The Prowler

8

This was the most excited I've been in years; there were numerous inventions everywhere. Tables spread throughout all the rooms on all the floors filled with miscellaneous nick-nacks and tech, interns fiddling and causing fires to erupt, and the legendary Pepper Potts welcoming me in.

"Welcome, Peter," Pepper holds out her hand, encouraging a handshake.

"Holy fuck," I abruptly mutter under my breath, causing Pepper to blink a few times in surprise. "I'm so sorry, just a big fan of yours. It's a privilege to meet you."

"The privilege is all mine, Peter," Pepper smiles softly, "Your application was quite impressive, it caught all our attention. We're pleased to have you onboard."

"Thanks," My eyes are practically twinkling at this point. Pepper motions with her hand for me to follow her and I do so gladly.

"Unlike interns in the past, you're going to be able to start inventing things immediately," Pepper states as if that simple statement didn't just make my heart fucking pound. "You and another intern will be working together as we monitor and see your capabilities. After all, we don't know for sure if what you wrote in your application was true."

"Everything I wrote was completely true," I blurted out before pausing to take a breath,"I understand the worry, though."

"Based on your grades, I believe you're fully capable of what you've claimed." Pepper assures, smiling.

"So, what's the other intern's name?" I ask, genuinely curious.

"Her name is Akila," Pepper states, "She's fifteen just like you, but from a different school."

"Cool, I'm excited to work with someone." I say full honestly. I've never had the opportunity to learn from and observe someone my age when it came to inventing. "It'll be a good learning experience."

"That it will be," Pepper smiled, again. She really likes smiling, huh?

Pepper and I walk into a room filled with tables, most of them empty but one which was covered in nuts and bolts and other miscellaneous things. And low-and-behold, Tony Stark stood talking to who I could only presume was Akila.

"Tony, I wasn't aware you were greeting the new interns," Pepper stated, the smile leaving her face and her professional expression arising. "I would've gathered them all in one place."

"I was just passing through and saw Ms. Rover here," Tony said, and I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Why does it feel like he's lying? Tony's eyes drifted over to me, giving me a confident smirk. "And you must be Peter, great to meet you."

"You too, sir," I bowed my head slightly, not really sure what to do or say. My mixed feelings with Tony Stark were too complex for me to react normally.

"Akila, this is Peter, you two will be working together for right now," Pepper gave me a pat on the back, "I hope you two get along well."

"Hi, Peter," Akila gave a small smile and wave, causing me to awkwardly do the same. "I look forward to working with you."

"Same," I internally cringe at how awkward I'm being. Once Pepper pulls Tony out of the room to talk to him, I can't help but put in an effort to fix my idiocy. "So, how long have you been making things?"

"Not too long, honestly," Akila shrugs, "Just recently got into it in my robotics class."

"Oh nice," My face lights up, "I took robotics last year, I loved it."

"What about you?" Akila asks before clarifying, "How long have you been making things?"

"I've always fiddled with things," I pick up a wrench, "Yknow, legos, robots, cars, you name it." I searched through the mess of bolts to find one that would fit the wrench. "But I've been inventing real things for about three years."