Story of a Girl (Iron Man)
Title: Story of a Girl
Author: akat
Fandom: Iron Man
Rating: PG
Spoilers: All of BtVS and the first Iron Man movie.
Disclaimer: BtVS belongs to Joss Whedon. The Avengers and Iron Man belong to Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Marvel Comics.
Summary: Tony’s philandering ways were bound to get him into trouble one day, right?
Word Count: 700
A/N: I’m compressing the Avengers’ timeline a bit so the end of the first Iron Man movie aligns with the BtVS series finale. Hope you don’t mind!
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Pepper took a deep breath. The timing was bad. She knew that. Ever since Tony had announced to the world that he was Iron Man, he had become preoccupied, distant. But this couldn’t wait any longer. Twenty three years was long enough.
Besides, was there ever a good time to tell someone they had a fully grown daughter? Especially one with a... ‘colorful’ past?
It was probably best if she just got this over with.
With that, Pepper smoothed down her skirt and pushed the door to the lab open.
Not surprisingly, Tony was working on the arc reactor, completely engrossed in whatever it was he was doing, not bothering to acknowledge Pepper’s presence.
Pepper suppressed a sigh. He would make this as difficult as possible, wouldn’t he?
“Tony,” she said. When there was no response, she tried again, this time louder. “Tony. TONY.”
Never looking up, Tony smirked. “Do you just like the sound of my name, or do you have something to say?”
Pepper frowned, her sympathy for him rapidly vanishing.
“I’ve been going through Obadiah’s files, and... I’ve found something, something you need to see,” she said, placing the folder in front of him. Then, before he could object - like she knew he would - she continued on. “Before your... detainment in Afghanistan, Obadiah was looking for ways to discredit you. Apparently, he found one, too. In fact, he was about to go to the presses with it.”
Tony snorted. “That was his master plan? A smear campaign? Well, you know what they say. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will-”
“Tony, you have a daughter.”
If the situation wasn’t so serious, Pepper would’ve laughed at the look on Tony’s face. It wasn’t often someone managed to make the great Tony Stark speechless, after all.
As it was, though, she simply put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“But... how....” he sputtered.
Pepper arched an eyebrow at this. “I think you of all people know the answer to that,” she said. Then, a bit more gently, she added, “Read the file. It’s all in there.”
Still dazed, Tony did as he was told, his eyes rapidly scanning the reports. As he got through each one, the shocked look faded, and Pepper could see the wheels in his head starting to turn.
When he had finally finished, he slapped the file down on the table.
“So, I have a daughter born out of a meaningless one night stand twenty three years ago who is now a convicted felon serving time in LA state penitentiary," he summed up, a wry smile on his face.
Pepper shook her head and the smile dimmed a little. “No, Stane’s report is a few months old. I did some research and discovered that she - Faith - is now an escaped felon, having broken out of jail a week ago, last seen headed toward Sunnydale, the town that turned into a crater overnight,” she revealed.
At first, Tony didn’t say anything. Then he sighed.
“This isn't something I can just throw money at, is it?”
Pepper shook her head. “No,” she confirmed.
Tony pouted. “But I'm so good at it.”
Pepper ignored this. “I do have a solution...” she began.
And she did. She had thought this out very carefully. Because although the murder conviction was troubling, this was Tony’s daughter, who by all accounts, did not have an easy childhood. Add to that the fact that there were some very suspicious aspects to the crime, including a deceased Mayor whose shady dealings could match Obadiah’s, and well, there was only one thing they could do.
Tony wasn’t going to like it, though.
It must’ve been written all over her face, because Tony suddenly started shaking his head. Very emphatically.
“No. No. NO. Do not go there, Pepper,” he warned.
Pepper said nothing. She simply waited.
After a few beats, Tony slapped a hand over his eyes and groaned, “I'll owe Fury a favor after this, won't I?”
“Yes.”
One of Tony’s eyes peeked at Pepper through his fingers. “And he won't ever let me forget it, will he?”
Pepper bit the inside of her cheek. “Highly doubtful.”
The eye disappeared.
“Damn.”
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Author: akat
Fandom: Iron Man
Rating: PG
Spoilers: All of BtVS and the first Iron Man movie.
Disclaimer: BtVS belongs to Joss Whedon. The Avengers and Iron Man belong to Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Marvel Comics.
Summary: Tony’s philandering ways were bound to get him into trouble one day, right?
Word Count: 700
A/N: I’m compressing the Avengers’ timeline a bit so the end of the first Iron Man movie aligns with the BtVS series finale. Hope you don’t mind!
+
Pepper took a deep breath. The timing was bad. She knew that. Ever since Tony had announced to the world that he was Iron Man, he had become preoccupied, distant. But this couldn’t wait any longer. Twenty three years was long enough.
Besides, was there ever a good time to tell someone they had a fully grown daughter? Especially one with a... ‘colorful’ past?
It was probably best if she just got this over with.
With that, Pepper smoothed down her skirt and pushed the door to the lab open.
Not surprisingly, Tony was working on the arc reactor, completely engrossed in whatever it was he was doing, not bothering to acknowledge Pepper’s presence.
Pepper suppressed a sigh. He would make this as difficult as possible, wouldn’t he?
“Tony,” she said. When there was no response, she tried again, this time louder. “Tony. TONY.”
Never looking up, Tony smirked. “Do you just like the sound of my name, or do you have something to say?”
Pepper frowned, her sympathy for him rapidly vanishing.
“I’ve been going through Obadiah’s files, and... I’ve found something, something you need to see,” she said, placing the folder in front of him. Then, before he could object - like she knew he would - she continued on. “Before your... detainment in Afghanistan, Obadiah was looking for ways to discredit you. Apparently, he found one, too. In fact, he was about to go to the presses with it.”
Tony snorted. “That was his master plan? A smear campaign? Well, you know what they say. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will-”
“Tony, you have a daughter.”
If the situation wasn’t so serious, Pepper would’ve laughed at the look on Tony’s face. It wasn’t often someone managed to make the great Tony Stark speechless, after all.
As it was, though, she simply put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“But... how....” he sputtered.
Pepper arched an eyebrow at this. “I think you of all people know the answer to that,” she said. Then, a bit more gently, she added, “Read the file. It’s all in there.”
Still dazed, Tony did as he was told, his eyes rapidly scanning the reports. As he got through each one, the shocked look faded, and Pepper could see the wheels in his head starting to turn.
When he had finally finished, he slapped the file down on the table.
“So, I have a daughter born out of a meaningless one night stand twenty three years ago who is now a convicted felon serving time in LA state penitentiary," he summed up, a wry smile on his face.
Pepper shook her head and the smile dimmed a little. “No, Stane’s report is a few months old. I did some research and discovered that she - Faith - is now an escaped felon, having broken out of jail a week ago, last seen headed toward Sunnydale, the town that turned into a crater overnight,” she revealed.
At first, Tony didn’t say anything. Then he sighed.
“This isn't something I can just throw money at, is it?”
Pepper shook her head. “No,” she confirmed.
Tony pouted. “But I'm so good at it.”
Pepper ignored this. “I do have a solution...” she began.
And she did. She had thought this out very carefully. Because although the murder conviction was troubling, this was Tony’s daughter, who by all accounts, did not have an easy childhood. Add to that the fact that there were some very suspicious aspects to the crime, including a deceased Mayor whose shady dealings could match Obadiah’s, and well, there was only one thing they could do.
Tony wasn’t going to like it, though.
It must’ve been written all over her face, because Tony suddenly started shaking his head. Very emphatically.
“No. No. NO. Do not go there, Pepper,” he warned.
Pepper said nothing. She simply waited.
After a few beats, Tony slapped a hand over his eyes and groaned, “I'll owe Fury a favor after this, won't I?”
“Yes.”
One of Tony’s eyes peeked at Pepper through his fingers. “And he won't ever let me forget it, will he?”
Pepper bit the inside of her cheek. “Highly doubtful.”
The eye disappeared.
“Damn.”
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