Chapter 19: Reporters, Rebellion, and EspionageNotes:Sup! Thanks for all the amazing comments, and I would just like to say this thing has gotten out of control long...so that should be fun for you guys. Meanwhile I'm beating my head against a keyboard going 'why do I do this to myself!'
Chapter TextElizabeth Brant ignored the dirty look the Stark bodyguard was giving her. She wasn't going to be scared off. In fact she would have clawed anyone's eyes out who tried to get this scoop over her. Journalism could be a dog eat dog world. And the Stark scoop was hers! Did she lambast Everhart's reputation with their boss? Yes, yes she did. But maybe Everhart shouldn't have fucked Tony Stark. Credibility, you can't send one of a man's cast offs to interview his daughter. It's bad form.
She smiled as her freshly inspected bag was returned to her. Her smile was all teeth. This interview would further her efforts to become a household name. Another five years to build a reputation and then a nice cushy job on a daily news channel. She'd had her future mapped out since she was eight. Another year and she could look into marrying a pro-athlete.
"Don't forget the rules." The bodyguard's accent was distinctly british as he gave her one last glare, and then opened the door for her.
Elizabeth brushed past him, as if she'd let him intimidate her. She took in the modern office she'd been brought to. Her cameraman had already set up, her sound man was attaching the mic to the newest Stark. She picked up her own mic and attached it to the lapel of her blazer. "Everything set up Mike?"
"We're all set, I was thinking of mostly using the natural lighting from the windows? It leaves the cityscape more visible behind both of you. I don't know what these windows are made of, but the light is just lovely and diffused." Mike's eyes shone with the inner passion for lighting. He could babble about the topic for hours. Which wasn't bad, he was her favorite cameraman for a reason.
She held up her hand. "Now's not the time. But if you think that's the best lighting go with it." Elizabeth took in the skyline out the floor to ceiling windows. It would be an evocative background. She plastered on a smile, one that was surprisingly genuine. "Dr Lewis."
"Ms Brant." Dr Lewis took her hand and shook it. The woman was all casual confidence, classically attractive though she was downplaying it.
Elizabeth noted the purple nailpolish, white oxford shirt under tie dye sweatshirt, washed out jeans, and sparkly blue glasses. "Are you familiar with how this is going to work?"
"Absolutely not, but PR briefed me and I'm a child of the internet. Think I'll be good." And there was a smug light to the woman that was all Stark.
Elizabeth laughed. "Well just relax, this is just a more intimate introduction than the press conference was yesterday."
"I'm sure." Dr Lewis's eyes twinkled with mirth.
She felt a thrill, someone who wasn't going to need their hand held. Intelligent people were always more exciting to interview. And honestly gave better content. "Do you have any questions for before this starts?"
"No, I'm sure the legal forms you signed about covered it." Lewis rocked back on her heels. "I'm ready when you are."
"Well, let's get started then shall we?" Elizabeth politely waved them towards the carefully set up chairs in front of the windows.
There was a quick round of final mic checks, Mike adjusting everything so they were properly in frame. And then the camera began rolling.
Elizabeth smiled as she started speaking. "Hello, today I'm here with Dr Lewis the new heir to Stark Industries and newly revealed daughter of the famous Tony Stark." She turned to Lewis. "First thank you for letting us speak with you so soon after the momentous announcement Dr Lewis."
"Of course, I'm happy to be here." Lewis smiled and it didn't feel fake, more mischievous than anything else. "It was a bit inevitable once I found out who my bio-dad was."
She made an appropriate noise to that. "I have to start with what everyone is wondering, how did you find out?"
"My first day working at Stark Industries." Darcy rolled her eyes. "Tony burst into the lab looking like he was having kittens. The Stark medical check all employees undergo involves DNA being run for hereditary issues and the system pinged the relation."
Elizabeth leaned in ever so slightly. "You'd had no idea before that, not a single suspicion?"
"Not really, I knew my mom had a bit of a party phase. Guess she and Tony had that in common." Darcy shrugged carelessly. "It wasn't as big of a shock as it could have been."
Elizabeth would personally eat her notepad if the girl hadn't practiced similar questions with Stark's PR department. "So you had no idea, it was just your first day at Si?"
"Nope." Darcy's smile was fairly bland if her eyes weren't so damn amused.
Elizabeth leaned back in her chair. "So you were brought into SI as a mechanical engineer on the Rosen Eisen Bridge project led by Dr Foster? Her theories of course being validated by Thor and the observed portals since then."
"Yeah, Janey and I go way back to my undergrad." Darcy beamed, genuine excitement plain to see on her face. "I interned for her my senior year at Culver. And well nothing makes a lasting impression so much as surviving an alien encounter together. That and late night margaritas."
Elizabeth nodded along. "The documents leaked from SHIELD indicated that you were at the New Mexico event as well as in London during the invasion there?"
"Yeah, I mean it started out with Jane trying to drive us into a space tornado in the middle of the desert and now where goes Jane, so goes my nation ya know?" Darcy waved her hands in a 'what can you do' gesture. "And now that I've got my doctorate and she lets me do more than duct tape her equipment, we have 70% less explosions and or fires in the lab."
She knew future interviews would probably focus on all the topics she intended to brush past. But right now she needed the full picture. It was what would get her the traction. "Speaking of your doctorate, you had an unusual path to your degree?"
"Yeah, the science classes I was in were either boring or I got brushed off. I mean I know I don't look like a mechanics nerd, but still." Darcy crossed her legs. "But after New Mexico I applied for some graduate courses on the subject and got in. And well, I guess it's kinda history now. My first patent sold, the work I'm doing with Jane is supes cool, and I still have my own projects on the side."
"Your projects on the side, that includes working with heroes like Spiderman and Quake? You were involved in the shootout in Lansing Michigan afterall." Elizabeth prodded.
Darcy snorted. "Yeah I help out Spiderquake. They're fun and only patently ridiculous 20% of the time."
"How did that come about? And connected to that are you planning on following in your father's footsteps?"
She shook her head with a laugh. "Definitely not. I don't mind tasing an alien, AIM agent or corrupt cop here or there when I get dragged along on crazy adventures. Which Lansing was ridiculous and I'm never letting Spiderman convince me he just needs a ride to go save a reporter friend ever again. I don't know how he does it with those goggles but the puppy eye power is real."
"No Iron Maiden in your future then?" Elizabeth knew if she played this right she could get more access. More access, more name brand value, and one step closer to her ultimate goals.
Darcy pushed her glasses up her nose. "Yeah not gonna happen. Tony might like flying around in a tin can with a sparkly ass, but so not my style. I'm happy to help backend with people who actually know what they're doing. I'd just be flying by the seat of my pants and that's not a good look on anyone."
"But you do support the Avengers and other heroes like them?" Elizabeth could feel her career progressing. Nothing too hard hitting, just highlights right now. Highlights and she could get to the real meat in future interviews.
Darcy nodded. "I do, I think they do real good in the world and that measurably there are millions of people still alive because of their efforts. And that's that we can know. Which before you ask I do support some of the legal measures around accountability. But I think we have to be incredibly careful that we don't go too far. Just look at the legal and moral issues we're having to face with our own government's involvement with the illegal actions in Lansing? Or General Ross who almost was put in a position of power over vulnerable individuals. It's incredibly complicated."
"I agree with Tony and his approach of working with both lawyers, members of our government, and enhanced individuals to craft a basis of law that protects all citizens. Because this is the weird world we live in now and that's not going to change. Burying our heads in the sand and letting atrocities happen isn't a solution." Darcy was clearly passionate. Her genuine belief would play well on camera. "I really think that is why court cases like the upcoming prosecution of James Barnes are going to be important to watch. It's going to be a test case in how our courts can handle the frankly impossible."
Elizabeth resisted the urge to pull that thread, too much. "So you agree Barnes should be tried in a court of law?"
"Of course." Darcy replied easily and sure of herself. "He's an American citizen. As such he has a right to a jury of his peers, for the evidence to be laid out measured and a verdict found. Being extraordinary shouldn't place anyone above the law. It also doesn't make someone any less of a citizen of his country."
She felt the slightest spark. "So you will be involving yourself with the legal side of SI then?"
"That was an accident really." Darcy sighed. "The Avengers didn't have a PR team. Which is ridiculous, but I spent a week bullying legal and Tony about it. So hopefully now that the Avengers do have a PR team, and the whole Stark thing is all settled with legal I'll be free of that headache. I'm much more suited to just building cool toys in the lab."
Elizabeth pounced at the opportunity to keep leading this away from the dicey waters of the enhanced and the upcoming Barnes trial. "But you are the heir to a controlling interest in SI. Heir to one of the largest business empires in the world. Surely you have plans besides just building things in the lab?"
"Not really?" Darcy shrugged. "Tony forgot to mention he was making me his heir." She looked genuinely annoyed for a second. "So that was fun to find out." The sarcasm was definitely thick. "I mean it's nice not to be in debt from college. But really I'm not an expert in the company."
Elizabeth couldn't help the slight disbelief. "So no plans to take more of an interest in what will someday be your company?"
"I guess? But honestly right now I'm happy where I am and with what I'm doing. And Ms Potts is doing a fantastic job. I don't know enough to want to rock the boat. Besides, Tony's still young enough he could have another kid or something and I can pass the whole thing off to them." Darcy's lips twitched up.
She turned the pen in her hand over. "So you approve of Ms Potts? There have been a lot of rumors and talk surrounding her promotion to CEO of Stark Industries."
"She's the most highly competent woman I've ever witnessed. Like life goals of awesome." Darcy looked slightly starry eyed. "I don't know what she sees in Tony to be honest, she could do better. But if he makes her happy." She shrugged, ignoring how every person in the room was choking at that. "She's essentially been running the company for Tony since he hired her as his assistant. I mean I don't think he even knows his own social security number."
Elizabeth had definitely not been expecting that, or Darcy willingly expressing her opinions on enhanced. "So no resentment that your father is involved with a woman who's not your mother? No possibility of a reconciliation there?"
"Thor no!" Darcy laughed outright. "Please, my mom is happily married and honestly she and my step-dad are great together. They've progressed to two lammas to deal with the empty nest syndrome since I left. I'm not even sure either my mom or Tony actually remember their whole fling. And I really don't want to know."
Elizabeth had done her research. Margaret Lewis was a small town dentist married to the local vet. Everything about them was pretty scandal free. So she pushed forward. "I notice you've been calling your dad Tony?"
"Well yeah?" Darcy smiled. "He's cool, and we're getting to know each other over rebuilding old cars and converting them to electric. But it's all kinda new, to both of us. We did dye Steve's hair pink the other day though. So you know, it's going."
Elizabeth stilled. "You dyed Captain America's hair pink?"
"He should check what's in his shampoo bottle before he uses it." Darcy's face had a wicked grin. "You should def get him to take off those ridiculous hats he's been wearing in public. It's spectacularly hot pink."
////
Peter whooped as he went flying over a shorter building. There was nothing as exhilarating as the swooping sensation of swinging through the city. It was excellent! As he was sailing through the air he spotted a streak of color.
Landing on the side of a building he looked over. And yup that was a red banner with his Spiderman mask printed on it. He blinked, there was a person sitting next to it. That was… that screamed trap. He hopped off the building and did a circuit of the block. No snipers, or anything out of place that he could see. So maybe not a trap?
He was going to do the dumb thing. He'd be fine. So what if Daisy was too injured to shadow him much right now. Peter trusted his instincts as he came shooting up the side of the building, and then landed on the roof. He recognized the woman. "Detective Watanabe?"
"Oh good." The detective started folding the banner. "Sorry about the banner, but I wasn't sure how to contact you and Quake."
Peter straightened up. "Did you need help?"
"I do need your help." Watanabe dropped the folded up banner. "You and Quake have been willing to at least work with the police sometimes." She ran a hand through her hair. "Should we wait for Quake?"
Peter set his hands on his hips, trying to stand at his full height. "I could help? Quake's busy right now. So what do you need, Detective?"
"Just call me Yuri." She crossed her arms. "I have a theory and I need backup or people are going to get hurt."
He frowned slightly. "But don't you have like a cop partner? Or like call back up on the radio? Like blue brotherhood, the whole thing? I mean that's what movies say."
"I turned in my partner for taking bribes." Yuri raised a brow. "I don't get back up now."
"Oh...OH! That's terrible." Peter cringed.
Yuri just gave an exhausted sigh. "It is what it is. But what's important right now is that New York has a werewolf."
"What?" Peter laughed. "You had me going there." He paused… "Oh you're serious. Like with the fur and like all 'rawr'." He held up his hands like claws.
She brandished a folder. "The last six fullmoons there have been animal attacks. The precinct thinks it's a serial killer. But I found some images off an atm." Yuri opened it aiming it towards him.
And yup that was def a man shaped wolf. "Oh wow. Really?"
"And I can't find any records of any similar crimes in a six county radius during any point of the month. We only have maulings on the full moon. And look at the coroner's report." Yuri pressed the folder into his hands.
He felt his eyebrows climbing against the face of his mask as he looked at it. This was actually really serious, and oh so gross. But...it was just one badguy? Peter looked up at the detective. "So uh...what's the plan?"
"Well I've mapped out the attacks. If we patrol Brooklyn and keep an ear out on the radio we should be able to find something. Once that happens I'm going to need enhanced support to bring it in." Yuri winced. "We don't know if the werewolf is even aware they're doing this. So I'd prefer non-deadly options and between your webbing and Quakes well quakes it should be possible."
Peter could handle a werewolf without Daisy. Prove he could handle everything, that they didn't need to protect him and treat him like a kid. "So like meet up here at like five before the next full moon?"
"You'll do it?" Yuri looked surprised, and then she eagerly kept talking. "Of course that works. I can check out some communication equipment so we can coordinate sweeps."
He nodded, bouncing closer. "Yeah, that sounds good. We'll totes catch him!"
Peter waived as he got home. "I'm home!"
"Sup." Daisy was wearing her gym polo, leaning over the kitchen island, flipping through a magazine. "Anything exciting out there?"
He felt slightly sweaty. "No, just the usual. Helped Mrs Rodrigaz with her groceries again."
"Get treed by her dog?" Daisy's lips were pulled up slightly in amusement.
Peter rolled his eyes. "That only happened once."
"Yup." She winked.
He cocked his head to the side. "You look a lot better."
"Yeah, got some actual sleep last night." Daisy had an odd expression on her face before shaking herself slightly. "Darcy called, she's staying at the tower tonight, her interview is airing and doesn't want to accidentally drag the reporters here."
Peter frowned. "But we set up a backstory so it doesn't look weird that she spends time here?"
"Yeah, but it's the biggest story right now." Daisy tossed a granola bar at him. "Once it's just like a page four story we'll cross that bridge."
He shrugged, it was Darcy's thing. "So what's for dinner?"
////
Natasha slid onto the bench. Her hands were in her jacket pockets as she looked at the various civilians walking through the park. It was bustling and oddly peaceful. "So you took a job with Stark?"
"Mission went wrong in Europe." Bobbie replied while sipping her latte. "And the health insurance was appealing. Not all of us have enhanced healing factors."
Her mouth twitched. "Touche." She relaxed as much as she ever did in public. "It's good to see you."
"It was close after the evil squids showed their hand." Bobbie raised her latte at Nat. "Good on you stopping the helicarriers."
Natasha gave a single blink. "I'm sorry you got caught in the fallout."
"I get it. A heads up would have been nice." Bobbie raised a brow while sipping from her drink.
She watched a teenager playing frisbee with his dog. "Couldn't know you weren't a squid."
"Yeah, they really suck like that. Next squid hunt you and the Captain go on let me know. I have some issues I could use working out." Bobbie's voice held clear anger.
Natasha couldn't blame her, she had some anger issues when it came to Hydra herself. "I'll let you know." She enjoyed the fresh air. "So what do you think about your husband's new job?"
"Oh he's being driven to distraction." Bobbie chuckled. "But you're asking about the new power trio?"
She nodded, no point beating around the bush. "They are all very powerful in their own ways."
"I don't know the kid, or Darcy very well. Lance's complained a lot." Bobbie's voice was amused.
"But you've worked with Johnson." Natasha replied.
Bobbie hummed. "She's talented, Melinda was training her. I hear you got to spar with her?"
"She's good, could use more experience and work." Natasha didn't need to mention that Quake's powers made her terrifying as a possible opponent. Highly trained specialists with powers on that scale should make people nervous.
Bobbie curled her hands around her paper cup. "She's good. Being a superhero suits her more than being an agent did I think. If she's training the spider kid he'll be a good egg."
"And the wealth and political power they're building up?" Natasha asked.
Bobbie hummed. "They aren't being subtle about what their goals are. I had a few beers with Darcy and Daisy the other night. I doubt there's a secret plot."
"They're changing how we're perceived." Natasha trusted Bobbie Morse as much as she could considering their field of work. "Steve's distracted by everything involved with Bucky."
Bobbie nodded. "Yeah, that's going to be a media shitshow as the court date comes up."
"You're part of the security detail for the court." Natasha didn't envy that. Not that she wasn't going to be at the trial. The things she did for Steve.
Bobbie actually cringed. "I only pray Hogan isn't involved at all. He's loyal but.."
"Under qualified for his current position." Natasha finished for her. She wasn't a fan of Tony's former driver. But she understood it, the man was surrounded by leeches and Hogan for all his faults wasn't that. "But you trust Johnson?"
Bobbie sipped at her drink. "I do, she's dependable. And is anything they're doing you disagree with?"
"Not yet, I haven't seen anyone reign in Tony as effectively as Darcy has. It's impressive. It makes me reconsider how the Avengers were managed." Natasha would have to discuss it with Clint later.
Bobbie laughed under her breath. "I'm learning Darcy Lewis is a force of nature. And Daisy is one, literally."
"Things are certainly changing." Natasha agreed.
Bobbie finished off her drink. "I don't know about you but I'll be helping their version of the future. I can agree to consequences for everyone, including the government."
"That's certainly refreshing." Natasha stood up. "Good to see you again Morse."
Chapter 20: Wanda Gets a ClueNotes:I don't know about you guys but tis the season for some pouring rain.
Chapter TextDaisy flowed through her morning tai chi. "Keep your arm up."
"How are you not in pain?" Pietro grumbled from where he was following her movements.
She was healing, another week and she'd be able to help Peter in the field more. It was becoming noticeable she healed faster than humans. Bullet wounds didn't heal at the same rate as broken bones. She lowered her arms coming out of her stance. "If you're in pain we should stop."
"I can keep going." He disagreed.
Daisy patted his shoulder. "You're doing good. Dr Cho did good work on you, for nearly being swiss cheese over half a year ago, the fact you're getting back into shape already is impressive."
"You were shot a week and a half ago." He picked up a towel and wiped his sweat away.
Daisy shrugged. "Not human, and they avoided hitting anything vital or the joints themselves."
"I'm powered by an infinity stone." He picked up his water bottle and took a long drink.
She smiled while pulling on her sweatshirt. "Inhuman." Daisy pulled out her phone checking that no one had messaged her. "And you should really work on flexibility."
"I'm fast." He gave a challenging smirk.
Daisy chucked her towel at his head. "And clearly cannot dodge."
"That hurts." He dropped both of their towels down the chute. "Why am I the only one suffering your morning workout regime?"
Daisy held the door open for them. "Because we've both been shot. And Tony hired his physical therapist based on cup size not competence."
"I thought he'd improved since he became involved with Potts?" Pietro frowned.
She walked towards the gym showers. "He hired her while they were on a break." Which… she needed to talk to Tony.
"I do not understand how you and the others are related to him." Pietro paused as they reached the respective locker rooms.
Daisy rocked back on her heels. "I don't know, there are more similarities than I expected."
Daisy pulled her hood down as she made her way into the lab. Slipping her phone into her pocket she sighed. Eventually she was going to have to select one of the therapists she'd been running background checks on. Still, she'd reached her destination. She paused as she looked at the green energy car. It was...well it looked like a spaceship from the future. Still, she picked up a knut and tossed it at Tony's head.
"Hey!" He jerked out of his mechanical fugue state. He spun in outrage only to seemingly pause as he recognized her. "Daisy?"
She raised a hand. "Sup Poprocks."
"Did you just call me Poprocks?" He looked kind of baffled.
Daisy hopped up onto the workbench, letting her legs swing off the edge. "Well yeah, or was that a Darcy only nickname?"
"No, I just...wasn't expecting that. I mean I know how amazing I am, but you know…" He waved his blueprints away absently.
She considered the man who was her biological father. "You dropped everything to help me, to help SHIELD. Mace would have died if you and Darcy hadn't been there. Who knows how much damage Aida could have done if she'd managed to give herself a biological body. And you just did it."
"Didn't you get the memo? I'm this thing called a 'superhero', it's kind of in the job description." He brushed off.
Daisy shook her head. "It means a lot. And as someone in the 'superhero' club we don't have to do this."
"Is this a heart to heart kid? Cause I really don't do those." Tony actually looked like he was trying to figure out to escape out of his own lab without looking ridiculous.
She huffed. "I think this means I want in on the Avengers prank war." Daisy held out her paintball gun. "And I have some ideas."
"Huh, how do you feel about a coordinated attack on the super spy herself?" Tony asked.
Both of Daisy's eyebrows rose towards her hairline. "I enjoy not being dead."
"Lame, but we can work with that." Tony's smug grin filled his face with boyish glee. "FRIDAY, bring up Operation Pretty Pretty Princess!"
Daisy snickered, she had a feeling that name had Darcy's fingerprints all over it. "So Sam is next up?"
"Well with team Cap in the tower for once the opportunity of a lifetime is available." Tony rubbed his hands together.
She smiled, while slipping Darcy's prototype of a taser handcuffs into her back pocket. Multitasking, the best way to get things done. "Have you considered turning our opponents' revenge against each other?"
"Miss information campaign?" Tony's eyes lit up. "I like how you think Offspring."
////
Darcy threw up her hands as her latest prototype started smoking. "I GIVE UP!"
"Hmm…" Jane mumbled while scribbling away at the whiteboard.
She grabbed the prototype and whacked it against the workbench. "No I'm done. Fuck it. I'm going to go get coffee. You want anything bosslady?"
"Hmm…" Jane didn't even twitch towards her.
Darcy glared at her best friend. "No fancy drink for you."
"Huh?" Jane looked at her, glazed over quality to her eyes. "Did you say something Darcy?"
"Nope." Darcy picked up a pop tart and shoved it into Jane's hand. "Feed thyself." She turned on her heel and marched towards the elevator. Fancy coffee from the lobby was calling her name. And not Thor, not Freya herself was going to stop her. Which was why when the elevator slowed and opened she was considering murdering the individual who had delayed her destination.
Only it was Steve Rogers who stepped in. He gave a polite nod. "Ms Lewis, I was hoping to have a word if you don't mind?"
"It's Doctor, and I don't mind if you pay for the coffee." She couldn't help her amused twitch as she got a good look at the hot pink hair of freedom up close. "The pink suits you."
Steve reached up touching his hair ruefully. "I can pay for the coffee Dr Lewis."
"Then we'll be just fine Cap." Darcy accepted the delay and conversation. First hand visuals of the pink hair of freedom and free coffee went a long way.
Steve looked ever so slightly amused. "I've found myself regretting underestimating you Dr Lewis."
"And don't you forget it." She gave a cocky grin. "So what did ya need to talk about Cap?"
He ran a hand through his hair. "I was wondering what it'd cost to buy your assistance in getting revenge on Tony for the glitter shield."
"Joining in on the prank war. Interesting move." She examined the good Capsical.
Steve's mouth pulled into what might even be considered a grin. "I'm a soldier not a saint. And with the trial, Bucky needing the Tower's hulk room and medical facilities I'm going to be stuck living with Tony for months."
"You're in luck. Poprocks failed to tell me he was making me his heir. Revenge is sweet, and I've been told I'm excellent at it." Darcy held out her hand. "I'm in."
Steve actually laughed at that, but he took her hand and shook it. He gallantly gestured for her to lead the way as the elevator doors opened. "So do you have any ideas? Because I have quite a few."
"Well for the best ideas we'd need Quake's help." Darcy waved off his confusion. "She's a hacker. But since I doubt she'll turn that easily I have a secret weapon, I know where she keeps the viruses she wrote specifically to delay the Iron suit if need be."
Steve held open a door for her. "She has pre-prepared viruses to be used against the team?" His face went all serious.
Darcy laughed outright. "Unless the Iron suit doing the polka while blasting the classic music 'Peanut Butter and Jelly Time' is nefarious I think you can unclench my dude. I said delay not incapacitate. Also I bet I can sweet talk FRIDAY around to letting me change up some paint jobs."
"Neon blue." An unholy light lit Steve's eyes. "I want his suit neon blue, bright red with stars. And glitter. Do you think we can do that? Like the flag threw up on him."
Darcy bit the inside of her cheek to keep from cackling. "Had enough patriotic jokes?"
"You have no idea." Steve replied seriously.
She nodded, she could see it. Afterall she definitely got the snark honestly. "I can see what we can do. But have you considered patriotic tutu and winged eyeliner on the suit?"
"Doctor, if i was not already committed I'd propose marriage to you for that suggestion." Steve intoned with a sort of malicious reverence.
Darcy gave the man a second look. "You're a troll at heart aren't you?" She nodded. "You may be my pranking husband. As pranking husband you may call me Darcy."
////
Wanda was content as she sat, half curled against her brother's side, her head laying on his shoulder. He kept grumbling, as if he wasn't going to end up crying by the end of the movie. It'd been May's turn so they were watching Pride and Predjudice. It was comfortable and just the whole room felt like home. Also this couch was really comfortable.
"I wish we still danced like this." May sighed into her large glass of wine. She was comfortably curled in the armchair.
Daisy, who looked like she was about ten minutes from falling asleep spoke up from the couch, her voice slurring slightly. "I can dance suuuuper good. Waltzzzing and tango and sssshit."
"People still dance like that?" Peter asked from where he was buried under blankets and fiddling with his web shooters. They were all pretending they weren't aware he was fiddling with the web shooters.
Daisy made an affirmative hum.
"Rich assholes dance formally, and swing dance is back." Darcy reached over and pulled Daisy's blanket up higher on her sister as she replied. Darcy's hair was still poofy from her transportation via Quake flight...a supremely unpleasant experience. But pretty untrackable.
"It seems overly complicated." Wanda was relieved to see Daisy looked far more solid and put together than she had when she'd seen her last. And she was weirdly grateful Daisy hadn't indicated she wanted assistance to sleep again.
Pietro huffed, he looked down at her pointedly.
She zapped him with a flick of her fingers.
He jolted. "Ow! Where is your respect? I'm twelve minutes older you know?"
"Children!" May chided from the armchair.
"Sorry Aunt May." Wanda settled back against Pietro. She did have a question still. "This is not how I remember this movie. Wasn't Kiera Knightly playing the lead role?"
Peter let out a groan.
May looked over at her. "That's the newest version. But Colin Firth is the best Darcy."
"Boo! Mcfadyen is the Darcy who makes me want to smoosh another Darcy." Darcy stuck her tongue out at May.
Peter slumped further into his blanket nest. He looked rather like he wanted to die.
May looked surprisingly sly. "He wasn't the one your mother was thinking of when she named you."
"I pre-date the Firth version." Darcy crowed.
Pietro's nose scrunched. "I thought Darcy was a man's name? And you are very much not a man."
"Eyes up pretty boy." Darcy snarked. "And my mom was on the good stuff when I came into the world."
Wanda let her powers swirl around her fingers in warning for her brother to shut up. She was enjoying the movie thank you very much.
Wanda pressed a hand to Pietro's back. "I'll be back."
"Don't take too long." Pietro passed a freshly cleaned plate to Peter.
She smiled as she watched the boys working their way through the dishes. "Have fun brate."
Wanda made her way up the stairs. She knocked on Daisy's partially open door. "Daisy?"
"Come on it." Daisy called.
She stepped in, closing the door behind her. Wanda raised an eye as she saw the various bits and pieces of machinery everywhere. "What on earth?"
"I was thinking about what we talked about before you did your mumbojumbo on my head." Daisy looked up from where she was doing something to metal bracelets? "Thanks for that by the way. Sleep really helped."
Wanda hesitated. "What are you doing building things? Isn't that more Darcy's thing?"
"Typically, but she'd be opposed to this for dumb reasons so we're not telling her." Daisy snapped what was apparently handcuffs not bracelets around her wrist. She snapped both cuffs onto the same wrist.
She stepped closer. "Is there a reason you're putting one of your arms in handcuffs?"
"They're designed for inhumans, one shot tasing if the heart rate goes above resting. My powers when triggered by pain cause my heart rate to spike. If I have a nightmare it'll wake me." Daisy lifted the blankets showing the contraption she'd apparently attached to the underside of her bed. "And that's one of Darcy's prototypes. It dampens vibrations."
Wanda held out her hand. "Want to explain this from the beginning?"
"You mentioned the hulk room." Daisy accepted the hand up. "Which won't work. But the prototype should dampen my quakes till the taser wakes me up."
She thought that one through. "Tasing yourself can't be healthy?"
"Well it's not ideal. But I need a short term solution that isn't asking you to knock me out every night." Daisy actually seemed fairly calm and practical about the whole thing. "I've gone through withdrawal from mind powers before. No thanks."
Wanda softened slightly, it was still crazy, but she could see the logic. "Not that my powers are a good option, but hurting yourself isn't either."
"It's a stopgap." Daisy brushed her hair behind one ear. "I found a therapist, and from experience the night terrors become manageable with time. But time isn't exactly safe for everyone else."
She looked at the other woman in surprise. "You are going to go to therapy?"
"I'm full of surprises." Daisy grinned. "And I can't be who I need to be if I'm the biggest danger."
Wanda sighed. "Alright, I'll keep quiet about all of this. But if you get tased three nights in a row will you let me help you?"
Daisy hesitated for a split second before nodding. "I do trust you Wanda. Thank you, I know my head couldn't have been a fun place to be."
"The person who was in your head before, they left a lot of damage." She frowned. "I don't know if I could fix it."
"It's healing." Daisy felt tired as she said that. "Shouldn't you and speedy boy be heading back to the tower?"
Wanda rolled her eyes. "We'll leave soon." She sat down pointedly on the foot of Daisy's bed. "I wanted to thank you for working with Pietro. He grumbles, but he is happy to be doing something again."
"He'll be using his speed again soon enough." Daisy smiled and joined Wanda on the bed. "I'm sorry for being a bit...manic about the safety issue with my sleeping."
She shook her head. "I understand being afraid of your powers."
"What do yours feel like?" Daisy tilted her head. "Mine are like thousands of bees under my skin. I can feel the vibrations all around me in my bones."
Wanda bit her lip. "I could show you?"
"Alright." Daisy agreed without hesitation.
She...this was new. Still, Wanda slowly reached out taking Daisy's hand and letting her powers seep into her. "It's like looking at the stars, all that expanse, and then knowing it's contained inside of you."
Daisy sucked in a startled breath, her eyes widening. "Oh." She smiled, tightening her hold on Wanda's hand slightly. As Wanda's powers ebbed away Daisy focused on her. "These are mine."
Wanda felt the vibrations then. Closing her eyes she felt it. How the whole world vibrated all around them. It was the universe, but it was too grounded for that. But it was...it was like a blind man seeing or a deaf man hearing. A totally new way of experiencing the world. "I can feel it." She opened her eyes, smiling. "I never expected anyone to understand."
"I wish you could have seen Afterlife." Daisy's eyes were soft, but she felt of pain and loss. "It was beautiful. I thought my abilities were a curse till I was there."
Wanda's voice was gentle, half expecting Daisy to stop this openness. "Would you tell me about it?"
"I think I'd like that." Daisy pulled her legs up underneath her. "They were super into all that herbal mumbo jumbo. And like acupuncture, mud baths probably. But then considering how old everything was there it probably wasn't weird old remedies to them. I caused an avalanche my first day."
Wanda found she didn't want to let go of Daisy's hand. "So your approach of making me use my powers in frankly insane ways is just following their example?"
"Well...not really. I mostly just made glasses with water in them sing." Daisy's free hand raised and the energy drink on the desk began to ring. It ceased as she lowered her arm. "I shattered a lot of wine glasses."
She snickered. "Really? Your training was making wine glasses vibrate and you thought to just jump straight in to seeing how much of an explosion I could contain? Or how high I could chuck you."
"But my way was more fun and consisted of 90% less hot dirt juice." Daisy grinned. "Speaking of I was thinking, since I've got to wait for these bullet holes to heal, how do you feel about working on your bullet stopping abilities?"
Wanda sighed. "I thought we already had been working on that?"
"Well I haven't gotten to break out my rifle in a while." Daisy looked slightly gleeful.
She felt a shiver of dread, but also...well training with Daisy was just plain fun. "Alright, but when you're healed I have some ideas of things to work with your powers on." Wanda tilted her head. "Actually, do you think you could vibrate things at a distance to explode?"
Daisy blinked. "Yeah? But usually I'm avoiding the explosions."
"But wouldn't it be useful to be able to master that?" Wanda prodded.
Daisy nodded. "It could be. Huh, I'll have to work on that." She smiled. "I can't wait to see if we can make your brother go faster by shooting him like a slingshot."
Wanda accepted this was in the future. Peter would get way too into it too. Oh well, it would probably be worth it. "Another month before we let Pietro use his power at the shipping yard."
"That's probably wise." Daisy yawned. She laughed softly at herself, pulling her hand away as she leaned back. "I think that's my cue that I still have sleep to catch up on. Thank you again for well...everything."
Wanda resisted reaching back out to take Daisy's hand again. Instead she stood up. "Friends don't keep track of who owes whom. I was happy to help."
"I'll swing by after the gym tomorrow." Daisy said before Wanda could leave.
Wanda bit at her lower lip. But then she turned back to face her friend. "Why don't I meet you two at the gym? We could go to that juice place Darcy has been talking about?"
"That sounds fun." Daisy smiled and she was radiant.
Chapter 21: Attack of Baby SharkNotes:Hey guys! I'm moving this week. So I probably am not going to update till the Wednesday next week, possibly the Sunday after that. Just wanted to give you guys a head up. Cause we've started packing the house and I've been spending hours on the phone with the cable company. Basically no updates till the first week of December.
Chapter TextPietro had known his sister since his first moments. They had always been together. Them against the world. Eight months separated hadn't changed the fact he knew her better than himself sometimes. So he was reminded of when they'd been sixteen and Wanda had had her first serious crush. It was...how was she still so bad at this? He knew he was charming but he hadn't gotten all of the charm had he?
"I think these American juice stores are surprisingly nice." Wanda shifted slightly, her chair was as close to Daisy's as politely possible.
Daisy smiled, stirring her straw around in her carrot juice concoction. "Right? I mean I know Sokovia is a modern country and all, but juice bars are still spreading here in the US."
"You Starks drink weird juice, there was a kiwi mango with acai berries in the fridge." Wanda's eyes were bright. "But I'm thinking that is not a bad thing."
Daisy laughed. "It's a California thing. Tony mostly lives there and I spent a good few years in LA."
"And Darcy?" Wanda pointed out with the slightest of smug twists to her mouth.
Shrugging Daisy sipped from her drink. "Maybe good taste runs in the family."
"Really? Your costume is the only one that isn't questionable." Wanda's eyes flicked over Daisy. "Yours is actually very nice."
Pietro cleared his throat slightly. "I thought Stark was colorblind."
"If only." Daisy leaned in. "But, speaking of colors. How do you two feel about Cap's new pink hair?"
Wanda leaned forward. "Amusing, why?"
"How would you like in? The next target is Sam." Daisy's eyes were alight with mischief.
Wanda nodded, despite the fact this clearly would put them on team Ironman. "Do you already have a plot?"
"Well I was thinking, what if we tag teamed him?" Daisy grinned. "It would give Peter enough time to go in through his apartment window."
Wanda smiled, clearly pleased at more time with Daisy. He could literally feel it. "I think it will be fun."
"Right? Join the darkside. I'll make cookies." Daisy winked.
Pietro slurped at his juice, it was fine at best. But if joining forces with Tony and drinking weird fruit/vegetable juice was what helping his sister out meant, well the glitter trail Steve left these days was at least amusing.
Wanda had definitely just kicked Daisy slightly. "Do we trust your ability to bake?"
"I'm not that bad! And I'm getting better." Daisy protested. "Meet up for plotting after Peter's done his city rounds after school?"
"I can accompany Peter on his rounds." Wanda volunteered, her body angled towards Daisy.
Daisy smiled easily. "Thanks, I know he's been getting antsy with not being able to do much."
"It'll be good to use my powers some." Wanda brushed some of her hair behind one ear. "And we can plot what we'll do to Sam afterwards."
Pietro felt completely invisible. It was a new experience. But at least his sister wasn't stuttering or blushing...just making cow eyes.
Pietro was carrying a mango and something juice as he made his way into the labs. He hadn't actually been here since Dr Cho had done something to his bullet wounds.
"Speedy." Darcy paused in her scribbling in a journal. Her eyes narrowed as she spotted the juice. "Is that a peace offering, bribery, or disappointment?"
He held it out. "Bribery for information."
"Huh, acceptable." She snagged the juice from his hands. "So what's the info you want Road Runner?"
Pietro leaned against the wall of the lab. "Your sister, is she single. And if so, is she interested in women?"
"Interesting." Darcy raised a brow at him. "You noticed the whole whatever thing is going on between them then?"
"It's hard to miss." Pietro zipped to Darcy's other side. It only hurt a little bit, progress. "So, are we doing something about it? Because this is a country of opportunity yes?"
Darcy gave him a long look. "Alright cutie, I know Daisy bats for both teams and I know she thinks your sister is 'supes hot'. And obviously they have their weird angsty conversations if left alone for too long. But no meddling."
"That is good news. And she's single?" Pietro checked, he was completely willing to stock his and Wanda's fridge with ice cream if needed. But it would be better not to.
Darcy reached out and patted his shoulder. "If you breathe a word of this to anyone I'll stick my taser so far up your ass you'll be able to taste the lightning." Her eyes flashed. "But her last boyfriend died to protect her. Which means hands off."
"Ah." Peitro winced that was… "My sister has complicated tastes."
Darcy gave his shoulder a last pat before releasing him. "They'll figure it out on their own. And Daisy's a super spy, if we've noticed your sister's crush she'll have noticed." She huffed at the expression on his face. "Girls are complicated sometimes."
He crossed his arms. "Fine, but if your sister hurts my sister though we will have a problem."
"Duh. Just no putting pressure on them." Darcy rolled her eyes. "Now since you're here and I know you don't have a day job, hand me that screwdriver over there."
"I could have things to do." He still handed her the screwdriver.
Darcy waved the screwdriver at him. "You are unemployed and mooching off Tony."
"I was a very good thief, being an Avenger has cut into my style." He winked.
She actually snorted at that. "The 'Avengers' fight maybe two scary peeps a year. Get a day job or you'll end up creating obstacle courses from hell like Daisy. Speaking of get her to get your papers sorted."
"Huh, so what is a great and brilliant Stark working on?" He liked this family his sister had been absorbed into.
Darcy shrugged and pulled up a display on her holographic table. "I'm making a portable and deployable compact einstein rosen bridge generator. We can't open bridges for distances over a mile. But we're making progress."
"Wait...the weird science you are doing is portals?" Pietro crossed his arms. "Your father made robots and I got shot. Am I going to get dropped onto another planet?"
"The probability isn't zero." Darcy waved her blueprints away and stepped to a table with a bunch of things he had no idea about.
He followed looking over her shoulder. "Can you at least make sure it's a planet where the aliens are cute?"
"Your probability of planetary displacement just went up significantly." Darcy replied. "But insider info, I have yet to meet an Asgardian who wasn't an eight."
Pietro hummed. "And you've met many Asguardians?"
////
Peter sat between Michelle and Ned. "Sup."
"Ms Ratburn dropped a pop quiz on us this morning." Ned sighed. "It was terrible, I swear my life flashed before my eyes."
He stuck his straw into his juice pouch. "We watched Pride and Prejudice...it was so gross."
"What, May's crush on Colin Firth?" Ned asked, the asshole.
Peter let his head thunk on his arms. "She and Darcy argued about which Darcy was hotter."
"That is very confusing considering Darcy's named Darcy." Ned agreed.
Michelle cleared her throat. "So is this a good time to ask if Daisy would sign my Quake poster, or are we supposed to just keep ignoring that?"
"What?" He snapped up straight. "No?! That's ridiculous! I mean Daisy works at a gym. She's a totally normal human. Don't be silly."
Ned made an awkward squeaking noise.
Michelle raised an eyebrow, while leaning backwards. "I don't care. But on the down low, I got it."
"There's nothing to keep on the down low. You're talking crazy talk." Peter felt sweat running down the side of his neck. This was so bad!
Ned and Michelle exchanged a look. "Peter it's ok, no one else knows. We won't say anything."
"What he said." Michelle jabbed a thumb towards Ned.
Ned rocked a bit. "I mean who'd take us to R rated movies if Daisy couldn't cause of press? She only ditched us that time she had to go help SHIELD."
"Keep your voice down!" Peter hissed. "Wait, SHIELD?"
Ned chuckled. "It's obvious right? She's Quake? Superhero and SHIELD consultant?"
Michelle reached out and patted his back. "Are you ok?"
"Look you can't tell anyone!" He looked between them desperately.
Ned nodded. "We already figured that part."
"It's kinda obvious." Michelle's fingers tapped at her knee. "Which can you get me a Quake autograph? For real she's kind of my hero."
Peter let his head fall into arms again. This was so incomprehensibly bad.
"We won't tell anyone. I mean it'd put you and Aunt May in danger right? Like in the movies and stuff." Ned assured him. "Hey we can totally be like part of a network of allies or something!"
He cracked an eye open at Ned. "What?"
"Like you know, how the good guys have friends in all sorts of places." Ned leaned in with passion.
Michelle rolled her eyes. "Quake isn't going to want our help Ned. We're highschool students and she's got Spiderman for backup."
Peter blinked. "Spiderman?"
"Your sister's boyfriend?" Ned looked at him funny.
"I know that." Peter kind of wanted to die. His friends thought...oh god he was going to have to listen to what they thought of Spiderquake. Which was so gross. Extra super duper gross.
Michelle elbowed him. "Stop being weird."
Peter held out the large plastic trashbag. "Why is no one committing even a little crime?"
"I'm sorry, I know you were hoping for more." Wanda replied while floating garbage from the sidewalk into the open bag. "We could do a circuit around Queens?"
He tied off the bag and added it to the neat pile they'd already filled. "It's alright, we can just finish this and go home."
"We could pick up slushies on the way home?" Wanda offered, which was sweet since she hated slushies.
Peter smiled up at her, which considering the mask was a bit pointless, but whatever. "That sounds fun." He opened up a new trashbag.
They both paused and looked up as they heard the familiar sound of gunshots.
Peter and Wanda looked at eachother. "That sounds like it was from the bank."
"No one would be dumb enough to rob a bank when we're right here?" Wanda's eyes were lighting up red though as she began to hover.
Peter noticed the people running out of the bank. "Criminals are very dumb sometimes." He shot his web across the street and went zipping over. Peeking his head up to look through the window he frowned, hitting his comm. "Four robbers, handguns only."
-"I'll go through the front door."-
Peter's eyes narrowed. "Got it, I've got the gunmen." Was it bad he was psyched for a robbery? He was very excited to get to do something.
The front bank doors ripped open as Wanda walked in like an avenging red god. Huh, that's why the whole 'Avenger' thing. He got it.
Flipping the window open, Peter zipped in, webbing two guns as he swung through. "Hi guys! That seems like a lot of guns for the bank?"
"Spiderman!" One of the robbers snapped. "Shoot him!"
The two remaining armed robbers suddenly froze as red light encompassed them.
"Wow, you forgot Scarlet Witch? You're not very good at this." Peter webbed the now stationary robber's hands. "You should look into that?"
////
Pepper sighed as the two reporters followed her. Why PR, both SI and Avenger's teams, had thought this was a good idea she didn't know. But here she was. Hot on her heels were Fred Foswell from Global News and Gloria Grant from British World News. "These are our private labs on this level."
They walked out of the elevator as Pepper continued the tour of the Tower. "First we have our bioengineering department lead by Dr Cho. The advances in medical technology we're making here will begin to reach the patent office by the end of the year." The doors swished open and Pepper was able to smile as she gestured to Dr Cho, in a clean lab coat just for this occasion. "I'd like to introduce you to the brilliant mind leading some of the foremost research on skin grafting and synthetic organ development."
Pepper was able to politely stand back as several photos were snapped, the camera man had a running video feed as well. Several questions were asked and Dr Cho, like the consummate professional she was, dealt with them beautifully. It was almost enough for Pepper's feelings of dread to abate. Almost
In fact everything was going shockingly fine on science floor. The reporters had been suitably impressed and the staff had been competent for the first four labs. Pepper was more resigned than anything else when the astrophysics lab doors opened. It'd been a good run. PR could deal with the shame with smaller christmas bonuses this year.
Because the astrophysics lab was insane. Dr Selvig wasn't wearing pants, again. Instead he was nattering on under his breath while the intern, Ian, looked like he was near tears trying to shove pants at the man. Then across the room wearing plaid flannel pants, a slice of pie pun t-shirt, hair piled high on her head, complete with bunny slippers was Dr Foster. The woman looked like the science gremlin she was.
Ian looked at her and shuffled over. "Sorry Ms Potts, some new readings on the black hole came in and they're on their eighth pot of coffee. I'm not like Darcy, they don't listen to me."
Pepper's eye twitched. "Ian, why don't you go find Darcy and have her help her coworkers finish getting ready for the press." Which was already there.
"Ah uh...about that. Someone stole the poptarts and Darcy said something about revenge and left?" Ian's voice squeaked slightly.
Pepper turned to the press with the blandest of fake smiles. "Our astrophysicists work on a bit of a different sleep schedule than the rest of us. If you don't mind we can look at the robotics lab before circling back."
No one got to agree or disagree to that. Instead they were interrupted by a girlish shrieking scream from the hallway. As one they all turned towards the glass wall between the lab and the hallway.
Tony went sprinting past them, barefoot and grease stained, a herd of his robots on his heels with fire extinguishers, and one with what looked like a cattleprod.
They all blinked, a camera flashed.
Then smuggly traipsing up the hallway and entering the lab was Darcy, holding a giant pop tart box. She looked at them all, smug grin in place, and shrugged. "Poptarts are sacred to the science processes."
"SPAWN!!!" Tony screamed as he came running back by the labs, his suit snapping into place to defend himself from DUM-EE with a cattle prod.
Only the suit wasn't his usual suit. It took a second before the first snort echoed through the lab.
The suit was the bluest of blues, glittery silver stars across the thing with brilliant red accents. It looked like a patriotic wet dream, except for the sequined blue tutu around the waist. Truly, it was hideous.
Tony's voice warbled in outraged as the faceplate snapped into place. And then blasting from the speakers came an unmistakable sound. ~BABY SHARK DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO.~
It was a train wreck. Tony somehow managed to slump. He raised his hand, pointed at his eye slots, and then pointed them at Darcy through the glass in the universal gesture for 'I'm watching you'. He then stomped back down the hall like a petulant toddler. The dulcet tones of Baby Shark echoing behind him.
Darcy laughed into the stunned silence, it was more of a cackle than anything else. She grabbed the pants from Ian and chucked them at Selvig. "Pants in the lab from ten am to eight pm. You know the rules or no cinnamon roll pancakes."
Selvig grumbled, but he actually pulled on his pants, not that man seemed to have noticed literally anything else.
Darcy easily grabbed the coffee mug out of Foster's hands, ignoring the grabby hands that followed her briefly. "Sorry Pepper, but he stole the poptarts and I told him revenge would be swift and terrible."
"Is the robotics lab at least intact?" Pepper asked and just...she was going to have to negotiate for so much of this to be left unaired.
Darcy sniggarded. "I wouldn't hurt the lab." She smiled at the reporters. "Since Janey probably didn't explain we're developing space travel here. Hopefully someday it'll be humans dropping in unannounced on aliens instead of the other way round. Course it's slow going because we have to take safety precautions."
"Safety precautions?" A dumbfounded reporter Fred asked.
Darcy beamed. "You should get Pepper to explain more, it's her baby. But there's an internal SI committee that all experiments have to be cleared by now. Supes cool, and will hopefully make sure none of us go off our rockers mad scientist. It's like the moral from Jurassic Park, just cause we can do something doesn't mean we should. My theory is the more PHDs a person has the less common sense they have."
"But don't you have a PHD?" Fred asked, his general demeanor best described as gobsmacked.
Darcy took a drink from the coffee she'd confiscated from Jane. "I just made the Ironman suit sing Baby Shark with a computer virus I 'borrowed' from Quake. Common sense is relative. But if you want I can show you what Tony and I have been working on in the robotics lab. It's a bit flashier than our equations here in astro-lab."
Pepper wordlessly accepted the confiscated coffee from Darcy. It was going to be a long day.
Five minutes later Pepper had a small smile on her mouth as Darcy wowed the reporters with the electric engines. It might be salvageable. And the next lab on the list was plants. That had to be safe.
Pepper sipped her herbal tea. "I think I'm going to schedule a spa day. I'm going to need it after the news airs tonight."
"You'll be fine." Darcy dumped some sugar into her own cup of tea. "That was excellent. Tony got humanized, no one is going to be terrified of scientists who forget to put on pants and wear bunny slippers to work. And you got some good stuff with the normal scientists to make investors happy."
"Tony's going to be insufferable." She appreciated it had gone terribly in beneficial ways instead of bad. "It'll be the only thing on the news for a week."
"I'm sure." Darcy pushed the plate of cookies towards her. "But just think, if everyone is playing Tony being chased by the bots on repeat, they're not micro analyzing Dr Cho and asking if SI is trying to make fleshy artificial people."
Pepper actually stilled at that. That was a possibility actually. "Remind me to make sure they aren't planning on doing that. It's a crime I can't steal you for the business side of things."
"Janey is going to the arctic to get some readings next month." Darcy sighed, and she looked exhausted. "Since Tony dumped this on us we could work on fixing it then."
Pepper smiled slightly at that. She got it. "He does tend to just do things without telling anyone else."
"Agreed. I talked to PR, publicising the prank war as much as possible should be good." Darcy pushed her glasses up her nose. "You know, distract people from the legislation over collateral a bit."
Pepper sipped at her tea. "It's certainly been useful having everyone focused mainly on the Michigan and ATCU scandal."
"They indited that congressman who was supporting the ATCU yesterday." Darcy raised her teacup in celebration.
Pepper tapped her cup against it.