spotted him, I ducked further behind the pillar and pulled out my bandana. No one was in my little area, so I was safe to put it on over my nose and mouth and not look crazy at the moment. Even if Happy did look my way, he wouldn't be able to recognize me well with the added dark and mask over my face.
So far so good. I bounced on my heels behind the pillar and took some calming breaths while fear rushed up my spine. Don't freak out now. I can pull this off. Just stall the guy and keep him from exploding right away.
I poked my head around the other side of the pillar to watch the deal go down with Happy doing the same. Soon, the man stood up, ready to leave with the briefcase and making Happy casually step out from behind the booth. I watched as he deliberately bumped into the man, knocking the briefcase open and spilling the contents on the ground.
The man panicked and Happy stooped to help him pick them up quickly. "Oh, I'm sorry. Let me help with that-"
I watched as he slipped away one of the injectors, clutching it in his hand as he stood. Then, the worst possible thing happened- I heard a low growl from behind. I froze and turned slowly, laying my eyes on the most terrifying Jack Russell dog this planet had to offer. It's owner wasn't even paying attention to it, leaving me to forget about my mission while my blood ran cold with fear.
"Oh god. Good dog." I breathed, staring it down until it barked, snapping at me. I panicked at the threat and squeaked, running in the opposite direction with my heart about ready to leap out of my chest. "Goddamn spawn of Satan!"
I realized too late that I had run right into the scene and looked around quickly. Happy was confronting Savin and the addict was...Oh shit.
"Ah!" I shouted, rushing at the man who was fumbling with an injector in his hand. Instead of dealing with it like a normal person, I lost all sight of the plan and just tackled him in a blind panic.
At the same time, Happy was thrown across the theatre like a rag doll, courtesy of Savin.
People screamed and ran out of the theatre in response to the two fights going on. I scrambled back to my feet and ran at the guy again while his hands groped at the ground for the thing I made him drop. I jumped on him again, trying to pin his hand down while the last visible bystander ran out of the theatre. Something strong gripped my arm and yanked me off the man, allowing him to stab the needle into his neck. My attention was preoccupied by the grinning face staring down at me though.
"Who are you?" Savin asked amusedly, smirking at my terrified face.
Our conversation was cut short in a matter of seconds when we both heard the same desperate plea coming from the man who had begun to light up. Both our faces dropped in realization with the same 'oh shit' look. I took that opportunity to twist out of his grasp and make a mad dash with the screams of the man behind me. I ducked and slid behind the other side of the shattered stand of sunglasses, immediately catching sight of Happy there, clutching his shoulder. Without much time to think, I just reacted, shoving him to the ground and forgetting all about the plan I spent months on while I attempted to cover him with a loud boom enveloping the room at the same time.
I tensed up my body, keeping my back to whatever painful heat was searing my back. I was pretty positive I cried out at the pain, but I couldn't tell for sure with all the other noises and, well, also the sudden lack thereof moments into it.
Before I knew it, I was blinking my eyes, trying to alleviate the sting in them while thick air filled my lungs. It was hard to see at first with the tears in my eyes when I coughed from laying on my stomach. Beside me I could make out the shape of Happy, pulling himself into a sitting position with gritted teeth and blood covering his leg.
Oh no. I sucked in a short breath and coughed, making an attempt to get up and check on him with my right hand pushing against the ground. This attempt came up short when my arm erupted into a searing pain and I cried out from it, dropping back onto my stomach and putting me out of breath.
Happy looked in my direction quickly with his face falling in panic as if he completely forgot about that leg of his. Tears fell down my cheeks and I sniffled, knowing that I was crying even though my chest hurt too much to do that comfortably. He looked scared when I gave up fighting to get up and just accepted my position on the floor with dots beginning to cover my vision.
The last thing I felt was something pressing on the side of my neck with someone whispering something before I lost consciousness completely.