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Penny was so excited.
She was literally bouncing in her seat in the car next to me. I’d picked her up from school today and just informed her that a few of the Avengers may happen to be at the tower for a quick meeting before we went down to the lab.
I’d been hesitant to bring her around them. We used to be as close as family. Now I’m not sure what we were. Relationships had been mended, but it would never be the same. Until now I didn’t trust them with Penny, making sure she was never around at the same time they would be. This felt like a big step for me.
“Who is going to be there?” She asked.
“Natasha and Clint. A couple of the others.”
“Hawkeye and Black Widow!? I’m going to meet THE Black Widow?!” she exclaimed. I chuckled at her excitement. Thor was here too, but I was going to leave him as a surprise. She thinks I don’t know about the poster she has of him in her closet. I caught a glimpse of it last time I’d been at her apartment to pick her up. She had been digging for a missing shoe when I caught a glimpse of it.
“Ya, kid. They are excited to meet you. Sam and Steve might be there too.” I expected more excitement from her but she seemed to freeze.
“Oh.”
“Is that okay with you?” I asked, confused at her change of demeanor.
“Ya, of course.” she was quick to say. “Its just, I didn’t know he was back.”
“Ya, he's back.” I answered with a sigh. The relationship between Steve and I was complicated at best. Things between us were awkward at times, both of us trying to find our way back to a new normal but I could honestly say I trusted him again. I wouldn’t be bringing Penny anywhere near him if I didn’t.
“Are you okay with it?” she asked me.
This kid. I regret she had to see me after Siberia. I wasn’t in a good place physically or mentally and had been sporting a nasty black eye and pretty good limp. I know she had been concerned.
“Ya Pen,” I said, stopping at a red light and looking over at her. “I’m okay with it. We both know I don’t do things I don’t want to do.” She didn’t look convinced. I continued.
“We both made a lot of mistakes. It wasn’t all on him. Things just” I paused, trying to figure out how to word it. “got out of hand. Quickly. There were secrets kept that shouldn’t have been and I never waited for an explanation. I just reacted. So did he.”
Penny nodded. I turned back to the road as the light turned green.
I continued, “We’ve talked Pen. We won’t let anything like that happen again. We’re good.”
She was quiet for a moment.
“Okay. I trust you. And I know they won’t hurt you again.”
“Ya?” I questioned. Not that I thought they would, but she sounded much more confident than she did a minute ago.
“Ya. Because if they tried, you wouldn’t be alone this time.” She said, a hint of steel to her voice. She meant it. She would take on the great Captain America for me.
“Well I’m a little bummed now that it won’t happen. I’d love to see you kick Steve’s ass.” I said, trying lightening the mood.
It had the desired effect when she cracked a smile again.
“So do you think Natasha will show me her suit?
I chuckled, glad she was back to being excited.
The team was waiting for us in the communal room of the private floor they used to share when they stayed here. Clint and Natasha sat on the couch while Steve and Sam sat in chairs on either side of the couch across from each other. Thor must have just gotten in from off planet because he was still in his full gear, hammer and all standing next the couch.
Penny spotted him immediately shooting me a wide eyed look. She was trying to play it cool in front of them, but I could tell she was totally geeking out inside.
I smirked and led the way out of the elevator, Penny following close behind. Everyone stood as we entered. Most of them had either caught glimpses of Penny on her way in or out of the tower or heard my side of a phone conversation with her, but I’d never offered any sort of explanation as to who she was. They probably thought she was my secret love child or something.
Curiosity shown in their eyes.
“Hi everyone.” I said as we reached the group. “There’s someone I’d like you all to meet. This” I put my arm around Penny’s shoulders next to me “is Penny.”
She gave an awkward wave and a shy “Hi” her cheeks turning slightly pink from being the center of attention.
Sam, who was standing closest to her took a step closer, reaching out his hand in greeting.
“Nice to meet you Penny, I’m Sam.”
“Hi Sam, it’s nice to meet you too.” Penny answered in a slightly reserved tone.
Steve was right behind him, reaching his hand out as Sam released hers.
“Hi Penny, I’m Steve.” I felt her tense a bit beside me as she reached her hand out to him.
“Hi,” was all she offered in return, which in Penny’s book was about as cold as it came. I noticed Penny’s hand squeezing Steve’s hand a bit tighter than was necessary and wondered if she was putting some of her super strength into it. Penny was holding his gaze calmly. Steve’s brows came together slightly in confusion and I could tell he was already trying to connect dots I had no desire for him to connect.
“So how do you know Tony?” he asked.
“She’s my intern.” I said stepping forward a bit. “She works in the lab with me.”
Surprise showed on their faces. “Your intern?” he asked. “You have interns?”
“Correction, I have an intern. Singular.”
“So there’s no familial connection here? Nothing of the sort?” Clint piped up.
Penny snorted next to me. “No, just an intern.” Also amused at my correct assumption I’d had earlier. Penny was clearly more than that, but they didn’t need to know that much yet.
“Well crap.” Clint said slipping some money to Natasha next to him, having obviously lost a bet.
We stepped away from Sam and Steve toward Clint and Natasha. “Natasha, Clint, Penny.” I said gesturing respectfully.
“Hi, it's so great to meet you! “Penny said, some of the excitement from the car returning.
“Penny here was hoping you could show her your suit.” I told Natasha, embarrassing Penny. I think Natasha looked a bit surprised. You could never be sure with her and her ‘spy mask’ but I was getting better at it. I think.
“Sure, I’d be happy to show it to you sometime.” she answered Penny.
“Wow, that would be so cool. Thank you. I mean I totally understand if your busy and don’t have time, but ya, that would be so cool. I was wondering how your spider bites work. I’ve been trying to recreate something similar in the lab, but can’t quite get them right. They keep going off before they actually hit the target.” She rambled a bit, sounding so excited that I decided I would make a damn Black Widow suit for her if Natasha couldn’t find the time.
“Oh, Tony let’s you work on weapons in the lab?” she asked, looking at me instead of Penny.
“No. I mean yes. I mean sometimes.” she finished awkwardly looking at me for help, eyes big.
“Yes, sometimes, under careful supervision we look at how to improve some of the non-lethal weapons and how they work.” I said with a chuckle. How Penny kept a secret identity with her complete inability to lie convincingly was beyond me.
Natasha noticed of course and got a similar look as Steve did, trying to connect the dots. I quickly steered Penny toward Thor hoping to move on.
“And this is Thor. Thor, Penny” I introduced. Thor let loose his mega watt smile at her, setting his hammer down on the coffee table and reaching out for a handshake.
“It is very good to meet you Penny.”
Penny blushed from her neck to her forehead as she reached out, returning his handshake “ It’s so nice to meet you too Mr. Thor. I’m a big fan.”
“How very nice of you to say.” Thor accepted.
There was a very short moment of awkwardness in the room before I clapped my hands together breaking the silence.
“Okie dokie, welp now that introductions are out of the way let’s get to it.” Turning to Penny I continued, “We are going to head down to the conference room. You know where the fridge is. Help yourself." She was always hungry after school. “We shouldn’t be long.”
Still wide eyed Penny nodded, and everyone took that as their queue and headed toward the elevator. We were only about halfway there when it happened.
“Wait!” Penny called from behind us. Turning in time to see her hurry over to Thor’s hammer still sitting on the coffee table and lifting it as if it weighed nothing.
“Don’t forget your hammer Mr. Thor.” She said starting toward us with the hammer stretched out toward Thor.
We all froze, staring at her. Even Natasha’s spy mask had dropped leaving her looking just as shocked as the rest of us.
Penny, noticing our reactions, froze as well before looking at me in panic.
“I’m sorry, am I not supposed to touch this?“ she asked worriedly. “I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry.” Panicking she quickly set it on the ground right in front of her and took 3 big steps back as if that could take her actions back.
“I’m sorry.” she said one more time, staring at her feet looking like she might cry.
Clint was the first to break with a sharp laugh, clapping Thor on the shoulder. “Welp looks like you don’t get to rule Azgard anymore.” Thor didn’t join in his laughter.
Thor was staring at Penny. As the shock wore off his face changed into a look of respect and admiration. “She is worthy.” he said quietly.
He walked over to his hammer picking it up and stepping in front of Penny.
“You’ve done nothing wrong little one.” He assured her.
She glanced up at him still unsure. Her shoulders sagged in relief a bit, eyes flashing to me then back to Thor when he continued.
“You see Mjolnir was forged in the heart of a dying star and wields great power. My father placed an enchantment on it to prevent it from being used in the wrong way by the wrong people. Only those that are worthy can lift the hammer.” He finish, holding the hammer out for her to take.
Confusion crossed her face but she reached out and took the hammer again. The sight still shocking.
“So like only good people can use it?” she questioned.
“More than that Penny. To wield this hammer you must understand the weight and responsibility of the power it holds. You must be pure of heart and wise in the ways of your actions. I have only ever met one other worthy of it’s power.”
Her eyes grew wide. She looked down at the hammer in her hands studying it. “With great power comes great responsibility.” She said quietly to herself.
“Yes.” Thor agreed.
I knew she was going to be the best of us. This only further confirmed it. Even the whammy Thor’s father laid on that hammer agreed.
Breaking out of my shock I walked over to her. Looking up at me she held out the hammer to me. “Have you tried to lift it Mr. Stark?” She asked genuinely. I snorted. Her thinking I was wise enough in my actions to be “worthy” was sweet. Laughable, but sweet.
“Ya kid. Didn’t go so good.”
“Really?” she asked surprised.
Deciding to mildly humiliate myself for her benefit I reached out wrapping my fingers around the handle of the hammer. The moment her fingers left the handle the hammer dropped to the ground with a thud, taking me with it.
Penny took a startled step back and I heard a few snickers behind us.
“Like I said.” I chuckled with them as I righted myself.
Penny looked down at the hammer, then back up at me, then over to the others around the room. They had also recovered from the shock somewhat and every one of them were giving her the same look that Steve and Natasha had, trying to put the puzzle together. Well crap.
“So how’s it sound kid, wanna rule Azgard?” I asked her.
“Wait what?” she asked.
“That’s the deal. You lift the hammer you get to rule Azgard.” I informed her.
“Umm no thank you?” She said in an unsure voice, looking at Thor. This caused another round of chuckles in the room.
“Very well child, but know that anyone deemed worthy by Mjølnir is welcome in the land of Azgard anytime.” Thor answered.
Penny and I had opposite reactions to his invitation, me noticing her excitement and saying “No!” at the same time as she said “Really!?” No way was she allowed to travel light-years away from home. Nope.
She looked over to me, mischief in her eyes. “Sorry kid, you’ve got homework.” I said, mocking her reaction to when I first asked her to come to Germany with me. “Now” I continued, clapping my hands together and turning back to everyone else. I was very ready to get their attention off of her. “Let’s get to our meeting before Han Solo here kidnaps my intern to a galaxy far far away.”
Everyone seemed reluctant to leave now, still staring at Penny. She noticed this again, and squirmed a bit at the scrutiny. They all looked at her as if she grown 10 feet. Regardless they all started to shuffle there way to the elevator, Thor grabbing his Hammer this time, while Cap excitedly whispered to Sam that he had understood that reference.
“Be back soon kid, and try not to go pulling any swords out of any stones, or mess with any other mystically enchanted objects while I’m gone.” I threw over my shoulder on the way out of the room. She laughed behind me.
Fin.