Stark's little invention

4. Are You Sure We're Related

His eyes have nothing but confusion. He looks to the women for confirmation, and they just nod. He looks from me to them, like we aren't even real.
"No there's been a mistake, I don't have any brothers, or sisters, or nieces or nephews, or anybody with any relation." Oh boy, he thinks I'm a distant cousin or something stupid like that. He turns to me.
"And you... what do you want? Your not getting any money, or promises, or any of my..." I scoff, and walk away from him. At this point maybe the foster system wouldn't be so bad.
"Hey I'm talking to you!" He yells.
"Hey I'm not listening to you!" I yell equally as loud. He glared at me, wow this would never fly in my home.
"Peighton!" Mrs June scolds,
"Apologizes this instant, and respect your elders. I'm trying to keep you out of the system, but what do you think Mr Stark is thinking right now. Do you think he wants a disrespectful little girl?" I state honestly,
"I think Mr Stark already doesn't want me." She sighs,
"Mr Stark I apologize for her behavior." He glares back at me,
"What are you talking about, 'want her'?" Mrs June sighs,
"Peighton, Why don't you wait here while us adults talk in the next room."  I shake my head, and watch the adults walk out.
It's been ten minutes, and I haven't heard anything,
"I'm so bored." I sigh.
"Who are you talking to miss." A mechanical voice says, scaring the tar outta me in the process.
"Who are you?"
"I am J.A.R.V.I.S, Mr Stark's personal A.I. Who where you talking too?"
"Nobody just... Nobody," I sigh.
"So you're an AI? That's cool... Hey can you tell me what's going on, what are the adults talking about?" It pauses for a moment,
"Are you sure about it?"
"Yeah, I want to know what they are saying." He seems to be thinking about it,
"Yes, But are you sure you should be listening?" I smirk, great a robot with a conscience, I'm doomed.
"Yeah, it's about me isn't it?"
      After a minute I hear the voices from the living room...

"What's all this about?" Definitely Stark.
"Mr Stark, There's been an accident. Do you remember a Mrs Rachel Williams... more currently Rachel Matthews?"
"Well... Yeah a little." He says... even I can tell he's lying, Mrs Potts calls him out on it,
"Tony?"
"Okay... we eloped ... but we were young and stupid. We only knew each other for like two weeks, and divorced like three weeks later. It wasn't even in the news. So we barely knew each other.

"Oh ya knew each other alright." I say to myself.

"How long ago was that?" Mrs June questions.
"It's been almost ten years."
"Actually," She corrects, "Its been about seven years, and nine months." I can hear the pause in the conversation, before Stark begins.
"What are you suggesting?"
"Tony, that little girl in there is your..." Mrs Potts tries, but he cuts her off.
"No, that's impossible... we were young, she can't be."
"Oh yes she can be, and she is. That little girl in there is yours, and she needs a home." Mrs June says in a stern motherly voice.
"Well, find one. She's gotta have a aunt or uncle, or even a foster family she can..." Mrs Potts cuts him off,
"No! That little girl is your responsibility! She will be staying here, and you are gonna be the one to tell her that!" My heart drops when a mechanical voice speaks up,
"Actually no one will have to tell her, she already knows."
"J.A.R.V.I.S!" I chide, and Tony comes in.
"Pep, say something."
"Say what?" She says, but it comes through on the system that I was listening through. He looks at me with raised eyebrows, and I chuckle nervously.
"Tony, what's the matter?" Mrs Potts enters with Mrs June hot on her heals,
"Well it seems we don't need to discuss anything... Jarvis repeat."
He repeats Mrs Potts,
"That little girl is your resp..."
"That's enough Jar." Mrs Stark turns to me with a disapproving look, and I don't even want to see Mrs June's unhappy look. Mrs Potts seems to think this is amusing, and turns to Tony,
"Abusing the use of your technology, I guess she is really yours." He glared at her,
"I don't believe it... she isn't mine."
"Wanna paternity test?!" I sass.
"Yes actually now that you mention it... Jarvis, call the lab." I roll my eyes,
"They found my birth certificate, your name's on it. Suck on it." He smiles at me, not a nice one a sarcastic one,
"You're quite a charmer aren't you, kinda like a..." I cut him off,
"A Stark?" He drops the sarcastic smile, and Mrs June looks shocked,
"Peighton Stark!"
"Matthews." I correct, and Tony stops us with a raised finger,
"Jar, What about the lab?"
"Ready and waiting, sir," The AI replies.
"Alright... Let's go," Stark says impatiently. We all mosey our way to the elevator, I pause before I get in,
"What are you waiting for?" Stark snaps, I glare at him, and start to step in the elevator. Wait! no...negative! I put my foot back into the penthouse, and out of the elevator. Stark puts his hand in front of it before it closes.
"Shorty, What the h..."
"Tony!" Pepper growls, and he rolls his eye.
"Oh dear child, why are you being so strange?" He mocks, and I glare.
"Can we take the stairs?"
"Of course." He says soothingly.
"Really?" Maybe he's alright.
"No."
I glare at him, and cross my arms,
"Get in the elevator," He orders. I sigh, but step in. The doors are halfway closed, but I chicken out, and jump out.
"Jar..." Tony starts, but doesn't get to finish before the doors close.
     I wait by the door, expecting to see an unhappy group of adults, or at least an unhappy Tony. Instead when the doors open, it's only Tony the women were gone. He doesn't look thrilled, but I don't think he's gonna yell at me.
"Get in." He says in a bored tone.
"Where are the girls?"
"They got off on the lab floor. Said something about wanting us to be alone for a few minutes... bonding time." He says clearly annoyed.
"Now, Get in," He orders.
"I'd rather not." His glare intensifies,
"Get... in... now," He says annunciating each word scarily slow. I glare, and fold my arms over my chest. He smirks,
"Alright we can play it this way."
     He steps out of the elevator, and I take a step back. He glared at me, and takes another step, I take two big steps back. He practically lunges at me, and grabs my forearm. I struggle to get out of his grip. He scoffs, and takes a pause at trying to pull me in,
"Ya got no chance, let's go."
"No way old man."
"Come on ya little pain it's two freaking floors." He says exasperatedly,
"Two you say?"
"Yes, just two!" He groans out.
"Okay," I make him think I'm giving up.
"Good, glad we have an understanding." He turns to get into the elevator, and I smirk.
    Once he's in I turn, and sprint in the direction of the stairs.
"Hey!" He yells, and I laugh to myself.
     I throw the door to the stairs open, and run down the stairs, skipping the last two of each set. I hear Tony hot on my heals,
"Get back here!" Once again I throw the door open to the lab.
     I run straight to the women.
"You little conniving brat!" He yells.
I run behind Mrs Potts and Mrs June,
"Help! The Tin Can's after me!"
"Come 'ere!" He comes for me, but Mrs Potts puts a hand up.
"Tony, let's just get this done." He sighs, "Yeah the sooner the better."
He grumbles, and starts to walk away,
    "Was that really necessary?" Mrs June whispers to me. I look down, but she grabs my chin forcing me to look at her,
"Now, I can't keep doing this. There are other kids in need of a good home. I've found you a very good place to stay, and I expect you to stop this little show. You need to stop acting like a wild animal, and start acting like the little girl we all know and love. Do you understand?" She says sternly, and I look down at the floor,
"Yes." I mumble, but she grabs my chin again,
"Yes what?" She states keeping her voice stern, and her look even more stern. I swallow,
"Yes ma'am." She shakes her head,
"That's a good girl." She says, it's obvious she's had a conversation or two like this before.
"They're ready for us too take the test." Mrs Potts says kindly, and unlike Tony, not rushing us at all. "Well shall we?" Mrs June states back to her normal softer self.
"Yes, I'm ready."
10/1/19