In Plain Sight // Avengers

Chapter 2

Mara sat in the back of her homeroom with Peter and Ned, idly doodling while the two discussed something Star Wars related, and the rest of the class filed in.

"Listen up students!" Their teacher, Ms. Bartlett called from her desk. She stood up, holding a clipboard, and looked out at the room. Most people were on their phones, doing homework, or simply not listening. "As I'm sure you all know, most of your day today will be spent in the gym, listening to our special guest, Mr. Tony Stark!" She glanced up after this announcement, looking around the room hopefully. 

Peter sat up straighter and smiled incredibly enthusiastically, and Ned raised his head with a grin, but that was about the only response Ms. Bartlett received. Poor woman, Mara thought, and gave her a quick smile. High school isn't known for its enthusiasm. 

Ms. Bartlett gave a quick rundown of the day, a couple hours in the gym to see some presentations, then lunch, then Stark would spend the rest of the day talking to the students about the future, and possible opportunities at Stark Industries.

As they waited in the classroom for their hall to be released to the gym, Mara continued her doodles, and the boys continued their discussion. 

...

In the gym, Peter, Ned, and Mara wandered around, looking at various experiments and futuristic looking equipment. Most students were clumped on either end of the gym, talking in groups, or engrossed in their phones. 

Suddenly Peter gasped, tugged on Ned's sleeve, and punched Mara in the arm. 

"Ow, what the hell Pete?" 

He pointed at a figure across the gym, who she soon recognized as Tony Stark. 

"Oh." Mara looked at Pete. "Well go talk to him!"

"What! No! I can't just go talk to him, what am I supposed to say, what do we talk about, I  can't just go walk up to him and start talking to him that's not how these things work Mara, he's a literal genius, plus he's Ironman and..." god not this again. 

"Peter, stop talking." Mara grabbed his arm, and pulled him across the gym towards Stark. She pushed him in front of her, right up to the man himself. "Now talk."

"Huh-uh-hi."

"Hey kid, what's your name?" Tony spoke with an upbeat voice, attempting to hide the stress and exhaustion underneath. Mara noticed. 

Peter stood there unresponsive.

"His name is Peter Parker, and he's super big fan of your work, also clearly a little anxious to meet you," Mara stepped in. 

"And you are?" Stark observed Mara with an air of curiosity. 

"Mara Rivers.

"Have we met, Miss Rivers?"

"I don't believe so, no. I think I would remember meeting you."

Stark began to say something else, but he was interrupted by one of his employees, who said he had a phone call. Stark excused himself, and Mara slapped Peter in the back of the head. 

"Oi! Anything in there?"

"Ow, no need to get violent!" Peter protested.

Mara sniffed.

"What the heck was that?" Ned asked as he approached. "You didn't even say anything to the guy!"

"I- it was a lot of pressure, I didn't know what to do!"

"Yeah, yeah, okay, I'm sorry for pushing you into it," Mara resigned. "I thought you could handle it." Suddenly, Mara  found the whole situation very funny. She struggled to hide a snicker, then looked up at Peter, who broke into a grin. This sent Mara into a fit of laughter, sending Peter into a fit of laughter, leaving Ned slightly confused, but thoroughly entertained. 

"C'mon guys, it's time for lunch," Ned said, and they began to follow the rest of the students out of the gym. 

...

After an uneventful lunch, everyone filed back into the gym, where they gathered to listen to Tony Stark talk for an hour. 

Mara was about to doze off when Peter nudged her, and she glared at him in response.

"He's talking about the internship!" Peter whispered enthusiastically. Oh.

Mara perked up, and began to listen. The more she had thought about it, the better an internship with the Avengers sounded. Her life had been so boring lately, and the Avengers would give her an outlet to actually help people. She could finally do something that mattered.

"We need someone who can take charge in a sticky situation, yet also listen to orders. I need someone who know the basics of mechanics and can assist me with my tech, and also someone who knows the basics of chemistry and biology, who can assist Dr. Banner in his lab. I know you've probably heard that he's had some anger issues, but don't worry, he's got them pretty much under control. That said, there will be some danger to the job, as the Avengers are a target for some people, given the nature of who we are. We can't save everyone." That was kind of dark. 

Stark cleared his throat. 

"Alright, well, anyone looking to apply for a job like that can submit an application online, and we'll get back to you soon. Good luck and goodnight." He bowed extravagantly, and exited the gym. 

...

Mara sat in her bedroom, staring at her laptop with the almost complete internship application pulled up, Goose on her lap. Papers filled with calculations and symbols cluttered the floor around them. The application turned out to be more of a test than an application. Mara only had one question left. 

"Goose, what is my worst element?"

Meow.

"Yeah, well, if he's talking scientifically here, my worst element is my iron, I don't have enough of that shit. Should I write that?"

Meow. 

"Okay fuck it I'm gonna do it."

She pressed submit.

"Now we just wait for a phone call I guess?"

Meow.