The Unknown Variable

(Edited as of 1/16/14)

Disney bought Marvel, Jk owns the rights, have you seen my name? Nope, 'cause I own nothing.

About an hour later, all of the clothes had been soaked in the liquid metal. The metal would then dry, hardening the clothes, but also allowing it to remain flexible and soft. I wasn't quite sure how it worked, Tony just shrugged and told me the stuff was expensive and a mixture of a variety of substances; not just metal.

The fabric was now flexible, but extremely durable. It was also bullet proof. When I asked Dad, jokingly, if he thought I was going to get shot, he just grimaced and remained silent.

Dad also explained that the fabrics were now much more workable with my sparks. It would be easier to turn invisible, and my shield would latch onto metal mixture, making it stronger and more dependable.

He told me that the rest I had to create, but if I needed help, to just ask.

I had started with the boots. They were the first thing I came up with to change. Pulling the heels and soles off, I got to work.

"Tonight's red-hot red carpet is right here at the Disney Concert Hall," my head snapped up for a moment seeing the reporter on TV. "Where Tony Stark's third annual benefit for the Firefighter's Family Fund has become the place to be for L.A.'s high society."

I turned to see Tony staring at the TV his head tilted an interested expression on his face.

"Jarvis, we get an invite for that?" Tony asked, glancing up at the ceiling for a moment.

"I have no record of an invitation, sir." Jarvis replied instantly.

"…Hasn't been seen in public since his bizarre and highly controversial press conference." The reporter said, obviously talking about Tony.

Tony picked up the face plate that he was using to improve the Mark Three that was covered in notes, and put it on.

"Some claim he's suffering from posttraumatic stress and has been bedridden for weeks. Whatever the case may be," The reporter said as Tony took off the faceplate and look at the TV, insult flashing on his face for a moment before disappearing. "no one expects an appearance from him tonight."

I shook my head, now Tony was defiantly going to go. They insulted his pride, and besides, since when was my father predictable? He loved ruining people's expectations.

"The render is complete." Jarvis said, pulling up the new design for the Mark Three. It had been done a while ago, but Tony had been working with me, so Jarvis had put it on the side burner till he was done.

"A little ostentatious, don't you think?" Tony asked, and I leaned over to get a better view of the new, gold metal.

"Eh, solid gold isn't really your thing." I commented lightly.

"What was I thinking?" Jarvis said sarcastically, "You're usually so discreet."

I snorted, that AI was awesome. Shaking my head I turned back to my work, picking up the mini welder I started reattaching the soles and heels to the boots.

"Tell you what." Tony said, and I looked back up at him in question. "Throw a little hot-rod red in there."

I chuckled quietly, now that was pure Tony.

"Yes, that should help you keep a low profile." Jarvis drawled, and a smile appeared on Tony's face. He gave Jarvis a personality for a reason, after all. "The render is complete."

I looked over at the screen, the red did turn down the boldness of the gold, and personally, I like it.

"Hey, I like it. Fabricate it. Paint it." Tony ordered.

"Commencing automated assembly." Jarvis stated back to his creator. "Estimated completion time is five hours."

"It's loud and obnoxious, just like you Dad." I commented, causing Tony to throw me a halfhearted glare.

"At least mine has more color then just black." Tony shot back.

"I'm going for discreet and subtle." I replied, defending my choice of clothing.

Tony rolled his eyes, "Sure, and you're so subtle."

I stuck my tongue out at him, turning back to my work. I heard Tony chuckling and smiled. This was fun, this was normal. This is what made all of the drama and complications worth it.

Tony stood up, and after giving me a one armed hug, he jogged towards the stairs. "Don't wait up for me, honey." Tony said to Jarvis. "Jar, you're in charge. Watch the kids."

"Hey," I shouted after him, "I'm the eldest!"

"Yeah, but Jarvis didn't blow up the lab last week!" Tony replied, half way up the stairs.

"That was an accident! Besides, Butterfingers started it!" I protested, watching my dad leave.

"Whatever you say, Pen." Echoed down the stairs.

I sighed, and shook my head. Various equations littered the table, and none of them seemed to be working.

What's wrong? Death asked me, his hands quickly forming the signs.

"This thing's just annoying me. I'm trying to figure out a way that if I ever end up in a lightning storm again, that I won't just fall to my death. I doubt that Hulk will always be there to catch me." I sighed, I couldn't figure out how to fix the problem.

I'd catch you. Death stated simply with a shrug.

I snorted, "That's sweet, but I don't want to have to rely on you to catch me ether."

Why don't you just tell your lightning to catch you? Death said, stumbling over a few words, but I was able to figure it out.

I laughed and replied, "I doubt it works like that, Death."

How do you know that? They're your powers. They'll listen to you.

I just shook my head. Maybe it worked that way for a guy who shouldn't even exist, but it didn't work that way for the rest of us.

"Maybe it works that way for you, but not for the rest of us mortals." I stated.

Death got a weird look on his face, like he wanted to say something but couldn't.

You'd be surprised. He stated. It's Mortem.

"What?" I asked, seeing the letters spell the strange name.

My name, it's Mortem.

I stared at Death with a strange look on my face. "I thought you said you had many names?"

Death laughed silently, but it was nice to see a grin on his face, Everyone has a different name for me. I just chose Mortem.

"So, Mortem Eh?"

Dea…Mortem nodded, and I grinned.

"You want to help me test all of this stuff out?" I asked, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Another grin appeared on his face as he said, let's do it.

"Awesome." I stated, grabbing all of my new stuff, and running towards the hidden room to Flash back to NM.

'Desert, here we come.'

After doing the usual 'make sure SHIELD sees me' thing, I turned invisible and climbed out the window.

Flashing to an abandoned warehouse about a mile outside of town, I took out all of the new equipment that made my stealth suit.

I had made a few gadgets; all of them were untested, besides the wrist bands that Tony made me.

It was hard getting into all of the metal covered clothing, just because they had been altered so a second party, or Jarvis, had to help.

The long sleeve shirt was a turtleneck but it couldn't be pulled on. We had slit the back, and added a metal seam, so that you had to slide it on like a backwards jacket, before the edges automatically locked together.

The leggings were also similar; and so was the skirt. The material was flexible and soft, but nowhere near as bendable as the fabric before.

The skirt was now extremely stiff, having the most metal added. Each section of the pleaded shirt could do something else, or was designed to. Not all of the gadgets had been added yet.

I had also taken the extra fabric, and created a very hard hood that attached to the back of the turtleneck. The hood hung extremely low, casting a shadow all the way down to my chin; hiding my face. The underside of the hood was still mostly just empty wires, but soon it would be a HUD just like Tony's suit.

My wrist bands when on over the sleeves, and added some bling to the bright outfit, though I was contemplating staining them black.

The boots, were now fire proof, and water proof. The heels and soles had been altered so that when they touched the ground, they impacted it at a certain angle that absorbed the impact, making them practically silent.

I would also have to learn how to walk in them, so they stayed silent.

I had a Palladium studded belt that if I focused, would be able to be the base of my shield, so it would stay up, feeding off of the Palladium, even if I was distracted.

While the rest of the outfit, did the same with my invisibility and EMP shield. Making me invisible to any device, no matter what it scanned for; except perhaps a metal detector.

The suit was easy to move in, but a lot of movements were limited because of the metal soaked fabric.

I kept my hood up, as it wasn't done yet, and started walking around, getting a feel of the outfit.

My eyes widened and I ducked to the ground as I saw D...Mortem's fist flying towards me.

"What the hell was that for?" I yelled, dodging a kick.

Your father and I agree on one thing. He stated with his hands as I dodged another kick. You need to be able to defend yourself. So I'm going to teach you.

"How the hell is this teaching me!" I asked, rolling on the ground to avoid him.

I believe in learning on the fly. Mortem grinned, Show me what you got.

With that I charged, my instincts flaring; and for the rest of the night, we sparred.

Bit of a strange place to stop, but hey; when Mortem is done with her, Penny is going to be able to kick some 4$$. :)

Thanks to everyone. Big thanks to Espacole.
Cp