Well my glorious readers here's the next installment to my Ironman story. Please enjoy and don't forget to review!
My heels clicked on the ground as I rushed through the crowds of people holding a large box.
"Out of the way people! Stark coming through", I yelled pushing past the set director who was also yelling. The crew running the taping and lighting was rushing past all began moving to the side when they saw it was me.
"Sorry Miss Stark", I heard several times till I finally came to the end of the stage.
"Okay ladies hear are your gloves", all the busty long haired dancers turned to me.
"Thanks Charlie"
"Charlie you're the greatest"
"No problem girls just get ready; we've been rehearsing for months and I certainly think you all got it down packed", each of the well manicured girls took the gloves slipping them on the little LED lights bright on their hands and chests.
"I'm so nervous!"
"Thanks so much for all the help and choreographing this Miss Stark" I heard the set director say. I nodded crossing my arms as the girls rushed out dancing. I smiled proudly at my ability to actually think up a "sexy dance". I don't think Tony was too pleased to find I had come up with the dance; speaking of him I clicked the ear piece in my ear.
"Be there in five", he said his breathing heavy and difficult to hear from the loud rush of air around him.
"Gotcha, the girls are already out there", I said tapping my stiletto covered foot on the ground my eyes going to where the ceiling was open. The large crowd cheered in the dark light and I tugged at my dress. The clothing designer demanded I wore her short red dress to this thing; it wasn't so bad if I didn't walk fast because then it rose up. It stopped mid thigh; it wasn't exactly a comfortable length as I was more for baggy shorts and jeans then couture dresses. It was a satin with a lace trim around the edge of the sweetheart neckline. The chest was tight to assure it didn't go falling off and I wasn't in the papers for months on a wardrobe malfunction.
"He'll be entering any moment Miss, he was having issues with the fireworks", I chuckled when JARVIS informed me of that
"Thank you JARVIS", I said and sure enough he burst through the opening landing on the stage with a shower of fire shooting out for his appearance behind the girls making me squint a little. Cheers burst through the room as the music increased to his presence; JARVIS began to remove the suit from him as the girls continued to dance.
It had been six months since my father had said those famous words, "I am Ironman". In those six months I had turned eighteen, with turning eighteen I had to give into more of being Agent Whitewolf and less Charlie Stark for the sake of SHIELD. With so much time being gone I could see my father becoming suspicious of my whereabouts; his first assumption had been I was dating someone. He was quite wrong but in order to get him off my back and put him into more of a horrified state; I went on a date with Justin Hammer.
I shuddered at the thought of his scrawny hand sprawled on my back, shoulders, and knees the whole night. He had been arrogant and lacked in intelligence; he was twenty years my senior and the press had a hay day when the paparazzi caught us together eating dinner. It was probably the worst first date ever and he had attempted to kiss me at the end of the date. After a rather rude comment on girl's "like me", always putting out I poured my drink on his head and left. While it had been four months ago since the date Tony hadn't let it go constantly reminding me of the bad choice.
The suit was finally removed and Tony pointed making a big dramatic scene that was just very him. The girls did the finale by walking over and encircling him while pointing their fake thrusters at him. The cheering grew louder as they walked off stage. I smiled clapping for all of them while they went to their dressing room giddy from the attention.
"Ah, it's good to be back", he said clapping his hands.
"BLOW SOMETHING UP", I rolled my eyes at whoever had said it from the crowd.
"Blow something up? I already did that", he boasted making me cross my arms over my chest.
"I'm not saying that the world is enjoying its longest period of uninterrupted peace because of me, I'm not saying that from the ashes of captivity never has a better phoenix metaphor been personified in human history", he bowed his head as everyone cheered making me snort from the dramatics.
"It's almost time for you Miss Stark", I groaned inwardly knowing with the next sentence I'd have to go in front of the crowd.
"I'm not saying Uncle Sam has been kicked back in a lawn chair drinking some ice tea because I haven't come across anyone man enough to go toe to toe with me on my best day", people cheered loudly as the microphone was adjusted on my bust.
"Go now", they ordered as people chanted his name.
"I think I might be able to take you Dad", I said loudly putting on a smile for show. I hated faking it and being overly dramatic but that's what the Stark Expo was all about. A real smile did grace my lips with the cheering grew even louder from me entering on to the stage. My heels clicked as I heard men in the crowd whistle loudly from my short dress.
"Oh, I think I would win my daughter", he said and everyone began to chant loudly.
"Stark, Stark, Stark, Stark", he held up his hand as I stood next to him. The upper lights were blinding and hot but at least none of the expecting onlookers' faces could be seen; that helped with my nervousness.
"Please it's not about me, or her, or you", he said pacing along just a bit. "It's not even about us", he said
"What is it about then Dad", I asked remembering how I had complained about having these lines every chance I got before this.
"It's about legacy my dear daughter", he said turning toward me. I nodded walking up closer next to him. "It's about what we choose to leave for the future generations and that's why for the next year, and the first time since 1979, the best and brightest men and women of nations and corporations of the world over will pull their resources and share their collective data to leave behind a brighter future", the crowd burst into cheers from his words. "It's not about us, therefore what I'm saying, if I'm saying anything is welcome back…to the Stark Expo", another round of cheers burst from the crowd.
"Now Dad, before you go any farther I do believe we have a special guest appearance", he turned looking at me with false surprise. It took everything in me not to roll my eyes at him.
"Ah yes why don't you introduce the special guest", he slipped back and more men whistled when I walked up further.
"Why thank you, now making a special guest appearance for you lovely crowd from the great beyond and to tell you what it all is about…please welcome my grandfather Howard Stark", I walked off stage with Tony as the music began to play. I stared up at the screen as my grandfather appeared leaning on a desk. This was as close as I had ever gotten to actually seeing him before besides pictures in magazines and the internet.
"Everything is achievable through technology; better living, robust health, and for the first time in human history the possibility of world peace so from all of us here at Stark Industries I'd like to personally introduce you to the city of the future", he disappeared off the screen as the film passed over a huge diorama of what the "city of the future" would look like. "Technology holds infinite possibilities", I paused when I noticed Tony wasn't standing next to me. I walked slowly over to him noticing his finger pressed down on a black box.
"What are you doing", I asked dumbly even though I was already full aware of what he was doing. He turned around trying to nonchalantly hide the blood toxicity tester in his pocket.
"Nothing, you should be watching this", he said wrapping his arm around my shoulder and guiding me back to the side to watch the large screen.
"The Stark Expo…welcome", Grandpa Howard nodded and his face disappeared off the screen. I sighed closing my eyes before I felt Happy's hand on my shoulder. I followed them along through the back till we got to the back door.
"It's a zoo out here so watch out", he said wrapping his arm around my shoulder pulling me out first with Tony right behind us. I could hear him talking and greeting people but I kept my head down only smiling and nodding as we passed people who spoke to him. We finally got out and I noticed a leggy red head leaning against Tony's car. My eyes went from her and I grinned to see my Mustang right behind his car.
"Miss Stark", I waved at the woman already noticing the paper in her head. I could already practically hear the drool coming out of his mouth as him and Happy walked along. I popped the door open leaning on it waiting for him to finish his little talk with her.
"What are you up to later", he asked her.
"Surviving subpoenas", she said in a flirty manner. I cringed as she held it out Happy grabbing it.
"Sorry, he doesn't like to be handed things", Happy said.
"Yeah I have this thing", he said nodding.
"You are herby ordered to appear in front of the Armed Services Committee tomorrow at nine am", she said.
"Can I see the badge", he asked making me lean my head on my hand waiting to see what would happen.
"He loves the badge", she held it out
"You still like it", she asked.
"Yup", he said starting the car.
"Hey Charlie how far are we from DC", he yelled over his shoulder as I slipped in starting my car too.
"DC, two hundred miles", I yelled out
"Hope you're ready for the drive", he said zooming off. I snorted driving off after him.
"This should be fun", I murmured