Unexpected // An MCU Story (Book One)

xvii

It had been an entire year since the Hammer Tech disaster and nearly two since moving to live with Tony, which felt insane.

After Tony took down all the Hammer drones, SHIELD successfully got CPS to leave us alone for good. Everything was cleared up and aside from the occasional mission, things were completely normal.

Well, as normal as it could get.

After the whole party fiasco, I finally convinced Tony and Nat to let her train me in self defense. I fully intended on learning how to kick ass like her, but I'd have to build myself up first.

She also started teaching me a bit of Russian, which I specifically requested for the challenge.

I worked with her whenever she wasn't on missions, and I worked with Tony on other project whenever he was available, too.

Any time I spent by myself was spent either working on school or teaching myself something else. I had to distract myself somehow.

The current subject I was working on was physics.

I was sitting with Pepper reading one of my textbooks while we waited for an update from Tony.

"I thought you were done with school." She said, looking at the screen as we waited. "What's that for?" She asked, nodding to the textbook.

"Just making sure I stay ahead." 

"I think you'd be ahead no matter what you did."

"Probably." I agreed.

She smiled, shaking her head before Tony's voice came through the screen.

"Good to go on this end. The rest is up to you two."

"You disconnected the transmission lines? Are we off the grid?"

"Stark Tower is about to become a beacon of self-sustaining clean energy."

"Well, assuming the arc reactor takes over and it actually works."

"I assume. Light her up."

Pepper stepped out of the way and gestured to the controls, making me smile. I got up and walked over, turning the power on in the tower, causing all the lights to flicker to life.

"Did it work?" I asked Tony excitedly.

"It worked."

"How does it look?"

"Like Christmas, but with more... me. Sorry, more us." He corrected himself, making me smile.

It had been nearly two years since I had my name officially changed, but I still got excited when someone used it.

"We've got to go wider on the public awareness campaign. You need to do some press." Pepper informed him. "I'm in DC tomorrow. I'm working on the zoning for the next three buildings."

"Pepper, you're killing me. The moment, remember? Enjoy the moment."

"Get in here and I will."

Yuck.

I made a disgusted face before watching out the window as Tony landed outside, trying my best to ignore the flirting.

"Levels are holding steady, I think." She announced as I walked back over and Tony came inside.

"They are." I confirmed, looking at the screen.

"Of course they are. I was directly involved." He told her, walking over to us. "Which brings me to my next question. How does it feel to be a genius?"