𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍
𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒚?

❛ impulsivity will be her downfall ❜

                         𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐄'𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄, 𝕬uroras fist were padded with boxing gloves as beads of sweat were dripping down her face. It wasn't an uncommon occurrence, back when she was younger she was used to this feeling with the lessons her father enlisted her in—it felt good to be back in the ring despite how out of tune she felt. It didn't help that her time in camp she didn't train as much as her father wanted her to. But who was she to complain. Being buried in a book or divulging herself in her blueprints was what truly made her happy.

"Keep your hands up, Aurora."

                         Nonetheless, she indulged her father.

                         Aurora sighed as she dropped her hands, "Dad, I have to get back to my homework—"

                         "Nope," her father waved her off dismissively. "You know the rules," he stood outside of the ring at her corner keeping a keen eye on her and happy's movements. Pepper was behind him seated on a sofa doing her own work and obviously keeping to herself. "You haven't kept up with your training like you're supposed to. We're making up for it now."

                         She frowned, "Dad, we can make up for it later. I'm swamped with work at it is. I really need to get it done."

                         Suddenly the door to their private gym opened and in stepped in Nate. Aurora wasn't all that surprised at his presence, after he had appeared in human form when on their journey to Polyphemus' island, they had realized that due to his job as her protector—he's tied to stay close to her, whether it be in human form or . . . other form ( the same form he won't reveal to aurora ) so, if he wanted fresh air from his familiar cave, you'd see him wandering around in his human form still within at least a hundred feet of Aurora.

                         Aurora sighed in relief, "Nate! Thank the gods, Can you please have my back?"

                         Tony scoffed and looked in between them incredulously, "Sure, rely on the ghost for advice."

                         Nate glanced between the two and leant against the doorframe, his black leather jacket gleaming as the rays of sun burst through their wide open windows, "Don't be dramatic, Tony," he smirked as he took a sip of his drink. "Sorry, little dove, but I actually agree with your father on this one."

                         Aurora groaned, "Ugh, whatever," she went to place her hands up again but sadly it gave Happy an opening. The older man landed a good jab to her right side below her right breast, knocking the completely wind out of her. Out of instinct, she hunched over and staggered back into the ropes doing her best to regulate her breathing.

                         "Hey! What the hell was that?!" Tony scolded while rushing into the ring to pat his daughter in the back while her boxing covered hands were on her knees, uncomfortably rubbing against her kneecaps with every twitch she had.

                          "This isn't the kind of training I had in mind!" Nate's voice said to her left, awfully closer to her than she last remembered him.

                          The two overprotective males seemed to make Happy shrink as he took a step back, "Oh, god. Aurora, I'm so sorr—"

                          "Will you two stop, please?" Pepper said exasperated. "You're making Happy twitchy and you," she pointed at Tony who placed a hand on Aurora's forehead for good measure. "You know how Happy gets when he's twitchy."

                          "He turns not . . . joyful to be around," Aurora said while looking for the right words. Which in honesty was fully correct. She knew first hand how happy wasn't one to be put under pressure, one time she had bombarded him with questions to the point where he abruptly began quoting random soap operas.

                          Nate's hands glew their signature color as he placed them on either side of her temple sending an unserious glare to Happy, "I could argue he's already not joyful to be around especially going around assaulting kids."

                          "Training," Happy said ignoring both father figures. "It's called training, and if you hadn't noticed we were in the middle of it before you both started with . . . whatever the crap this was. I swear you'd think I'd punched a baby."

                          Tony sassily rolled his eyes, "More like my baby girl."

                          "Dad," Aurora sighed and took her gloves off. "I'm not a pre-adolescent kid. I'm fifteen."

                          "And that still doesn't make you any less of a child."

                          "Considering my long list of demigod and mortal achievements I'd say it proves I'm twice more qualified to be an adult than the average person."

                          Tony went to open his mouth but nothing really came out for a retort seeing as Aurora was very right, instead he looked over to Nate for help who only did his best to hide his growing smile.

                         Ring!

                         Pepper perked up at the door ringing and rushed to step away from the group, "Oh good, The notary's here!" She turned to Aurora just as the door opened. "Okay, Aurora," she interlocked her fingers a grin overtaking her face, "Are you ready?"

Aurora furrowed her eyebrows in momentary confusion, "Ready?" She glanced behind her towards her father who was cringing at the situation ( something Aurora knew was his tell when he did something wrong ) "Ready for what?"

"You didn't tell her?" Pepper asked incredulously.

"It might have . . ." Her father waved his hands in a seesaw motion. "Slipped my mind." He shrugged as he took a sip of water, but the look in his eye told Aurora a different story.

"What's going on?"

"Good luck," Nate whispered to Tony as he patted the man on the back before walking to Aurora and ruffling her head. "I'll leave you all to it," just as he opened the door to leave he was met with a beautiful redhead seconds away from opening the door herself. Her hair was curled to perfection—in a way Aurora envied like she came straight out of the cover of a magazine. Her sage green eyes took in the man before her as the corner of her perfectly plump lips twitched up as she noticed his slacken jaw. Her sleek professional attire and clipboard in hand insinuated she was here for work, but that didn't seem to deter the man.

                       He not so sneakily leaned against the doorway, a charming smirk that would fool anyone present on his face, "Oh," he crossed his arms and from behind him Aurora groaned and facepalmed. "Nathaniel Prince . . . and you are?"

                         The red haired woman only smirked like she knew something he didn't, "The notary," she stepped beside him and walked towards the rest of the group.

                          Tony stepped beside Nathaniel and patted him on the back, "That was horrible—"

                          "Listen, I haven't done this in a little over a thousand—"

                          "And that was me putting it mildly, god, that was pathetic to watch."

                          "Tony, I get it."

                          "If you wanted some pointers, you could have just asked. I've been told I have unmatched charisma."

                          Despite not wanting any part of their conversation, Aurora furrowed her eyebrows together in confusion, "By whom? And you can't count the people you pay at the end of the night as credible witnesses."

                          Nathaniel chuckled at that while Tony only sassily rolled his eyes at her remark.

                          Pepper stepped up towards them and sent Tony a pointed glare before putting her hands on Auroras shoulder and sending the notary a grin, "If you'll just excuse us for one moment," Pepper pulled both Stark's along ( while also yanking a completely oblivious Nate whom was moments away from talking to the beautiful red haired woman again ) "I cannot believe you didn't tell her Tony!"

                          Tony huffed, "I was going to tell her, and then I got subpoenaed. Blame the government but hey!" He clapped his hands together and motioned to his daughter. "She's here now! And right now is the perfect time to tell her."

                          Aurora rose her eyebrows, "Tell me what?"

                         Pepper and Tony glanced at one another, like they were mentally trying to formulate their thoughts into words. All Aurora could do was watch with risen eyebrows, waiting for an adult to break.

It was her father.

                         "Peppers about to become Stark Industries new ceo."

                         Aurora's jaw dropped.

                         She had nothing against Pepper, the gods know she owed so much of her life to the woman and there wasn't anyone else in the world who deserved to be called Stark Industries CEO beside Pepper, but she wasn't going to deny the feeling of her heart dropping to her stomach. Like stated before, Pepper deserved that and so much more, but when you go your entire life being told that you would be given something and you've always been excited for that one thing—only to see it given to someone else . . . It can truly be disheartening.

                         Pepper must've seen the look that washed over the younger girls face, "It's only temporary, until you turn eighteen or until you're ready."

                         Relief flooded her senses and before she knew it, she threw her arms around both her father and Pepper, "Congratulations! You deserve it pepper!"

                         Tony blew out a breath he looked like he didn't know he was holding, "That went better than expected."

                         "Thanks for the vote of confidence, dad."

                         He ruffled her hair, before turning and pointing at the notary, "What's your name, lady?"

                         The red haired woman glanced at them all a little confused, "Rushman. Natalie Rushman."

                         "Front and center," he pointed at the ring where happy still stood. "Come into the church."

         Aurora and Pepper were quick to object, with the younger girl waving her arms trying to catch her fathers attention, "Please tell me you aren't going to—"

         "If it pleases the court, which it does."

         Natalie turned to Pepper and the girl with a bemused smile, "It's no problem."

         Aurora facepalmed. She noticed she was doing that a lot recently. The common denominators resulting in that said action were both Percy and Her father—both males much more alike in their impulsivity than they could ever imagine ( and something her father would never admit )

                         Speaking of the ocean eyed boy, her heart skipped a beat. Both in worry and well . . . Longing. She truly hoped they were doing alright, whatever it was they were doing. They'd reach out if they needed her . . . right?

         Aurora approached Pepper and took a seat next to the woman who was munching on a bucket of popcorn "Twenty bucks says she lands a solid hit on Happy," The older woman handed the younger girl the popcorn.

         Pepper pursed her lips, and instead of scolding the fourteen year old she said, "I'll give Happy the benefit of the doubt. Five on him."

                         A body landed on Aurora's left, snatching the popcorn from her lap, "A hundred on the new girl. There's no way I'm ever putting my money on Happy unless it's for a taxi drive."

                         Aurora playfully scoffed, "Can't you fly?"

He shrugged, "Sometimes I want to preserve my energy."

"Can you give her a lesson?" Tony asked Happy when Aurora turned her attention back to the ring. Her father stepped out of the ring and made their way towards their group.

"No problem." Happy responded.

Tony sat down in between Aurora and Pepper, but not before taking the popcorn bucket from Nate's hand who groaned in annoyance. Aurora groaned as well but due to the tight fit, being squished between two big shouldered men was not the highlight of her day, despite how safe and secure she felt.

"Who is she?"

"She is from legal. And she is potentially a very expensive sexual harassment lawsuit if you keep ogling her like that."

"Hey, I wasn't the one ogling her," he pointed at Nate. "He did all the ogling. I didn't ogle. Besides, I need a new assistant."

Aurora scoffed. "Do you really need an assistant?"

Tony turned to his daughter, "Yes, actually, I do. So I don't have to deal with you and your attitude, myself."

Nate scoffed and brought a hand up in disbelief, "I get a hand full of her attitude too, what am I chopped liver?"

                         Tony waved him off and before Nate could bite again Pepper spoke up trying to evade a bicker banter between the two men, "I've got three excellent potential candidates. They're lined up and ready to meet you."

                         "I don't have time to meet. I need someone now. I feel like it's her."

                         "I agree," Nate nodded his eyes all hazy like. "She seems like a perfect fit."

                         Pepper rolled her eyes at the men while Tony pointed at Nate, "Don't listen to him, listen to me. I know what fits, he doesn't. Imagine if I left my company to him for a day," Tony scoffed and brought his hands up. "Disaster!"

                         "Maybe that's what you need a fresh pair of eyes that aren't too self centered."

"Buddy," he leaned in front of Aurora who scoffed. "You're one to talk, Mr, Phanthom of the opera."

                         "Dad," Aurora rose her eyebrows. "That's not the insult you thought it was."

                         Nate snickered.

                         Aurora tuned to him, "I wouldn't laugh if I were you, aren't you like a bajillion years old and you're still arguing with a man who you'd consider a child at your mesozoic age."

Both men turned away from one another pouting, as Pepper snickered at the sight.

                         "How do I spell your name, Natalie?" Her father questioned as he tapped on the screen of his phone.

                         "R-U-S-H-M-A-N." The red-haired woman replied.

                         Aurora rolled her eyes, "Please tell me you're not doing what I think you're doing."

                         Tony smirked, "I am" 

                         "What, are you gonna google her now?" Pepper asked.

                         "How many times do I have to tell you I was not ogling!" He pointed a finger at Nate who was trying to look at the screen with interest. "He was ogling. I swear it's like no one listens in this house." He pulled up an entire profile of the young woman on the screen. "Wow. Very, very impressive individual."

                         "You're so predictable, you know that?"

                          Tony only continued to browse through her information. "She's fluent in French, Italian, Russian, Latin. Who speaks Latin?"

                          Aurora rolled her eyes, "No one speaks Latin, it's a dead language"

                          Tony turned to his daughter, "Why did I pay for your Latin classes then?"

                          Aurora crossed her arms. Her eyebrows pulled down together. "I thought it was another excuse for you to blow through your money."

                          Tony sighed. "Well, you need to get your shit together. I paid for three language classes and I have yet to see you put them to use."

                         "I have put them to use. You just weren't present"

                         "Is that her modeling in Tokyo?" Nate questioned as he leaned over Aurora to take a closer look.

                          Aurora looked at the screen and her eyebrows shot up. The older woman was laying on a fluffy blanket posing seductively for the camera. She's very beautiful.

                          "Tony she might be the one," Nate said from his spot next to Tony as Aurora groaned at her smaller body being squished. Tony just looked at him completely deadpanned, "I'm serious!"

                         "Enough," Tony said as he pushed Nate's head away.

                          "Oh God's" Aurora turned her attention back towards the ring and she happened to turn right in time so see Happy take a swing, but Natalie took hold of his hand twisted it, and flip him over with her legs over his head. Happy landed with an echoing slam.

                          Aurora gaped. "How the hell?"

                          "Oh, my God! Happy."

                          "That's what I'm talking about." Her father stood and smirked at his friend. Nate snickered as he leaned both arms spread on the edge of the couch.

                          "Natalie! That was amazing! You seriously have to teach me that?" The young girl stood up enthusiastically. The older woman sent Aurora a wink and smile when her father wasn't looking.

                          Happy stood up with his knees almost buckling, "I just slipped."

                          Aurora snorted. "That was a pretty brutal slip."

                          "Looks like a TKO to me." Tony rang the bell while Natalie made stepped out of the ring and slipped her heels back on.

                          "Just . . . I need your impression." Natalie looked pretty neutral after she body-slammed Happy on the mat.

                          "You have a quiet reserve. I don't know, you have an old soul." He stated while observing her face.

                          "I don't think that's what she meant, dad."

                          "I meant your fingerprint." Natalie looked amused as she nodded to Aurora and while pulling out her folder. Aurora stood behind her father and watched as he dipped his finger in ink.

                          "So, how are we doing?" Pepper walked up with a smile on her face.

                          Aurora was really happy for the woman. There was no person who deserved the company more than Pepper. The amount of work the woman has put in over the years is amazing. Not to mention the patience the woman has to deal with her father.

                          Tony sent the woman a grin. "Great. Just wrapping up here," he placed his ink-filled thumb on the designated part of the page. "Hey. You're the boss."

                          Natalie closed the folder and held it to her chest. "Will that be all, Mr. Stark?"

                         Tony shook his head hopefully. "No."

                         "Yes, that will be all, Ms. Rushman. Thank you very much." Pepper smiled. Natalie nodded turned on her heel and left.

                         Tony turned to Pepper. "I want one."

                         Both women rolled their eyes, "No"

                         Nate walked up to the group as he stood out his hand to Pepper with a smirk on his face, Pepper rolled her eyes and placed the money in his hand.

                         The next couple of days both Starks, Pepper, and Happy ( no nate as he said he wanted a break from tony, tony would never admit it but he pouted when nate said that )  made their way to Monaco. One of Tony Starks favorite hotspots. Aurora was extremely excited to be in Monaco because it further allowed her to take her mind off of Camp Half-Blood and her demigod friends. She was actually pretty jubilant to not have to worry about any monsters attacking her too.

                         However, this did mean her MIT schoolwork was falling behind, but when her father spent days trying to convince her to come she begrudgingly accepted with the promise that while she was in her hotel room, she'd work on her coursework.

                          It didn't help that her father's big grin made her smile too.

                         Aurora was in a car dressed to the nines with the other three adults. Pepper and Happy in the front with her and her father seated in the back. While they began talking amongst themselves, Aurora fiddled with the familiar ring on her finger. The beautiful band wrapped around her in makeshift vines with the gem in the middle surrounded by beautiful white myrtle petals . . . the symbol of her mother and yet still her favorite flower. Tyson had nailed it ( quite literally ) and she'd forever be thankful.

"Hey," a voice snapped her out her thoughts abruptly pulling her attention from the beautiful ring that she's hardly taken off her finger to her father who was looking at her with risen eyebrows. "We're here. Are you ready?"

Aurora glanced outside taking a note of the flashing cameras and people enthusiastically shouting from across the street to her right, to her left was the luxurious five star restaurant holding the most influential and powerful people in society . . . some who couldn't care less about others and were as smart as the dirt her three inch heeled boots walked on. Nonetheless, she was doing this for her father.

"Yeah," she nodded as she took a breath and sent him a smile.

"You know, they can take care of themselves right?" Just like always, her father knew what she was thinking. "They're strong, like you."

Aurora nodded glancing at the ring on her finger, "Yeah, I know, dad."

Tony didn't say anything else as he noticed the look on her face—A face he knew all too well as he'd constantly admire when he looked in the mirror nowadays. Not wanting to force her to pry her simply patted her arm and opened the car door and immediately the flashing of camera lights began followed by the enthused crowed shouting to the the billionaires attention.

Her father was right though, her friends had saved the world countless of times and she knew that—she was just much too accustomed to being with them through the journey when they did. What if when she came back she was considered rather . . . useless?

                        Taking a deep breath she shook her head and ran a finger over the ring as if it would ease her turmoils before stepping out of the car and into the limelight following her father and Pepper through the cheers and cries for their attention into the building.

                         Tony turned to them as they entered the lavish restaurant, chandeliers were hung with what looked liked dozens of diamonds richening the atmosphere. Classical musical played in a faint hum underneath the layer of chattering and snobs clinking glasses together. "You know, it's Europe. Whatever happens the next 20 minutes, just go with it," he sent a glance to Aurora. "I'm talking to you too Aurora."

                        "Go with it? Go with what?"

                         Aurora looked equally as confused, "What does that even mean?"

                        "Mr. Stark?" Aurora turned to the sound of the voice, Natalie, the woman who body slammed Happy onto the mat with no sweat ( she still hasn't taught aurora that move, but the younger was patient )

                        "Hey," Tony smiled at the beautiful redhead. She wore a beautiful red jumpsuit that matched her flaming hair that somehow brought out her emerald green eyes.

                        "Hello. How was your flight?" Natalie smiled at both Starks.

                        "It was excellent. Boy, it's nice to see you."

                        Aurora rose her eyebrows at her father. "Was spending time with your daughter all that dreadful?"

                         Tony rolled his eyes sassily. "At times," he paused as though he was thinking about it. "Yes."

                        "We have one photographer from the ACM, if you don't mind. Okay?" A waiter approached the group of four holding onto a tray that had two martinis on top of it. Both Tony and Pepper took the martinis but the waiter gave the young girl an apologetic look.

                        "I'm sorry, Mademoiselle. We did not know you would be here today. What would you like to drink today?"

                        Aurora smiled at the man, "It's alright. I'll just take a water."

                        The waiter nodded and, hurried off to get the water.

                        Tony tugged his daughter next to him for the picture causing the girl to crash into him and groan all while pepper hissed at him through gritted teeth, "When did this happen?"

                        "What? You made me do it."

                        "I made you do what?"

                        Aurora sighed. "Can you guys please just take the picture? I swear it's like you're already married."

                        "You quit. Smile," Tony stated pointedly while glancing at his daughter. He then turned to Pepper while keeping a smile on his face for the picture. "Look, right there. Stop acting constipated. Don't flare your nostrils."

                  The snap was heard making Aurora sigh with relief, "Finally"

                        "Right this way," Natalie gestured to follow.

                        "You look fantastic." Tony complimented.

                        "Why, thank you very much," Natalie turned to Aurora who was following slightly behind them. "You look beautiful, Aurora."

                         Aurora's face brightened up at the compliment. "Thank you, Natalie. You look beautiful as well!"

                        "What's on the docket?" Her father questioned, as they walked through the bustling restaurant.

                        "You have a 9:30 dinner."

                        "Perfect. I'll be there at 11:00."

                        "Absolutely."

                        "Is this us?" Tony pointed at at a table in the corner. The table had dishes already and waiter was cleaning up the mess the previous diners left behind.

                        "It can be."

                        "Great. Make it us," he turned to his daughter and took his sunglasses off his head. "Are you okay with this being our table?"

                        Aurora rose her eyebrows in intrigue, "Dad, since when are you asking me about what tables I prefer to sit at?"

                        "I just . . ." Tony sighed wracking his brain for an excuse. "Want to make sure you're having a good time too, kiddo. You deserve it."

                        Aurora smiled at the care, without hesitation she wrapped her arms around her father to which he didn't hesitate to squeeze back, "Thanks daddy."

                        "You want a massage?" Tony asked Pepper as she watched the interaction with warm eyes.

                        "Oh, God. No. I don't want a massage."

                        "I'll have Natalie make an—"

                        "I don't want Natalie to do—"

                        "Don't want you tense. By the way, I didn't mean to spring this on you." Tony said as they reached the bar area. Aurora wasn't supposed to be that close to the bar, but no one was going to say anything to Tony Stark about it.

                        "Thank you very much," Pepper sarcastically replied

                        "Can we not do this here? We're in a public setting." Aurora groaned. Tony opened his mouth to make a rebuttal but was cut off.

                        "Anthony. Is that you?"

                        "Both Stark's groaned in annoyance, not wanting to deal with the man. Aurora knew that wherever Justin Hammer, misery seemed to follow—and after the ordeal in almost getting her friends killed, she was a razor's edge away from inflicting misery into him as revenge.

                        "My least favourite person on Earth, Justin Hammer" her father states distastefully as the man walked up to them with a false grin on his face.

                        "Hey, pal," the man greeted ignoring the remark

                        "How you doing? You're not the only rich guy here with a fancy car," he caught sight of Aurora. "I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting your daughter Anthony!" He stuck out his hand to her. "Nice to meet you, sweetheart! My daughter would've loved you."

                        Aurora glanced at her father who was quick to intervene, batting Justin's hand away without causing much of a scene, "I don't think so."

                        Seeing as that was not going to happen Justin pointed towards a familiar blonde woman. "You know Christine Everhart from Vanity Fair. You guys know each other?"

                        "Hi. Yes." She pointed at Tony and smiled.

                        "Yes." Pepper nodded her lips pursed as she exchanged stoic smiles with the lady.

                        "Yes, roughly."

                         Something was telling Aurora there was some bad blood between the two and being the daughter of Aphrodite she was curious to know why and how.

                         Nevermind, she knew it had to involve her dad.

                        "BTW, big story. The new CEO of Stark Industries." He pointed at Pepper and forced a laugh.

                         Christine gave Pepper a pleasing look, "My editor will kill me if I don't grab a quote for our Powerful Women issue."

                         Pepper looked surprised as she glanced at the Stark's, "Oh."

                        "Can I?"

                        Pepper hesitated before nodding, "Sure"

                        "She's actually doing a big spread on me. I thought I'd throw her a bone, you know. Right?" He nudged Christine whose smile slowly but surely fell from her face.

                        "Right," Pepper began as she glanced at Christine who obviously didn't want to be there and the man forcing confidence. "Well, she did quite a spread on Tony last year."

                        "And she wrote a story as well." Tony spoke smugly.

                        "It was very impressive."

                        "Yeah, dad, didn't you say it was ranked three on her list for her most popular works?" Aurora tilted her head. "I wonder if your spread would make even top twenty considering I haven't met anyone who's expressed interest in you or your designs," Aurora falsed innocence. "And I know it wouldn't be on Christine as she's one of our most popular journalist in our time," the younger girls shrugged. "It just makes you wonder doesn't it?"

                        "Boy," Justin tried to laugh it off. "You're just like your father huh?"

                        "You can argue, Aurora only redeemed my good traits," Tony took a sip from his drink. "Like being able to identify clowns hidden behind their Gucci suits."

                        Pepper abruptly swallowed her martini and said, "I'm gonna go wash."

                        Tony turned and lowered his voice. "Don't leave me."

                        Justin only waved off the insult with a laugh and placed a hand over Tony's shoulder. "Hey, buddy. How you doing?"

                        "I'm all right," her father said as he tried to take a step away from him.

                        Justin turned to Aurora, "Sweetheart come take a picture with us! Get the whole family."

                        "No, thank you!" Aurora stated as she took a step back. "You both look great!"

                        Her father sent her a help look but nonetheless posed for the pictures. Despite his absolute hatred for the man, her father knew better than to cause a scene—especially if the media would want to know why his hatred ran deeper than just a simple distaste at Hammer industries and there really wasn't a good way to explain that Justin Hammer teamed up with Titans and was close to killing his daughter who is half god.

                       "Listen, is it the first time you've seen each other since the Senate?" Christine asked as she held a recorder in her hand.

                         Tony walked towards a table leading Aurora to follow. "Since he got his contract revoked"

                       "Actually, it's on hold." Justin stated nervously.

                        Tony rose his eyebrows "That's not what I heard. What's the difference between "hold and "cancelled"? The truth?"

                       "Yes, what is it?" Christine instigated shoving the recorder in each of their faces.

                       "No. The truth is—" He slapped the recorder away from Christine. "Why don't we put that away? The truth is, I'm actually hoping to present something at your Expo."

                       That made Aurora stop and look at her father whom already took out a chair for his daughter to sit and hardly even took the statement seriously.

                       "Well, if you invent something that works, I'll make sure I get you a slot."

                       "Mr. Stark?" The familiar redhead called. "Ms. Stark."

                       "Yes?"

                       "Your corner table is ready."

                        Justin nervously laughed. "I actually have a slot this year. Yes, I do."

                       Tony turned and yelled back at the table, "Hammer needs a slot, Christine."

                        Justin weakly laughed it off. "We kid, yeah. We kid. We're kidders."

                       Aurora looked at her father. "He was never that delusional before, right?"

                       "He always has been," he turned to his daughter. "Hey, I'll see you at the table."

                       Aurora nodded not really thinking anything of it, "Okay, dad"

                       She walked to the corner table and sighed in relief when she saw Pepper already seated. She sat down beside the woman with a sigh and immediately plopped her head down, she felt as though she was moments away from a killer migraine with the way her mind was whirling.

                       A hand began to rub her back soothingly, "Aurora," at the tone in peppers voice Aurora knew what she was going to ask her. "You haven't been yourself since you joined school, has it been because you miss camp?"

                       Aurora briefly looked up and nodded, "Something like that."

                       Pepper swallowed, "You know I'm here if you want to talk right?"

                       "I know," the young get girl smiled. "Thanks, Pep."

                       "I hope it's not your new scho—"

                      Something seemed to have caught her attention from over Aurora's shoulder. Aurora followed her line of sight and laid eyes on the television that showed her father ( whom had told pepper he was going to the restroom ) decked out in racing gear behind the wheel of the car that he owned. Not once had her father ever decided to ride his car. What changed?

                       Aurora's jaw dropped. "Please tell me this isn't headed where I think it's headed," She took a closer look. "Styx, it is."

                       "Natalie. Natalie!" Pepper shouted in utter panic.

                       Natalie rushed over. "Yes, Ms Potts?

                       "What do you know about this?"

                       "This is the first that I have known of it."

                        Aurora gaped. "This is the first, anyone has heard of it."

                       Pepper gestured at the television "This, this cannot happen."

                        Natalie nodded. "Absolutely. I understand. How can I help you?"

                       "Where's Happy?"

                       "He's waiting outside."

                        Pepper sighed. "Okay, get him. I need Happy."

                       Natalie nodded, "Right away" and left.

                       Aurora's attention was solely on the screen, wondering what her father could be thinking. The race had started and almost instantly cars were above a hundred miles per hour causing her heart to almost beat out of her chest. Her father never raced before, he probably didn't know what the hell he was doing and that's what made her fear worsen.

                        And her worry only grew, "What the—" A man with an orange jumpsuit walked onto the track. He had shoulder length hair and bronze skin with a mechanical device on strapped on his chest similar to that of a chest plate. Race cars swerved to miss the man, and suddenly his arms opened wide revealing two long whips. He pressed a button and electricity buzzed with life encompassing the two whips with inescapable power—so powerful it turned his orange jumpsuit to dust at the heat.

                       As a race car drove towards him he swung his whip completely cutting through the race car and sending parts whizzing right past him, exploding behind him.

                        Aurora rubbed her arms and sighed in relief when she felt her thick gold bangles present under her long sleeved shirt. When she turned to the entrance of the restaurant she saw Happy holding up a briefcase that contained her father's iron man suit. Both Pepper and Aurora rushed towards Happy and into the car.

                       "Go, go." Pepper hurried.

                        Happy glanced at the two women in the back of the car and revived the engine of the car. "Hang on."

                        They crashed through a barrier and onto the track. Happy turned a hard right straight into the race cars who were racing in their direction. Aurora could only gasp and ensure her seatbelt was on as she held tightly onto the door handle.

                       Pepper popped her head in between the seats, "Give me the case."

                       "Here, take it."

                        Pepper was now fiddling with the case looking for something. "Where's the key?"

                        Happy tried to dig in his pocket. "It's in my pocket."

                        Aurora's eyes turned wide at the car rushing towards them, "Car!"

                        Happy swirled out of the way almost making Aurora slam into the door.

                        Finally, they appeared near her father who stood a couple of feet away from the man. Aurora rolled down the window all the way and yelled, "Dagger!"

                        Her dagger appeared in her right hand. She unbuckled her seatbelt, and rolled down the window. With her grip tight on her dagger she stuck her upper body out and yet despite the high wind blowing her hair in her face, she took aim and launched her dagger towards the man in combat with her father all while the car continued to move in their direction

                        It was like she was watching it in slow motion. The dagger sailed through the air and landed right into the device connecting both the right whip and the left whip. It caused the right whip to disfunction right when Happy slammed the car into the man.

                       Tony hopped down from the fence and walked to the car. "Are you okay?"

                        Happy gasped out a small. "Yeah."

                        Tony scolded, "Were you heading from me or him!?"

                        "I was trying to scare him."

                        "Cause I can't tell!"

                        Pepper looked as if she was going through a breakdown and Aurora could understand why, this is not what the woman signed up for when she took the job all those years ago, "Are you out of your mind?!"

                        "Better security," Tony grumbled.

                        Aurora laid back in the seat with as the adults began to yell over one another, you could swear she was the adult, "Do I not get a thank you?"

                        "You could have hit me! So no, Aurora! You do not get a thank you!"

                        Aurora scoffed, "But I hit him! I helped out!"

                       "Get in the car." Happy yelled from the front seat.

                       "You're CEO. Better security measures. God, it's embarrassing. First vacation in two years"

                        As her father was trying to open the door to get in, the man used his left whip to slice the door in half. Aurora yelped in surprise.

                        Pepper panicked. "Oh my God!

                        Happy reversed and slammed the car into the man with the whips again. "I got him!" He declared.

                       "Hit him again. Hit him again. Football."

                        Aurora gripped the passenger seat in front of her for dear life as her body kept moving due to the cars abrupt movements.

                        Pepper tried to push the case towards Tony but with the movement of the car, she couldn't. "Take the case! Take it!"

                        "Stop banging the car!"

                        The man sliced the car once again cutting it right in half. Aurora brought her arms over her head to cover herself from the debris assembling her shield in case the man took another swing.

                       "Give me the case! Please! Come on!"

                        Pepper was finally given the opportunity to throw the case out of the window and towards Tony. In less than seconds he transformed into the iron man.

                       He kicked the car out of the crossfire and aimed his hand towards the man. The familiar high beam sound of the thrusters powering up were heard but before her father could shoot them the man swung his whip which connected with her fathers arm. The thruster now couldn't used.

                        Aurora yelled, "Shield!" And ran out of the car despite the protest she heard from both Pepper and Happy. She slid under a whip that was sent her fathers way and stood.

                        Tony pointed at his daughter, "Aurora, No!"

                        With the new found distraction. The man smirked and swung the whip, out of impulse Aurora ran in front of her father and brought up her shield. Her entire body sizzled at the touch of the whip against it. It felt like she was being cooked from the inside out with excruciating pain following after.

                        Aurora yelled in agony and the last thing she heard was. An anguished cry from her father.

— NAT TALKS !

I always come back 😈
Though I do gotta say I love writing
Nate and Tony, they're my comfort

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