The Girl in the Iron Mask

Chapter 1 – Not So Sweet Life

Two weeks earlier…

Though the early June summer sun blazed hot over New York, Jasmine happily breathed in the cool air as she drove down the road, on the way home from school. Today was the last day – and they didn't get out early like they'd promised – but Jasmine, like any sophomore-now-junior in high-school, was relieved that the year was over. Only two more years and she'd be a free woman. Well, not exactly free.

Her parents weren't like everyone else's. Her dad was billionaire inventor Tony Stark, and her mom was Virginia (or "Pepper" as he called her), his wife of eighteen years and personal secretary. But in some ways they were like the usual parents. While they weren't often around, they were protective. Jasmine's sixteenth birthday was four months ago, and she'd gotten her license just a few weeks after. Her dad, however, was still a bit iffy about the notion of her being behind the wheel of one of their cars. Still, her mom assured him that she was a responsible driver – though her parking needed work. But she had to admit, her dad did have reason to be worried; the cars were expensive. Like everything else they owned.

Jasmine didn't mind it – too much. She did admit that not a lot of girls lived in the luxury she did. Growing up, she had everything she could possibly have wanted. But now, what she really wanted was some time with her mom and dad. True, like most girls her age she liked having the space, but growing up she and her parents were pretty close. By the time she hit eighth grade, however, she was seeing them less and less. Jasmine knew it had to be due to work, her dad being one of the richest men in the country if not the world, but still, she would've liked to see him more. And having no brothers or sisters didn't help much either. However, she couldn't help but have some hope that at least one of them would be waiting for her at home, especially on this most important of days.

She pulled up beside the fountain in front, and then hurried toward the front door, eager to get inside to escape the heat. She pressed her thumb into the I.D. pad and then punched in the numbered code before the door slid back, allowing her in. Her shoes echoed as she walked in, but no one was in the living room to greet her.

"I'm home!" she called, "Mom, Dad?"

No reply. After thirty seconds of waiting, Jasmine slumped her shoulders and groaned as she slipped her backpack off and tossed it onto the couch. She really did detest coming home to an empty house. But she decided to compensate the situation by drowning her dull mood in a bottle of coke (plus she was too young to drink). She immediately popped the lip and began drinking the instantly delicious drink as she walked up the stairs to her room.

"Welcome home Miss Stark," Jarvis said over the intercom.

"Not now J," she sighed as she walked over to the balcony that overlooked the sea. She then regretted how she had just said that. Even though Jarvis was an A.I., he seemed like part of the family.

She leaned on the railing, the coke in one hand, her face in the palm of the other. She liked hearing the waves that the ocean created as they slammed against the cliffside the house was built on. She was looking forward to swimming in it. That was, if they got the chance to go together anyway.

Jasmine once again groaned in frustration. She didn't have that many friends. Oh she was popular in school, but whenever someone tried to be friends with her, she couldn't always tell if they liked her for her or her money. Or her heritage. Not only was her dad a billionaire genius, he also used to be Iron Man, and a member of the Avengers, a special team of superheroes from S.H.E.I.L.D., the organization he still worked with. A lot of boys asked her out, but most of the time she had to turn them down, even the really hot ones. Not only could she not tell whether or not they liked her for her, but she also didn't want to be responsible for their demise, since her dad would likely kill them once they wronged her in some way.

Her only real friend was Danielle Foster – the daughter of Jane Foster, one of the country's leading astrophysicists, and Thor, god of lightning and another one of the Avengers. The two had known each other since kindergarten and were practically like sisters. They'd usually talk about boys, clothes, music, their hobbies (Jasmine was into gymnastics while Danielle was into dance), and, more often than any other, their family life. Danielle's parents weren't often around either – her mom's job meant she was often away from home, and her dad's position as a god often kept him in Asgard. Though her dad often visited, it seemed remarkable that her parents were still together.

But none of it mattered now. Tomorrow Danielle would be going to Asgard to be with her dad's people for the summer. It happened every year for the past five years. She spent the school year on Earth while spending the summer in Asgard, where she was known as Thrúd*, and where everyone there, like on Earth, regarded her existence alone as a big deal.

Before long though, Jasmine decided she was tired of moping and doping, and went back inside her room. Once there, she put down the coke, picked up one of the remotes, and turned on the stereo that stood on one side of the room. She liked listening, dancing, and singing to loud rock music whenever she felt down in the dumps. After all, she had every reason to be happy, seeing as how school was over.

However, it wasn't long before Jarvis spoke up over the music. "Miss, I don't mean to interrupt but, your parents are returning."

Jasmine froze mid-dance when she heard those last few words, and she suddenly grew a smile at getting an idea. She didn't have to greet them in the most traditional sense, did she?

"How much longer before they arrive?" she asked.

"Sixty seconds Miss."

"Thank you Jarvis."

Jasmine immediately turned the music off and ran for the living room.

She hurried downstairs as fast as she could – almost tripping at one point – and hid behind one of the golden curtains. Moments later, she heard the door unlock, and two pairs of shoes walk in.

"Oh gee," her dad spoke up, "I wonder where she could be."

Jasmine struggled to hold back a chuckle that threatened to escape her lips.

"She's such a master at hide-and-seek, she could be anywhere."

He came closer, and Jasmine covered her mouth to keep from laughing.

"So she's obviously right HERE!"

Tony instantly grabbed her shoulders and she instantly burst out laughing before coming out from her hiding place to find that her parents were laughing too.

"Afternoon Daddy," Jasmine smiled before hugging him. He hugged her back.

"Hey sweetheart. How was your last day?"

"Nothing to report," she replied as she went over to greet her mom.

"Nothing?" Pepper asked.

"Oh right, report card," she replied nervously. She went back to the couch where her backpack lay, unzipped it, took out a large envelope, and handed it to her.

"Knock yourself out," Jasmine said.

Her mom rolled her eyes as she opened the envelope. Jasmine could be so much like her dad sometimes. She then scanned the paper as she looked at Jasmine's grades, when she got to the last one.

"You got a near D in Spanish?" she asked, her tone of voice very serious.

Jasmine froze as she opened the fridge for some ice cream. "Yeah, I meant to tell you about that," she replied, not looking back.

"And why did you do so poorly?" Pepper asked.

"Well, it would have been more interesting if the teacher didn't make it so boring," Jasmine explained.

"That's not the point Jazz," she replied.

Jasmine set down the vanilla ice cream and the spoon that she'd gotten, and began speaking in fluent Spanish.

"Bueno, verás, yo tiendo a falta motivación si un sujeto se hace aburrido, pero tienes razón. Voy a pagar más atención la próxima vez, mamá*."

Both her parents were now staring in surprise at her.

"Could, could you translate that?" Tony asked.

"Didn't you learn Spanish at one time Dad?" Jasmine asked.

"Well it's, kinda been a while," he replied, making a face, "Let me see that though."

Pepper handed him the paper and he scanned it in the same way she did. He raised his eyebrows at the results. "Acing Calculus and Chemistry. Not bad. Other than the Spanish one it all looks great." He then left it on the coffee table and walked over to the nearby bar.

"Yeah, I remember my teen years," he said, "Though I went to MIT instead of public school. You want one dear?"

"No thank you," Pepper replied.

"Can I have one?" Jasmine suddenly asked sweetly.

"Are you twenty-one?" her dad asked back.

"Just, just a small sip please?" she asked, holding her fingers close to each other to show him the amount she intended, "Just to see how it tastes?"

"Alright," he sighed.

"Really?"

"No."

Jasmine immediately hung her head in disappointment. It wasn't like she was asking to go on a drinking binge. Still, she liked to tease him.

"And if you try to sneak one from me I'm gonna bust you up," he said.

Jasmine, deciding that two could play at that game, walked up to him and asked in a voice sweet enough to give cavities, "You wouldn't do that to a little girl with a face like this?" She then gave him the puppy-dog stare, lower lip out and eyelashes fluttering.

He chuckled and gave her a pat on the shoulder before saying, "Yes I would."

Jasmine gave only an awkward smile.

"But on another subject," he said, "Since it is the end of the school year, what do you say we all go out tonight?"

"Where?" Jasmine asked eagerly.

"Oh I was thinking, that Chinese place you love so much…"

Before he could say anything else, Jasmine was hugging him with strength that would rival a pro-wrestler's.

"You're the best dad in the world, you know that?"

"Yeah," he said the best he could while being trapped in her embrace, "Could you, stop, trying to break me in half?"

"Deal!" she said, letting him go, "I'll go wash up and get dressed!"

She then hurried across the room and up the stairs as fast as she previously came down them.

"Hard to believe she's already sixteen," Tony said after she left, "No one told me how fast kids grow up."

Pepper nodded in agreement. "Before we know it she'll be graduating from college."

"I still say we should've let Jarvis tutor her," Tony said as he sat down on the couch.

"She needs to have some human interaction. And look at what she's become. She's a bright young lady ready to take on the world."

Pepper then put her hands on Tony's shoulders and began to massage him.

"You should be proud of her," she said.

"You know I am," Tony said as he kissed her. Suddenly, his smile slowly began turning into a frown. "I just hope she'll be able to take our news well."

"Is that why you decided to take us out?" Pepper asked.

"Well, partly," he replied, "I just want her to be able to trust us and come to us whenever she has a problem."

Pepper smiled and looked directly at him. "That's exactly what a great father should say." She kissed him again and then walked away. "You'd better go ahead and get ready."

"Oh, yeah." Tony put his drink down and walked away after her, looking forward to tonight, yet, also, not really looking forward to it. He knew in the back of his mind what Jasmine's reaction would likely be. That was the part he wasn't looking forward to.

*1: Thrúd means "strength" in Old Norse. Thrúd is actually Thor's daughter in Norse Mythology. And to be perfectly honest, I have no clue why Marvel never gave her like, her own, spin-off series. In the myth, she's not only Thor's daughter, she's a Valkyrie! Seriously, think of the stuff you could do with that. They could place it in an alternate universe or something like they did for Spider-Girl. It's just…the stuff they could do.

*2: Translates "Well, you see, I tend to lack motivation if a subject is made boring, but you're right. I'll pay better attention next time, Mom."

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