Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel; only Rebecca and the world surrounding her.
Imposter! - The Technicolors
Welcome to Lithe from the To Build A Home Series!
Thanks to 1000, PrincessMagic, Guest and everyone that reviewed, favorited, and subscribed to this story so far!
Here's the end of Iron Man 2 and let's get Becca's hands a little dirty. 1 more chapter away for our super soldier himself!
Imposter
I'm not
Not gonna be
Just another trick up your sleeve
I've got all the secrets
All the secrets in the world
But I'm no impostor
"I won't be late. I will not be late for my own graduation!"
"I'm driving as fast as I can! Don't blame me for New York traffic!"
Becca and Garrett have been yelling at each other back and forth for the past 2 hours since their drive back from Pennsylvania. They were assigned to a clean-up mission, AKA the upper agents got the head guys and they were assigned to finish off the small group that had been following them. It was supposed to be quick and painless, that's why the two lower agents were tasked. What they didn't expect was the multiple traps that had been set up all over the land of the shack in the back woods of PA.
After dismantling every single one and then finally taking out the last three guys in the house it was already 5AM. And Becca's ceremony was supposed to start at 9AM sharp. She had no doubt someone at SHIELD was going to be majorly pissed off at her for not heading their first for a debriefing, but right now she needed to end one chapter in her life to start the next one. She could deal with the punishment later.
"We're almost there." Garrett informed her from his position in the driver's seat.
Becca looked up from where she was in the back seat, attempting to modestly put on her dress for the day. She gave herself a pat on the back for deciding to bring along all the essentials she needed for the day just in case something like this would have happened.
"I know I've been yelling at you for the past few hours but you seriously are a life savior." She maneuvered her way back into the front seat, makeup bag in hand.
"I'm sure graduating college is a big deal, so I'll let it slide." He smiled over at her for a split second before looking back at the road.
"Never went to college?" Becca asked, trying to cover up a cut on her forehead.
"Went through a year before SHIELD came knocking. It was for the better. Was never that great with academics anyways."
"Well I think you've found your calling there. I wouldn't have been able to get through last night without you." She finished up her makeup and started on taming her hair.
"Right back at 'cha." Garrett swiftly kept driving through the streets, but not without taking quick glances at the girl sitting beside him. Ever since their encounter one year ago on her birthday, the two have quickly created a good friendship, but not without the subtle flirting that would once and awhile pop up between the two. It was just very easy to be together. "Alright, we're here." He pulled over to the bus zone to let her out.
"I literally can't thank you enough." She quickly leaned across the center console and pulled him into a quick hug, taking him back for a quick second.
"Yeah-yeah no problem."
She hopped out, grabbing her bags from the back seat before leaning in the front one last time. "Do I look like I've had no sleep in 2 days?" She joked, but was also deadly serious.
"You look like a knock-out."
"Interesting choice of words." Becca laughed, before once again thanking him and then proceeding to run across the court-square to get to the hall where the ceremony was taking place. Her bare feet slapped along stone of the steps, trying to look presentable at the people around her, but also really needing to get backstage ASAP.
"Where have you been? Rebecca Stark is never late!" Eve's eyes were wide as they finally landed on her best friend, flush cheeked and maneuvering through the backstage.
"If I told you, you'd never believe me." Becca dropped her bag, finally grabbing her black heels to slip on.
The blonde took a moment to watch her and her thoughts running wild through her head. But as she took notice to bag, the crazed-out hair, and the underlining vibe coming off her, Eve 'thought' she put it all together. "Oh my God, you were with that guy!"
The abrupt statement got a look from some of their classmates, but they were used to Eve's loudness and crude comments after 4 years now. Becca however was still that shy girl, her flushed cheeks now there for other reasons. "You're impossible."
"And you're not denying it. So…was it that Garrett guy?"
Eve had spotted the two out in the city one day and from then on she was determined to get her best friend some action. Becca had told her they just met the night of her birthday when their fight had taken place and they have become friend since. It wasn't a complete lie, just omitting certain truths. "Yes, and no nothing happen. We just hung out last night and I fell asleep at his place. That's it. Woke up late and he got me here on time. Case closed." She pulled her robe on along with her cords.
"Girl, you need to get on that. Literally."
Becca couldn't help the chuckle and slid her cap on over her brunette hair. Not long after, the class of 2010 was told to line up for the procession. As the trumpets start to play, announcing the beginning of the ceremony, the faculty started the line followed by the students. Becca followed her classmates, finally finding her father, Pepper, Rhodey, and Happy in the auditorium as she got to her seat.
The class took their seats, letting the faculty take their turns speaking as well as the guest speaker for the morning. She didn't know if it was the lack of sleep or just living in a weird moment, she was lost in her thoughts. This was an ending of one chapter of her life and heading into a new one. A new one that was starting to change her entire outlook on life.
The walk across the stage started to begin. One row at a time students went up, got their name called, took their diploma and finally back to their seat. She was next. As she was about to move on to her new life.
"Rebecca Maria Stark."
At the sound of her name, Becca began to walk across the stage and clapping and 'woo'ing came from audience. She gave a handshake to the Dean before taking her booklet. As she stepped at the side of the stage to get a photo, her eyes dragged straight to where her family was sat. Most importantly where her father was the only one standing up, staring at her with hands clasped in front of his chest and a purely proud smile decorated across his face. She gave him a watery smile back, before traveling back to her seat.
Making her father proud was one of her greatest trials in life. Not that it was hard for him. Everything she did he was always in aww from her. But this right here was a milestone in her life that she had done all by herself. That she had pushed and screamed and cried and worked her damn hardest to do since she was 6 years old. Telling her daddy that she wanted to be a ballerina and he responded with 'whatever you want, baby girl' and it was in stone. She didn't give up.
"And 1, 2, 3. Smile!"
Becca gave her giant smile, holding her diploma in front of her as Tony took the millionth picture of his daughter. The family was standing at the Hearst Plaza in front of the sculpture in the water so the Julliard sign was present in the background.
"Okay, I think we've had them all." Tony was looking over the hundreds of photos he had taken.
"No, we're missing one." Becca fixed her hair in the wind that was coming around the buildings. "You and me, dad."
"Go, I've got this." Pepper pushed Tony away after she grabbed the camera from him.
The two Starks saddled up next to each other, smiles wide for the camera. "I'm so proud of you, Rebecca."
Becca turned fully to her father now. His face was almost overly emotionless, like he was trying extra hard not to show anything. "Dad-"
"-I just…I want you to know that, Becca. You've grown into a beautiful young woman who has the world in her hand. Don't crush it, embrace it." He delicately tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Just remember that…for whatever it's worth."
"It's worth everything to me. Dad, is something wrong?" It was all around a happy day, but that dread that she had been feeling around her father lately was back. And for once she honestly didn't know why. There was no real reason she could see through.
"No, nothing's wrong. Just um…" Tony cleared his throat, eyes looking around them for a split second. "Did that speech get you to change your mind about Monaco?"
Becca laughed and rolled her eyes, knowing he was being sarcastic but let him play through it. She would figure out his underlying threat soon.
After the events in Monaco, where Her father was attacked by the crazed, Ivan Vanko, Becca's spotlight had grown again in New York. People constantly following her and asking questions regarding the Iron Man suit or if Tony was capable of watching over the US like he says he is. It was a down right nightmare all over again like when he had first announced he was Iron Man. This time however, Becca knew how to slip into crowds without being noticed. But for her own safety and to make her family, mostly Pepper, feel better she had taken the Stark jet out to Malibu for her father's birthday that was going to be a surprise.
Despite not wanting to get involved in the craziness of the media, she wanted to celebrate with her father and most importantly check in to see everyone was staying safe in the 'humble' mansion. She was running late, she honestly didn't even think she was going to make it but the plane landed on the tarmac hopefully early enough to not miss too much of the party, even though she knew it was going to be a drunken mess by the time she got there. Not unusual.
She had changed and got ready on the plane so when she stepped off the step she was thrilled to see her uncle's car waiting for her.
"No Happy?" She asked Rhodey who was leaning against the driver's side door waiting for her.
"I thought this would be easier for the both of us." Rhodey gave his niece a quick hug before grabbing her bag to put in the trunk.
"What you really mean is you want to complain about my father before we get there?" She smiled at him as he closed the trunk.
"Get in the car, we're late." He chuckled, and went to the driver's side.
"Sir, yes, sir." She fell down into the passenger seat and let him get out onto the highway before starting to interrogate him. But it was more of Rhodey trying to talk out why Tony was being the way he was. Which is honestly something people had been asking his entire life. But this time it was more intense and had a higher risk of suicidal tendencies.
Becca couldn't say much. She hadn't been around all the much in the past 2 years because of school and SHIELD and she honestly just hoped that that had nothing to do with it. She loved her father. She would always love her father. And others did too, it just depending on what Tony Stark you were privy to. A few miles from the house Rhodey got a call from his superior, and from her side of the conversation it sounds like Rhodey was officially playing middle man between Tony and the US Government.
"Yes, sir I understand." Rhodey spoke, pulling to the front of the house. "No. No sir, that will not be necessary. I'll handle it. Sir, I personally guarantee that within 24 hours, Iron Man will be back on watch."
That statement fully got Becca's attention looking over at the man sitting next to her in worry. This whole thing was becoming a bigger mess than expected. The two got out of the car, Rhodey handing the Valet his keys. The two made their way into the house, finding people everywhere you looked dressed in cocktail attire. It didn't take long to find Pepper just inside of the hallway towards the entertainment room.
"Pepper!" Becca smiled wide, rushing over to hug the older women. But not without noticing her forlorn face.
"Oh, honey, you actually made it." Pepper squeezed her again before pulling out of the hug to give an uneasy look to Rhodey.
"What's wrong?" The man asked, eyebrows furrowed in question.
She shook her head, grabbing a hold of Becca's hand and giving her a sympathetic smile. "Why don't the two of us get some air, catch up for a bit."
At her words, Becca automatically understood the problem in the situation. "Where is he?" She recalled sometimes as a kid when the two would try to pretend like nothing was wrong whenever her father lost control. They would get her out of the house, going to the beach or somewhere to keep her mind busy while the former would handle the situation with Tony.
Pepper nodded, showing them to the main room where the party was being held with the DJ. "I don't know what to do." She said, more towards Rhodey than anything.
"You gotta be kidding me…"Rhodey's voice became hostile at the sight.
Becca finally got a good look at the scene in front of them. Tony was dressed in his Iron Man suit and was a stumbling drunk. He was falling over himself, tripping into their glass cabinet and just getting applause from the crowd. They were leading him on more and more.
"That's it, I'm making-"
"-No, don't." Becca grabbed her uncle's arm before he walked off. "Please don't call anyone, we don't need anything like that."
"Becca, this is ridiculous! You heard the conversation in the car, I just stuck my neck out for this guy!"
"I know, I know."
"I'm gonna handle it." Pepper spoke up from between them. "Just…just let me handle it."
"Handle it. Or I'm going to have to."
Pepper nodded, before making her way into the sea of a drunken mess of people.
"You know the question I get asked most often is 'Tony, how do you go to the bathroom in the suit?'" Tony spoke on the DJ stage, mic in hand. He waited a second for continuing. "Just like that."
That childish behavior somehow gained more cheers from people, like they would cheer him on for anything just to be on his side of things. It's was disgusting.
Pepper finally made it onto the stage, laughing along with Tony to not make him upset or feel like he was being attacked, and grabbed the microphone. "Does this guy know how to throw a party or what?"
After another cheer, Tony drunkenly moved into the microphone again. "I l-love you…"
Pepper laughed it off and kept going, not dealing with his drunken words. "Unbelievable! 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."
This finally got the to crowd to groan in disappointment. At that point Pepper put the microphone behind her so the two could start discussing things.
"I'm going to go upstairs, I don't want to see this." Becca told Rhodey, who nodded, before she made her way to the stairs. She kept her face down, hoping not to get anyone's attention. She was just climbing the stairs behind the frosted glass before she heard her father tell the crowd the party was over, but the after party was just beginning.
That's when then blast came from her father's glove, shattering the glass next to her, making Becca out of instinct crouch down and cover her head with her arms. She could feel pieces of the glass fall around her and shower on top of her. Nothing crazy, just felt like small scraps in anything. She looked up finally, eyes meeting her father's bloodshot ones.
"Holy Shit! My daughter everyone!" He giggled, getting a cheer from the crowd again, the group of people severely getting on her last nerve. "Well now it's a party!" At that it just got even worse, a girl throwing bottle in the air for him to blow apart and just overall stupid nonsense.
As Becca was shaking her hair out, her hazel eyes fell onto a pair of green ones she knew very, very well. That along with the bright red hair gave her away automatically. Becca didn't need to do a double take to find her colleague in the sea of people.
Natasha Romanoff.
Natasha's eyes widen and began to maneuver her way through the crowd trying to get out, but Becca wasn't letting her out of her sight. The secret spy careful got off her glass covered staircase and followed behind. It was hard to let the vibrant curly hair out of her vision. She finally caught up to her, the heels not in Natasha's advantage, and grabbed her arm. Neither said anything, Natasha just allowed her confidant to pull her into the kitchen where it was slightly less filled with people.
"What are you doing here?" Becca turned towards her once they were in a corner away from most, arms crossing against her chest.
"Look, I can explain-"
"You can explain why you're in my house, clearly dressed for this party," she gestured to the animal print cocktail dress the assassin wore, "and didn't tell me? You can explain all of that?"
Natasha couldn't tell if she was angry or just overwhelmed by finding her here. Probably a bit of both. "Yes, I didn't do this on purpose, Bex."
"Is this your mission from Fury that you supposedly didn't know anything about?"
"I wasn't allowed to tell you. You weren't even supposed to be here this weekend, I was trying to keep you out of this lie if anything happened."
"But this is my family, Tasha." Her arms going wide from her sides, trying to make her point known. "This isn't just a random rogue mission."
"Hence why Fury didn't want to get you involved." Natasha's voice turned stern, her arms now the one's crossed over her chest. "I've been playing shadow around here once Pepper became CEO to try to keep your father under control so SHIELD didn't have to clean up a bigger mess than we have to."
Becca shook her head, sucking her bottom lip in between her teeth. Her hands were itching from anger with her father becoming this way, from Natasha lying to her, and just being so out of the loop in everything that was 'happening' in her life. "You're still lying."
Natasha tilted her head, she wasn't going to show it but she was actually surprised that Becca could read through her so easily. That wasn't something she was used to from other people. "Becca-"
"I'm only going to say this once. Get out!" The red head was cut off by Rhodey's voice booming through the house, clearly from the living room again.
Becca saw the people in the kitchen still and look around at each other wondering if everyone was actually going to leave. "You heard him, get out!" Becca yelled this time, making the guests scurry out of the kitchen. That's when the sound of things being demolished filled the house. Becca looked at Natasha again before rolling her eyes and walking around her. "I can't believe I actually thought SHIELD was going to be good for me."
"Says the girl who's been lying to her family for the past two years."
Becca hesitated in her step, but didn't let the words completely fault her even though they were completely true. The two girls stalked through the house, seeing the crowd now outside staring in through the glass windows and Pepper in a frenzy on the other side of the house.
"Oh, Becca, are you okay?" Her voice shaken after watching the glass shatter over the young girl.
"I'm fine, don't worry about it." Becca pushed it off, trying to give her less to worry about.
"Ms. Potts-" Natasha brought of up the rear.
"-Don't you 'Miss Potts' me! I'm onto you." Pepper's voice turned back to aggravation at the sight of the new assistant. The two SHIELD agents didn't know what exactly she meant by that, and there was a complete second of nervousness. "You know what? Ever since you came here-"
She was cut off by the ceiling crashing in above them with Tony and Rhodey, both clad in iron suits. Pepper backed away with a shriek while Becca and Natasha both automatically went on guard. Happy immediately ran into room and grabbed Pepper and Becca to get them out of the way of the two that continued fighting. At that point, she had lost sight of Natasha knowing that the girl easily got out of the house without anyone noticing.
"Let's get the two of you out of here." Happy started to lead the two women away from the house.
"You guys go." Becca stopped, knowing she couldn't leave.
Pepper and Happy both halted, looking back at her confused. "What? Becca-"
"Get out of here, I'll take care of this."
Pepper stepped towards her again, eyes still filled with worry. "You shouldn't have to always handle this by yourself. He needs to be the one to change."
Becca gave them a shrug followed by a soft smile. "It's what family does."
After her comment, the crowd were screaming and running off in the direction of their cars. Just to get out of their as soon as possible. Becca took that as her cue to run back to where everyone was leaving. From her spot on the patio behind the glass, she watched her father pull himself head first out of the fireplace. He rose his hand to Rhodey while he did it right back, both of them not backing down from the other. As she could see the both of them harboring energy into the glove at once another, she knew she wouldn't survive the aftermath of the blast where she stood. As the two iron men's blast were forming together, Becca was running full force to the side of the patio. Right as she threw her body over the side to protect herself behind the concrete wall, the blast exploded above her, shattering and destroying everything in sight.
It became unnervingly quiet in the warm night air. She slowly stood from her spot, catching Rhodey in his suit take off into the night sky. Becca ran around the large concrete wall to where the steps were located. Her eyes taking in the debris everywhere she looked. Her heart pounding against her chest seeing Tony still in the suit, laying still against the now burnt out fireplace.
"Dad!" Her feet crunching against the shattered glass on the floor as she made her way to his side. "Dad, are you okay?"
He didn't move or take the helmet off, just continued to look past her. "What are you still doing here?"
She carefully kneeled down beside him. "What-I'm here for you. I'm not going to leave you."
"Well you should." His voice was so deep coming from his suit, almost lifeless.
Her face dropped, eyes shiny glass. "No-"
"-You need to leave." He pulled himself up finally and walked out to the patio, leaving her still on the ground. "Go back to New York, Rebecca. Stay there. Stay away from all of this."
She was holding back tears, biting her lips into her mouth to try to stay calm as her father basically told her to get away from him and make it stay like that. "Why are you doing this?" Her voice giving out on her as she called out.
The Iron Man's bright eyes finally looked at her for a second before answering. "Because you're better off." With that comment his suit powered up and he followed Rhodey's path into the darkened sky.
Becca felt like she was suffocating as the one person she thought of as her home flew away from her. Like she didn't mean anything at all. Now she sat in her destroyed childhood house with tears streaming down her face. Feeling once against completely alone, questioning why she even tries so hard.
It had been 3 days since the incident and Becca had all but secluded herself from earth's population. She hadn't had a genuine conversation with anyone, but the small few words with the lady at the market when she was checking out. She was trying to find her balance in a world that was tearing her apart. Becca was never one to start an argument, never one to throw someone to the wolves. She believed in second chances and finding the purity in someone underneath the surface. But that didn't mean she was naive to the corrupt in the world. It was all about give and take, finding that balance.
So, what was her balance?
She had found herself in the basement gym of SHIELD later in the day. Training was over for the day and agents were taking a break or switching shifts. She took the solace of the empty room allowing her shoulders to finally fall from their place pulled towards her ears. She sat down in the corner of the room, the wooden floor cold underneath her. Becca pulled out her phone and searched through to find the playlist she wanted at the moment, the soft plucks of guitar rang through the room as 'Youth' by Daughter creeped into the silence.
Becca let her body roll out, opening the joints and stretching her muscles. Before she knew it, her body having a mind of its own, began to follow the movements of the song. It had started out as a floor routine before slowly peeling herself up and rushing around the room in twirls and leaps. It was a song that she had made a routine to before and it was hard not to give in to muscle memory.
She held the final pose as the song came to the end, her eyes focused on the dark ceiling above her. Her breaths coming in deep steady flow, feeling her anxiety wash off of her body. The concentration was broken at the sound of clapping, making her twist in the direction of the sound and her body falling out of position. Becca found Garrett near the door, a smile on his face and still slow clapping.
"No wonder they gave you a degree." He commented, hands now coming to rest in his front pockets.
"How long have you been standing there?" She suddenly became shy under his gaze, not knowing what to do with her hands.
"Let's just say, your concentration is impeccable when you are zoned out. That routine was beautiful."
"Well, thank you. I didn't think anyone would be coming down here tonight." Becca picked at the end of her ponytail.
His brown eyes tried to search hers, but he could tell she was holding back again. He always had such a hard time reading her. "I didn't mean to interrupt you. I can go if you want me to."
"It's okay."
"It's okay but I want you to leave or it's okay you can stay?"
She finally smiled at him trying to get a read on her that she knew was bothering him. It always had. "You don't have to leave."
Garrett chuckled, taking a few steps closer to her. "You doin' okay, Bex?"
Looking up she couldn't believe how much closer he had gotten to her in just that one question. She wouldn't deny the fact that there was an attraction there between them, making her flustered when they were alone together. But feeling emotionally drained this past week she didn't want to do something she would ever regret. Especially something that would harm each of their futures in SHIELD, and at that point Becca didn't even know where she stood with this organization after everything that has been happening.
"You can talk to me, Becca. I'm kind of a good listener." He barely whispered to her, letting his hand come up to gently push a stray hair out of her eyes. He was too close for her own good and his eyes kept glancing towards her lips, making her nerves spark faster with each look and each feel of his skin on hers.
The sound of her phone ringing from the floor, interrupted the two of them. His hand fell back to his side and her head ducked in embarrassment from not even getting caught, but just the feeling of it. He chuckled at her response, clearly knowing she was thinking the same thing he was at the moment. She rushed over to her phone, seeing Natasha's name written across it. She thought about it for a second, but decided to not act like a child and answer her call. She was still her superior despite their argument.
"I need your help!"
Becca barely got out a hello before Natasha's dramatic response came through from the other line. "Nat, what's going on?"
"We've had a problem at the expo. Justin Hammer's put together a band of iron men and they are currently after Tony and Rhodey."
"What the hell!" Her abrupt curse took Garrett by surprise. "He's not smart enough to do that."
"It's Ivan Vanko. He's behind all of it! How fast can you get to Hammer Industries?" Natasha's voice sounded like she was struggling as she explained.
"I can be there in 10 minutes." She started throwing all of her stuff in her bag.
"If you can be there in 5 I swear to God I'll owe you an extreme girl's night out, all-expenses paid."
Becca laughed and raced out of the room, Garrett on her heels. "Unnecessary. But you do owe me some truth."
"I know. I'm sorry, Bex."
"It's good. I'll be there soon."
"Go about it your way from the top down."
Becca hung up the phone and barged into their gear room.
"What the hell is going on?" Garrett stood at the door watching her rush from one side to another grabbing all of her equipment.
"Sorry, Agent Romanoff needs my help ASAP on a mission. Can we talk later?" She didn't even care that he was still standing there as she peeled off her first layer of clothes and started pulling on her suit. This was her latest design. They were upgrading her each time, trying to make it breathable for her to slink her way through tight spots but also durable enough for fighting and handling all of her arsenal.
It was very similar to Natasha's had more pockets on her legs, arms, and abdomen where she could store her different types of knives. She had a holster on each hip for two guns and her utility belt held extra ammunition at this moment. For instance, she knew blood really shouldn't be spilt on this outing, so she grabbed to batons to give her some upper hand strength. It would change varying on the mission. She had boots that carried more knives and had a backup rope that came in handier then she thought.
"You need help?"
"No, we got it." She smiled tightening her ponytail walking over to him. "I'll see you later." She squeezed his forearm before taking off towards the garage. There was no way she would have gotten there faster without grabbing one of the motorcycles, that way she could weave in and out of traffic at her own pace. It wasn't a far distance to Hammer Industries so she was hoping she wouldn't draw to much of a scene.
She did one lap around the entire building before parking her bike in the alley where it would be easier for her to scale the building. Jumping from garbage can to air conditioning unit and so on and so on she pulled her body to the top of the building stealthily. Becca found the central air duct and carefully maneuvered her body down into the small crawl space. She army crawled until she found the first vent, taking a look through to see one guard walking back and forth, twirling walkie talkie in his hand, clearly board from his shift. She waited patiently until he was directly under her before she dropped down, her hands holding the vent while she swung her legs into his body to where his head collided hard with the plater of the wall, knocking him out in the process. She let her body drop to the ground, taking a look up and down the hallway.
Agent Bex had no clue on which way she needed to go, but if she was looking for a control panel she had no doubt it would be in a secure area in the middle of the building. That seemed to be the way people set up their weapons stations she had found out after the few years now of working from mission to mission. She took the stairwell down taking by surprise the three men that she found on the other side of the door.
"Hey fellas. Want to tell a girl where she can find Ivan Vanko?" She gave them a sugary-sweet smile.
The three advanced on her at once. Just as they were at her, she easily slipped under the second guy's legs, taking out his knee in the process. With number two being down, she jumped back up and stepped on his back to take advantage of the height difference in number one. She jumped up and wrapped her arm around his neck, before using both of their weight to drive him face first into the ground. At that, number 3 had an advantage on her and grabbed her legs. He proceeded to start dragging her down the hall. She couldn't pull or push her legs in her advantage. Having no other choice, she pulled one of her ring daggers from her sleeve. She flipped it around her pointer finger before hurling straight into the man's right shoulder. Number three cried out in pain before dropping her and then himself to his knees. Becca scrambled up and crashed her knee into his face to knock him out as well.
She easily pulled the blade from the man's arm, wiping his blood on his coat before keeping up down hallway. At hearing a large bang, almost like a door being slammed, she made her way down the last hallway the door 8032 easily labeled for controls. She held up her knife and slowly turned the knob to push the door opened. She was prepared to see the Russian man, but all she found were two men hung up from the ceiling and the main controls chair empty. She closed the door hoping to not find a scene before taking a look at the 5 monitors all projecting something different. It was honestly confusing her more than anything as she tried to understand the mission that she was just drug into no more than 20 minutes ago.
The door slammed against the wall behind Becca, getting her to turn around prepared with the knife still in one hand and her gun in the other. She was met with Natasha, two guns aimed and ready to fight, and one very confused man behind her.
"Becca!" Happy's eyes were the size of saucers as she saw the younger girl first of all here and second of all holding weapons up to them.
"Hey Hap." She stuck her gun back in her holster and twirled her dagger before slipping that into her pocket. "Nice of you to show up." She smiled sarcastically at Natasha who rushed towards the computers as well.
"Where is he?" Her redhead began to work away on the system.
"Not a clue, but he obviously knew we were here." She pointed to the two monitors that had views from cameras stationed around the building.
Happy still stood confused beyond belief behind the two women. "What the hell is going on? Becca what are you doing here? How did you get here? You two know each other?" The questions just kept coming out one after another.
"I'll explain later Happy." She patted the older man's shoulder with smile before turning back to Natasha. "What is the plan?"
"Well, first I'm trying to reboot Rhodey's suit. Ivan had full control over him."
Becca studied her process, finding more things she needed to start working on tomorrow to heighten her technique. The system access window opened on the computer, letting them know he had control again. Another window popped up, showing her father inside of his suit. Seeing her father again after the fight they had almost made her walk out of the room, but she knew they were something bigger going on around them right now.
"Reboot complete. You've got your best friend back." Natasha told him.
"Thank you, Agent Romanoff." He said, almost not wanting to but knowing he had to.
"Don't give me all the thanks." Nat gently nudged the girl next to her to speak up, knowing it had to be done now that Happy knew she was someone other than the ballerina.
"Hey dad." Becca's voice came out almost childlike again.
"Becca? Oh, for the love of God, please don't tell me they got a hold of you?" His voice was rushed and concerned, completely different from the last time they talked.
"Not exactly. Look we can talk about it later."
"You're damn right we can talk about it later!" He glared, not able to see them but knowing they could see him.
Natasha noticing the tension decided this was the perfect time to amp it up a bit, taking the steam off of Becca and throwing it at Tony. "Well done on the new chest piece. I am reading significant higher output and your vitals all look promising." She said, feeling Becca's confused face on her.
"Yes, for the moment, I'm not dying. Thank you." His voice held irritation, clearly annoyed to be talking about it with his daughter present.
"What?" Becca's voice exclaimed.
"What do you mean you're not dying? Did you just say you're dying?" Pepper appeared on another screen to the right also shocked by the words.
"Is that you?" Tony asked casually knowing full well it was her. "No, I'm not. Not anymore."
"What is going on?" Becca looked back and forth between everyone.
"I was going to tell you. I didn't want to alarm the both of you-"
"-You were gonna tell us? You really were dying!"
"You didn't let me." He argued with his daughter.
"Was that before or after you told me not to come home?"
"Why didn't you tell me that?" Pepper now stepped in.
"I was gonna make you an omelette and tell you!" Tony's aggravation increasing because of the two women that meant the most to him in the world.
Natasha decided to step in. "Hey, hey. Save it for the honeymoon. You got incoming Tony. Looks like the fight's coming to you."
"Great. Pepper, Bec?"
"Are you okay now?" Becca asked, wanting to really know.
"I am fine. Don't be mad. I will formally apologize-"
"I am mad!" The two said simultaneously.
"-when I'm not fending off a Hammeroid attack!"
"Fine." Pepper deadpanned.
"We could have been in Venice."
"Oh please." Her voice full of irritation.
"Pepper, where are you?" Becca asked.
"Still at the expo."
"All right, I'm coming to you." Becca checked her things before heading to the door.
"Woah! Not so fast." Happy finally spoke up again. "You are not going out there by yourself."
She smiled at him, give him a kiss on the cheek before springing out of the room. Not enough time for him to catch up. She made it to her bike and stared the drive to the park. She got there fairly quick, but was stopped at the police barricade not allowing any vehicles to get in. She threw off her helmet and started running towards the convention center. The sound of beeping stopped her in her tracks. It was loud and sound almost detonating type of beep. She saw one bodies that she assumed was part of the machine's that Hammer and Vanko had created not far from her. The center was lighting up a dark red and that was where the beating was coming from.
Before she knew what was happening, strong metal was picking her up and flying her through the air. If her breathe hadn't been knocked out of her she would have screamed. She didn't even have enough time to see what was happening before she was placed on the roof of a building high enough away from the explosions that started around the city. Becca swallowed deeply before looking up to see Rhodey in his suit.
"Never do that again without a warming." She tried to calm her stomach before she puked and sat down on the ventilation box.
"Noted." Rhodey breathed out his own sigh of relief from first of all getting out of that alive and second from being able to save his niece. He took a seat next to her. The two watching as another object came flying towards them, seeing it as Tony and Pepper.
Pepper screamed and pushed him off of her as Tony's suit seemed to be having an electrical surge throughout. He pulled his helmet off and threw it on the ground, fixing the problem for now.
"Oh my God, I can't take this anymore!" Pepper's hands covering her eyes, nearly having a panic attack.
"You can't"
"I can't take this."
"Look at me!" Tony motioned to the rundown suit he was wearing.
"My body, literally, cannot handle the stress. I never know if you're gonna kill yourself or-or-or wreak the whole company."
"I think I did okay." He said as there is another explosion in the background.
Pepper shook her head excessively. "I quit. I'm resigning. That's it."
"What did you just say? You're done?" Tony thought about it walking closer to her. "That's surprising. No, it's not surprising. I get it. You don't have to make excuses."
"I'm…I'm-I'm not making any excuses."
"You actually were just making excuses. But you don't have to."
"No, I wasn't making an excuse. I'm actually very justified."
"Hey, hey, hey." He spoke softer, trying to settle her nerves. "You deserve better."
"Well…" She looked down, Tony taking her hand in his metal one. "You've taken such good care of me. I've been in a tough spot, but you got me through it, so…right?"
"Thank you." Pepper whispered finally really looking at him. "Thank you for understanding."
"Yeah, yeah. Let's talk clean-up." He moved forward, clearly not wanting to dwell on it.
"I'll handle the transition. It'll be smooth."
"Okay. What about the press? Because you only had the job for a week. That's gonna seem-"
"-well, with you it's like dog years."
"I know."
"I mean, it's like the Presidency-"
Tony barely let her finish before bringing her into a bruising kiss. Rhodey and Becca, the two outsiders of this had very different opinions. Rhodey rolled his eyes, while Becca did the natural response of throwing a hand over her mouth to try to keep the screams of excitement to a lull. She was actually watching a dream of hers come true after so many years.
"Weird." Tony stated after the two broke apart.
"No, it's not weird." Pepper smiled up at him.
"It's okay, right?"
"Yeah."
"Run that by me again." He pulled her into another kiss.
"I think it was weird." Rhodey spoke up, breaking the two apart in embarrassment. "You guys look like two seals fighting over a grape."
"I… had a just quit." Pepper stumbled through her words, not knowing they were there for it all.
"Yes, so we're not-" Tony tried to continue for her.
Rhodey shook his head, while Becca still sat there living in a high. "You don't have to do that. We heard the whole thing."
"You should get lost."
"I was here first. Get a roof."
"I thought you were out of one-liners."
"That's the last one."
Tony chuckled, and looked at his daughter. "Becca, you okay."
Her smile was so wide she couldn't barely hold anything back. "Oh my God. Can I go pick out my Maid of Honor dress now?"
If you couldn't tell, Becca is the #1 Pepperony fan!
Up next: Becca and Tony have a serious talk, What really happen in Budapest, and there is a God among us.
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