A/N: Ok so a little Deadpool in here. He isn't going to be huge in the story but some splashes now and them to shake it up, be warned. This chapter is so long but it wouldn't stop. Mia's first meeting everyone on the team. I hope you like!
Mia was tired. She had been up most of the night pondering the, what the hell is going on? For half of the night and the other half was spent on the phone to Wade asking what he thought of it. Nothing of any use, unfortunately.
"Ohhhhhh, the Avengers came a knocking? Sounds like fun, want me to come down let one of them decapitate me? Would that cheer you up, toast?" He spoke with a serious interest in his voice which was never a good sign.
"Ugh, no I don't want to play my hand too quickly. Plus it was just so strange, this whole collecting saliva thing when I sawDr. Banner put my DNA in his pocket and away from the rest of the samples" She huffed.
She heard some beeps, traffic noises and hums and haws through the phone.
"Are you even listening Pooly?" She asked in irritation. She loved Wade, she did. But he was just so...
"So what, nova? Of course I'm listening... just a little-" She heard a muffled scream here, "-Busy, that's all. Plus, everybody already knows what going on here and why the Justice League wannabes are at your doorstop duh, so this whole conversation is pointless and irrelevant to the whole plot line" He explained with a few bangs in the background.
Mia was quite used to his rants and had a deep understanding of his odd idiosyncrasies that can only come from two years of knowing the bastard.
"Right, so run the plot summary by me again?" She asked hopefully.
She heard him snort, "And ruin the reader's pleasure of your, 'Oh My God' reaction and the fun that will be? Nah"
Mia should have known better.
"You're such a bampot" She growled and rubbed her eyes tiredly.
He sniggered, "and people say I talk don't make sense. Don't call me names, I'm just an impression of a fictional character from a movie based on a comic book serious, I can't be blamed for anything I say, do or think" He explained in a rational tone.
She was silent.
"Like inception? You know, a thing within a thing? Or Hamlet for the more cultured of you snobs. I'm like a little Russian nesting doll" He then added quite flirtatiously, "Your little Russian nesting doll"
So all in all, it didn't help.
With the commotion of the visit, lessons weren't scheduled the same and she used this excuse as reason to hide away for most of the day and avoid everybody. Part of her wanted to march right up and demand to know why the fuck these people are here? Part of her was dying with excitement in meeting her favourite Avenger and making a good first impression.
So she did what she does best and that was tinkered with things for the day. She sat, quite happily at a small table within her room and began playing with her inventions.
It the back of one when there came a hesitant knock on her door.
She paused and looked up before calling out, "come in" expecting it to be a nun berating her for whatever.
To her surprise, it was not a nun but rather a bunch of our esteemed guests. The knocker on the door was the Colonel and he gave a friendly smile as he hovered in the doorway.
"Oh, hi there. We were just having a look around and were getting to know some of the kids here. Mind if we come in?" He asked a little hopefully and in a completely non-threatening manner.
She wondered at this. She couldn't see all of them but a good few of them were at her bedroom door.
She answered, "Sure come on in"
First the Colonel walked in and took in her surroundings. She didn't have much. Her desk was small and filled with nuts, bolts and anything she could try to create something with. Then her bed was bare with only a mattress as her sheets were artfully hung on the ceiling into a makeshift hammock where she actually slept. The floor was also scattered with bits of metal and plastic. She had a golden girls poster as well as a dead spider perfectly cased and preserved sitting at the window ledge. The walls were stone as it was an old church building but some parts were crumbling, charred and splatted with a curious misty coloured fluid.
He didn't look surprised. Interested yes, but surprised not really. Second to enter was Hawkeye, his keen eye taking everything in much faster then the Colonel had and eyes lingered on her wall hanging bed.
Finally was the Captain. She wouldn't recognise him if it wasn't for his company, really. He was tall, muscled, blond hair and blue-eyed handsomeness but other than that rather unremarkable to look at.
She gestured to her bed for them to sit and spun on her desk seat to take them in.
Hawkeye leaned casually against the wall and the others perched on the bed, although he avoided looking in her direction she knew where his gaze lay. The Colonel and Captain were not so subtle.
"Soooo who are you guys?" She began in an awkward introductory manner. Just what the fuck were these people doing here?!
The Captain cleared his throat uncomfortably, "Oh, I'm terribly sorry miss. I am Steve Rogers, it's lovely to meet you" He finished with a warm smile and she smiled back automatically.
Next was Hawkeye, "I'm Clint" was all he said and she nodded to him.
The Colonel cleared his throat, "and I'm-" Be began before she but in,
"Colonel James Rhodes, prefers to be called Rhodey and I'm Mia as you all know" She answered for him.
He looked confused and was surely about to ask but Clint beat him to the punch, "How did you know that?" He asked with interest lacing his tone.
She shrugged her shoulders, going bored with the conversation before picking up her home made taster and fiddling with it.
"Context really. Your posture suggests a military background and not a subservient one either. Not strictly army and given your company I would say Air force is a fairly good guess. Your mannerisms, age, the way you behave around certain people. When you remove the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable must be the truth. Therefore, you must be Colonel James Rhodes" She explains.
The interest remains in Hawkeyes, eyes. She sniggers internally at the thought. The Captain looks surprised but fascinated and the Colonel simply looks gob-smacked.
"That and I googled it" She clarified holding up her 'phone', "The number of black senior members in the American military is very low so you weren't exactly hard to find"
Clint let out a chuckle.
The man looked very amused and simply shook his head and Steve smiled.
Clint was the next one to speak, "So I guess you know who we are to?" He asked.
She nodded her head and rolled her eyes, "Obviously. Your subtly skills are severely lacking. The question is why are you all here?" She finished passionately, eyes flashing. She needed to know. Mia was not used to not knowing things and it was driving her mental.
Steve cleared his throat and attempted to change the subject, "We were just about to go for lunch, would you like to join us?" He asked kindly with worry in his eyes.
She thought for a moment or two before nodding but lifting her taser to bring with her.
The rest of her guests stood with the Colonel leading the way. As they left her room, Steve walked beside her and Clint behind them she unabashedly took Steve's hand as they walked down the corridor.
He looked surprised but pleased by her gesture, "So Captain..." She began before he stopped her,
"Please call me Steve" He said kindly and she nodded her head before speaking,
"Okay Steve, have you ever shot the heads off of any Nazis?" She asked with a smile on her face, hoping for some awesome story about nazi killing.
She heard snorts come from both behind and in front of her.
Steve flushed and stopped to give her a disproving look, "Mia, that's not a very nice thing to ask someone" He said.
She frowned, looking at him questioningly, "Why? Did you not kill Nazis? Are you ashamed of it, is that why?" She asked with honest curiousity in her voice.
He seemed to get even more frustrated, "No of course not but you don't just ask somebody things like that. It is very rude" He explained in a patient voice.
Mia donned a thoughtful face and considered this. Her closest friend – Wade – wasn't exactly the best person to teach someone about social etiquette. The biggest understatement in the century! She had thought asking about killing people was a great conversation starter – to her is usually was but she tended find herself causing great offense most of the time. It was annoying and stupid how sensitive people could be but either way the fact that she couldn't read social cues bothered her. It was a weakness.
Clint added helpfully from behind them, "Besides, you can't just shoot someone's head off"
Steve's disapproving face turned him.
"Oh I didn't mean to Steve, honest! I really didn't mean it in a bad way. I've only been here for two years and the nuns just tell me off and have stopped trying to teach manners to me. I haven't exactly been, ahem, socialised in a normal way and most of the time I say things that upset people but I don't mean to. Will you help to teach me? I bet you'll know tons cos' you came from a time when manners were really important. Pleeeeease?" She added with the last part in a pout and imploring eyes.
His face melted and he took her hand again, "Of course Mia, I would be glad to teach you. It isn't your fault. Somebody should have taught you those things" He said and they started walking again.
She turned back to give Clint a pointed look, "And I'm pretty sure it depends on the weapon" He laughed here loudly. Mia looked towards Steve, "I wonder if your Shield is strong enough to decapitate someone, I suppose it depends more on your strength. Just how strong are you in comparison to the average man your size and muscle density? In comparison to your body weight? Did you know spiders can lift more than twice their body weight?" She said happily, growing more excited.
Steve here shook his head, "That is not a very appropriate thing to ask someone when first meeting them"
She frowned. Mia also noted they were leading her towards to rec room and not the cafeteria. She wondered why but continued to follow.
"Oh... does this mean you aren't going to answer me?" She asked disappointedly.
He gave her a comforting smile and answered, "Maybe some day" He said as her face lit up but finished with a stern look, "When your older"
Mia visibly slumped and put her head down to hide her shock. Well that statement was certainly chalk full of hints. When she's older? So he will know her when she is older. Pieces were falling together quite rapidly and she was beginning to feel excited again. She was getting a good idea about why the team was here.
They made it to the rec room where all of the guests were seated except from the illustrious Miss Potts and only female avenger. Mia gave them all a big smile as they turned to look at her. She felt a little uneasy with one hand clutching Steves and the other a taster. She noted Mcdonalds bags littering the coffee table.
As they watched the little crowd enter Mia stood awkwardly as they all looked at her with varying expressions. Bruce Banner has a warm but wary look in his eyes, no doubt because he was apparently somewhat uncomfortable in all social situations. Tony Stark had... freakishly intense eyes as he was looking at her. Those warm hazel had a scary intensity to them that made her a little uncomfortable although he sported a kind smile.
As she was taking everyone one, the bodyguard stood up and walked directly over to her with a bag. He donned an easy smile and kneeled down in front of her, "Hi there, my name's Happy. I got you this, I hope it's alright" He said quite cheerily. Mia cocked her head to the side a little and dropped Steve's hand to take and peek inside the bag.
She smiled. Then giggled. Then full out girly giggles bubbled up and were a little uncontrollable. She heard Steve clear his throat and felt a little pang of regret for asking him to teach her manners. It was going to get old so fast.
She gave him a bright smile and said, "Thank you Happy, for the happy meal" She was sure her face was splitting in half.
The mans face was warm and open as he looked at her and let out a chuckle when she said this and stood up.
"Your welcome, kid. Now I see you've met my friends over there but would you like to meet everybody else?" He asked easily.
Mia put her taster in the bag, took out a cheese burger and began eating contentedly. She nodded around mouthfuls. The rest of the team had drifted and took seats around the room while she was talking, all of them watching her and barely eating.
Happy seemed quite... happy... at this and stood up. He came to stand beside her and face the small coffee table, couch, chairs surrounding it and of course the super team situated around it.
"Well you've already met Dr Banner here" He said and motioned to the Hulk-alter ego seated in a chair and clutching some sort of soda with a giant yellow M on printed on the side.
She gave him a big smile and his was noticeably more cautious and hesitant back.
"Hey doc, good to see you again" She said around a mouthful of burger. She saw Steve give her a warning look. She sent him a sheepish smile before swallowing and marching up to the doctor.
"No need to look so nervous, we just got off on the wrong foot that's all. It's really great to meet you Dr Banner. You have some really interesting theories on post nuclear reactions and the application of Gamma radiation to everyday life" She said politely and completely stumped the man in front of her. The doctor looked really shocked and at this thought she decided to try something.
Zzzzzzzzzzztttttttttt was the sound of her taser went as she used to lowest level on the doctor. She leaned down closely to him and looked into his eyes for any anger or green. Nada, just more complete bafflement as he stood up shakily and backed off a few steps. She heard a few groans of dismay and stifled laughter.
"Mia!" Steve's voice rang out unhappily. She looked behind her and made eye contact with Clint.
"Uh-oh" She intoned and only caused him to snicker more and she could hear a few more people do the same but wasn't sure who exactly. Hero's my ass.
He made his way over to her and kneeled down to look into her eyes, "That was... I just... do you have any idea how dangerous that was? Just what on earth do you think you were doing? I can't believe you would wilfully put yourself and everyone here at risk like that? This isn't a game! It isn't funny" He seemed to be getting really into his little speech so she donned a sad and soulful look.
"I just wanted to see if I could bring the Hulk out to play" She pouted, slightly abashed.
There was a sharp intake of breath and then Bruce spoke, "You-you know about the Hulk?" He seemed to be in a perpetual state of shock. He was a few feet away and looking a bit like a cornered animal. It was kind of sad.
She nodded to him enthusiastically, "Obviously, I don't like in a cave! Well... just the Hebrides... We do have Wifi you know" She explained to the skittish looking doctor.
A voice spoke from behind her, "I think the question here is, did you really understand Bruce's papers?" An impressed and pleased sounding man's voice said and she looked behind to see it was Tony Stark who was seated in the middle seat on the sofa.
She nodded and although it was Tony speaking, explained to Bruce, "well not everything obviously but the papers you publish for your former students are really interesting. Your really good at explaining difficult concepts to the lay person. I bet you were a great professor" She beamed, hoping he would calm down.
He did not calm down, "B-but you know about the Hulk" He breathed, looking very confused and she was getting a little concerned/annoyed.
"Yes and you shouldn't have done something so foolish, cruel and reckless" Steve repeated. She pouted again and ducked her head.
Surprisingly it was Clint that spoke up, "Calm down there Steve, this is completely normal behaviour for a kid" He said in between bites of his own meal.
Everyone turned to look at him and he simply shrugged, "You know, pushing the boundaries of what is right and wrong, seeing what they can and can't get away with. It's all a perfectly normal and healthy thing for children to do. It helps to teach them moral standards. All kids misbehave, it's important that they do for their development" He said quite casually but the silence the reined did not seem like it was a typical thing for him to say.
Steve's mouth opened and closed a few times so she decided to interject, "I am really sorry Steve, I was just curious" She spoke in a sad voice and heard a shifting from behind her.
He shook his head and stood up to return to his seat, "I don't think it's me that you need to apologise to" He said with a look towards the fidgeting scientist.
Mia turned her big sad eyes on the doctor and he appeared to flinch a little. She walked up to him slowly and latched onto his legs in an impromptu hug.
"I'm sorry for trying to make you angry Dr Banner. That was a mean thing to do. Your my hero, your half of the reason that I want to study atomic physics" She said in a quite voice.
It was a few moments before she felt the body – legs – attached to her untense and he pat her head a little awkwardly and softly, "It's ah, it's alright Mia, just-just don't try to bring the uh-other guy out, okay?" He said very unsurely.
Mia looked up and nodded to him enthusiastically. She continued to latch onto him and a throat cleared behind her so she stepped away.
Happy was still standing there was an indulgent smile on his face as he turned to introduce the next person.
Surprisingly, he kneeled down again – why did everybody keep doing that? - and placed a hand on her back as if in support. It was pretty unusual.
"Now, I would like you to meet my closest friend" He began, as she faced the billionare inventor. His eyes were happy but his smile a little shakey. He wiped his hands on his expensively tailoured suit as he looked at her.
"This is Tony-" Happy started but if one thing she learned from Wade was that social politeness was boring and pointless.
Mia walked straight up to the genius and climbed ontop of his lap. At this, the man seemed to relax and place his hands comfortably around her in an embrace. She gave him props for how quickly he accepted and enjoyed the situation, no one else usually did. He was looking goofily pleased and there was definite relief shinning in his eyes.
She began talking, looking the man pointedly in his eyes, "For Christmas I want a two ton metric microscope, the complete box set of golden girls, the mark 2.87 limited edition hunters bow with lots of standard willow arrows, titanium tips and geese feathers, a cat teddy with white fur, limitless supply of Iron Bru, a laptop, a television, a pretty blue dress – sky blue not navy blue-" She began, pleased by the serious and nodding face of the man she sat on. He looked as if to be taking her requests quite seriously.
The room had fallen silent again.
Steve cleared his throat, "You, uh- you can't just ask and expect to get... your only... you know that Tony isn't-isn't Santa Claus... right Mia?" He said but looked really sad and definitely worried. The rest of the room sported similar expressions.
She gave him a strange look, "No shit Sherlock, but what he is, is a billionaire philanthropist and when am I going to get an opportunity like this again?" She said pointedly with an tone of voice that implied 'duhhh'.
Rhodey let out peels of laughter, Happy groaned, Bruce smiled, Steve frowned and muttered 'language' to her and Clint chuckled.
Tony... well he seemed absolutely delighted at the comment and seemed to hug himself around her a little more, arms tightening. Pleased with the response – as it wasn't one she usually got – she snuggled up closer to him and began eating her now cold chips from the bag.
"I knew you were smart" Came his smug voice. She smiled happily at him and continued eating. His attention was focused solely on her, she tried not to preen.
Steve gave her a pointed look that said 'remember what we talked about' but ignored him. Mr. Iron Man didn't seem to concerned by her comments.
"So, uh Mia what was that you shocked Bruce with?" He asked, seemingly genuinely interested. She grinned harder if that was possible.
She fished into her bag and pulled out her home-made taser. It wasn't much and although she wanted to show it off she was a little embarrassed, I mean it was in no way as awesome as the stuff that he made.
He took it carefully despite it looking like a piece of junk and handled it with care. He looked this way and that and hummed and smiled as he took it in.
"Wow, this is really impressive" He said in kid friendly tone. Her eyes widened,
"You really think so?" She gasped in sheer joy.
He nodded and smiled at her, "Of course. This is wonderful, did you make it all by yourself?"
She nodded frantically, "Yeah, I mean, I saw the blueprints of the M26c but I took away the all of the extra wiring and closed socket interface to make it a little more powerful. Unfortunately, all I've had is basic battery's to power to use it so it's only 10,000 volts at 6 wats" Here she pouted but continued preening under the praise of the smartest inventor of this generation! He thought her toys were cool!
Mia was so excited she began bouncing happily on the man's legs – not that he seemed to mind. For the first time since she'd met them the whole team were smiling at them.
He nodded and seemed to take in what she said and replied, "Well I like the circuitry, you've used – diode-capactior voltage multipliers are completely unappreciated if you ask me – but seeing as you can only use standard battery cases then you could maybe try a resonant circuit? If not I could get you some industrial powered batteries. You will need to move the stabiliser to make room for the battery size however" He spoke as he twisted and turned her little toy.
She gasped in awe at the brilliance of the man beneath her! He is her most favouritist person in the entire world!
She was obviously looking at him in a little awe as she heard a few laughs and judging by his smug expression. Mia had no qualms telling him this, "WOW, you're the bestest most brilliant person, ever!" She declared to the whole room, daring anybody to object.
If she didn't know better she would swear that he was preening more than she was.
Clint groaned loudly here, "Please, Mi, please just don't, his ego is big enough already. Trust me you don't want to feed that beast" He pleaded to her genuinely with Steve nodding frantically beside him.
Mia blinked and looked at him, "Oh I'm sorry, Mr Clint, I didn't mean to get too excited it's just that when I showed my toys to the nuns they get angry and say that I am trying to play god and say 'only god should wield the power of thunder' then make me write out bible verses" Here she pouted again and saw Tony sending a ferice glare Clint's way before he looks back and smiles at her.
"Well, you don't need to worry about frigid old nun's anymore, Mia. Theres nothing wrong with exploring the impossible" He said sounding so assured and confident it made her wonder again. He must have been the curiosity in her face as he quickly changed the subject.
"So, you said Bruce-" She swore she heard a little disgruntlement in his voice here "-is half the reason you want to study atomic physics. What's the other half?" He asked.
She spoke slowly, "well you get to blow things up" Her tone of voice implied obviously. There was a definite look of horror passing between Happy and Rhodey.
He smiled here and looked to be holding in laughter when he said, "well you know, you can blow things up doing other things- in fact-" He began but was cut off by a crisp female voice sounding self-indulgent and warning at the same time.
"I don't think that's something we really should be getting into, is it?" She spoke. Mia looked to see where Miss CEO stood. Her smile reflected her tone, with warning in her eyes but happiness shinning on her face.
The woman turned to look at her when Mia gasped, wide eyed at the woman beside the Stark Industries boss lady.
"OH MY GOD YOUR NATASHA ROMANOFF" She shouted in awe, hers eyes sure to be bulging. She started bouncing again and was pretty sure she started hyperventilating.
Mia tried to stand but Tony Stark's arm around her tightened.
The Black Widow – the motherfucking Black Widow – gave her a curious look with an eyebrow slightly raised.
"Oh, my, god. Your like- but- wha- Oh my god!" She gasped.
Mia turned to tug frantically on the shirt of the man beneath her, "LOOK, it's the Black Widow" She whispered, as if in secret.
The man did not look amused. In fact, he was frowning and looked like someone had kicked his puppy.
Pepper Potts looked a little uncomfortable, Banner amused. Clint gleeful, Steve wary and resigned and Rhodey surprised.
Clint spoke up, "So you like the Black Widow huh?" He asked, sounding about to burst into laughter but she was too high on excitement to care.
She looked at him as if he was insane, "Of course! She is obviously the bestest Avenger" Mia declared again and felt the man beneath her suck in a breath before the neatly dressed woman shot him a warning look.
"Why is that?" It was Steve that asked.
She rolled her eyes and answered as if speaking to a child, "She's obviously the most awesome and badass Avenger! Not to mention the smartest, most adaptable – not strongest but knows how to re-direct and use someone's strength to their own disadvantage, most shrewd, interesting, beautiful, well trained and experienced of all of you. Of course she is the best! Why wouldn't she be?" Mia must of looked incredulous here and heard a very small laugh come from the woman in question.
She turned in awe to see a little smile on the Black Widows face.
Mia whispered to Tony again, "I made the Black Widow smile" her voice was no doubt dreamy.
She heard Tony Stark grumbling under his breath before he couldn't hold it in apparently, "Really, the smartest, the smartest Avenger?!" His voice rose a little before a few people gave him scathing looks.
Mia looked at him in confusion, "well, maybe not science smart no but people, situational, tactile, common sense smart? Yeah" She intoned.
This did not calm down the man, "B-but Iron Man! How do you not think he is the coolest! He must as least be the most badass!" The man appeared a little desperate and she couldn't really figure out why.
Did he really care about her opinion that much?
Mia shook her head and said, "Well, The Black Widow is based on spiders which is obviously the coolest best things ever but Iron Man – although brilliant, fascinating and unique is really just a big Tin Man missing a heart" She says.
This did not calm the man down, "B-wha-ther- Spiders! Spiders. Your being serious. Spiders. What is good about spiders! Everybody hates spiders! Their ugly, creepy little insects! Why would you like spiders?"
Mia was very confused at this point and tried not to let his assertions on spiders hurt her feelings but answered the man's questions anyway, "Well first of all spiders aren't insects, their arachnids. Secondly, who cares what they look like? They are dangerous but not aggressive. They only hurt or kill when they need to. Thirdly, They are artists in creating webs to catch their prey. They are the worlds most patient and underestimated predators. Spider webs are so beautiful and complex that I doubt the greatest minds in the world could replicate it and this is just instinctual knowledge to them! Spider's don't learn this but simply know it. Fourthly, People are ungrateful and annoyed because nobody likes them but why shouldn't they? If it wasn't for spiders then the whole world would be overrun with flies and other flying insects. They significantly keep the population of insects down to a durable level but does anybody ever thank them? No. Fifthly, spiders such keen instincts, they can inherently tell when danger is about, are ridiculously adaptable and can lift up to double their body weight. Spider's are brilliant. Why wouldn't I like spiders?" Mia finished
Tony Stark looked speechless.
The whole room was speechless.
It was her hero that spoke up, "Thank you very much for your assertions. I agree with you, spiders are severely underestimated" She said, although a little lifeless Mia could swear she heard a warmness under the tone.
She smiled at the woman and asked the single biggest, most important question in her life.
"Can I be your sidekick?" Her question was in one big inhale of breath. Tony's arm tightened around her again.
Natasha looked interested but a few voice's rang out, "No" Steve, Tony and Pepper said at once.
She ignored them, they had no authority over her. That must be why the team was there. They obviously want a sidekick. Who are they kidding?
Natasha's eyes flickered to Tony before speaking,"I don't think that is in your best interests" She spoke cautiously.
"But you can train me. I'm still young, I'll do what you say, I promise! Not right now but when I'm old enough I can be the bestest Sidekick in the whole world!" Mia pleaded shamelessly. She needed this! It was her life's dream.
"Uh, Mia I think Nat's right. You shouldn't really want or decide something like this at such a young age. Plus there's no way you would ever be allowed" Steve began.
She glared at him, "why? Is it because I'm a girl? You know woman can vote now? And go out in public unescorted. Do you think I am weak?" She demanded and Steve's eyes went wide, "Cos that's so unfair! Why can't I be what I want! Why is it wrong for me to want to be a hero! That's so unfair. Taking away my dreams like that! That's very American of you. Tell you to dream then crush it like a spider under your boot, huh" Mia began to sniffle here but didn't let tears fall, "First you tell me that Santa isn't real and now that I'm not good enough to be a hero!" She started getting angry here again, "WELL! Do you like crushing little girls hopes and dreams Steve? do you!" She finished not quite shouting but louder than normal room volume.
It was silent for a few beats, "Yeah, do you Steve?" Tony Starks amused voice said.
Steve looked like a dear caught in headlights here and stuttered a little, "Well-no-I don-Mia"
"You told her Santa isn't real?" Pepper gasped looking absolutely furious.
Mia felt Tony shaking with laughter under her.
"No, I did not tell her Santa wasn't real!" Steve almost shouted, wide eyes looking around as if for support or confirmation. He held his hands up as if in defence, "I just told her-" He began before she cut off-
"He just said I shouldn't ask for nice things because no one cares about little orphans and no one will give me anything" She finished for him.
Steve shot up from his seat and almost shouted, "I did not say that! I didn't say that guys, right? He looked around again for the support he wasn't getting.
Boss lady looked mad. It was the kind of cold fury that made her want to smile. Mia snuggled into Tony - getting comfortable for the show – his arm atomically making room for her and gently stroking her hair. It was nice.
Pepper's eyes flickered to her before glacial eyes made her way back Captain Killer-of-hopes-and-dreams.
"Steve, can I speak to you a moment outside?" Her voice was controlled calm. It made her excited for when it will break.
Steve seemed to open his mouth before Pepper cut in, "Now" Anger seeping through a little, "Your scaring Mia" Yes, definite ice cold rage into the voice. Pepper Potts was one man mama bear. Who knew?
Mia hid into Tony's chest to hide her smile. He was ridiculously comforting, sitting in his arms was more than a hug, it was like a cocoon of unconditional love and acceptance. His arms shifted to accommodate her again.
She wasn't looking but heard the door close quietly and immediately looked up.
Natasha was seated in Steve's old chair and watching her.
Mia gave her a big smile, "So what do you say?" She asked hopefully.
Again, the woman's eyes flickered to the man behind her before speaking, "I am sorry Mia" Was all she said and she sounded completely sincere too.
Mia simply smiled at the older woman, "It's okay, I'm young, I get it, but one day when I'm older and trained as you I'll ask again and you'll have to say yes" She smiled knowingly to the woman and Stark's arm tightened yet again.
It was Bruce who decided to question her on her life long dream, "Why do you want to be a Sidekick and not your own hero? Most kids at your age either copy their favourite hero or want to be their own. Why do you want to be a sidekick?" He sounded very curious.
Mia looked at the man-who-turns-into-a-beast-occasionally and shrugged, "I am lot of things but a leader isn't one of them. There are lots of different types of people in the world – leaders, creators, followers, workers and carers. You can one or most of them. Although I have problems with almost every kind of authority, I'm still a follower. I can create things but I will never be the one to decide who will use them. I can do great things but only for other people and never myself. I can work hard but only for because someone asked me to or it's something I enjoy and I can care but I don't get to decide who for. I know all of these things about myself and I accept it. I'm not a mindless zombie, I still decide on who to follow but in the end, that's what I am" She explained to the best of her ability.
There was a glint in Natasha and Clint's eye that was interesting. She hoped it boded well for hopes of becoming a sidekick.
Bruce nodded and smiled as if he understood. Rhodey seemed to be nodding strongly here too – must be agreeing with her. Well, as military it's not a surprise.
At the moment Pepper walked back in, heels clicking on the ground – the stone must not be good for her expensive shoes.
Although with her to one side is an abashed looking Steve and the other Sister Margaret. She looked on curiously.
"Amelia, I was wondering if I could have a word" The Scottish voice sounded a lot harsher now that she'd been around American's all day.
Mia nodded and stood up but felt a slight grip of the man below her, as if he was comfortable and didn't want her to move. She shot him an apologetic look. He looked at her... apprehensively? How unusual. It was also a little pleading for some reason.
She wanted to question him but the Sister was waiting.
Mia walked up to the nun then turned to the room at large, "Hopefully I'll speak to you guys again before you go" She said, hinting at them to come see her again. Mia was annoyed her time with them was cut short.
Pepper smiled shakily here, the team looked a little uncomfortable and Sister Margaret's lips disappeared into a thin line. Tony Starks eyes seemed to be imploring her but what she wasn't sure what.
Mia left the room with the Sister and wondered what would happen next.
"Well that wasn't so bad" Rhodey clasped his hand on his best friends shoulder in support. Tony sucked in a shakey breath and smiled unconvincingly. Guy was still understandably nervous.
He caught Peppers eye with his and she motioned for him to speak to her. He gave his friend another reassuring squeeze before standing to speak to the nervous looking woman.
"So, how did it go? She was sitting in his lap, that has to be a good sign?" Pepper asked him.
Rhodey shook his head and smiled, "It went great, actually. She fell totally in love with him after he started talking science. They are both such strong characters I was afraid something awful would happen" He admitted. Tony got along best with people willing to bend to his way of thinking. He destroyed and humiliated those that didn't. Rhodey was infinitely relieved that this first meeting went well. It would set the tone for their future relationship.
Pepper smiled slightly, "Yes, I suppose your right. She is just so much like Tony, it's a little scary. On the other hand, we shouldn't really be so surprised"
Rhodey looked questioningly to the woman. She gave him a smile with a sarcastic tilt to it, "She's so much like Tony afterall... and if there's one thing Tony loves most... "
"Is himself" They spoke together laughingly.