1st February 2000

Happy delivered Astrid home, Kristina following a few steps behind, and she ran up the stairs to her bedroom. Tony watched in surprise. The doors in their house didn't slam, but he suspected she would have slammed it if she could.

'Miss Yates?' He raised a brow 'what's that about?'

'I'm sorry Mr Stark, both Happy and I tried to get it out of her but she refused to talk about what's bothering her. She was fine at her free study session after lunch, so it must be something that happened this afternoon' she looked nervous, worried at her young charge's sudden change in attitude.

Tony's eyes were still on the stairs 'why don't you take the afternoon off, Miss Yates. I'll let you know if there's anything to be discussed'

Tony was shocked to find her sobbing into her pillow, curled into a ball around it.

'Sweet pea' he said quietly, sitting on the edge of her bed 'it's okay to cry'

'Go away!' Her voice was muffled through the pillow 'leave me alone!'

'Astrid, you know I can't when there's something wrong. We don't have to talk now, but we will have to talk about it. Now would you like to keep crying into that pillow, or will I come give you a hug and you can cry on me?'

'Leave me alone dad!'

The sudden use of Dad instead of daddy felt like it rent his heart in two. 'Astrid Maria, my darling. You know I can't do that. If something had hurt you, let me help- even if it's just to sit and listen, okay?'

He didn't hear a sigh, but he watched it happen in her shoulders. She continued to cry but she had surrendered to his persistence.

Gently, he stroked her back, waiting for her to cry herself out and let him fix her problems. Surely whatever problem she had he could fix?

'What's a nepo baby?' Astrid asked at dinner, poking her peas around her plate.

'Could you give me context?' Tony glanced at Rhodey who had flown in from Nevada the moment he was alerted something had gone down.

'Brandon Higgins said I only got put in 4th grade because I'm a nepo baby and not because I actually know anything. I told him I passed all the exams but he still thinks I'm dumb! Am I dumb?

'Dumb? Baby, you haven't been dumb once in your life' Tony shook his head, seething with anger at this Brandon fucking Higgins.

'What's a nepo baby then?' She asked again, looking up with eyes red from her tears

'Nepo is a shortening of the word Nepotism' Rhodey explained, seeing Tony short circuiting a little with his rage 'Nepotism means giving or having an advantage, privilege, or position because of who you are, or who your family or friends are'

'So…' she turned the information through her mind for a moment 'he's saying I only got into 4th grade because of Daddy?'

'Yes' Tony nodded 'and it's not true at all baby! That school has been begging me to send you from the moment you arrived. Dozens of schools have been begging for you to attend- everyone with half a brain knows you're a genius, sweet-pea. And they want to be a part of teaching you'

'But if I wasn't your daughter, no one would know I was a genius… no one would want to teach me' she gave a little hiccuping cry 'I am a nepo baby' she returned her stare to the plate in front of her.

'I'm a nepo baby too. My dad was the first famous Stark. Everything I did and have done is built off him. That doesn't mean it's a bad thing. I've done good things for the world. You will do good things for the world, darling. Some snot nose 10 year old brat is threatened by you. Because he can see already that he will never do anything half as amazing as you will, my darling'

'It's mean' she whispered 'I was only trying to help him with the equation'

'Did he touch you?' Tony tried not to sound like he was gritting his teeth. She shook her head, pea pushing resuming. 'Do you want to go back to 1st grade? Where the kids are your age?' He suggested, struggling with the idea of his little girl being bullied. 'Do you want to try a different school?'

'Tones I'm not sure that kind of action will actually help in this scenario. You'd be proving the little shit right'

'Unkaja is right' she said slowly 'I have to prove him wrong. I have to prove everyone wrong'

'You don't have anything to prove, kid. You deserve to have a good school experience' he didn't want her to have to prove anything! He wanted her to go to school, have fun. Make friends! Here he was, fucking up, just like he was afraid of- he may as well have shipped her to boarding school to fend for herself- the same as he had been, by encouraging her to try the higher grade. She was 5, in a class of 10 year olds. What was he thinking?

'Daddy' she said slowly 'Brandon Higgins is a bully. I'll do the work and show everyone I'm better even if I am a nepo baby' she looked up at her father 'and then I'll never hire him when I'm the boss' she smiled a little triumphantly, and Tony couldn't help but laugh.

'Alright' a sharp nod 'but you tell me, or Unk, or Kristina or Hap every time he says or does something, okay? I want a record of the little shits behaviour. And if he lays a hand on you, I'll tear him limb from limb and throw him to the sharks down there, deal?' He pointed out to the dark ocean beyond the windows behind him.

'Deal' she smiled again 'maybe… maybe Unkaja could show me how to fight so I can do that too?'

'Oh hell yeah' Rhodey held out his fist to her, letting her bump against his 'Higgins has messed with the wrong family'

'Mr Stark! Good Morning!' the pretty secretary scrambled to stand up and greet him 'How can I help you today?'

'Tonya' he gave her his most charming smile, gently touching her upper arm 'I need to see Ms Latham. It's urgent'

'Oh, well' he was pleased to see her blush a little under his attentions- yep, still got it- but held his focus to the matter at hand; ripping this school a new asshole. 'I'm sorry but she's unavailable at the moment, she's in a meeting' her face betrayed her. A lie. He'd soon find out.

'I understand' he nodded 'ugh, meetings, right?' he did his best to sound understanding and relatable 'you know my sweet little girl just started here this week?'

'Yes sir' she smiled at him, leaning in a little. Got her. 'Astrid is a little wonder, so sweet and polite'

'Isn't she just?' the smile he gave at the thought of his little girl was little short of dazzling 'I could sing my girls praises all the live long day. That kid is going to change the world-' he was cut off by the principals office door opening, a man leaving with a sharp nod as he straightened his shirt and tie. Why, Ms Latham, you sly dog. 'I'll just quickly pop in' he smiled to Tonya, giving her arm a gentle squeeze 'thank you for letting me sing my babies praises'

Before she could argue or protest, he was at the door, looking in at the surprisingly cluttered office and feeling his nose twitch at the distinctly musky odor of sex. 'Good morning Ms Latham' he watched her startle, her back to him, turning and the blood draining from her face before she flushed.

'Mr Stark!' she hurriedly buttoned the last two buttons and opened the window 'To what do I owe the pleasure?'

He closed the door.

'My little girl came home crying last night, do you have any idea why that may be?' he stayed standing, despite her taking her seat and gesturing for him to do the same 'No, that's rhetorical' he held up his hand 'I'm entrusting my baby to this school. I'm sure you understand that. Entrusting her education to what is, you've assured me, the finest school for advanced young minds on the western seaboard. To have my sweet little girl coming home in tears on the second day does not bode well'

'I'm sorry Mr Stark, I had no idea. We had no reports of any incidents involving Astrid' she swallowed, she dealt with hundreds of powerful and commanding parents, but Tony Stark in this moment eclipsed them all. He looked like he would set fire to the whole estate without a second thought. 'Is there something I can address for you?'

'There are bullies in your school, Ms Latham' his eyes seemed to darken, and he suddenly seemed large and imposing despite his average stature 'I want to know how you're going to address that'