Archive of Our Own ^beta

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It was seven when I woke up the next morning in a bed that was definitely not my own, I look around remembering what happened last night. I pull my iPad out of my drawstring bag and open up notes.
 
Time to make a todo list/what I know list:

 
-Ruin Obadiah Stain

(This definitely needs to be done I am not going to put up with him, preferably he should be dead before Tony gets back, but I'll settle for a maximum-security prison.)

-Find Tony Stark

(I know he is in a cave somewhere in the mountains of Afghanistan.)

-Destroy the 10 rings

(or at the very least help Ironman destroy them)

-Help with the Starkranium

(I am of the belief that since Howard Stark came up with the idea of the element while studying the tesseract, this element is a derivative of some sort of the tesseract and this is what allowed Tony to not be mind-controlled by Loki in the Avengers movie, so while having the gaping hole in his chest fixed would be ideal for his health, the Ark reactor powered by this element would be a safer bet against the mind stone."

-Create an identity for me

(this one could literally be done at any point in the next year. I could pose as an accident caused by one of Tony's one-night stands, but that would make me a stark and in the spotlight, and a target. I think homeschooled orphan would be the best option until Stark industries gets moved to New York Then I can sign up for Peter's nerd school. I would be a year ahead of him, and no way would I join the Nerd trivia club, I could befriend him anyway.

-Find the co-creator of the arc reactor

(this is so his son doesn't blow up Ironman, he can get the royalties he's due, and Ironman 2 can start and end at the Stark expo)

-Find the hulk before he destroys Harlem

(this event also takes place in 2008, supposedly right in the middle of the Ironman movie, This bullet should probably be higher up the list, but it's not a major priority, although, science bros would be nice to see.)

-Downloaded Jarvis on my phone?

(I would half to ask his permission, it would be pretty cool to have The Jrvais on my phone, and on top of that it could help with communicating and planning.)

-Meet Thor in New Mexico

(there is no reason for thor to blow up New Mexico, and introducing Tony to Jane and the old man astrophysicist, that I can't remember the name of, would be fun, and greatly reduce the potential for destruction Loki and Hydra will bring)

-Introduce Captain America to iron man before Loki shows up (they definitely thaw him out at least a month before Avengers, and the initiative to find him was probably funded by Howard, so they should have informed tony once he was found, maybe if they did, there would be less fighting between them, and less chance of Civil War happening. )

-Ask Thor very carefully what color his brother’s eyes are

(this is very important to me in proving that Loki was in fact under the control of the mind stone in The Avenger's movie, because if I can prove he was, it would save a lot of grief for both Loki and Thor.)
 
Long to-do list, I know, but the first one should be to take down Stain. That should be done before Tony Stark is found. There is no need for him to have to come face to face with the emotional trauma of almost being killed by a supposed family member.
 
I looked up for my iPad trying to see if there was a camera in this room. I would hope not but there was no way of knowing for sure. 
 
When I didn’t spot a camera I got out of the bed, folded the blankets back up, grabbed a new outfit out of my bag, and headed to the bathroom.
 
In the bathroom, I brushed my teeth and changed into a new outfit, some workout shorts, and a Disney T. luckily, they had also somehow managed to shrink to my new/old size when I arrived in this dimension. 
 
I proceeded to walk out of the bathroom and into the living room.
 
“Jarvis?” I called to the ceiling, “I have made a to-do list of sorts. The first thing on that list is a Stain removal.” I waited for a laugh or chuckle, but none came,  come on I worked on that one!  “We need to git Obadiah Stain arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit murder.”
 
“I am afraid I do not follow El, you believe that Obadiah Stain plains to murder someone?” Jarvis asked.
 
I knew he would be confused at this request to arrest a family friend, but he also seemed like he wasn’t surprised? Like, way to go Jarvis on that intuition, but you’ve known him for years and me for a day. Shouldn’t you question my motives a bit more?
 
“Stain is the reason that Tony Stark was kidnapped, the original plan was that he hired this terrible group of terrorists called the Ten Rings, mean guys, to kill him. Unfortunately for Stain, the group found out who their target actually was and proceeded to kidnap dr. Stark instead, to make him build the Jericho missile. All of the evidence for this is on his desktop at work. Do you have remote access to that?”
 
“I am afraid I do not, El. Mr. Stain made great efforts to keep his computer off the Stark company network.”
 
“Alright no big deal, a little espionage never killed anyone...” I remarked jokingly, again no response. “Well we have a couple of options on that front, we could bring in Pepper, but two problems with that, first she is Tony Stark’s personal assistant, and Dr. Stark isn’t anywhere that can she can reasonably claim reason to need be there at the company without a request from him? That sentence made no sense. What I meant to say is pepper has no logical reason to be there, correct?”
 
“That would indeed be correct, El,” Jarvis replied, somehow not at all confused at my terrible wording. 
 
“I could pose as a child of a higher up?” I question quickly after he agreed, “I don’t want to put pepper in unnecessary danger.”
 
“I believe it would be more logical in this case to send in ms. Pots, as the danger she would face if caught wrong-footed, would be significantly less than if you were caught in a lie. There are simply too many human variables for you to plan accordingly.” Jarvis reasonably reprimanded. 
 
I harrumphed. “Ok fine I don’t get to be a spy. Whatever. But then we have to tell pepper I stuff and it was hard enough explaining everything to a supercomputer AI, how am I supposed to say things that make sense to a normal human?” I complained. While I love acting and can appear confident, I get social anxiety, and telling my long convoluted story to a no-nonsense woman was a stressful thought.
 
“There would be no need for you to interact with ms. Pots if you feel uncomfortable doing so. I could simply request her to copy the file from Mr. Stain’s computer.” Why is Jarvis so logical? Why can’t I think up simple solutions to my problems? It’s really not fair.
 
“Ok call up Pepper” I conceded. Maybe just ask her to retrieve a video file? No need for her to open it, just download it to a flash drive. No one should know.”
 
“I understand El, I too do not wish unnecessary danger upon ms. Pots.” Jarvis comforted “I have sent a message to ms. Pots requesting the video file from Stain’s computer, stressing the discreet nature of the task.” 
 
“Ok that’s fine Pepper will get that done and send you the file, in the meantime I’m starving, is there any food in this big house?”
 
I’m sure that if he were human he would have laughed that time. “Yes there is cereal in the cupboard to the left of the fridge, and almond milk in the fridge, the boles are on the top shelf by the sink.”
 
“Thanks, Jarvis” I chirped back and happily started making breakfast for myself. Step one is like 20% done. It is now time for me to work on the next bulletin point of finding Tony Stark. This should be easy right? Jarvis and I are gonna work together and get the job done lickety-split, no big deal.

Chapter Text

Making breakfast was kinda difficult because I was significantly smaller than before. The milk was just out of reach enough that I had to drag a chair over! It was super frustrating! Whatever, it’s no big deal, I’ll get used to it.

Eating it wasn’t so hard, but I made a bit of a mess, I’m not quite sure if that was a result of size difference, or the fact I’m just unbelievably clumsy.

“Alright Jarvis, breakfast has been eaten, let’s get to work! Show me the computers, an we can search the desert for Tony Stark.” I announce while cleaning up.

“The lab is down stairs, I shall unlock the door and let you in.” Jarvis responded

I gave a thumbs up as I walked towards the glass staircase.

When I reached the bottom I couldn’t help but to stop and stare at the absolutely humongous lab that laid before me.

“Wow” I breathed as I took in the sight in front of me. The movie really did not do it justice. There were computers bigger than me, like 20 old cars, a holographic work bench, a semi dismantled engine on another table with tools placed strategically about, of course there where whom I assume were Dum-e and U, Tony Starks first AIs and helping hands in the lab. I always loved the personality put into them when watching the movie, and it was devastating watching Tony pick up their pieces during the third movie.

The glass door clicked indicating that it had been unlocked. I pushed opened the heavy door just enough to slip into the lab, and padded over to the computer. “Ok Jarvis, would you mind too terribly unlocking the computer and pulling up satellite footage so we can get started?” I asked sweetly

The computer turned on and almost immediately footage of what I assumed was a desert in Afghanistan was up on the screen. I pointed the camera towards a mountain and immediately tried zooming in so I could get a better look and see if there was movement or objects that look like they don’t belong. Unfortunately when I did the screen filled up with yellowish brown pixels. “Um ‘computer enhance’?” I joked almost as if I knew that it would not work even before Jarvis’s response.

“My apologies El, increasing detail in camera footage is only available in works of fiction” came his apologetic and regretful reply.

‘But this is a work of fiction’ I thought with dismay. “Jarvis, satellite imagery from this time is garbage” I deadpan. “Is inferred any better?”

“That would depend on your definition of better.” Jarvis responded.

“You knew this wouldn’t work didn’t you” I accused. Jarvis didn’t reply. “You just wanted to see if I would try, you probably already scanned all the footage you could find, but like I said it’s all garbage, so nothing could be traced.” I sigh putting my head in my hands, of course Jarvis, Tony Stark’s greatest creation would have already tried looking for him, and I just barge in going, ‘Why not just look’ I must seem like the most insensitive moron ever.

“I am sorry Jarvis for not realizing you would have already tried, I know you love Tony and would do anything in your power to get him back.” I apologized sincerely to the AI I had underestimated. “Now I know that part of the timeline will just have to run its own course. Don’t worry too much as Dr. Stark will escape their clutches in about 2 months, in the meantime, we mine as well get started on that particle accelerator!” I said, injecting cheer into my voice, as I closed out of the useless satellite camera. Putting a nice bright smile on my face, “we can probably get some stuff done without him so he won’t have to worry about it. We’ll just have to keep an eye on the cameras for a big explosion, because he’s gonna build something to rocket himself outa there!” there was no need to let Jarvis know how much I was worried about him.

So one part of my plan isn’t gonna work out, that’s really no big deal, I can help in other ways, the plan with Pepper should work out no problem and we can get started on the Starkranium in the meantime.

I was opening my mouth about to ask Jarvis about how to start building a particle accelerator when I was interrupted.

I had heard noises from upstairs, like the front door was being opened. “Jarvis,” I whisper-yelled “who is up there?” I started to look for a hiding spot. I was really hoping to whatever luck I had that it wasn’t Stain, because if it was all my ideas would go up in flames as I was ‘removed’.

“It appears as if Ms. Potts has taken it upon herself to deliver the video file in person.” Jarvis said calmly.

Ok this wasn’t great, but wouldn’t ruin anything either, I just need to stay out of her- that thought stopped as pepper descend down the stairs into the lab, where I was very poorly hidden, she was clearly distracted talking to Jarvis, whom was probably trying to shoo her away, so I staid still, knowing that people’s attention was drawn to movement.

“-there was simply no need for you to trouble yourself with bringing me the file in person, an email with the file attached would have sufficed.” I heard Jarvis arguing as pepper opened the clearly soundproof door.

“Jarvis, it was fine, I’ve not been as busy without Tony here to boss me around,” she shoots the camera what was probably meant to be a comforting smile, but clearly had a sadness in it that was not meant to be seen. “It was really no big deal to go a little out of my way to not only drop off the sensitive file you asked for but also to check up on you. Jarvis, I can’t tell you how much I am worried about Tony, and I have no doubt that you are working your darnedest to find him. I just really appreciate that.” It was at that moment that Pepper turned her head and saw little old me, hiding badly underneath the computer chair.

For a second it seemed like time itself stopped as I felt all my terrible plans disintegrate. I barely had a plan, let alone a contingency plan for if I was discovered.

I was the first to blink, restarting time. Pepper Potts then took a deep breath, closed her eyes and rubbed her temples, “Jarvis,” she started, sounding hysterical, “please tell me Tony did not clone himself.” She finished desperately.

Chapter Text

I really don’t look that much like Robert Downey Jr., dark brown hair, dark brown eyes and vaguely Italian. Sure, I mean I guess I look a bit like him if you squint, but that wouldn’t last into adulthood, my chubby cheeks never actually went away when I got older. Sure at this time, in my eight year old body, my cheeks may still be mistaken for baby fat. But none of that should matter! Shouldn’t Pepper know better? Have seen pictures of young Tony Stark? On top of all that, my car is still parked outside, meaning that she would have had to drive past it to get to the front door. How does she think my Camry got into a yard of Ferraris?

“Umm, no,” I said before my brain thought of an actual response, “I am not Tony Stark, my name is El, it is a pleasure to meet you Ms. Potts.” I finished significantly more polite than I started.

Pepper inched forward “So are you a new AI that somehow got loose?” She asked cautiously.

I almost laughed. Me? A super computer AI? No, I wish, school would be so much easier.

I cracked a smile, “Ms. Potts, I am not one of Dr. Stark’s experiments or creations,” turning mor serious I continued, “I think my current situation was a result of a temporal anomaly of sorts, I was nearly killed in an accident, and I believe that that is the moment things changed, I had appeared in a dimension that was not my own, specifically I was transported into this dimension, more specifically, dimension 199999, unfortunately I do not know the designation for dimension I originated from, making my chances of getting home slim. With that in mind, I figured I could help out this dimension while I’m here, and reduce the amount of suffering that is to come.” I explained in the most complicated and sciency sounding way I could, trying to make it seem as if I knew what I was talking about.

Pepper looked like she was not expecting that explanation, but at the same time was not at all surprised. Obviously Tony Stark had put her through enough unbelievable nonsense, that other people’s unbelievable is no longer nonsense. “Ok El, but why are you here?” She asked clearly trying to figure out what it was I wanted and why I would be in her boss’s house.

“That part is tricky, you see Tony Stark is the first clue I had to the possibility I was no longer in my own world, this is due to the fact that he doesn’t exist in the dimension I come from. Following that train, I started investigating further, while in the meantime, I drove to the residence of the source of my confusion. When I arrived here and saw that this was, in fact, the house of Tony Stark, I finally realized that I was no longer where I belonged, as this sight in my dimension is nothing more that sandy beaches.” I knew I was being difficult but the way the events actually played out is kinda embarrassing, and I want to give the impression that I am smart and know what I’m doing, and other than the (what I’m secretly hoping she assumed was a lab) accident, I’ve got everything under control. Unfortunately in the midst of me trying to be all smart, I forgot one key detail...

“Are all the people in your dimension this small?” She asked probably just curiously, but to me it sounded kind of insulting. I wanted to roll my eyes.

“Umm no, I am physically of the age of eight, this is unfortunately another result of the accident I mentioned earlier, I am supposed to be nineteen, but space time had other ideas apparently.” I was both annoyed at the fact I was now physically eight but also relieved because being nineteen with arthritis sucks. “So here I am staying at the house of the richest guy in this dimension’s United States, trying to hunt him down because his AIs miss him.” I finished looking around the room, first at dum-e, then at U, and finally I turned around to look at one of Jarvis’s cameras.

Why am I omitting some things from her? To look cool obviously, I’m in the world of super heroes, I deserve to have my own hero origin story!

“That file in your hand is actually part of one of the tasks I am trying to accomplish, you may also look at the file, although I wish you wouldn’t, as it may have consequences.” I say cryptically. I was at this point, starting to suspect that my eight year old personality was beginning to rear it’s head, the idea that I must impress adults was always something that caused a rift between me and my peers. The phrasing I was using when talking had begun to take on the arrogant note I ditched back in middle school.

I held out my hand to take the flash drive, and she slowly handed it over, seemingly accepting my explanation, but was still hesitant, this is probably due to the fact that Jarvis has yet to correct any of my statements. He of course has had no reason to contradict me, and I thought Pepper was aware of that.

With the flash drive in my hand, I started heading back over to the computer screen, “You may not wish to see this,” I say solemnly, “you know Dr. Stark personally, and with what they have done to him, I suspect this video will be rather gruesome.” I explained as I plugged-in the flash drive.

“I want to know what this is about,” she responded stubbornly.

I took a deep breath and clicked on the video file and hit the convenient ‘translate’ button. Just like in the movie the ransom video plays, the only thing that shocked me was that Dr. Stark looked significantly worse than I remember, you could very clearly tell in the video that he is bleeding from his chest, even through the bandages, they must not have even started on removing the shrapnel before filming this gloating session, disgusting. I looked upon the video dispassionately, while Pepper watched with horror, gasping when Obadiah was addressed. His betrayal must have come as a shock to her, even if he was never actually nice to her.

The worst part about her watching this video is that Pepper is a bad actor when  her hand is caught in the cookie jar, she physically reacted when Stane came in the room in the first Ironman movie. While Pepper did a good job of following the rule of ‘admit nothing’ at the time, I am still terribly afraid that she won’t be able to keep her cool around him while Jarvis and I gather evidence.

“Step one,” I spoke when the video ended, “is to get Obadiah Stane arrested for conspiracy to commit murder.”

“Step one?” She asked, still clearly trying to process everything.

It is at this point Jarvis spoke up, “Indeed ms. Potts, El has reason to believe that Sir will make it back on his own, and while we do intend to try to find him regardless, we believe it would be much better for him to comeback with this problem already solved, as to not cause undue stress during his recovery.” I hummed in an affirmative tone when he finished.

“So what?” Pepper asked “we just show all this to the police and expect them to handle everything?” She went on, clearly disbelieving.

“Oh, no,” I said, “we’re not just gonna send this video to the police. We’re going to send the whole file, all the evidence of Stain’s dirty dealings, to the police, the news, the senator, the army, and S.I.’s board of directors,  plastering it across every corner of the internet, airing Stain’s dirty laundry to the entire world. This way nothing will be swept under the rug, and he won’t be able to buy his way out.” I finished with an innocent smile

Chapter Text

For the next three hours I was solely focused on going through each paper, documenting Stain’s betrayal. Pepper stayed for a couple hours going over it with me, she would often make strangled noises at the documents we found on the tiny inconspicuous flash drive, and I couldn’t blame her. Some of the things on here were appalling, like ‘thank you’ notes from the buyers telling of the destruction they had and will cause with the ‘wonderful weaponry’ stating that they definitely got what they paid for.

Around noon Pepper exited the room to make a phone call. She was gone for a while, and when she came back she began ushering me upstairs. I was about to panic— I still had so many things to get done! I had just helped her, revealed a traitor, why she is kicking me out now? Rude. I mean not unwarranted, because I did break in, but still rude.

It was only once we entered the living room did I realize what was happening. I saw that there was a pizza box on the table, I nearly laughed in relief.

“Ms. Potts, I can take care of myself, you really didn’t have to-“ I began, but was cut off.

“El, children need to eat regularly. You are a child.” She crouched down to my level, “I know you think yourself an adult, but I will not let you do things like cooking that may result in an injury. So for now I will provide a few meals, at the very least.”

I wanted to role my eyes. I always hated it when adults crouched down to talk to children, I know it’s to talk to them on the same level, but all it did was remind me that I wasn’t as big as them. “Ok Ms. Potts, I’ll accept this pizza, and take a break for lunch.” I say as polite as always. I could have sworn she sighed in relief, but it might have just been the effort of her standing back up. We walked over to the pizza box and I opened it to reveal pepperoni pizza. I grimaced. “I’ll go get some plates.” I said, turning on my heal and headed over the the cupboard I saw the plates in earlier. Once two plates were retrieved, with less difficulty than this morning, as the chair I used to climb was still in the kitchen, I headed back over to Pepper whom was watching me curiously the whole time. I handed her a plate, knowing she probably won’t use it as I grab a slice from the box.

I then proceeded to peal off all the pepperoni and cheese on the pizza slice until it’s basically soggy bread. At this point Pepper is looking at me in horror, as I eat my tomato flavored bread. “Thanks for lunch” I said clueless as I dumped the pile of pizza toppings in the trash and cleaned my plate. Pepper has barely eaten any of hers, so I assumed it’s because she’s not all that hungry and grabbed the box to put in the fridge.

“Why?” She breathed out, causing me to recognize the traumatized look on her face.

“I thought you were done,” I responded slightly confused.

She then blinked slowly, “not what I was asking about”

“Oh, I just really... don’t like pepperoni, but I was hungry so I ate some of it” I stuttered out apologetically. Then I heard laughter. She was laughing at me. I pouted. If I was still an adult I simply wouldn’t have eaten anything, but like she said children need to eat and my eight year old body requires food at least three times a day, and I know my teenage one will request to eat four times a day. I am just now starting to see the downside to being young again.

“No pepperoni next time got it.” Pepper said in a tone clearly showing she was making a note of it. “I’m sorry I’m just used to forcing Tony to eat, when he is focused on something, he forgets everything else, and he eats anything, but only if you shove it in his face. Anything else I should avoid getting you?” She asked after apologetically explaining herself.

“I don’t like anything spicy, I’ve always been very sensitive to capsaicin. I prefer sweet food, and cow and pig meats upset my stomach when eaten in larger quantities.” I shrugged, I’m not technically allergic to anything, but I do have a sensitive stomach. “Thanks for asking. As an adult if the option was to eat something I don’t like or eat nothing I’d often times eat nothing, unless my blood sugar was too low, it was a whole balance scale, weighing of consequences, as a child presented with food I didn’t like, I would often get myself so worked
up, that I would completely lose my appetite, negating the problem.” I explained to her dispassionately not quite realizing I was talking out loud. It wasn’t all information that she needed to know. It wasn’t rambling because there is new information I’m clearly explaining but that’s the problem, I have always been one to over explain.

“Got it,” pepper said, but I had no idea how much of it. I at the very least hope she would remember not to get me anything spicy. Although Pepper is the personal assistant to an eccentric billionaire, so she might just remember it all, even the unimportant parts.

Once Pepper finished eating I asked if she wants to come back down to put all the information into a proper digestible order for the masses.

She of course agreed, and we spent the rest of the day almost making a power point presentation level of comprehensibility out of the jumble of documents and videos. By the time dinner rolled around I had put together a proper press release, Pepper had made a template for formal emails, and Jarvis had generated post ideas that would likely get the most traction on each major social media sight.

“We are almost done, just need to send it all out,” I said at them both. I was a bit disgruntled that one of the posts Jarvis had setup included my earlier joke about ‘getting rid of Stains’ and ‘airing out dirty laundry’, even though he didn’t appear remotely amused by it when I said it. “Ok pepper and I will send out the letters first and then Jarvis can start posting in an hour, sound good?” The reason for this is that formal things should be done first as a courtesy, and then Jarvis’s dummy accounts can release the information as an ‘unintended leak’. I was excited to get the first task done.

“Sounds good, El” Pepper agreed and Jarvis gave an affirmative right after. With that, things were sent, Pepper ordered Chinese, this time asking what I wanted, teriyaki chicken and rice for me and orange chicken, rice, and egg drop soup for her. It was a nice dinner and by the time we were done Jarvis had just started posting. I could not wait to spend the night on social media, just fanning the flames.

Chapter Text

I woke up the next morning in the same bed as yesterday, which is strange because I don’t remember going to bed. Then I remembered that I was now 8, and small, and in the same house as a concerned adult. She must have carried me to bed. I flushed and flopped my arm over my face as if I could hide my embarrassment from the world.

“Jarvis,” I call to the ceiling, “how is Stain doing?”

“He was arrested at 6 this morning, El,” Jarvis responded factually “my guess would be ‘not too well’” he continued jokingly. I love it when Jarvis jokes. I would have given anything for my Alexa at home to have sassed me whenever I asked something stupid.

I grinned, “awesome!” I was so glad that my nonexistent plan worked.

I got up and stretched to get ready for the day. Before I went to my drawstring bag to see if I have any more clothes, Jarvis spoke again, “Ms. Potts and I took the liberty and ordered you some new cloths, she put them in the drawers earlier this morning.” I stopped stunned. At home I have drawers and drawers of clothes, everything from anime shirts to proper dress clothes. The obvious result of one of my favorite activities, thrift store shopping with my grandma.

I did wonder what kind of clothes Jarvis picked out for me, I don’t really have ‘a style’ so anything would have been fine. And when I opened the drawers I found graphic-ts and basketball shorts, a few collared shirts and jeans, and a button up shirt with black pants. Ok a nice variety. So I pick up a T-shirt with a cat on it and a pair of jeans and new underwear (embarrassed) and head to the bathroom as I thanked Jarvis for the new clothes.

I exited the bathroom with clothes that fit well and was happy to start the day. I head to the kitchen to make breakfast, only to find pepper there, with pancakes.

“Jarvis told me when you woke up” pepper smiled as she slid a plate of pancakes across the counter to me. “I hope you like your new cloths?”

“I do, thanks for getting them for me!” I responded with a bright smile, “but you really didn’t have to do that, I can take care of myself.” I looked down at the pancakes, feeling like I’m taking advantage of her.

“It’s no big deal, I’m used to taking care of a child who thinks themself an adult” she quips back with a smirk, but then the smile fell and she looked on the verge of tears. “We are going to find him right? And he’s going to be okay? We watched that video and he looked so broken...”

“We will find him Ms. Potts, I guarantee that by the end of the summer, he will be home.” I consoled her. “But in the meantime we need to make sure Stain never sees the light of day again. And we need to get a particle accelerator up and functioning.”

“And why do we need a particle accelerator?” She asks, clearly trying to humor me.

“We need the accelerator to be prepared for when Dr. Stark gets back because,” I started to explain, only to be cut off by a snort.

“Dr. Stark? He’d have a conniption fit if he heard you call him that,” She laughed.

“I did always wonder why no one called him Dr. Stark even when he has like two PhDs.” I contemplate “I did know he had an aversion to ‘mr. Stark’ because ‘mr. Stark’s my father just call me Tony’. I also know that in most professional settings he’s just called Stark, but why? His name is recognizable enough I guess, it’s closer in recognition with just saying Einstein vs just saying Franklin, you say Einstein and everyone knows who your talking about, but if you just say Franklin, the question is which Franklin, Franklin Roosevelt? No, Benjamin Franklin, and now we wasted like five minutes clarifying witch Franklin we are talking about.” I glanced up from my plate only to see Pepper looking at me unimpressed. “So I just think it’s more respectful to call him Dr. Stark because he worked hard for his degrees...” I trailed off and pepper gave me a small smile.

“Tony doesn’t need to be reminded of his accomplishments, he already has a big enough head.” She smiles a bit bigger “so, now tell me why we need the particle accelerator.”

“Ok, so basically Dr. Stark was hurt pretty bad when he was kidnapped, he has shrapnel stuck in his chest, but the bad guys, they hired a doctor to keep the inventor alive, because they want Dr. Stark to make a missile, anyway, the doctor can’t take all the shrapnel out so he attaches an electro magnet powered by a car battery to Dr. Stark’s chest, but that’s big and cumbersome and simply won’t do, so now he’s at about two and a half weeks of being kidnapped and has probably already started working on an improvement to the power situation. He builds a mini arc reactor, you know that big arc reactor you all have powering the research building, yeah, he made one as small as your fist and perfectly functional, but the thing is, it works by creating power from a decaying heavy metal, and heavy metals should not be in a human body, and so in about a years time, if he doesn’t find a different solution, he’ll die of heavy metal poisoning, no bueno. So what I plan on doing and I am hoping you’ll help with, is building a particle accelerator. The particle accelerator will then be used by Dr. Stark to save his own life by discovering a new element, because while I can follow directions on how to build something, I sure as hell can’t do the science necessary to discover a new element. He will then create a new arc reactor using that new element and hopefully solve the worlds energy crisis, but I’m not gonna get my hopes up.” When I finished explaining, my pancake was gone and pepper was silent, so I looked up thinking I may have just been speaking nonsense the whole time and lost her, but she is just looking at me contemplatively.

“That is a lot,” Pepper said slowly. “But I understand, you want to do as much as you can before Tony gets here, so he doesn’t have to do it alone.”

“Yeah,” I say softly “yeah that’s exactly what I’m trying to do.”

“Great. Then I’ll help, because you shouldn’t have to do it alone either.” She stated.

Chapter Text

After chatting, Pepper and I went down to the lab to look at blueprints for the particle accelerator. Once Jarvis had brought the prints up on the largest screen something finally occurred to me.

“Hey Jarvis,” I question, “why have none of the parts arrived? I know I am not in charge of you, but I thought I asked you to order them like two days ago. It’s not a big deal and I’m not being accusatory, but you are normally like supernaturally fast at stuff like this.” I finned sheepishly.

“No room in this building is big enough to fit a functioning particle accelerator, so I concluded that it would be unwise to order the supplies to a building unsuited for the project.” Jarvis responded reasonably, like always.

I squint, trying to remember the movies, and then facepalm once the moment comes to mind. The worst part is that if he did have the parts shipped, I would’ve started working without measuring, and then would have had to disassemble the whole dumb thing, ugh. “Thanks Jarvis.” I say as an apology.

“I have already sent an email to Stark Industries research and development department as well as ordered the parts to be sent there. I got a conformation from the department head this morning stating that it shall be done in ‘about a month’.” Jarvis stated.

I wanted to pout because not only did my plan fail, someone else improved it and now I had nothing to do for like two months. But I was raised to be polite, and I know when I should be appreciative, so I gave a cheerful “that’s awesome Jarvis! You are like literally the best!” Because at least now I won’t be able to screw up in building it.

Meanwhile Pepper was standing there with a present smile on her face like she can sense my embarrassment. She then said to me “looks like Jarvis has that worked out, what’s the next step?” This causes me to go through the seven stages of grief as I try desperately to think of something, anything to do.

“The problem is that this is all timed events,” I start saying my reasoning out loud to maybe get her to come up with something to do as to not just sit on our buts as Tony Stark is stuck in a cove being tortured. “Something else must happen first for any other part of my planing to be of any use. I could think of a couple things that we could possibly do, but I have no idea how, like we could call up the botanist geneticist lady as to negate a future problem but I don’t actually remember her name and have no idea how to get ahold of her.” At his point I was starting to rub my face pretty hard. “We-we could um, contact Wakanda? No that won’t work because they don’t have contact with the outside world right now. Ugh umm Jane Foster! Yes her we can get a hold of her and um Betty Ross! If we can somehow convince them of at least some of the future events, that could help!” I was desperately reaching for something at this point. I wanted to be useful.

I looked back up at Pepper, the adult in the room, through what I was just then realized were tears in my eyes, to see she was looking at me with deep concern as I just narrowly avoided a panic attack. “We can get ahold of them right?” My voice desperate as I turned towards the computer screen as to no have to see the look on her face.

“Of course, El. I shall find their emails today and this time tomorrow, we can compose a thoroughly convincing message to convey the upcoming dangers.” Jarvis responded calmly.

“All right that’s fine. That’s good, I think I am just gonna head up to my room and reacquaint myself with 2008 internet,” I say calming down. I got too worked up and now needed to take a step back, but that was ok because I now had an idea as what to do next.

I went to exit the room and looked back to see Pepper didn’t follow. “I’ll be up later.” She said when she noticed me turn around. I nodded and left, going upstairs into my room.

I knew that they were talking about me, about my break down, about how dumb and useless I am. And that’s ok, I don’t have any actual skills. I am just a nerd who likes the MCU, that’s not special.

I wiped at my eyes.

I was such a crybaby at this age, how did it take till adulthood to diagnose my anxiety?

I took a breath, focus on something else, my iPad is laying on the bed where I left it. When the Lock Screen turns on, I was faced with bright blue eyes, a picture of my cat. My beautiful fat white fluff brat cat. My baby. I was never gonna see him again, or my two kittens, or my grandma, or my parents, or my best friend, or even my little brother. I wonder if they think I’m dead? I was definitely crying at this point, finally mourning the life I lost and the family I was never going to see again.

It was probably three hours later when Pepper walked into my room to ask me what I wanted for lunch. The sight that met her was probably pitiful. I was hunched over my iPad, knees to my chest, looking through my photos as I sniveled in grief.

She didn’t say a word about the picture of my happy family on a summer trip, or my state of being as she crouched down to hug me as I continued to cry.

What my cat looks like (the second picture)

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The next morning I woke up with a headache, that’s what I get for crying all day. I would have chastised myself for wasting time, but my part of the plan is over. If I disappeared the next day, somewhat cryptic evidence left on my iPad, things in this universe would still go on ten times better than in the MCU. But an interdimensional portal has yet to whisk me back home, so it would appear as if I am stuck here.

I groggily got out of bed, still waiting for that hole to suck me up. When no magic portal appeared, I went to the kitchen.

Pepper was not there. That was ok, I didn’t need her there to make breakfast. She might be all worried about me due to my apparent age, but even when I was actually 8 I was pretty self sufficient, arguably more self sufficient than I was at 19.

There was definitely more food in the fridge than there was two days ago, but I chose to have cereal for breakfast because it was easy.

I was on my iPad exploring the old internet when something clicked, literally.

I put down the spoon and looked at my hand. I moved each finger individually, until I once again felt the click. I squeezed my eyes in pain, “F… sh… ugh! Why?” I squinted back down at my hand like it betrayed me. The finger that was clicking was the same one that gave me trouble when I was actually 8, my left middle finger. I could not bend it without it getting stuck and clicking, sort of like the difference between a switch and a slider. It’s kinda strange how my arthritis had worsened over my life, different joints bothering me at different times until one day, everything started hurting all the time.

“Hey Jarvis,” I called to the ceiling, ”any way we can get an identity for me sometime in the next month or so? I need to go to a rheumatologist, get this documented and diagnosed as soon as I can. I’m really hoping that if I start treatment sooner, it won’t get as bad as it did in my timeline.” To be honest I was hoping this wouldn’t happen at all, but one can dream.

“I shall do my best, but do understand, as you are physically a child, the government will require someone to have guardianship over you.” Jarvis responded.

I feel like I'm about to have another emotional breakdown. I really just don't know what to do with myself at this point. Who could I possibly get to be my gardin? I would need someone with enough connections to the plot for me to continue helping, and at the very least someone willing to put up with my medical issues, staying in contact with Jarvis wouldn't be too hard.

I put my face in my hands, cereal and iPad forgotten, “and who could possibly fill that position? No offence but you don't have a body and I doubt Dr. Stark would be willing to house me when he gets back, and to be honest I would be very likely to die if I end up in foster care, I am a difficult, socially awkward person, who is in the body of an 8 year old, but should be in college, but there would be no way to skip grades without an advocate.” I am definitely rambling again and probably crying, which is probably why I was so surprised when another voice spoke up.

“I could be your legal guardian,” I heard Pepper speak up, causing me to startle, I didn't even know she was in the house.

“You really don't have to Ms. Potts!” I scrambled to reassure, “I honestly can take care of myself, I am an adult, you know.” I hate being an adult, I never wanted to grow up.

I think Pepper was holding back a laugh, when she responded I saw her lips twitch “Don't worry El, I know that, but you do need a legal guardian for things like the doctor and school, like you said.” She tried to be reassuring.

“But you just met me!” I protested, “I…” I didn't know if the next thing out of my mouth should be reasons why she shouldn't help or ways that I can reassure that I don't need help. “I’m very picky and emotional about everything, always. Until I was put on anti anxiety meds any small thing out of place would make me freak out, small injuries or going left instead of right, not being able to finish an activity, I’d start crying, I really don't want to cause trouble for you.” I gave her a sad smile, hoping that knowing what an inconvenience it would be, would discourage her.

“I think I could handle it, after all I am very much used to handling people who can't always get their way.” She had a steal in her eyes that said she would do her darndest to help me, and I don’t know what I did to earn it. “Jarvis, can you get on the paperwork, my dear cousin has recently been orphaned and as the only other living family member, I have now become their new guardian.”

“I’ll get right on it Ms. Potts.” Jarvis responded.

I look at her in awe, blinking back tears, she’s gonna help me. I breathe deeply. “Thank you,” I whisper, “both of you.”

Chapter Text

Later that day, after Jarvis had finished all he could online, Pepper took me down to the courthouse to get everything signed and notarized, because it was 2008 and not everything could be done online. Jarvis did a good job of forging my school paperwork, even making records of me and my family dating back years, but a physical presence still needed to be established. 

“So, since I am going to be adopting you, you really can’t keep calling me Ms. Potts” Pepper spoke suddenly, the drive down had been quiet so far, and me so much in my head, I really wasn't expecting to talk at all.

“Oh, yeah you’re right, um… Ms. Pepper?” I questioned quietly. I saw her make a face in the rearview mirror (I wasn't allowed to sit up front, I was “too small”, apparently). “Aunt Pepper?” I asked more hesitantly after seeing her reaction, she still didn't look too pleased, but really, I wasn't gonna budge further. 

“You know you can just call me Pepper right?” she asked as we pulled up to park. I shook my head, even when I was technically an adult, I still had a hard time talking to older people without honorifics. 

Once inside the paperwork went smoothly, there was a social worker (I assume) who asked me a few questions about me and my “cousin Pepper ''. He asked me things like my full legal name, where I go to school, how well I know Ms. Potts, was she nice to me, what I like to eat. He was trying to be friendly and subtle in gathering information. 

The whole thing was kind of stressful to me, not to Ms. Potts though, she navigated it all like she owned the place. She offered to take me out for ice cream when we were done, and while I would have liked to say how offended I was (she didn't need to coddle me, I am an adult after all), but who would say no to ice cream? So, we stopped by a cold stone on the way back to the mansion.

Feeling a bit better after the ice cream, I worked up the courage and asked “so um.. aunt Pepper?” I wince slightly, still not used to calling her aunt, “am I gonna be staying with you at your house or will I still stay at the um… the mansion?”

“Well El, that really depends, you are the one from the future after all. I don’t see a reason why you would continue to stay in the mansion, it belongs to Tony and he’s not here right now to give permission so continuing to stay would be rude, but if it is vitally important for you to stay there, to keep the timeline or whatever, I guess you could,” she spoke while worrying her lip between her teeth. 

I couldn’t come up with a valid reason to stay there, other than not wanting to leave Jarvis alone, and when I told her just that, we agreed that we would go back, collect my stuff, and move me to her house tonight.

Once we got to the mansion, I thought back on a previous idea, “hey Jarvis,” I asked looking up at a camera and back down at my feet, “I know you have big servers and your functionality takes a lot of hardware, but is there any way I can access you remotely? Um, since I’m gonna be staying with Ms. Potts now, can I like, download you on my phone, so you won’t be as lonely waiting for Dr. Stark to come back?” I smiled hopefully at the camera, three months is a long time to be alone.

“I do not see a problem with that, El. In fact it would be greatly appreciated.” He responded softly, causing me to beam. I will have my own pocket Jarvis! Yay! For the first time all day, I felt excited.

I hurried down stairs to the lab with my phone and iPad in hand, ready to have a new  Jarvis app, calling over my shoulder to ask if Pepper could pack up for me while I do this. I failed to see the found smile one her face, and the sad look in her eyes. Three months is a long time to be without your best friend after all.

Figuring out how to get Jarvis on my phone was a bit tricky and took like an hour, the whole time I felt incompetent knowing that Tony Stark could have done it in five seconds, Jarvis must be frustrated with how slow I was compared to him. 

Finely when we were done and I had successfully downloaded a Jarvis app to my phone and tablet, I went back upstairs to find that Pepper had already made dinner.

“Thank you for making dinner ms. Potts!” I chirped happily as she made me a plate of spaghetti.

“You’re welcome, El, I hope you enjoy it.” She responded, almost definitely thinking back to the earlier incident with the pizza. 

The spaghetti was good and we cleaned up everything before heading out the door, probably for the last time before Tony gets rescued. I look back as we drive off to Pepper’s house with an odd feeling. There is still a lot I want to get done, and none of the canonically important characters have reached back to me. The particle accelerator should be completed soon in the nearest SI lab. I just couldn’t help but feel I should be doing more.