Stones and Glass Houses (Book 1)

🕷(75) Talks with the Moms

Pepper POV-

Mom wasn't joking when she said a Stark party was a big deal, and in the eyes of the press, it was actually dubbed 'The Biggest and Most Exclusive Party of the Year'.

Downstairs, the music was already blasting, guests had arrived, but it all seemed like muffled noise from inside the room as mom pinned Brooklyn's hair into a high ponytail.

The girl sat patiently on a small vanity, trying to convince herself that everything would be fine considering she knew most of the people who were invited. Unlike past parties hosted by her dad, this one was a little more private, which according to mom mean only about five dozen guests aside from family.

The floor below was dubbed the party hall, something Brooklyn was not at all surprised the Stark Industries building in California had. This was one of the first Industry buildings built by Tony, and dad had been a bit of a party freak back in the day, or perhaps he still was...

"Don't be nervous" mom said as she placed pins on her hair delicately, "If you feel uncomfortable, you can always sneak outside and no one will blame you for it. Parties can be a little...chaotic at times"

Not that Brooklyn would ever dare to admit it to mom, but she'd already been to a club once, and an unsupervised teenage party hosted by Flash Thompson. Brook had a feeling that if she did, the current party meant to serve as congratulations for both her and Harley would be cancelled.

It was a shame Damian wouldn't be here to work his magic glare to keep people at bay this time...

It had only been a day since the week long Thanksgiving break had begun, and yet, she couldn't help but...feel the absence of his company. But alas, the world would end before dad let a Wayne into this building willingly.

"I'm just not used to the act of being celebrated is all" the teen said, looking at both hers and Pepper's reflection in the mirror when mom smiled.

"You better get used to it" mom said with a faint laugh, "Every accomplishment that you have we'll celebrate to make up for lost time. I can't wait until you graduate high school, then college, for all the birthdays and the day of your wedding"

Brook had never celebrated her birthday, not that there was any chance to back in the Red Room considering the day of your brith was a day full of torture, a sign that you had survived for the next stage of training.

As for a wedding, Brooklyn wasn't entirely sure if that day would ever come, not that she'd given it much thought. Besides, she'd already had a fake wedding with Damian once, again, it wasn't like she could make that joke without exposing a Wayne was now her best friend.

The memory of that day made a faint smile form on Brook's face anyways.

"You know, Peter offered to stay by your side all day. Isn't that great?" Pepper said, pinning the last of her hair, then beginning to fixing the lapels of Brooklyn's black cocktail dress.

He had? 

They'd both been so busy training yesterday to really talk, even during meals, the team had spent as much time as they could asking about school and patrols so conversation between her and Peter had been scarce. But of course Peter would volunteer to stay at her side, aside from Harley, they were likely the only 'kids' in attendance.

"That was kind of him" Brooklyn replied simply, running a hand through her golden necklace back and forth nervously. 

She knew some reporters had been invited, that strangers would be downstairs...but it was silly to be afraid, she'd been through more treacherous things lately after all, especially as of late.