"Well, I don't see any problems going forward, but that's not my area of expertise," Grey said. "Although, that's kinda what you get for sticking your metal hand in the dirt."
Barnes was sitting on the floor of the kitchen, while Grey went over his left hand with a pair of tweezers and a damp paper towel. There was a small pile of tiny pebbles sitting on the floor next to them.
"I fell," Barnes said, slightly defensive.
"Uh, huh, sure. Cause the best assassin in the world totally just trips while walking." Grey flipped the hand over again, twisting and turning to get it in the light. "Well, I've gotten what I can, but we really need Dad to look over your hand when he gets home anyway, I'm no genius, but even I can tell this is clunky work."
"Well, did you expect Hydra to care if I hurt?"
"This thing hurts you?" Grey demanded, looking Barnes over like she wasn't sure whether to hug him or hit him. "Of course, it does, why are you surprised, Stark? It's fuckin' hydra."
"Does your dad know you swear this much?" Barnes asked quietly. Everything he did was quiet. Grey really wanted him to be loud. To yell, scream, vent, whatever it took to feel better, Grey wanted it for him.
"Probably," Grey shrugged. "But you get to ask him if he cares about it."
"Pass, I have to ask him if he cares I killed his parents," Barnes said. There was a sour look on his face.
"He knows it was you, that's how we found you," Grey lied. "I found a video on SHIELD's servers from December sixteenth. Jarvis used it to track down Hydra, and I used that list to blackmail Pierce into handing you over."
"Are you going to go after Hydra?" Barnes asked, he perked up slightly. "I'll help."
"We don't have immediate plans to go after Hydra. Dad is still currently being kidnapped by terrorists."
"That will put a damper on things, I guess," Barnes admitted. He gave Grey a small smile, only visible in the corners of his eyes. "Are you worried?"
"No, I know he's coming back to me," Grey said confidently. "Well, I know he's going to try, but they're terrorists, and he's in the desert, so I'm a little worried, but my dad's a genius. He's already got five plans to get out."
Grey sat on the floor with him, leaning against the cabinets to look at him. His hair was sticking up at odd angles out of the tiny bun he had it tucked in.
It had been twenty-four hours, since they got Barnes to their house in New York. He moved through the shadows like he was paid to do it, and within an hour of being "home" had requested three new guns and permission to set up a sniper's nest to watch the driveway. Pepper had granted it, only saying that if he shot out Happy's tires, he'd have to deal with Happy.
Jim had been the one to go fetch the weapons Barnes asked for. Upon returning, Barnes accepted the weapons, then studied Jim like he was a target. After a nerve-wracking moment, where Jim was mentally rehearsing pleading for his life, Barnes handed him a heavier side arm than he usually carried and smiled. Jim didn't know where the gun came from, it wasn't a Stark weapon, but Jim accepted it.
"Is that how you show affection?" Jim asked.
"No," Barnes said, still inspecting his sniper rifle. "Hydra instructed me to always arm my handlers when I'm in the room with them. I know I don't have to, now, but I still feel better."
"Well, if it makes you feel better, then Grey will be all for it, she's big on self-care. I might keep this though, I like this," Jim said, looking at the weapon.
"Watch the recoil." (He was right, Jim went to the range in the backyard and nearly fell on his ass from the kick.)
Now, though, Grey nudged his foot with hers, prompting a smile again.
"Come here often?"
"The kitchen floor? Oh yeah, all the time. With my very best friends, that sink, and whatever that silver thing is you're leaning against."
"A dishwasher? It's a machine where you put dirty dishes, and it washes them for you. It used to be a luxury item, but now it comes standard in most homes and apartments," Grey explained, flopping over so she could open it and point out the different sections. "It was always my chore as a kid. I hated it."
"Why? It seems easier than what I had to do as a kid," Barnes said. He looked surprised that he had brought up his childhood. Grey kept a neutral face and encouraged him to keep going. "I was the oldest, me and my baby sister Rebecca. Back then, cleaning was woman's work, so Rebecca did it, but I was in charge of getting the groceries, and keeping the lights on. Took care of Stevie."
"Dug him out of all the back-alley fights he got into?"
"How'd you know that?" The suspicion was back. Grey sighed and sat up.
"Did Hydra do any experimenting with the X gene?" Grey asked, rather than answering. Barnes looked surprised at the change of topic but shook his head. "Oh goodie. So, there's a gene, part of people's DNA that can make them different, and there's several different ways."
"Oh yay, more science," Barnes complained. "Why did science have to change, I used to be smart."
"The big three. Enhanced through science, X gene, and Inhumans. Inhumans have a genetic component from an alien race called the Kree. The Kree came here ages and ages ago and tried to create weapons for their war. Once these people were exposed to Terrigen Crystals, they changed and had powers. Occasionally, they had physical differences as well. That's not me." Barnes seemed glad Grey wasn't an Inhuman. Maybe it was the weapon aspect of being an Inhuman. "Enhanced through science, that's you and Steve, and eventually, Spiderman, when we meet him. Born normal, no weird DNA stuff, then suddenly, BOOM, human intervention happened and suddenly you're a science experiment."
"I don't like being a science experiment," Barnes said quietly. Grey almost missed it but nudged him with her foot in sympathy.
"Then there's the X-Gene. We're called mutants, cause we're born with weird DNA that makes us do weird shit. My mom was a mutant, she was a telepath, a strong one. She could project her thoughts to people within a twenty-mile radius. But she was killed."
"Are you a telepath?"
"No, that would've been easier to explain. I can kinda see the future," Grey said sheepishly. Barnes stared at her. "And the past. Sometimes, it's not constant. They pop up and play in my head like a movie. I saw you, so I looked for you."
"You saw me?"
"I saw you and Steve fighting with me, Dad and Uncle Rhodey against an alien invasion in New York City, in 2012," I said.
"You saw Steve?"
"Oh, yeah, uh, shit, hang on, let me remember my history," Grey said. Internally cursing her inability to shut up, she tried to remember what she could about the end of Captain America's movie. "So, after you fell from the train, Steve and the rest of the Commandos captured Arnim Zola and brought him in for questioning. That led to him double-crossing Red Skull, and the SSR was able to go after their base. Red Skull nearly escaped on his fancy plane, stacked with bombs set to level the Eastern coastline of America. Steve got on the plane and managed to beat the Red Skull. The bombs were primed, so he put it down in the water, safely."
"He froze like me," Barnes said. Grey nodded. "He's alive?"
"Technically, he's a popsicle. I was never shown where he landed. But I was shown that he will be recovered and found in one piece, just not yet."
"When?"
"About a month before the alien invasion. A Russian oil drill team finds the wreckage, calls the US government, who sends SHIELD – that's what the SSR became after the war – and they bring him home." Grey waited to see if he would say anything about it, he didn't, just nodded once, and leaned back against the cabinets. They sat in silence for a while.
"Good morning," Pepper said cautiously as she walked in. "Is this the Breakfast Club?"
"No, this is trauma club," Barnes said. "Only people with trauma can join, have you been traumatized?"
"Pepper doesn't have a sense of humor until after her first cup of coffee," Grey stage whispered, climbing to her feet.
"Grey is the source of all my trauma," Pepper said dryly, causally stepping over Barnes' leg to reach the start button on the coffee pot. "And the reason I need therapy, and a chiropractor."
Grey didn't respond verbally but twisted her back and bent over in the same move, so her spine popped like a glowstick. Pepper frowned. Barnes grinned.
"You are not allowed to encourage her chaos," Pepper said sternly, pointing at Barnes. "You tell her no, to whatever she wants to do."
"Rude," Grey said, still upside down. She put her hands down and tried to kick up, but her legs fell back down. She huffed and kicked up again, this time Barnes put his foot under her ankle and kicked her upwards and over. She smiled at him and pulled down two coffee mugs. "I am a gods damned delight."
"You are a menace to society, and I fear for the day you are loosed on the world," Pepper said.
"So, like, three days after dad gets home?" Grey asked cheerfully, adding creamer to her cup, while glancing over at Barnes. He shrugged, so Grey dosed his cup with the same amount as hers.
"Five, if I can get Dr Cho on board before he gets home," Pepper said sternly. She moved the coffee pot out from under the pour, replacing it with her mug, and pouring what had brewed in Barnes' cup first. He took it with quiet thanks and sipped lightly at it. "He's going to need medical attention. Do you need medical attention?"
Barnes looked surprised that Pepper was asking him. "Probably? But not yet?"
"Want more time to adjust first?" Grey asked, standing next to him.
"I don't want to be reminded of Hydra, it might…" Barnes searched for the right word, but the words he wanted, very likely didn't exist in the forties.
"We call it triggered, now," Grey said lightly. "If it causes flashbacks or unpleasant memories, it's called being Triggered. Granted, give it a few years and the nutters will claim to be triggered about the word triggered."
"Grey, spiral, focus on today," Pepper said. Grey gave herself a physical shake and smiled. "She does that, it's fine."
"She's fine," Barnes said. The soft smile was back in the corners of his eyes. "And she's right. I don't want to get spooked during a doctor's appointment and hurt someone. Especially not you all."
"Awh, he cares!" Grey said, wrapping her arm around Barnes' waist and pulling him into a hug, whether he wanted it or not. To her and Pepper's surprise, Barnes leaned into it like he was touch starved. And he probably was. The three stood there, sipping their coffee in peace until Happy and Jim stumbled into the room.
"Clearly not morning people," Barnes whispered in Grey's ear, bending down a little.
"I don't think any of us are," Grey whispered back. Then she raised her voice. "What's the plan for today?"
"Do we have a plan for today?" Pepper asked, already filling her second cup. She splashed a bit more hot coffee into Grey and Barnes' mugs. They both nodded their thanks. "Do we need a plan for today?"
The walls flashed blue then, "I would recommend a flight plan back to Malibu, this morning," Jarvis said. Barnes looked up at the ceiling warily. Grey made a sound that made several people think of a squished dog toy. She rolled her eyes so hard Pepper worried they would actually fall out.
"Back to Malibu?" Grey said, rubbing her hand up and down Barnes' side. He wasn't quite used to Jarvis yet, which was why he flashed the lights blue as a warning. "I thought we were staying here until Barnes had a chance to adjust."
"I do not think we have time," Jarvis stated. Barnes tensed slightly, like he was expecting an attack. Grey slid her free hand under the hem of his sleepshirt and started rubbing circles on his skin with her thumb. He visibly relaxed. Despite the calming movements, the look on her face promised misery to whoever was changing her plans.
"Why?" Pepper asked, stepping forward slightly.
"A person of interest has scheduled a press conference this morning, at 7am, PST, and the history of this person has led me to believe that we will need a conference of our own, to respond to this," Jarvis said from the ceiling. Everyone frowned slightly.
"A person of interest?" Pepper asked. "Do we keep a list of people to watch?"
"I do," Barnes and Grey said at once. Grey laughed about it, Barnes didn't. They stared at each other for a moment. His frown versus her wide smile. He worried, she didn't.
"Jarvis, who is it?" Jim asked, giving Grey the side eye.
"Hank Pym."
"Oh, that's my list," Grey said in surprise. Everyone turned to look at her. "Yeah, he's got this weird belief that papaw stole from him, even though he didn't, and papaw's dead, so why the grudge?"
Barnes flinched at the reminder, but Grey was half a step ahead of him, and poked him in the side, causing him to twitch away from her finger.
"Pym's holding a conference, joy of joys, our stock is going to drop," Pepper said, rubbing her temples. She sounded more annoyed than angry, as if this was something she had to deal with often. "Jarvis is right, we should head back home and prep for this. That man, oh! I love Hope, but I could strangle that man for all the grief he's given us."
"Pepper," Grey said, suddenly sounding like she was about to cry. She sounded stuffy and hurt, causing everyone's eyes to fly to her. "Could Pym have had something to do with dad's kidnapping?"
Grey was standing there looking absolutely shattered. Her eyes were red and brimming with tears. Her shoulders were hunched up, if they hadn't known better, Pepper and Jim would think she'd been crying in her room since Tony was taken.
"Put her in front of the camera," Barnes said firmly, wrapping his right arm around her shoulders. Grey's heartbroken expression shifted in a blink.
"That's not a terrible idea," Happy said, looking at Grey with concern. She flashed him her dimples, and he shuddered. "Look, if Pym says something about Tony, we're going to have to respond, we can't just ignore it like we normally do. And if he reacts the way we clearly anticipate him to, why not use it to our advantage?"
"How?" Grey asked, looking at Happy.
"Grieving daughter, previously protected from the pitfalls of the Stark Legacy, now brought center stage because Hank Pym verbally attacked her father? Forget the usual ten-point drop, we'll gain points." Happy looked excited as he spoke. "This can be the announcement."
"What announcement?" Jim asked, frowning slightly. He looked from Happy to Pepper to Grey, wondering if he missed a memo somewhere. Surprisingly, Barnes was the one to answer him.
"The king is missing, here's the crown Princess, here to take care of her father's kingdom until he's found," Barnes said. "But, if you do that, Hydra will know what you did, much sooner than you want."
A hush fell over the kitchen. Right now, they had time, because Hydra still hadn't figured out, they'd been cheated. But if Grey stepped in front of a camera and announced herself as Tony Stark's daughter, Pierce would see it. And if he saw it, it wasn't a question of if he'd send goons to collect his prized assassin, it was when.
"That's true," Pepper said. "Can we handle it if Hydra comes after us?"
"Hey, Barnes, can I have a gun?" Grey asked, dimpling up at him. He handed her a handgun he pulled out of seemingly nowhere, and her smile changed to something more genuine.
"Can you handle a gun?" Happy asked as Grey accepted the handgun and checked to make sure it had the safety on.
"In another life I earned my marksmanship ribbon," Grey said, winking at Jim. This was the first they'd heard of her having weapons handling experience. He stared at her, waiting for her to crack. "You wanna take me to the shooting range, or do you want me to cry on camera those are your options."
"Please cry on camera," Pepper said, leaving no room for debate. So, Grey unloaded the gun, leaving the magazine and the bullet from the chamber on the counter. Pepper sighed, loudly, and very unprofessionally, before throwing back the rest of her coffee like a shot. "Go pack your shit, Happy, get us flight clearance please. And we are stopping at Starbucks on the way. Fuckin' Pym."
Pepper stalked away, still grumbling to herself about Hank Pym. Grey watched her go; her eyebrows high in astonishment.
"Don't just stand around, when Pepper is like this, it's all hands," Jim said, turning on his heel to head toward his room. "That means move it!"
The sound of Jim's military voice kickstarted both Grey and Barnes into dashing for their rooms. Happy rolled his eyes and started washing the coffee mugs left behind, while calling his friend at the FAA.
Line Break
"I want to see you shoot, properly," Jim said, halfway through the flight. Grey looked up at him, blinking away her half-nap on Pepper's shoulder.
"Here? On the plane?" Jim wasn't amused.
"There's a range at the Malibu house, it's nothing fancy, but I want to see you shoot."
"Can it wait until after the press conference?" Grey asked.
"Yeah, I just don't want you carrying until I know for a fact you can shoot," Jim said.
"Valid," Grey agreed. "What time is it in San Francisco?"
"Just past five," Jim said. "We'll land before the conference starts, but it's thirty minutes to the house from the airfield. We'll miss the first fifteen minutes or so. Jarvis is recording it and providing a transcript for you to read."
"You've never done a press conference before, have you?" Pepper asked, looking at Grey. The girl in question was still wearing her pajamas. Rhodey's Air Force sweatpants and a Stark Industries tank top under a baggie rust colored zip up. She was wearing slippers. Rather than answer, Grey just gave a jaw-cracking yawn. "Thought not. I've already scheduled a stylist to come by tomorrow to get you ready for the cameras. Barnes, are you willing to do security with Happy?"
"Where are we holding the conference?" Barnes asked. "I'll need specs, access to any and all cameras on the property, comms, and weapons."
"Let's do it at Stark Industries," Grey offered. "These people are used to Dad's showman ship, let's show them what a drama-kid can do."
"See, no, that scares me," Rhodey said, pointing a stern finger at Grey. "That's the same energy you used to get Barnes out of Hydra."
"Really?" Barnes asked, looking at Grey in surprise. She winked at him.
"Fake it 'till you make it, right?" Grey said, grinning. There was a hint of glitter in her eyes that promised carnage. "If you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with your bullshit."
"You are never allowed to be in charge of anything, ever," Pepper said, looking warily at Grey. Her smile in response showed too many teeth.
"She's gonna destroy the world, isn't she?" Rhodey asked, pulling his book out again. "I told Tony raising a kid was a bad idea."
"What are we going to do about Pym?" Pepper asked, trying to give Grey a direction to channel her energy. "Sure, we're holding a press conference, but why?"
"Because Pym is a bitter old man that hates papaw for no good reason. He accuses us of being thieves on a daily basis, and I'm sick of it. I want him shut up so painfully, his teeth hurt any time he even thinks about my last name." Grey rolled her head around, cracking her neck, before she twisted in her seat to do the same to her back. "He repeatedly slanders my family, and we don't do anything about it. That changes."
"So, what do we do?" Pepper asked. "Pym's pretty low on our list of priorities."
"That'll change," Grey said, rubbing at her forehead like she had a headache. "Call Samantha from legal. I want him hit with a cease and desist, and I want him sued for libel. We're going to sic Jarvis on his servers to find out why exactly this bastard hates me so much, and if it has anything to do with his wife's death, I'll kill Pym myself."
"Is this real anger, or a redirect?" Rhodey asked, glancing up from his book. "Sure, he's annoying, but he's not life threatening."
"He's a convenient target," Grey said. "He's small fry, but still big enough to make a splash when he falls."
"You're using Pym as a deterrent," Barnes translated. "If you shut him up, the world will notice. And the world will follow?"
"I would really like Dad to have more power than President Obama," Grey said.
"Obama," Barnes repeated, sounding it out. "Last president I remember was Clinton?"
"Barack Obama, first black president of the United States," Grey said, practically vibrating in her seat. "I wasn't old enough to vote for him, but I skipped school one day to go hear him speak. Didn't even get in trouble for it!"
"That's because Stark Industries put so much money into his campaign fund that it was practically its own company at that point," Pepper said. "We gave as much as we were legally allowed. And then gave his campaign permission to hold rallies at Stark Industries locations for free."
"Was his opponent that bad?" Barnes asked. Grey shook her head.
"No, not at all. President Obama is just so well spoken. Oh, let's show you some of his speeches! It'll be a good crash course in modern whatever."
"Modern whatever?" Barnes asked, half teasing half curious.
"Do you know about what's happened in the world after Hydra took you?" Pepper asked, setting down her tablet. Realization was dawning on her face – Hydra wouldn't have kept their asset informed with world events. They would've just given him the information he needed to complete his missions. "The fight against the draft for Vietnam, the civil rights movement? What about marriage equality?"
"Uh, no, sorry," Barnes said, shaking his head lightly.
"We're gonna have to make this a thing," Grey said, frowning. "Steve's gonna need it, as are Thor, Loki and possibly, eventually, Valkyrie."
"Okay, so let's teach, and brainstorm." Pepper said. "Grey, you take notes, Jim and I will run through the last forty years or so."
"Let's start with the civil rights movement," Jim suggested, marking his place in his book. "So, it started in the sixties."
Bucky sat, attentive, a real smile on his face as he learned about just how the world had changed since he fell from the train. To hear about the technological advancements since Howard Stark's failed flying car, Bucky couldn't wait to see what Tony could do. Piece by piece, the old Bucky found a home in the assassin's still frozen soul. He knew he would never truly by Bucky Barnes again, he was too much the asset, too much the fist of Hydra. But maybe he could find a new life, in the future he never expected to see.
Line Break
Obadiah Stane was enjoying his day. Yesterday he had watched Pym ruin himself by screaming on live TV that Stark's disappearance was just a marketing ploy. Two beautiful hours of a grown man driving himself to rabidity because he hates Howard Stark. Stane couldn't have planned this better for himself. Tony was in the arms of terrorists, and he would either build them weapons, or he would be killed, leaving Stane to take over the company as soon as the fatality clause kicked in at the end of the month.
Twenty years it had taken him to get to this point. Getting rid of Howard had been easy, leaking that he was carrying the super soldier serum to a friend at Hydra dealt with that problem. But Hydra had a rule of avoiding Tony. They felt he was too smart to manipulate. Stane knew better. After twenty years, Tony was putty in Stane's hands. The Ten Rings were the perfect solution.
Obadiah knew there was nothing anyone could do; Stark Industries would be Stane Weaponry by Christmas. He could practically see the stacks of money he would have, the prestige, the power!
Obadiah felt the floor fall out from under his feet as a news alert popped up on his desktop.
Special Saturday, Stark Industries Press Conference – Tony Stark Still Missing!
There was a photo, not of Tony Stark, back from the dead, but a young girl, standing in front of the Arc Reactor with Potts, Hogan and Rhodes. She looked just like Tony. Down to the cocky grin on her face.
Obadiah clicked on the link and pulled up the article. The byline had Jayne Vittori's name on it, not that Obadiah recognized it.
In a shocking twist, Stark Industries called a Press Conference just minutes after CEO Hank Pym went on national television, slandering Tony Stark and his legacy. The press conference was called together by Tony Stark's personal assistant, Virginia Potts, a familiar face for those frequently invited to Stark Industries Press Events. Miss Potts called the conference to order and greeted the reporters. She was joined by Harold Hogan, Mister Stark's head of security, and Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes, long-time friend of Mister Stark, as well as military liaison for Stark Industries.
Miss Potts called the conference to order, then stepped aside. While the journalists and reporters present held their breath, waiting for Mister Stark to make an appearance, a young woman walked out, carrying a stack of notecards and a coffee thermos. She introduced herself as Tony Stark's daughter.
Obadiah stopped reading and glanced up at the picture again. Of course, that brat had a kid. She looked just like him. He would have to rework his plans. She was just a kid; he could influence her the way he had Tony. Simple enough.
Line Break
"If you put any more product in my hair, it's going to be a fire hazard," Grey bitched to the stylist.
"You have a cowlick, and this cut is making it worse," the stylist bitched right back. "Your father has the same one. You will grow your hair out. End of discussion."
Grey blinked at her through the mirror and opened her mouth to argue. She liked her short hair.
"Grey, hey, I talked with Happy, people are starting to arrive," Barnes said. "That Christine lady was first here. They all think it's your dad."
"Good, then they can be surprised. I like surprises." The stylist added another blast of hairspray, causing Grey to shriek as it touched the back of her neck. "Rude woman! Ah, shoo. Thank you, but shoo!"
The stylist patted Grey on the shoulder and saw herself out. Grey pouted for a moment before she ran her fingers through her hair, messing up the stylist's careful work. Her bangs fell back into her eyes, and she nodded with a satisfied smile. Grey thought she looked incredible. She had a pair of red heels, sky high and stick thin. They matched the hot rod red blazer she was wearing over a white top, tucked into black dress pants. The sunglasses her dad was so well known for were perched on her head, almost like an afterthought. Barnes flopped on the couch, sprawling out and burying his face in her pillow.
"Don't know who is having more fun, Hogan or Pepper," Barnes said slightly muffled by the pillow. Grey crossed the room and smacked his leg. "Ow."
"No boots on the furniture, Barnes, you know better." Barnes swept his legs off the couch, stretching to hook Grey's ankle with his and tugging her to the floor. She laughed up at him, beaming.
"You're always so happy to see me," Barnes said softly.
"Of course, I am! You're far away from Hydra, and you have the chance to heal, who wouldn't be happy for that?" Grey asked, dragging herself to her feet. "You are a good person, who has had shit things happen to you. You didn't ask for it, for this."
Grey cautiously took his metal hand in hers, twisting so their fingers interlocked. Barnes froze, holding as still as he could, while letting her move him. Her smile was smaller, but more heartfelt. Bucky gave her a small grin in return, an actual upturn of his lips.
"Sometimes I worry I'll wake up and this will have been a cryo dream," Bucky admitted softly. His shoulders slumped as he looked at their joined hands. "I don't want to wake up."
"Well, I can promise you're not dreaming," Grey said with none of her usual snark or sarcasm. "And on the very slim chance you are, remember this dream, and come find me."
"You think I could?"
"I think Hydra's real superpower was convincing you that you didn't have a choice," Grey said firmly. She pressed a kiss to the back of Bucky's metal hand and looked up at him. Her red lips left a smudge on the polished surface. "And now, I'm going to force the world into letting you choose everything. Except for dinner. I called dibs on choosing tonight's dinner."
"Something good?"
"You've never had true ramen, have you? Happy found me a Ramen place and we're all going out tonight," Grey said, still smiling. Bucky couldn't help but smile back. He loved it when Grey smiled.
"I'll try anything, once," Bucky promised. "Unless it has eyes. I won't eat anything that can look at me."
Grey threw her head back and laughed, confusing Pepper, when she entered the office, they had claimed for getting ready.
"Okay enough of that. Bucky, Happy would like you out there with him, some of the reporters are getting bitchy. Just lurk near the doors, you don't have to talk to anyone. Grey, here are the index cards you asked for. And Jim has your coffee for you." Pepper looked put together and poised. There was none of the tiredness visible in her eyes that nearly glowed in Grey's. "Are you sure you're okay to do this?"
"Can I be mean?" Grey asked, raising a single eyebrow. Pepper squinted at her, but ultimately nodded as she handed over the index cards. It wasn't a smile that took over Grey's expression. It was a glow, a shimmer of confidence that surrounded her like warmth. "Perfect. This will be fun."
"Remember the talking points. Tony's missing, you're not taking over, but ready to if you need to. We support the Air Force and don't blame them. Pym is a menace, but probably didn't mean anything by it. We still don't know who took Tony, but we're cooperating with the Feds, actually, here, I wrote it down for you on this piece of paper." Pepper pulled the grocery list of talking points out of her blazer and handed it over to Grey, who glanced at it, her eyebrows still near her hairline. "Just stick to these, don't tell anyone to fuck off, or any other millennial sayings that haven't come about yet. I mean it Grey, don't mention the future in any sense."
"Yes Pepper, I know better than to do anything stupid on camera," Grey said with the tone of someone who has said the same thing fifteen times in the past hour. Then she dimpled up at Pepper. "I promise."
"See, I don't trust that face. That's the same face Tony makes just before he creates something that might be considered a war crime," Pepper said, leaning back slightly. "Please no war crimes."
"I can sincerely promise no war crimes," Grey said, holding up her hand like she was swearing an oath. Bucky clamped a hand over his mouth, so he didn't laugh at the two women. "And I promise to try not to say fuck."
Pepper sighed like this was an imposition but nodded. She gestured for Bucky to beat it and spun on her heel. Grey laughed at her, causing Bucky to leave with a smile on his face. Grey checked her appearance again before nodding at her reflection. She headed out of the office, her brand-new press smile on her face as she walked down empty halls.
Line Break
"Thank you all for coming today," Pepper said, already at her podium. This was a familiar song and dance as she stood there and waited for the photographers to finish taking her photo. Happy and Jim stood behind her, both with neutral expressions on their faces. Jim looked handsome in his dress blues, showing that he was there in his capacity as Air Force Liaison rather than at Tony Stark's best friend. "Today we are gathered under some unusual circumstances. You see, yesterday, we woke up to Hank Pym's slander and libel against Doctor Tony Stark, who is still missing following an attack in Afghanistan."
The reporters fell as quiet as they could, only occasionally whispering something into their recorders, but mostly just letting Pepper speak. Pepper was a familiar face to these reporters, and they weren't surprised to see her out her by herself.
"Stark Industries has cooperated with the Air Force and those teams that are searching day and night for Doctor Stark. We are remaining hopeful that he will be found and returned to us where he belongs." There was a pause from Pepper, and a roar from the reporters, as everyone tried to shout out their questions at once. Until they heard the door behind Pepper bang open with force. Everyone fell silent, save for the flash of cameras as a young woman walked out, carrying a large coffee and a stack of notecards.
Pepper, Jim, and Happy moved so she had a clear line to the podium. She walked with confidence, and a look in her eyes threatening more than they promised.
"If Hank Pym wants to shit-talk my dad on National TV, he should come do it to my face," Grey said loudly and boldly the moment she was close to the microphone. The reporters froze, almost as one, camera flashes stopped, the whispers stopped, even the shouted questions from the back froze as everyone took in the words that had just been said.
Behind her back, Jim and Happy both passed Pepper twenty bucks. Grey smiled as she took a drink of her coffee.
The reporters finally realized what she'd said and started shrieking their questions at volumes better saved for concerts or the Superbowl. Grey watched them with skepticism clear in her eyes, waiting until they stopped shouting. The camera flash didn't stop for three minutes, earning Pepper another ten, this time from Grey.
"Thank you," Grey said unimpressed. "As I was saying, yesterday morning Hank Pym was asked what he thought about Dad's disappearance, and Pym called it a publicity stunt. As if he didn't leave behind a daughter to search and potentially grieve for him. As if there was no family left behind to wonder and worry. And you assholes encouraged him!"
"Grey," Pepper said just loud enough that the microphone could hear her. Grey glanced back at Pepper, with tear-filled eyes that would be the picture accompanying many headlines. It was as staged as they could get it. Not that the public would ever know.
"My dad went to Afghanistan to show the upper ranks in the military the newest weapon, and he never came back," Grey spat at the microphone. "And all the media has to say is that he's a showman, or they're freaking out that he's not able to invent anything fantastic and new for the military. My dad is missing!"
Grey's voice broke, and several reporters flinched. Jim handed Pepper a ten-dollar bill. One reporter several rows back, looked around her, she stood up, glanced around and frowned, before precariously standing up on her chair.
"How can we help?" she shouted, looking at Grey with heartbreak and sympathy clear in her gaze. "Or what can we do?"
"I've got no idea. I'm eighteen, I haven't even gone to college yet. I was supposed to go in the fall, but with Dad missing, I don't know if I can," Grey said, shrugging half-heartedly. "Everyone out there is talking about how Dad's a titan, this big genius that creates weapons for our country, but that's not who he is to me. To me he's the guy that steals the marshmallows out of my Lucky Charms as punishment for being late up in the morning. He's the guy that would blow off an investor meeting just to help me make heads or tails of my calculus homework. He's my dad, and he's missing, and no one is doing anything about it, except for the Air Force."
"Has there been any word?" A male reporter shouted, standing up. Grey glared at him, sipping her coffee until he sat back down. When the young lady behind him tried to get off her chair, Grey pointed at her.
"You, who asked about helping, who are you?" Grey asked, completely ignoring the other reporters.
"Jayne Vittori, Reuters," she said cautiously.
"How about Jayne Vittori, Stark Industries, yeah? You've got the right attitude, I want that with me, please stay behind?"
"Oh, yeah, of course!"
"Great, also get off the chair before you fall, what is wrong with you? Those things aren't stable! Get down!" Jayne stepped down, carefully, and Grey beamed at her. "My anxiety is bad enough with Dad missing, jeez."
"Has there been any word about Mister Stark?" Another woman shouted. Grey ignored her as well, watching to make sure Jayne was back on stable ground.
"Next person who shouts at me, rather than being polite about it will be asked to leave," Grey said firmly. "I am not my dad, nor was I raised in view of you vultures, so I don't have half the patience I should for this. I wasn't supposed to even take the spotlight, I had no interest in this. But here we are. No, there has been no official or unofficial word on my dad's whereabouts or the status of his health. I've been imagining death, dehydration and torture, but Miss Pepper keeps telling me that's my anxiety. I'm hoping she's right."
Several reporters raised their hands, several more shouted out questions, earning glares from Grey.
"You in the blue blazer, you with the - are you wearing adidas sneakers to a press conference? Ew. You two and the woman in the green wrap dress, you're being rude, security, see them out, please," Grey said. Bucky walked out of the shadows and looked at the three indicated reporters. They looked at him and left, scowling and glaring. "I gave you one rule. Raise your damn hand. I have an auditory processing disorder and can't hear when you shout at me like that. You with the purple nails go."
"Thank you, Alice White, Time Magazine, your father kept you hidden very well growing up, I understand it's a bad time, but could you tell us a little bit about yourself?" She looked so hopeful, and like she actually cared that Grey sighed and nodded.
"Uh, sure. It wasn't the plan, but to be fair, Dad and I are supposed to be in New York right now. My name is Grey Stark, I was born in Boston on May 29th, 1991. I went to public school in New York under a different name. After a while, we moved here to Malibu, and I asked if I could stay in public school. I'm planning on – well, if Dad comes home, I'm planning on going to Miami University in the fall, I'm thinking business or maybe legal."
"Not inventing or engineering?" Alice asked. Grey gave her a wry smile.
"I'm not all that good at math," Grey admitted pretending to be sheepish. "And I like people, I want to be people facing. Maybe I should look into PR?"
Good natured laughs went up from the reporters. Grey gave them all her best dimpled smile and let the cameras flash for a moment.
"Now, before I take a few more questions, I do actually have a prepared statement that Miss Pepper insists I make. Bear with me, this isn't easy for me." Grey picked up the notecards and sighed. "My father, Doctor Tony Stark is missing. At this time, he is not presumed dead, and therefore Stark Industries will act and operate as though he is still in charge. The fatality clause does not kick in until the end of this month, at which time, Stark Industries will be legally mine."
The press started shouting questions, several people stood up on their chairs, trying to emulate Jayne, who was sitting calmly, watching the chaos around her. Grey simply stood and watched, occasionally sipping her coffee. Bucky reappeared and glared at one reporter until he left. After a minute, when no one got the hint, Grey picked up the top card, looked at it, and flicked it away, leaving a still-sizable stack left in her hand. Jayne choked out a laugh from her seat two rows back. Silence finally came. Happy cursed under his breath, he owed Pepper fifty bucks.
"As I was saying, end of the month, Stark Industries will default to me. Since I will be just nineteen, I think it's a terrible idea to put me in charge. Worst idea I've ever heard. So, at the end of the month, when the fatality clause kicks in, I will be passing the title of CEO to Pepper Potts until either my twenty first birthday, or I manage to get a college degree, which ever happens first." Grey paused and took a sip of her coffee. She dropped another index card, this time without the fanfare. "In the interim, I plan on doing a shadow-internship with Pepper. I'm gonna follow her around and learn how to do what she and Dad do so I don't suck when I have to do it. At this time, Stark Industries asks that our allies, our friends be patient with us. I mean look at me. I'm trying, but I still start crying anytime I listen to the news and there's nothing about dad. Please, be patient with us. I believe, above all else, that my dad will come home to me, I ask that you all respect us during this hard time. I will now take questions, if you raise your hand."
Hands shot up from the audience, including Jayne's. Bucky appeared from the shadows again and offered Jayne his arm. He calmly escorted her to the front row, where she beamed at Bucky, then raised her hand again. Grey pointed to a woman waiting patiently in the second row.
"Maureen Hayes, Wall Street Journal, do you plan on changing the direction of Stark Industries?"
"Not at the moment? Stark Industries is currently the best at what it does. So I plan to leave my father's legacy to speak for itself. Maybe once I'm properly educated and the like, I can think about it, but right now? No. Smart people made the decisions that brought us to today, I'll continue to take the advice of people like Miss Potts, who manages dad every single day, and my Godfather, Jim, who has been dad's best friend longer than I've been around."
Grey didn't tell anyone but Bucky she planned on naming Jim her Godfather during the press conference. He was a terrible actor, so she surprised him. The surprised, proud look on Jim's face was real as Grey looked over her shoulder at him. The flash of cameras swarmed them but wasn't able to detract from the warm moment of familial love.
After a minute, Grey turned back to the reporters and answered more questions. They all wanted her to talk about herself. What was growing up with Tony like? Who was her mom, were they still in the picture? What were her favorite subjects? Did she have an opinion on her dad's playboy ways? Grey laughed, rolled her eyes, and spent thirty more minutes charming the reporters that came out. By the time Pepper called the conference to a close, Grey's coffee was empty, and her notecards were hidden away in a pocket. They might have started the conference blank, but Grey was taking notes.
Pepper led the way out of view of the cameras, while Happy joined Bucky and started clearing out the reporters. Jayne was politely escorted by Jim up to Pepper's office, where Grey had already flopped on the couch. Pepper was still standing, refilling Grey's thermos with more coffee, then pouring some for herself and a cup for Jayne.
"I have to say, when I came out today, I wasn't expecting a job offer," Jayne said, sitting calmly in front of Pepper's desk. "Nor was I expecting it to come from the daughter of Tony Stark."
"She's a real bundle of laughs, this one," Jim said blandly, reaching over to cuff Grey upside the head. "And she'll keep you on your toes, you sure you want this job?"
"What even is the job?" Jayne asked, turning to look at Grey.
"Right now, I need someone to help me navigate the pitfalls of being a public persona. I'm eighteen, fuck is still an integral part of my vocabulary. I've never voted in an election, I don't know how to keep my twitter page professional, and I've got no idea how to talk about what politicians are doing without pissing people off."
"Here is the official offer letter, and the standard NDAs that come with working at Stark Industries," Pepper said, pulling them off the printer and setting them in front of Jayne. "If there's legalese you don't understand, let me know, I'll bring Sam up from legal and have her walk you through it. There will be more, considering you'll be working closely with Grey, we have secrets we can't afford to get out."
"I understand, yeah. Wow that's a large number," Jayne said, staring at the salary offer. "Um, are you sure you want me for the job? I'm still new to journalism, I only graduated last year, I've only got a year of experience."
"I know," Grey said, even though she definitely had no idea. "But you're good. Not just as a reporter, as a person. And that's what I need. I need good people to help me."
"Help you with what?"
"I'd sort of like to take over the world." Jayne laughed brightly until she realized Grey wasn't joking. "Dad is coming back. We know that. I know that. And when he comes back, we're going to have to change, Stark Industries is unsustainable as a weapons company, Dad and I were discussing changing the direction of the company entirely."
"You just told the press you had no official or unofficial word on your father." Jayne spun in her chair to look at Grey, whose eyes were glowing orange. Jayne didn't move just stared at the girl. Pepper sat another NDA down in front of her. "Oh, um, what?"
"If I started telling the world that I could see the future, I'd be locked in a strait jacket in grippy sock jail somewhere." Jayne's mouth fell open in surprise. She glanced around to make sure she wasn't being punked. Pepper was looking in her desk for a pen, Jim was reading a paperback novel on the couch. The two men from the security detail were whispering back and forth over a tablet in the hall. "But if I didn't do anything to make a better future than what I saw? I'd put myself in the asylum."
Jayne looked at Grey and her glowing eyes and her family all around her, and Jayne smiled.
"Miss Potts, have you found a pen I can use to sign this mountain of paperwork you've placed in front of me?" Jayne turned to see the pile of papers had grown. There was her offer letter, with a salary that Jayne knew would be impolite to mention to others. There was a stack of papers outlining her job. "You know, Grey, if you want sustainable, I'd look into cutting out the actual paper from paperwork. This stack alone is a small tree and if you print off this much for each person, you're gonna kill the planet before global warming does."
"Good choice, Grey," Bucky said as he stepped out of a shadow. Jayne wondered when he came in the room, because she was certain the door hadn't opened. "Everyone's cleared out. Though that Christine lady was pissed you never called on her."
"We're going to invite her along soon enough," Grey promised. The glow of her eyes faded back to her normal hazel that was a bit too yellow. "I want her to run the PR department that we're going to set up in New York."
"Oh, we're moving to New York?" Jayne asked, excited. "I have family in Jersey, it'll be great to be able to reconnect with them!"
Grey smiled with all of her teeth visible. Bucky watched her from the shadows and allowed a small smile to crinkle his eyes. This was the beginning of something amazing.
Line Break
It was the arid, soul sucking dryness that was starting to piss him off. His hands were dry and cracking. The side of his hands, by his thumbs were a constant angry red color from all his unprotected welding.
"How is this?" Yinsen asked, holding up a piece of metal he poured for Tony.
"Perfect, get that slotted in over there. It's a stabilizer," Tony explained as he rubbed his hands together roughly. Flakes of dead skin fell to the ground at his feet, ignored. "What are you thinking, over there, Yinsen?"
"Food, today. Today I dream of home-cooked food." Yinsen sighed heavily as he lost himself in memories. "And what of you, Stark?"
"Food. American cheeseburgers with bacon, and fries. The Italian dishes my mother made me as a boy," Tony sighed. "I haven't passed them on to my daughter yet. I need to."
Tony rubbed his hands together again, and more dead skin fell to the ground. This time, Tony watched it fall. It felt symbolic, somehow. I've gotta get out of this cave.
Line Break
Hope Van Dyne sat in her office, at Pym Tech and cradled her head in her hands. Her assistant, Sue, sat next to her with numerous investigation files scattered around the room.
"So that's the FBI, DHS, two from MI6? And then there's NCIS, CGIS, AIS, and the Air Force. They want to meet with you first, General Morrow has said that while no one is facing charges, he encourages bringing someone from Legal when you go, just in case. I've already emailed Kate from downstairs, she's coming." Sue said, tapping her notepad as she verbalized everything on her list.
"All this because of Dad's conference last week?" Hope moaned, not even lifting her head. "What did we do?"
"We pissed off Tony Stark's daughter, is what we did," Sue complained. Hope's head flew up.
"We pissed off who?" Hope demanded, staring at Sue with wide, bewildered eyes. "Tony Stark's daughter? Since when does he have a daughter?"
"Since 1991, apparently. After Dr Pym's conference, Potts called for the conference, and his daughter walked out and basically called everyone an ass. Our stock dropped almost fifty points while theirs climbed. It nearly skyrocketed, Hope." Hope buried her face back in her hands and let out a dry sob.
"What do they want?" Rival businesses always wanted something. It was why the board tried their best to keep Hank away from anything Stark related. His hatred was the one thing that could be counted on to ruin things. Papers rustled as Sue dug for the answer.
"A full investigation into the alleged theft of Howard Stark, with an apology and full retraction if it proves that Stark Industries is blameless. They say that if it can be proven that Howard Stark stole from us, they will apologize and be willing to negotiate a settlement." Hope peeked at Sue through her fingers.
"That's it? They don't want the whole company? No obscene payout?" Hope started to perk up, understanding that maybe this wouldn't be catastrophic.
"They're only going after Pym Technologies to prove they didn't steal anything. Their lawyers also handed over a civil suit against Dr Pym, and also you." Sue said softly.
"Me?" Hope demanded, nearly flying out of her seat to pace behind her desk. "Dad, I understand, sure, me?"
"They say that you've had years to prove or disprove his claims and that you facilitated his slander. They're not suing you for damages, like they are Dr Pym, they just want you to apologize to them, preferably on live TV," Sue said, passing over the document. "Dr Pym is being sued for Slander, Libel, and menacing. I didn't even know that was still a thing people could get sued for?"
Hope stared at the piece of paper Sue handed her and all but collapsed onto the couch in her office. The difference between her suit and Hank's was the money. From Hope, all they wanted was an apology and a promise to not do it again. From Hank, well, he did cause this himself, but Hope couldn't see this doing anything other than worsening the feud. Hank would never stop him with his hatred of Howard Stark, no matter how many times someone told him he was being ridiculous.
"Have you seen this?" Hank demanded as he stormed into Hope's office. Hope glared up at him. He was holding a very similar stack of papers to the one sitting on her desk. "I'm not apologizing to that thief!"
"You have to, because the department of homeland security is currently tearing through our servers to prove that you're full of shit!" Hope didn't mean to yell, but she was pissed, and also sort of scared. The government was rallying behind Grey Stark and her dimples. Hope suppressed a sneer. For someone hidden from the press her whole life, she certainly had them eating out of the palm of her hand. Even President Obama tweeted out to Stark Industries that morning. "And if you don't, not only will our stock continue to drop, but if the government finds anything damming against us, we're screwed. So, I don't care what you want, for once in your life you will listen to me and do as I say, or I'll go to the press and do it myself."
"Get out," Hank sneered, glaring at his daughter.
"Absolutely not, this is my office, you go, you have an Emergency Board of Directors meeting in fifteen minutes, and I recommend going, or they're going to kick you out of your own company."
Father and daughter glared at each other, while Sue sat still and tried to keep invisible. The last time the duo had an argument, it ended in a terrible quarter for profits, and no one got their Christmas Bonuses that year. Hank stormed out, slamming the office door behind him. Hope and Sue watched in anger and annoyance as the previously glass door shattered into tiny pieces.
"Of all the days for me to wear my new peep toe pumps, it's the day with a shattered glass door," Sue said, aiming for teasing. Hope let out a sound that might have been a sob, or a laugh. Sue just sighed and stood, carefully. "I'll get maintenance up here to fix that, you should get to that Board Meeting, before Dr Pym does."
"Sue, you deserve a raise," Hope said, sounding exhausted. "After you get maintenance up here, if you could organize this mess for me, I'm taking it home to work on, I don't want to stay here after this meeting. Take yourself out for a nice lunch, charge it to the company, I'll approve it."
"Thank you, Miss Van Dyne!" Sue had been working with Hope since she graduated college and joined the company. Sue often knew what Hope needed before Hope was aware she was lacking anything. The two worked well together, and Hope knew she would need Sue's support in the coming days.
"Can't believe Tony Stark has a freaking daughter," Hope grumbled as she carefully stepped over broken glass to get into the hallway. "A daughter, Sue!"
Sue shook her head fondly as Hope scurried away down the hall and started dialing the extension for building maintenance.
Line Break
Grey shuffled through the house; her eyes still closed. It was too early for her to be both awake and functional, so she turned to the kitchen for coffee. And she got more than she bargained for. She blindly smacked the light switch, casting light in the open kitchen and the dining room. The dining room that was not empty, despite all the occupants of the house still being asleep in their rooms. Unbidden, Grey screamed as she opened her eyes and saw seven people sitting at the dining room table.
As her brain caught up with her eyes, Grey found that she recognized several of the people at her table. She could see Jim Morita, the principle of Midtown in New York. There was a blonde woman, had to be Sharon. And Tripp… Grey gaped, he was still alive.
"Don't shoot!" Grey said, turning on her heel to stand firm between Bucky and the people at the dining room table. The Legacies of the Howling Commandos were sitting together, chatting around Starbucks cups and Krispy Kreme donuts. "I recognize them."
"You screamed," Bucky said, not lowering his gun.
"They scared me, Jarvis didn't warn me we had visitors," Grey said, reaching out to lower the gun. Bucky let her but glared at the intruders. Pepper, Jim and Happy came tumbling out of the hallway, various states of half asleep. Jim and Happy both held guns and were looking around for threats. Pepper beelined straight for Grey to check her over for injuries.
"Sorry for the fuss, but after that press conference, we had to come for ourselves," another blonde woman said. She was dressed casually and seemed the oldest of the group. Grey doubted she was too much older than her dad.
"What the fuck?" Pepper asked.
"Didn't you lot and Tony have a giant falling out sixteen years ago?" Jim demanded, holstering his gun and glaring at the unexpected guests.
"Technically that was me," Morita said calmly. "I asked him to give a speech at my high school's graduation, he agreed, then promptly didn't show up."
"That was my fault," Grey said, pulling all the attention to her. "Well, sorta? Sixteen years ago, I was two almost three."
"When Emma was killed," Jim said softly, taking the lie and running with it. "And Tony ended up with full custody of you, you're right! That was right around graduation time. Tony was a mess, completely fell off the face of the earth – even Obadiah couldn't find him."
"Shit, that makes me a bad person, doesn't it," Morita said, frowning slightly. Grey glanced over and gave him a half smile.
"It's not your fault. Dad really didn't want me known by a lot of people, especially that young."
"Hell, I had to convince him public school was the way to go," Jim said. After the press conference, Jim, Pepper, and Happy sat up together and added their own stories to Grey's life. Jim added Godfather stories to her timeline, and helped adjust Tony's persona so his own story was backed up by hers. Pepper made sure Grey's life was curated around what Tony did at Stark Industries. Grey fell and broke her arm? Happened the month before Stark Industries released new splints, braces, and backboards for military medics to use. All of Tony's "out of character" moments were easily explained by Grey's presence. "He wanted her homeschooled."
"Remember when he declared I wasn't going to college?" Grey asked. It sounded ridiculous.
"Tony Stark, golden boy of MIT, didn't want you to go to college?" Sharon asked. "He loved college."
"Columbine," Grey said, her voice catching. "After the shooting, dad didn't want me anywhere near a college campus. He did a commencement speech a year later, packed me off to Disney World for the week."
"Tony Stark, over-protective dad," Pepper said, finally moving to the kitchen to prepare her own cup of coffee. It broke the spell, and everyone relaxed again. "It's not really that surprising, if you think about it."
"Did Stane know?" The brunette woman demanded, a hard look on her face.
"We don't trust Stane in this house," Grey said shortly, the beginnings of anger clear on her face.
"Oh, please, Tony's been chasing his approval since he was six," she said again. If she'd been challenging anyone other than Grey, the heiress might have liked her. "Even let the man direct his company for years."
"And I'm coming in right behind him to sweep the trash out," Grey barked. Several people started at her volume. "Stane's got weeks left. And that's me being generous. Bucky and I spent hours last night talking about getting rid of him."
"Bucky?" Sharon asked, frowning.
"Barnes, from the 107th," Bucky said, sounding proud for the first time since Grey met him. He stepped out of the shadows to lurk behind Grey. She looked up at him and smiled. The legacies stared in confusion and occasional horror as they took in the still-alive Bucky Barnes, taller and broader than he ever was in the war, with a metal arm and a red star.
"What?" Sharon whispered, staring slack jawed at the Winter Soldier.
It took six seconds for the Legacies that worked in the intelligence agencies to put two and two together. Sharon, Tripp, and three of the unnamed legacies practically leapt to their feet, weapons in hand and pointed at Grey and Bucky.
Grey looked at the legacies, unphased and tapped her bracelet, just out of their line of sight. It triggered the technology in her necklace, lighting her eyes up with an eerie orange glow.
"I rescued him, you will not harm him," Grey said, having too much fun as she did her best to freak out the legacies. It worked, and the youngest of the group started inching back in his chair. Morita leaned so he was behind the blonde woman holding a gun.
"What the fuck is going on, Rhodes," the brunette demanded.
"Tony's daughter has the X-Gene," he said blandly, crossing the room to stand between the guns and Grey.
"That's impossible," Sharon said. "It doesn't actually exist, Jim, they've disproven it a thousand times!"
"My mom was a mutant," Grey said softly, turning off her glow. "Emma Frost, she was a telepath. I got it from her."
"She's just weird," Pepper said, pouring Happy a cup of coffee. She passed over two full mugs to Bucky, who kept one for himself and passed the other to Grey. She smiled at him so brightly everyone lowered their weapons. They understood that no matter what was going on around them, there was no threat here.
"Right, well I'm new here, so hi, I'm Harold Hogan, Tony's head of security. Everyone just calls me Happy."
"Lizzie Montgomery Falsworth, this is my brother Brian," the blonde that wasn't Sharon said with a British Accent. "I'm spec ops in MI5, he's the Director of Operations over at MI6."
"Jean-Paul Delaunce, I'm starting with MI6 in a few weeks, I'm good with explosives."
"Understatement, he's a genius, can make a car bomb out of a toaster," Brian said, looking like a proud brother.
"Katherine Dugan," the brunette said. She sounded like a no-nonsense woman, but the amused glitter in her eyes said otherwise. "CIA, sharpshooter. Really good memory."
"I'm Sharon Carter, this is Antoine Triplett, everyone calls him Tripp. We currently work at SHIELD. I've got Fury's trust, but he doesn't have mine, something's wrong with SHIELD," Sharon said. "Or maybe I'm just too suspicious."
"It's not paranoia if they're actually out to get you," Grey said with an almost Zen attitude. When Sharon gave her a questioning look, Grey just smiled with too many teeth.
"James Morita the Second," Morita said. "Call me Jim, please. I'm the principal of the most exclusive public school in New York, Midtown Science and Technology."
Grey looked at the legacies, took note of their professions, their skills, and she tried, she really did. She tried to think of them as people, family members. But she couldn't help but wonder what Jean-Paul could do with Repulsor technology. She couldn't help but wonder what information the Director of Operations at MI6 could give her. She wanted to know what Dugan knew about Thaddeus Ross. Grey sighed and took a long pull from her coffee mug. These were her family members, not characters to use and abuse in a plot line. Right? Fuck it.
"You all wanna help me take over the world for my dad?" Grey asked, hundreds of ideas bouncing around in her mind. There was a ghost of a smile on her mouth, but no one thought it was a happy expression. Grey was going to wear the blood of the world as lipstick.
Sharon Carter exchanged looks with her partner Tripp and grinned, the same smile she wore during a firefight.
The Montgomery Falsworth twins had an entire conversation without so much as moving. Brian smirked, just barely.
Jean-Paul nodded, wondering what he could blow up with Stark Weapons.
Jim Morita looked at his giant family and settled back down in his chair, content to watch them shape the world around them.
Pepper and Jim glanced at each other and wondered how Tony was going to react to the legacies being here, waiting to help him. But, as they looked at the determination clear in his daughter, they had their suspicions that everything was going to be just fine. For them. For their enemies? That was another question entirely.