solace
Penny: Did you know spiders can lift around 120-170 times their body weight?
Harry: Is this penny?
Penny: Yeah, sorry, I didn't really know how to start a conversation.
Penny: I had fun talking spiders with you.
Harry: You aren't some spider-obsessed freak are you?
Penny: No!
Penny: Just a nerd who happens to love the genetic research that happens to be about spiders.
Harry: If you love it so much, maybe I could give you a private tour.
Harry: You know, since I made you miss half of it.
Penny: I'd like that a lot. When did you have in mind?
Harry: Would today work?
Penny looked at her outfit. She was still in the over-sized Iron-Man t-shirt and spandex.
Penny: Let me check with my parents.
She wasn't actually going to get any permission. She was going to ask Nat if they could go buy her some new clothes. Penny knocked on Natasha's door, but there was no response.
"F.R.I.D.A.Y., where is Nat?"
"Natasha is currently in the kitchen."
Penny wandered into the kitchen where she not only saw Natasha, but also Pepper.
"Hey, Pen!" Natasha greeted.
"Hey, Nat! Hey, Pepper."
"What do you need, Penelope?" Pepper asked.
"Uhm, I was just wondering, Nat, if we could go shopping?"
"Yeah, of course, Pen. How about you tag along, Pepper?" Natasha inviting Pepper along took both Penny and Pepper by surprise. Their outings typically consisted of just the two of them.
"That would be lovely, thank you, Natasha."
"How about you go get dressed? Pepper and I will wait here." Penny blushed at the comment, trying to figure out what to say.
"I kinda wanted to go shopping because none of my old outfits fit me anymore. Would it be okay if I just wore this?"
"I don't think your father would want his teenager going out in spandex. Here, I might have some clothes that'll fit." Pepper suggested and began walking towards her room, which was also Tony's room. She knocked on the door before entering.
"Hello gorg-" Tony started before Pepper cut him off.
"Penny is with me. Out."
"Yes ma'am." Pepper started digging through her closet.
"What size are you now, Pen?"
"I mean, I was an extra-small, but I think I'm more like a medium now."
"Okay, here, try this one on." Pepper handed her a blouse and some pants. It definitely wasn't Penny's style, but she appreciated the gesture. Pepper gave her a moment of privacy to change.
It fit Penny well enough, but Pepper didn't have to worry about her stealing it. The two met Natasha back in the kitchen. While Penny and Natasha talked, Pepper arranged for Happy to pick them up.
--
Penny and Natasha sat in the backseat while Pepper sat up front with Happy.
Penny: Hey, sorry. Today works, what time?
Harry: Come over whenever. I don't have anything to do today.
Penny: Alright, I'll text you!
Penny began to blush. Why did she add an exclamation mark?
"Are you texting your little boyfriend?" Natasha probed.
"Boyfriend?" Pepper turned around.
"He's not my boyfriend. But, yeah, he wants to hang out today."
"I see. So that's why little Stark here needed a new outfit. She needs to impress her boyfriend." joked Natasha.
"Nat..." Penny groaned.
"What's his name, sweetheart?"
Penny looked over at Natasha, trying to gauge some reaction that would tell her how to answer.
"Oh, uh," Penny started.
"She has been keeping it a secret from me! I think she wants to keep him to herself." Natasha quipped.
Penny offered Nat a gentle smile to thank her for the saving.
Happy announced, "We're here," in his usual monotone voice as he brought the car to a halt.
"Thank you, Happy." Penny spoke.
The three of them entered a shopping mall. Pepper felt the need to bring her into many high-end stores, but Natasha balanced it out by bringing her in normal stores. While Pepper didn't quite understand Penny as well, she was trying. Maybe Pepper and Tony dating would be a good thing.
While they were in Hollister, Pepper's phone began to ring. "It's your dad, I'll step outside. Come get me when you're ready to pay."
Penny softly winced at Pepper referring to Tony as her dad. She understood that he was biologically her father, but she didn't think he deserved that title. Most days, Penny didn't even think about Tony, but there were always tough days where she wondered what her life would be like if he had cared. She knew she was lucky to have such a rich father, but he was so emotionally distant.
"You okay, Pen?" Natasha asked.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm good. She's trying her best."
"She really is," Natasha offered, "she told me she's worried about you."
"Why is she worried about me? I've been doing fine."
"I think she's just worried you don't have a strong parental figure."
"You mean Tony?" she laughed, "that's one way to put it. Why does she care now? Is this some new step-mom thing?"
"Penny..."
"It's nice, Nat. I swear, it's just... different. I'm not used to this whole 'parent' thing."
What Penny didn't realize was that Pepper was right around the corner, overhearing the end of their conversation. Pepper waited a few minutes before she joined Penny and Natasha.
"So, Penelope, where are you and this young man going? You might need an outfit."
"Oh, uhm, we are just going to his house. I can wear whatever."
Pepper took in a sharp breath, clearly uncomfortable with Penny going over to a boy's house.
"We're just hanging out, we aren't dating or anything," Penny defended.
"We better get back so Penny has time to get dressed for her non-date." Natasha suggested.
Penny was grateful for Natasha breaking the awkwardness.
The drive back to the tower was filled with Natasha's teasing and rare comments from Pepper. Penny struggled to find an outfit. Nothing felt appropriate for the occasion. She poked her head out of her door, looking for Natasha, but she only saw Pepper. She debated closing her door and settling on any outfit, but she remembered Nat telling her that Pepper was trying her best.
"Hey, Pepper, could you, uh, help me pick an outfit?" she muttered sheepishly.
"Oh! Yeah, of course!" Pepper agreed, surprised by the fact that Penny was asking her for help. She came into the room, gently closing the door behind her. "What are your options?" she asked.
"I was deciding between those jeans and that skirt," Penny gestured to the bed. As Pepper looked towards the bed, her eyes were diverted to the two holes in the wall.
"I think..." she paused, "the skirt is better, but may I ask what happened to the wall?"
"Oh. Erm... I was doing an experiment. Sorry,"
"You are so much like your dad." Pepper laughed, making Penny freeze. Why did Pepper keep bringing up Tony?
"Thanks, Pepper. I think I'll do the skirt. Bye," Penny ushered Pepper out.
Pepper was nice. She was trying her best. Penny needed to remember that. She just wished Pepper wasn't so obsessed with Tony. Besides, Penny had bigger things to worry about, like hanging out with Harry.
Penny: Hey! On my way!
Harry: Great! I'll be there.
Penny's heart was pounding. It was just a tour, right?
"I'm going out now, Pepper!" she yelled, avoiding a possible conversation.
"Okay! Bye Penelope!"
--
Penny walked up to the reception desk, "Hey, I'm here to see Harry."
"Do you have identification?"
"It's okay, ma'am, Penny is with me," Harry intercepted, leading Penny to the elevator, "sorry, they're upping security, let's go to my floor."
"Yeah, that's fine. Is everything okay?"
Harry looked around before replying in a hushed tone, "I can't say anything here, I'll tell you when we're alone."
"Oh, so you have your own floor here?"
"Yeah, I guess that's a bonus of being the son of a rich man. It's basically an apartment with a high-tech lab attached."
Penny hated how jealous she was of Harry. An entire floor to herself would be the dream.
"Wow. That sounds amazing."
"I guess, it can be kind of... lonely at times."
She deeply shared that sentiment. Without thinking, Penny replied, "Yeah, they think money counts for attention."
Harry raised an eyebrow, indicating his interest in an elaboration for her comment. Penny regretted her words immediately, sighing, "I'll tell you when we get to your floor."
As if on cue, the elevator dinged. The pair stepped into Harry's living area.
"I'm sorry you couldn't see the spiders. It's just- they lost one. The spiders are highly radioactive and the consequences of being bitten by one are unknown."
"That's awful. I hope they find it. It would be tragic to lose such valuable research."
"I'm glad you understand. We can still go to my lab," Harry paused, "You don't have to answer this, but what did you mean about parents replacing attention for money?"
Penny didn't know how to tell Harry that her father rivaled his, "Uhm, my father is a very wealthy man," she inhaled, her pitch raising, "you know, you may actually know him, uh, my father is Tony Stark."
Harry's eyes widened, his mouth remaining in an unmoving state.
"I know Stark Industries and Oscorp are rivals, but I like spending time with you. I hope this won't mess up-"
"No, of course not, Penny. I was just surprised. I didn't know Tony Stark had a kid."
"That's how we like it, I guess. I don't like the attention, and Tony has never really acknowledged me as his child. We just live in the same building. I get it, though, I was already six when he got custody of me. It's hard to bond with a child who was already attached to another set of parents. But, sometimes I do wish he would've tried a little harder.
"I'm sorry, Penny. I get how you feel. My dad treats me like an employee instead of a son, and my mother passed. It's just so lonely."
"I'm so glad I have someone I can talk to about this. My best friend, Ned, tries his best, but he just doesn't understand why I resent my father."
"At least you have a friend, it feels like everyone tries to befriend me for my money."
"I am pretty lucky to have Ned. But, Harry, just know I'm your friend now," she solemnly smiled.
"Thanks, Penny. It means a lot. Would you like to see my lab?"
"Maybe we could just watch a movie together?" Penny suggested.
"I'd like that."