Chapter 8: Hello, Everyone Else
Thanks for the reviews. I'm still working on getting a few of the other Marvel characters in here, but right now it's just the Avengers.
Hphphp
That night, there was a letter from Gringotts. In it was a request for 20,000 galleons for Waters. Tony sent a reply that that was fine, and that if they needed more they were going to have to find a phone and call his cell phone. He was leaving the country. He then gave instructions on how to make an international phone call on a payphone.
They gathered up what they were taking and hotfooted it to the airport the next morning. There was paperwork and phone calls to make, and things needed to be packed and shuttled to the airport. But they made it on time.
Goose was not happy being put in a carrier. However, Ivy gave him her puppy-dog eyes and he folded. He was to be in the airplane and would be let out when they were at the right altitude. He was more than willing to listen after that had been explained to him.
"Mr. Tony, how come we don't have to stand in line like everybody else?" Ivy asked as they breezed through security. She was happy that they didn't have to stand in line, but it was weird to her. Were they special?
"I have my own jet," Tony explained, realizing that Ivy didn't understand just how rich he was, or what that meant.
"Really?" she said, looking at the huge aircrafts. One of these was Mr. Tony's? Wow. "Did you build it?" she asked, looking at him in wonder. She knew he was smart, but that was extra smart.
"I did design it, but no, I had other people build it," he said, chuckling a bit. He picked her up since she was still so small. He didn't want her to get lost in the crowd. They were approaching the gate they needed to be at to get on his jet. "Did you bring your books and things, like I said?" he asked, knowing that it was a long flight.
"Yes, Mr. Tony. I brought my puzzles too. And Mr. Goose said he'd help me with my words," she said brightly. Mr. Goose was one of her bestest friends. He was so kind to her. He was mean to others, and she was trying to get him to be nice to them, but he said that it was just his nature.
"I'm glad he likes you," Tony said sincerely. He knew that non-cat only tolerated him and Pepper. He barely tolerated Happy. He was just borderline kind to Remus. Something about the werewolf set the non-cat's teeth on edge.
"Do you think the owls will be alright?" she asked, looking out the window at the sky.
"I think they'll be fine," Tony said, looking at the skies, even though he knew they were coming by boat. It was the safest way for them to travel. It had taken a lot of fast talking and he found a company that safely transported exotic birds, which owls were for some reason. Ivy was just happy that they were coming soon.
"Let's get on the plane, little bug," Tony said as they approached the gate. Pepper just smiled at the two and followed along.
Tony's jet was one made for a bachelor, but he had had it remodeled for him after Afghanistan. It was now a luxury jet that had a living area and a bedroom with two bathrooms. There was a dining area in the living area. They would not have to worry about space for their time in the air.
Hphphp
The flight was a long one and Ivy slept through most of it. She played with her puzzles and read her books with Tony's and Goose's help until the lull of the engines put her to sleep. Tony woke her up when they were about to touch down at the airport. They went through customs without issue and were soon on their way to the tower. It was time to meet the Avengers.
"What if they don't like me?" Ivy said, turning her wide eyes to Pepper. It was a great concern of hers.
"I highly doubt there are many people in this world that would not like you, Ivy, sweetie. You are just too cute for words," the CEO of SI said, touching the little girl's nose and smiling at her.
"My aunt didn't like me," Ivy pointed out, nodding her head knowledgably. She knew that there were some people that were not going to like her. It would be silly to think everyone would.
"Your aunt was just a mean person who didn't like anyone," Pepper said, remembering the report she had gotten on the outcome of that family.
Vernon had divorced Petunia and gotten custody of Dudley with the help of Tony's lawyers. He'd given the house to Petunia in the divorce as to not leave her emptyhanded. That and she could deal with the magicals when they found out Ivy was gone. Vernon moved to London and was doing well. Petunia had to get a job and was barely making ends meet. The neighbors were not nice to her, but she could not afford to move, the house was paid for.
"Are any of them mean people?" Ivy asked, fretting with her sleeve. She was really nervous about meeting Mr. Tony's and Miss Pepper's friends.
"No, they are all nice people," Tony said, thinking of the personality of each of the Avengers. While they can be off-putting to some, they were in the end nice people.
"Just be yourself," Goose said into her head. He purred in encouragement and rubbed his face on hers. He didn't like to see her fuss so. She should always be smiling.
"I will try, Mr. Goose," Ivy said, rubbing her face against his. He rarely let her show any sort of affection, so she was going to take it.
"Yes, little bug, just be your adorable self and everyone will love you," Tony agreed from the seat across from the other three. They were being taken home in the limo, with Happy driving. He had flown with them on the jet. The Avengers had wanted to meet them at the airport, but Tony said it would be too overwhelming. So, they decided to throw a small pizza party.
Finally, they made it to the tower and Ivy got out of the car and looked up, and up, and up. "Wow, Mr. Tony, that is one tall building. I don't think I can fly that high," she said, not sure if brooms would ever go that high off the ground.
"Not on the brooms you own now, no. Maybe when you are older, okay?" Tony said, ruffling her hair. He moved to enter the building and was greeted by the receptionist and a few of the staff that were around the ground floor. He nodded his greeting to them, and then he led his party to the express elevator that would take him straight to the living areas on the top five floors.
Ivy exclaimed excitement on how fast the lift was going, but she never let go of Pepper's hand.
The elevator got to Tony's floor, and they disembarked. There to greet them was Natasha and Clint. They had volunteered to be the first as they were the most unassuming.
Tony picked up Ivy and held her on his hip. "Little bug, this is Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff. They work for SHIELD, so be careful what you say to them. Legolas, Madam Spider, this is Ivy Harriet Potter," he said, walking closer to them so they could shake hands with his little girl.
"Pepper was right, you are adorable," Natasha said, holding out her hand high enough so that Ivy could reach it from her perch on Tony's hip.
"Thank you, Miss Natasha," Ivy said, shaking the hand. She then turned to Clint and did the same. "It is nice to meet you, Mr. Clint," she added.
"Mercy, even her voice is cute," Clint said, no stranger to cute kids, he had two of his own. But Ivy took the cake. She was just that loveable. Everything about her screamed cuteness.
"Let's go meet the rest of the crew," Tony said, nodding to the two spies. They moved out of the way and followed behind. The next person they came across was Captain America. "Capcicle, meet Ivy Harriet Potter. Little bug, meet Steven Rogers," he said, nodding to the man. They still didn't see eye-to-eye on a lot of things, but they tolerated one another.
Steve glared at Tony for the name, but smiled at Ivy when she looked at him. "Hello," he said, his voice nice and deep.
"Hello," she said back. Then Ivy wrinkled her nose at Tony and his name calling. She wasn't sure if he was being mean to the other man or not. "Mr. Tony, that was not nice," she chastised, wagging her finger at him.
"I was only teasing. It is the same as me calling you little bug," Tony defended himself. He knew the man didn't like it, but he always called people by nicknames, and he hadn't figured out a different one for the older man yet. Not one that wasn't worse.
"I like it when you call me little bug, Mr. Steven doesn't like the name you called him," Ivy said, putting her free hand on her hip and glaring her cute little eyes at Tony.
"Sorry, Cap, I'll try not to call you that anymore," Tony said, trying to get Ivy to quit looking at him like that. It made him feel about five inches tall.
"Thank you, young miss," Steve said, taking her hand and kissing the back. "You may call me Steve," he said, giving her a winning smile.
"Okay, Mr. Steve." There was no breaking her of calling men Mr. or women Miss, or Mrs.. It was ingrained in her. She didn't know where it came from, but it felt weird not to address adults in that fashion.
"Okay, one more person to meet. The rest are not here," Tony said, knowing only Bruce was here. Thor was on Asgard doing something with Loki. "Don't worry, he's probably just as nervous to meet you as you are him," he added, knowing Banner was just a jumpy person by nature. Being the Hulk made him more so. Even though since the evasion the Hulk was easier to deal with.
Bruce was in the dining room, which was attached to the kitchen, setting the table. The pizza was already there, on a side table, and waiting for everyone to be seated. Tony set Ivy down on one of the chairs. She was standing on it, with her hand still on one of his arms.
"Hello," Bruce said, setting the silverware down. He was one of the few that used them for his pizza, but there was also salad to be eaten as well. "I am Bruce, what is your name?" he asked, taking the direct approach. The Other Guy was cooing in his head and he was having a hard time holding him back. His eyes were tinted green.
"Hello, Mr. Bruce, I am Ivy Harriet," Ivy said, with a cute curtsy. She could feel the Other Guy and was curious about him. "Who is the big green man inside you?" she asked, wanting to meet him.
"Well, Ivy Harriet, he is a different part of me. He only comes out when I am angry, so you can't meet him right now," Bruce explained as well as he could to as small child. He was shocked that she could feel him, but perhaps Tony had told her about the Hulk and she was just saying that.
"Like Mr. Remus' werewolf?" she asked in all the innocence of a child.
"Yes, little bug, like Remus, only different in that Bruce doesn't need the full moon," Tony explained, ruffling her hair.
"Anyway, we are about to eat pizza. What kind do you want?" Bruce asked, changing the subject, picking up the plate in front of her and going to the boxes. He'd ask about the werewolf comment later. For all he knew it was a make-believe character.
"Pepperoni," Ivy said, jumping a bit on the chair, until Tony put a hand on her head to make her stop.
"No jumping on chairs," he said, making her sit down.
Everyone spilled in and started eating their dinners, be it pizza or salad. Ivy learned a lot about the Avengers that night. She was in awe of how much they took saving the world seriously. She wanted to be a hero when she grew up too. She'd make everyone safe and happy. Maybe she could talk Goose and Remus into being ones with her.
Hphphp
It was a week later when Tony got a phone call from Remus. He left the building and was soon back with the werewolf and his dog.
"Puppy," Ivy said, running to the large black dog. It was just too cute.
Goose was sniffing the canine, and knew it was a human in dog form. However, it seemed harmless, so he'd refrain from eating it. He was going to keep his eyes on it though. No human was going to hurt his Ivy.
"Ivy," Remus said, crouching down and calling her over with his hand, "do you remember me telling you about your godfather?" he asked when she came to him.
"Yes," she said, still petting the dog, who had followed her to Remus' side.
"This dog is your godfather," Remus said, giving the dogman a pointed look.
"Really? Can you change back?" Ivy asked the dog, wanting to meet the man. She had heard so much about him, and she was glad he was away from the awful prison.
Not able to resist those eyes, Sirius did as she asked. "Hello, Ivy, I'm your godfather, Sirius Black," he said, holding out his hand. He was very, very skinny. Even more skinny than she had been when Mr. Tony had rescued her from Aunt Petunia.
"It is nice to meet you, Mr. Sirius," she said, taking his hand and shaking it. She then giggled and smiled at him. "You are a very pretty doggie," she added, giggling behind her hands.
"I'm a boy dog, therefore I am a handsome doggie," Sirius said, his nose in the air.
"I'm Ivy's new guardian, on the normal side, Tony Stark," Tony said, coming over and introducing himself. He looked at the emaciated man and knew he was going to have to get a nurse here full time. He wondered if there were magical healers that would work from home.
Sirius stood from where he had squatted down to meet Ivy. "Sirius Black," he said, shaking the other man's hand. "Thanks for taking Ivy away from Petunia," he said, his eyes narrowing at the thought of Ivy having to put up with that hag for any amount of time.
"It was easy," Tony said, waving them into the living room where most of the Avengers were sitting. Introductions were made and soon everyone was seated with a beverage, mostly soft drinks, or juice, only Sirius and Tony having cocktails. Not that Tony thought Sirius should have a drink, but one might not hurt. The man had been through quite an ordeal.
Pepper and Ivy were playing house with Goose in Ivy's room. They decided that the adults needed to talk about the trial then Ivy could get to know her godfather better during dinner. Remus and Sirius would be staying in the tower while they were in the states. How long they were going to stay was still up in the air.
"Wait, you're Remus," Bruce asked, when they were introduced. "The werewolf?"
"Yes," the wary man said, not sure how the man knew that.
"Ivy wasn't joking about that?" Banner said, sitting down in shock.
"Wait, there are werewolves?" Clint asked, also sitting down in shock.
"We can't really talk about this," Sirius said, looking to Tony.
"Let me get with my lawyer on that side of things and see how much I can tell," Tony said to the other Avengers. He knew there was a chance they might get their memories wiped but he might be able to finagle it to getting them full disclosure.
"How did you get Ivy out of Britain without running into Dumbledore?" Sirius wanted to know. He might be able to talk about this without exposing too much.
"Who or what is Dumbledore?" Tony asked, looking to Remus to answer.
"He's the headmaster of Hogwarts and the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. Not to mention the Supreme Mugwump of the ICW," the werewolf answered, leaving more questions with each word.
"So someone who holds too much power," Steve summed up what everyone was thinking. He had no idea what those offices were, maybe they were British things, but that was too much power.
"Why would he had interfered with Ivy's leaving Britain?" Bruce asked, not sure what each of those titles meant, but none of them sounded like they had anything to do with children's safety.
"He's the one who put Ivy with Petunia in the first place," Sirius said, growling a bit. He had been pissed when he found out about that. Lily had stated that she never wanted her children to have anything to do with that hag.
"Sirius, I don't know if you remember this, but he wasn't at your trial," Remus said, knowing his friend was a bit out of it during the whole thing. He had been dosed right away and asked questions about that night then acquitted.
"He wasn't? Well, damn," Sirius said, trying to remember anything about that day, but it was all hazy. He remembered the lawyer telling him what was going to happen, and coming back to himself when it was all over.
"The reason Tony didn't have any issues is because Albus has been out of the country for ICW business since school let out in June," Remus explained. "You got out just in time. I hear he's due back today," he told Tony.
"And I should worry why?" the billionaire asked, putting his drink down on the table, and looked at all the Avengers that were listening to the two men explain why there might be trouble.
"He's obsessed with her," Remus said, leaning back and settling his glass of juice on his knee. "He has been since she was born. There's a prophecy about her and the last… um terrorist, that was running around. I'm sure you know about how she was supposed to have stop that man," he paused to get a nod from Tony, "Well, Albus thinks the man is still alive and that Ivy still has a role to play," he added.
"How do you know this?" Sirius asked, having been out of the loop for so long.
"I've kept in touch with him all these years. He tells me things when he's feeling melancholy," the werewolf said, a bit smugly. It was only on Halloween night when Albus opened up a bit, and only a bit, but over the years he let a few things slip.
"A prophecy? Really? Do I really have to worry about this?" Tony asked, not sure about some mumbo-jumbo.
"I know what it sounds like coming from strangers, but prophecies are real, and they do come true," Sirius said, rubbing his eyes. He was not used to being awake for so long. He mostly slept in Azkaban and that in his dog form. "Sure, some of them are self-fulfilling, but they do come to pass."
"What should I do?" Tony asked, worried about his precious little girl.
"Raise her the best way you can," Remus said, not wanting to ruin the sweetness that was Ivy, but wanting her to be prepared.
"Oh, I think we can keep that innocence and make it deadly," Natasha said, speaking for the first time. She had seen it done many times in the Red Room. With her input and the help of the men in this room, not to mention their allies, Ivy will be quite the femme fatale only with the air of innocence.
If they did it right, not even Ivy would catch on that they were training her until she was old enough to need to know. That would truly preserve her innocence. Weaponized Cuteness indeed.