The Changes
Kalia had her degree in hand when she walked across the stage to shake the hands of several deans. As it was her college graduation, she was obligated to stay to the end. As number six in the class ranking, she was to be a part of the photograph of the top twenty-five students that graduated that year. University Tradition. Ugh. She means 'Yay'
After the pomp and circumstance of the ceremonies, her parents met her in the parking lot surrounded by tears, joy, laughter, and pure noise. Like all the other graduates,she threw herself into her mom and dad, hugging the both of them hard. Good god, she was out of college! Away from the numerous all nighters, coffee addiction, nice professors, asshole professors, immature collegiate classmates! Just, finally. Can she repeat it again? Finally! She could start her career as the assistant editor for one of the main journalists of Sola Aelius - an new Magazine on the rise all over North America.
Over their shoulders, she could see a grinning Rhodey and a smiling Tony with the Stark parents way in the back. She let loose a loud giggle, turning back to her parents and kissing them both on the cheeks.
"You invited Howard and Maria? To the graduation? Oh please tell me they're coming to dinner with us? "
Mrs. Rivera glanced back at the Stark parents with a gleam in her eye. "Oh darling, it was rather an interesting conversation. No need for details, love. This day is about you! Howard and Maria have graciously allowed me freedom to their kitchen and dining room; I have quite the spread for you when we get there.
As one they turned sweeping towards the Starks and Rhodey.
"Congrats on the degree, babe! I have a surprise for you later. Or rather a few surprises." He pressed a bouquet of wildflowers into her arms and hugged her tightly.
Meanwhile, the Riveras and the Starks were watching with different expressions on their faces. Mr. Stark was scowling, trying to not look at their embracing kids,just knowing that this fiery tempered girl was going to stay with his son for years if she inserted herself into their lives with that much controversy. Mrs. Stark was glassy eyed and emotional. For one she had a bit too much champagne in the limousine. And two her babies were perfect for each other. They were even the same height! Yes. Slightly tipsy, she was beginning to see the two young people as a couple and she was fairly happy about it. Her son had a nice, responsible, down to earth woman to keep him grounded. Mr. Riviera thought he was doomed to having the Starks as in laws. The kids looked to be just about necking it with that embrace. Mrs. Riviera was beaming happily in the way all moms do when their little girl grows up. She was already planning for the grandchildren.
Kalia, Rhodey and Tony strode off, leaving the parents behind, talking about the upcoming vacation. Howard had insisted upon taking one of his company limousines. All of the party had piled into the car to travel from the graduation. The trio all squeezed in next to each other, still knee deep in their conversation. That left the remaining three quarters of the limo for the four parents to spread out as far away from each other as they could.
The dinner party wasn't as awkward as she thought it would be. They had a good time and she herself had a bit too many glasses of wine. She awakened in Tony's bed, hugging a body size pillow while Tony himself was on the floor with half the blankets. She didn't know, nor did she want to ask how every time she drank alcohol she ended up in Tony's bed. In fact, she was feeling nostalgic. The last time one of them graduated, the same thing happened, but she had awakened to a situation that was entirely embarrassing for both her and Tony.
Thankfully the hangover the next day was nonexistent as she had been sure to drink down multiple glasses of water before bed. Oh yes, nostalgia.
The trio boarded a private Stark jet, flying in relative peace and quiet to Brazil. She did not join in the festivities of the stewardesses dancing on the stripping poles for the boys.
Brazil was a headache inducing melting pot of bright colors,loud smells, piercing noises and overall chaos. She didn't speak a lick of Portuguese, but her Spanish background made it easier to learn some of the language on the fly.
Day one sped by in a blur of drinks and club hopping. She was out of college, damn it, and she wanted to let her hair down after years of studying. She got what she wanted in four years, and she was having the time of her life with her two favorite men. At the end of day one, all three of them could barely stand, having to lean against each other and walls to get up to their room and collapse on the floor or bed. The pre-bedtime process of drinking water was almost skipped, but thankfully Rhodey dragged himself to the sink and filled the ice bucket to the brim.
The next day, Kalia had wanted a new tongue ring to celebrate. She didn't wear it until she could douse the thing in bleach, and then alcohol.
The entire vacation was a blur of drunken happiness and youth; after the fact, she could comfortably say that she couldn't remember much of that weekend at all.
When she got back from the whirlwind time off, she had a huge surprise in the mail for her.
She had gotten accepted as an assistant to the Department-Features Editor of one of the newest magazines based in New York, New York. Sola Aelius was part high fashion, part community oriented, and part country-wide oriented. It was a dream come true.
Her parents and Tony's parents chipped in over five thousand dollars to start an apartment contract and to furnish the apartment. Complete with a large bedroom, a large bathroom, a huge kitchen and a walk-in closet, the apartment was perfect. She had an entire floor to herself and it was above a little sandwich and pizza place. She wouldn't be surprised if the 'Devil's Food' restaurant was on the Stark Industries's payroll. The building was small and only fifteen minutes away from her job. (To be honest, she thought that she was conned into signing the papers for ownership of the entire building. Tony was devious, sneaky, and rich like that.)
The first week at her new apartment was a blizzard of activity. She alternated between shopping with Tony, shopping with her parents, shopping with just her mom, and strangely shopping with the Starks; even Howard spent quality time with her.
Slowly but surely, her bedroom was furnished to her liking; the bathroom was decorated, and then the kitchen. A desk with an SI tested prototype computer was on her desk next to several filing cabinets.
Tony had been kind enough to take her shopping for a brand new wardrobe or two. A summer wardrobe and a winter wardrobe. Seeing as how she moved in the middle of summer for her job, New York was extremely warm and the weather was perfect for light business casual-wear.
Between mass ordering suits of the same style and different colors, and ordering pumps, stilettos and flats of varying styles, heights, and colors, the day was spent on Tony's arms spending what had to be tens of thousands of dollars in New York, New York. This place was damn expensive.
The day before work she packed a backpack full of things. A change of clothes including underwear, tampons, extra cash, hair ties, mints, a briefcase full of legal notepads, snacks, and a case of invisible tongue rings. She wanted to be prepared.
Her eyes were half open when they caught sight of a small key with a note attached. She pulled it off with a small frown of confusion and opened it.
~Look outside your main window. Complements from being a best friend of Tony Stark - Tony Stark~
She felt her stomach jump just a bit as she followed the directions and looked to the window. With a Stark being her friend, anything could happen. There was a personalized little "garage" in the alley with a glass ceiling so that she could see that Tony Stark had gotten her a gorgeous scooter.
"You son of a bitch", she whispered, her toothbrush almost dropping out of her mouth. She held it together for five seconds before she squealed and rushed through the rest of her morning routine.
After eating breakfast, she had her bag on her shoulder and company charge card in her back pocket. Once she locked her doors, she threw herself down the stairs to the ground floor, out the door, and around the corner to the little garage. She started making little squealing noises because for god's sake she had her own scooter! Her Own. Scooter! She pressed a button on her keychain and watched the door move upwards at a far too slow speed. Looking at her watch to check her time, she carefully strapped the backpack to the scooter and inserted the key. She donned the matching helmet and started the vehicle, maneuvering it out of the "garage" and startling in surprise as the door came down after her. She tilted her head and grinned in a way that was slightly scary.
There was a department store around the corner from her job, so she stopped by there first for the coffee maker before entering a workplace that was loud.
Clattering fingernails on keyboards, murmuring voices on telephones, excited lecturing in meeting rooms, and overall an aura of business met her once she entered.
Dressed in a grey pin-striped pair of slacks and white blouse, she did not stand out too much. Comfortable low heels adorned her feet and her hair was pulled back into a smart ponytail; she was ready to work.
Many editors glanced at her and continued working while others gave her a polite nod. She pressed her way to the Break Lounge to set the coffee-maker up.
Once done with the task she hurried to her boss's office, grinning excitedly.
She was starting to make a name for herself. Though her name was rarely mentioned for editing a magazine article, her peers were recognizing the talent and creativity she brought to the table.
It was snowing that day. She had brought out a pair of snow boots that were brand spanking new, never used before. She had hot chocolate and an egg sandwich before driving off to work on her scooter. The drive was slow and took time. Multiple ambulances and police cars raced by her; even though New Yorkers knew how to drive in snow and icy conditions, there were still accidents.
...
She knew something was wrong. There was a supernatural hush as soon as she entered the unnerved her. Terrifyingly so. As she started to shrug off her fur coat and gloves, her boss grabbed her hand and pulled her into his office. Someone closed the blinds and the room darkened slightly.
She glanced around the room in confusion and slowly dawning recognition that something was definitely and horribly not right.
The phone was off of it's hook and her boss pressed it into her hands.
"Hello?"
"Kalia..." It was Tony. She hadn't heard from him in a few weeks and he sounded wrong. She swallowed but her mouth was suddenly dry and she croaked out a question that she couldn't remember asking.
"Tony? Tony, what's going on? I... Something's not right. did you call?"
There was a pause, as if everyone held their breath in the room. You could hear a pin drop in the silence.
"My parents were in an accident...they didn't make it...", he said slowly, stoically.
She gasped, her hand trembling as she pressed it into her mouth to keep from directly sobbing. Tony sounded emotionless to her ears. It wasn't natural. It wasn't right. The feeling in her stomach dropped while her spine stiffened in chilling alarm.
She kept quiet for a few seconds before drawing in strength and speaking at him and her boss.
"I'm going to take two weeks off from work, Tony. I am coming to California on the very next flight out of here; we are going to hole up in your room and never come out, okay?" She starts to button her fur coat up again, her fingers shaking a little too much as she had a difficult time doing so.
She didn't realize tears were running down her face until her voice started shaking. "Tony? Are you listening? Hang in there. I'm coming. Stay strong for me, please." She stood to look at her boss but he was already pushing her out the door and she sprinted to her little scooter, her bag still on her shoulder so she hopped on it, revved it up and floored it as fast as it could go.
The airport was approximately an hour outside of the city. She had time to think. "Oh god. Oh god, oh god, oh god. No..."
Despite the expediting courtesy of Jarvis, the flight from New York to Cali took over 10 hours. She met Jarvis at the airport with her backpack slung over her shoulder and eyes reddened from lack of sleep.
"Young Mr. Stark is already holed up in his room. He had refused to eat the day immediately after, but this morning his breakfast tray was half-empty."
The English tones of Jarvis soothed her ears as they pushed passed tourists and other people to get to their transportation. Not recognizing the brand of car, she only noticed that it was incredibly fast to get her to the Stark Mansion as Jarvis drove.
She did not feel bad checking to see if Jarvis was holding up for himself and the household and Tony. The Englishman was still as prim and proper and well dressed as ever, yet she could see the tightness in the corner of his eyes and the flatness of his lips. The little tells were there and she sighed softly. "Oh, Tones. He's entirely shut off, isn't he?"
The man let out a small moue of distaste for a split second before turning back to his usual stoic countenance. "That has been more of an effect of the acting CEO Obadiah Stane. Not even a day after and the man is harassing Tony about the company. The company can run itself for a month or two, let young Mr. Stark grieve properly!"
Kalia nodded in agreement. "Definitely. If I see this Mr. Stane, I'll be having words with him. Tony's in a delicate place right now." She frowned, though she was glad that two of Tony's closest fr-... "Jarvis, has Rhodey been given the news? Is he on his way?" Her heart stopped for a moment. God, Tony would need both of his best friends right now.
Jarvis nodded firmly, the car coming to a smooth stop in the garage of the mansion. She did not care to look at the other cars, she was on a mission to look after Tony. "Mr. Rhodes has been called and given leave for however long he needs to see after young Mr. Stark." Something in his tone caused her to stop for a second and look his way while retrieving her one bag.
"Is there... something the matter with Rhodey's commanding officer letting him go on leave?" She waited patiently while Jarvis fixed a [delicate] tea tray of coffee and what looked like decanters of scotch.
"The military want to stay in good standing with the new and upcoming CEO of Stark Industries. They have had and will want to have 'first dibs' on Stark weapons." She shivered slightly for his comment was incredibly passive aggressively cold, but still somehow polite.
She however, understood his point and gave a quiet noise in acknowledgement.
"Mr. Rhodes is already here and with Tony in his room. I imagine he is trying to get Tony to open up and at the very least partake in nourishment."
The moment they reached the room, the door automatically opened and Rhodey pulled her into the room. His eyes were reddened and his skin was an ashen shade of grey.
Tony was a figure curled into himself on his desk, an open bottle of liquor next to his hand. She gave a distressed little noise at the sight hurrying to his side and pulling him away from the bottle.
"Oh, Tony-baby." She had to support his weight to get him to his bed. She planned to cuddle him until he felt at least a little better. As they settled into the bed, she did not say a word as she felt her best friend's shoulders shake. Tony tried to hold it in; though he was silent, Kalia felt the tears on her blouse.
Turning her head to Rhodey she had a mouthed conversation with him so she wouldn't disturb the man in her arms.
'Joint funerals?' she made sure to articulate so he could read her lips.
'Yeah. Funerals aren't until Sunday. Family lawyers plan to read the wills on the following Monday.' She grimaced, wondering how the "system" moved so fast. It was only Thursday.
She helped Jarvis, Rhodey, and Stane with the plans for the funerals and the reading of the wills. Things like, making Tony eat at least a little bit, or making sure Tony bathed every time he had gotten drunk and sick... She became something of an assistant CEO getting on the Board of Director's asses to leave Tony Stark alone while he properly grieved. (Jarvis had dressed her professionally, like she was going to her own job, and pointed out the room and time for the meeting and she did the rest; barging in in the middle of the meeting with a quiet but firm demand to let Tony be.) She had gotten the Board's approval to let Tony recover for an entire month.
The meeting with the family lawyers was set for 9 AM the morning after the funerals and the funerals themselves were at noon.
Right this moment the morning of an entirely too bright Friday, there was a meeting with the lawyers, Rhodey, Stane (what the fuck was he doing here, he's not family) and Kalia.
Bradley, the head lawyer and consequently most paid was going through his papers with glasses perched precariously on his long nose. Kalia was seated next to Rhodey at the huge dining room table. She had a glass of water and a legal notepad in front of her.
"As of the first parts of Howard Stark and Maria Stark's wills, and there are several joint wills and separate wills, both of them had wanted to be cremated. As of the ceremony, Maria requested a limousine service with full police escort both to and from the service for one Kalia Rivera one James Rhodes along with their son Anthony Edward Stark."
Another lawyer, white male and middle aged opened the file in front of him and handed out two envelopes to both Rhodey and I. "These were to be given to James Rhodes and Kalia Rivera upon the event of the death of either Maria Stark or Howard Stark." The man looks uncomfortable in his suit and tie, nervously tugging at his collar. "Seeing as how they both are deceased; well, you get the idea. I apologize."
The legal team stood and looked ready to go to a bar to get blasted drunk. Kalia stood and clasped hands firmly with every single attorney, thanking them profusely and having Jarvis show them the front door.
"I'll check on Tony and then read my letters. I'll let you know what they say if they aren't too personal, you know?"
Rhodey nodded, turning on his heel with a neat and precise about face.
Paying no mind to Stane, Kalia went to do as she said and peek in on Tony.
The day of the funerals, Rhodey, Tony and Kalia each dragged themselves to readiness to face the light. All of them did not sleep properly the night before, and regrettably the other two did not stop Tony from drinking his sorrows away.
Kalia was up early, making sure her modest black dress and flats were impeccable. She had personally delivered two glasses of water and a bottle of ibuprofen to Tony's room. She had to check on him a little later. But for now she was in the shower; she realized that it was up to her and Rhodey to pull Tony out of his slump. They had to be strong for both Tony and the outside world.
Before she put on any of her underwear, she donned a robe and travelled across the hall to Tony's rooms. Knocking lightly she didn't wait to receive an answer before going in and staring at the lump in an enormous bed.
She herself felt empty and melancholic. Tony however, she didn't know how he felt. He had a love hate relationship with his father and a somewhat affection towards his mother? But things had been getting better ever since Kalia had been introduced to his parents and they had all matured.
She found herself in his bed snuggled into his side , watching him sleep. Watching the dark circles under his eyes. Watching his [adorable] young adult facial hair. Tony Stark was strangely… beautiful in his mourning. If a little rugged.
Kalia scoots closer, closing her eyes when she feels his cool breath on her face. She didn't mean to fall asleep, but the next thing she knew was Rhodey shaking both of them awake and not being able to breathe until they were all bundled up in their mourning attire and in a limo.
She was not going to lie. Dealing with the press scared her immensely. There was a full police escort and military salute through the city to the cemetery. Paparazzi were trying to get close up looks in the tinted windows, knocking on the glass and generally being a nuisance asking after the legacy of the Starks. When they were bundled into the car, her hand had not let go of Tony's. With each passing moment, the grip on her palm had progressively gotten tighter slowly. Kalia mindlessly brings his knuckles to her lips and presses a kiss to them, not exactly watching what she did.
"Upon forth we commence the second meeting for the reading of the wills. As of the case for one Kalia Rivera, she will receive a sum of one thousand American dollars each month as allowance. The jewelry collection of Maria Stark will be given to Kalia Rivera. The task of organizing and heading the Maria Stark Foundation falls to Kalia Rivera wherein the aforementioned person will receive ten thousand a month for event planning of which all financing will be documented." The lawyer reading through the will had a pinched face; This girl had barely known the Starks and had gotten herself written into not only Maria Stark's will, but Howard's as well. Short term the girl was taken care of ,but thank the heavens the rest of the will will never be seen or heard by this little opportunist. He should have introduced his daughter to the womanizing little Stark. At the very least, his whore of a daughter would have been earning her keep. The nameless, jealous lawyer continues reading the wills in contempt. "From the will of Howard Stark, pertaining to one Kalia Rivera: Access to Stark property in the cities of Malibu, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Japan, and a few more scattered in Europe. Maintenance costs are set aside and will be maintained in the case of need. Along with the apartments, Howard Stark allocates an annual allowance of two hundred thousand American dollars to one Kalia Riviera." The lawyer can't hide his look of outrage fast enough for Kalia to not see it. However, she is preoccupied with looking at Tony and Rhodey with incredibly wide eyes.
Tony has an indescribable look in his eyes, yet Kalia cannot look to deeply into interpreting it before the next attorney takes the stage and finishes reading out the wills.
"There is a letter pertaining to one James Rhodes that the Starks decided to be private; therefore, James Rhodes shall get his letter and we can move on into the readings."
As expected Tony gets absolutely everything else, and the reigns to the company once he turns twenty one.
After signing incredibly legally binding contracts over the wills, Tony stormed out of the room and ignored both Kalia and Rhodey.
The two other friends shared a look before running after their grieving friend.
Before she could realize, she was grabbed by familiar palms and held tight in a strong, unrelenting grip. "IS THIS WHY YOU BEFRIENDED ME? You wanted my parents' money? You snuck your way into both my parents' will and received what you wanted?!" Tony was shouting at her, shaking her in his grip.
Immediately she started tearing up. She knew he was having an alcohol problem but she didn't know it was this bad. She could smell the liquor on his breath, saw the glassy tint in his eyes. She had gripped his biceps in return to hold onto him and she started shaking her head at the very first accusation. The horror of what he was saying was sending torrents of ice down her spine. "What no? Tony I love you! I never wanted anything to do with your money or the inheritance! You have to believe me."
Tony only shook his head in disgust, releasing her, and turning his back to her. His next words would haunt her for years.
"You can leave now. You got what you wanted, why stay in my presence any longer when you don't even like me? Why pretend to be one of my best and only friends I've had for years? You wanted money? You got it. At the very least you didn't have to sleep with me or my parents to get it. "He gave a broken little laugh that was anything but humor. It was more like a pain filled, gut wrenching sob. "I bet you and your parents had this planned out the moment you found about me being your pen pal in high school. 'Oh, Anthony Stark is your pen pal, why you have just got to get in his pants and whore yourself out so you can get thousands, maybe even tens of thousands! Oooh Kalia, just think about it, I mean it wouldn't be any different from what you already do; at least you get paid for doing it!' You missed one thing though. I've never fucked you. Thank god, I'm sure you're the type to poke holes into my condoms to get yourself knocked up and put me in a trap. But thank god for you not being that slutty . I'm sure that you would have gotten more if you turned out to be pregnant with my illegitimate child, you whore."
With each word that came out of his mouth, she took a step back. The horror turned to terror and panic and she couldn't breathe and at the last word she couldn't take it anymore. She released his arms and threw the hardest punch that she could, putting all her effort behind it as she shuddered with horror, fear, uncertainty. Though her mind was racing with emotion, her voice came out calm, icy, and low. "I understand that you're in a hard place right now, Tony. You need to calm down."
Tony had railed back into the opposite wall, blood streaming down his face as he held his hands to his nose with curses running from his mouth. "ME! I NEED TO CALM DOWN, she says!" He sounds as if he's crying now. " Get the fuck out of my life, you two timing, scheming bitch. Find someone else to fall into bed and maybe you'll get the entire company and not money and access to my property." She shrieked, jumping forward to punch him again but Rhodey wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her from the hallway. She's yelling at Tony, tears pouring down her cheeks because not only is she angry. She's horrifying sad that this relationship is ending in such a way. She knows she will have to get treatment and therapy for this. " You'll get your wish Tony. I'll be out of your life forever now. Just remember who your actual friends are!" The door slammed shut with finality.
Through her emotional upheaval and tears, she didn't see past Rhodey. If she did, Tony would not have been the person she punched, for Obadiah Stane had the most terrifying smirk on his face.
Author's Note: Okay, the end scene was difficult to write because I had to find the nastiest thing a guy friend could say to a girl friend and then multiply it by 100 to go with the situation. You guys probably want to punch Tony too, but alas there will be some happiness to come!
I also need a beta that would suffer through my abuse .
Epilogue:
"You have to be as relentless as Christine Everhart with him, Kalia. You know you're too sweet of a reporter and journalist to be out in this field. We want the nitty, gritty, ugly and you're just this innocent little thing that's all smiles and sunshine." Her boss Jocelyn Sidney was a real hard ass of a Chief Editor. Her job title officially was Second journalist, but realistically she was the errand girl, personal assistant, writer of the "Girls Try this When In Bed With Your Man" and the "Guys, We're Usually Faking It Unless You're Doing This" columns in the magazine, and sometimes reporter for the times when Boss wasn't happy with the information she received. Did she go to college for this? Well, technically she did for some of it.
She was 34 years old, looked 24, had the same dark caramel skin tone, smooth as cream, thick and dark hair, pouty lips and 5'8 frame of a dancer. She worked out; she tried to eat as right as she could; she quit Solas and applied for Vanity Fair which she got after five years.
"Who am I trying to interview after Christine fucks, I mean gets through?"
She rolls her eyes, knowing good and well that Boss lets her say certain things because she's such a valuable member of the team.
Boss smiled at her best worker, pointing to a former Vanity Fair magazine cover with a very familiar set of eyes featured on the front page. " Tony Stark."