The next morning, Laura was with Tony and Pepper at Stark Industries.
A press conference was called to address the incident last night.
She was dressed in her grey pant suit with her prosthetics over her pants while she watched Rhodey talk to the press on the TV.
Tony himself was reading the paper with a picture of him in the suit on the freeway with "WHO IS IRON MAN?" as the title.
"So Watson seriously, how long have you had that thing?" Tony asked again about her gun, never knowing about it.
"It's not my only one." she smiled slightly and he smirked.
"That doesn't put my mind at ease, Laura." Pepper said with unease about it.
She was helping getting him ready but Laura simply shrugged her shoulders as Coulson walked in, getting their attention.
"Here's your alibi." he handed him a stack of index cards.
"Okay?" he began reading through them.
"You were on your yacht." Coulson began.
"Yeah." he nodded.
"We have port papers that put you in Avalon all night, and sworn statements from 50 of your guests." Coulson explained.
"See, I was thinking maybe we should say it was just Pepper and me alone on the island…" he suggested but Pepper pricked him with a pair of tweezers.
"That's what happened." Coulson said firmly.
"All right." he agreed.
"Just read it, word for word." Coulson said as Laura was reading the cards behind his shoulder but frowned, realizing something.
"There's nothing about Stane here…" she said awkwardly.
"That's being handled. He's on vacation. Small aircraft have such a poor safety record." he explained and she nodded.
"But what about the whole cover story that it's a bodyguard? He's my... I mean, is that... That's kind of flimsy, don't you think?" Tony asked unsure.
"This isn't my first rodeo, Mr. Stark. Just stick to the official statement, and soon, this will all be behind you. Ms. Watson, do you have a minute?" Coulson asked her.
"Yes." the two walked over to the glass doors.
"Listen Agent Coulson… I do need to ask about last night considering that I kinda…" she began about her killing Stane but he interrupted her.
"You aren't in any trouble, Ms. Watson. Your actions were in self-defense. And I wrote a glowing report of your performance to my superior." he reassured her.
"Oh, uh thanks. And I should also apologize about how I treated you. My trust in… people and institutions has been shattered recently but you're one of the good guys. Thank you, Phil." she thanked him.
"It's our job, Ms. Watson and you weren't so bad yourself. Calm under pressure, a good shot, quick reaction times. You'd be a good agent." he complimented and she smirked.
"You wouldn't want me. I don't exactly follow orders well." she joked and he smiled.
"In any case, you'll be hearing from us." he hinted.
"From the Strategic Homeland…" she began but he finished for her.
"Just call us S.H.I.E.L.D." he said and the two shook hands.
He walked out and Tony walked past her through the double doors.
She followed him out to the same room where they had the press conference where Tony announced Stark would stop selling weapons.
She followed him out and stood to the side of the room while he walked up to the podium.
"And now, Mr. Stark has prepared a statement. He will not be taking any questions." Rhodey concluded and stepped aside.
"Thank you. Been a while since I was in front of you. I figure I'll stick to the cards this time." he joked, causing the room to chuckle.
"There's been speculation that I was involved in the events that occurred on the freeway and the rooftop…" he began but Christine interrupted him from the front row.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Stark, but do you honestly expect us to believe that that was a bodyguard in a suit that conveniently appeared, despite the fact that you..." she argued but he interrupted her.
"I know that it's confusing. It is one thing to question the official story, and another thing entirely to make wild accusations, or insinuate that I'm a superhero." he countered.
"I never said you were a superhero." she clarified.
"Didn't?" he asked and she shook her head no.
"Well, good, because that would be outlandish and fantastic." he replied.
"Oh, no..." Laura whispered, knowing he liked being called that.
"I'm just not the hero type. Clearly. With this laundry list of character defects, all the mistakes I've made, largely public." he rambled but Rhodey leaned into his ear.
"Just stick to the cards, man." he whispered.
"Yeah, okay. Yeah. The truth is..." he stuck the cards in front of his face but Laura went wide eyed.
"I am Iron Man." the press went crazy as Laura shoved between them to march up to the podium and grabbed Tony by the arm to drag him away.
"Well, that went well." he smirked at her.
"You had one job man! One job!"
Later that night, an exhausted Laura walked into her apartment.
Tony's revelation was what everyone was talking about.
Poor Pepper was swamped with work because of it so she had asked for her help with so it was a long day.
She turned on the lights and walked over to her island to place her bag on one of the bar stools.
She walked over to her drinks table next to her fridge and grabbed a glass.
She felt the hairs on the back of her neck prick upwards and reached over to grab her bag but looked over to her living room.
"What the hell!" she shouted while dropping the glass, shattering it as she saw a figure standing in the corner by a torch lamp while grabbing her gun.
She aimed it at the guy wearing an eyepatch and loaded it.
"I would advise against that, Ms. Watson." he warned calmly.
"You're a stranger in a trench coat in my apartment. Your better think carefully about your next words." she threatened.
"Well, Coulson was right about you in his report. That makes my life easier." he replied.
"Phil? How the hell do you know Phil?" she asked confused.
"I'm Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D." he introduced himself.
"Huh…" Laura said surprised while lowering her gun slowly.
"I'm here to talk to you about the Avengers Initiative."
The week flew by and the media… along with the world were still going crazy about Tony being Iron Man.
A superhero.
And Fury's introduction was also surprising.
He explained to her about the initiative and she turned him down.
Herself losing interest after him saying it was about "a group of remarkable people…"
And only trusting Phil himself and not the government spy agency he worked for.
She asked Tony about it and apparently he broke into his home, bypassing JARVIS to ask him the same thing.
He also turned him down.
After the long week, Laura managed to drag Pepper away for a day out.
The one she promised before her kidnapping.
And with it being Sunday she conceded.
The two were dressed up and currently having brunch at an upscale restaurant on Rodeo.
Sitting at a corner table by the window where the warm California sun shined through.
"See I promised you we'd go out when I got back." Laura joked while sipping her bloody Mary.
"I just hope all of this ends soon. The press are relentless." Pepper sighed while moving her food around on her plate with her fork.
"Just do what I do. Ignore them." she joked.
"It's not that simple Laura." she smiled slightly.
Laura simply shrugged her shoulders and ate a piece of bacon.
"You do look well Laura." Pepper complimented.
"I'm getting better. One day at a time. The legs help which oh by the way you really don't need to live with me anymore. You have more important things than me to worry about than me." she joked.
"No I don't Laura. But you know I'd do anything for you." she reached over the white table cloth and grabbed her hand comfortingly.
"I would have done the same thing for you Pepper." she clasped hers back but her Blackberry began to ring.
"Seriously…" she groaned while digging n her bag for it.
She pouted, seeing Tony on the caller I.D.
She showed it to Pepper who sighed while she answered it.
"Tony it's Sunday…" she groaned.
"And I seem to remember warning you on day one to always be on call." he joked.
"What do you want, Tony?" she asked impatiently.
"I need to tell you something. In person. It's important in regarding your future." he hinted.
"Alright fine. Pepper and I are having brunch. I'll be up afterwards." she hanged up and looked over to Pepper who had an eyebrow raised.
"I need to head up to the house. I'm sadly still going to need you and Happy to drive me around until I can get this stupid cast off."
"Tony!" Laura greeted while walking through the door next to the smashed floor to ceiling windows of his shop.
"I called you like three hours ago. What took you so long?" he asked while waving off Dum-E.
"I told you. Pepper and I were at brunch. So what's up?" she asked, while walking towards him.
"Well… A thought occurred to me." he began.
"Yeah…" she followed along.
"With me being Iron Man I'm not going to be able to be as involved with running my company. And with Stane being gone a position has just opened up." he said.
"Uh huh…" she frowned, not following.
"How would you like to be the new COO of Stark Industries?" he proposed bluntly.
"What?" she asked while going wide eyed.
Dum-e rolled over while carrying a tray with two filled champagne glasses and the bottle.
"I need you to transition Stark from weapons towards our idea of clean energy. And I need someone I can trust." he said while handing her a glass she absently took.
"Tony, I'm an engineer. I don't know anything about business or running one." she argued.
"Don't get all worked up in the details. You do have a vision Watson. One that I agree with." he countered.
"Well I do have some new ideas…" she suggested.
"Yeah?" he tilted his head.
"I mean if we're going all in on clean energy that will take time…" she replied and he nodded.
"What I'm suggesting is we become a true tech company. I mean Stark has always been one but we were primarily a weapons company. So why not do phones, tablets, TV's… Make Stark a household name. But we only make the best products in each industry so we don't tarnish the name." she suggested.
"Are you saying this because of your personal vendetta against the company with a fruit as the logo." he joked and she scowled.
"I don't have a "personal vendetta" I just think their products are garbage and overpriced." she crossed her arm.
"Anyway… I do like your idea and a sign off on it. So, are you in…?" he raised his glass.
"I do have a small favor to ask." she suggested.
"What?" he lowered his glass.
"I mean apart from the salary and stock options I would like to have your office." she asked.
"What? Why?" he asked surprised.
"Because I don't have one and I need to prove to the people there that I'm capable of this job. I'm a woman Tony. A severely underqualified woman at that. I need to proof myself and that this job is not just being handed it because I know you. I'm going to work my ass off more than I already do. And besides you never use it anyway." she joked at the end at he smiled.
"So is that a yes ,Watson?" he asked while toasting his glass.
"Yes, Tony. I accept." she smiled widely.
She toasted hers and the two drank their champagne.
Throughout the next week, Laura had settled into her new role as COO of Stark Industries.
She had many items on her agenda.
The first thing she did, with Tony's approval and share of the company, was that she purged the board of the members that voted for the injunction on Tony and fired them.
She had no patience for those who weren't on board with her new direction so she and Tony replaced them with a rubber stamp.
The stock price was soaring thanks to Tony's announcement anyway so they met no resistance.
Now though it was Saturday and she was with Pepper, who was driving her down an suburban street in Beverly Hills.
Palm trees towered hundreds of feet high over the houses and they were neatly lined up along the sidewalks on each side of the street.
"So, Laura what are we doing again? Why are we here." she asked confused.
"We're here because my rental agreement is up on my apartment and instead of renewing it I thought that I need a change." she began.
"Looking for a new place?" Pepper asked and she nodded.
"Yep. In fact I'm thinking of buying. This may be the only time I could get a deal in this market." she replied while pulling up to a mansion with a "For Sale" sign in the well-manicured yard.
But she didn't tell her how Fury breaking into her apartment with aperient ease creeped her out.
"This house?" Pepper asked surprised while pulling up the driveway to the large white two story house with a three car garage.
"Yes." she smiled widely at the green manicured lawn shaded by palm trees.
She had already scheduled an appointment with the realtor for a tour for her who was waiting for them on the porch.
She gave her introduction and facts about the neighborhood to them while they walked inside onto the wood flooring.
They were in the foyer with a glass chandelier hanging above them as she looked around.
The large white two story house was a four bedroom four bath.
"Why don't I step out, make some calls while you check out the property. If you have any questions, ask me." the realtor offered.
"Yeah thank you." Laura nodded as she stepped out.
"So Pepper what do you think. Open floor plan mostly, living room is over there…" she pointed where the couches and TV mounted above the fireplace.
"Huge kitchen…" she walked over to it, gesturing to the huge tan granite island with the black and white tile floor, appliances below the wood cabinets and wine fridge.
"I'm thinking sitting room there…" she pointed to the French doors that led to the backward.
"And check this out…" she gestured Pepper to follow her who was looking around with amazement.
She walked next to her to look at the inground pool with jacuzzi next to it.
"With my legs the pool is pretty pointless but it has a jacuzzi and the palm trees are nice." she joked while pointing at them planted along the concrete walls along the perimeter.
"This is incredible Laura. Are you sure about this?" she asked and Laura nodded.
"Yep. I have no plans on quitting my job which is like winning the lottery but better since its permanent. And besides this house is a foreclosure so I should get a deal. And trust me, after my three months in that cave I need space to spread out. Oh check out the built ins!" she screeched while running over to them in the living room.
Pepper smiled faintly at her eagerness while following her.
"I'm going to need to buy more books! Oh and I figure I'll convert one of the bedrooms to an office." she rambled.
The two walked out the front double doors to the agent waiting for them.
"How did you like the house Ms. Watson? Do you want to tour some others?" the agent asked and she shook her head no.
"Let's make an offer."
That next Monday, Laura walked into her new office for another long day.
She looked over, seeing Tony's belongings that were covered up and moved to the corner while she walked over to her desk in front of a wall of floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the Stark campus.
After putting her bag down she turned on the TV on the side wall to the news which was talking about her new appointment and how the markets were reacting.
Her phone rang with Tony on the caller I.D.
"Hey Tony." she greeted.
"I've got another thing for you to add to your agenda." he said.
"Yeah, what's that?" she sighed while sinking back into her chair, already feeling slightly overwhelmed with her busy schedule.
"How much do you know about my dad's expo?"
After the lengthy discussion, she put her phone down on her desk and groaned.
Tony was asking for a lot.
Her phone rang again and she picked it up.
Reading "Unknown Number" on the caller ID she ignored it and put it back down on her desk.
"Stupid spam calls."
