Cherry Bomb | Marvel Cinematic Universe

1.4 | The Room Where It Happens

I ran faster than my legs could carry me. Lungs burning and palms sweating, I pummeled my way through the living quarters back down to the main floor. It was a Sunday, so most of the full-time employees were off enjoying golf games and mimosas with brunch. Or whatever grown adults did on Sundays.

As I approached the grand staircase connecting the upper floors to the lobby, my feet went flying over the top steps. A leap that big should have sent me catapulting into a bone-breaking landing. Instead, I landed with grace on the tips of my toes, only to jump and skip another six steps. For a moment I was weightless, drifting down to earth with the speed of a leaf in autumn. With every bound I felt the surge of energy expanding. The compound was the one place on this planet I felt comfortable enough to use my powers unconsciously.

I came to a screeching hault at the bottom of the staircase. The momentum from my fall sent me run-tripping directly into the chest of a very fragile looking man. He had brown hair and silly glasses, and he dropped the briefcase he was holding when we collided. I mentally reached out to stop it from spinning out too far away on the floor.

"Oh my God, I am so sorry!" I bent down to pick up the briefcase and thrust it into its owner's very discombobulated arms. The man brushed imaginary dust off his crisp white shirt and took the briefcase from me with a flat smile.

I took a step back to gather my bearings. The man was clearly an assistant of some sort to the other stranger in the room. He was taller than my father, who stood to his left, with a mop of white hair and a matching moustache. The subtle sheen of his pitch black suit and the golden cufflinks told me that he must be the Secretary of State.

"Oh kid, I never taught you how to make a grand entrance, did I?"

I grimaced. My father was never one to hide disappointment. But I knew that his words held no depth as he opened his arms and enveloped me in a quick 'hello' embrace. He ruffled my hair a bit and positioned me to face his colleagues.

"Gentlemen, you know my daughter, Laurie." This wasn't the first time I had been introduced to government officials, and it would not be the last. The public might be in the dark about Tony Stark's lineage, but the US government has been in on the bit for years.

"Secretary Ross," the greying man held his hand out. I shook it firmly, matching the strength of his grip to mine. That was an old trick Dad taught me so I could "assert my dominance in front of big-headed men." It felt appropriate.

"Pleasure to meet you, sir." I took a step backwards and found my father's hands on my shoulders.

"Laur, why don't you go get your things together. Mr. Ross and I are going to have a short meeting with the rest of the team, and then we can head home," Dad said, flashing pearly whites my way. I felt my chest tighten at the idea of the team having a private meeting, especially one where a U.S. official was present.

"Well I am sure the team wouldn't mind me sitting in." I spoke with a sickeningly sweet tone and turned my attention to Ross. "Especially if the Secretary of State will be in attendance. I've always had a dream to go into politics."

"Is that so?" Ross raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by the fake glean in my eyes.

"This is the first time I'm hearing about this." Dad chimed in.

"Ah, but with all your business trips, how would you have known?" I said, knowing I must have been pushing my luck.

"Laurel."

"Unfortunately, this meeting is strictly Avengers-only." Ross stepped closer, ruffling a hand over the hair atop my head as if I were a dog. " Nothing you need to worry that little head of yours about, Miss Stark."