Time As We Know It ,, H.S. x READER

c h a p t e r - o n e

Howard's pov

I took a sharp intake of breath as Peggy stepped in my lab. "Peg! Wh-Why are you here?" I asked hesitantly as she stepped towards me, her hands firmly placed on her hips as she walked. "I heard something to do with you, Howard. And I didn't like it." I raised a brow as my butler, Jarvis, came in.

I looked at Jarvis and he looked, guilty. "Jarvis..?" He looked down. "Sir, I believe.. Uh.. I believe there is something I have, delayed to tell you." He fiddled with his hands as I glanced at Peggy.

"Peg, what is he talking about?" I asked slowly. Peggy explained showing me the paper.

Howard Stark Kills Mistress!? was the headliner. Anger and confusion filled me to the brim. I snatched the paper and sat down my hands clutched my hair.

I looked to Peg with desperate eyes. She immediately shook her head. "Howard, no." I pleaded, "Peg, please! You did it before, just one more time! Please, I'd owe you my life." I held Peggy's hands in my own. Kissing her knuckles trying to charm my way into her saying yes. Peggy rolled her eyes. She separated our hands and held my right with her left and her right with my left.

"Stark, you already owe me your life." She said dropping her hands to go back to her sides. "Is that a yes??" I asked enthusiastically. She nodded and shrugged. I held her hands before dropping them to embrace her in a quick hug. "Thank you, again." She nodded and Jarvis sat aside towards the door.

"Okay. Let's get started, kids." I smiled softly at Peg and Jarvis.

-=+=-

your pov

On the way to L.A. there was this guy on the plane next to me who kept sneezing, I'm honestly quite scared I caught something.

I sighed as I made my way into my new work, Stark Industries. My cousin Peggy invited me over here once I told her I was into science and she spoke with a few people and got me a job. How lucky am I, right? I smiled as I entered the building, everyone was pretty decent to me and I went to the floor of my new boss, the Howard Stark.

Once I made my way up there I talked to his secretary and she pointed to a room, she was on the phone after I told her I was looking for him. I opened the door to a very impressive lab. There was all sorts of gadgets in here, it was truly fascinating. "Y/N?" Peggy said, her english accent filling my ears.

"Peggy!" I ran towards her to give her a warm hug, of course after I sat my breakfast down. Most of it was eaten but I still had a bit left over.

"I'm happy you made it safe. Oh! Right, Y/N, meet Mr. Stark." She gestured to a very handsome man beside of her. He has slicked hair and a nice combed mustache. He looked at me and then to Peggy. "Howard, this is my cousin, Y/N L/N." She smiled towards me as her hand landed flat in mid-air.

"Ah, what a pleasure it is to meet you, Y/N." He placed his hand out for you to shake and you eagerly took him up on that offer. He slowly looked up at you and kissed your knuckles. Smirking as he did so, which caused you to be as red as a strawberry. Which, of course, caused his smirk to grow. Peggy cleared her throat and waved to the corner of the room. A tall skinny man made his way over and Peggy began another introduction. "Y/N, meet Mr. Jarvis." She gestured to Jarvis and I nodded. He put his hand out similar to Stark, "Hello, Ms. L/N." His english accent much like Peggy's filled my ears. I smiled softly and he returned it, "Hello, Mr. Jarvis!" I said happily. I folded my hands together and looked at Peg. "So, Peg. What we workin on today?" I said awaiting a request. She inhaled and looked at Mr. Stark.

"We are helping Mr. Stark with his little..." She paused, "Predicament." Howard finished for her. She nodded. "Yes, predicament." She repeated, finishing her own sentence. I nodded slowly.. "And.. that is..?" I waited for someone to answer but no one did. Mr. Stark slid over the paper and I read it. I opened my mouth to talk, confused if we were burying someone today. "I didn't do it. I was framed." He says quickly. Peggy and Jarvis nod when I look to them to confirm this. I stood my mouth slightly agape as I store at the paper.

"So.. we're.. clearing your name?" I clarified and Peggy nodded. I took a deep breath and set the paper down. My hands held each other again making a clap sound. "Alright, what do we do first?" I saw Jarvis smile slightly, nervousness clear in his smile. Peggy smirked, pride clear in her features. I could've sworn I saw Howard smirk but he quickly turned around to look for something. I looked to Peg and she shrugged. "Mr. Stark, what should I do?" I asked hesitantly backing up so my hands met the edge of the counter. He looked at me. His eyes scanned my figure and I blushed slightly, noticing his eyes.

Howard Stark "Maybe you can help me with things that Jarvis and Peg might need for investigation." Mr. Stark said, smirking a bit at me. Peggy looked at me and nodded. "That's not a bad idea. Okay, Mr. Jarvis. May you drive me to work? I have to try and get a lead on Howard here." She sighed her hands moved to her hips as she sent Howard a glare. He nervously chuckled and scratched his neck as he went back to looking at his inventions.

Mr. Jarvis nodded and gestured for Peggy to go in front of him before he left. He watched her leave and stopped at the door. He looked at me and bowed slightly. "Nice meeting you, Ms. L/N." He smiled and left, leaving me and Howard in the lab. I looked around dragging my fingertips along the edge of the counter. I felt Howard's eyes on me as I walked around. I kept quiet as I stopped in front of a ball. It was grey and it looked like a bomb of some sorts. I gently picked it up and saw a switch sort of looking thing and interacted with it. It opened and it slightly scared me- It just was very sudden. This caused a quiet chuckled from the man behind me. I glanced over at him and he smiled innocently. Which caused me to raise my nose at him, which caused him to laugh a bit. I looked back at the ball and saw an empty line. It looked fit for a vial of some sort.

I carried it over to the opposite side of the table where Mr. Stark was sitting and I looked up at him. "What exactly is this, Mr. Stark?" I asked quietly. Thankfully he heard me and didn't ask me to repeat it. "It um.. was for a vial." I wasn't completely satisfied with the answer but I wouldn't want to pry. "Oh- And call me, Howard." He added as I turned to put the ball up.

I turned to look at him and smiled at him. "Sure, Howard." I said, testing his name on my lips. He smirked softly in return and suddenly Peggy's voice roared in the room. I almost dropped the ball but caught it just before it started to fall. I sighed out of relief and this caused Howard to stand up. Once he was sure I was okay, he answered the phone that was now ringing. "Talk to me." Howard spoke into the phone, I suppose it was his hello. I scoffed at it as I was trying to stifle a giggle. Howard looked up at me but I waved him off, smiling like a little kid.

He nodded and made an accepting noise as he jotted down some notes. I sighed tapping the counter before pulling my hair back, seeing it was in my face. Though, for some reason this action seemed to catch Mr. Stark's attention. I let out a deep exhale and waited for him to give me an objective. "Got it. Thanks, Peg." He said as he hung up. "Alright. Let's get to work, Y/N."

-=+=-

1411 words

hope you enjoyed the second page of this book :)

x sal