The Unknown Variable

(Edited as of 11/18)

If you believe I own anything, I am flattered. But I do not, so send the flattery somewhere else.

Tony was quick to find the problem and solution to the repulsor issue. The solution was simple, flight stabilizers; on his hands.

It had taken Tony less than twenty-four hours to completely design them both on the computer and holograph table.

You think that was slow for Tony? Well, he was also helping me with my Sparks training; which was coming along very well. But another thing that happened was our quiet life for the past week or so, was interrupted, and our peace, ruined.

It all started yesterday morning, like this.

Yesterday morning, 6:07 AM

I was startled awake by my Tablet, which I had left on the nightstand, going crazy; vibrating, screeching and wailing.

I quickly sat up and grabbed my loud Tablet and turned it on. A pit of dread appeared in my stomach as I saw the alerts flashing on the screen. I opened the taps and scanned the information. Apparently, whoever had been searching about me in SHIELD had been replaced with ether a hacker with extremely high intellect or a computer program. Either way, SHIELD was digging through my past, trying to find everything about me. At this rate, unless I did some serious re-coding of my fake files, and practically got off the grid, I would be discovered by nightfall.

My breath caught and I dropped the Tablet onto my bed as panic set in. I knew that was going to happen eventually, but I wanted more time. I wanted more time to hang out with Tony, complete my schooling, have some fun and enjoy my tiny family that made up of me, Tony, Jarvis, and the Bots.

I hurriedly got out of bed and started throwing clothes onto my bed. I had to find a suit case… I need a fake passport…some ideas… cash…

'Maybe Tony would lend me some.' I thought to myself, still panicking. Then I froze. I couldn't just leave, this was my home now… I had a family… I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and shook my head.

I had to talk to Tony. I walked towards the door before freezing.

I then turned towards the bathroom, toilet first… and perhaps a shower.

One hot shower later, I threw a pair of jeans and a simple dark blue, long sleeve button up with a white tank-top underneath. I picked my Tablet back up, and started typing away at code. I had come up with the idea in the shower. If I couldn't completely hide, then I would slow them down as much as I could.

As I typed quickly, I could smell something drifting up from the kitchen.

'Huh, Pepper is early.' I thought.

Pepper had started bringing breakfast to us as soon as she realized that I wasn't going to cook (I didn't know how). Usually she didn't show up until after eight, but it was barely seven. This day was getting worse and worse.

I quickly finished the program, and closed my Tablet, put in my pocket before rushing down the stairs.

I slid through the living room and into the kitchen to see Pepper putting a dozen hot blueberry muffins, bacon, and fruit salad onto the island counter.

"Morning," I said as I sat down on a stool in front of the island and reached out to grab a muffin.

"Good Mornin…" Pepper trailed off as she stared at my hand holding the muffin. Her eyebrows creased together and I knew she was trying to piece something together.

"What was that?" Pepper asked quietly as I bit into the warm muffin.

I swallowed and said, with a hint of nervousness. "What was what?"

I instantly glanced down at my sleeve as I took another bite, and noticed that this button down's sleeves were slightly shorter than everything else I had been wearing. My eyes widened as I realized that my sleeve must have slid above my wrist as I reached for the muffin, exposing my burns.

'Shoot.' I hissed to myself. 'Please just let it go… not today…"

"Morning Pepper, Penny." Tony said as he walked into the kitchen. His hair was a mess and he was in a dirty pair of jeans. I had a feeling he stayed most of the night in the lab. I had too, but I went to bed around one thirty-ish.

"After breakfast," I said, ignoring the glare Pepper was now giving my arm, "I need to talk to you." I said, my voice a tad harder than I wished, but couldn't really help it.

I was having a bad day.

"What was that on your arm?" Pepper pressed again, I nearly groaned. Why couldn't she just let it go?

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I denied trying to come up with a good excuse. I couldn't just Spark her memory, Tony knew about that power and would instantly connect the dots. I instantly called upon my invisibility, keeping it close to my skin beneath the shirt. This did not need to be blown out of proportions.

Pepper's eyes narrowed in anger but she kept herself composed, "I saw something on your arm. I know I did. Your sleeve slipped."

I took another bite of the muffin and said, "Must have been a trick of the light."

Tony glanced between us in confusion, wondering if he needed to intervene.

"It was not." Pepper hissed, "I always thought it was weird, you wearing long sleeves all the time. But now, now it makes sense. You're trying to hide something."

My eyebrow twitched, but that was the only outward sign of my anger. 'Shoot, I didn't think anyone would figure it out… least of all her.'

"I'm not hiding anything," I stated, putting my muffin down and crossing my arms.

"Prove it." She challenged me, folder her arms across her chest. "Prove it."

"Hey," Tony said, stepping in finally. He never had to play peace maker before, but had been learning recently with all of our fights. "What's wrong?"

Tony locked eyes with me for a moment before locking eyes with Pepper.

She huffed and said, "I saw something on her arm, it wasn't a bracelet or something like that. She says nothing is there. She's lying!"

"I am not." I retorted, and glared at her. I did not want my scares becoming known, not going there; not in a million years.

"Prove it. Roll up your sleeves." Pepper demanded, her eyes like hard pieces of ice.

"Penny," Tony said, and I dropped my scowl as I looked at my father. "Is there something on your arm?"

My tongue felt like lead, as I lied to my dad, and guilt gnawed at my chest, but I said, "No."

"Then just roll up your sleeves, and we can go back to breakfast." Tony stated, trying to defuse the situation.

"Fine." I snapped, and rolled my sleeves up, showing my (apparently) bare and smooth arms. "Happy?"

"There was something there! I swear it!" Pepper said, she bit her lip for a moment before she continued, "It looked like a scar."

I turned my full force glare on the older redhead. 'How dare she!' I hissed, and I had to clench my fists to stop my sparks from flying.

Tony's eyes narrowed as he stared at my bear arms before stepping closer, reaching out and grabbing it softly.

His eyes widened, and mine closed, as he felt the hard scars underneath the invisibility.

"Penny," He said softly, but with a hard edge, "Drop it."

My eyes flashed open and I opened my mouth to argue but he just said, "Drop it, now."

His tone held a warning, and I could tell by the look in his eye, even though his face was the perfect mask, that it would be wise to listen.

"Wha…" Pepper started to ask as I closed my eyes and let the invisibility drop.

I heard both Pepper and Tony gasp. Pepper from both the sight of my scars and power, and Tony because of the numerous scars scattered across my skin.

Tony was still holding my arm up, his grip tightened and I turned my head away, determined to ignore both of them.

I didn't look at him when Tony asked, his voice low, "Take the shirt off." With my eyes still closed I pulled off the button up and tossed it to the floor.

All of my scars were now exposed, the white tank-top revealing all of them. I was thankful that I had remembered to wear my Core cover… I had started not wearing it while around Tony. That would have made everything even worse.

"Penny…Penny." Tony said, as he turned me to face him, while his facial expression was soft, his eyes showed his true rage; and I couldn't help but cringe.

"Who did this?" He asked, as Pepper looked on with wide eyes.

I remained silent as my gut churned; I couldn't deal with this…not on top of everything else.

"Who did this?" He asked again, this time his voice harder, his fury sinking into his tone.

"It's nothing." I said, shaking Tony's hand off and pulling my invisibility back up. I didn't like the stares. Pepper narrowed her eyes at me but I ignored her. I just didn't care anymore.

"Nothing?" Tony repeated, choking on the word, "Penny, you were tortured!"

My eyes snapped to his and I almost growled my next words, "I know that. It's not a big deal. The nightmares are almost gone. Stop asking questions you already know the answer to!"

I didn't mean to snap at my dad, I really hadn't it was just a topic I was not talking to him about. I swore that I would never talk about what Bald and his men did. I was standing by that.

He flinched as if struck but shook it off and said, "Why didn't you tell anyone?" I could hear the obvious unsaid, 'why didn't you tell me?'

"Same reason as you." I replied, and sighed. Now I was tired. This was emotionally draining and I still had to deal with SHIELD.

Tony gave a small nod of his head but I knew the conversation was far from over. It was just not going to continue in front of Pepper.

Who I had forgotten about. I turned back towards the red-head as I grabbed my shirt off of the floor and slipped it back on.

Her eyes were flickering between me and my dad. 'Oh no, not that secret too…' I mentally pleaded. I couldn't take any more of this and it wasn't even eight yet.

When she opened her mouth the most unexpected words came out. "See! I told you she shouldn't be working for you."

"Pepper, we are not talking about this again." Tony said, and it was my turn to be confused (which I HATED…had I mentioned that yet?)

"But I was right! Scars, nightmares, lying, she isn't well enough to work here! Not to mention she hasn't done one thing since she got here…" Pepper stated coldly, beginning a rant.

"She has been helping me, as well as working on her PHD's!" Tony said.

"School work doesn't count as working Tony! She isn't good for you. You've changed since she's been here. You're not you anymore…"

Tony interrupted again, "Maybe I wanted to change. Perhaps I don't want to be that person anymore." His voice was cold, but I could see him withhold a sigh. This must be a common occurrence…how had I missed it?

"She's changed you! She isn't good for you. You need someone who can take care of you. I can do that…" Pepper's voice drifted out as rage filled my mind.

My vision turned red and I glared at Pepper. I took a deep breath, even if she was being a witch with a B, I needed to calm down. Bad things happened when I got angry, especially since my Core got a boost.

"Not to mention she's a frea…"

"Don't even finish that sentence." I hissed, before Tony could come to my defense. My fists were clenched and my eyes narrowed.

How dare she, she knew nothing! She was just jealous! My brain froze for a moment when I realized that she WAS jealous!

'huh, petty much?' I thought, tempted to saw it aloud.

"Penny!" My father exclaimed causing me to snap back to reality. Pepper was looking at me fearfully as Tony said, "Calm down…"

My eyebrows knitted together in confusion before I realized that my sparks were flaring…in a huge amount. The sparks themselves were now like small bolts, dancing across my whole body. My hair was frizzled out, and small sparks danced between the ends. My energy was creating a wild wind around me, and I could also feel my body giving off large EMP pulses.

'Well, now I can't be worried about SHIELD seeing this.' I thought to myself as I struggled to get my powers under control.

"Shit." I said as I stormed out of the kitchen onto the deck. Concentrating hard, I pulled up all my fury before releasing a large bright blue bolt of lightning from my fingertips. The bolt flew through the air and down the cliff side; smashing into one of the large rocks in the water below leaving nothing but rubble.

I turned on my heel and stormed passed Pepper and walked towards Tony; a plan forming in my mind.

I took a deep breath, trying to stop my wildly beating heart and said, my voice monotone, "I, Piper Penelope Telnets resign from the Employment of Anthony Stark." I turned on my heel once again and walked out of the kitchen.

I glanced back at the horrified Tony Stark and added, "I will be gone by Ten;" and walked up the stairs.

I had packing to do.

I know, you all probably hate me for that. But it was getting long and it was a good part to break it in half. Personally this was supposed to all be one chapter but I decided to split it into two.

Thanks to all of you,
Cp