Penny doesn't just stop at letting Tony know if Pepper is in her office or not. He's not sure he truly thought about the fact that he was giving his personal number to a teenager but it hasn't served him wrong yet.

The first thing Tony does is leave the Charmers for Pepper while she's out at a meeting. Penny had texted him the moment they left the office, told him Janice, the assistant, wasn't there, and the time she expected them to be back. She texted them when they were on their way in case Tony was there but he had been long gone by then.

Later, Penny texted him that she was in the office with Pepper when she noticed the candies sitting on her desk. She'd cut herself off mid-rant about some stuck-up businessman-that alone made Tony smile-and stared down at her desk in confusion. She had smiled when she picked up the candies and opened them immediately. Tony cheered silently to himself and counted it as a win.

Penny tells him that Pepper is having a bad week next Wednesday. She tells him now would be a good time to leave the tea and he rushes down as soon as Penny tells him Pepper stepped out. As much as he wanted to go down immediately and wrap Pepper up in his arms and whisk her away from whatever caused her anything but happiness. But then he remembers that he stopped making her happy a long time ago. His heart does a weird little flip and his watch beeps but he ignores it and grabs the wooden box filled with different tea bags.

Penny assures him the office is empty. Tony spends five minutes finding the best place to set the box before leaving. Janet or Julie or whatever isn't at her desk. Penny is sitting on the side, looking at him. He almost walks by her but stops.

"Why's she having a bad week?" He asked. He hadn't over text. He'd barely responded to let Penny know he would be right down.

"Corporate bullshit," Penny shrugged. "That's what she said. She's said it all before, but she never told me I shouldn't go into business before. She always encouraged it."

"She said that?" It doesn't seem like a Pepper thing to do. She had given Penny this internship for experience in case the kid wanted to go into business and now she's telling her not to? Tony is well aware of how demanding this field is, and how many assholes will do whatever it takes to get to the top. That's why it needs people like Pepper in it.

"Yeah, but it's fine. I don't want to be a businesswoman anyway."

"Oh, yeah?" Tony faces Penny as she nods and slips his shades into his jacket pocket. "Then why all this? Why are you here?" Penny looks down and bites the inside of her cheek.

"It's a good opportunity. It'll help with college applications; help get a scholarship and I'll need that. And Pepper Potts offered me an internship, how could I say no?"

"Good point," Tony hums. "If not business, then what?"

"Um, I don't know," Penny shrugged again. "I like making things. Inventing stuff that can help people."

"Then you're already steps ahead of me, kid."

"You help people every day, Mr. Stark," The way she says it, like it's common knowledge, like she believes it above everything else. Tony has to clear his throat. "As Iron Man or yourself. And the company. Clean energy and all the other advancements you've made."

"I can't take all the credit. The R&D departments are owed some of it." Penny chuckles. "So, you like making things. Science, engineering, all that fun stuff?"

"Yeah. It's hard to choose a favorite."

"You'll find your niche eventually. You should stop by R&D one day, see what's going on behind the scenes."

"Wait, really?" Penny perks up and Tony smiles. "That would be so awesome, Mr. Stark!"

"What would be awesome?" Both Tony and Penny's heads snap around to see Pepper moving towards them. Tony takes a second to just look at her. She looks as immaculate as ever and just as beautiful as he remembers.

"Mr. Stark said I can go to the R&D labs!"

"He did, did he?" Pepper looks at Tony but she's smiling. He releases a silent breath of relief. "I do hope he'll take you down himself since he offered. We wouldn't want you to get lost."

"Of course," Tony agreed before he even realized what he was agreeing to. "I did offer."

"Oh, Mr. Stark, you don't have to."

"I don't," He nods. "I want to," That's a stretch but if it means Pepper keeps giving him that little smile she's giving him now, he'll take Penny as his own intern. "Tomorrow, then?"

"Okay," Penny said. She doesn't seem like she's capable of anything else. Oh no, Pepper will be pissed if he breaks her.

"She gets here at ten and leaves at four."

"I'll see you then, kid." Pepper smiles at him even as he walks away and Penny waves. Tony files this as another win.

"Thanks again, Mr. Stark, you didn't have to do this. I know you're busy."

Tony gained lots of fans after he became Iron Man. Lots of them happen to be children. Kids are...weird. Different from adults. He signs a lot of paper that's nothing more than scribbles really. He gets sent lots of fan mail, but it's all filtered through a third party, and he rarely gets to see it. He gets just as many threats.

He doesn't actually know anything about kids. He thinks they're loud and messy. Teenagers are snobby and smaller adults with attitudes. Or maybe that was just him. Because Penny isn't so bad. She's thanked him ten times today and they haven't even made it to the labs yet. She's overly polite, a little shy, and maybe a little bit devious but that might just be Pepper's influence wearing off on her.

"My favorite thing to do is avoid the things I'm supposed to be doing," Tony stops and looks down at Penny. "Don't tell Pepper I said that." She laughs and Tony nods once.

Tony knows Penny is smart. Pepper had told him as much and Pepper is never wrong. But he doesn't start to see how smart until they reach the labs.

Penny's eyes go wide, wider than he thought possible. He waits until they're back to a somewhat normal size before introducing her to the head of this particular department. Tony had emailed him yesterday that he would be down. He's not that irresponsible. (If he messes this up, any progress he's made with Pepper will be gone before he can say 'Iron Man is the best Avenger')

Dr. Winston takes it in stride and happily shows Penny around. He has two kids himself. Two girls, both younger than Penny, if Tony remembers correctly.

Penny doesn't once seem confused or stumped by any of the things Winston or Tony says. Winston praises the girl effortlessly whenever she gives input or asks a smart question. Tony is not a little envious of his ability to do that at all.

They're only there for an hour. Penny wants to stay longer, he can tell, but she doesn't protest when he tells her it's time to go. It's nearing noon and he's pretty sure that's normally when people eat lunch. Pepper told him he had to feed her before bringing her back.

"Bye, Dr. Winston, thanks for showing me around."

"Not a problem, Penny. It was a pleasure speaking with you," He smiles at her. When they turn to leave, he catches Tony's attention and asks for a quick word. He almost denies the man but figures he owes him. And besides, Penny is already distracted by something on another scientist's table. The woman seems happy enough to entertain the kid for a minute.

"What's up, doc?" Winston actually has an MD. He had just finished his residency before he decided to pursue other avenues. That ultimately led him to being employed by SI shortly after Tony turned to clean energy.

"You said Penny was Ms. Potts' intern?"

"Yes. Why?"

"She's smart, is all," Despite his casual shrug, Tony can't help thinking that that's not all. "Younger than the usual interns we have here but just as intelligent."

"Yeah, she's a certified nerd." Tony agreed. He still doesn't know what the man is getting at.

"Maybe it's best to keep an eye on her. She'd be a great addition to the team after she graduates college. Maybe even during. You know, lest she be recruited by someone else."

Tony looks back at Penny. She's laughing at something the woman said to her. He knows immediately that he hates the idea of her working for another company. She doesn't want to go into business, she told him that. She wants to create things, build things that will help people. What better place to do that than right here?

"You might be right, doc." Tony turns back to the man. "We wouldn't want anyone else poaching our future scientists, now, would we?" Winston grins before returning to his work. Tony marches over to Penny.

"Alright, kid, time to eat. Pepper would be upset if I returned you with an empty stomach." Penny waves goodbye to the woman she was speaking to and hurries to follow after him.

"That's okay, Mr. Stark, I know where the cafeteria is, you don't have to take me."

"Sorry, kid, you're stuck with me until I return you to Pep. She'd have my neck if I lost you."

Penny chuckles. "I wouldn't get lost. I know my way around."

"Sure, kid," Tony dismisses and continues to the cafeteria. It's weird, he never eats there. He doesn't have a reason to. But it's different than going out. Though there are a few raised eyebrows, no one approaches. Everyone minds their own business and goes about eating their lunch before getting back to work.

Tony gets the same sandwich that Penny gets because it's just easier that way. He hadn't expected her to eat the entire thing. It's a footlong and she's tiny. But she does. She eats it all and the bag of chips and drinks a glass of lemonade and a glass of water. He reminds himself that she's a kid and kids are still growing. He gives her the other half of his sandwich and after hesitating, she takes it and eats that too. If science doesn't work out, she might have a future in competitive eating.

Penny has just taken a bite from a cookie and Tony is wondering if he should be giving her sugar, when she says, "I asked Ms. Potts about you. About how she felt about you."

Tony will deny scooting forward in his seat to anyone brave enough to ask. "What'd she say?" He keeps his voice carefully void of any emotion.

"She said it was complicated," Penny shrugs. "I don't think she wants to talk to me about it because I'm 'just a kid'. Her words. She said I shouldn't worry about it. But the candies, the tea, she smiles every time you leave a gift."

"Yeah?" Tony hates the hope that blooms in his chest. If he lets himself believe this will go well, it'll hurt that much more if it doesn't.

"Yeah," Penny nods with a grin. "Keep it up but don't crowd her. I think you'll win her back in no time."

Tony huffs a laugh and leans back in his chair. "Thanks, kid."

"No problem, Mr. Stark."

It may not be completely ethical to hack into a high school to look up a student's grades. It's not like they're exactly personal information, Tony reasons. It's not telling him anything besides how she's doing in school. And it turns out she's doing quite well.

Penny Parker is a top student at Midtown School of Science and Technology. Tony would bet a lot of money that she could move up a few grades or even graduate now if she wanted to. The point is, that Dr. Winston was right. They would be smart-and they are-to recruit Penny as soon as possible before someone else does. Well, they kind of already have. She does work as a personal intern for the CEO. But that's not exactly the same as working in a lab.

Pepper said Penny's internship was for the summer. She'll be leaving after-hopefully having helped Tony get back with his ex-and he'll be left to wait until she's in college to offer her an internship. Or will he? Tony is known for being a lot of things and patient isn't one of them. He's sure he can figure something else out. Something that might even get him back in Pepper's good graces.

Penny's advice about Pepper has been useful so far. She said not to crowd her, not to bother her too often while she's working. So Tony hasn't been going down much to see her. But just a day after taking Penny to see Dr. Winston, he's back at her office. Except this time, he's not there to see her.

"Mr. Stark, what are you doing here? Ms. Potts isn't here at the moment." Penny said.

"That's alright, kid," For the first time, Tony prefers it that way. "I'm actually here to see you."

"Me? Why? Is everything okay?"

"Everything is fine, kid. I just need to talk to you."

"Usually when someone says they need to talk to you, especially when it's an adult, it's never a good thing." Tony can't help it, he laughs.

"This isn't one of those times, I promise."

"Okay," Penny said slowly. Julie or whatever her name is isn't here. She's probably with Pepper wherever she is. "What's up?"

What's up, Tony thinks to himself with a quiet huff. He pulls up two chairs, gestures for Penny to sit in one, and takes the other. "You like it here?"

"Uh, yeah," Penny nodded through her confusion. "Ms. Potts is great, I'm learning a lot."

"Good, that's good, because I was thinking, after this summer internship ends, you'd want to continue it. In another part of the building." He'll need to talk to Dr. Winston. Penny would be the youngest intern he's ever had but if anyone wouldn't mind taking her under their wing, it would be him. Maybe he should've consulted the man before now but he can just do that later.

"Like...?" Penny said, looking hopeful but not wanting to jump to conclusions.

"Like the labs. You'd be a good fit for R&D. You'll learn a lot, it'll look great on a college application, all that."

"But...I-Ms Potts said you guys don't usually have high school interns. I'm just here because she knows my aunt."

"True, but you're smart and we'd be a fool to let you go," And wow if Tony doesn't hear the irony in his own words. He had been a fool so many times, and because of it, Pepper left him. "Don't stress too much, kid. Just think about it. If you'd rather wait until college or after, you know where we are."

"No, no, I want to do it!" Penny scoots forward in her chair. "I do! I'll have to ask my aunt, probably, but she should agree. And I'll have school-"

"We'll work around that," College hours are much more flexible than high school. It'll be harder to work with but...eh, he'll figure it out. "You think about it, talk to your aunt, I'll figure out all the details and we can talk about it again then."

"Tony?" He and Penny turn their heads towards the hall. Pepper is standing there, looking between them in confusion.

"Hey, Pep," Tony smiles. She looks beautiful today. "Was just walking by, stopped to say hey to the kid."

"Can I speak to you in my office?" Pepper doesn't wait for a response. Tony and Penny share a look before he stands to follow her. He closes the door behind himself.

"What's your angle?" Pepper said from behind her desk. She crosses her arms but doesn't sit down.

"My angle?" To win you back no matter how long it takes or what I have to do because I can't live without you. "I don't have an angle."

"Why are you talking to Penny?"

"She's smart," Tony shrugged. "Loves science. A nerd after my own heart, really."

"That's it?" Pepper raises an eyebrow.

"That's it," Tony nodded. "Well, I offered her an internship after this one ends. Don't think I'm stealing her from you, because I'm not, promise."

"You want Penny to intern for you?" Pepper looks skeptical.

"Why not? She's smart, you said so yourself. I saw it when we went down to see Dr. Winston's lab and so did he. He was the one who gave me the idea."

"So, will she be working with you or Dr. Winston?" Tony doesn't answer right away. He knows what she wants him to say and it hadn't been his original answer. But maybe...maybe this is what will be the thing that brings them back together.

"Me," He said. "I figure with her hours after starting back school, she would get more out of working directly with me than in the other labs."

"Really?" Pepper raises a skeptical eyebrow, her tone surprised.

"Sure, she's a good kid. Smart."

"This isn't just another project, Tony, you know that right? You can't just drop her when you get bored." Pepper finally takes a seat and Tony places a hand over his heart.

"Your words hurt, Pep," But he can't blame her. He wouldn't be doing this if he didn't think it would help win her back. "Penny's got a bright future, here or somewhere else. I'd just rather it be here, you know, we could benefit from a mind like hers. She'll do great things."

And Pepper stares at him with a look Tony can't quite read. It bothers him. He tries not to fidget under her steely gaze. He clears his throat. "Will that be all?"

Pepper sighs. "Yes." He nods once and turns to leave, but stops when Pepper calls his name. He turns back. Her expression has softened. "Don't let her down." There's another meaning there, buried under those words. Pepper doesn't say it, but Tony hears it anyway. Don't let me down.

"Don't plan on it." He grinned.