You What?!?
Not long after Tony took Maria in, Peggy stepped down as director of Shield, moving towards more of a consultant role. Before leaving she made sure to remove every link between herself and her now two god children that she could find.
Tony and Maria grew close to one another as the years went by with Peggy making frequent visits to the mansion the siblings occupied. Within six months,Tony had moved himself and Maria out of his parents house and into a more private property. This was done to help hide Maria from the media. When she found out about that she thought that Tony was ashamed of her. It took Tony and Peggy both to assure her that no one was ashamed of her, it was just to protect her from the fallout of what would come from a second child of Howard Stark, especially one born because of an affair.
Because of the desire to keep Maria’s relationship to Tony a secret, Peggy would frequently pose as Maria’s aunt and guardian Diana Hill for school related events so that Tony wouldn’t be recognized.
Even though he couldn’t always be there for his little sister, he always made sure to be in attendance for her soccer and hockey games; even if he had to hide in the shadows. This didn’t matter to Maria though, she was just happy that her brother was there. It even became a game between the two of them, how long would it take Maria to find Tony.
At the end of Maria’s junior year of high school Tony started giving her ideas for college. He knew that she didn't have the same love of engineering that he had so M.I.T was out but she was definitely smart enough to get into any school that she wanted. That's what made her decision so shocking for Tony.
The two of them were sitting in front of the TV watching a Yankee game and eating Chinese food. Tony was seated on the large couch, feet up on the table while Maria was sitting on the floor next to him.
“So I was thinking that we could visit Stanford in a couple of weeks once school is done. Just the two of us.” Tony said never taking his eyes of the TV “We can have Hogan drop us off and the two of us could just walk around campus without anyone around”
Maria bit her bottom lip not knowing what she was going to say. After a few moments of silence she heard her brother speak again.
“Ria, did you hear me? Stanford?”
“No I heard you Tony.” She began, “But there's something that I wanted to talk to you about.”
“What's up? Did you already make up your mind?” Tony asked, sitting up and turning the TV off so he could focus on her.
“In a sense.” She said not looking at her brother.
“Well, don't keep me in suspense. Tell me the lucky school that doesn’t know they’re getting a Stark.” Tony’s excitement growing.
“Themarines.” Maria mumbles.
“You’re going to have to speak up there puck head, it almost sounded like you said the Marines.” Her brother said laughing but stopped when he realized she wasn’t going to correct him, “Maria, tell me that you didn’t say marines.”
“I did.” She said quietly.
Tony got up and began to pace around the room “Okay but why you can go anywhere you want to, do anything you want to.”
“I just think that they’re a good fit for me considering…..” Maria said, watching her brother before trailing off.
“Considering what Maria?” Tony asked, turning to look at his sister. Maria winced at her brother's use of her actual name and not a nickname or shortened version. The only time he ever used her actual name was when he was actually angry or upset with her which rarely happens. “No Maria. Considering what Maria, finish that sentence.”
Maria stood up from her spot on the floor, still watching her brother, “Considering that I want to join Shield.”
Tony was shocked silent. A part of him knew that he should have expected this seeing that Maria and Aunt Peggy were practically joined at the hip whenever they were around one another so it was inevitable that Maria would hear some of the legendary spy’s stories. The larger part of him though, just kept thinking that his little sister was meant for better things than the military and then an intelligence agency.
“Wha… but… why?” He finally stuttered out.
If it weren’t for the gravity of the situation Maria may have actually laughed at Tony Stark being shocked silent, “Because I want to help people the same way Aunt Peggy did. You have S.I. but I don’t have anything. You and I can’t even acknowledge that we’re related because of Howard. This is my way of hopefully making my own way.” She said as tears began to fall.
Tony’s face softened, “Ria…. That’s not true at all and you know it. You have me, Aunt Peggy and her family, the walking talking platypus himself. You have things.”
“You know what I mean Tone.” She said, wiping her tears.
“I know. But why don’t you go to college first, have some fun, maybe even go to classes and learn something.” Tony said, trying to cheer her up, “I can safely say that the Marines and every other branch aren’t going anywhere.”
“Neither are college’s Tones.” She said.
Tony sighed rubbing his face, “I just can’t lose you Ri. You’re my little sister, I’m supposed to look out for you and I can’t do that with you in the Marines.” He said sitting down.
“You don’t have to protect me Tony anymore. When you got me away from my mother you practically became a helicopter parent, only with slightly more drinking and dates.” She said sitting down next to him, putting her head on his shoulder.
“I feel like I should be offended by that but that kinda describes it.” He said with a small laugh. “We can go forward with us being related anytime you want, the only reason we haven’t was because Peggy and I wanted you to have a semi-normal childhood.”
“It would cause too many problems and you know it.” She said softly.
“Fucking Howard.” Tony sighed.
“Fucking Howard.” She agreed with a small smile.
“So the Marines.” He said coming to terms with her decision.
“Yup.” She said, popping the p.
“Well you’ll have to be the one to tell honey bear.” He said, resting his head on hers. “But be prepared, all you’re going to hear until you sign anything is how much better the Airforce is.”
“Deal.” She said with a laugh.