Chapter 6:

Shit went down. Skye had been at Tony's right hand the whole time and fuck, she is tired. All she had to do at first was program Tony's suit so it would go a lot more smoother.

Then it turned into, hack into Stane's laptop. Who was supplying terrorists with weapons, Skye was, not that surprised.

The bald bitch also had the audacity of having files on her brother. Probably come off with the threat of, 'destroying a career before it started', so of course, after collecting proof about his plans. She crashed the flimsy laptop and made a note to burn it later.

After that it all was a haze. Trying to arrest Stane turned into a baseball game. Then Tony had Pepper turn on the arc reactor that shocked the man and let him fall out of the sky as if he was a homerun ball. Only a homerun did not give him any scores, unless you count death as one. Agent Coulson had then given Stark some scripts to read to the press. But instead, he just goes ahead and fucking tells them, dead in the eyes.

'I am Iron Man.'

So fucking badass. Skye nearly wore one of the bad cosplays to his house to show her support. Then, Agent Coulson steps up to her and asks if she wants a position at, uh, Strategic Homeland Invasion? Extracullier? and Logistics Division.

She had looked at Tony, questionably. Who just shrugged.

Her answer to Coulson was a simple, "Why?"

"Mr. Stark has spoken highly of your skills." He said with a smile, "We'd like to offer you a job with us."

Skye wouldn't just leave Stark. After all of this shit happening? Now would be the worst time. But, she would like to have an inside look at this, SHIELD place. She held her head up high, "I can come in as a consultant. It all depends on how much time would be taken out of my day."

The man just grinned at her and handed her a card.

"Right! We'll see you, you'll be fairly compensated."

Skye just turned to Tony, "What now?"

Fucking regret was now. Six months later and nothing has changed. She hadn't been called to help SHIELD, that was everything she kind of wanted, the amount of babysitting she was doing.

Not even enjoying the party. Just keeping an eye on the man.

When she did have a day off from keeping an eye on the man. She would sleep, but no. His expo kept her awake.

"-because I haven't found anyone to go toe to toe with me on my best day!" He shouted, even though the mic was literally by his mouth.

Sleep deprived, Skye just grumbled. "I could deprogram your stupid suit." She muttered and crossed her arms, "I can go toe to toe with you anyday." scoffing, she saw something move in the reflection of her screen. "Pepper." She greeted.

"I don't think Stark would appreciate that." Pepper said with a sympathetic smile, "Are you doing okay?" She asks.

The hacker considered lying, but Pepper, being one of her closer friends, would know. She is the one person that she nearly spent an entire day with, without missing a workday. "'m tired." She groaned and slid a hand down her face. "Tony has been doing so much shit. Work isn't fun anymore" She turned to the woman, "I'm literally considering calling up Agent Coulson and beg for a position at SHIELD."

Another one of her sympathetic smiles, "I'm not going to tell you what to do other than biting through."

Skye then smiled, "I'm considering moving." She says, "The expo goes on for the entire year. I'm not going to get used to the sound." The programmer could hear the closing of Tony's speech, handing it over to his father. "That's my cue. Will you be all good?"

"Always, Skye." Pepper said and let the conversation go.

Skye picked up her suit jacket and walked out of the room, leaving the assistant behind to follow after their boss. "It's shit out." Happy said as Skye entered the hallway.

"Expected." Skye said with a disappointed look. Quickly changing to an impassive one when Tony walked through the doors. Ignoring their warnings, Happy walked out before the bossman could.

The superhero walked through the people, greeting them as much as he could. The man lagged behind when a blondie tried handing her card to the man. Skye just pushed them apart, "Maybe try his email." She said through gritted teeth.

She pushed aside other people and followed the two. Once out she pulled a disk out of her pants and pushed it against her head. Letting the metal folds collapse out and turn into a mask. The mask turned into a sleek looking steampunk version of Iron Man's. Just black and the eyes let out a soft red light. Letting the helmet slide open, revealing her face.

"-she come with the car?" Tony asked Happy.

Skye could already feel her eyes rolling, "Let's go Stark."

"You have to appear before the judge." The woman said and held the papers out for him. Happy accepted it after Stark looked at the paper.

"Good day." Stark says and drives away.

The woman just smiled as the arrogant man drove away. Skye just shook her head and closed her helmet, hopping onto her bike and after the two men.

"We are heading to D.C." Stark says over the comms.

Skye repressed a groan, "I'll just go along with Pepper. See you then." She said and JARVIS closed the comms for her. "Fuck." She said and simply drove to Stark Industries, knowing Pepper would be there.

Skye couldn't laugh at his behavior in court. She knows that Matt would, but not her. She's just tired of his extraness. Sitting next to Pepper, she just knows that the woman has the same thoughts.

She just rolled her eyes when the two men were being petty. In court. It took all her might to not just walk out. But Pepper being next to her, just not accepting his behavior is enough for her.

"Oh, boy I'm good." Stark suddenly said and hacked the tv.

Skye just looked up to the sky and considered christianity. Her brother would, the hell would she know. The man has a mixed well of opinions. Anyways, the man was using her quick select code to hack into a military court on their tv.

She observed the man as he threw a mini-tantrum, slapping the table and just spewing words about doing them a favor and about not taking his property.

What just blew her mind was the man up on the high table saying 'fuck you, Stark. Fuck you.'

Men and their tantrums.

Let's just ruin everyone's day.

Skye is temporarily living in Malibu. Yet another house of Stark Industries. As long as he stays there, she stays there.

She had been happy once she had gotten the promotion. Her brother, another story. He had been protesting it, wanting to keep close to each other, just like always.

The older sister just thought it would do him good. She keeps paying for his school necessities and his rent. Sending some extra cash for extra luxury.

"What the fuck." Skye exclaims as Pepper tells her the news.

"I know right."

Skye just rubbed her eyes and leaned back into the couch. "You giving me better treatment?"

"You're going to stick with Stark for now on." Pepper said with another one of her eyes, "You're a mobile person, you can take care of IT when you're countries away."

"I also need to do things!" Skye exclaims, as she walks next to Pepper. "I have to do stuff to the main shit! You know!"

The newly appointed CEO just looked at her.

"I haven't seen Matt in a month. You know how he gets."

"I only met him once."

"I've told you about him more than once." Skye pointed out, "I'm going to need a routine," She demanded, "When we're in NY, I'm free to leave and all. Last week of the month, I'll be in NY."

"Done deal." Pepper said.

"I also want to be there for my family. When they need it, I'm going to be there." Skye set her foot down. She never had a family and when she got one, it would not be slipping away if she had an option.

The not-yet-CEO opened the door and let a ginger woman in, "Welcome." Greeting and all went by quick as Skye studied the notary. Noting that nothing is different by using her senses, she quickly falls in step with Pepper again.

Pepper enters the room of grunting men. "I'm on happy time." Stark said as he refused to sign the papers yet.

The men stopped when Skye and the notary entered the room behind the appointed CEO. The hacker rolled her eyes as she walked over to Pepper. Muttering a quiet, "Men." Under her breath.

"What's your name, lady!" Stark asks.

Skye wants to scold him for not being polite. Normally she would never but all the man has been doing was stepping and grinding on her nerves.

"Rushman." The woman said quickly, "Natalie Rushman."

He then pointed towards the boxing ring, "Front and center. Come into church."

Skye snorted at the connection. Matt would be grinning or crying, she wasn't all that sure.

She already protested before she could finish her thought about Matt. "Let her be." She complained and laid down on the couch. "Just do what you have to do."

The woman gave Pepper a smile and just says a quick, "I'm sorry." before heading over to the man.

Skye sighs, just wanting it to be over. "I'm very close to quitting." She mouths at Pepper.

"You're going to work for me." She just says back, "You love me."

"If Stark Industries turns you into him." Skye said and pointed at the man dressed in a hoodie to box. "I might as well turn gray right this moment." She ignored the weird moment between Rushman and Stark.

Only for him to just walk over, whispering, "Pepper. Who is she?" He asked.

"She is from legal."

Skye doesn't remember her from legal.

The two start bickering about needing a new assistant. All Skye wants to do is bury her head in the couch. Then, she heard a familiar sound of mats shifting. She snapped her head towards it and enjoyed the scenery in front of her.

"First, never take your eyes of yo-" Happy says and slowly boxed forward. Only for it to be intercepted by the ginger. Cracking it to the side and turning herself around to catch her legs around Happy. Throwing him onto the ground and holding the man into a headlock.

Skye clapped as the other two just shouted and stood up to assess the situation. She pointed at the notary, "You're fun."

Why the fuck is she in Monaco?

Skye prepared herself when she stepped out of the car. Mild cheering is what the CEO of Stark Industries and Tony Stark were greeted with.

Guiding them to their respective places she tugged her tie loose and walked behind Happy. "What is your gut feeling telling us today?"

The retired boxer sighed, the running joke of the hacker was getting on his nerves. "I'm not going to say anything. It might just jinx anything."

She rolled her eyes and opened her phone. Seeing missed calls from her little brother. Clicking the call back button she grinned.

"Dear oh, dear brother. How can I help you?"

"Good morning Skye." Matt said over the phone. "You remember Landman and Zack? They offered Foggy and I a job."

Skye cringed, on behalf of her brother and his friend. She did some digging into the law firm. Absolutely horrendous, is what they are. All the cases they took were against innocent people, poor people and just people who don't have control of their environment. "...Well?"

"Foggy thinks about taking it." Matt sighs, "I'm not saying that he shouldn't, but, I kind of liked the idea of us having a practice."

Skye ran a hand through her hair, "I'm sure you could put together some powerpoint or something."

"I don't know how to make a powerpoint, Skye." He deadpanned, "Blind."

"You know Foggy." Skye continued, "Don't manipulate him, let him realize it himself." She spared a glimpse in the direction of the huge screen, only to see her former boss fitted in a blue racing suit and hop over the fence.

"Fuck, Matt. I'm sorry to cut our conversation short but Tony-" Skye said and was interrupted by the new assistant walking through the doors.

"Ms. Potts sent me to get you two."

"Tony again-" She heard her brother grumble before she hung up the phone and stuffed it in her pocket.

The two bodyguards split up, Skye was heading towards the racing track as fast as she could while Happy retrieved Pepper and headed towards the same location.

Arriving at the racetrack, she did not expect a man to just casually open the fence and walk onto the dumbest way to die. Then, with an unexpected twist, he rips his shirt open and, well, he doesn't really need the piece of cloth open since it just burned off of him.

The man with the white hair streak let out two whips and electrified them.

In quiet horror Skye looked at the front of his chest. A similar thing that Stark had when he got back from his kidnapping. A particle accelerator. The hacker knew from observing Stark's trial that multiple people have failed recreating the suit.

But it was always about the suit. Not the round thing that could power up, who knows what. Well, this man knows what. And what he knows apparently is whips. Electrified whips.

Pushing people aside to get to the racetrack, she saw the man fling it down onto a car. The whip separated the front of the vehicle with the back. Causing it to flip and promptly explode.

People around her started to evacuate and Skye couldn't help but grip the fence. Tony might have been a pain in the ass ever since he built that suit. But he is still her friend. Someone she even holds close to her heart.

She felt fear when she saw his car driving out of the corner. Hopping over the fence and down on the concrete ground, ran and halted just outside of the racetrack. Seeing Stark's car split and flip.

Running to where his racecar landed, she held her breath. Hoping that her friend is alive. Her hand automatically pulled out the gun that she was authorized to have on her as a bodyguard.

She jumped over the fence and in front of her friend. Cold metal warmed up in her hands as she looked at the man, waving around his whips. "Deactivate your device or I'll have to take you down."

"No." The deep voice said. Behind him, three cars approached, the yellow one had the right mind to stop. Just for the other two to crash into the yellow one. Cause a huge explosion to happen behind the man.

With precision the whip user slashed the whip in her direction. Causing half of the gun just got destroyed. Throwing the other half on the ground, she held her hands up to her face.

A clang was shot out when Stark came up from behind the man with a piece of metal she assumes comes from a car. Hitting the man behind the head and letting Skye have the opportunity to punch the man's nose.

The man faltered and looked at Skye with his bleeding nose. Manically grinning, "I haven't been hit in a long time." He spat out with his accent.

Skye shrugged, remembering Stick's training while staying calm. The man taught her more than just staying calm. The man had taught her to be a dangerous warrior, in his words, she'd never call herself a warrior.

Before the man could swing around his whips again, she kicked him away from her. Causing the man to stumble back and turn his attention to Stark again.

Seeing the back, she made notes of the way he had built it. Seeing something else that is huge, black and not on time drive towards them and totally in the vision field of the man.

She picked up scrap metal and threw it against the man's back. Making the light that is emitted from the machine to flicker. Returning his attention back to the bodyguard.

What the fuck, possesed Happy to nail the man against the fence. With his car. Skye appreciates not being dead, but still. Watching the scenery in front of her unfold, she just gapes at what is happening. Once Iron Man pushed the car out of the way, the hacker jumped into action and guided Pepper out and to the closest thing she could call safety.

Turning around to help Happy out, she witnessed the man throwing the billionaire onto his own car.

"I can easily fly you over here, you know? Then you can get to enjoy the party."

"Skye, you know I can't. If I'm going to graduate with high honors, I can't spend it at your boss' party." Matt sighed.

Skye booed as she put her helmet on; the call transferred over to the helmet. JARVIS showed her recent text messages. "Ex-boss," She corrected and sighed, knowing her little brother was right, "Alright, have a good night. I'll get shitfaced and send you pictures!" She said cheerfully and hung up.

Turning on her motorcycle, she drove the short distance to the Malibu mansion where Stark was staying and hosting his party. Scoffing at the men that stopped her but quickly realized that she was 'Cyberclubber' and let her through.

Going down in his garage to park her bike unlike the other guest. Clicking the button to let her helmet unfold.

She looked up at the steady heartbeat in the doorway. "Rushman." She said shortly, "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Miss Potts called for you."

Swinging her leg over the motorcycle, she walked up to the ginger. "Are you enjoying the party?" Skye asks as she walks up the stairs.

"I'm not a party person."

Skye hummed in agreement, "Party? Yes. A social event? Not really, no." She clicked her tongue and waved at the assistant before making her way to the bar.

On her way there, she notices everyone starting to run out the door. Scanning the room, she observes two MARK suits, not just one. Sighing she walked over to Pepper, keeping an eye on the scene in front of her.

"So, party over?" She asks with an awkward smile.

The frantic blonde looks at Skye. "Can you shut them down?" Music started playing and she looked at the two tin people.

"They're hugging." Skye says, "Let them hug it out."

Then, they went through the wall. "That's not hugging." Pepper sighed.

Skye opened her phone and went to her custom made app, just because things like these could always happen with Stark. She then heard glass break and metal clash. "I really like that room." She groans and walks through the hole.

Pausing the two armors, she looked at them. Frozen in their movement. She opened the speaker and set her microphone loudly.

"Grown men." She shouted. "Stop playing with your toys. I really like this room!" Muting the phone, she looked back at Pepper, "Anything to say?"

The blonde CEO just looked at her, "The party is over."

"Hear that?" Skye sniggered, "Party's over." Clicking one button she opened up their helmets. "You would have destroyed the house, if it wasn't for me." She crossed her arms. "Rhodes."

The man directed his eyes at her.

"What are you doing here?" She asks, "You didn't come for the party, that's for sure."

Tony snorted and Skye glared at him.

"Supervisors sent me. Wanted Iron Man back under their watch." A sneer then painted his face, "I just put my career on this man."

"No-one asked you to." Tony slurred. With another glance at the man, Skye silenced him.

She looked at the military with a glance in her eyes. "Take it to your base. Once you touch down I'm deleting all of my programming and leaving you with a skeleton. The military ain't paying me shit for my skills. Don't get fired." A brief pause,

"Also don't let anyone touch that suit. It's weapon enough."

The man nodded and regained function. Flying off into the darkness, Skye assumes the military base.

Skye just looked at the living room of the mansion and then at Pepper. "I'm done." She says, "I'm not babysitting him anymore. I work for you, Pepper. I took the job as I.T., not as a bodyguard." The Murdock slumped down in her seat. "It was nice, at first. Fun even, but then it just turned into a lot."

The blonde looked at her and nodded. "I understand, especially after this." She replied and just motioned to the destruction around her.

Skye gave the woman a smile. "I'll tell him tomorrow."

"Thank you."

"I got you, Pepper. Always."