Chapter Text
-Somewhere in Los Angeles-
Skye woke up at the sound of her phone vibrating on the nightstand. She was certain she had turned it off but apparently that wasn’t the case. She was tempted to just ignore it and rift back to sleep in the embrace of the very comfy warm body enveloping her. Before her groggy and more than half sleepy self could reach the phone to answer it went off. The warm body behind her snuggled a bit closer, making her lips rise a little.
Not even ten seconds later it started to vibrate again.
Milles groaned his displeasure at the noise. “Too early, shut it off.” He grumbled in her ear burying his head between her neck and collarbone. Sometimes Milles could be as sweet – especially when he was sleepy and needed a human teddy bear - as he could be an ass. She wiggled a little from his hold to reach his jaw letting the back of her fingers trail in his beard caressing it softly. She then moved to his hair gently running her fingers through and even scratching a little. He kissed her shoulder in response.
She almost forgot the annoying device for a moment there.
She grabbed her phone and sighed when she saw the name on display. The identity of the caller didn’t surprise her. She should have known. Well, there went her sleep. She declined the call and fired a quick text saying she was calling back in a moment.
She turned in Miles’ arms to catch his gaze. “Sorry but I need to call back.”
If she was insisting on reaching out, it must be important. That probably meant a long and serious conversation. She was going to need coffee. And maybe some clothes but first coffee, all the coffee she could find.
Milles let out a sigh. He softened his hold so she could get up. Skye sat at the edge of the bed. She throws a last look behind her. Milles was now sprawled across the bed on his stomach. He had followed her movement and kept an arm loosely around her waist. Skye smiled amused.
“You’re sure, I can convince you to stay?” He asked, leaning to lazily kiss her hip. He looked at her with sleepy puppy eyes. It was a very tempting offer especially since they had pulled an all nighters way until dawn.
She caressed the side of his face making him hum in contentment. She then leaned to kiss his temple. “Very tempting but I really need to call back.”
“May?” He asked, his eyes closing again under her mistrations.
She nodded and gently scratched one last time his scalp. “Yeah, you should go back to sleep.”
He groaned and rolled over “No point trying to sleep now. I am gonna make us coffee.”
“Thank’.” She pushed herself from the bed and went to grab some clothes.
Miles did the same and took some sweatpants from the floor from where they had been discarded and put it on. He grabbed a flannel shirt not far from it and threw it to Skye. He didn’t bother finding one for himself. He just left the room shirtless.
Skye put the shirt on and watched him go shaking her head with a little smile.
________________________
Once she was a little more awake and on her second cup of coffee, she sat on the old ratty but oddly still very comfy sofa. Miles had left the news on while he went to shower knowing that she would like to watch them. It was on a low setting. The sound was just above ambient noise.
She took one large sip from her mug and took out her phone. It was time to call May back.
“Hey, sorry May, I was asleep.” Skye started once May picked up.
There was a small silence at the other end. “You know it is almost noon right?” There was a pause followed by a disapproving sound. “Did you spend all night hacking in your van again?”
“Do you want me to lie?” She heard a sigh at the other end. “If it makes you feel better I am not sleeping in my van right now.”
The answer was immediate and with some judgment. “Please don’t tell me you're with Milles again, Skye.”
“Alright I won’t tell you” Skye had an amused smile.
Another sigh “are you ok?”
“I am fine, sleepy but I have coffee. ‘Side, I should be the one asking you that. ” She sipped her coffee, god bless the person who discovered this.
“Too much coffee is bad for you, you know.” May said reprovingly.
“If you want me functional for this conversation you want me to have coffee. So what can I do for you today? Is everything alright?” Skye was more awake and was also starting to worry.
May didn’t respond for a moment. “It’s Peter.” Of course it was. Aunt May would always worry about her nephew more than anything else, even herself.
Skye wondered if she should have stayed longer and made sure everything was okay before leaving. At the same time she had never been good at dealing with that kind of stuff. She stayed for as long as she could but it had become too much and she needed some space so she did what she did best, she ran.
“I am worried about him. Since Ben…” May couldn’t finish the sentence but she didn’t need to. “Peter, he has been distant, keeping to himself. I let him be, thinking he needed space but Skye; he is not only distant, he is angry. He often comes home with bruises. When I questioned him about it he said it was nothing that I shouldn’t worry about but I do. It is all I have been doing lately. I know he is sneaking out at night. I don’t know where he goes or what he does. Just in what state he comes home. I don’t know what to do. I am not reaching him. I am afraid I am going to lose him too, Skye. I don’t know what to do anymore.”
Shit, she should definitely not have left so soon then. Damn, if she wasn’t going to kick her little brother ass from worrying his aunt like this. “You won’t lose him, May. I am sorry I shouldn’t have left. I should also have called more often, I am sorry. I just need a few days to sort things out here and I will be there as soon as I can. I promise.”
“Thank Skye. Don’t be sorry we all grieve in our own ways. You too needed your space and it is not as if you left just right away.” She tried to alleviate the mood with a wet chuckle, typical May. “I will prepare your room.”
“That’s not necessary, May. I can...” She was cut short by May's disapproving and exasperated tone. “You are not sleeping in that van of yours when you have a room in my house young lady.”
“I know better than to argue with you.” Skye sighed. “I will let Peter know that I am on my way.” Well she was already planning to move, this was just advancing her timeline. “May…” she started not sure how to continue.
“Yes.”
“How are you really besides being worried about Peter?”
“I won’t lie, it has been a rough couple of months but Peter needs me and I am putting him first.” May admitted.
“Well I am definitely bringing a good bottle of wine.” She joked and it worked. She could hear May’s soft laughter. God, how long has it been since she had heard it? It was definitely before what had happened to Ben.
“You do that. Be careful on your way please.” May asked.
Milles chose that moment to enter the room a towel in hand to dry his damp hair. He was only wearing pants again. He really had a thing for going shirtless. Not that she was one to talk since she still hadn't tried to find pants since waking up. At least Milles had showered.
“You are leaving again?” His tone wasn’t accusatory, more like resigned.
“May I have to go. I will keep you updated. See you soon.” Skye promised. Once May said her goodbyes, she hung up the call and put her now empty mug and her phone on the small table in front of her. Milles sat beside her. And she gave him her full attention.
“Yeah my little bro needs me and well May too.” She informed him.
“Poor kid must be rough. How long do you think you would stay away this time?” the ‘are you coming back’ was left unsaid.
“I don’t know as long as needed.”
“Okay. When are you planning on going?”
“Tomorrow I think. We did pull an all-nighter yesterday…” she frowned slightly. “ today?” She shock her head. “Anyway, If I have to take the road it is best if I am as rested as I can.”
“Probably a good idea. You know you are always welcome, here” he smiled at her. She returned it with one of her own.
Things with Milles were easy most of the time. He was safe. Despite what some may assume, they weren’t as serious as some people may think. It was one of the reasons May and Ben -when he was still around- disapproved. Well they also knew what the Rising Tide was about and that Milles had recruited her into it, so they thought he was a bad influence for her. They may not have been wrong. She could understand why they would think that but he had been there for her when she had needed it the most.
He had helped her when she had been in a dark place. He was one of the few people she had trusted with her past after she had run away from the system. He had been one of the first persons she had trusted to be intimate with and not just physically. He knew things about her that she hadn’t told anyone else, not even the Parkers. She knew some of his secrets too. One that she had promised to help him with no matter what happened between them.
The other reason Ben and May didn’t like their relationship much was because they knew as well as them that it wasn’t bound to last. It was doomed from the start. With her three soul marks, three romantic to boot, they could never be more. Miles never pushed for it anyway. And she knew he probably wanted to. Another reason she felt grateful toward him.
The news anchor on the TV was talking about Stark’s hearring with the senate armed service committee and resumed what had happened during it.
“Are you still planning to contact Stark?” Miles asked her as he watched the Tv.
“Yeah we may not have gotten inside but we got pretty close.”
“Yeah” He smirked. “We make a good team.”
That has been the reason for their all nighter. They had just started digging dirt in a very dirty and shady company when they tuned in for the hearing. And after Stark had painted a big target on him with his declaration she knew she had to do something. So she and Miles had tried to hack his suit just to show him that he wasn’t above a cyber attack. They hadn’t managed their goal but it was still bothering her for some reason. There was this feeling that wouldn't leave her that something wasn’t quite right. And maybe it was because some of Peter's hero worship of Stark had rubbed a little on her. It wasn’t about the man but more about his tech in her case especially since he had shifted his focus from manufacturing weapons and started to really focus on developing new tech for everyday use now. It was incredible. Stark sure had been busy since his abduction and the Oobaya’s incident.
Anyway her interest in his work wasn’t the only reason she wanted to reach out to him. She knew the government wouldn’t back away that easily and SHIELD was sure to approach him eventually if they hadn’t already. And Skye didn’t like the idea of a shady spy organization getting their hands on a technology like Tony’s armor. And if she could help him keep it safe she sure damn well would. Also if SHIELD was already involved as she suspected them to be, maybe she could ask or see if she could get her hand on the unreacted version of her file. She didn’t have high hopes for that, she was more expecting to have to hack her way through one way or another.
Stark had already given her an opening that came as multiple job offers over the years. Sure the last one was before Afghanistan when he was still selling weapons so she had declined but now things were different.
“I should probably change.” She says looking down at herself.
“Or.” He started to run playful fingers on her leg. “We can go back to bed.”
She considered that for a moment and then nodded. “I guess I can shower later.”
He grinned at her. He was fully expecting her to reject his suggestion. He approached her and they were soon making out. After a moment Skye ended up straddling him. His hand roamed her back under her shirt until he held her firmly. Once he was sure he had a good and secure grip he pushed them up Skye instantly wrapped her leg around his hips and Miles walked them toward the bedroom.
The next day, Miles was helping put her last things into her van.
“Send me a text when you arrive.” He said in lieu of goodbye.
“I will. Where are you planning to go after?”
“I don’t know yet. I think I will stay in L.A for a little while longer.” He saw her frown. “I still don’t need to move but I will send you my new coordinates if I do.”
“Please do.” She pecked his lips. “So I guess this is goodbye for now.”
“For now.” He repeated. He hugged her one last time.
He stayed until she was gone before he went back to his apartment.
________________________
-Sometime later in Malibu-
Tony was just finishing putting his finger print on the legal document when Pepper approached them. “So how are we doing?”
“Great. just wrapping up” He tapped the document pointing at his imprint. “There, you are the boss now.”
Natalie Rushman, Pepper’s official new personal assistant fresh out from the legal department, turned toward Stark once she closed the documents ready to get them processed. “Would that be all Mister Stark?”
“Yes, that would be all Miss Rushman, thank you very much.” Pepper said before Tony could add another inappropriate comment.
“Sir,” Came jarvis’ British accented voice in the room, gaining everybody's attention. “There is an incoming call for you.”
“Decline. I am busy.” He went to fill the champagne flutes that were on the small table next to the boxing ring where he was standing. He grabbed one glass of champagne for him and gave the other to Pepper.
“I am afraid that I can't do that sir.”
That raised everyone's eyebrows.
“What do you mean you can't?” Tony asked for clarification.
“What’s going on?” Pepper inquired, approaching Tony.
Natalie, who had almost left the room, came back. Her face didn’t show it but she was on high alert and ready to fight any eventual threats even when it didn’t seem to be a physical one.
Happy came off the ring and braced himself too.
A guitar riff could be heard from the intro of the song Black Betty by Ram Jam “He means you should probably answer 'cause it may be important” came a sweet young feminine voice.
“Who the hell are you?” Tony demanded grabbing his tablet to see how they had entered his system and starting to try to shut them out.
“I am sorry sir, she has taken over my system, I can't shut her out” Jarvis apologetic voice wasn’t helping the situation.
“Sorry J, it was the only way to get your boss' attention. Promise I won't mess with anything else. Hacker honor.”
“Really hacker honor? I must say I am impressed you got in.” Tony commented, still not managing to shut them out yet.
“You should probably upgrade your security and not let old exploits still open. I am a little disappointed Anthony.” The hacker said clearly amused.
That made Tony freeze. He only knew one person who called him that but it couldn't be especially without scrambling their voice. He stopped attempting to throw them off his system. He already confirmed that except for communication they hadn’t hacked or messed with anything else.
“Skye.net?” He said in total disbelief.
“Yeah, it’s me. Sorry for the dramatic, I know you are more of an AC/CD fan but I still thought you would appreciate the riff. Again sorry J."
"Thank you for not altering my system skye.net. It's been 64 790 hours since our last game." Jarvis sounded almost happy.
"Yeah missed you too J."
Tony was speechless not expecting this at all.
“Cat got your tongue? Are you surprised that I am calling Anthony or that I am a girl?"
"Can it be both? I thought you weren't interested in working for me?"
"Things change. And I still don't want to work for you"
"So why the home call?”
"I said not for you but I wouldn't mind 'with' you. If...hum is your offer still on the table.”
"You serious? Of course it is, but I have to ask why now?"
“I saw your conference with the Senate. Did you really have to go and provoke everyone? Stupid question of course you did. I wish to help keep your armor from falling into the wrong hands, especially governmental ones.”
Tony almost scoffed. “That can't be the only reason.”
“No, I have some personal reasons too. I could really use a legit job right about now. I know hacking may not be the best way to prove that but well I didn't think you would mind too much.”
"It beats any resume.” Tony quipped.
"Yeah, hum I should apologize for interrupting your moment Miss Potts. Congratulations on your promotion, it seems like Anthony isn't a totally lost cause after all.”
“Hey!” Tony reacted offended by that.
"Hm thank you Skye.net?" Pepper said a little hesitantly.
“You can call me Skye. So Tony wants my help or should I just continue my way without a detour by Malibu?”
“Skye really? Wait, you are coming?”
“Yeah I just left L.A, I can be there in a couple of hours. I was planning to be in New-York by the end of the week.”
“What it’s the catch?”
“I have a few non negotiable requests; first, You don't flirt with me or if you are a total jackass I walk away. Second, No S.H.I.E.L.D if I see any of their goons I immediately walk.”
“S.H.I.E.L.D?” Tony asked and looked at Pepper and Happy to see if they knew.
“Come on we both know they contacted you or at least tried to. You probably know them better by their full, very long and boring name who I am pretty sure was just made up so their acronym spell shield; Security Homeland Intelligence and Logistics Defence or some bullshit like that.”
“I believe it's the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division.” Jarvis rectified.
"Yeah that or if you prefer the assholy men in black. Anyway I would not work for or with them in any capacity. I want to keep them as far away from me as possible.”
“Why?” Tony asked.
“I don't really like their style.”
“Can blame you for that. One of their minions did come snoop around but as you know I am not a big fan either. But from the sound of it you seem to have a kind of grudge.”
“You can say that.” Skye didn’t feel like oversharing, her reasons were her own.
Tony frowned. “Did they do something to you?”
“Not directly.” She tried to dismiss it.
“Not in a sharing mood?”
Skye sighed. “It's personal, they kind of did something that I can’t overlook. Anyway, as I said if I see one of them I am out. Pretty sure if they could, they would want to ‘disappear me’.”
“They better not try.” Tony’s tone went instantly defensive. “But why would they want to do that?”
“Because of what I can do? Because they can or because they are assholes, take a pick. They would find something to make me cooperate with them or lock me away and I don't like either of those choices.”
"Did you hack them?" Tony asked, curious.
"Did I?” there was some smugness in her voice. “As far as they know I don't even exist, I am a ghost.”
Tony grinned. “That's not a no.”
“It's not a yes either. Even if I did, and I am not saying that I did, they wouldn’t be able to prove it. I doubt they even realize they had someone roaming their servers.”
Tony let out a small impressed whistle. “Well I already knew you were good but now I am even more impressed and intrigued. And sure kid when you arrive Natalie here will have your contract ready.”
“Miss Potts?” Nathalie asked Pepper for confirmation.
“Sorry pepper you heard the kid she want to work with me not S.I you get Nathalie I get to play with little terminator”
“Little terminator, really? I am 22, not a kid. And if you call me sweetheart or anything like that I won't even bother showing.”
"Yeah you made that very clear now can you please release Jarvis.” There was some scrambling noise. “Right, sorry J.”
A camion honk could be heard in the background.
"Wait, are you driving and hacking?” Tony asked incredulously.
“Of course not.” There was a pause. “I pulled over. I should be there in 2 to 3 hours tops see you around Antony”
“Stay safe Skye.net.”
“You can’t be serious Tony.” Pepper suddenly said.
“It's Skye.net, Pep’, you know how long I have waited for this to happen.” Tony defended himself.
"If someone hacks you, you call the police.” She shook her head knowing very well Tony would never do that. “At the very least you do an intensive background check before offering them a job. You simply don't invite them into your house Tony."
"You said it yourself, she was very helpful with rooting out Oobi’s followers.”
That was actually true and it made a good point in favor of Skye.net, still Pepper couldn’t help but be wary about all this. “Be careful Tony, she is a security risk, we don't know anything about her.”
“If i may sir” Came Jarvis’ voice.
“Yes J.”
“Skye.net left a file with her information.” Jarvis informed them.
“Thank’ Jarvis” Tony grabbed his tablet and projected the document spreading them for all to see. “uh, she sent her resume, it says her name is Skye… Parker? So she wasn't lying about her name? See no need to worry.” Tony said with a charming smile.
Pepper let out a sigh and shook her head. “With what the two of you could do? Of course I will." Before Tony could comment on that she turned her attention toward her P.A. “Natalie.”
Without needing to say anything Natalie understood the silent order. “On it, Miss Potts, I will have the contract ready for when she arrives."
“Make sure to add all the NDAs possible.” Pepper sighed, she could already feel the headache coming.
Natalie nodded in response and went her way to do just that.
______
-Somewhere undisclosed-
When she was sure not to be overheard, Natalie pulled her phone out. “Sir we may have a problem"
“What is it?” Said a gruff voice from the other side of the line.
“Skye.net, she made contact with Stark. She is coming to work for him.”
“what else do we know?”
“Her name is Skye Parker. She sent a resume, I will forward it to you.”
“Wait, Parker?”
“Yes.”
There was brief silence on the other side followed by a deep sigh. “Send what you got directly to me. Do we know why she decided to show up now?”
She gave him the short and run down version of the earlier conversation. “Could she be made an ally?”
“Doubtful she seem to hate us”
“Why?”
“Unknown but it seems she has hacked us.”
"That we already suspected. I knew they were good but there should have been at least a trace. I want you to find out what she wants and what she knows.”
“Yes sir”
The line went down after that.