Protector
Penny Parker stood in the hotel room that Tony Stark had booked for her and stared out the floor to ceiling balcony door, wishing she could just focus on how amazing it was that she was in Germany…that she'd just met (and fought with) the Avengers. Because this was maybe the coolest thing that had ever happened to her. No…not maybe. The single coolest thing that had ever happened to her. She couldn't help wishing she could tell May and Ben …then again, she doubted they would have let her come. Could she have lied to them like she'd lied to Skip? Of course, lying to Skip had been done in the form of a note left on the kitchen table. But they would have seen through her, right? Would they have believed Tony Stark if he'd told them that she'd applied for an internship and that he was taking her to a conference?
She pushed that thought away. She didn't want to think about May and Ben… couldn't think about them. No…she'd think about Ned instead. He would be over the moon if she could tell him this…if she could tell him that she was the vigilante he'd been watching on Youtube and that she'd just been on a real superhero mission to try and contain Captain America. He would freak out…actually, it might not be a good idea to tell him, mostly because he'd probably blab to everyone. But the thought of the look on his face if she ever got to tell that story might make it all worth it.
She'd told him about the internship, though, feeding him the lines she'd been given by Iron Man. She was going out of town as Tony Stark's intern. It was a big conference. She would be working with him after school. Maybe she'd even get to visit his labs sometime. He'd freaked out, of course, practically squealing into the phone as she'd sat on the roof of their apartment building and grinned out at the dark skyline.
It felt like more than three days had passed since her foster sister, Letitia, had walked into the library, Tony Stark in tow. He'd found out about Spider-Girl…she wasn't sure how. Apparently he'd seen her on Youtube and had done some digging. But he'd promised that he wouldn't tell anyone. And as he'd asked for her help, it had hit her. Tony Stark…Iron Man…the richest man in the country and maybe the world, was asking her for a favor. So maybe she could be bold enough to ask for one in return.
She never could have asked for anything for herself. But to protect Tish, she'd do just about anything.
So she had.
Skip Westcott hadn't touched her once since she'd fought back, but she hadn't been brave enough to fight back until she'd gotten her powers. And then, two weeks later, Letitia Taylor had walked through that front door and Penny had known that her newfound mission to fight crime in Queens had to take a backseat to the new most important mission she'd ever had: protecting Tish from Skip. So she'd developed a foolproof routine that Tish had been all too happy to follow once Penny had told her what was at stake.
Maybe she shouldn't have told the eleven-year-old girl what Skip would do to her…what he'd already done. But it had been the only way she'd been able to think of to get Tish to listen to her when the two had just met. Tish was smart and she was sweet and she knew for a fact that her father had been framed somehow, and Penny was inclined to believe her. She loved watching Youtube videos of other people playing video games and listening to the old music she'd listened to with her father and she thought Penny was the smartest person in the world ever since she'd built her that MP3 player. And when Penny had told her that she was the Spider-themed vigilante of Queens, knowing that she would only be able to get away with keeping something like that from a girl that slept in the room next door to hers for so long, Tish had pinky sworn not to tell anyone, nodding solemnly when Penny had told her that no one else could ever know.
Penny was not going to let Skip Westcott lay a finger on her…he wasn't going to do to her what he'd already done to Penny.
So she'd studied Skip's schedule. She'd told Tish to meet her at the library after school every day where the two of them did homework and talked and had all the snacks Penny could afford. Some days, Tish would go to a friend's place after school, or her and a friend would come to the library together and play on the computers. And that was where Penny felt safest…the two of them were safe in the library. Sometimes Ned came to the library too, and although he never asked about Skip or why she spent nearly every day at the library after school, she had a feeling that he knew something was wrong. Still, he never asked and she never brought it up. Instead, the two of them would sometimes build the miniature LEGO sets that he brought with him, letting Tish build with them as they ate the snacks that Tish snuck in and that the librarian pretended not to see.
Then, when it started to get dark, she'd walk her foster sister, who she'd quickly started thinking of as just her sister, back to the apartment. If Skip was working late, which he often did, she'd patrol for a while. If not, she stuck close to the apartment, usually on the roof, and texted Ned on her regular phone. At night, she sometimes dared to slip into her own room and sleep.
Never on the bed. She hadn't slept in a bed since…
She slept curled up on the floor by the window, a blanket thrown over her, ear pressed to the wall. Listening. She'd told Letitia over and over to lock her door at night. And if Skip ever opened it, then she needed to scream.
"I'll come. I swear. No matter what, if you yell for me, I'll be there."
Other times, she'd sleep on the balcony by the fire escape, or on the roof, her cell phone under her head. A month after Tish had moved in, Penny had finally saved enough money from slipping single dollar bills out of Skip's wallet at night and saving the lunch money he was legally required to leave for them on the kitchen table to buy two cheap, prepaid phones, and to load them with enough minutes for a couple of calls. Tish had strict instructions to call if she needed her, but only in the case of an emergency.
"This isn't for anything else, okay? It only has my number on it. Don't let anyone know you have it."
She'd found a miniature baseball bat in a dumpster by a toy store, and after cleaning it up, she'd given that to Tish too.
"Keep it under your pillow, okay? Every night. And if he so much as touches you, what will you do?"
"Hit him as hard as I can in the head and get out," Tish had whispered on the night she'd given it to her, looking afraid and determined, and Penny had wished so hard for a different life for both of them that it had made her eyes water with tears she had refused to shed in front of her new sister. She was the strong one. Always. She had to be strong and keep Tish safe. It was her number one mission.
So far, she'd followed all the rules. The rules kept them safe. The rules made sure that Penny always knew where Tish was and that she could always get to her if she needed her and that was the most important thing. The only thing. And if she focused on keeping Tish safe and keeping her grades perfect so she could get into MIT and work for Stark Industries one day and if she made her own superhero suit and webbed up bad guys, then she didn't have to think about the series of events that had led to this being her life.
But that was over now. Because Mr. Stark had moved Tish to a better home.
Tish, who she'd guarded with her life from the moment the younger girl had stepped into that apartment from hell, Skip's hand resting on her shoulder and making Penny's skin crawl. Tish, who she'd spent hours on Youtube learning to braid hair for, and who she'd saved up money from selling scrapped electronics to buy the shampoo and conditioner she needed. Tish, who had been her sister and also the only one she had left after she'd lost every other member of her family. She'd wanted Tish safe. It was all she'd wanted. But she couldn't help the thought, echoing Mr. Stark's question to her in that library the day he'd come in and changed her life.
"What about you?"
What about her? There was no one left to keep her safe, and sometimes she felt so afraid and so young and so hopeless that she wondered why she bothered with any of this in the first place. And the answer had been 'for Tish' but now Tish was safe. And maybe Mr. Stark would tell her where Tish was so she could visit, but if Tish was safe and happy and with a real family that would love her, then that would have to be enough. Penny wouldn't think about how much she would miss her or how truly alone she would be now. That would be selfish.
Before he'd left the library, promising to come back to her apartment the next day to pick her up, she'd stopped him, daring to whisper his name before he'd even gotten up from the table. "Mr. Stark, I can't go until Tish is safe."
It wasn't fair, she'd known, asking him to fulfill his side of the bargain before she'd done anything to fulfill hers. But he'd nodded anyway, as if that was a given, and she knew that he was a smart man…the smartest man in the country, probably, but the thought of him knowing what Skip had done to her made her want to throw up. "Of course. I'll have her moved tomorrow…a social worker will pick her up from school and take her to her new home."
"Do you promise?" she'd asked, watching the doors for Letiita to make sure she didn't overhear before she had his word. Was the word of Iron Man enough to go on when it came to Tish's safety? She hoped so. He was her hero. The man she'd looked up to her whole life. She'd read all three of his (unauthorized) biographies and she followed him and his company on Twitter and she followed the news of the Avengers religiously…he was just a man who had made terrible mistakes but then he'd decided to be a good person…a superhero! She wanted to be like him…had always wanted to be like him. So it had been agonizing to stare at him and to feel distrust rise in her throat and practically choke her. Because when he'd walked in with Tish, and when he told her that he knew her secret, she'd realized that she'd just met her hero, and now he could let her down…he had all the power. He could do anything he wanted to her. And there was nothing that scared her more than being powerless.
But Tony Stark had stared across the table at her for a long moment, looking as sad and as tired as she'd felt, and then he'd nodded. "I promise. I have a lot of lawyers and a lot of money. I'll make sure she's safe."
Was it enough? She hoped so.
When Tish had come back to the library not too long after Iron Man had left, Penny had gestured for her to sit down, taking a long drink from her cup of water with a hand that shook, and then she'd told her the most important parts in a whisper. "He needs my help. Spider-Girl's help. Something to do with the Avengers. So I asked him for a favor. He's going to get you away from Skip. You're going to go to a really good family and they're going to take care of you and you're going to be safe."
Tish's shoulders had sagged in relief because it had never occurred to her that Iron Man might lie or let her down. She'd smiled, excitement burning in her eyes as she'd grabbed Penny's hand. "Do you know where he's sending us? Will it be close enough for us to stay in our schools? When are we going? Do you think he can help my dad?"
"Not us, Tish," Penny had told her softly, trying to smile. "Just you."
A knock on the hotel room door jolted her out of those thoughts and she turned around, looking past the perfectly made bed she hadn't slept in and the fancy basket of chocolates that she'd devoured over the last two days and the bag she'd packed. She hadn't bought Tish a souvenir even though she'd wanted to…hadn't known when she'd see her again or how Tish would explain a new trinket from Germany.
Before she'd left that morning, she'd grabbed her sister's hands.
"You have my phone number, right? You memorized it?"
Tish had nodded, biting her lip hard and looking afraid, but trying to put on a brave front.
"Tell me."
She'd recited it.
"Okay. And you have your phone?"
She'd nodded.
"Keep it on you at all times. Keep it charged. Don't use it for anything else, okay? If someone finds it, find a way to call me, and I'll get you a new one."
"I know."
"If no one picks you up from school today, stick to the rules. Go to the library until dark. Ask Ned to walk you home if he goes with you. Don't listen to music if you walk alone. Lock your door. Keep that bat close. I won't be able to get here in time if you need me. Where do you go in an emergency?"
"Out the window, down the fire escape, go to the first floor, knock on Dave's door."
Penny had pulled her into a tight hug. "You got it."
Penny brushed that memory aside and grabbed her packed bag, giving the view from her hotel room one last long look. Happy Hogan was waiting for her in the hallway, looking grumpy and impatient, but when he caught sight of her black eye, he winced a little. "You need ice, kid?"
Happy hadn't seemed thrilled about his new assignment, ie babysitting her, but when she'd stayed quiet, sneaking videos to show Tish the next time she saw her and resolving not to bother Happy for any reason short of her own imminent demise (and maybe not even then) he'd softened a little.
"I'm fine," she assured him. A black eye was the least of her troubles, that was for sure.
"You ready to go?"
She nodded, not letting herself think about Tish or Skip or what waited for her back in the place she had to call home for legal reasons. She'd helped Iron Man. Maybe…maybe he could…
No. She wasn't even going to let herself think it…wasn't going to let herself pin all of her hopes and dreams on Tony Stark. He was a good man and he was a superhero but he wasn't going to save her. No one was. She'd learned that a long time ago. She would have to save herself, and she had a plan. Keep Tish safe. Get the best grades and go to MIT. Three more years of high school…that's all she had to get through. Her freshman year was almost over! Skip didn't touch her anymore and if he tried, then she'd fight back because she was strong now. She wasn't a helpless little girl anymore. She wouldn't freeze like the first time. And she would just have to deal with living in an apartment with him for a little while longer.
Now that Tish was safe, maybe she could find a job. Save her money. Move out sooner. Just the thought made the heaviness in her heart lift a little. Maybe Mr. Delmar would hire her. He was always nice and she could clean and keep things organized and even serve customers if he needed her to. She could focus on patrolling again and maybe…maybe Mr. Stark would even let her keep the suit!
They took the same private plane back to New York, and since Happy was sitting in the front of the cabin with his back to her, Penny took lots of pictures, then closed her eyes and curled up next to the window to watch the clouds go by. She didn't blame Mr. Stark for not saying anything to her before she'd left…or for not even being there. Colonel Rhodes, who she knew from his unauthorized biography was his best friend (and according to one of them and some internet rumors, his lover, but she didn't know that for sure and didn't want to speculate) had been really hurt after she'd been benched. And she knew that Captain America and the Winter Soldier with the cool metal arm had escaped.
It had been fun, she thought, smiling a little at the clouds. Bantering with them as she'd contained them. Stealing Captain America's shield. Having an actual conversation with Captain America who had asked where she was from! He'd said she had heart! Then webbing Falcon to the ground! She'd even gotten to see his wingsuit! Of course, then he'd thrown her out a window and the giant guy had swatted her out of the sky…and yeah, that had hurt. But she was fine. Mr. Stark hadn't needed to bench her! Maybe she would have been able to contain them if he hadn't! Still, she figured he was going after them or sitting with his friend…either way, it was fine that he hadn't said goodbye.
She'd helped him. He'd helped her. That was the end of it.
So, closing her eyes and feeling safe for the first time in so long, she slept.
When Penny woke up, it was seconds before Happy Hogan touched her arm. Jerking awake and flinching away from the hand reaching for her, she pretended not to notice the concern that flashed over Happy's face. People were usually concerned. That didn't mean they were going to do anything to help her.
"Hey, kid. We're here. You ready?"
She nodded, grabbing her bag and following him out to the car that waited for them at the tarmac. But they weren't the only ones there.
Tony Stark was leaning on the car, bruises covering his face, looking like he had all the time in the world as she hesitantly approached with Happy who headed straight to the driver's seat. "Hey, Spiderling. Sorry I wasn't there to see you off…got caught up in some Avengers stuff."
"Is Colonel Rhodes okay?"
His nonchalance dropped for a second, eyes going tight. "Yeah. He's…he'll be okay. They transferred him back to the States today. He's got the best and brightest looking after him."
She wanted to ask more questions…what about the other Avengers? Had he caught Captain America? Had they talked? Was everyone okay? Had she been good enough?
Instead, she got into the car, blinking in surprise when he climbed into the back seat beside her. She hadn't expected him to escort her back to her apartment himself. Then again, she thought as Happy pulled away from the tarmac and pulled onto the road, maybe he just wanted to swear her to secrecy or something. She'd already promised not to tell anyone about him taking her to Germany, but she guessed she didn't mind promising again.
He was quiet for a long time, tapping away at his phone instead of making conversation, and although she was practically vibrating with questions like would he ever want her help again and could she ever join the Avengers and where was her sister, she bit her tongue lest the questions actually escape. He'd told her the plan when he'd given her the suit. He would call for her. She'd swing in and help him web up the others. And that had been the sum of their conversations.
As they entered New York traffic, he pocketed his phone and started back-seat driving, arguing with Happy about which streets would be fastest, and Penny bit her lip to keep from laughing when Happy rolled her eyes. Then, when they were close, she finally mustered the courage to ask one question…the most important one, before he slipped out of her life as quickly as he had slipped into it.
He'd said that he'd had Tish moved to a good home…a safe home. But she needed to know for sure.
"Mr. Stark?"
"Yeah?"
"Can…can you tell me where Letitia is?"
He nodded as if to himself, leaning back in his seat and turning to face her. He looked…strange. Almost sheepish. But that didn't make any sense. "She's at the tower."
The tower. Penny shook her head, not sure what that meant. The tower. What tower?
It took a long minute for the words to sink in, but when it hit her, her jaw dropped, heart stuttering in her chest as she stared at him. "The tower?" she repeated, and he nodded. "Your tower?"
"Yeah. My lawyers have been working around the clock to make sure I could get custody of her. A social worker picked her up from school the day we left and went with her to pack her stuff. She's there with Pepper now."
They pulled up to the curb, and the partition between them and Happy went up as he put the car in park.
"I…Mr. Stark, I don't understand," she admitted, because this had to be a joke. A really mean joke. He was Iron Man! Tony Stark! Tony Stark didn't have time to foster a kid! "Are you saying that…that you're her…her foster parent now?"
"I am." He nodded, not quite meeting her eyes, and he was smiling but it looked uncomfortable, like he wasn't sure how to have this conversation…or maybe like he just didn't want to. "I wanted to make sure she was safe. She'll be safe at the tower."
He hesitated for a long time, and she almost thought that was the end of the conversation…she was almost ready to ask if she could visit and maybe get out of the car so she could get some time alone to wrap her head around all this. She'd fought the Avengers…with the Avengers. She'd been out of the country for the first time in her life. Tony Stark had custody of her sister. None of it made any sense. But then he went on.
"So will you."
"So will I what?" she asked haltingly, and he met her eyes, sighing a little, and then speaking like he was admitting to something.
"You'll be safe at the tower."
"I…I don't…"
"I got custody of both of you."
It felt like the floor dropped out from under her…like she'd missed a step and her whole body was flooded with adrenaline but it had nowhere to go and her hands shook and her eyes got hot and she didn't understand!
He seemed to be waiting for a response, but she had no idea what to say…no idea of how to answer that. He had custody of her. Iron Man. Tony Stark. He'd gotten custody of her. He was getting her away from Skip. He was her foster parent now? He hadn't told her. She didn't have to live with Skip anymore. She could maybe even sleep in a bed again. He'd done it without asking her or talking to her or even hinting that this was something he would ever consider doing…that it was in the realm of possible things that could happen.
"We're just here for you to pack your stuff. I didn't know what you'd want to take."
She still didn't know what to say, and his voice softened a little, his mask of nonchalance dropping once more.
"Look, I know this is…it's big. A big change. And I'm not trying to…I…I just wanted you both to be safe. You…you deserve to be safe. And I've got plenty of room at the tower. You can both stay in the same schools and you can do your spider thing and…and nothing much has to change, but you'll…you'll both be safe."
"You…have custody of me?" she confirmed slowly, and he nodded.
"I do. There's probably going to be something in the press about it this week, but I'll do my best to keep your names out of the press for as long as I can. And if you decide you want to be put with a different family, we can do that too. Just let me know. I didn't have a lot of time to sort out the details."
How would she ever tell him that? How could she look her hero in the face and tell him that she didn't want to live with him. She hadn't asked for this! And…and she was glad to be away from Skip but…
It was like everything was moving so fast and she couldn't keep up, like when a social worker had picked her up from school and told her that she was an orphan. Again. And then she'd been in a group home for six days and then she'd been in Steven Westcott's apartment and he'd smiled and asked her to call him Skip and that night…
"You ready to grab your stuff?"
Her eyes were hot and she wanted to climb onto the roof where she was safe and take a second to think but Iron Man was asking her to go upstairs and pack her stuff and they were at the apartment she almost never stepped foot in anymore, and certainly not through the front door…never in the common spaces. Only her bedroom or the bathroom or Tish's room. Out of habit she looked up at the window that she knew was Skip's and winced when she saw it was lit up. "Is he here?" She didn't even like saying his name…she hated it when he said hers.
Mr. Stark hesitated. Then nodded. "Yeah. He knows we're coming. The social worker would have talked to him about it. Come on…I'll walk with you. We can get your stuff and get out of here."
She didn't want to accept, only because then he'd know that she was afraid, but he was already walking around to the back of the car to the open trunk while she climbed out of the car and stood there, bewildered.
"Do you have a suitcase?"
She shook her head, watching as he pulled two blue hard-sided suitcases out of the trunk and set them beside him on the ground, their wheels clattering softly. He'd gotten her…suitcases? It felt like she was in a dream…the kind where she was on stage, and she had no idea what her lines were but she knew that she kept missing them and the audience was waiting but she didn't know what to do!
So she just followed Tony Stark to the apartment building where she apparently no longer lived.
Thank you for reading!
