Obadiah Stane's lawyer asked for a continuance. Grey rolled her eyes, and Sam assured her that it would all be fine. That led the family to sector sixteen in the main Stark Industries office complex.
A sudden power drain proved that Stane was having the Iron Monger suit built, likely expecting to beat the charges against him. Grey had the building cleared, then she
and Pepper requested SHIELD come in and help them ensure the sector was cleared, and any people involved with the Monger suit were apprehended. Well, that's what they told SHIELD, Grey just wanted to make sure they felt included. They were met by a SHIELD Strike team, led by Phil Coulson.
"Did you bring it?" Grey asked, leading the way through her father's factory. Even having been there before, Grey was still using the signs on the walls to direct them.
"How did you even know we had it?" Phil asked, holding out the device. Grey took it from him and looked it over before sticking it in her pocket. "They just finished the prototype."
"You're new, Agent Coulson, you'll learn to stop questioning how Grey knows things. It's usually best to just let her be," Pepper said, holding out her hand to shake. Phil shook it and nodded to Tony.
"Found it," Bucky said, stepping out of a shadow just behind Phil. The SHIELD agent spooked, jumping a little and spinning around, his hand on his sidearm. Several of the STRIKE team went pale, having heard stories about the Winter Soldier in their Hydra training. Grey locked eyes with Jack Rollins and winked. "He's jumpy, this is the one you want?"
"He's my favorite," Grey said, shrugging. She was unapologetic in her adoration for the Agents of SHIELD TV show. She talked about them all the time. "Lead the way."
"What's going on here?" Phil asked.
"Stane's up to some sketchy shit in sector sixteen," Grey explained, following Bucky to the locked door. She put the device next to the lock, and let Bucky wrap his metal arm around her. It exploded, and the Strike team ran in, clearing the room. They surrounded the Iron Monger suit, their lights brightening up the room enough for someone to find the light switch. "That's so much bigger than I thought it was going to be."
"Christ that's twice the size of the one I built in the desert," Tony said, leaning back to look up at the mask. "Iron Monger is right. Jim, cut power to sector sixteen, I don't want this to go berserk and kill us on accident."
"Dad, ideas?" Tony looked at Grey, who was looking at him.
"What, you don't have one?"
"Hey, this is new territory! He's supposed to be in the suit so we can drop him and it in the reactor. You asked me to solve this without violence, therefore court. You're the genius, I'm just the damn fortune teller."
"Are they speaking in code?" Phil asked the agent next to him. Jack Rollins just shrugged, trying to pay attention, but also avoid being seen by the Winter Soldier that was watching Grey like a hawk. Rollins worried that he would be outed, so he breathed shallowly, ready to run at the slightest hint that his cover was blown. Every time Grey looked at him, he recognized her as Tala and fumed. He was not looking forward to her blowing his cover. Jack debated running, but knew that between Hydra, who didn't take kindly to deserters, and Grey herself, Jack didn't stand a chance on his own. He didn't know what to do.
"We could bring the bots in, have them disassemble it?" Grey finally suggested with a shrug. Tony made a face, not wanting to expose his bots to the potentiality of getting blown up.
"We could blow it," Pepper suggested. "It's rocket powered, look."
Tony looked, and indeed, the Iron Monger suit was almost identical to the original suit, using fuel and explosives to power the flight. Stane never was much good at engineering. And whomever he threatened into compliance clearly didn't know how the repulsors were built.
"Let's lock down this sector, to contain the explosion and just blow it. Jim, pull security footage from this sector, I want every employee that was involved with this, we'll have them evaluated and fired if necessary." Tony went to the nearest computer terminal and started typing. "Grey, pick an agent and have them help you clear everything out. I don't want one single casualty from this."
"Rollins, Barnes, with me," Grey said, pointing out the one she wanted. "Pepper, take Phil and the others, sweep the floor below us, make sure they're clear too."
Pepper nodded and gestured for Phil to follow her downstairs. Grey headed to the left, Bucky next to her, with Jack Rollins trailing behind, cursing his luck. Grey had to fight to keep a straight face, wanting to laugh, but knowing it wouldn't end well. Plus, she didn't want to out him, just scare him enough to give up.
"Found the chief engineer," Tony said over comms. "Hogan, he's all yours."
"Good to see you again, Jack," Grey said with a smile as they checked every room in their hall.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Jack denied, trying to remain impassive. A vein in his neck throbbed.
"If that's how you want to play it," Grey shrugged, very unconcerned. He glanced over his shoulder at her and flinched when she blew him a kiss.
"That hall's clear," Jack said, coming to a stop in front of Grey and Bucky. "Next?"
"Next, we clear out, get a good distance back and wait for the fireworks. I even brought marshmallows," Grey said. Behind her, Bucky holstered his side arm, moving so he could wrap his arm around Grey's waist. "Let's get out of here."
They met Pepper and Phil on the east side of the building. Jack rejoined his team, and Bucky faded into the shadows, muttering something about checking in with Happy. Tony came running out of the building, Jim on his heels, getting out before the explosion. They had decided to blow the main chamber and redirect the blaze through the vents to the roof once it blew.
"Local fire squad is on their way to help contain," Jim said. "We've got everything blocked off; reactor is safe."
"We need to do something with it anyway," Grey said, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. "The insurance on this thing alone will bankrupt us after this."
"I could shut it down, disassemble it?" Tony offered. "We can put it in the New York tower as a tourist thing."
"I can work it into the STEM museum I'm designing," Grey offered. "But wait until you finish those solar cells for the tower before we start on this."
"Last quarter had us close to the red. Admittedly, only because of new hires and bonuses. And getting the new HVAC systems, those are expensive," Pepper whined, running through her mental list of all the things Stark Industries paid for in the past three months.
"Marshmallow?" Grey offered, holding out a stick she'd cut from the tree next to them, sharpening one end to a point with a wicked looking combat knife. There were two marshmallows speared on the sharp end. She had five sticks ready to go when the first-floor windows exploded out of sector sixteen. The strike team, over to the right, dove for cover with the explosion, the family stood, watching with mixed expressions. Grey looked up, smiling at the column of fire arching from the roof.
"Shall we roast some mallows?" Bucky asked, bending slightly at the waist and offering Grey his hand. She laughed and accepted, the two of them sauntering off to the burning building, smiles on their faces and sticks in their hands.
"If we can't beat them, join them?" Tony offered, taking his cue from Bucky. Pepper rolled her eyes but followed Tony closer to the factory. She was sure she'd follow him anywhere.
"Agent Coulson, you want a marshmallow?" Grey shouted across the parking lot.
"No, I'm good, thanks though," Coulson said back. Grey laughed at him, brightly with her head thrown back. She turned slightly, her eyes tracing the highway as she looked for the lights to match the sirens she could hear.
"What about you, Rollins?" The man paled, then shook his head. A few of his friends teased him for being afraid of marshmallows. One of his friends from Hydra knew, and shuddered, wondering what he'd done to deserve the attention of Margaret Stark, Queen of the Press.
"Why are you like this?" Pepper asked, reaching into the window to get her marshmallow over top a decent flame. Grey pulled a pack of graham crackers out of the fanny pack she was wearing, and several Halloween sized Hershey bars. "Who roasts marshmallows on a burning building?"
"Someone who can't remember to keep them in the house for when we use the grill," Grey said. "I like roasted marshmallows."
"Fire department is here, finish your s'more before we're banished from the scene," Bucky said before shoving the entire s'more in his mouth. Grey beamed up at him, melted marshmallow on her top lip. "I'll see Coulson's team out."
"How much is this going to be for insurance?" Tony asked Pepper, looking slightly guilty. "Can we phrase this as just deconstruction?"
"I've already had Bambi put in for a controlled burn. I sent a team through this morning to clear out any chemicals that could be bad or open projects. This is literally an empty building with an ugly statue in it," Grey said, taking a bite of her s'more.
"How did you know he wouldn't admit to this? He's admitted to almost everything else," Pepper said. "And if you had people come through, why'd you need Phil's lockpick?"
"Because it's fun to ask for things I shouldn't know about. As for Stane, I know people," Grey said. "Once his lawyer put in for a continuance until tomorrow, I knew he'd rather go to jail than squeal. Besides, they changed their plea at 4:55 this evening. Stane's pleading guilty tomorrow morning."
"Press conference on Monday then?" Pepper asked, pulling out her phone. "I can send an email out when we get home."
"Are we ready to send out the 2.0 software?" Grey asked. "I thought that was still in production."
"It'll be finished by release," Tony said, leading the way away from the factory. Jim was already shaking the fire chief's hand. Phil was there as well, flashing his badge, listing out the entire name. Grey shook her head, still unused to seeing the younger versions of everyone. This version of Phil didn't even know what trauma was, not really.
"Phil, you can just call it SHIELD," Grey said lightly. "It won't kill you."
Grey frowned at her own choice of words. Coulson dying again at the end of season five fucked her up. And then the two non-canon seasons? She loved them, because they were entertaining, but they broke her heart.
"I don't think I like it when you call me Phil," he replied, looking at Grey with suspicion.
Grey just dimpled at him, "of course, AC." Phil frowned harder. Grey's eyes twinkled with the force of her cheer. Coulson turned away, causing her to giggle. Grey was almost sad she was going to miss his expression when Skye called him that.
"Well, everything here is in the capable hands of the captain here, so we are clear to head home for a real dinner, before court tomorrow. Samantha sent me a text; it only says fin?" Pepper said, flipping her phone around to hold up.
"Fin! It means finish, or end! Holy shit tomorrow they're going to just sentence him," Grey said, bouncing on her toes. "I have way too much energy."
"Sugar high, from the four s'mores I watched you eat." Bucky wrapped his arm around Grey's shoulders and led her to the car. She didn't stop bouncing. "Come on Stark!"
"You are definitely not the boss of me," Tony said as he did what he was told. He fell into step with Grey, tossing his arm over her shoulders.
Iron Man
The reporters in Los Angeles were having the best day of their lives as they swarmed the courthouse where the most important sentencing of the decade wrapped up. Obadiah Stane was led out of the courthouse in handcuffs and shackles by armed FBI agents, heading down the stairs. Twenty-five years in a federal supermax for his crimes. He would likely die in prison.
Four steps behind them, walking like royalty was the Stark Family, Grey leading the charge in her signature blazer and heels, her dad's red glasses held in her hands with another crown hiding in her hair. Pepper wore all white and gold again, her only color the Persian blue vest. Similar glints of gold were braided in her hair, giving her the same circlet Grey was known for. Tony wore all black, with a shocking red silk shirt under his jacket. He didn't wear a tie, leaving his shirt unbuttoned to the second button. His gold tinted glasses were on his face, keeping the sun and the flash out of his eyes. With Jim and Happy providing security, and Samantha and Jennifer walking behind them, they were quite the picture. Samantha and Jennifer had their heads tilted together, looking over a file. Grey stopped her party at the first landing, waiting for the reporters to surround them. The federal agents paused, half interested in the announcement, half waiting for their car.
"Today we at Stark Industries can celebrate because the traitor in our midst, the fox in our henhouse has successfully and properly been handled. Obadiah Stane finally saw the error of his ways and plead guilty. He has been handed a sentence of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole in ten years. My dad and I would like to thank the Judge, and the Jury, as well as the federal agents that were ever so helpful in bringing this man to justice. I know I personally am grateful to our amazing lawyers, Samantha Kim and Jennifer Walters, as well as the DA's office for all their help." Grey paused to allow the photographers a chance to get the photo of her shaking hands with Samantha and Jennifer as they left. They weren't sticking around for long, they had paperwork to finalize in anticipation of the upcoming announcements on Monday. "Obadiah Stane has been a plague on our company since he was hired, and we at Stark Industries cannot wait to see what we can accomplish without his oppressive ideals."
Someone screamed as a gunshot rang out, echoing around the crowd. Many people dove to the ground, covering themselves or their friends as they frantically looked around for the shooter. Federal agents drew their weapons and looked around, eyes darting around as they looked for the source of the sound.
A whoosh sound flooded the area, and many people cried out at the distinctive sight of three suits, flying through the air to hover behind their pilots. Rescue and Iron Man flanked Iron Peacemaker as the suits stood sentry in front of the courthouse. Their heads turned, scanning the audience, Bambi and Jarvis running facial recognition to identify potential threats. The glowing eyes were threatening.
Obadiah Stane was lying dead on the ground, a bullet through his head. Grey kept a passive face as she stepped forward, helping a reporter to their feet. She ensured everyone was standing again, and no one needed medical attention from throwing themselves down. Iron Peacemaker hovered a ways behind her, the mask tracking her every move, waiting for the signal that the suit was needed.
"Clearly the friends he made when betraying my family have come to collect whatever they were due," Tony said, stepping forward to take Grey's place. She continued going around, whispering to everyone, making sure they were okay. If her eyes were glowing the same color as her suit's, no one had the presence of mind to ask about it. "It says a lot about what type of man he was, that his own partners would take him out to prevent him from talking. We can only hope that the things he has admitted to is enough to give us the chance to clean up after him. And we will clean up his mess."
"Doctor Stark, who are they?" Christine called out, standing from her crouch. She straightened quickly, brushing out her skirt. Jayne was running her fingers through her hair next to her, trying to look as unphased as the Stark Family.
"I pilot the suit Rescue Machine," Pepper said proudly, the blue of her vest the same shade of her suit.
"I am Iron Peacemaker," Grey said, the red of her blazer a stark difference to the pink of her suit. She stood tall, pride lining her shoulders as she stood next to Pepper.
"And I am Iron Man," Tony said.
"Stark Industries, but also more specifically, my family has contracted with the United States Air Force to clean up the caches of Stark Industries weapons that Obadiah Stane has scattered around the globe for his terrorist friends." Grey and Tony traded places again, letting Grey finish the announcement to the press. The suits, seeing that there was no further threat took off again, flying back to the house.
"That went perfectly," Tony said once they were safely in the back of Happy's SUV. "I kept waiting for the auto-pilot to fail."
"Are you kidding? I nearly peed my pants when that shot went off," Pepper complained. "I nearly dropped with the rest of the crowd. Scared six years off my life."
"I told you not to finish that water bottle," Grey said, shaking her head as she pulled pins out of her hair. "Dad, are you okay?"
"Grieving a little bit," Tony said. "I know he was responsible for so much, but he… He was still my godfather and the fact that we…"
"We did what needed to be done," Bucky said as he climbed in the car, several blocks away. His rifle was disassembled and in a back on his back, which he passed over his shoulder to Grey to toss in the trunk. "If he'd gone to jail, we'd either have to deal with him again, or worse, he'd start talking."
"He's right dad, it sucks, but this is for the best," Grey said. Happy hit the gas and they peeled out of town. "Call your therapist, that's what they're here for."
Iron Man
Iron Family Rises Amid Stane's Fall, Bringing Security after Courthouse Chaos
Christine Everhart, Vanity Fair
October 20, 2010
LOS ANGELES, CA — Obadiah Stane, former COO of Stark Industries, was found guilty on all counts in a Los Angeles courthouse today, culminating in a stunning 25-year federal prison sentence. Yet, the story of Stane's fall did not end with the gavel. Shortly after his sentencing, Stane was assassinated by a sniper while being escorted out of the courthouse, a chilling display that interrupted what had otherwise been a display of long-overdue justice.
The sniper's shot instantly threw the scene into chaos, leaving many to suspect that Stane's well-documented ties to international arms dealers—most notably the terrorist group Ten Rings—played a direct role in his execution. While law enforcement agencies swiftly responded, three unexpected figures arrived with even greater speed and assurance.
From above, in a trio of humanoid suits, the Stark "Iron Family" flew in, securing the scene with a display of formidable technology and teamwork. Tony Stark, the mind behind Stark Industries' new direction, claimed the now-legendary Iron Man in his distinctive red and gold armor. Margaret Stark, the company's CEO and daughter of Tony Stark, had her own suit as the Iron Peacemaker, clad in a striking American Rose finish. Completing the lineup was Pepper Potts, Stark Industries' invaluable force behind the scenes, piloting her suit, Rescue Machine, in Persian Blue with ornate gold detailing. Together, they provided an unexpected layer of calm amidst the chaos.
While some in the media initially questioned if this Iron Family was acting outside legal boundaries, recent declassified information confirms that these armor-clad figures are not vigilantes but officially contracted Private Military Contractors (PMCs) under the supervision of the United States Air Force. Operating within a structured chain of command, their task is monumental yet clear: to locate and dismantle the countless caches of illegally distributed Stark weapons, arms that Stane himself had siphoned off to questionable and dangerous parties.
"The Iron Family is a force not just for justice but also for assurance," said Lt. Col. James Rhodes, USAF. "They're a protective layer in places where military or security forces can't reach fast enough."
In recent months, the Iron Family has gained notoriety among military personnel, who affectionately dubbed them the "Iron Family" after their efforts in Gulmira, Afghanistan. In that operation, their mission was straightforward: clean up a weapons cache left by Ten Rings militants, ensuring that the arms originally designed to protect didn't become tools of terror. Their success in Gulmira, as well as in subsequent missions, has fortified their reputation among those familiar with the complex web of illegal arms deals and rogue caches scattered across global hotspots.
For Tony, Margaret, and Pepper, this mission is as much personal as it is professional.
Stane's Death: Justice or Convenient End?
Marsha Smith, October 21, 2010
In a scene fit for a Hollywood thriller, former Stark Industries COO Obadiah Stane—convicted on charges including conspiracy, arms dealing, and attempted murder—was shot and killed just moments after his sentencing.
Stane was leaving the Los Angeles courthouse, headed for what was supposed to be a 25-year federal prison term, when a sniper's bullet brought his fate to a swift and shocking end. With the dust barely settled, three armored figures—Tony Stark as Iron Man, his daughter Margaret as the Iron Peacemaker, and Pepper Potts as Rescue Machine—arrived on the scene, as if staged for a grand entrance.
While law enforcement is pointing to Stane's alleged connections with the Ten Rings terrorist group as the motivation for this brazen act, some observers can't help but wonder whether the truth is far more complicated. After all, Stane's extensive ties to criminal networks and his betrayal of the Stark family have made him more than just an industry rival—they've made him a threat to their legacy. Was his death an inevitable "accident" the Starks were merely too glad to exploit? For many, the timing couldn't be more convenient.
In what is being lauded as a high-tech security presence, the so-called "Iron Family" descended in their sleek, multi-million-dollar suits to provide protection and "restore order," lending an almost superhero-like aura to the Stark name. But are they truly heroes, or are they just playing hero in a game they themselves helped set in motion? With their extensive resources and the backing of Stark Industries, the trio's appearance feels as much like a power play as it does a protective measure. Tony Stark, whose charm and wealth have long defined his public persona, is now the central figure in a narrative that begs the question: How much of this power is being used for the public good versus personal vendettas?
Margaret Stark, aptly titled the Iron Peacemaker, led Stark Industries in her father's absence, defending the company's reputation amid scandal after scandal. Now, with Stane out of the picture, she stands as the uncontested leader. Her relentless belief in her father's survival, coupled with the swift removal of Stane and his allies, seems less like coincidence and more like a calculated reclamation of power. Some might even argue that a man with so much to say against the Starks—who knew the inner workings of the company intimately—was silenced before he could do more damage to their name.
"This so-called 'Iron Family' may have secured their contracts with the United States Air Force to clean up illegal Stark weapons caches worldwide, but at the end of the day, they're still private military contractors—armored vigilantes operating under a chain of command that raises more questions than it answers," said conservative commentator Bill O'Reilly. "We've got civilians flying high-tech military equipment. Who's holding them accountable?"
To be clear, Stane was no innocent figure. His list of crimes reads like something from a spy novel, with charges as severe as racketeering and conspiracy to commit murder. But this latest chapter brings to light something altogether different. It introduces a new reality where the Stark family holds unrestrained power—both in the boardroom and now, in the streets. With unlimited resources, unchecked influence, and some of the most advanced weaponry ever created, they seem poised to mold the future in their own image, while brushing aside anyone who dares challenge them.
Whether you see them as defenders of justice or merely the latest high-profile "heroes," the Iron Family's presence raises one undeniable question: Who's really holding the power, and what limits—if any—are in place to keep it from being abused?
Iron Man
"Honestly, if Marsha gets any closer to the truth, I'm going to laugh," Grey said, tossing the magazine over to Pepper. "She's making it so eventually, no one can question me, because they'll get lumped in with her."
"Accidental blessing?" Pepper still felt sick over the actions they took regarding Stane. Tony, Bucky and Jim had all sat down with her and discussed it, but something wasn't sitting right in her gut. She didn't know how else to phrase it. She was afraid there would be consequences.
"Something like that. As long as people consider her crazy, they'll consider us the good guys." Grey didn't like that she'd essentially ordered a hit on her dad's Godfather. She didn't like that she was now responsible for the death of at least five men directly, likely closer to a dozen indirectly through their few missions as the Iron Family. Sometimes, she could still feel the warm slippery blood of the first man she killed on her hands. If it got too bad, she'd throw up, and stand under a scalding hot shower until Bucky pulled her out.
"We are the good guys," Tony said firmly. "You just think you're the villain."
"It's a hard mentality to shake when I'm sitting on information for things like Hydra," Grey said, shrugging heavily. "I could out them right now, with one tweet. But then who the fuck knows what would happen after that?"
"You are doing the best you can, kid, you're doing fine," Tony assured. "And if it helps, Smith might be too close to the truth, but Marvel stock went up thirty points."
"I'll take it," Grey said, shaking her head. "I'm doing the official takeover in January, just for the sake of convenience. All the paperwork and funds went through though, so it's officially our company."
Iron Man
"Why are you like this?" Grey shouted, glaring as she stormed out of the hallway and into the kitchen. She dug around under the sink, coming back up with a roll of paper towels and a spray bottle of cleaner. "Stupid fucking cat."
"What's happening?" Bucky asked, coming into the room with his new ESA on his shoulder. Alpine was a solid white cat that Bucky had taken a liking to. Chenin was a mostly white with black splotches and a black dot on his nose that Grey had adored. With approval from the family, they adopted the two kittens and brought them home.
"Chenin doesn't want to shit in his stupid litter box, so he's chosen to poop on the fucking floor, and I'm not having it!" Grey raged as she dragged the trash can over to the hallway with her. She cleaned up the cat's mess, glared at the feline in question, and stormed back to the kitchen to return the supplies. In the same move, she yanked out the trash bag and tied it shut, taking it outside. "Bambi, why won't my stupid cat just do this one thing?"
"Have you tried a grit litterbox?" Bambi asked, their voice echoing through Grey's watch so Bucky could hear too. "It could be the pellets he doesn't like."
"Why'd you get the good cat," Grey grumbled, pulling out her phone and ordering a different litterbox set. She kept complaining as she scrolled through amazon, selecting several different types of boxes, two enclosures for the boxes, the litter she wanted, and six new packs of cat toys. "Hate grit litter, gonna have to vacuum daily and I hate vacuuming. Bambi, order a Roomba, if they haven't been invented yet, send an email to dad and tell him he needs to invent a tiny robot that vacuums for me because I'm not having this!"
"Because I wasn't fooled by a dot," Bucky said, answering her question in the midst of her rant.
"But he's so cute!" Grey held up the picture she'd taken of Chenin, it was her phone's lock screen. "Even though he's a vicious prick with sharp ass teeth."
"He'll calm down after he's fixed," Bucky reminded her. "And besides, we've only had the cats for a week. Alpine is still standoffish."
"Alpine is exactly like you. Stands in corners and glares at everyone until fed." Bucky pretended he was offended, but he reached up to scratch Alpine between the ears.
Iron Man
"Hi honey," Grey cooed softly, watching the way the little girl was watching her. Grey sat in a plastic chair designed for much younger children and tried not to wince as it pulled her back. "Sam and Riley told me they found you in one of the houses out in the desert, are you okay? Can you tell me your name? I'm Margaret."
There wasn't much of a warning, but Grey launched herself backwards in the chair just as the girl moved, a blade as long as her arm in her hand. Grey rolled over her shoulder, springing to her feet as the little girl launched her second attack, throwing the knife with dangerous accuracy, lodging it in Grey's sternum. Grey glanced down at the blade sticking out of her chest with disbelief.
"Bambi, I need medical and Bucky immediately," Grey said into her comms, watching the girl warily as she immediately started applying pressure around the blade. With the only weapon currently in Grey's possession, the girl looked like she was expecting an attack.
Bucky nearly took the door off the hinges as he charged it. He saw the girl in a fighting stance that looked ridiculous on a child so small, the knife in Grey's chest, and Grey's expression. Bucky moved to subdue the girl, taking her down as quickly and gently as he could. Once she was unconscious, Grey staggered before being swept off her feet by Bucky, carrying her off to medical.
"What the fuck was that?" Bucky demanded. Grey coughed and tasted blood but swallowed to protect Bucky from more worrying. She tried to lick the blood off her teeth.
"I got stabbed by a five-year-old," Grey bitched as Bucky sprinted down the hall, dodging enlisted and officers alike. "She's a fucking toddler!"
Grey coughed again, spitting up blood as Bucky shouted for a medic. Her chest felt like it was going to explode, and while she wasn't a doctor, she knew enough from Grey's Anatomy that it was bad. Very bad.
"She was trained," Bucky seethed. "She must be a widow. I knew they were still active, but I never expected to see one."
"Christ, I didn't think they started them that young," Grey said as her vision started to swim. She could hear more footsteps barreling toward them, but could barely focus on Bucky's face. "Um, I'm O neg, and I'm definitely going to pass out now."
Grey went limp in Bucky's arms, right as they passed through the doors into the medical wing. Riley was there, still getting patched up from a bullet that grazed his arm.
"What happened?" Riley demanded. "There hadn't been a plan for others to go in, everything was clear!"
"The girl you rescued? Child soldier," Bucky spat as he gently sat Grey on a gurney the medics pulled out. Tony and Pepper barreled in behind him, both still in their flight suits. Medics swarmed Grey, with one doctor shouting out orders to the rest. They all took off the moment Grey was flat on the gurney, rushing her straight to surgery. One nurse hung back.
"Please, do everything you can for our daughter," Pepper said, tears in her eyes. The nurse put her hand on Pepper's arm in reassurance before she chased after the med team. Bucky sat on the ground, leaning against the wall next to Riley's bed. Tony's knees buckled, dropping him next to the former assassin. After a few minutes, Pepper sat on the end of Riley's bed, pulling her feet under her and reaching for her tablet. "Bambi, can you hear me?"
"I'm here Pepper," Bambi said from the tablet. "What would you like me to do?"
"Set up a video conference, Sam and Allie, General Morrow, Jayne, Happy and Jim. Tell them it's urgent."
Sam and Allie were just down the hall, and appeared first, sharing a tablet. Jim and General Morrow were next, similarly sharing a screen. Happy popped on, Alpine perched on his chair. Chenin was audible in the background. Jayne was last to join, a smear of ink on her nose.
"Pepper, what's going on, is this about the little girl?" Allie asked, looking worried.
"What little girl?" Jayne demanded. While worried, Jayne was already thinking of the media storm that would happen if it turned out the Iron Family hurt a little girl, even on accident.
"Riley and I found a group of hostages, we were able to get them out, but there was this tiny girl, five or six, she didn't have parents, and the locals said she came with the Ten Rings," Sam explained, his voice tinny through the speakers. "We brought her back to base, it's SOP."
"She stabbed Grey," Pepper said, tears springing to her eyes. "She's been rushed to surgery. It looks like this was a failsafe, the girl was a plant."
"I'll get you flight clearance back home as soon as she's stable for transport, have Jarvis keep me updated," Happy said, immediately muting himself and using his phone to start making calls.
"I'll reach out to Doctor Cho and her team," Jayne offered. "Let her know what's happened and ask her to come take a look. How's Tony?"
Pepper flipped the camera to show Tony, who was still sitting on the ground, and Bucky, who was staring at the blood on his hands.
"I'll come," Allie said. "For the girl. Kat and I can take her in, get her in therapy, maybe undo some of what the Red Room did to her."
"We're on our way," Jim said, immediately logging out of the call. It didn't take long for Pepper to hear two sets of hurried feet, running through the hall. "C'mon Tones, up you get."
Jim picked Tony up and sat him in a chair. Once he was sure Tony wasn't going to physically fall apart, he looked at Bucky.
"I'll head back to the interview room, make sure she's guarded, see if we can't figure out where she got the knife," Tom said, leaving as quick as he came. Pepper managed a small smile for him, but it was pale. Bucky was still sitting there, staring at his hands. Jim grabbed some clean gauze from the tray next to Riley and knelt next to the assassin. He started wiping the blood off, starting with the flesh hand so he wouldn't spook.
"Are you okay?" Jim asked. "She didn't hurt you too, did she?"
"No," Bucky's voice was a ghost. He swallowed and tried again. "She was so small. The youngest I ever trained was eight. Are they training them younger?"
"We'll look into it," Jim promised, taking the damp gauze from Riley's hands so he could clean more of the blood off. "Once we know how Grey's doing, we'll look into it."
"Is she going to be okay?" Bucky asked, fear evident in his voice. "She bled so much."
"She's Grey, she's going to be just fine," Pepper said, her voice wobbly. "She has to be fine."
"Is she?" Tony croaked out when he saw a doctor in scrubs come in. He was wearing a scrub cap and had obviously just come from surgery.
"We're still operating, I just came here to give you an update," the doctor said gently. Pepper turned the tablet so the others could hear too. "She lost a lot of blood, and her right lung was punctured. We were able to repair it. She'll be on bed rest for a few days but is fine to catch a transport back home."
Tony crumpled in his seat, sobbing tears of relief. Bucky looked up at the ceiling, possibly praying.
"I'll get you flight clearance back home as soon as she's stable for transport, have Jarvis keep me updated," Happy said, immediately muting himself and using his phone to start making calls.
"I'll reach out to Doctor Cho and her team," Jayne offered. "Let her know what's happened and ask her to come out and look. How's Tony?"
Pepper flipped the camera to show Tony, who was still sitting on the ground, and Bucky, who was staring at the blood on his hands.
"I'll come," Allie said. "For the girl. Kat and I can take her in, get her in therapy, maybe undo some of what the Red Room did to her."
"We're on our way," Jim said, immediately logging out of the call. It didn't take long for Pepper to hear two sets of hurried feet, running through the hall. "C'mon Tones, up you get."
"I'll head back to the interview room, make sure she's guarded, see if we can't figure out where she got the knife," Tom said, leaving as quick as he came. Jim picked Tony up and sat him in a chair. Once he was sure Tony wasn't going to physically fall apart, he looked at Pepper.
Pepper managed a small smile for him, but it was pale. Bucky was still sitting there, staring at his hands. Jim grabbed some clean gauze from the tray next to Riley and knelt next to the assassin. He started wiping the blood off, starting with the flesh hand so he wouldn't spook.
"Are you okay?" Jim asked. "She didn't hurt you too, did she?"
"No," Bucky's voice was a ghost. He swallowed and tried again. "No. She was so small. The youngest I ever trained was eight. Are they training them younger?"
"We'll look into it," Jim promised, taking the damp gauze from Riley's hands so he could clean more of the blood off. "Once we know how Grey's doing, we'll look into it."
"Is she going to be okay?" Bucky asked, fear evident in his voice. "She bled so much."
"She's Grey, she's going to be just fine," Pepper said, her voice wobbly. "She has to be fine."
It took four hours before someone came back in the room to talk to them. Pepper tried to get to her feet but couldn't get the strength in her legs. She looked over hopefully, praying to God over and over. Please. It wasn't a very coherent prayer, but Pepper figured if God was all powerful and all knowing, He could decipher it.
"Is she?" Tony croaked out when he saw a doctor in scrubs come in. He was wearing a scrub cap and had obviously just come from surgery. "Please tell me she's okay."
"She's stable," the doctor said. "The blade did puncture her lung, but we were able to repair it. She will be fine to travel home tomorrow, we are recommending keeping her sedated to let her lung heal. We've but her on a temporary ventilator, just to be safe. She'll need supplemental oxygen for about a week."
"We still have some tanks, since I'm also on supplemental oxygen," Tony said. He knew that eventually; he and Grey would laugh about them both being on supplemental oxygen. He begged God to never let it happen again. He couldn't lose his daughter, his kid! Not when he finally had the giant family he'd wanted since his first Thanksgiving with the Rhodes family.
Line Break
Grey came to slowly, hearing her surroundings before she even thought about opening her eyes. She could hear several sets of breathing two machines humming and something was beeping. Had she fallen asleep watching Grey's Anatomy? No, because Bucky would've carried her to bed by now, he never let her sleep on the couch. Then why was she hearing a heart monitor?
"Happened?" Grey tried to ask. Her voice was a croak of a whisper. Immediately around her there was noise; gasps of surprise, scraping chairs. She could feel someone grab her hand, she wondered if it was Bucky or Tony; both had calloused hands. Someone let out a dry sob, it sounded like Pepper. "What's goin' on?"
Grey finally found the ability to open her eyes, squinting against the light of the room. After a second, she was able to see Dum-E, watching her from his charging dock. Chenin and Alpine were waiting outside the makeshift hospital room she was in, Alpine curled up, napping, Chenin, looking like he was screaming his head off. Grey spared a thought, thanking her dad for making the room soundproof.
"Good afternoon," Doctor Cho said, flashing a too-bright light in Grey's eyes. "Squeeze my hands, good. Do you know where you are?"
"Home?" Grey asked, her eyes darting around. She was finally able to see Pepper, who clearly hadn't brushed her hair before pulling it back into a bun. Tony was just behind her, holding Grey's hand, looking pale with dark circles under his eyes. "Buck?"
"Downstairs in the gym," Pepper said softly. "He was pacing."
"What happened?" Grey asked again, leaning to the side so she could prop herself up on her pillows. Dr Cho helped, supporting Grey when her stitches pulled. Grey hissed, feeling the strange sensation in her toes. Her stomach rebelled, giving her a valid reason to relax and take it slow.
"What do you remember?" Tony asked. His grip on her hand tightened.
"I got stabbed by a toddler," Grey said, her eyes darting around as she tried to remember. "In Afghanistan. Was she a widow?"
"Yes. She wasn't willing to give specifics, but she was definitely sent in by Hydra to take you or your dad out," Pepper said. "Allie and her wife have taken her in. What was one more, they said."
"Usually two too many," Grey mumbled under her breath. She hoped therapy was enough for the girl to have a real life, one without the trauma of being a child soldier. "And me?"
"You'll be fine. There was a complication during the surgery, but it should be fine moving forward," Pepper said hesitantly, glancing at Tony. Grey noticed and raised an eyebrow.
"I could try guessing, but as all my medical experience equates to binge watching a fictional TV drama, I'm not sure how accurate my guesses will be, what happened? Whatever it was, I'm not going to freak out."
"The knife went straight through your sternum, hitting your left lung. You're on bedrest for a week, liquids and semi-solids only," Pepper said.
"Is that really necessary?"
"Part of your sternum is now artificial. Your diaphragm ruptured, and you were on a vent for three days," Helen said firmly.
"It's very necessary," Tony said, leaving no room for arguments. Grey pouted, but gave up when she realized even crossing her arms was enough to hurt. Tony and Pepper exchanged loaded glances, and Grey realized something else had happened.
"That isn't the only thing that happened while I was out. What happened?" Grey demanded, looking at Tony in expectation. Pepper would evade the question, insist Grey needed rest, Tony would give her the truth.
"The Rising Tide, that hacktivist group? They leaked some pentagon documents, it's been a whole mess," Tony said, slumping in his seat. It wasn't something he wanted to think about with his daughter in the makeshift hospital in the lab. And yet, people were already clamoring for his opinion and his comments on the leak.
"Classified documents?" Grey tried to remember if it was something she'd known about, the problem was she couldn't really remember Obama's first term. She'd been in middle school for it, and was too busy discovering boys, girls, and the pretty red head in her homeroom. If she did know, it was only how it affected relations during the Trump administration, and everything affected relations during those four years.
"About the Iraq war? Apparently, sixty percent of the deaths since 2003 have been civilian casualties," Tony said, rubbing his face with his hands. Grey stared at him, her mouth falling open in shock. Seeing the same horrified expression on Pepper's face cemented the fact that Tony was telling the truth.
"The current estimate is two hundred fifty thousand," Pepper said softly. Grey looked like she was going to throw up as she pressed one shaking hand to her mouth. That number was unfathomable to her. Grey took a breath and pushed aside her horror, trying to look six steps ahead. It was hard to see anything through the tears in her eyes.
"Bambi, reach out to Jayne, Christine, and Alice, have each of them do a piece on this, I want Christine looking at the public's reaction, have Jayne run a piece about the various weapons manufacturers, see if anyone knew anything. Have Alice take a look at who is profiting from Iraq, we want names," Grey said, her voice steady despite the fact that her cheeks had lost all their color. "Have their bias be against those that ordered the bombings or whatever. Don't outright blame the government, but definitely hint that it was all them."
"Grey, you need to rest, let your stitches heal," Tony said. "Let us handle this."
"Fuck my stitches," Grey snapped, leaning so she could sit up better. "You didn't want to rest when you got back from the desert, don't expect me too, either."
"Settle down," Bucky said, stepping in the room, one foot trying to keep out the cats. Grey looked up at him, pain and fury battling it out in her eyes. "Tony and Pepper can handle the leak; you have to rest and recover. You need to heal."
"I can't fix this," Grey said mournfully. "And we stay in the fucking Middle East for years!"
"Focus on what you can fix," Tony said. He and Pepper left, leaving Helen to finish her charting before she too, left the couple alone.
"Are all our missions gonna be like this?" Bucky asked, sitting next to her on the bed.
"Fuck I hope not," Grey said, relaxing against her pillows. "Hydra is tailing us, putting obstacles in our path to try and get you back. Bambi, once I'm allowed out of my box, I need to have a sit down with Dad and Jim about these missions. Gotta know if they know our plans down to the minute, or if they're guessing."
"So, they are after me," Bucky said, glaring into the middle distance. "Because you broke me out?"
"Don't worry, we're not going to let anything happen to you. We're going to beat back Hydra, the Ten Rings, AIM, all of them, and then I'm going to retire. I want the quiet life, Bucky," Grey sighed, poking at her stitches through her hospital gown. She was briefly glad she never went for the sternum tattoo she once considered, the scar would've screwed it up. "Gonna retire somewhere in Ohio and take up gardening and writing. Maybe I'll write another book."
"The incredibly interesting life of Grey Stark?" Bucky suggested, a smile on his face. Grey giggled. "You'd get bored in a week."
"Probably," Grey said. "But it would be so much better than this."
"What do you mean?" Grey wouldn't look at him, staring at something in the distance. For one moment, she looked so sad, so pained, as if everything in the world was riding on her.
"It doesn't matter anymore, I'll be okay," Grey said, a sad smile on her face. But it was the look in her eyes that enraptured Bucky. She was determined, hopeful and at peace. But there was something dark lurking in her eyes that Bucky worried about. "You think Helen will let me have a cup of coffee?"
"Not a chance," Bucky said, still worried, but trusting Grey enough to let her change the subject. "You need to rest. Try and take a nap, I'll come get you for dinner, okay?"
"If I have to," Grey said, already yawning at the thought of dozing off. Bucky gave her a kiss before rolling off the bed. He gave her one last smile before slipping out of the room, letting Chenin in. He could hear Grey's soft yelp as Chenin bit her before snuggling in.
Line Break
"I should've told you to fuck off the moment you crashed into my house," Tony said once he knew she was awake. "Should've never let you convince me of what was going to happen."
"It would've happened with or without me," Grey said, shaking away the déjà vu as her and Tony had this argument again. This wasn't the first time Tony had expressed his resentment about the Iron Man plot line he was semi-forced into living through. The first time had been the day after Afghanistan, a no-holds-barred argument that left both of them with hurt feelings. "It would've been worse without me."
"This is worse," Tony said firmly. It was dark, the lab's windows only showing the ocean and the night sky, a waning crescent that was barely lit. "Caring about someone and watching them continuously run headfirst into dangerous situations. Watching you and Pepper, both constantly put yourselves in harm's way, and for what?"
"For you, you dumb bastard," Grey said, an incredulous smile on her face. Tony frowned at her, his hands on his hips. "Even if I'd landed elsewhere in the timeline, I would always stand by your side, Tony. Even if I wasn't your daughter, I'd be your sister. Your Aunt, your family, whoever you needed me to be."
"Why?"
"Because you are Earth's best defender, and you deserve so much better than this shitty life that you've been dealt. Because for some reason, this universe likes to make you the punch line, and I won't stand for it, because you saved my life back when you were just fictional and it's high time, I repay that favor." Grey looked at the stunned expression on Tony's face and sighed. "You've been my family for years, Tony. Since I was eleven, almost fifteen years now I've watched and supported you, and I plan to continue that until we decide to retire."
"But why?"
"You're not as flawed as you think you are. You aren't as damaged as you think you are. Look at how far you've come, without me! You've already got the suits able to fly empty, that's something you've barely figured out by the time the Avengers come around. You're sober. That never happened in the movies. You and Pepper are in a solid relationship, years early, and this one isn't going to be shaken apart because of the suits." Grey reached out her hand, and Tony grabbed it like a lifeline. He sank into the chair next to her hospital bed. Sometimes he wondered who was the parent in their relationship. She mothered him as much as he took care of her. "It's time you stopped thinking of yourself the way the media used to portray you. Gone is the Merchant of Death, no longer are you just this Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist person. You're Doctor Tony fucking Stark, Iron Man, co-founder of the Avengers Initiative. Co-Founder of Avengers Academy. You're the guy ready to save the world, who doesn't do it for thanks or praise, but because it's something that needs to be done."
"Only because of you," Tony said, trying to push away the praise, but there were tears in his eyes. "God, kid, you almost died. I thought I was going to lose you."
"Hey, one knife to the gut isn't going to kill me," Grey said, a wry grin on her face. "If I have to go, I plan on going out in a blaze of glory, taking the baddies down with me."
"I'd rather you not go out at all," Tony said.
"Shit me too!" Grey laughed a little, getting a surprised, watery laugh from her dad. "Can we just be family now? I'm so tired of holding on to a life I'll never see again. I miss my mom and my sister, with my whole heart and soul, but I think it's time I just let them go."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. It's time. Besides, I have things here that need my attention," Grey said. "Like arguing with Marsha Smith, did you see her most recent article?"
"That woman oscillates between being alarmingly close to the truth or violently far from it, which one?" Tony asked. He often wished he could do something about her, if only for his kid, but even he knew that if he took action, it could backfire on their painstakingly designed public image.
"Oh, well she just recently called me a nepo hire," Grey said, trying not to laugh and pull her stitches.
"She does realize you are a nepo hire, right?" Tony asked, outright laughing. "You were only made CEO because of my fatality clause. It's a family business. It goes to family. Oh my God, she's an idiot."
"Just wait, I have Jayne running a piece on my various accomplishments six months in versus non nepotism CEO decision Darren Cross at Pym Tech. I've done more, raised stock more, introduced more product, and done more for employees than he has in his entire career. I have plans in place to continue that trend, he does not." Grey sat there smugly, pride oozing out of her.
"And you chose the company that hates us on principal, just to compare, right?" Tony asked, astonished by her level of scheming.
"Oh, no, actually, it being Pym Tech had nothing to do with it, he was just the most recently hired CEO in a differing fortune 500 company," Grey said. "Jayne had Christine choose who to compare me to."
"Your team frightens me," Tony said sagely. Grey grinned, then winced as her injuries made themselves known again. Thankfully, Doctor Cho walked in for another check in.
"It's late, Grey you need to rest," Helen said gently, checking the vitals on the machine.
"Can I rest in my own bed?"
"Tomorrow. I want to keep you under observation for the full twenty-four hours, which means at least until noon," Helen explained. Grey sighed but nodded. Tony pressed a kiss to her forehead, whispering his good nights before slipping out of the room. Chenin raced back in, screaming as he launched himself up onto the hospital bed. He pounced on Grey's knee, causing her to cry out as his claws dug through the flimsy blanket.
"Ow! Chenin!" Grey cooed at her kitten, waving her fingers in front of his face until he batted at them, suitably distracted. Helen took her leave after she updated the chart. "Who's momma's good boy? It's you! You're mommy's good handsome boy!"
Grey continued babbling nonsensically at him until her pain meds kicked in and her drowsiness took over. She was able to just notice Jim coming down with a book to sit next to her before she dozed off, Chenin still biting on her hand. Jim snapped a picture and sent it to the Family's group chat.
Line Break
"But Doctor Cho said I could try solids today," Grey argued, holding the bowl of soup in her hand. She looked at the soup with disappointment and something akin to heartbreak. She knew it was just her family's way of looking out for her, but she was still getting tired of constantly having soup.
"And Pepper requested wonton soup for lunch, that's what I made," Lyn said, waving her ladle around as she spoke. "It's semi-solid. And you like wontons."
"I also like pizza," Grey said, trying not to pout. She was still on pain medication, which had her crying at every inconvenience, and she could feel a round of tears building.
"Then you can have pizza for dinner," Lyn said. "Or you can ask Happy to bring you something."
"No. I'll eat the wontons," Grey said, finally sitting down at the counter. "Stupid interfering woman."
"I'm guessing that's directed at Pepper?" Jim asked. Grey glared at him before waving her hand over her tablet. With a push, her home screen popped up as a hologram, showing a muted video of Tony and Pepper giving a press conference at the downtown office, the Arc Reactor just visible in the background.
"Ordered soup for lunch so I couldn't skip straight to pizza. Should've seen it coming, but I figured she'd be out today."
"She's used to dealing with Tony, of course she did," Jim said, pulling out a few reports from the birds to go over. "Are the birds going to be involved with the Expo?"
"I've set them and their families aside tickets and told them we'd take care of flights and accommodations, but no, the wings are classified," Grey said, starting on her soup. She wiggled in her seat happily as she popped a wonton in her mouth. Lyn's cooking was the best thing to happen to her. "Pepper and I were working with finance, we're giving discounted tickets, accommodation, and flights to Stark Industries employees and their immediate family if they want to go. As it's a work function, we're giving them up to three days of free PTO for those that want to go if any employees want to work it, they'll get an extra bonus at the end of the year."
"Why go to so much effort so our staff can go?" Jim asked, genuinely curious.
"I want our team to know they're valued. And since we just increased base pay, this is another good way. I've also put out a memo for our regionals to organize at least one fun work function a month. Museums, food trucks, we have the money, use it."
"Stark Industries isn't a fountain of free cash, Grey, our budget isn't limitless," Jim pointed out. Grey snorted, giving him a look of amusement. It was something she had worried about in the beginning too, until she met an intern in finance who gave her a rundown. "Okay, what am I missing?"
"The money Marvel Comics made from just the Iron Man merchandise could fund Marvel employees' salaries for the next six months," Grey said. "Factor in Rescue's gear, and all of mine, I could produce no new material from here until July and I'd still be in the black. Stark Industries phone and tablet sales will not only surpass weapons but increase the profit too. The income might not be limitless, but it's high enough that it doesn't matter."
"What about the Avengers Initiative?" Jim asked. "Isn't that going to be costly?"
"It is. That's why ten percent of my salary is heading there until 2012. Pepper and Dad are giving the same amount, and six percent of all of our collective profits are heading straight for the coffers for that project. All profits from the expo are going to fund the Avengers, Pepper sat down with the CFO, Brittany? And ironed everything out down to the half cent. And that was before we started getting bids from those that want to have a booth."
"How are you this good at budgeting?"
"I like spreadsheets," Grey shrugged, a smile on her face. She glanced at the screen, watching Pepper and Tony command the attention of the reporters. Tony and Pepper both looked like marble statues in creamy shades of gray, their only pops of color Pepper's Persian blue vest, and Tony's red pocket square and his gold glasses. Several of the reporters looked wary, as if they were waiting for Grey to come out and give them all her disapproving glare. "Jarvis, who leaked the documents?"
"Some hacktivist group," Jim said, rolling his eyes.
"Members of the group the Rising Tide, were behind the leak," Jarvis said.
"Bambi, how involved were you?"
"I was not involved in the leak," Bambi said. Grey raised her eyebrow and waited. "Okay I was slightly involved with the leak. Miles needed help getting through the final firewall."
"Miles, in Texas?" Grey asked, frowning at the ceiling.
"Yes?"
"Cool. Did you make friends with Skye?"
"I did not think you would know about her," Bambi said after a moment's pause. Grey grinned. "Yes, Skye and I have exchanged contact information."
"Make friends with her, we love her," Grey said. "Plant a bug in Miles' servers, he's gonna get into the Index later in life, and I'll want that information too. I'm vaguely hopeful that Fury will give it to me."
"Hopeful or optimistic?" Jim asked. Grey made a noncommittal noise. "That was descriptive."
"Fuck off. Bring me a chicken sandwich and I'll talk," Grey bargained, pushing away her empty bowl.
"Helen said you're free to eat solid foods now," Jim said.
"Helen, huh?" Grey asked, spinning to face Jim. "When did that happen?"
"Shut up," Jim grouched. Grey smiled brightly, but dutifully turned back to the press conference, waving at the screen for sound.
"What is Stark Industries doing about the leak?" Christine asked. It was a risk, having her ask that, because they didn't want to even accidentally imply that they were behind it.
"What would you have us do? We can offer reparations, but the fact of the matter is that we aren't responsible for it. We weren't the ones that leaked the information, the FBI has already released a statement that it was the Rising Tide; nor were we the ones ordering the strikes that caused the civilian casualties," Pepper said firmly, but not unkindly. She looked very sympathetic, with a furrow in her brow giving her a concerned look. Tony stood next to her, confident without coming across as cocky. Grey looked at the screen proudly, thrilled with the difference between her dad and where Tony was in Iron Man 2.
"How are you?" Happy asked, coming into the kitchen laden down with grocery bags. Lin came out and took them, immediately starting to unload everything.
"If I'm served soup for dinner, I'll mutiny," Grey warned, smiling at the man. He nodded and vanished around the corner, quickly coming back with a second armful of groceries. "You didn't let Chenin outside, did you?"
"Jarvis has him and Alpine locked in the hall bathroom," Happy said, unloading more groceries. They went through food quickly between the five normal people, and Bucky's super serum metabolism, not to mention the half dozen spooks and reporters that were in and out of the house like they paid rent that stayed for dinner more often than not. "I called ahead. How's your pain?"
"Minimal. I'm clear to start PT tomorrow. I should be back to fighting shape in a week. Gives me plenty of time to perfect my Halloween costume!" Grey grinned, having given the idea to Bambi and Jarvis to render for her the day before. It was fourth in the production queue, with mark three of their suits, and mark one of War Machine for Jim coming first.
"Are we doing Halloween?" Jim asked. "I didn't think we were."
"I'm doing Halloween," Grey said. "I don't care about the rest of you, I'm getting dressed up. I can finally commission decent cosplays are you kidding me?"
Jim looked to Happy for an explanation, but the man only shook his head, heading out for his last round of groceries.
"How's the conference?" Happy asked, sitting on Grey's other side and tilting her holo screen so he could see the muted video. It was clearly winding down, with only a few reporters left holding their hands up.
"Jayne hasn't hit anyone this time," Jim teased. "I think it went well. Focused the blame on those that ordered it all without naming names. I'm sure the upper brass is gonna be pissed for the next month, but they'll calm down if this does."
"We could release the names," Bambi offered, their voice coming through the wall speakers, startling Happy. Jim immediately shut down that suggestion.
"We definitely shouldn't dox our own team, Bambi," Grey said, sounding more like she was trying not to laugh, rather than scolding the AI. "If you have a list of names, pass it over to Jarvis, you two check them over for ties to Hydra. Bambi, if you want a new project, I can give you one. Check into Project Distant Star Return in Nasa, probably sometime around 2001."
"Should I make this a top priority?"
"Oh, no, due one one fifteen, we won't need it before then," Grey said, waving her hand.
"Do you ever stop working?" Happy asked. Grey just snorted, already reading an email that popped up on her screen. "Didn't think so."