A/N: Hay guys! Sorry for the long update. With all the new ideas I had brewing a few other stories kind of slipped through the cracks. Thankfully I already had this chapter half finished when I put it on the back burner and finished it today for your enjoyment.
And with some new Marvel movies in theaters (Ant-Man), and others coming out in the future, (Avengers: Infinity Wars Pt.1 & 2, DEADPOOL!) I got my mojo back for this one. So without further waiting, here we go again!
(I own nothing)
For the rest of the day, Nathan had been running around Chamberlain like a man on a mission.
After explaining to Rita about what had happened between Carrie and her mother the night before she was both angry and horrified about what the girl had to endure outside of school. And she was right on board with helping in whatever capacity that she could.
Pleased by her answer, the young Stark laid out the game plan he had formulated in how to deal with the situation. The teacher had been a little stunned that he came up with something so elaborate in such a short amount of time, but it seemed to be the best course of action and she was more than willing to do her part.
When everything was done, Rita went to get ready to teach while Nathan left the school and went straight to the local police department. Having sent everything to them ahead of time, he met with the detective he had contacted and informed him in person about the events in question.
The man had been with the force for many years, and in that time he had his suspicions about Margaret White and her treatment of her daughter. There had even been police responses in the last couple of years because the neighbores around the White household reported shouting and loud crying coming from the home.
After going through several files and overlooking documents, enough evidence was filed for a search of the house where Carrie had grown up and two units were dispatched to the location to perform it and arrest Margaret White for child abuse and neglect.
When everything was said an done, the hero went to the small town's DA office and met with the attorney he had also messaged the night before. Revealing the same information and the documents before, along with what he had been given from the professional lawyer his father had known for years, everything fell into place. All that was needed was what the police found in order to get things completely set up.
Before long the entire day had passed and Nathan was on his way back to Ewan high, parking in his usual spot as he waited for Carrie to exit.
As he stood there, he contemplated on his current relationship with the telekinetic. They definitely had feelings for each other and wanted to be together with how comfortable they were around one another. But at some point, he'd have to leave Maine and head back to California.
His chest ached at the mere thought of leaving Carrie here, after everything that he had witnessed and heard he couldn't abandon her like that. It wasn't who he was, and he cared about her too much to simply up and leave, there had to be a solution.
One had come to mind that could work out for the both of them, but he'd have to wait until after the prom was over before approaching her about it.
He was broken from his thoughts by the sound to the bell resounding from within the school. The students filing out with the end of the day with Carrie making her way shortly behind them as she made her way over to him.
"Hay, beautiful." Nathan said causing her to smile and blush as he pulled her into a quick hug. The small open display of affection was still very new to her, but the strawberry-blonde loved every moment of it regardless.
"Hello yourself." she replied stepping back from the embrace, realization of something passed over her expression and she bit her lip nervous. "I've got something to tell you."
The young Stark raised an eyebrow, looking around a moment before whispering, "You're not gonna tell me you have the ability to read minds too, are you? Cause you don't wanna know what goes on up here on a boring day." he said knocking the side of his head lightly.
Carrie giggled and shook her head, "No. Sue Snell approached me today." she saw Nathan go rigid and his expression turned serious. "She didn't hurt me, or tease me. She actually said she wanted to talk to me about something when school was over." she explained further.
"Did she say what?" asked the hero.
"She said she wanted to make amends, for all the bullying she's done to me over the years." said the telekinetic, taking in the skeptical look on the boy's face. "I was confused too. But the way she spoke, and the way she was acting, it didn't seem like she was trying to prank me like the last few times. She even said if I felt more comfortable I could have you there as well since she was bringing her boyfriend."
Nathan thought on this, it sounded too good to be true given Carrie's past with the girls at this school. He'd looked into Susan Snell like the other Ultras, and just like her friends she was the popular girl that looked down on others while following her friend Chris around.
He didn't trust the situation, not for a moment. But he did trust Carrie's instincts on the matter. "Where are we meeting them?" he asked, already making the decision to be there with her.
"Right here. She wanted to meet when school was over." replied Carrie as she looked back at the school as the rest of her fellow classmates filed out. They didn't have to wait very long as Sue Snell and Tommy Ross made their way down the steps and headed in their direction. Both of them looking nervous and skittish while the other students around them followed with their eyes.
The Stark heir stood at his full height, shoulders squared, jaw clenched and arms crossed. A stance he inherited from his dad when dealing with high profile business partners who were too stubborn to back down. He also made sure that Carrie was a bit behind him to be sure that this wasn't a trick of any kind.
When the other couple reached them there was a tense silence that Nathan was more than happy to break. "So, Susan Snell, Tommy Ross," he said causing the other two to jump a bit at the sound of his voice. "Carrie here tells me you wanted to speak with her about the BS you put her through in the past. Is that true?" he continued while centering his gaze on Sue.
The blonde girl gave a slow nod, turning her attention to Carrie before she started speaking. "I know it may not be any good now, but I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. Ever since middle school the only thing I've ever done is make your life miserable like the others, and it's only been recently that I realized the kind of damage I was causing."
"Why?" asked the telekinetic, "Why now? After treating me the way you have for so long?"
Sue lowered her eyes to the ground, Tommy put a hand on her shoulder to offer comfort. "Because...after I saw the video that Chris posted, the one showing what we had done to you that day, it finally hit me. Seeing how scared and confused you were, and seeing how we were making it worse, I guess it kind of finally hit home. I've been trying to think of a way to make it up to you for everything for the last week, I had even asked Tommy if he'd be willing to take you to the prom instead of me. You deserve to feel happy, even if it was just for one night."
Tommy nodded, "I was a bit confused when she told me about her idea, but when she explained everything I understood. I was even going to ask you the other day. But when word got around that you were hanging out with Nathan I was a bit hesitant."
Carrie was shocked, to know that one of her tormentors was so willing to give up going to the prom so that she'd have a night of happiness threw her for a loop. Even Nathan was a bit surprised that someone would go that far for someone they bullied.
"That's...nice." the telekinetic said slowly, still trying to put things together. "But I already am happy, and going to prom." she reached her hand out and held the young Stark's to prove her point.
Sue smiled, "I figured as much, the current rumors going around here is that the two of you are dating. Especially after Chris was knocked down a few pegs the other day."
"You aren't going to stick up for your friend?" Nathan asked raising an eyebrow.
The blonde shook her head and frowned, "She's not my friend anymore. I should have seen the kind of conceited bitch that she was a long time ago. But I was too wrapped up in myself and fitting in to see the truth. The only thing I can do now is to start working toward redemption before moving on after graduation, and what better place to start than right here and now." she turned back to Carrie and held out her hand with a hesitant smile, "I...wanted to start over, if it's not too late."
Carrie didn't know how to respond, never would she have believed that one of her worst bullies would be so willing to make amends for the past. Asking, no pleading, for a second chance.
She looked up at Nathan who looked back with a shrug, "It's your choice, Carrie. I'll be in your corner no matter what you choose." his words eased her anxiety a bit as she looked back at Sue who watched her, hope and fear dwelling in her eyes as she kept her hand out to her.
Slowly, she reached her hand out and shook the taller girl's. "I'm...still not sure. But I'm willing to give it a try."
Sue beamed a true smile, "You won't regret it, Carrie. I promise." she thought something over a moment and smiled again, "Infact, I do have another idea if you guys are alright with it?"
"What did you have in mind?" asked Nathan, now interested.
"Since we're all going to prom, why don't we go together as a group? It'll make the night even more fun and we can spend the time getting to know one another a bit better." explained the blonde. Tommy nodded in agreement as they waited for the response.
The hero and the telekinetic looked at one another before going back to the other couple, "Won't the other students give you a hard time for being around me?" wondered Carrie.
"To hell with them." said Sue strongly. "I'm done letting other people define who I am and who I should be around."
"Same here." replied Tommy. "We can look after ourselves, and we can help out too if you need us."
Unknown to the three town natives, Nathan had been scanning the heartbeats of both Sue and Tommy since the beginning of the conversation. Using a monitoring program that was built into his sunglasses, he had basically been a lie detector that would figure out if either of the two was trying to mislead them.
So far they'd been telling the truth. Which had been a relief considering he didn't think this school could handle another verbal shakedown of one of the other popular girls in 48 hours.
As he was about to switch the program off however, another faint reading appeared on the small HUD built into the tinted lenses. Confused, he did another scan and found that it was coming from Sue. More accurately...in her lower abdomnial area.
"No shit..." he thought while keeping his features schooled. "That's going to be a hell of a surprise for them." turning the program off, he returned to the conversation at hand as he turned to the girl beside him, "They seem to be telling the truth. What do you think?"
Carrie bit her lip in thought, "W-Well...okay. If you guys are really being honest with me."
"We are, Carrie." said Sue, reaching out and taking one of the shorter girl's hands. "Trust me. No pranks, jokes, rumors, nothing. Just the four of us having a good time at prom."
The telekinetic gave a small smile and nodded at her.
"You know, I was hoping to take Carrie out for the day so she could find a dress when school let out. If she's okay with it, do you two wanna tag along?" Offered Nathan, "Cause I don't know about you, but it's kinda awkward going on a double date to prom without knowing the other couple."
Tommy scratched the back of his head and chuckled, "Yeah, that would be kinda weird."
Sue turned her attention back to Carrie, "How bout it, Carrie? I've already picked out my dress, I can help you find one if you want." The strawberry-blonde seemed unsure of herself, but as long as Nathan was there with her she knew that nothing bad would happen.
"Okay." she said after a long moment.
The Stark heir clapped his hands, "Alright then, lets take my car. We can come back and later so you can get your jeep." he said as he opened the driver's side door and moved the seat up so that the other two could get in. Looking at Carrie, he whispered so only she could hear.
"I'll make sure there's no funny business. But if they are being honest about all of this, maybe giving them a chance won't be so bad."
The girl nodded in agreement, she would at least give them a chance and hope for the best. If the worst should come to pass, then she'd know the truth and she would still be okay.
Once they were all in, Tommy couldn't help but whistle when he looked around the interior. "This is seriously a sick ride. Do you always drive cars like this?" he asked as he felt the leather of his seat. Sue smiling beside him as she got comfortable in her own.
"My old man is a firm believer of riding in style." replied Nathan as Carrie settled in her usual spot and buckled up. "Guess it kinda rubbed off on me. Though I'm working on a vintage Mustang back home that I'm almost done rebuilding."
The lacross player perked his head up, "Vintage Mustang? What year?"
" '73. Found it in a junkyard in LA, it's taken me a couple of months to get this far given the amount of parts and time it needed to be repaired. That, and I've been getting distracted by other things from time to time. But it's all going to pay off." replied the hero as the other boy asked more about the car.
Sue rolled her eyes before leaning forward and whispering to Carrie, "Looks like the boys found common ground." Carrie giggled in her seat as the car pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward town.
Behind them, another car rumbled to life and followed them out.
X
Given the size of Chamberlain, the town's shopping district wasn't that large either. However, they did have a good number of stores for the people who lived there. And after being there for over a week, Nathan had gotten the layout of the town pretty well to the point of having it all logged to memory.
After parking the car, the two couples set out toward one of only three shops in town that sold dresses. Sue had mentioned that it was the same place where she had gotten hers and they had many different colors and styles.
Telling the boys to wait outside, the girls went into the shop and started looking at the dresses that were on display. Carrie ran her fingers along a red one that had been set up close to the door, feeling the texture before glancing at the price tag and frowning.
"I can't afford this one." she thought before moving on.
"You know, I think Nathan would be more than happy to help you get the dress you want." said Sue as she looked at the dress the other girl passed up.
"I don't want to rely on his money." admitted Carrie as she looked over a different dress. "I know he's wealthy and can afford anything anyone could ever want, but that's not why I like him so much." she smiled to herself as she thought about the hero.
The taller girl looked at her blissful expression and smiled softly, "You're really in love with him, aren't you?" Carrie blushed and looked away embarrised at being caught so easily. "It's nothing to be embarrised about, Carrie. I was the same way when I realized how much Tommy meant to me. When you find the one, you just know."
Biting her lip, the telekinetic turned to her ex-tormentor. "It's still very hard for me to believe that we're talking like this. I didn't really expect anyone to be sorry for what they did to me."
Sue looked to the floor guiltily. "I can't blame you for that. Coming out of the blue and telling you how sorry I am would be a more than hard to believe, but I had to try at least." she thought about it a moment before asking a question that had been on her mind, "Why did you even give me this chance? You have every right to just ignore me and walk away."
"Because if there was one thing I ever learned from the bible from all the times mama forced it on me, it was that God is forgiving and merciful." replied Carrie. "And after all the years of abuse from you and the others, I've been able to figure out who's lying to me and if they meant me harm. It's what kept me away from the more humiliating pranks."
"Even though I still have my doubts, I'm still willing to give you a chance to make things right. Everyone deserves one if they're willing to try."
The other girl smiled, water gathering in the corners of her eyes as she pulled the telekinetic into a brief hug. "Thank you." she whispered before letting her go, there was a moment of silence as the two went back to looking around the shop.
Carrie paused when here eyes caught the rolls of fabric set up toward the back. Making her way over, she looked to each one before settling on a particular roll that held a light-pink material. Running her fingers gently across the almost silk-like fabric, she smiled to herself as she realized this would be what she needed.
X
Outside the store, Nathan sat with Tommy on a nearby bench talking between themselves.
"So, are all those stories we read about on the news and in magazines true?" asked the lacross player taking a sip of the soda in his hand.
"You mean like the one about me secretly dating Kendal Jenner?" asked the Stark heir drinking his own beverage. "Take it from me, not everything you read is true. Being the child of a celebrity isn't as happy and glamorous like some would believe. Christ, when it first came out that I was my dad's kid I couldn't even go to school without reporters hounding me at every turn."
Tommy winced, "Sounds rough. How'd you manage?"
Nathan shrugged, "Home schooled until I started high school. Blew everyone away when I passed all exams even with me being so young. Though that wasn't easy either." he sighed as he remembered those hard years. "Being a genius, and younger than everyone else can put a pretty big bullseye on your back."
"Is that why you stuck up for Carrie?" asked the other boy.
The hero looked his way, "I helped Carrie, because I'm a firm supporter of anti-bullying policies and have made dozens of donations to such organizations. But more than that, there's just something about her, something special that no one is intelligent enough to see with their own eyes. And I really like seeing her smile."
He looked at the one beside him, "Your the boyfriend of one of her biggest bullies, can you honestly admit that she deserved anything that happened to her?"
Tommy was silent, avoiding Nathan's gaze as he sighed. "Honestly? I asked Sue not long after the video was posted what Carrie had done to her to be treated like that. She couldn't give me an answer, but in the days that followed she started acting strange. Having trouble sleeping, couldn't focus much, it was like she was withdrawing from something. Then when she came out to me about how guilty she had been feeling it started to make sense."
"And you decided to help her in anyway you could." said Nathan getting a nod.
"I never understood why people treated Carrie that way. Even though I didn't pick on her like everyone else, I watched it happen and did nothing. If anything, I share my own guilt and shame for not doing something about it." admitted the lacross player.
A few moments passed between them as that sat and drank their sodas. "Can I level with you about something?" asked the Stark heir, his voice serious.
Tommy looked at him and blinked, "Uh, sure." his pulse spiking when Nathan gave him a deep, piercing look.
"If I find out that this is another ploy to make Carrie miserable, or something leading to another incident like the one in the locker room. I will personally, and ruthlessly, make you and your girlfriend's lives a living hell. You saw what I can do when I aired Chris' dirty laundry infront of everybody, that's only the tip of the spear. Knowledge is power, and I have more than enough to make me a threat to a lot of people." stated the hero with a grim tone that left the other boy a bit shaken.
Leaning back in his spot, relaxing his position after making his point clear. "Though, if the two of you truly are sincere, then you have nothing to worry about." he with in a laid back manner while he looked at Tommy and smirked, "Need to check your pants?"
Tommy shook his head as he regained his composure. "I'm...I'm good...you can be pretty damn scary when you want to be, you know that?"
"If I'm going to be taking the reigns and run Stark Industries one day, I gotta have the ability to make folks in the boardrooms see my way of thinking. And if they don't, and push me too hard, then the crap they're talking about won't be all that's spewing." replied Nathan. "You're a good kid, Tommy. I can tell that much. And Sue really looks like she wants to change her ways for the better. But remember the old saying, Acta non Verba."
The lacross player scratched his head, "Sorry, didn't pick that up in english." he lamented.
"Actions, not words." stated the hero. "If you guys really are serious about what you're doing, then you're really going to have to prove it to Carrie. She's had it a lot harder than anyone else can think." he left his words to hang in the air as they turned their heads hearing the stores entrance open.
Carrie and Sue came out into the warm sun, both of them smiling as they joined the boys. "Find anything interesting?" asked Nathan as he attempted to peek in the bag the telekinetic had in her hands.
She immediately clamped it shut, and reinforced it with her powers so he couldn't see. "You're not seeing it until prom night." said the strawberry-blonde. Sue giggled off to the side when the Stark heir gave her a wounded puppy look.
"Not even a peek?" he asked, but Carrie only shook her head making him sigh in defeat. "Okay, fine! Spoil my fun!" he exclaimed in mock frusteration as he threw his arms in the air causing the other three to laugh.
"So, what now?" asked Tommy while sliding an arm around his girl. "To be honest, I could really go for a good burger right about now."
"There's this good diner Carrie and I have gone to a few times. Food's good and the atmosphere is pretty decent too." said Nathan.
Sue tilted her head, "Joseph's Diner?" she asked getting a nod from the hero. "We've been there a few times ourselves, the selection is better than most places around here."
"Then let's let Carrie stash her stuff at the car and grab a bite, we'll head back to Ewan so you can pick up your jeep afterword." offered Nathan. Everyone agreed and they set out back to where the lamborgini was parked.
Rounding a corner at the end of the block that would take them there, the group of four came to a stop when they found another vehicle parked nose to nose with the sports car. A familiar red Chevelle with an equally familiar individual leaning against the driver's side door.
Shaved head, black denim jacket over a black t-shirt with ripped jeans and steel toed boots. A pair of dark eyes leering at them as he stood there with his arms crossed, waiting.
"What the hell is Billy doing here?" wondered Sue, looking around for any sign of Chris or anyone else and finding that he was alone.
Nathan narrowed his eyes, also scanning around looking for anyone that could be laying in wait. But he also couldn't find anyone. "Carrie...stay with Sue and Tommy." he said making their heads snap in his direction.
Carrie looked to argue but he waved her off, "If this is some kind of trap, I'd prefer it if you were kept out of the crossfire." he explained as he looked to the other couple, "If things turn bad, get out of here with her and call the cops. I can handle myself."
Tommy nodded hesitantly, glancing at their guest. The Stark heir sent a reassuring smile at Carrie before making his way forward.
Billy smirked at his approach, "Well, well. If it isn't the 'big famous rich boy' that's got this town in a fit."
"I might be." replied Nathan as he looked the thug up and down, "And let me guess...you're the wannabe greaser who likes to say he 'owns this neighborehood'?" he asked with a fake brooklyn accent.
The older male scowled as he leaned off his car, "You know, I heard about what you said to my girl the other day. That's some pretty big talk from some out of towner. You should really think twice before bad-mouthing another man's woman."
"Kind of hard not to say something, especially when the one in question is considered the town bitch." replied the Stark heir, "I find it hard to believe that she even has friends in the first place, concidering she treats everyone as though they are beneath her. Though seeing the company she keeps outside of school, obviously it's easy to see that she's starved for daddy's attention."
He scratched his nose with his thumb, "Honestly, I'm a bit nervous being around you this close. With how willing she is to flaunt herself around, I'm worried about catching something. Have you had all your shots done?"
Billy gritted his teeth in anger, unfolding his arms and clenching his fists. "I'd watch that mouth of yours, Stark. You're hero daddy isn't here to save your ass."
Nathan chuckled, "That's funny. You honestly think I need to rely on my old man to keep me out of trouble? Silly grease-monkey, you know nothing of the powers I wield."
Off to the side, Carrie, Sue and Tommy watched the back and forth between the two. The girls a little worried about what would happen while Tommy wondered if he should step in and lend a hand.
"If I were you, I'd be heading back to your little house on the hill. Before things become too much for you to handle." said Billy, cracking his knuckles as he took a threatening step closer. "You don't know what kind of trouble you can get into in a small town like this. You don't belong here."
"Is that a fact?" asked the hero, not budging an inch. "If you're going to try and threaten me, Billy-Bob, then you need to work on your material. Because I've heard better from old ladies at bus stops. And really? The macho-man routine went out of style years ago, now you just sound like you're overcompensating for something. Though, that does explain why your woman was attempting to charm her way into my pants before."
The thug bristled at the words spoke, "I'm warning you rich-boy, don't fuck with me!"
"Much like Chris fucks with everybody else?" Nathan pushed with a straight face. "Everyone knows she loves sausage, but what flavor is her preference I wonder?"
Billy looked to be on the verge of attempting to murder him, which was exactly what the young Stark was waiting for. He wasn't a fool, and knew that someone like Billy Nolen was easy to anger given his past history.
When he looked into Chris and what she had done, he also looked into her boyfriend's record as well. The guy was a real peace of work, multiple counts of theft, arson, vandalism, and minor assault. All of which had either been solved with fines or community service, though given his record, he was on severly thin ice with the law and was risking jail time if he kept up his current course.
A moment or two passed, other people who had been walking close by where now watching the scene unfold while wondering what was going to happen next. Carrie looked around nervously before focusing back on Nathan as he squared off against Chris' boyfriend.
She'd heard the rumors about him, how he was nothing but trouble and was as bad as Chris was when it came to the treatment of others. Almost exactly what her mother had warned her about in regards to men.
Sue was gripping Tommy's hand. She knew all about Billy's reputation and what he was capable of when angry. Chris had even bragged about how he nearly crushed another guy's face in when he attempted to hit on her. He didn't hold any punches when pushed too far, and from the looks of things he was being pushed to the very end of his rope
A sharp smirk appeared on Billy's face, puffing his chest out in a way that revealed what would inevitably happen next. "You think you're some kind of badass? A pussy little rich boy in a suit of armor. Take that away and what are you?"
"Billionare, genius, future CEO of Stark Industries and a one woman kind of man." Nathan replied sending a wink at Carrie. "What do you have to be proud of, Billy-Bob? Other than trying to prove that humanity is attempting to evolve backwards."
Billy gritted his teeth again before lunging at the Stark heir with his fist cocked back, people screamed in alarm at his action, but he couldn't have cared less as he prepared to teach the rich kid a lesson.
Though, he wasn't anticipating Nathan to grab his outstretched arm and force him off balance with a foot to his ankle that sent him slamming face-first into the driver's side window of his car. The cracking of both his nose and the glass was heard as he staggered to stay upright.
"Well now, that was attempted assault." said the hero cracking his knuckles. "Everything that happens now, is self-defense."
The thug glared hatefully at him, blood dripping down from his broken nose as he lunged again, the young Stark brought his arms up and prepared himself. Easily blocking the haymaker that was aimed for his head and countering with an open-palm strike to his opponent's chest, staggering him back and putting distance between them again.
"You know the thing about being a 'rich-boy'?" said Nathan as he dodged under a punch, driving an uppercut into Billy's midsection and doubling him over. Grabbing one of his arms and torquing it behind his back making him grunt in pain. "I can afford to have the best self-defense instructors on the West-Coast train me in my spare time."
He shoved Billy forward, forcing the thug to slam his hands against the Chevelle or risk slamming into the broken window again. "I don't need my suit to kick your ass, Nolen." said the hero crossing his arms over his chest. "You've embarresed yourself enough, pick up what's left of your pride and walk away."
The other male kept his back to him, one hand still resting on the car as the other reached into his jacket.
Carrie saw this and gasped, "NATHAN LOOK OUT!" she screamed as Billy spun around fast. A butterfly knife flipping open mid-swing as he slashed it at the young Stark.
Nathan reacted fast, leaping back as the tip of the blade sliced through his shirt barely missing the flesh underneath.
Standing a few meters apart now, he kept his arms up as the two started to circle one another. Billy with the knife held in hand as he looked for an opening to exploit. "Still feeling lucky, Stark?" he asked tossing the blade between his hands.
The hero said nothing as he stopped circling, standing to his full height before reaching his hand over and pressing a small button on his watch. A few seconds passed as they stood there glaring at each other.
"Well, aren't you going to make a move?" asked the thug arrogantly, "Where's all that bravado you were spouting off?"
"Oh, it's still there." replied Nathan as he checked the time, "I'm just waiting for a helping hand." Billy looked confused, until he heard something that resembled a small jet passing through the air. He looked up, and was immediatelt taken off his feet when something hard slammed into the side of his face, spinning him where he stood before he hit the ground.
The young Stark snapped out his hand as the projectile shot toward him, small beams of blue light passing between the object and his watch before it latched on to his outstretched limb. Brown and brick colored metal began unfolding around his hand until it was covered up to his elbow.
The gauntlet of his suit flared to life, the repulsor cannon in the center of the palm coming online with a soft whine as it powered up. Nathan flexed his hand and fingers, the armor component following his movements fluidly. "Gotta thank dad for helping me with that feature." he said to himself before looking over to see Billy staggering back to his feet.
A large bruise forming on the side of his face where the gauntlet had struck him as he looked up to see Nathan raising his hand, repulsor glowing brightly as it began to charge. "Well, looks like you brought a knife to a gunfight." he said smirking at how the thug looked fearfully at the energy cannon. "What's the matter, Nolen? Where's all your bravado?"
Billy glared, but didn't say anything as he backed up toward his car. Knowing he was now literally out-gunned against the hero. "This isn't over, Stark!" he called out while getting in his car. The Chevelle roaring to life, the tires squealing as he backed up hard before gunning the engine and peeling out of the parking lot.
Nathan followed him out with his eyes before lowering his gauntlet when he was sure he was gone. "Barely here two weeks and already I've got people who hate my guts. Gotta be another family trait." he thought while turning to the others. "Well, that was something." he said casually while rubbing the back of his head with his armored hand.
"I'm surprised you didn't blast him." said Tommy, regaining his voice first.
"I would have if he left me no choice." replied the young Stark as he pressed a button on the underside of the gauntlet, the armor opening up allowing him to pull his hand out. "A low level repulsor blast would have ended things quickly, but I figured a bit of psychological warfare would be more than enough."
Carrie approached him, running her finger along the tear in his shirt with concern still visible in her eyes. Nathan smiled and held her hand, "I'm okay." he said lowly. The telekinetic smiled as she wrapped her arms around him.
Taking a bit of time to recollect themselves, the group continued on with their day unhindered. Grabbing lunch before heading back to the school where Tommy and Sue promised to meet up with them again once more before the prom as they headed their own way.
Nathan and Carrie had just gotten back into the car when the young Stark's phone went off. Checking the number, he answered it quickly. "Stark here."
"Mr. Stark, Detective Borros of the Chamberlain police department. I wanted to call you personally and let you know that we just finished our investigation of the White household...It was...a lot worse than we thought it would be."
The hero sighed, noticing the telekinetic at his side giving him a concerned look. "I take it you want to see me ASAP?"
"And Carrie as well. The DA's already been notified and is on his way."
"Thanks, we'll head right there." with that Nathan hung up and looked over at Carrie, the questions clear on her face. "We need to head to the police station, a couple people want to talk to us."
"Us?" asked the girl confused. "Nathan, what's going on?"
The young Stark sighed as he started telling her what he had been up too before coming back to the school that afternoon. Hoping that everything turned out okay and wouldn't have any backlash.
X
Elsewhere, Billy Nolen was sitting on the hood of his car with a scowl on his face while Chris held an ice pack to the large bruise the size of a grapefruit on his cheek.
"Fucking bastard." he muttered hatefully. "He has no idea who he's messing with. Him and that little scank of his will pay."
Chris removed the ice pack and looked at her boyfriend's damaged face. Anger bubbling inside her as she realized everything around here had started falling apart so fast around her. She was banned from prom, the whole school knew about her record, her friends were nervous to be around her, and that little bitch Carrie somehow became the talk of Ewan ever since Nathan Stark came around.
It wasn't fair! She was nothing! A pathetic little nothing that was better off dead and buried along with her freak of a mother!
And Stark...how dare he threaten her and hurt her boyfriend. Just because he was Iron Man's son didn't give him the right to treat them that way.
Billy was right, concequences be damned, Carrie White and Nathan Stark were both going to pay.
A/N: And the plot thickens just a bit more. I know it might be a bit early for the detachable suit components, but since when has a Stark followed anyone else's rules? I'm going to be wrapping up the 'Carrie' portion of the plot within the next couple of chapters. It's about time to move onto the next stage of the series and really get things rolling.
Till next time, leave your reviews at the door!