MALIBU, CALIFORNIA
Tony smirks as he speeds down the road towards the airport in his bright red Saleen S7, going way over 100 miles per hour in an attempt to beat Happy.
Turning the next corner, the billionaire grins like a maniac before making a hard right, completely cutting off Happy, effectively claiming his win in the race as he pulls into the tarmac.
Enjoying his newfound success over his bodyguard, Tony climbs out of his car and smirks over at the larger gentleman "You're good. I thought I lost you back there."
Happy chuckles softly as he reaches into the boot of the car grabbing Tony's bags before throwing the billionaire a small glare "You did, sir. I have to cut across Mulholland."
At the annoyed tone of voice being thrown his way Toy merely grins as he begins making his way towards the private jet "I got you. I got you."
With that, Tony makes his way up the steps and sure enough stood there awaiting their arrival was Rhodey, who right now looked about ready to shoot the billionaire.
He was sick of being forced to have to wait around for Tony, he had more important things to do with his life than spend hours waiting for Tony to show up so they could get in the air.
"What's wrong with you?"
At the question, Tony merely frowns in confusion and quirks an eyebrow at Rhodey's furious face "What?"
The General inhales tightly as he glares at his clueless friend "Three hours." he snaps in frustration.
Tony merely shrugs, clearly not seeing the big deal about his time management "I got caught doing a piece for Vanity Fair. Plus I was spending time with Buffy."
Rhodey couldn't help but scoff, he loved Tony, he was like a brother, but a pain in the ass one at that "For three hours. For three hours you got me standing here."
"Waiting on you now. Let's go. Come on." Tony argues as he strolls past his friend slapping him on the back "Wheels up! Rock and Roll!"
Now in the air on their way to Afghanistan for the Stark Industry weapons display, Tony who was bored out of his mind glances down at his phone only to sigh, not a single message from Pepper or Buffy. With all the time those two were spending together, he wouldn't be surprised if the redhead was trying to turn his daughter against him. If that was true, then he was beyond screwed and his world was definitely doomed.
Glancing over at his best friend, he frowns as he spots Rhodey merely continuing to read the paper in front of him, completely immersed in the article "What are you reading, platypus?"
"Nothing."
At the harsh tone of Rhodey's voice, the bored single father couldn't help but pout. He was bored out of his mind, his daughter wasn't responding to his funny messages and memes and even Happy refused to play with him.
"Come on, sour patch. Don't be mad."
Rhodey sighs in annoyance at his friend's pestering before finally he places his paper down "I told you, I'm not mad. I'm indifferent, okay?"
"I said I was sorry."
"You don't need to apologize to me."
Merely smirking Tony glances up at the waitress smiling at her brightly "Hi. I told him I was sorry, but he..."
"I'm just indifferent right now." Rhodey argues turning back to his paper, sighing in worry as he re-reads the article he had been sent by a government contact stationed in Sunnydale.
While Rhodey continues to read away the waitress holds out a tray of hot towels towards the billionaire.
Spotting Tony throwing a flirty smile at the waitress, Rhodey scoffs in disbelief. He just couldn't understand sometimes how he could be friends with someone like Tony half the time.
Slamming his paper back down he glares over at the billionaire "You don't respect yourself, so I know you don't respect me."
"I respect you." Tony interjects.
The General merely shakes his head in exhaustion, being friends with Tony was aging him "Okay, you respect me. But not yourself. How is Buffy supposed to respect you if you don't respect yourself, Tony?" He snaps causing Tony to gulp slightly and sink in his chair at the mention of his troubled daughter "The girl needs her father. She needs structure. Not a man who shows up at odd hours with a different woman every night."
Tony sighs, he knew all this already, he knew he wasn't the best father in the world, but Buffy knew who he was and she was fine with it...at least he thought she was "Since when is this about Buffy? Look, Buffy knows who I am. And if you think about it, I'm awesome. Any teen would kill to have a dad like me."
"Tony..." Rhodey says with a small sigh before groaning and throwing the paper in his hands towards the billionaire, hoping this would make what he was saying crystal clear "Here look at this."
The billionaire eyes the paper skeptically before he rolls his eyes and picks it up. However, the second his eyes land on the article he felt his chest tighten, and panic filled him.
'Local High School girl assaults officer after being caught on scene of a murder.'
For the first time in a long time, Tony felt completely flabbergasted and unable to form a sentence. Scoffing he couldn't help but rub his forehead in worry, he just didn't understand. This was dated 5 months ago, yet he had no idea any of this had ever happened, Joyce hadn't mentioned any of this.
Hell, he still didn't even know why Buffy ran away during the summer. The only reason he even knew she ran away was because she had used her emergency credit card on a safety deposit for some crappy little apartment in L.A.
Sighing the billionaire couldn't help but feel guilty, seeing this article just made him realize just how little he had been involved in her life since Joyce moved her to Sunnydale. He hadn't thought against it, he hadn't visited, he had always canceled on her because of work. He was always putting work before her. If he wanted back in with his daughter, he would have to change that.
"She was accused of killing someone Tony, and she put a police officer in the hospital." Rhodey further explains as he leans against the table eyeing the billionaire carefully "She has a violent history, you remember what happened at her last school." Rhodey pauses and leans back in his seat as he remembers that day, Joyce had dropped Buffy off at the mansion because she and Hank were fighting, and Tony hadn't known what to say to the grounded blonde.
So it had been him who had talked to the blonde about the consequences of burning down a building. He had taken the responsibility that should have been Tony's.
As he thinks of that day something occurs to him "That reminds me, why haven't you guys spoken in so long? I call her at least once a month."
Putting down the paper, Tony groans as the truth of Rhodey's words hit him, God he really was a crap dad, he had tried so hard to not be like his father, that was why he had never been stern. He had been obsessed with Buffy liking him, so he had been the cool dad and he had let Rhodey and Joy deal with all the important stuff.
No wonder she was so closed off from him.
"Well, I've been working and well Buffy's been..." Pausing in his words, he couldn't help but think trying to figure out how to describe their relationship.
It was complicated, to say the least.
It was like she had just come home one day a completely different person, she was less bubbly, less girly more independent, darker and distant "...different since L.A, more distant, and then we just stopped talking, she doesn't even call me dad anymore, she shut me out. Look I know, I put work first, a lot but...there's more going on I just need to find out what." Letting out an exhausted huff the billionaire sighs deeply before ripping up the paper and tossing it in the trash "Any more copies of this?"
Rhodey quickly shakes his head, he wasn't crazy he knew how bad this could be if the press ever got ahold of it "It's been buried. But something caused this, you need to find out what."
Tony merely pouts "Can't you do it, you are the Godfather after all."
At the childish tone being thrown in his face Rhodey merely clenches his jaw, he had always done that, it had always been him and Joy who had done the tough work because Tony had been too scared that it would make Buffy hate him.
Tony just couldn't grasp the fact that he needed to grow up, he needed to be her father not her friend "My God. You just expect me to clean up everything for you. I'm just your babysitter. So, when you need your diaper changed..." Pausing in his words he takes a napkin off the waitress he quickly thanks her before turning back to his long-time friend "Let me know and I'll get you a bottle, okay?"
"Hey! Heat up the sake, will you?" Tony asks the waitress suddenly as he clicks his finger at Rhodey "Thanks for reminding me."
"No, I'm talking...we're not drinking. We're working right now."
In a desperate need to drown his worry and sorrows Tony merely continues to block out Rhodey's words "You can't have sashimi without sake."
You are constitutionally incapable of being responsible. No wonder Joyce has custody."
Ignoring his friend's snide remark about the way Joyce and Hank had easily won full custody when Buffy was four, the billionaire leans forward smirking brightly "It would be irresponsible not to drink. I'm just talking about a nightcap."
"Hot sake?" The waitress asks as she smiles at Tony.
"Yes, two, please."
Rhodey shakes his head "No. I'm not drinking. I don't want any."
Ever the bad influence, not even half an hour later a very boozed-up Rhodey was practically leaning on Tony, as the two sat on the couch watching the waitresses dance around the jet.
"That's what I'm talking about..." Rhodey slurs not even noticing that Tony wasn't listening to a word leaving his drunken mouth "When I get up in the morning and I'm putting on my uniform. Do you know what I recognize? I see in that mirror that every person that's got this uniform on, got my back!"
The still slightly sober billionaire glances down at his friend, unlike Rhodey he hadn't drunk as much, it wasn't that he didn't want to, but the more he drank the more his thoughts continued to plague him. Thoughts about his regrets when it came to his daughter.
He had become the one thing, he never wanted to be...his father.
He had never been strict with her like his own father had with him, but he had always been working, causing him to miss momentous moments in her life.
He had missed her first cheerleading competition, her grade school graduation, and at least four of her gymnastic meets.
Exhaling sadly he leans back in his chair feeling utterly defeated "Hey, you know what? I'm not like you..." He mumbles to his drunken friend "I'm not cut out..."
"No, no." Rhodey argues loudly cutting him off "You don't have to be like me! But you're more than what you are."
Clenching his jaw tightly, Tony tears his gaze off his friend before bringing the bottle of sake to his lips; focusing back on the dancing women. He wasn't in the mood to get a pep talk from a drunk who had no inside voice when alcohol was involved "Can you excuse me if I'm a bit distracted here?"
"No!" Rhodey snaps back trying to get his friend's attention while practically screaming in his face "You can't be distracted right now! Listen to me!"
MALIBU, CALIFORNIA
As she stares at her still in progress Harley, Buffy couldn't help but glare at the exhaust valve in the engine which had been driving her crazy. She just hadn't been able to position it correctly, she knew something was wrong she just didn't know where in the process she had messed up.
Grabbing onto the ends of her hair the blonde lets out a small defeated huff before leaning back in her chair glaring at the ceiling, cursing the damn mind who created this engine.
"Buffy, shouldn't you be having your lesson with Jarvis?"
At the sudden sound of the familiar voice, Buffy jumps slightly sending her crowbar flying to the floor. "Damn." She mutters before turning her head to address the intruder and sure enough, there was Pepper Potts standing in the garage doorway.
The blonde smiles awkwardly before putting her headphones back on, having dropped them with the crowbar "Jar, tell the redhead."
"Ms. Potts, Miss Stark finished her lessons for today 30 minutes ago. Since then she has been working on the engine of the bike."
At the A.I's words, Pepper couldn't help but shake her head in amusement, the girl was just like her father "Has she eaten yet?"
"No."
Yep, she was exactly like her father.
Sighing the redhead makes her way over to the teenage girl who was bobbing her head along to her music.
Pulling the headphones out of Buffy's ears she moves in front of the blonde drawing her full attention "Come on we're going out for dinner. Then tomorrow I'm taking you shopping."
Buffy's eyes widen as the headphones were yanked from her head, she groans and turns to Pepper, she was actually enjoying herself, something she hadn't really done since Angel had died.
This whole thing with the bike was giving her something to do with her hands, which didn't revolve around violence and blood. It was peaceful and she didn't want to stop, not when she was so close "But—"
"No." Pepper argues cutting the young girl off, she wanted Buffy to actually have some fun, not be hiding away in the mansion "Buffy, you have barely left the house since you got here plus I have seen your room it's completely bare. You bought one thing last time we went out. After we eat I'm going to help you pick some things out which will make you feel more at home."
Buffy eyes the redhead skeptically before turning back to her bike only for Pepper to take the blonde's iPod away from her before groaning, this was clearly going to take some convincing "Okay...what if..." Hesitating slightly the redhead couldn't help but know that she was going to regret this later "I'll let you drive."
There was a long moment of silence as Buffy stared at the redhead with wide eyes of excitement, no one ever let her drive...for good reason but still, this was awesome!
"I'm in!"
Smiling slightly at her young girl's excitement, Pepper turns on her heels and begins heading for the doors "You have 10 minutes before we leave so I suggest you go and get ready."
Buffy frowns slightly at the look Pepper threw her way, glancing down her eyes widen as she spots her dungarees completely covered in grease "Crap." She mutters before moving to head to her room only to be halted as Jarvis's voice pipes up.
"Miss. Stark...given your failed attempts on the driving simulator I do not believe this would be the safest idea." The A.I comments almost sounding concerned for her wellbeing.
Honestly, sometimes Jarvis acted more human than most demons, it was kind of sweet yet creepy at the same time.
"I only crashed twice." She argues.
"You crashed 12 times and during one simulation you somehow managed to demolish an Elementary school. There was fire."
Buffy couldn't help but wince at that, okay maybe just maybe, he had a point "Maybe pick a car with an auto-drive. Got it."
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
"Miss Summers?" The Watcher calls as he enters the Summers household in hopes of speaking to Joyce regarding the information he had managed to gather about The Council's plans.
"In here!"
At the sound of her voice, echoing through the kitchen, Giles makes his way through the small cosey home.
Standing in the kitchen surrounded by an array of large crates that had been shipped over for a new exhibit at the Gallery was Joyce, her eyes glued to a large fertility goddess sculpture.
The curly-haired blonde glances up from the statue and smiles over at the librarian "Mr. Giles, how can I help you?"
The Watcher smiles in return only to pause as he notices the very naked statue in her hands, quirking an eyebrow towards her Joyce's eyes widen in slight embarrassment, her cheeks filling with a light shade of blush "Oh." She chuckles before placing the piece of art back into its crate, hiding it away.
Wiping her hands on the side of her jeans, the eldest Summers clears her throat awkwardly, normally she wouldn't bring so much work home with her, but with Buffy now with Tony...let's just say she needed to keep herself distracted from her worry over Tony's parenting skills.
With the object that had been making him extremely uncomfortable now out of sight, Giles moves to take a seat by the counter so they could get down to business "I spoke to one of my contacts, he used to work for The Council's black-ops team. He agreed to send over the plans that The Council use for Slayers from powerful families."
Joyce's eyes widen slightly in hope, ever since she had found out the truth she had been terrified for Buffy and now with The Council, it felt like the worry was killing her. Since sending Buffy to live with the slightly immature Tony, Joyce had felt nothing but stress.
Now that there was some hope, she could only pray that this meant the end of her migraines.
However, before she could say a word to Giles, a familiar pounding in her head causes the eldest Summers to groan in pain before her eyes begin to roll into the back of her head.
As Joyce begins to stumble backward, Giles's eyes widen in shock, quickly rushing over he catches her in his arms before she hit the floor.
"Joyce!"
BAGRAM AIR BASE, AFGANISTAN
Clueless to the ever-growing suffering of the mother of his child, the smug Tony Stark grinned happily as he stands in front of the array of soldiers for his presentation.
"Is it better to be feared or respected? I say, is it too much to ask for both? With that in mind, I humbly present the crown jewel of Stark Industries' Freedom Line. It's the first missile system to incorporate our proprietary repulsor technology. They say the best weapon is one you never have to fire. I respectfully disagree. I prefer the weapon you only have to fire once. That's how Dad did it. That's how America does it. And it's worked out pretty well so far. Find an excuse to let one of these off the chain, and I personally guarantee you the bad guys won't even want to come out of their caves."
Enjoying having all eyes on him, Tony dramatically gestures to the line of missiles he had designed, all aimed towards the mountain behind him.
Not even a second later, one of the millies flies off right into the mountains causing a loud gust of wind to begin coming in the group's direction.
And just as the explosion goes off behind him, Tony raises his arms just as the gust of air begins knocking the soldier's hats from the heads.
Loving a dramatic ending, Tony merely grins at the state of shock he had put everyone in "For your consideration, the Jericho."
"So Pepper hasn't turned you against me yet?" The billionaire teases his daughter as he balances his phone on his shoulder while attempting to pull out the mini-bar he had stored in one of the Stark Industry containers. After making 500 million dollars thanks to the Jerico, he was in the mood for a damn drink of celebration.
"She's trying..." Buffy admits with a small laugh "She took me dancing and even let me drive. Though I think I gave her a heart attack."
The billionaire couldn't help but wince at that, he felt for his assistant, being in a car that Buffy was driving was just a terrifying experience. There was a reason why he still refused to help teach Buffy, that was Happy and Rhodey's problem.
"Oh, by the way, you bought me new shoes."
There was a moment of silence as Tony takes in her words, Pepper had taken her shopping. He couldn't even begin to imagine how much damage the two ladies had done to his bank account.
"And people wonder why I drink so much." He mumbles before groaning as he spots an incoming video call from Obadiah.
He was so not in the mood to deal with the balding pain in his ass.
He had been hoping Obie would be asleep by now, Buffy was a night person anyway.
Downing his drink he sighs knowing he would now have to cut short his conversation with his daughter.
"I've got to go. Obie calling. I'll be home soon okay?"
"Okay..." Buffy whispers softly before clearing her throat "Um...be careful."At her concerned tone of voice, Tony smiles lightly, maybe she wasn't completely lost in her 'I'm a teenager, I hate everything' stage.
"Always kiddo." With that, he begrudgingly hangs up the phone and answers Obadiah's video chat "Obie, what are you doing up?"
"I couldn't sleep till I found out how it went. How'd it go?"
Tony smiles as he glances back at the soldiers and the General, who seemed thoroughly impressed with his work, it was a sale, he could feel it "It went great. Looks like it's gonna be an early Christmas. Thankfully, given how much damage Buffy is doing with shoes."
Obadiah chuckles loudly at that "Welcome to having a teenage daughter. Well, Way to go, my boy! I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"
Tony nods before frowning as he spots the t-shirt his partner was wearing "Why aren't you wearing those pajamas I got you?"
"Good night, Tony."
Chuckling in amusement the billionaire hangs up the phone, his mood now a lot more pleasant. He did love teasing Obadiah.
With his job now done, Tony moves to climb into the back of one of the large military vans, fully intent on getting back home to his kid as quickly as possible.
As he takes his seat the eldest Stark turns his head to face Rhodey who was walking up to the van.
"Hey, Tony."
Unable to help himself from taunting his best friend Tony shakes his head refusing to let Rhodey in "I'm sorry, this is the 'fun-vee.' The 'hum-drum-vee' is back there."
Rhodey sighs before rolling his eyes "Nice job."
"See you back at base."
