The first thought that crossed my mind when I saw what was inside the garage was, "Who keeps this stuff in their house?!"
The second thought that crossed my mind was, "This is one if the best days of my life."
I looked at Tony and he was grinning at the shocked expression on my face. I looked at him to say something but nothing came out of my mouth.
"Cat got your tongue?"
I glare at him and swallow, "No. It's just….wow."
He chuckled, "Thanks. Let me show you around."
He began walking and pointed to two older looker robots, "That's DUM-E and U. They assist me, even if they aren't always helpful. This area," he gestured to a good half of the garage, "is my area. Do not touch anything over here unless I'm here. That area," he gestured towards the other side of the garage, "is where the kids play. Tony and Harley are always working on something. Sometimes together or separate. They each have a separate work area. Morgan has a baby work area closer to me, but she's not allowed to really come in here. Do you want a work space?"
I look at him surprised, "Um...I don't know. Don't you need the space for other stuff?"
He looked at me curiously, "Like what?"
I shrug, "I figured you would keep it open for when you send me back."
Tony turned his entire focus on me, "Listen to me: I have no intentions of sending you back anytime soon. Capiche?"
I nod and he continued, "Now about the work space. You don't have to build stuff if you don't like that. I noticed you like to draw. It can be art place. Here looks like a good spot."
We had stopped by a window where there was an empty table. It was near Harley's and Peter's so we could easily talk but it was also kind of secluded. I actually really liked it.
Tony pointed towards the back of the room that looked storage, "There's art supplies and paper and stuff in the back if you want to do that."
I couldn't help the smile that grew on my face. I saw Tony grin back when he noticed.
He gestured towards his work space, "I'll be working over there if you need anything."
I nod and we went our separate ways.
I walk towards the back room where he pointed. He was correct when he said there was art supplies back there. A lot of it looked like it was around to entertain Morgan or for one of the boys school projects. I spotted a large white poster board and crutched towards. When I got there realized I couldn't carry it and my crutches, so I ditched them by a shelf and hobbled back towards the table. I limped back in search of paint. I saw plenty of acrylic paint, but right now that's not want I wanted. It wouldn't scratch that itch.
I walked out from behind the shelves, "Hey, Tony?"
His head shot up and he answered, "Yeah, what's up?"
"Um...do you have any spray paint?"
He smiles softly, "No sorry, but we can get some later today."
I shake my head, "No it's alright. I can use the acrylic paint."
I quickly go back and grab it before he can respond. I locate the black, gold, orange, and red paint with some brushes. I honestly didn't know what I was going to paint but I needed to do something. I began to paint.
I was so lost in thought as I painted I didn't even notice that Tony had walked over. I glanced up and I stilled as I realized he was watching me. He must of notice me stop moving because he glance up sheepishly.
"Sorry. I just wanted to know what had you so engrossed. The painting is amazing by the way."
I glanced down at what I had painted. It was the sunset I had seen out of my bedroom window. I had painted the trees, the water, and the different plants on the lake. Everything was accented using orange, red, and gold. It did look pretty good.
I blushed slightly as I answered, "Uh..thanks. What did you come over here for?"
"Oh, yeah. It's almost four. We should start packing up for the night."
"Okay," I said as I moved to begin cleaning up.
Tony gestured to some of the stuff, "Do you want help?"
"Sure."
The two us quickly finished cleaning my area. We were walking by Peter's station when I glanced at some of the equations lying on his desk. I stopped and pointed it out to Tony, "What's that for?"
"Oh...Peter's worker on a super sticky glue for a science project, why?"
I shrug, "He messed up in one of the equations."
Tony looked at me curiously, "Where?"
I crutch fully over to the table and sift through the stack of papers the math was on, "There. He wrote a three instead of a four."
Tony grabs the paper and analyzes my work, "How'd you know that?"
I shrug, "The pattern didn't line up from where he started."
Tony looked like he wanted to say more but he thought better of it, "Ok. I'll let him know. Come on, we should be getting to bed."
I nod and we exit the garage together.
After saying good night to AJ, I made my way back into my own room. As I walked in the light flicked on and Pepper was sitting on the bed with her arms crossed and her eyebrow raised. She gave me the loom she gave me every single time I did something wrong. Shoot. Man, having Morgan has really filtered my thinking.
"Hey Pepper...what are you doing up?" I say trying to delay the inevitable.
"Really Tony?"
I shrug, "It was worth a try."
"Was it?"
I shake my head and decide now was a good time to shut up.
"Well, Tony, since you asked I woke up because my bed felt different than when I went to sleep. It was missing a certain presence. Can you tell me where that presence went?"
I stayed silent.
"Thought so. I really wanted to know, so I decided to ask my favorite AI where he went. She said his lab, but I could've sworn we agrees to no more middle of the night tinkering sessions once our lovely daughter was born, unless in special occasions. As far as I'm aware, this was not one."
"It kinda was though."
She raises an eyebrow for me to continue and I launch into an explanation, "At around three am, Fri sent me a message that AJ was awake and walking around. She also said he was trying to get into my lab. I figured that if he was up and I was up I would just show him. We spent about an hour down there."
"Tony-" Pepper started about to reprimand me.
"Wait. I found out a couple things. One, I think he might've been abused at a previous foster home, besides the Thompsons. Two, he doesn't think we're gonna keep him around. And three, he's really smart. Like I think me kinda smart."
Pepper nodded slowly processing the onslaught of information, "Ok, I'm going to ignore the fact that you let him stay up all night for the moment. One, we suspected he might've been abused and if you've been in as many foster home as he has, you would feel the same way. All we can do is keep telling him that we have no intentions leaving him. Two, how do you know he's a genius?"
"Besides the fact that he's an amazing artist, he caught a mistake in Peter's formula that Peter has been looking for, for the past three weeks. He didn't even look at the math! He just noticed something was off with a pattern. I also don't think he knows. He said it like it was normal."
Pepper nodded, "Well he's taking a test to get into school on Friday so I guess we'll get a better idea then. Should we address it?"
I shake my head, "No. We wouldn't want to weird him out."
She nods and pulls back the comforter, "Come back to bed. We still have a few hours before Morgan wakes up."
I smile, "So I'm not in trouble?"
"Do you want to be?"
"Nope," and I climbed into the bed.
"...and that's why Frozen is the best Disney movie ever made," Morgan said as she completed her long winded explanation on the plot of Frozen and how it made the movie the most epic movie ever made.
She had been talking the entire time we were driving and she was starting to drive me insane. We had gotten up this morning, and Pepper was determined to go shopping. Honestly, I couldn't care less about new things. I hate when people buy me stuff. It reminds me off before when...A time in my life that was light years away in the past.
"Ok, Morgan thank you for the explanation. And we are now at the mall," Tony interrupted my thoughts and saving my sanity.
"The mall!" Morgan squealed in delight.
The reached into the front seat of the car and pulled on some shades and a base ball cap. He was also wearing sweats and a tee shirt. It was definitely an interesting look on Tony Stark. Pepper was also in incognito mode, but Morgan nor I needed it. Surprisingly, Morgan being born during the five years worked out to her advantage because most people didn't know what she looked like and didn't care. She never really had to disguise herself in public. I bet that'll change when she gets older.
As we enter the mall, I immediately feel uncomfortable. Again, I am not a people or a crowd person. Can't stand them. Tony looks equally uncomfortable and it occurs to me he probably doesn't shop very often.
We begin walking towards the Target section of the mall. Morgan looks very excited when she notices where we are going, "I love Target! Mommy can I get new toys?"
"We'll see, but first we need to buy AJ some new clothes."
"Can I help you pick stuff out?"
"Sure, but I get final say."
"Yeah!"
The shopping wasn't as bad as I thought. I mean, Pepper and Morgan did most of the work with Tony occasionally chiming in to prove to Pepper that he was paying attention. I know for a fact he was playing Galaga on his phone. I ended up getting a few new t-shirts and some new jeans. Morgan insisted that I get this ridiculous pink hoodie an I got it to appease her. I was just hoping this excursion would end.
"Mommy, what are we going to do now?"
"We're gonna get some school supplies. We have to get everything on this list. Can you make sure of that?"
Morgan nods rapidly. I realize wish I was that entertained. Supplies shopping is going to be so boring.
"Hey, Pep, what if AJ and I go get some stuff for his room and we'll meet you at the check out in a hour or so? You know so we can get out of here faster," Tony says perking up for the first time in a bit.
Pepper eyes him up and down, eventually stopping and deciding he wasn't up to anything. She says, "Ok. We'll meet you at check number 5 in an hour. Tony, don't buy anything too ridiculous."
Tony feigns being hurt and says, "Me!? I would never. Come on, Kid."
I nod and follow him after waving a smile good bye to Morgan. Once we're out of earshot of them he turns to me and says, "Do you actually want to go buy posters and stuff or here my better plan?"
I raise an eyebrow, "So you were up to something."
He shrugs, "Not completely. You already have furniture in your room and stuff. I figured you might want to do something more creative with the room. Like maybe, paint on it?"
I look at him confused, "You mean like change the wall color?"
"You can do that if you want, but I was thinking more like a graffiti paintings all over your room. If you feel like it of course."
I looked at him wide-eyed, "Your going to let me spray paint whatever I want? On all of the walls?"
"With in reason and the ceiling and furniture too. No go on the floors though. I figured you might want the freedom to do whatever whenever. You don't have to do it now, but know you can. Especially on the nights you can't sleep."
I gape at him, "Thank you."
He shrugs, "No problem. If you want to add more to your room later, just let us know. Do you want to head to Blick Art supplies? You need more material to work with in the lab anyways."
I nod and we ditch Target to go to Blick.
When we meet up with Pepper and Morgan later, Pepper was very shocked at the amount of supplies we had. There was different forms and types of paint, brushes, pencils, markers, paper, and canvases. I admittedly was more comfortable spending the money this way. From the look on Pepper's face, she didn't know Tony's plan.
The question formed on her face and he cut her off by saying, "It's not ridiculous and did you get the school supplies?"
She nods.
"Great. Also, how do you feel about graffiti?"
Morgan and I couldn't help but laugh at the rest of their conversation.
