↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺
School was a tricky thing in the insane life of Diana Rogers. Of course Tony wanted her to attend one of the many prestigious academies reaching out to him. All just begging to be given the privilege of teaching the legacy of two historic names, not to mention the right to brag about it as well. But it wasn't possible. At least not yet.
With the many abilities Diana possessed, as well as who her guardian was, it was just too dangerous. For both herself and the public. If she didn't have on the special golden cuffs each weighing a full ton she could really hurt someone.
It did embarrass Diana how unstable she was at control, but it was more of a means to strive for strength. Playing baseball was a way to help, not that she liked it, but would keep doing what was necessary to improve.
She was told that one day if she was able to hold an apple without crushing it, social services as well as the school boards would consider allowing her to attend a very secure private school. Though at the time the girl wasn't that interested in the thought of having a strict school schedule.
Her friend Harry was very academically gifted and at the age of nine was already in high school. When he showed off his uniform it made Diana's nose turn up. Then when he showed off his daily schedule it making her cringe even more.
Diana hated schedules, as well as being stuck somewhere for long periods of time. Ever since Tony took her out for doughnuts the girl would constantly bug her cousin to take her on adventures. To another country or just to get gas, it didn't matter. If he was leaving the house she'd already be waiting in the car.
So sitting in the same building for six hours a day instead of being on the go wasn't how the super soldier planned on spending her limited time on earth.
Homeschooling had its perks as well. Tony was a great teacher and only hired the best tutors to handle lessons he either couldn't make or didn't want to teach. So besides health class the girl got a steady education from her cousin.
It also allowed Diana to join Tony on adventures such as the one now.
Sitting inside the senate office with many cameras and journalists, Diana and Tony's situationship/assistant Pepper Potts sat in support of the male on trial of sorts.
As Pepper tried her best to shush her boss the senator called out to him, "Mr. Stark, could we pick up now where we left off? Mr. Stark. Please."
Tony stopped talking to his two girls before addressing the senate, "Yes, dear?" He replied, casuing a few giggles from the crowed.
"Can I have your attention?"
"Absolutely."
"Do you or do you not possess a specialised weapon?"
Her cousin shook his head, "I do not."
The large row of government officials all gave each other glances, "You do not?"
"I do not," Tony repeated into the microphone. "Well, it depends on how you define the word 'weapon'."
Diana watched as Senator Stern corrected himself, "The Iron Man weapon."
"My device does not fit that description."
Tony's words made the man scoff out a chuckle, "Well... How would you describe it?"
"I would describe it by defining it as what it is, Senator. It's a high-tech prosthesis," the girl watched as the man spoke in a professional manner towards the group. People started to snicker at his wording but he pressed on, "That is... That is... That's actually the most apt description I can make of it."
"It's a weapon. It's a weapon, Mr. Stark-"
"Please, if your priority was actually the well-being of the American citizen-"
"My priority is to get the Iron Man weapon turned over to the people of the United States of America," the Senator and billionaire went back and forth.
Tony shook his head, "Well, you can forget it. I am Iron Man. The suit and I are one. To turn over the Iron Man suit would be to turn over myself, which is tantamount to indentured servitude or prostitution, depending on what state you're in," more started to chuckle. "You can't have it."
Diana watched as Stern stared to go a little red in the face. The girl wasn't the best at reading emotions, but his were shining down like a beacon, "Look, I'm no expert-"
"In prostitution? Of course not. You're a senator. Come on," the man started to joke, as if the entire hearing was nothing but a waste of time.
He then turned around and proceeded to flash his teeth at his girls. Diana simply smirked even if she had no idea what he was saying, as no matter what she'd always be on Tony's side. Though she quickly suppressed it when Pepper gave a stern deadpan at his actions.
Even if she loved Tony with all her heart Pepper was a close second. From the first day Diana joined the Stark household Pepper had been the one to help make her comfortable.
At first Diana was confused. Woman didn't stay much back in Shield. In fact the women back there just told her what to do and handed her the clothing she had to wear. So that's why when Pepper started pulling out clothing and asking what Diana wanted to wear, she went silent. Choices weren't a part of the child's conditioning.
So to make the transition to help Diana understand her free will Pepper did small things. Starting out by having Diana pick one of the two preselected hair accessories. Soon they moved on to shoes, then pants, then and all the way up to Diana choosing her own style.
Of course now Diana had no problem making her own choices, but still asked Pepper for help. It was their thing. And even if Pepper was technically being paid to help the girl she felt like Miss. Potts was a close friend. A sister.
Something the child hadn't had in years.
"I'm no expert in weapons. We have somebody here who is an expert on weapons," Stern directed everyone's attention to a new body entering the room. "I'd now like to call Justin Hammer, our current primary weapon contractor."
Both Stark children snapped their heads up as Harry's father sat down. The elder one sent Diana a glance, basically asking if she knew he'd be here. Which made her quickly shake her head. Yes, her and Harry were two peas in a pod, but they made a pact to never bring up family work. It wasn't their business anyways.
Tony leaned into his mic and started to mock her best friend's father, "Let the record reflect that I observed Mr. Hammer entering the chamber, and I am wondering if and when any actual expert will also be in attendance."
Justin only chuckled before taking a sip of water, "Absolutely. I'm no expert. I defer to you, Anthony. You're the wonder boy," he pointed to him before addressing the others. "Senator, if I may. I may well not be an expert, but you know who was the expert?"
She watched as Justin got to his feet, taking the mic with him as he walked towards a television screen, "Your dad. Howard Stark. Really a father to us all, and to the military-industrial age."
Tony only rolled his eyes as the man kept going, "Let's just be clear. He was no flower child. He was a lion. We all know why we're here. In the last six months, Anthony Stark has created a sword with untold possibilities. And yet he insists it's a shield. He asks us to trust him as we cower behind it. I wish I were comforted, Anthony, I really do. I'd love to leave my door unlocked when I leave the house, but this ain't Canada. You know, we live in a world of grave threats, threats that Mr. Stark will not always be able to foresee. Thank you."
He then turned to the cameras and said, "God bless Iron Man. God bless America. God bless Lady Liberty," people started to lightly clap as he sat back down.
'God bless Lady Liberty,' was a saying Diana was struggling to get used to. She always knew that Morgan was her mother and her importance in America, but until she started living with Tony she never understood the impact the woman actually had. Her life and tragic sacrifice was beyond historical precedent, so it was very common for someone to say.
If only Diana liked to hear it.
"That is well said, Mr. Hammer. The committee would now like to invite Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes to the chamber," Stern's words made Tony jump. "Rhodey? What?"
Heads turned and cameras flashed as her cousin's friend walked inside the senate. The billionaire quickly got to his feet and strutted over, "Hey, buddy. I didn't expect to see you here."
His best friend shook his hand with a huff, "Look, it's me, I'm here. Deal with it. Let's move on."
"I just-"
"Drop it. All right, I'll drop it," he stated before the two sat down.
Diana glanced over towards Pepper, "Did you know he was coming?"
She shook her head, "Not a clue," the two started to cringe as everyone started to get situated in their seats.
Stern leaned forward, "I have before me a complete report on the Iron Man weapon, compiled by Colonel Rhodes. And, Colonel, for the record, can you please read page 57, paragraph four?"
"You're requesting that I read specific selections from my report, Senator?" He raised a brow.
"Yes, sir."
"It was my understanding that I was going to be testifying in a much more comprehensive and detailed manner," Rhodey said in a very frank but professional tone.
"I understand. A lot of things have changed today. So if you could just read-"
"You do understand that reading a single paragraph out of context does not reflect the summary of my final-"
"Just read it, Colonel. I do. Thank you," the girls watched the two go back and forth before Rhodey finally gave in.
"Very well," Rhodey began to read a quote out of context. "'As he does not operate within any definable branch of government, Iron Man presents a potential threat to the security of both the nation and to her interests'. I did, however, go on to summarise that the benefits of Iron Man far outweigh the liabilities-"
Stern was quick to cut him off, "That's enough, Colonel."
While the two began to calmly fight Tony decided to be a smart ass and speak up, making Pepper grumble, "I'm not a joiner, but I'll consider Secretary of Defense, if you ask nice," people started to chuckle. "We can amend the hours a little bit."
"I'd like to go on and show, if I may, the imagery that's connected to your report."
Rhodey started to become less lax as he tried to keep his report from getting spun into a direction he did not mean to intend, "I believe it is somewhat premature to reveal these images to the general public at this time-"
"With all due respect, Colonel, I understand. And if you could just narrate those for us, we'd be very grateful."
Rhodey held in a sneer as he took a sip of his water, "Let's have the images."
The room watched as images popped on screen as Rhodey read his report, "Intelligence suggests that the devices seen in these photos are, in fact, attempts at making manned copies of Mr. Stark's suit."
As the man went on Diana couldn't help but notice Tony pulling out a phone and began to tap away on it. Her brow raised at the way he was acting at this seemingly very important meeting, but kept her mouth shut. She knew he had to be up to something.
"This has been corroborated by our allies and local intelligence on the ground, indicating that these suits are quite possibly, at this moment, operational."
"Hold on one second, buddy! Let me see something here," Tony showed off his phone before enhancing the images. "Boy, I'm good. I commandeered your screens. I need them. Time for a little transparency. Now, let's see what's really going on. What is he doing?"
She started to chuckle as Tony started to prove the senate wrong, "If you will direct your attention to said screens... I believe that's North Korea."
The room watched as the people who were trying to recreate his suits in North Korea were far off.
"Can you turn that off? Take it off!" Stern demanded as Tony kept going.
"Iran," he showed off how they were failing there as well. "No grave immediate threat here," Tony then gasped at the next video he showed. "Is that Justin Hammer? How did Hammer get in the game?!"
They watched as the screen showed Justin Hammer, trying, and failing miserably at creating a suit even remotely similar to the idea of Tonys. Diana's snickering was cut off when Pepper tapped her sidearm. Not that she could laugh at anything else as Hammer unplugged the screen.
"Wow," Tony sat back in his chair. "Yeah, I'd say most countries, five, ten years away. Hammer Industries... twenty?"
Justin quickly grabbed his mic and started to defend himself, "I'd like to point out that that test pilot survived!"
"I think we're done, is the point that he's making," Senator Stern huffed as his plan to knock Diana's cousin down a peg failed miserably. "I don't think there's any reason-"
"The point is, you're welcome, I guess," Tony said blandly.
"For what?" The senator crossed his arms.
"Because I'm your nuclear deterrent," Tony stated. "It's working. We're safe. America is secure. You want my property? You can't have it!" He slammed his hand on the table.
Tony then turned to the cameras, "But I did you a big favour... I've successfully privatised world peace," Tony stood up and gave double peace signs, making the audience clap.
Even if Pepper remained seated Diana joined the rest of the room and stood up to clap for Tony. She couldn't help but be proud of him for standing up to the senate. It's one of the many things she loved about her cousin. If he had a goal, he would do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.
A drive that she hoped to one day accomplish as well.
"What more do you want? For now! I tried to play ball with these ass-clowns," he laughed as he hyped up the cameras even more.
Senator Stern only glared at Iron Man and swore through the mic, "Fuck you, Mr. Stark... fuck you, buddy."
Tony let out a large gasp, clutching his imaginary pearls before stepping towards his ward. Covering Diana's ears as he shouted, "Swearing in a room of law and justice?! In front of a Rogers no less!"
Diana dramatically nodded and held back fake tears, "We are sensitive, how fucking dare you!?" She sniffled, making Tony place her head into his chest as they fake cried together.
Stern mustn't have been amused by their acting as he sneered, "We're adjourned. We're adjourned for today."
The two stopped fake crying before Tony put on his glasses and kept an arm around Diana, "My bond is with the people!" He yelled out to the crowd as he and Diana started to walk out of the room, "And I will serve this great nation at the pleasure of myself. If there's one thing I've proven it's that you can count on me to pleasure myself."
"And you can take that to the bank!" Diana added, getting in the camera's face before Tony pulled her away.
The pair continued their giggle fit as the clapping muffled the further they got from the room, "So you hungry?"
She nodded, "Always."
"Great! Because all that showing off is making me crave a chocolate sundae," he laughed.
As did she, "Lead the way, Iron Man."
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺
As always things happened fast at the Stark household. There could be days Diana wakes up in Malibu, heads to Italy for lunch and ends the day by grabbing a beaver tail in Canada. You never knew what to expect.
So when Diana was called down to Tony's workshop comforting a crying Pepper Potts she expected the worst. Not realising the woman's tears were out of joy, as Tony named Pepper the CEO of Stark Industries. Making Diana ecstatic.
The two were jumping up and down for joy at the promotion while Tony went to grab drinks to celebrate. Not a drop of envy could be located on Diana Rogers-Stark as she was handed a glass of apple juice in a champagne flute. There was no reason to be, Diana was only nine for Liberty sake.
Plus with all the work Tony focused on his new role of Iron Man, as well as the many adventures he and Diana went on, Pepper was already doing his job for him. She may as well be paid and given the title for her work.
Tony, wanting to get the company signed over immediately, waited no time starting the paperwork.
"The notary's here!" Pepper called out to the man as the usual members of the household hungout in the gym. "Can you please come sign the transfer paperwork?"
Tony and his friend Happy didn't take much notice of Pepper as they continued their go at "boxing" if that's what you could call it, "I'm on Happy time."
Right as Diana glanced up from her science homework she scrunched her face into a cringe as he socked Happy in the face with his elbow, "Sorry," he quickly apologised.
Her babysitter gawked, "What the hell was that?!"
Tony had a bounce in his step as he kept pacing around the ring. While Diana was trying to focus on her work she couldn't help but enjoy the conversation, "It's called mixed martial arts. It's been around for... three weeks."
"Everyone and your mother would agree, Tony," Diana chuckled at the way Tony cheated.
The man glanced back and his ward, "They do, and that includes your mother, Diana," he jokingly pointed at her.
The girl, not even looking up from her school work, deadpanned, "Are mothers opinions don't matter as they are dead," she then glanced up with a smirk. "You're cheating."
He blew a raspberry at Diana, making her blow one right back.
Pepper only chuckled as she came towards the child and glanced down at the work, "How's the school work coming along."
Diana blew another raspberry as she erased the answer again. Even if the girl was from a heavily gifted family some things didn't come easy to her. Math and English were one thing, but science and history were a little harder. Ironic for the daughter of the greatest American couple.
Pepper only messed up Diana's hair as she motioned another woman, the notary, to come in. With so many people coming in and out of her home she only gave the redhead a quick glance before going back to her work.
"I promise you this is the only time I will ask you to sign over your company," Pepper joked to her situationship as the woman came forward with pen at the ready.
"I need you to initial each box," she said as Tony couldn't help but stare at the redhead.
A few more punches ran out before Tony huffed, leaning over the edge of the ring, "That's it. I'm done. What's your name, lady?"
The notary looked up at the man with rather doe eyes, "Rushman. Natalie Rushman."
He nodded before directing her inside the ring, "Front and center. Come into the church."
Pepper's eyes widened as Diana finally looked up seeing what would happen, "No. You're seriously not gonna ask her-"
"If it pleases the court, which it does," Tony spoke over the CEO.
Diana couldn't help but chuckle as the woman, Natalie, smiled, "It's no problem," though it wasn't like she had a choice. If Tony Stark told you to jump you had to ask, 'how high?'. The only person who could say no were probably Diana and Pepper.
"I'm sorry. He's very eccentric," Pepper couldn't help but cringe in fright as Natalie took off her heels and went in the ring with Happy.
Tony quickly stepped out as Happy began to teach her. Making his way towards his girls he sat between them as Diana handed him her work, "There! Finished!"
Tony gave her a smile as he took the paper, giving it a quick glance over, "Three out of ten. Try again," she grunted and took that paper back as he turned to Pepper. "Who is she?"
"She is from legal. And she is potentially a very expensive sexual harassment lawsuit if you keep ogling her like that," he was warned.
"I need a new assistant, boss," he added, speaking over Diana's grumbling fit.
The Rogers girl erased everything and started to reread the question as the couple continued to watch Natalie, "Yes, and 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," he stated.
"No, it's not."
"I think it might be."
"No it's not," Diana chimed in as she handed her work back to him.
Tony stared at it before handing it back once more, "Five out of ten."
"God damnit!" She slammed her hand on the glass table before yanking the paper back to try again, as she wasn't allowed her phone till she received at least an eight out of ten.
Neither paid attention to the nine year-old's tantrum and continued to watch the scene unfold, "How do I spell your name, Natalie?"
"R-U-S-H-M-A-N."
Pepper lowered her brows as Tony started to background check the woman, "What, are you gonna Google her now?"
"I thought I was ogling her," he shot back before finding some risky-esk photographs. "Wow. Very, very impressive individual.
"You're so predictable, you know that?"
"She's fluent in French, Italian, Russian, Latin," he turned to Pepper, "Who speaks Latin?"
She didn't even face him as she was so done with the billionaire's shenanigans, "No one speaks Latin. It's a dead language. You can read Latin or you can write Latin, but you can't speak Latin-"
"Did you model in Tokyo? 'Cause she modeled in Tokyo," Pepper scoffed as he suddenly felt an eraser being thrown at him. "Ouch," he lied before pleading with Pepper. "I need her. She's got everything that I need."
As Diana was about to hand Tony her work again she heard Happy say, "Rule number one, never take your eye off your opponent-" before seeing, from the corner of her eye, Happy being taken down as if he was nothing but a stack of paper.
"Oh, my God!" Pepper shouted as Tony, for once, was silent. "Happy!"
Diana's jaw fully dropped when she finally saw that the woman, who could've only been one hundred and twenty-five pounds, took down a man like Happy. Needless to say she was impressed.
As was Tony, "That's what I'm talking about."
"I just slipped," Happy tried to save any pride he had left... so none.
"Looks like a TKO to me," Tony laughed as he rang the bell.
Natalie placed her shoes on gracefully before grabbing her files and holding it out for the man, "Just... I need your impression."
He looked her up and down before shrugging, "You have a quiet reserve. I don't know, you have an old soul-"
"I meant your fingerprint," Natalie corrected herself before Tony started to fix the files, allowing Diana to get a better view of the woman.
Even if Diana knew she had never seen this woman before, she had the strangest feeling that there was something familiar about her face. She couldn't place it but it wasn't as if she could look longer, as the woman sent her a glance. Making Diana quickly go back to her studies.
"You're the boss," Tony smiled at Pepper as he tapped the paperwork giving over his empire to the strawberry blonde woman the Stark and Rogers called a friend.
Natalie closed up the files and gave the pair a smile, "Will that be all, Mr. Stark?"
"No."
"Yes, that will be all, Ms. Rushman," Pepper ushered the girl off. "Thank you very much."
Diana walked over with paper in hand, watching the redhead walk away, "Do you think she could be my gym teacher...?"
Tony nodded, "I agree. I want one."
"No," Pepper deadpanned and grabbed Diana's paper. "And double no," she gave it to the teacher.
Tony pouted before grading Diana's work, "One out of ten."
The nine year-old let out a scream before clenching her hand into a fist, kicking the medicine ball by her feet. Causing the heavy object to fly across the room and out the window... shattering it.
The four remaining people inside the room all went quiet as they stared at the destruction, watching glass pieces fall into the ocean below.
"Huh... maybe we should've put you in soccer..." Tony suddenly said.
Pepper only rubbed her temples as she walked out the room, "I'm taking a personal day staring now."
•••