Tony ran up the stairs, knowing that Ella would keep her word and eat all the pizza if he wasn't fast enough. As he got to the top of the stairs he saw Stane playing his piano. "How'd it go?" When he didn't answer, Tony assumed the worse. "It went that bad, huh?"
Stane continued playing, "Just because I brought pizza back from New York doesn't mean it went bad."
"Uh-huh. Sure doesn't." He said as he grabbed a slice and sat beside Ellie.
"It would have gone better if you were there," Stane called as grabbed his drink and walked away from the piano.
"Uh-uh. You told me to lay low. That's what I've been doing. I lay low, and you take care of all..."
"Hey, come on. In public. The press. This was a board of directors meeting."
"A board of directors meeting?" Ella spoke up.
Glaring at her, not acknowledging her speaking, "The board is claiming you have post-traumatic stress. They're filing an injunction."
Surprised, "What?"
"They want to lock you out." He explained.
"Why, cause the stocks dipped forty points? We knew that was gonna happen."
"Fifty-six and a half," Pepper muttered as she stormed up the stairs and through the foyer.
"It doesn't matter. We own the controlling interest in the company."
"Tony, the board has rights, too." He spoke as if he was scolding a child. "They're making the case that you and your new direction isn't the company's best interest."
"He's being responsible! For all they know, it's a new direction for him, for the entire company." Ella snapped, grabbing the last of the pizza and walking towards the garage. Yelling over her shoulder, "I'll be in the shop."
Tony waited a few moments before he stood to follow his daughter. Stane jumped up to stop him. "Hey! Hey! Tony, listen. I'm trying to turn this thing around. But you gotta give me something. Something to pitch them. Let me have the engineers analyze that." He motioned towards the Reactor. "You know, draw up some specs."
"No. No, absolutely not. This stays with Ellie and me."
Stane tried to argue, "It'll give me a bone to throw the boys in New York."
"Forget it. That's it, Obie. Between me and my daughter."
"All right. Fine. But you owe me a pizza." Stane conceded, he watched Tony run the stairs, "You mind if I come down there and see what you two are doing?"
"Good night, Obie." He called when he was already halfway down the stairs.
Day Eleven of Being Back on American Soil.
"Day eleven, test thirty-seven, configuration 2.0. For lack of a better option, Dummy is still on fire safety." Turning and pointing towards the machine, "If you douse me again, and I'm not on fire, I'm donating you to a city college. All right, nice and easy. Don't wanna be scaring Ellie again. Just gonna start off with one percent thrust capacity. In, three, two, one." He tensed up before lifting off. After a couple of minutes of somewhat steady hovering, he touched back down.
"You know," Ellie called as she walked into the garage, "when he follows you around like that, it makes me think you'll com-bust."
"That doesn't make me feel any better." Tony turned to Dummy, "Stand down. If something happens, then come in. And again, let's bring it up to 2.5. Three, two, one."
Bella watched him take flight again. She started to worry when he started to fly around with little control. When her dad was flying over the cars, "What are you doing? Dad? Your gonna mess with the paint jobs!"
"Yeah, this is where I don't want to be!" Tony muttered, trying to fly himself away for his car collection. When he managed to get away from the cars, he had ended up flying above his desk, sending all the loose papers all over the place. "Desk." Laughing, he almost flew into a wall.
Glaring through her hair covering her face, "you can fly. Fantastic. But can you land now?"
"Could be worse! Could be worse! We're fine! Okay." After landing and regaining his balance, he took one look at his daughter's messy hair and started giggling a little bit. Only to stop when Dummy almost doused him with the extinguisher. "Anyway, what's up?"
Pulling her hair back in a ponytail, "You called me down here. Was it to show me you could fly or was it for something else?"
"Right." Taking the boots and stabilizers off, he looked at her. He grabbed her shoulders, pushing her back till she sat on a chair. "I have a question for you. Would you be okay if I sent you to school?"
Shocked, Bella sat there in silence for a moment. She raised her eyebrows in question, "Like a public school?"
Standing up straight, scoffing. "God no. I would be worried sick if you were in a public school."
"Then where? Are we talking a boarding school in Europe or a hole in the wall up north?" Bella asked, leaning back into the chair. "And what about my name? Would I go by Stark?"
"No. I can create a false background. Isabella Collins, Isabella Carbonell, or Isabella Carter, whichever you prefer. Collins Carbonell would stand out too much. The only person that would know who really are, would be the headmaster. And no, the school is on the East Coast." Tony explained.
"Where? Where would I be going?"
Rubbing the back of his neck. "Now, before you get mad or anything, there is only one place that both Jarvis and I could agree that was safe enough for you. In fact, Jarvis was more sure about it than me."
Tony's last comment offended the AI, "might I remind you, Sir. It was your idea first. I just ran the probability of something happening to Miss Stark."
"Jarvis, bud, now is not the time."
Growing more nervous by the second, she demanded, "Where are you sending me?"
He took a breath before answering, "Xavier's school for gifted youngsters."
Bella's eyes grew wide. She remained quiet for a few minutes, Tony had started to worry that he might have put his daughter into some sort of shock. "Why?" She whispered quietly. Her voice was so quiet that he almost missed the question.
Confused about her question, "'Why?' I told you why. That is the only school I would feel is safe-"
Shaking her head, "No. Why send me to attend a school now?"
Grimacing, "before I suspended Pepper for a week, she told me that some super-secret-agent of some sort knows that someone close to me was threatened. And the assholes that held me hostage knew about you. Before I find out who all else knows about you, I want to make sure you are somewhere safe. Can't think of anything much better than there, except maybe the hotel, but that probably wouldn't be the best place to send my kid."
Rubbing her face, she didn't really want to leave, but he wanted to protect her. It would mean she would get to meet other people, even if it means leaving LA. With a slight grimace, "I'll go to the school. You're right, the hotel might be safe, but not the best choice. But I want something after you make sure I'm safe."
Nodding his head, "Sure. As long as it's within reason..."
Smiling at her father, knowing the reaction that her father was going to have. "I want to go to a Rangers game."
"Sure- What no. I'll get you a private box at the Kings game. Why would you want to watch a Rangers game?" Tony demanded to know why she preferred New York over LA.
Smirking, "Nope. I like the Rangers more than the Kings."
Glaring, "Fine. But you pack your bag. I'm going bring you to the school tomorrow. I'll make your records tonight." Rolling his eyes, he heard his daughter laugh as she walked back into the mansion.
On the Jet to Xavier's School.
Bella rubbed her eyes, she didn't really care for flying. (Maybe her dad could build some sort of transportation device.) Yawning, "What was my name again?"
Tony rolled his eyes, taking a sip of his drink, "I've told you three times already. What happened to that memory of yours?"
Giving her father a half-assed glare, "You slept in, so I didn't get to have my coffee. What name did you give me?"
Giving her a sarcastic laugh, "Collins. Dalilah Isabella Carter Collins. You don't like your first name so you go by Isabella."
"And my parents?" She asked, stretching out her back.
"Mom's Renee, disowned you when she found out you were a mutant. She remarried and that's all you know. Your dad's name is Charlie, a chief of police in a small town."
"Mkay. One question. How am I going to explain my lack of mutant ability?"
Actually laughing, "You manage to talk anyone into doing what you want. Including Jarvis and Pepper. As far I'm concerned you have some sort of silver tongue or you have some time of manipulation ability."
Scoffing, only to start giggling herself, "Doesn't help that you and Happy can't say no. The real challenge is getting Rhoddy to say yes. Pepper only says yes so she won't have to argue with me."
"Sir, Miss, we are nearing our destination." Jarvis' voice cut over the comm system.
"Thank you, Jarvis." Sadness crossed his face, "You ready to leave your old man?"
A sad smile appeared on her face, "This was your idea. But I will miss you. And I know that you will come and get me when it's safe."
"And you know why I can't get off the jet with you?" Tony double-checked.
"If you did, everyone would wonder how I knew Tony Stark." Feeling the jet starting to land, she got up and hugged her father tightly. "Promise that everything is going to be okay?"
"I'll be back for you. You know that. I always come back." He gave her a tight squeeze. "You'll be safe here."
"Be careful. And make sure you come back to me. I don't want to inherit the throne just yet."
"Sir, Professor Xavier and company are waiting for Miss."
"I'll always come back for you," Tony promised before Bella walked off their jet.
Turning her back to the teachers, she watched as the Stark Jet head back to their Malibu home. When she couldn't see the jet she turned towards the professor. Pulling out the shy character that her father told her to hide behind. "Hi." She mumbled, looking at the ground.
"Hello, Miss Collins. Welcome to Xavier's School for gifted youngsters." She assumed he was the headmaster, the other four were standing defensively behind him. "My name is Charles Xavier."
Ah, she was right. She focused on the people behind him, one of the men with odd glasses of some sort glared at the other man. One woman looked very friendly, almost motherly. The other woman was a redhead, she had her head tilted to the side, looking like she was trying to figure out something impossible. She suddenly turned to Charles, "I can't read on her!"
Bella was taken aback at her comment, "Excuse me?"
"Now Jean, that was rude. I apologize, Jean is a telepath. I believe that she is referring to the block in your mind."
Bella was confused, "A block? I-"
Jean cut her off, "I thought you said she was just a silver tongue."
Bella knew that she was not going to like Jean. In a matter of minutes, Bella saw how rude the woman was. Choosing to take the high road, she ignored the woman. Turning back to Charles, offering her hand, "Hello, sir. Thank you for agreeing to house me. And I have no idea what block you are referring to."
Shaking her hand, he motioned for the other three to step forward. He motioned towards the other woman, "This is Ororo Munroe." Ororo stepped forward, instead of shaking her hand like Bella originally thought she would, Bella was pulled into a tight hug. Releasing her, the man with the odd glasses stepped up, "Scott Summers." Scott gave her hand a tight squeeze. The other man didn't move from Charles' side. "The man to my right is Logan."
"Hi." She said quietly to the intimidating man, who just nodded in response.
Charles turned his wheelchair around, "If you'll follow us, I'll call a couple of students to show you to your room."
Bella tightly held onto her bag and followed the five adults quietly. She was shocked to see a group of four teenagers standing in the doorway. Bella just assumed that they were told to wait there or that Jean may have used her telepathic ability.
One of the girls was bouncing around excitedly, whereas one of the boys looked absolutely bored. The other two just had polite smiles. Charles stopped and introduced the four as all but Ororo kept walking. "Miss Collins, meet your classmates, Bobby, John, Rogue, and Kitty." Each of them waved when their name was spoken. "If you'll excuse me, if you need anything, you could ask one of the teachers and if you wish to speak with me, I will be in my office."
Ororo gave Bella a side hug, before walking off, "If you need someone to talk to, I'm usually in the library or on the balcony when class isn't in session."
After both of the teachers left the foyer, Rogue spoke quickly, "Hi! What's your name? What can you do? How old are-"
"Rogue!" Kitty cut in. "Breath. Let the poor girl answer before you ask another question."
Laughing quietly at the 'poor' remark. 'If they only knew.' She smiled at the hyper girl. "It's alright. I don't mind. My name is Dalilah Collins, but you can call me Isabella, or Bella. |Just not Dalilah. I'm seventeen. And I apparently can get people to do what I want easily and I just learned that I have some sort of mental block."
Bobby spoke up, "Like a telepath?"
Shaking her head, "No, I was told I was more like a silver tongue."
John pushed off the wall, "Prove it."
"Johnny!" Kitty scolded.
Oh boy... Bella panicked. Not letting them see her fear, she used her cocky Stark smirk. She'd just have to use her female charms to get her out of this problem. Bella stepped close to Johnny, looking through her eyelashes, "You know, my bag is really heavy." Pulling out the pout she used on her father, "Can you take it for me?" She saw him swallow hard, his hand slowly shook as he took her bag. With a smirk on her face, she turned to Bobby. He looked a little worried when she pulled out the puppy dog eyes that always worked on Rhoddy. "The professors didn't tell me where my room was... Can I have yours?.."
"Su-sure.." Bobby stuttered.
"Bobby!" Rogue yelled, hurt.
Uh-oh, that was a bad idea. Bobby and Rogue seemed to have a thing. Bella quickly apologized. "I'm sorry. He challenged me. I can just go ask one of the professors... I didn't mean-" Bella did feel bad, just not as bad as she was making Rogue think. "I'm so sorry. I've- I'd never do anything to hurt-"
Rogue had a panicked look on her own face now. "No. Don't worry about it Sug. You can use his room till-"
Bella couldn't take it anymore and started giggling uncontrollably. "I'm sorry. I don't use it often. It can cause me a lot of trouble."
Kitty started with Bella. "You'll fit in just fine. But you will need a name..."
The statement sobered Bella up. "Name?"
"Yeah. I'm Shadow Cat cause I can walk through anything. Rogue is really Anne-Marie. She doesn't touch people because she will absorb their life force. Bobby is IceMan and John is Pyro. Both for obvious reasons. Now what to call you..." Kitty explained while tapping her chin.
Bella looked over to the boys, both still dazed. Bella walked in front of them, snapped her fingers in their faces, effectively bringing the two of them back to reality.
Still in John's face, "that good enough?" Bella asked with a smirk on her face again.
Bobby asked confused, "what happened?"
Rogue answered harshly, "John happily took her bag and you gave her your bed."
"Hey. Don't forget, you gave Bella YOUR permission to use his bed too." Kitty added giggling again.
Bobby went beet red and John just had a smirk on his face. "If you want, you can sleep in my bed... Maybe beneath me."
Bella's smirk grew. "Silver Tongue, hun. I can work the charm but it doesn't work on me."
Kitty was right. Bella would fit in just fine.
