The party was gaining traction. A lot of the people that had been invited- mostly as fillers, as I barely knew any of their names, were coming into the house. It loud from the lab- which I had been hoping to hide away in until it all died down. Or at least until real action started where I could stop it.

Nikki stumbled down the stairs. How she avoided breaking her neck, I'll never understand. She pushed the door open- music blared through it.

"Sis get up here!" Nikki pleaded. She made her way towards me.

Around me were various hologram models. Some were upgrades for my suit, some for Nikki's, a few were actually the work-ups for an AI that I had been curious about designing. Granted making AI's hadn't gone well for me in the past...hopefully someday I'll figure out how to make one that wasn't a psychopath.

Maybe.

Though my first instinct had been to tell JARVIS to turn a blind eye, I'd been convinced to let JARVIS help. He had some ideas about the newly dubbed 'FRIDAY'.

Nikki pushed past those holograms to get to me. She wrapped an arm over my shoulder. She was wearing something not unsurprising on a dominatrix. A leather skirt with garter belts connected to the boots, a light pink tube top that she purposefully placed to expose more of her chest, and black leggings up to the skirt. It suited her, actually.

"This party is the best." Her breath reeked of alcohol. Or dick- could be either of them, really. She liked to mix. "Come play with me."

"No." I pushed the brat off me, turning back to the equations. "There's not a lot I can get done before-"

"You're always working!" Nikki pouted. "Let loose! Have fun! It's all going to be yours in a bit anyway-"

The party music paused at just the right moment for a slap to echo in the lab.

Nikki stayed silent as she got herself to a standing position.

"Don't-" I warned her, seething with Emotion. Suddenly- I had never felt more enraged. If this was how Bruce was on a daily basis, I don't blame him for becoming the Hulk. "Don't make jokes like that. Did you forget why we're even here?"

Nikki blinked. Her usual levels of intelligence numbed by alcohol. She had a good tolerence- she had to have gone hard to be this stupid. "If I did?"

A loud 'why was I cursed to this life' groan fell from my mouth. Course, there was no one to blame but my...Author who is up there laughing at me. Damn you, Author, damn you!

"We're here to save Tony Stark." I stressed to here. "Save his life- not end it. You fucking idiot."

Nikki shrugged. "Meh. Life, death, what's the point of it if you don't have fun?"

"What's the point of fun if it's constant?" I countered. Then I realized I was having an argument with a drunk girl. So who's the idiot now?

Nikki snorted. "Yeah but what- what if you-" She hiccuped. She wiped at her chin. "What's the- you're too high strung. Come upstairs- I saw drugs. Come do drugs."

"I'm not doing drugs at Tony Stark's birthday party." I argued.

"What better time is there?" Nikki pointed out. I glared at her. "One of them was Sandwich." She gave me a not-at-all-subtle wink.

"...Sandwich?"

"Sandwich!" Nikki tempted.

"...for the record I don't like this." I told her, slowly being convinced to join the party. "The party- I shouldn't get high during the party."

Nikki began walking back towards the door. "You're right! Get out of those lab sweats- put on something pretty!"

"Don't objectify me!"

"Don't prud-ish me!" Nikki countered before walking back upstairs.

Damn her...it's been ages since I had Sandwich...it sounds so fun...but work...but Sandwich...

==NM2==

So I'd changed into something more 'party' ready. Nikki must've had Natasha do shopping- I'll never forgive her for robbing me of that image. Now I was walking around the party in a teal pantsuit: corset around the chest, bow around the waist. Natasha even added a pair of heels (which I discarded for loafers) and a silver necklace (discarded for my lollipop necklace).

Then it was time to get Sandwich.

For those who are unaware, Sandwich is a codeword from the show 'How I Met Your Mother', which the narrator used in place of weed.

Yes. Apparently someone at the party did have Sandwich.

It was Nikki.

Why am I surprised?

Of course Nikki had drugs.

Only I couldn't be too pissed- she'd shared. Like a proper sister.

A good thing too. Being high is the only logical reason for watching Iron Man scratch a record at a party.

Yep.

I was high.

No two ways about it.

"Yeah I found good stuff." Nikki chuckled in my ear. "It's amazing the shit you find when you're scavenging a dead guy's place."

I hummed. "...your's?"

Nikki scoffed, grinning. "Would it really be any other way?" She brought the spliff out from her mouth. She blinked at it for a few seconds. "Do...do you think...when peodo's die...they go to a special place to wait until I die where I can beat the shit out of them forever?"

I took the spliff out of her hands, having a take myself. "You're never gonna die. My luck's not that good."

Nikki giggled. "I'm gonna suck a dick." She sauntered off.

It took me nearly a minute to notice she had gone. Even then, it was because Pepper had walked up to my side. There had been this statue I had seen a hundred times before but never really looked at because it was...it was gray but also black and it was a lady but the lady was running but she wasn't very good at it.

'How distressing.'

At the sight of the red hair, I squished the spliff under my loafers.

"Becky. Did you know about this?" Pepper asked. She motioned her head towards Iron Man, who was waving to a cheering party crowd.

"Whaaa?" Looking over I did my best to remind myself to stay cool. Some of my other experiences under this taught me I was chatty when high. Also shit at keeping secrets. Also paranoid. But I'm trying really hard to ignore that instinct. "That's not good. He should stop."

Pepper sighed. She pressed her hand against the side of her head. "I can't- I don't even know what to do right now."

"He's gonna fall down if he keeps doing that." I reasoned. "That won't be safe."

She walked away from me.

"Another successful secret." I mumbled to myself. "Author I'm good at this."

Only she returned a minute later with Rhodey. I beamed at him. He looked past me towards the stumbling Iron Man.

"You gotta be kidding me." Rhodey deadpanned. There was a loud smash from behind me. I winced. Turning around, I saw Iron Man trying to push himself to his feet. "That's it, I'm making-"

"No, no, no. Don't call anyone." Pepper pleaded.

Rhodey whirled around to her. "Pepper. This is ridiculous. I just stuck my neck out for this guy."

"I know. I know. I get it. I'm gonna handle it, okay?" Pepper assured him. "Just let me handle it."

"Handle it." Rhodey warned. "Or I'm gonna have to."

Pepper nodded. She walked over towards the DJ booth.

I blew out a breath. "We wouldn't want that. That'd- that would mess up- something."

Rhodey gave me an odd look.

'Be careful, Morgan, he's suspicious.'

"Oh that's not good." I mumbled

"You know, the question I get asked most often is, 'Tony, how do you go to the bathroom in the suit?'" Iron Man began.

In the silence, I gagged. Yes. We had installed that. Lucky I hadn't done that personally. That would be awkward.

"Just like that." Iron Man told them. The crowd cheered.

Pepper walked up to his side. She pulled the mic away from him. Iron Man waved at the crowd. "Does this guy know how to throw a party or what?"

The crowd whooped and hollered. I gave a half hearted wave. Iron Man waved back. He leaned into the mic, pointing my way.

"Hey Beck! When did you get here?" He asked.

"I live here!" I replied. "I don't think I left since Tuesday!"

The crowd laughed.

'Shit I said that out loud.'

"I love you." He told me.

I laughed- not believing it. "Right!" I replied. He didn't love me- he loved the idea of me. The image of Becky Stark I showed to the world, showed to everyone except my sister.

He just loved the daughter that made him look good

He didn't love me

That's too stupid

If he really loved me-

He'd know what it was doing being uninvolved

Not being able to help

He'd know

He'd know

But he isn't.

So he doesn't.

"Unbelievable!" Pepper laughed, tensely. "Thank you so much. Tony, we all thank you so much for such a wonderful night. And we're gonna say good night now, and thank you all for coming."

"No, no, no, we can't-" Pepper moved the mic out of his range. She and Tony started muttering back and forth. Tony swayed drunkenly.

I blew out a breath. Rhodey watched the exchanged, with stiff shoulders.

She handed the mic back to Tony. She took the champagne bottle. Tony laughed into the mic.

"Pepper Potts. She's right. The party's over." Tony told the crowd. They all whined. "Then again, the party was over for me, like, an hour and a half ago. The after-party starts in fifteen minutes. And if anybody, Pepper, doesn't like it, there's the door."

Tony aimed towards the door. In his drunken state he ended up firing on the glass barrier around that statue from earlier.

"Yeah!" Tony laughed. The crowd laughed too. They all yelled drunkenly in excitement.

"She should've tried running better." I mumbled. My head nodded, agreeing with what that smart person just said.

Rhodey's glare intensified. It should be on fire right now.

"You should go." My Head was still nodding- by the way- it liked the motion. Soothed it to sleep. "Be- Be War Machine."

Rhodey stared. The sentence having no sense to him.

"It's- it's downstairs. Happy Birthday!" I whispered (poorly).

With a better angry glare, Rhodey looked off towards Tony. Party girls were throwing up bottles, which Tony boasted to pieces with the repulsor. People cheered. That got Rhodey storming off towards the lab.

I watched vacantly as Tony destroyed more bottles. Why was in vacant? Cause I was spiraling into a paranoid tailout.

Lucky for me Nikki came back.

"Dude. This is awesome." She threw her arm over my shoulder. I tensed- startled by her presence. "Shit. You spiraling? You always make that- that face when doing- the thing."

"Are my mind control powers back?" I asked raspy- I thought it was a whisper.

Nikki blinked. "What?"

"I told Rhodey to do something then he did it. Are they back? I didn't like those powers. They were scary." I explained in a panicked rush. That also could've been because somebody brought out a watermelon.

Nikki hummed. She patted her chest. "Test it on me."

"Sit." I instructed.

Nikki blinked distant purple eyes. An explosion of watermelon went off to my left. Aw shit that was gonna fuck up the carpet. What if I step on glass? I would heal but how would it look? "No. You don't have them."

"But is it because you're immune?"

"Why would I be immune?"

"Related? Or...that's your superpower?" I wondered. "I'm standing on the sandwich." I admitted.

My sister looked down at my feet, confused. "...bitch...why?"

"The military was gonna find out." I replied.

To probe it, Rhodey marched up behind us.

His metal feet were loud.

He was bad at hide-n-seek.

"I'm only gonna say this once. Get out." Rhodey warned. He closed the face plate.

Nikki grabbed my wrist. "You were right. The military found out."

"That's not good." I grabbed her wrist, dragging her through the crowd of party goers to a couch. Did I step on glass? Well I'm wearing shoes so it's not as bad.

"You don't deserve to wear one of these. Shut it down!" Rhodey scolded Tony.

Nikki hummed. "I'm hungry."

"Have some watermelon." I offered, gesturing the pile of only slightly charred fruit on the floor.

"That's why I'm hungry- ugh I'm not eating floor food. Five seconds, man." Nikki complained, petulant.

"You right, you right."

"Goldstein."

"Yes, Mr Stark?"

"Give me a phat beat to beat my buddy's ass to." Tony laughed.

"Petulant is a funny word." I giggled. The song began to play. I gasped. "Queen! I love Queen!"

Nikki giggled. "Everyone knows you love Queen. No wonder you're-"

War Machine threw Iron Man through a wall. They ended up in the gym.

"Damn...were gonna have to buy so much glass." I realized.

Nikki hummed. "Hey...hey Nighty-Night?"

"Yes Missy-Miss?" I replied.

"Weren't- weren't there more bodies?" She asked, sounding hopelessly confused. She looked out on the destroyed party.

"Bodies are dead." I corrected her with a giggle. She got those two confused a lot. "People are hid-hide-ugh words are stupid."

"But like...won't they die in this fight?"

"They'll live." I brushed off. Pushing myself to my feet, I blinked. When my eyes opened I was downstairs in front of a terrified crowd of people. "See! Told you Nik- Where's Nikki?"

"Becky!" Pepper let out a reliever breath. She rushed onto me- I sidestepped a hug. "Thank god! Okay we need to stop this."

"On it." I turned to the crowd. "Hey! Go home!"

Some of the more sober minds did. A lot of people hesitated.

'Well I guess this means I really didn't get those mind control powers back.'

"GO!" I repeated. My hands glowed golden. "NOW!"

The rest of them scuttled off towards the cars. With them gone I turned to Pepper. "Was I a good noodle?"

Pepper gawked at me. "Becky, are you alright?"

"No! There's so much wrong." At that point, Natasha was walking up. "Like that! This was her idea."

She walked up, cool and collected. "Ms Stark-"

"No. Nononono. This was you." I pointed at Natasha, stepping closer until I was nearly in her face. Distantly, I was aware that Nikki was stumbling into the room. "You- you told him this was a good idea. Cause- cause you know."

Natasha kept her cool expression. She showed no reaction at being scolded so openly. "Know what?"

"That- you know." I stressed.

Pepper put her hand on my shoulder. I jerked it off. "Becky! What's going on? Are you okay?"

"No! I'm high and I'm spiraling!" I argued. Pepper sighed in exasperation. "I'm yelling at Na-Natashalie."

The spy showed slight expression. Well in her eyes. She kept her face blank.

Nikki giggled. "She's gonna get it-"

"You think someone can keep a secret in this house from me?" I scoffed. "Nah. I'm a-"

Cutting me off, Iron Man and War Machine crashes through the ceiling. I immediately took a protective stance in front of the three women.

"Becky! Pepper!" Happy yelled. He rushed towards us. I stepped back, letting him take Pepper. He glared at me sternly. "Get out of here. Get out of here now."

I turned to Nikki. "Go. Now!"

She nodded- taking in my no-nonsense tone. She followed Happy and Pepper.

"Hey, Becks, you too!" Happy scolded.

"You want it? Take it!" Iron Man reaches out to beat Rhodey into the countertop.

"You think I'm leaving him now?" I scoffed.

"Hey I'm hungry!" Nikki stated. She grabbed my arm, pulling me outside. "Do the- do the moving thing. Get me food."

"No!"

"But I'm hungry." Nikki pouted. "You gonna stop feeding me?"

Damn it...she has activated some hidden genetic code in my body...I can't let my sister starve. That's really not good. She could- well not die- but complain until I comply.

She's a dastardly fiend.

I trained her well.

At the side, Happy was keeping watch on Pepper. Pepper was watching myself and Nikki, a calculating look in her eyes. She had seen me with Nikki before, not truly taking us in. When I was sober I would recall a spark of realization, she'd realized who got me high.

"What do you want?" I asked with a huff.

Nikki's pout shifted to a wide grin. She opened her mouth to answer.

An explosion cut her off.

The building shook. In the distance, I saw a table flipping off the cliff side.

I inhaled sharply. 'Tony!'

My power brought me to Tony's side. The entire room was trashed- half burnt, half smashed. The shine of Rhodey's suit was obvious amongst the rubble of their shared repulsor blast.

Mechanics whirred at my side. Looking down, I saw the lights of the Iron Man mask turn back on. He looked up at me.

I shook my head at him.

Across the room, War Machine was on his feet. Without saying a word, he blasted off.

I knelt down at Iron Man's side. My instinct was to put a hand on his shoulder but I thought better of it. Iron Man was wilting.

What could even be said?

Something good?

Something bad?

I'm too high to come up with Emotions like that.

So I teleported back down to the lab. I could get work done, ready to clean up the house.

Like Nikki said, it was probably gonna be mine in a bit.

==NM2==

AN: Sorry this was late! I was planning out the next year of updates. Just ya know- easy work. Ha! Also I ended writing the wrong chapter- an update for a later MTU story. My 'bad'.

Want updates on things like when I'll update? I'm on Instagram- authora97.

Thanks to Stanley Linus Marsden for favoriting