Not again
We got to the expo and Pepper, Nat and I got out and headed in. Finding our seats, I listened to Hammers talk. Much of which talked about dad and then started to bring out robots. Looking at Nat and Pepper I could tell they were both worried as well. Then the real surprise was when he brought out Rhodey.
“Pepper, this is not good.”
“I know.”
“Why would he do something like this?”
“I don’t know sweetie.” Just then dad came flying in and landed on the stage.
“Oh boy” I looked at Pepper and Nat both having mixed reactions. Everyone started to cheer and were yelling for dad. I watched as dad talked to Rhodey and then Hammer before dad flew up and the bots started to shoot at him. As they went after dad Nat led Pepper and me out away from the crowd.
We walked to the back and found Hammer talking to some guys. Telling us to leave Pepper went off on him before he started to blame dad. So Nat took him down and asked where the guy was. Nat started to walk.
“I am going with her Pepper.”
“Is that safe?”
“I will be fine.” I followed Nat out of the building and we found Happy who Nat told to take us to Hammer Industries.
As we were driving Nat started to change in the back seat telling Happy what to do. When he swerved the car she told him to watch the road. I slipped out of the dress I was wearing and had an outfit similar to Nats on underneath.
“You come prepared I see.”
“Always that was the number one rule I was taught. Be prepared for anything, why do you think I wore a long dress?” I said slipping a jacket over the top of the tank top I had on.
“Well, I'm glad you have learned things. Are you ready to put some more of your training in action?”
“Bring it on.” We pulled up to the building and all went out with Nat telling Happy to stay in the car.
“I'm not staying in the car. I need to keep Rebekah safe.”
“She can take care of herself and has me as back up. Now stay in the car.”
“No, what are you wearing?” Nat ignored him and went to break in.
“Look, I'm not letting you go in there alone.”
“You want to help keep the car running”
“Ok” Nat got the door open and Happy ran in first.
Nat and I walked in after him and Happy started to fight the first guy. Nat then took on the next few guys that came our way as we started through the hall to find where the guy was. More started to come out and I helped Nat take them down using the things that she had been teaching me.
After they were all taken care of we went looking for the room and Nat kicked the door in with guns out. She started to work on the computer to reboot Rhodey’s suit. I was looking at the other robots’ programming.
“Reboot complete, you got your best friend back.”
“Thank you very much, agent Romanoff.”
“Well done with the new chest piece I’m reading, significantly higher output and your vitals all look promising.”
“Yes, for the moment, I’m not dying. Thank you.”
“What do you mean you’re not dying? Did you just say you’re dying?”
“Is that you? No, I’m not. Not anymore.”
“What’s going on?”
“I was going to tell you. I didn’t want to alarm you.”
“You were gonna tell me? You really were dying?”
“You didn’t let me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that?”
“I was gonna make you an omelet and tell you.”
“Don’t feel bad Pepper, he didn’t tell me either.” I finally say.
“Hey, hey. Save it for the honeymoon. You got incoming, Tony. Looks like the fights coming to you.”
“Great. Pepper?”
“Are you okay now?”
“I am fine, don't be mad. I will formally apologize…”
“I am mad!”
“...when I’m not fending off a Hammeroid attack.”
“Fine.”
“We could have been in Venice.”
“Oh, please.” After that dad went back to Rhodey and Pepper started to deal with other things. We watched the screen and tried to watch for anything that dad would not see.
“Heads up. You got one more drone incoming. This one looks different. The repulsor signature is significantly higher.” They all started to fight as he came in.
“Nat I know I'm mad at dad but he's going to be alright isn’t he?”
“Your dad is strong.” They were able to take him down and then we figured out that the robots were going to blow. Dad took off to save Pepper and I looked at Nat.
“We should get out of here,” Nat told us. She led both Happy and me out and she had me get in the car.
“We will get you to your dad and Pepper.”
“Thanks for everything Nat.”
“Anything for my mini-me.” I was taken to SHIELD to be debriefed. It was a long few hours and I was tired and ready to sleep.
Once I told them everything I was able to walk around as I waited for anyone else to be done. I was sitting looking through a magazine rolling my eyes at the things that they tried to pass as truth when Nat walked in.
“How are you doing sweets?”
“I have been better.”
“You did amazing tonight.”
“Thanks, Nat, though you are the one that has worked with me the most.”
“Others have too.”
“I know but you're one of the best fighters we have. You're one of the best agents we have. I can't believe they were not sure about you.”
“Well to be fair I was not a great person before.”
“Only because the people who had you took advantage of young girls and wanted you all to become weapons.”
“You read way too many files.”
“I also get told all kinds of stories. I guess that is what happens when you grow up around here and with pretty cool people.”
“I better be the coolest.”
“You know you are.”
“Rebekah, How are you really with everything that has happened?”
“I will be fine Nat, you know me. I’m a Stark plus my mother’s daughter it will take a lot more to break me. I know you worry about me, you always have but I will be alright. After all, I have been training pretty much my whole life to be able to work here and help people. It's what my family does, I want to be more than what people expect me to be. I will not be just another rich girl like people think I am. I want to make the world a better place and sometimes you have to start small for that, but I am willing to put in the work.”
“You know we are all so proud of the young women you have become. I know you will change the world for the better because you changed my life for the better just by being you.”
“I love you, Nat”
“I love you, love bug.” She pulled me in a hug and then dad and Pepper got done so I left with them waving goodbye to Nat.
I was watching from the side of the stage as dad and Rhodey were given awards by the senator that I didn’t like. I could tell he was not happy about it and it made me so happy to watch how upset he was about it. That is what he got for being a jerk, on more than one occasion. I didn’t like bullies and he was for sure a bully. They got their awards and there were pictures to follow. Then we were finally able to go.