Day 2:
So there I was, standing outside the restaurant, waiting for Tony and Pepper to arrive. He insisted that Pepper would force him to be punctual, so I was there at promptly 7:00, waiting for them to arrive at 7:30.
I was to observe, as Pepper said, and stalk, as Tony put it, the reporter waiting for them, who was already there by the time I got there.
I wasn't even dressed paticularly fancy, just... A nice sleeveless blouse and jeans.
Why was I there early? Well I guess you could say that Tony wanted to dodge a bunch of flashing cameras catching his PA and a weird girl tailing them.
Unfortunately, Tony had reserved 2 tables, unbeknowest to the reporter I was stalking- ahem, observing- and I couldn't get in until he arrived.
So I was standing outside -with a big headache, mind you- watching the reporter fidget anxiously with her makeup, doing constant checkups, and fix what looked to be a camera in her necklace. I was watching her quite closely until she went back into a black vehicle at 7:17, exactly.
That's when a drop of rain smattered on my forehead.
"Great. Just great." I mutter a swear, and try to form a small negative energy shield to keep me dry, but my powers are weaker than I'd like them to be from the headache. I swear again, as my hair and my bare arms start getting soaked as the rain pours down harder.
The one day I don't bring a coat or an umbrella, I think bitterly, and glance around to find shelter.
That's when I feel a light blazer drop on my arms like a cloak, and rain stops hitting my forehead.
I spin around to see Sam grinning his signuature crooked grin at me. He's wearing a light blue dress shirt and black dress pants. "Hi!" He says, looking at me up and down.
I feel a smile sneaking up on me.
"Sam," I say slowly, happy but slightly confused, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be-"
"With the Flash, I know, I know." The ultrasonic speedster nodded. "And before you scold me, I'm supposed to be at some formal party," He gestures to his clothes, "But I thought I should step outside for some air."
He's only holding the umbrella over me, so he's getting soaked, his hair flattened against his forehead, and his clothes clinging to him.
"You should be getting back," I say, disapproving, but hugging the blazer. It's not that I'm not grateful that he's here, it's just that I'm worried that the Flash wouldn't be all too happy when he notices that his student is here, and not at the party.
"He's not going to notice I'm gone for long." Sam reaches one of his hands up to brush his wet hair out of his eyes.
"Sam, you're going to freeze," I say, my eyes narrowed as if I'm mad at him, "come stand underneath the umbrella."
His eyes are blown wide. A small step back. "With you?"
I roll my eyes. "Yes, you nit-wit."
A small disapproving look flashes across his face, but then a mask of a smile slips on top. "It's alright, I'm already soaked."
To avoid his gaze, I check my watch. 7:26 already? How time seems to fly by.
More cars pulled up, and paparazzi climbed out, all of them waiting anxiously for Tony. Seriously?
The woman climbs out of her black car, fresh makeup on her face and holding an umbrella. She was wearing a cream coloured dress, but she's changed into a black one.
Typical people who want to impress Tony.
Sam hands me the umbrella, but it's his smile that warms me up. "Talk to you soon, okay Mace?"
"It's Macy." I mutter under my breath as he runs off, disappearing.
At exactly 7:29, a black limo pulled up, and out climbed Tony, sunglasses on, despite no sun, and holding an umbrella over his head. Pepper trailed close behind, a crisp blue blouse and black pencil skirt matching a light blue umbrella.
The reporter nearly burst over to him, but she was too busy applying another coat of shiny red lipstick on her already red lips.
If you didn't figure it out already, the reporter had FINALLY, according to Jarvis -He actually talks to me sometimes- gotten an interview with the 'elusive Tony Stark/Iron Man' that they had been planning for months.
Tony's hair and suit was crisp and clean, which I found weird, because when I first met him, he had grease stains on his pants.
As soon as Pepper saw me, I notice her wanting to hesitantly take my arm, but she changed her mind, and motioned for me to follow behind the reporter and Tony.
I sat at a table beside them, a little bit further than I would've liked, but still within earshot. Tony pulled out the reporter's chair, but Pepper sat herself down.
I found this... Slightly odd.
I thought, you know, Tony and Pepper were... Pepperony.
And I'm not joking, that's what the fandoms called them.
"It's very nice to finally meet you Mr. Stark." She shook his hand for the first time. "I'm Caitlyn Grey. Thank you for scheduling this interview-"
Tony cut her off slightly politely, but slightly rudely at the same time, if that was possible. "Yes, Caitlyn Grey. I've seen your pretty face on television many times."
She flushed red, from her neck all the way up to her face.
Was he... FLIRTING?
I found myself constantly glancing at Pepper -un-naturally, as I was supposed to look like I didn't know them- to see her reaction, but she looked as composed as always, focusing on cutting her steak -with pasta and broccoli alfredo- into neat little edible sizes.
Tony sips his glass of -something alcoholic, it's hard to see in this lighting- and I continue watching, almost obviously, while trying to eat whatever I might have ordered. I'm pretty sure it's pasta too, but like I said before, the lighting, terrible.
"So," The reporter shuffled a little in her chair, as she sifted through her head for a question. "Do you really have-" She clears her throat gently, tucking a wisp of blond hair behind her ear. "The metal in your chest?" At this point, her voice is low.
He winks at her, and says, "I could show you."
I cough, hacking at a piece of too-big broccoli lodged in my throat, and when they stare at me, I drown my coughs in my ginger-ale, nearly choking to death.
Tony and Caitlyn turn away, ignoring me, but Pepper looks a little concerned.
Tony wipes his fork clean, and raps it on his chest, on the arc reactor, projecting a noise that makes Caitlyn jump a little.
I wipe the corner of my mouth because the ginger ale is dripping out of it.
"And, are you..." Her voice is still pretty low, as if she's worried. "Dependant on it?"
He smiles at her, baring his teeth. "Something tells me a clever reporter such as you already knows the answer to that." Tony reaches his hand across the table and tucks another escaped wisp of her hair behind her ear.
The lighting is bad, but I can still see her go even redder. She stands up. "Please excuse me," And disappears to the bathroom.
Tony releases a huge breath, and I stand up, tailing her. I turn ghost and float through the door.
She's standing over the counter, gripping the sink so hard her knuckles are white. She looks up at her reflection, and digs into her purse for her makeup. She applies another layer of thick mascara, and coats her lips with red again, making them slick and shiny. Then she lets down her hair, and runs her fingers down it.
Something tells me she will do anything to get this interview, and Tony wants to make her forget.
When she walks back in, she's more confident looking, and her head is held high, hair trailing behind her.
She orders another glass of red wine.
That makes two.
I sit back down at my table as Tony and her continue chatting. Meanwhile, Pepper is occupying herself by texting underneath the table. Rude, but if your boss is flirting away with some reporter and you're the third wheel, what else can you do?
Tony seems extremely at ease, but Caitlyn is drinking her wine like there's no tomorrow.
"Third time's the charm." Tony says, in a low, deep voice, and pours more red wine into her cup as red blossoms on her face.
At around 9 p.m, their 'interview' as they would put it, or 'flirting fiesta' as it really was, is forced to come to an end.
"So Mr. Stark-"
"Please, call me Tony."
"Mr. Star -Tony, are you sure this is..." The reporter -Caitlyn Grey- pauses, pursing her lips. "Appropriate?"
Tony makes a face -that is clearly fliritng- and I raise an eyebrow automatically. Pepper is still scrolling through her BlackBerry, while they all get up.
I'm supposed to leave exactly 1.23 seconds after them, but who cares?
I pluck the blazer off the back of my chair and follow them, and Pepper finally tucks her phone away as Tony, her and Caitlyn get into the limo, dodging the flashes of cameras and the grabby hands of fans.
I dodge behind them and turn ghost, floating into the limo, in the passenger seat.
The divider between the driver and Tony in the back was scrolled up, so I quickly materalized without thinking.
This is how I met Happy Hogan.
When he saw me, he nearly veered to one side, but he kept his cool, almost attacking me, if it wasn't for me whispering harshly, "Don't attack, don't attack-"
He calmed down and ordered me, as loudly as he dared, "Are you the girl for the thing that sir signed up for?"
"If you're talking about Hero's Week," I said, referring to the proper name, "Then yes. Name's Macy Terreth, daughter of demon."
"I'm Happy Hogan, son of a human," He said, not taking his eyes off the road. "Everybody calls me that. Nice to meet you, Macy Terreth."
"Sorry about... Materalizing out of nowhere."
"Yeah, in case you haven't noticed, humans aren't exactly used to that. Don't do it again."
When we arrived back to her house, I don't know how Tony managed that, I didn't get out. Tony and Caitlyn were walking beside each other, her step swaying.
It was clear that the third time was the charm. She was drunk, and hopefully by tomorrow, she would forget most of it, and her boss would get mad that she allowed herself to be wooed by Tony Stark.
They should've forseen this.
I have to admit it, Tony is good for a billionaire who talks to robots and lives on the side of a cliff. He comes back out holding a necklace and a smile on his face.
When we get back, I head straight to my room to change, and read.
I lay on the bed, hands on my stomach, thinking.. Then I flipped over again and started reading from where I left off.
'And just as the evil dragon raised it's foul head, in taking the stenching polluted air, I raised my arms and-'
Someone knocked on my door, the light sound pounding in my head.
I flipped the book over and went over to the door, opening it.
Pepper is standing there, dressed in a long sleeveless blue low-cut gown with a flower on the bottom that looks like it might be pretty itchy.
"Hello." She gasps, sounding as if she's out of breath.
"Hi." I reply. "You uh... Look nice." I say, gesturing to her dress.
"Thank you." She smiles at me gently, but also a bit oddly, like she always has smiled at me. "Are you busy?"
"... No." I say. "Do you... Want to come in...?"
"Do you mind?" She says rhetorically as I walk back over to the bed. She shuts the door behind her.
I start picking up my books on the ground. "Sorry, my room's a bit messy."
She laughs and just sits down on the chair at the desk.
I perch on the bed.
Silence grows between us, until she says, "Did Tony tell you about the convention we have tonight?"
I freeze. "No."
"Well he did say it might've slipped his mind. You didn't happen to pack a dress, did you Macy?"
I just sit there, my eyebrows raised, looking quite shocked and angry at the same time.
I think he didn't tell me on purpose.
Feeling like I might just explode, I hold my breath, to make sure I don't crack a window. I close my eyes and say, through gritted teeth, "No."
If there's one thing I've learned about my powers being controlled by my emotions, it's that no one cares how you feel. They just don't want you to break anything.
Pepper bites her lip. "Hang on," She says suddenly, looking as if she just got a brainstorm, "I think I have just the thing. Wait right here."
And she runs out my room.
When she comes back, she drops a black dress on my bed. It has sleeves and quite a high collar. It goes to my calves, a gold sash as a belt. It's quite simple, but I still don't want to wear it.
"If it's all the same to you Pepper," I say, trying to be as gentle as possible, "I think I want to stay home. I am 16. And a superhero."
"Oh no. Tony insists that you must go, otherwise-"
At this point I purposely tone out, my mind reeling. How dare he, I think angrily, fuming, he thinks I can't stay at home without breaking anything of his? He wants me to go and have to mingle with old people. Well he'll see. He'll see Macy Terreth mingle.
As soon as Pepper left the room, I made a couple of my own adjustments to the dress. I'm sure Pepper would be okay with it. After all, I don't think the dress would still fit her, and if it wasn't okay with her, I could give her enough money to buy a new and better one and then some.
Not that she would need my money, anyway.
I ripped the hem of the dress, ending it just above my knees instead, turning the straight line into jagged ends, some longer than the other. Then I ripped the top off in the same way, talking the sleeves and the high collar off, turning it into a strapless dress. I do the same thing with the golden sash, ripping the ends, and dip dying the ends black and blood-red. I tie it around my waist as it was before and pull it tightly, holding in at my waist. I wear black and purple striped stockings as well. Pulling my boots over top, my hand gently brushes the knife that's been strapped to my leg. It shows up too much, it's sharp edge protruding, about to break my stockings' fabric if they weren't made of titanium. So I take it out of my stocking and strap it to the back of my thigh instead, underneath my dress. That'd ought to show Tony just who can control me by telling me what to wear.
I tie my hair up in a short braid, and stomp down the steps on purpose and see Tony fidgeting in a tuxedo.
He stops when he sees me, and his smug grin disappears. "What did you do to Pepper's dress?"
"Nothing. I like it better this way." Now my face has a smug grin on it.
"I... I..." He tries to make a smarter comeback.
"Yes, Tony?" I ask, smirking. "I know you told Pepper I would like this dress, before I re-vamped it."
Tony's grin suddenly finds it's way back on it's face, but with more evil mixed into it. "Her great-aunt gave her that dress. It's priceless."
My jaw drops.
I am officially on the bad side of Pepper now.
Pepper comes up from his workshop, saying, "Tony, I found the-"
Her jaw drops when she sees me in what used to be her dress. "I..."
"Sorry Pepper," I stutter to her, "I could buy you another one. I just did it to-"
"I like it." She says, smiling at me. "It looks the best it's ever been. Well Tony, are we ready to go?"
Tony can't stop glaring at me. "I guess. Now remember Macy, you're my cousin on my mother's side's daughter's nephew's son's wife's cousin three times removed's daughter."
"So... I'm your relative." I conclude.
"No, you're my cousin on my-"
Pepper stops him before he can repeat it again. "Yes, you two are related. And also, remember that if these people find out that you are a superhero, they will freak out. Literally."
We leave the house and get into his nice car, a black Lincoln, Pepper sitting in the passenger seat behind him.
"Why can he go around being Iron Man when I've saved the world before? Twice!" I argue.
"Because people actually know who I am, unlike you." Tony says back to me.
I let out a defeated sigh and roll my eyes, pulling down my seatbelt.
We drive past many streets in silence before we actually get there.
Tony opens his door and then gets out to open Pepper`s.
I just open mine and get out.
The sidewalk is wet, and as soon as Tony and Pepper get out they start crowding around them, flashing many pictures, and Pepper grabs onto my arm.
"What am I supposed to do?" I ask through closed smiling teeth as Tony and Pepper wave at all the flashing cameras.
"Mingle!" Tony says, also through gritted teeth.
"Yeah, like I'm going to mingle with a bunch of old hags." I mutter.
Tony shoots me an angry look and we finally get inside. It's more of a party, less of an actual convention. Lots of people walk around, holding wine glasses and chatting, and as soon as they see Pepper and Tony walk in, they push right past me to talk to Tony.
I drift off, and wander around a bit. Then I see a familiar looking man standing around by himself, one hand in his black blazer's pocket, sipping a tall glass of champagne.
Slipping through a crowd of people, I make my way to him.
He smiles when he sees me.
"Peter Parker?" I ask, as if I'm hallucinating.
He raises his glass slightly at me. "Macy Terreth. It's nice to finally meet you."
My jaw slightly drops. I'm standing in front of Spiderman, the living legend.
Basically.
"Can I get you a drink?" He asks.
"Um..." I want to say no, but then I see the same sweaty Gerald start walking towards us. I grab Peter's arm. "Yes please."
He leads me to the bar. "What would you like?"
My eyes scan the room for something that I can drink, and actually not get drunk.
"Iced tea." I squeak. My voice came out weird that time. I clear my throat.
Peter leans over the counter and orders an Iced Tea as I stand beside him, holding my arm awkwardly.
Gerald has found me again. I quickly try to stir up a conversation between Peter and I.
"So... What are you doing here at a 'no superheros except for Iron Man' convention?"
He smiles as the bartender slides my drink over. I start to pull out a couple of coins but Peter already has them on the counter.
"Thank you." I mutter quietly, starting to sip the iced tea.
"I could ask you the same thing." He smiles. "And it's no problem."
"You know, the hero's week thing. Why didn't you sign up?"
He whisks his champagne around in a swirly motion. "I didn't want to." He answers as he takes a sip. "Why are you avoiding that man?"
My eyes widen. How on earth did he know? "How did you-"
"I'm Spiderman." He smiles, and takes another sip of his champagne.
"Well uh..." I take a sip of my iced tea. "I know I sound like a kid, but he gives me an icky feeling."
"Like your own spidey-sense." He laughs, and I give a small giggle.
"True."
"So, I have to admit, I've always been slightly interested in your powers."
"Why...?"
"You were born with them. You are part demon. It's very interesting that half of you is something different. If demons exist than wouldn't that mean that God exists?"
My head sears a little at the mention of God. Stupid demon body rejecting anything pure that's fighting my demon father.
"But I'm more interested in your history." He smiles at me gently, like a big brother would. "Mind sharing?"
"First tell me why." I feel safe with Peter, like how I feel when I'm with the team. "Then maybe I'll share a little."
"It intrigues me." He says, leaning against the counter of the bar, "Your history is kind of like... Mine. Only you've had powers since you've been born."
"It's a very long story." I sigh, not wanting to get into details. "But then again, I do want to avoid the man."
Peter chuckles, but then his phone buzzes once. "I have to go." He says, smile not fading. "Some other time?"
"Sure. Going to meet Mary Jane?" I say, also slightly smiling.
"No. The Green Goblin is marrying my aunt."
My smile evaporates. I heard what he said, but, "What?"
"No, I'm joking. Mary Jane wants me to meet her somewhere."
"Good bye, Spidey." I said, waving.
"Good bye Macy Terreth." And he disappears into the crowd.
I perch myself up onto one of the red chairs at the bar and take another sip of my iced tea.
I stare at the floor, watching my boots.
Someone clears their clogged-up throat in front of me. Please don't be who I think it is.
Please be Spiderman, I think, please be Tony. Anybody but...
"Gerald." I say, not looking up.
"Hullo young lady." He says, wiping his sweaty brow with his handkerchief. "Mary was it?"
I don't answer, just glance around, hoping for someone to save me.
Pepper glances over, but I don't have enough time to flash her a look that says 'SAVE ME!'
But I'm Macy West, if nobody wants to save me, I'll save myself.
He hiccoughs, and I slide off of my seat. "Um, I think Tony needs to talk to me."
Gerald reaches his bloated sweaty arm and grabs mine. My arm looks like a small chicken bone compared to his super bloated one. "Are you sure? He looks kind of busy."
I look over to Tony, who's laughing with some random guy.
I need a miracle.
And my friends deliver exactly that! My communicator buzzes, screaming for me to pick it up.
"I gotta take this," I say and I break out of his grip, running out of that hot stuffy room, and out of the party hall. I sit on the steps, ripping my boots off, wiggling my toes against the cool night air.
"Let me just say-" I announce, flipping my communicator open, "How glad I am, to see you."
"It's nice to see you too!"
I sigh. Not who I was hoping for, but he'll do.
"Sam." I smile gently. "What're you doing?"
He grins back, and I notice that even though I haven't seen him for two days, his hair has grown out a little more, but not long enough for the untrained eye to notice. His deep bags under his eyes only deepen when he talks. "I finally have time to talk to you," He croaks, and then guzzles his bottle of water, "I had to run around the world today. Five times. What about-" He clears his throat, "You?"
I sigh and think about the pizza.
And the old people.
And Gerald.
And the dress.
And the party.
And meeting Spider-Man.
And the iced tea.
So I just smile, and say to Sam, "I may tell you later. After the end of the week."
Sam smiles, and off screen, someone yells his name. He groans. They yell something else. "I have to run around the world again," He says groaning. "Mind telling me where you are?"
I don't say, and just raise my eyebrows. But then he's gone off screen.
Suddenly a gust of wind picks up my hair, and a black rose is left in my hand.
Sam appears on the screen, and he grins at me, using that signuature half raised eyebrow. "Never mind. Found you."
I roll my eyes, but the rose doesn't wilt. "I'm going to kill this, just so you know."
He just shrugs. "I have to go. It's getting late here."
I nod. "You're about 2 hours ahead, aren't you?" I ask.
"Yeah. It's 12 here, and there it's 10, I'm guessing."
"Whatever. You better get to sleep before the Flash makes you."
"He'll have to catch me first," Sam comments, making a small smile twist on my face, "And don't lie that you don't like the rose, because I know of all flowers, you like roses best. And black ones."
"And how do you know that?"
"Because they're beautiful and deadly. Just like you."
"... This doesn't mean I still don't dislike you." I say, a playful smile now slipping onto my lips, and he just shakes his head, and signs off.
I shut the communicator, and smile at the rose, twirling it around in my hand.
'Because they're beautiful and deadly.'
I put my shoes back on, and slowly tromp inside.
'Just like you.'