𝐨𝐢𝐢. 𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘯
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
The next day, a large white mansion built on the edge of a cliff is shown. The words 'Malibu, California' appears at the bottom of the screen.
Awed whispers and gasps erupted throughout the hall as everyone stared at the mansion.
"I miss that house,” Sterling frowned. It’d been where he was born and where he’d met Ren for the first time.
The scene switches to show the inside of an elaborate kitchen. Sitting on the counter was a teenager, sipping on a glass of orange juice. A few feet away was a man stood at the stove, flipping a pancake.
”Who are they?” A hufflepuff asked curiously, humming when James and Sterling both waved.
James turned away from the stove as Pepper Potts walked into the room. Sterling waved at his godmother, the redhead smiling and waving back. “Hey, Pep. What’re you doing here?” he asked, turning back around to flip another pancake.
“I am looking for your other half as she’s..” Pepper looked down at hertablet, “an hour and a half late to the airport.” James snorted, moving the pancakes onto a few plates. “Of course she is. Well, she’s in the lab. Oh, and can you tell Peter that breakfast is ready as well?” he asked, handing one of the plates to Sterling, who jumped down off the counter and walked over to the dining table.
“Oh, wait. And here, give this to her?” he adds on, handing her a cup of coffee. Pepper nods before turning and heading towards the stairs that led downwards.
The scene changes to show Toni working on a car in her workshop while music is playing in the background. Behind her at a desk sat Peter, playing with blocks as his mother worked. Looking at the screen in front of her, Toni mutters,"Give me an exploded view."
Girls in the hall aw cooed at the boy.
JARVIS does as told."The compression in cylinder three appears to be low."
"What the fuck was that?!" Dean squeaks, many students looking at the screen in fear. "Mom's A.I., JARVIS." Aurora answered, earning shocked looks from most everyone in the hall.
"That's not your mother!" Molly exclaimed, Ron nodding in agreement, completely missing the looks his siblings all share. "The adoption papers sure say she is."
"What's A.I.?" Theo asked, his brows furrowed, not taking notice of the soft look from his girlfriend nor the glare from James, Sterling, Peter and Harley.
"Artificial Intelligence," Morgan replied, smiling at him. "Kinda similar to a Patronus except it has more of it's own personality and thoughts. At least, Mom's do," Cal added, smiling as he thought about Vision.
"Log that."Toni begins messing with a car part, as Pepper is seen through the door behind her. Pepper puts in a code that allows her to walk in, a phone pressed to her ear."I'm gonna try again, right now."
Toni doesn't bother looking up as she speaks,"Please don't turn down my music."
"Yeah!"Pepper smiled at the boys adorable pout as he agreed with his mother.
"I'll keep you posted."Turning the phone off, Pepper looks at Toni."You are supposed to be halfway around the world right now."
Toni lifts up the piece she was working on."Why are you trying to hustle me out of here?"
"Your flight was scheduled to leave an hour and a half ago."Pepper scolds as the screen shows Toni bent over one of her many cars.
"That's funny, I thought with it being my plane and all, that it would just wait for me to get there."
"What exactly is a plane?" Arthur asked, turning to the teenagers with a curious frown.
"Oh Jesus Christ, I forgot how far behind you all are compared to the muggle world." Morgan muttered, tilting her head back as she let out a loud groan. “Just.. just write your questions down for the end.” Arthur nodded, startling slightly as a notepad appeared in lap.
Pepper sighed."Toni, I need to speak to you about a couple things before I get you out of the door."She looked down at the folder in her hands.
"I mean, doesn't it kind of defeat the whole purpose of having your own plane if it departs before you arrive?"Toni speaks, her brown eyes shining in mirth. She is revealed to be wearing simple jogging bottoms and a grey sweater.
"Oh come on! How does she still look good in something as simple as that!" Blaise exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "What? You all know I'm right." Blaise sassed after his friends sent him a look. Neville shook his head as Blaise huffed, crossing his arms with a pout. Regulus rolled his eyes as James scowled at the boy’s words.
"Larry called. He's got another buyer for the Jackson Pollock in the wings. Do you want it? Yes or no."Pepper questioned, ignoring Toni's statements.
"Is it a good representation of his spring period?"
"Um, no. The Springs was actually the neighborhood in East Hampton where he lived and worked--"
"So?"Toni interjects.
Pepper ignores her continuing."Not 'spring' like the season. I think it's a fair example. Um.. I think it's incredibly overpriced."
Toni looks at her for a moment."I need it. Buy it. Store it."Toni walks away, Pepper following.
"Okay. The MIT commencement speech..."Pepper narrows her eyes playfully at Toni when she interrupts.
"Is in June. Please, don't harangue me about stuff that's way, way, down..."
"Well, they're haranguing me, so I'm gonna say yes."Pepper states.
Toni turns to her."Deflect it and absorb it. Don't transmit it back to me."
"I need you to sign this before you get on the plane."
Toni frowns playfully."What are you trying to get rid of me for? What, you got plans?"
"As a matter of fact, I do."Pepper speaks, opening the folder.
"I don't like it when you have plans."Toni says, crossing her arms.
"I'm allowed to have plans on my birthday."Pepper responds, looking amused as Toni frowns in confusion.
"It's your birthday?"
"Yes."Pepper smiles softly as Toni winces slightly.
"She must be a terrible friend if she forgot someone's birthday," Snape sneered, narrowing his eyes when Cal scoffed. He’d heard stories of the man from Aurora and he absolutely despised him. I mean, it was ridiculous how he hated Rory just because of her last name. Neither him nor any of his siblings even bothered with the bitter man.
"I knew that. Already? I'm sorry I forgot,"Toni looks sheepish.
"Yeah. Isn't that strange? It's the same day as last year."Pepper said, brushing off the genius' apology knowing it hadn't been on purpose.
"Well, get yourself something nice from me."Toni smiles gently.
"I already did."
"And?"
Pepper smiles."Oh, it was very nice."
"Yeah?"
"Very tasteful. Thank you, Miss Stark."
"You're welcome, Miss Potts." Pepper hands Toni a small cup of coffee, which she quickly downs and gives back as she walks past Pepper, picking up the boy in her arms. “Alright, little fawn. Let’s get you upstairs. I’m assuming Jamie made breakfast?”
Sirius frowned. He’d never been allowed to call James that so what made this woman so special?
"Yes, he did."Pepper smiled as she followed her boss and best friend upstairs.
Two cars are then shown on the screen, racing their way towards the airport. One looks to be much smaller while the other is bigger.
Toni is shown sitting in the driver seat of the smaller car, clearly in the lead. Toni got out of her car first after they parked, smirking in victory.
"You're good. I thought I lost you back there." She turns to Happy, who exits his car. Toni is wearing a pair of red designer sunglasses, a black leather jacket thrown over her shoulders.
"You did, ma'am." Happy said, grabbing Toni's things from the trunk of his car. "I had to cut across Mulholland."
"I got you. I got you." Toni laughs. She turns and begins walking towards her plane, where Rhodey is waiting on the stairs, not impressed.
"What's wrong with you?" He questions, glaring at her.
Toni doesn't look all that bothered. "What?"
"Three hours." Rhodey stated flatly.
"I got caught doing a piece for Vanity Fair." Toni lied, walking up the stairs with Happy behind her, carrying her bags.
"For three hours. For three hours you got me standing here."
"Waiting on you now. Let's go." Toni brushed past him, entering the plane. Rhodey sighed heavily, boarding the plane. "Come on. Wheels up! Rock and roll!"
A brief shot of the plane flying is shown. 'Stark Industries' is printed on the side of it. The screen then cuts to inside the jet. Toni and Rhodey are sat by the window, opposite of each other with a table between them.
A blonde flight attendant sets up the table for them. Toni turns to Rhodey, asking, "What you reading, platypus?"
Rhodey doesn't look up as he replies, "Nothing." He shakes his head, turning the paper around.
"Come on, sour patch."
"What's with the nicknames?" Fred asked, raising a brow in amusement.
"Oh that's just mom being mom. She has nicknames for everyone," Sterling replies, pulling his girlfriend closer as his siblings and father all nod in agreement.
"I'm not sour."
"Don't be mad." Toni frowned, not wanting him to be mad at her.
"I told you, I'm not mad. I'm indifferent, okay?" Rhodey explained with a huff, finally looking at her.
"I said I was sorry." Toni smiled sheepishly.
Rhodey shook his head as a different flight attendant walked up. "Good morning, Miss Stark."
"You don't need to apologize to me." Rhodey responded curtly.
"Hi. I told him I was sorry, but he..." Toni spoke to the woman, motioning to Rhodey, who wasn't listening. "I'm just indifferent right now."
"Hot towel?" the attendant questioned, still smiling.
Toni took the hot towel as Rhodey continued his rant. "You don't respect yourself, so I know you don't respect me."
"I respect you." Toni sighs, frowning.
"I'm just your babysitter. So, when you need your diaper changed." He takes a hot towel before continuing, "Thank you. Let me know and I'll get you a bottle, okay?"
"Hey! Heat up the sake, will you? Thanks for reminding me." Toni said, grinning.
Rhodey looks at Toni, perplexed. "No, I'm not talking... We're not drinking. We're working right now."
"You can't have sashimi without sake." Toni mused, ignoring him as he protested.
"You are constitutionally incapable of being responsible."
"It would be irresponsible not to drink. I'm just talking about a nightcap." Toni replied, smiling as another flight attendant walked over.
"Hot sake?"
"Yes, two, please." Toni states, watching amused as Rhodey splutters in protest.
"No. Just-- I'm not drinking. I don't want any." Rhodey denied.
The screen changes to show Toni laid out on a couch, Rhodey sat beside her. In both of their hands was a glass of Sake each. Lights flashed around them, music blaring loudly from the plane's speakers.
"That's what I'm talking about. When I get up in the morning and I'm putting on my uniform, you know what I recognize? I see in that mirror that every person that's got this uniform on got my back!"
Laughs echoed throughout the hall. Rhodey groaned in embarrassment, covering his face with his hands.
"Hey, you know what? I'm not like you. I'm not cut out..." Toni begins only to get cut off by Rhodey.
"No, no. You don't have to be like me! But you're more than what you are." Rhodey encouraged, gripping her shoulders. Suddenly the screen changed to show the plane descending from the sky.
A military base is shown, filled with soldiers, jeeps and tanks. The words 'Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan' appear at the bottom of the screen. A group of soldiers greets Toni as she exits the plane, shaking hands with the General.
"General." she greets kindly, the man giving her a smile.
"Welcome, Miss Stark. We look forward to your weapons presentation." The General nods in respect, Toni smiling back all business-like.
"Thanks."
The screen again changes, now showing Toni standing with her back to the snow covered mountains. A pair of glasses were on to prevent sand from getting in her eyes.
"Is it better to be feared or respected?" she starts, smirking slightly once she sees she has everyone's attention.
"I say, is it too much to ask for both? With that in mind, I humbly present the crown jewel of Stark Industries' Freedom Line. It's the first missile system to incorporate our proprietary repulsor technology. They say the best weapon is one you never have to fire. I respectfully disagree. I prefer the weapon you only have to fire once. That's how Dad did it. That's how America does it. And it's worked out pretty well so far."
A brief shot of the soldiers, Rhodey at the front.
"Find an excuse to let one of these off the chain, and I personally guarantee you the bad guys won't even want to come out of their caves."
Toni spreads her arms out wide, the soldiers watching as the missile is finally launched. It starts with three missiles before breaking off into little ones, taking aim towards the mountains.
"For your consideration, the Jericho."
The missiles explode, a proud smirk on Toni's lips.
"Shit!"
"Your mother made that?!" A student exclaimed in awe, fiddling with their black and yellow tie.
"She did." James smiled slightly, proud of his love but also knowing this weapon was what caused the start of it all.
Toni opens a cooler full of alcohol. "I'll be throwing one of these in with every purchase of 500 million or more. To peace!" Before she can take a sip, Toni's phone begins ringing.
James growled as Stane’s voice came through the screen, only remaining calm so he didn’t scare the children.
"Toni."
"Obie, what are you doing up?" Toni takes a sip of her drink. "I couldn't sleep till I found out how it went. How'd it go?"
"It went great. Looks like it's gonna be an early Christmas."
"Hey! Way to go, my girl! I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?" Obadiah doesn't see the way Toni grimaces by what he called her as she walks towards the vehicle.
"Disgusting piece of shit." Regulus muttered, glaring at the screen.
"He reminded me of Dumbledore when he said that," Hermione whispered to Ginny who pursed her lips, giving a short nod.
"Why aren't you wearing those pajamas I got you?"
Obadiah ignores her as he says, "Good night, Toni." Toni hangs up the call as she enters the military vehicle with a sigh.
"Hey, Toni." Rhodey comes up to the vehicle Toni's in. "I'm sorry, this is the "fun-vee." The "hum-drum-vee" is back there." She smiles playfully.
"Nice job." Rhodey compliments. "See you back at base." A replay of the attack in the first scene mixed with Toni have surgery and screaming is shown.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧