The Unknown Variable
Hey, back again. First I would like to thank those who have fav. Or followed my story and to my first reviewer! Ya! Oh, I haven't mentioned this before but this is AU, it will be following the movies but it is AU... if that made any sense to you... pat yourself on your back!
On with the Show!
I do not own anyone but Penny, they belong to Disney and Marvel and later, JK Rowling.
Music blared loudly as Pepper and I walked down the stairs. The trash taken care of and my program running smoothly, Tony was working on one of his cars as the earsplitting music pounded across the garage/lab.
As Pepper typed in the code for the door I turned down the music. Pepper was on the phone while I was carrying a clip board with papers that Tony had to sign.
"Please don't turn down my music." Tony said not paying us any mind as he continued to work.
"You," Pepper said as she hung up the phone, "are supposed to be half way around the world right now."
I quickly grabbed my vibrating phone as Pepper took care of some recent business with Tony; I was trying my best to reassure Rhodey and the jet's pilot that Tony would be arriving soon.
"Your flight was scheduled to leave an hour and a half ago." Pepper informed Tony as I hung up on an upset Pilot.
"And your Pilot isn't very happy 'bout it." I inserted quickly.
"That's funny; I thought that with it being my plane and all, it'd just wait for me to get there." He replied, still tinkering with a car engine. "The Pilot as well;" He added for my benefit.
"Tony, we need to talk to you about a couple of things before we get you out of here." Pepper said as I stood next to her, waiting for the right time to step in. After all, Pepper had been dealing with Tony much longer than I had.
"I mean, doesn't that kind of defeat the whole purpose of having your own plane if it departs before your arrival?" Tony asked wiping his hand on a cloth and standing up.
I rolled my eyes as Pepper walked Tony through a new deal's updates before I walked up to Tony and said, "I need you to sign this before you get on the plane," As I handed him the pile of papers.
"What? You got plans?" Tony asked, raising his eyebrow as he signed the papers.
"As a matter of fact, I do." Pepper said. I sighed quietly, Tony couldn't even remember her birthday.
"I don't." I replied, Tony flashed me a smile before turning back to Pepper.
"I don't like it when you have plans."
I snorted and said "Not everything is about you, Tony." Tony ignored me but I saw Pepper's lip twitch upwards.
"I'm aloud to have plans on my Birthday." Pepper told her boss.
"It's your birthday." Tony said totally clueless as I shook my head sadly; this wasn't going to end too well.
"Yes," Pepper replied sadly, though I wondered why she was sad about it being her birthday. Was it because Tony forgets or something else?
Tony was still clueless as he said, "Already?"
"Yes, isn't that strange? Same day as last year." Pepper said smiling lightly, with a touch of sarcasm under her words.
It took all my willpower to keep from laughing my head off right there and then. But I couldn't stifle a chuckle that thankfully went unheard by the elder pair.
"Ok, get something nice from me." Tony replied flippantly.
"You could always get her something yourself." I spoke quietly, backing away slowly. I was thankful that the pair didn't hear me and I was able to dash up the stairs as my pocket vibrated.
I pulled out a small black cube out of my pocket that resembled an IPod, but it was anything but.
I quickly pressed two buttons on the screen before walking into the bathroom. My copper colored curls were hanging freely around my face.
I quickly placed the small black cube between my teeth and pulled my hair back; placing the cube on it before wrapping it and tying it back with a rubber band.
Now, not only was the vube hidden, but my hair was in a nice but messy knot on the back of my head with a few strands of hair framing my face.
I had a feeling I was going to need it; and one thing that I have learned is to trust my instincts.
About twenty minutes, two annoying phone calls, and one Tony check later, Pepper and I were standing in the hall, waiting for Tony.
I don't like the Jericho missile; it was most likely the one weapon out of the Stark collection that I hated the most. In truth, I didn't like any of the weapons Tony made; he had so much more potential that could be used to create better things then just warheads. But of course, it wasn't my place to tell Tony, or try to influence him in any way.
No, until the time was different, my job was to do whatever Tony told me to, and step carefully.
"Penny," I turned towards Pepper who was standing right beside me.
"Yeah?" I responded, jolting out of my thoughts.
"I know that you won't like this, but... I want you to go with Tony. Someone needs to keep him out of trouble." Pepper told me. I didn't want to go, but you can rarely talk Pepper out of an idea.
"Pepper, I have three meetings and conference calls today that we just can't..." I protested, but she interrupted me.
"Already taken care of. Please, just try to keep him out of trouble." Pepper pleaded with me. "But also... keep yourself safe." She said before turning back towards her phone.
"Wow, she must be really worried." I thought to myself before nodding and sighing.
Why did I have such a bad feeling about this?
I looked out upon the scenery speeding by; Tony and Happy were racing... again. We finally got Tony looking presentable, when he was practically crying because his favorite car, which he wanted to drive, wouldn't start.
They didn't know what was wrong with it, and it would take longer than we had to fix the problem. Pepper suggested that he just take another car, but Tony looked like a two year old whose balloon just popped. It was sad and funny at the same time. While Happy and Pepper tried to get Tony into a different car; I got behind the wheel and turned the key.
They car didn't start, so, after making sure that no one was watching, I turned the key again, but this time my fingers alighted with tiny sparks.
With a loud roar the car came to life, Tony was practically crying with happiness.
"How did you fix it?" He managed to choke out as he got behind the wheel and Happy in his car.
I shrugged before answering, "It just needed a special touch." Then, sadly, I got into the car alongside Happy and sat in silence as they sped off.
I had put my laptop, which would be done with the programs within two hours, in Tony's workshop. While I trusted Pepper, I didn't want anything happening to it while I was gone.
Rhodes was not happy when we finally arrived at the jet. Tony just brushed him off as he entered, and I rolled my eyes at his antics.
"What are you doing here?" Rhodey asked me as I entered the plane.
"Keeping an eye on him." I responded jerking my head towards Tony.
"Well, good luck with that." He told me before going and sitting with his friend.
I sat in the back of the plane, away from Tony and Rhodes, since Pepper had cleared my plate for the day I had nothing to do.
Pulling out the small glass tablet that Tony made for me, I plugged in my ear buds and was lulled to sleep by the engines of the jet.
Grey mist swirled around me, everything was hidden from sight, I didn't know where I was, or how I got there.
Suddenly, the mist was filled with voices, some loud, some soft, all speaking at the same time. I could only make out a few words here and there.
Flash
"- surely you can stay... the children need you-"
Flash
"-Agents report to the Bridge... please Lynx reconsider-"
Flash
"-Aequivalere, please, I don't understand-" "You shall, someday,"
Flash
"-get your chance,-"
Flash
"Trespasser!"
FLASH
"You don't have to do this alone!"
"-, it's so much more than just a Title."
FLASH
"I never asked for this!"
"But they choose you, you are their Master now."
!FLASH!
I awoke with a start, my heart thumping and gasping for breath. I looked around to see if anyone had noticed I was awake, but Tony and Rhodes were both drunk on the sofa, the attendants dancing in front of them.
Sweat dripping down my face, I stumbled into the bathroom. My reflection in the mirror was pale and shaken, looking like I had awoken from a nightmare.
"What on earth was that about?" I quietly asked myself. I couldn't remember much about the dream, but the voices wouldn't stop flickering through my mind, haunting me, reminding me.
When I was younger, I was haunted by horrible nightmares every night. But ninety-five percent of the time, I could not remember them.
Eventually, my doctors gave me some medication to keep the dreams at bay. Ever since Mom died the night terrors stopped. They just disappeared, and I hadn't had one since.
I didn't know why they came back now of all times, but when had anything ever been easy for me? I walked out of the bathroom to see Rhodes completely out of it, the girls still dancing now tipsy, and Tony pouring himself another glass.
"Penny!" He slurred as he spotted me, "Come and sit with us, you look like you could use a drink."
I looked at him incredulously, and seriously questioned his sanity. I walked over and literally shoved the wobbling women out, to their dismay and protest.
"Ah, no, I think you've had enough." I said as I took the bottle of scotch off the table and held it behind my back as he tried to grab it from me.
"Hey...give that back." Tony cried as he tried to take the drink from me but landed on his face instead.
"Give it to me! I'm your boss!" Tony said as I walked away from the sad sight.
"Sorry, Mr. Stark, but I don't think so; you need to be at least semi sober when you give your presentation." I told him, walking around the downed Stark and dumping the contents of the bottle down the toilet. I only called Tony Mr. Stark when we were ether out in public. When he annoyed me, or when he pulled the 'I'm your boss' card.
"Hey!" He yelled once again in protest when I returned the empty bottle back to him. "That was my favorite bottle!"
"Well tough," I told him before walking back over to my seat.
I saw out of the corner of my eye Tony glaring at me. I ignored him, and put the ear buds back into my ears as I took my tablet out of my purse. Weird nightmares or not, I had a job to do, and Stark-sitting was a full time job.
Hey Guys, I know this was a little short, but I updated right, so be happy! Anyway, I couldn't get my novel done in time... there was a lot more work needed than I thought. So while I'm bummed about that I know that it'll be better when I do get it done. Yes I know, I switched the Xover to a different category, but I got this amazing idea... and I think it will be worth it. Though nothing really Xover like is going to happen until we get to the Avengers part of the story.
If anyone can guess some of the 'scenes' that appeared in Pen's dreams you get a super soon update.
;)
I hope everyone had a happy Holidays.
Cp