Note: Y/N- Your name
Y/B/F- Your Best Friend
Y/F/B- Your Favorite Bar
You hurried to your room, you had plans with y/b/f to get ready for graduation together. Grabbing your garment bag you tossed it on the bed, and proceeded to try and find your wayward shoes. "Should have gotten them together last night" you muttered to yourself, as you bent down and found one under the bed, biting your lip you glanced from your position on the floor "Ah-ha" you exclaimed as you found the other one under your desk. You slipped both in your purse and headed for the door.
Once you made it to the elevator, you instructed Jarvis to take you to the ground floor where you knew that Happy would be waiting to drive you to meet your friend. You smiled at the thought of Happy, he was as much your family as Pepper, Uncle Rhodey and Jarvis. You were in your own little world as the elevator once again opened and in walked Captain Rogers. "Ma'am" he said smiling.
You blinked coming back to the present, "Captain Rogers" you smiled, you down right refused to call him Captain America, you did not want to give into the avenger's hype. As far as you were concerned it almost cost you your father, once again. He put himself in danger enough on his own, he did not need a team to help him.
"What floor, Captain Rogers" Jarivs ask interrupting you.
"Ground floor please Jarivs' he replied, and you saw his uncomfortable look.
You almost felt sorry for the Captain, a man out of time, "If its any consolation, Jarivs even unnerves people who are used to the 21st century" you told him softly, "My Dad has always liked to be over the top"
"Slightly" Captain Rogers said as the elevator opened up,
"Have a good Day Captain" You told him as you shot out of the elevator and out of the lobby of the tower. You greeted Happy with a smile, and a hug, and then put yourself in the back of the limo.
It wasn't long before Happy pulled into the salon, and you slipped out of the back, "Would you like me to wait Ms. Stark"
"No Happy, Y/B/F and myself are going to go back to her place and get ready, she has her car" you smiled at him.
"Alright Ms. Stark" Happy told her smiling, and then he produced an envelope from his jacket pocket, "Congratulations Ms. Stark"
"Happy you didn't have to" you told him, tears in your eyes. He just smiled as he placed it in your hands.
"Its your special day Ms. Of course I did" Happy smiled as he shut the car door and went back to the drivers seat. You couldn't help but smile, and placed the envelope in your purse as you made your way into the salon.
Y/B/F called your name across the salon where she was waiting, and when you got close enough wrapped you in a hug, "we did it" they exclaimed. You couldn't help but let a wide grin shine through, "We are officially college graduates"
"I know, out into the real world" You smiled and Y/B/F gave you a look, "What" you ask as two of the employee's motioned you into chairs.
"What real world, you can't tell me that you aren't already decorating a plush office in Stark Industries" Y/B/F stated.
"No I haven't spoken to Pepper about joining my father's company, I want to make my way without the use of my father's name" you told them and would have taken more offense if it wasn't your best friend.
"Come on Y/N, why not take advantage of all that is offered to you" Y/B/F smiled. You shook your head and let a small smile grace your lips
"Merit has to be earned, not given" You smiled.
You enjoyed the time at the salon, laughing and reminiscing about things that had happened in the last four years. It wasn't long until the stylist turned you around so you could see their masterpiece. You smiled wider as your hair had been styled perfectly and your makeup which you normally always do yourself was not only natural looking but brought out y/f/f on yourself. "Thank you" you smiled again as you hopped up to make the payment. Once you had settled with the salon, y/b/f and yourself linked arms and made your way out into the mid-day sun and walked to your friends car your garment bag slung over your shoulder.
It didn't take you long to get to your friends apartment, where the immediately turned on the their ipod and music filled the small living room, the next hour and a half was a flurry of clothes, both of you biting your lip and asking at the same time, "Should we put on the gowns now" then laughing at each other before they shoved their graduation robe in your garment bag as well and you both flopped on their couch mindful of all the work the salon had just completed.
"So what is our plan afterwards" they ask you.
You bit your lip, it was a habit you had, "I am not sure what my father has planned" You shrugged your shoulders, "He hasn't mentioned anything yet, but you know how over the top he can be"
"True, " Y/b/f nodded, "My Mom and Dad want to take me to dinner, but then I say we ditch parents after our separate meals and meet the classmates we like at the bar downtown, you know y/f/b" The y suggested.
"Sounds like a plan to me, as long as my Dad doesn't do something crazy and jet me off to an island somewhere" You laugh.
"Hey if that happens you better bring me, I want a free island vacation before having to be a productive citizen" They laughed.
"Noted" You smiled, as you checked your cell phone for the time, "hey we better get going" you said and they nodded as you both made your way out of the apartment and hailed a cab, you guys had agreed no use in taking her Car if her parents were taking her to dinner after and well your dad would be brought by Happy you were sure. You couldn't help but smile, you were so excited and you knew that if Happy brought your dad he would convince him to come in and watch. The only person missing would be your Uncle Rhodey as he was off on a mission. "Please no alien invasions" You whispered to yourself .
You had put your gown on and were putting your phone in your purse, when you felt it vibrate in your hand, looking down you saw Pepper Potts flashing across the screen. You answered it hurriedly you needed to get in line soon. "Hey Pepper" you chirped
"Hey Sweetie," She said in the maternal voice she always had when speaking to you and even sometimes to your father, "Are you at the school yet?" She questioned.
"Yes Pepper" You told her and you knew she could hear your smile, you had worked hard for this.
"I am so proud of you Honey, " She told you, and as you went to say something she intrupted, "There has been an emergency"
"Is Dad ok" You ask frantically and you here her laugh.
"Not that type sweetie, I would have sent Happy to collect you, No one of the major deals we have has started to fall through, and the other company is demanding that I speak with them, their home office is in Toyko, Honey I have to get on a Plane right after the ceremony in order to make it in time." she told you gently, "I'll be there, but I won't have time to celebrate afterwards. I wanted to call you and let you know now so that you wouldn't think I'm not coming" she told you.
"I understand Pepper, You're a busy woman" you told her, "I know you would never forget me" you added.
"Plus I am sure your Dad has something over the top planned as always" She added you teasing.
"don't remind me, remember my 10th birthday" you laughed and sighed thinking about all the attractions your dad had planned.
"Ok sweetie I am on my way now, as I am dropping my luggage off before I come to the ceremony, I will see you when I get there"
"Ok Pepper, love you"
"Love you to honey" she told you ending the call. You smiled Pepper had always been thoughtful like that, letting you know what to expect and making sure you understood why she was going to do something even if she knew it could hurt your feelings. You placed your phone in your purse, and the purse you tucked away in the garment bag falling in line with your classmates.
It felt like minutes before it was time to walk in line with all the others receiving a diploma in reality your nerves made it so as it had been a little over half an hour. Once you made it to your respective seat and actually got to set down, your eyes glanced around the auditorium in search of your family. Your eyes met Pepper and she smiled and waved but you noticed that the seat beside her was empty, where was your father. Throughout the ceremony your eyes kept drifting back to the seat your father should be occupying to find it empty, you tried to stop all the horrible images and thoughts from creeping in your head, like he was kidnapped in a foreign county again, or aliens and demi Gods were busy bashing his head in. Your mind was racing so much, that you almost missed your name being called. Taking a deep breath you walked across the podium and shook hands and smiled for the picture, but you knew the smile didn't reach your eyes as the seat remained empty.
The rest of the graduation flew by, and your best friend bound up to you once it was all over, you were separated as you didn't even have close to the same last name. "You figured out your plans yet" They ask smiling as they hugged you.
"Not yet" You smiled back you didn't want to tell her that apparently your father missed one of the biggest days of your life. Then taking a deep breath, you forced a smile up, "You know what lets just meet at the bar we talked about, go out with a bang with our classmates"
"really, awesome" Your friend told you, "Want me to text you when I finish up dinner with the rents? And we can arrive at the same time"
"Sounds good" You told them smiling, "Meet you there" you threw over your shoulder making your way to the back to get your stuff. There wasn't anyone there to hug you that mattered, Pepper had to leave directly to make it on time for the meeting, and well your Dad you really just hoped he was ok, you couldn't imagine him missing your graduation for anything short of world safety. When you got back to your stuff you pulled your purse from your garment bag, and retrieved your phone, no missed calls or texts. Googling the number for an uber you called and made your way outside to meet them, not coming in your own car had been a mistake you knew now.
It wasn't to awful long until you made it to the tower, and made your way inside. You quickly got into the elevator and made your way inside. "My floor" Jarvis you told him.
"Yes Ms. Stark" Jarvis told you
"Jarvis, Is my dad in the tower" You ask .
"Yes Ms. Stark he is currently in his Lab, do you wish to go to that Floor" Jarvis ask politely.
"No thank you Jarvis, How long has he been in the Lab?" You questioned
"All afternoon Miss" Jarvis told you.
You felt the anger swirling in your stomach, accompanied by the feeling of nausea, It wasn't an emergency that threatened to flatten the whole world, he had lost track of time in his lab, and missed your graduation. You took a deep breath and tried to hold back your tears. You knew your father was eccentric obnoxious at times and abrasive, and even an absent father more often than not but he had always made it to your important life events. Kindergarten graduation, your proms, hell even your failed ballet recital when you were 11 and hated ballet, and each one of them He smiled and told you how proud he was even if you knocked over half the cast of swan lake, but he missed your graduation.
"Is he alone in the lab" You couldn't stop yourself.
"No Ms. Dr. Banner is with him"
"Damn the avengers" You seethed, "You knew a team wouldn't be good for him, not only was it putting him at risk, he was blowing off your important events in order to hang out with his new science friend. When the elevator stopped you shot off and into your room throwing your garment bag on the bed, you rushed to your closet and flung the doors open. You hurriedly grabbed y/f/d that your father absolutely hated, he complained that it was too short, and too reveling. You could hear his voice in your head, "You have to cover the merchandise don't let people have samples before they buy you are not a mall food court" you had always snorted at that, as you had seen some of the women he had brought home over the years. Your hair was still nearly perfect, and you touched up your makeup and threw on a different pair of heels and grabbed your wristlet putting all the important things in their like your ID, and credit card. You would not let your father ruin your night, you were going to go out and party with your friends and if you wanted to get shit faced drunk he wasn't going to stop you, and you were not speaking to him either. You texted your best friend and let them know you would meet them at the club, and slipped your phone into your bra as you marched your way back to the elevator and got on. "Ground floor Jarvis" You told the AI.
"Yes Ms. Stark"
You hadn't gotten very far when the elevator door stopped and opened, and once again you were face to face with Captain Rogers, at least this time you were closer to being face to face, instead of Chest to him looking over the top of your head.
"Captain Rogers" You said crisply.
"Ma'am" He stuttered out and you smiled inwardly good you thought let him oogle me, my father would hate that.
"Floor Captain Rogers" Jarvis ask , and he had to ask twice before he could give him an answer.
"Very Good Sir" The AI told him.
"I'm sorry Captain am I making you uncomfortable" you ask with a small smile.
"I'm, I'm Just not used to women dressing in so little" He told you honestly, "Do you have a date" He questioned.
"No I am meeting my friends at a local bar, we are celebrating" You told him honestly.
You saw his eyebrow raise, "What are you celebrating, If you don't mind me asking" He was trying to look anywhere but your breasts.
"The fact that We finally graduated college, not that my father seems to care" You told him flippantly.
"I am sure that he does" He told you earnestly and you rolled your eyes.
"If it really was that big of a deal to him, He would have made it to the ceremony, or at least came by to grovel for my forgiveness and give me a half assed excuse why he would rather spend time in the lab with Dr. Banner than see his only known child graduate" You Spat, and then took a deep breath, "I'm sorry I shouldn't take it out on you if I am upset with my father"
Captain Rogers gave you a small smile, "Ma'am I wouldn't feel right about letting you go out alone"
You cut him off, "Its fine, I will have my friends" you told him smiling.
"Still you never know, and with how you are feeling, if you get into trouble I highly doubt you would call your father, not that I think you will get into trouble" he told you rubbing the back of his neck as you just looked at him, "But at least let me give you my phone number and if you need something, even just someone to talk to, you can call me"
You really wanted to let your Stark temper flair at that, the man that was the unelected leader of the group your father was in, was offering his hero services but he was so genuine and hell if nothing else you knew it would make your father mad, plus you could not argue Captain Rogers was easy on the eyes. "Ok you agreed." as you got your phone out of your purse and went to contacts and waited. After a minute he smiled sheepishly.
"Do you happen to know how I find out my number" He ask, "Tony just gave me this phone yesterday"
You couldn't help it a laugh bubbled out of your mouth, and you took his phone from you sending a text from it to yours and handed it back. The elevator doors opened and he stepped out, "If you need anything" He told you again and you nodded as the elevator doors closed.
Once you made it out of the elevator, you made your way quickly outside and hailed a cab, You refused to let your father ruin this night for you, or your name wasn't Y/N Stark.