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Pepper Potts and James "Rhodey" Rhodes were growing very impatient. Apparently their friend Tony Stark takes an obnoxiously long time to change. They were late for school, their FIRST DAY of school. Both of them were glaring at Tony's wardrobe door and Rhodey was tapping his foot impatiently. When Tony finally steps out from the room, It's shown that he is wearing a noticeably fancy suit. Pepper and Rhodey's brief original shock had morphed into frustration and anger.
Pepper: Tony! What are you wearing?
Tony: What are you talking about? I look good.
Rhodey: That's not the point! You can't go to a normal public school wearing that!
Tony: Fine, hold your horses.
He goes in and a couple of minutes later he comes out wearing a plain black t-shirt and jeans.
Tony: There, is that too fancy for you? Do you want me to wear rags instead.
Rhodey: We've got no time for your big-headedness. We need to go to school NOW. We're late for school.
Tony: Wait! Don't we have to eat?!
Pepper: You should have thought of that before deciding to wear that suit Tony.
Rhodey (mumbling): And he's supposed to be the smartest out of all of us.
Tony: What?!?! You know what, fine. Starve me. I can go a day without breakfast.
Pepper: ..............................you know what, you probably should have something to eat Tony. We are going to have to walk a long way.
Rhodey: Why?
Tony picks up an apple and a granola bar from the nearby table and then replies.
Tony: Because if the bus picks us up near stark tower people will be suspicious.
Pepper: Ah, so there is still a brain in there.
Tony (groaning): Cut me a break Pep. I was up all night.
Rhodey: Really?
Pepper: Why?
Tony: I was coming up with plausible theories for how Steven could have possibly survived the fall into the icy cold river. I'll tell you on the way.
They all exit the tower and begin chatting of various possibilities
Tony: So I've had a lot of theories but one of them seemed the most realistic. So, when the star spangled man plunged into the river, the below freezing temperatures could have frozen all of Stevens organs and preserved them so well over all of these years.
Rhodey: Like cryogenic freezing?
Tony: Yes!
Pepper: What were your other theories Tony?
Tony: Well..............................most of them involved clones and shape shifting aliens.
Pepper and Rhodey burst into giggles at hearing Tony's alternate theories.
Tony: WHat? It could be possible
Rhodey: Aliens Tony? Really? Like criminals aren't enough for earth.
Tony: This universe is infinite! This probably isn't the only universe. There are probably infinite universes out there. A multiverse!
Pepper: Whoa, slow down cowboy! Don't think that far right now. How about we just stay back here in earth for now. OUR earth.
Rhodey: She's right.
Tony: Alrighty then, why don't we listen to music to make this less excruciating.
Tony takes out his phone and plays the song "A thousand miles" by vanessa carlton until they finally reach the bus station to find the bus waiting for them. They run up to the bus and manage to clamber onto it in time as the bus started just a few seconds after they have gotten on the bus. They look around to find seats.
Pepper: Ok, the only seats available are a two seater and a space next to a brown haired kid. What do we do?
Tony: I'll take one for the team and sit next to the weird looking kid. You guys better thank me for this.
Rhodey (mockingly): Hope you do well on the war brave soldier!
Tony: I literally hate you all.
Tony goes down to sit next to the brown haired haired kid who looks up at him curiously.
Kid: HI! Are you new here? I haven't seen you around before! No one really sits with me, so if you're new, that explains why you want to sit with me. No one likes to sit with me because I really, really like ants. I'm sorry, am I talking too much?
Tony: ...............................................................kid, how about you tell me your name first.
Kid: Oh! Right.................my name is Scott. Scott Lang! What's yours?
Tony: Oh! Ummmm................................
Tony was at a loss of words at that moment because he hadn't thought of this problem beforehand. He obviously couldn't use his real name because it would expose their investigation immediately. Suddenly, his stark phone pinged and when he looked at it, he had seen that Pepper had sent him his school admission papers and certificates. And she happened to give him the dumbest name ever. Oh well, here goes nothing.
Tony: My name is Robert Downey JR.
Scott looks at him in confusion. Tony thinks he is in shock of how incredibly idiotic that name is. He is definitely going to kill his two friends later.
Tony: But...................you can call me Bo instead.
Scott: Okay then! By the ways, we're here.
Suddenly, the bus pulls up at a castle like building with black paint all over it. Tony looks outside and his face quickly morphs into shock and surprise. Scott notices the look on Tony's face.
Scott: ٩(˘◡˘)۶ Yeah, we get that a lot. Don't worry, it looks better in the inside.
Tony: It looks like a medieval torture dungeon or something!
When the bus doors opened, as soon as everyone clambered off the bus Tony rushed off to meet Pepper and Rhodey before class.
Tony: What is up with this place
Rhodey: It looks like a medieval torture room!
Tony: RIGHT! And what kind of name did you guys give me?!
Pepper: Hey, you should be thanking me. I saved you back there.
Rhodey: What name DID you give him by the way?
Pepper: You will find out in a couple of minutes. We need to go to the principal's office.
Scott (from a far off distance): See ya later bo!!!!!!!!!
Rhodey: (¬‿¬) Well now I'm really curious.
Tony: (Groans)
The trio starts making their way to the principal's office, when Rhodey suddenly bumps into a very tall boy. When he looks up, the same turtleneck wearing bully they saw in the security camera feed the day before glowering at his face.
Rhodey: Ummm, sorry man. I wasn't watching where I was going.
Bully: Watch where you're going musclehead!
Tony: Didn't he just apologise for that?
Bully: Watch who're you are speaking to, pipsqueak.
Rhodey: AlRiGhT! Pick on someone your own size turtleneck.
Tony: *Hey!*
Pepper suddenly pushes Rhodey aside and glares right at the bully.
Pepper: Alright mr, I know Karate, Aikido, Boxing, and a lot of other ones I don't remember the names of so back off!
The boy glares at Pepper so hard it looks like he is shooting daggers at her through his eyes, then he leaves the scene. Tony, Pepper, and Rhodey decided to try and find the principal's office.
Tony: That was awesome Pepper! You really scared him off.
Rhodey: Yeah, you should have seen his face!
As Rhodey proceeds to comically mimic Zemo's facial expression at that moment, Pepper raises her right eyebrow so high it looks like the meme.
Pepper: You know that I wasn't kidding right? I really can do all of those things. And I remember all of the names too. I just didn't want to waste anyone's time.
Tony: I honestly didn't know that, but with that coming from you, I don't expect anything less.
Rhodey: We're here guys.
They stopped in front of a door. It was a giant mahogany wood door with the words 'Principals Office' carved on a golden plaque. Tony looked at Rhodey. Rhodey looked at Pepper. Pepper looked at Tony. Basically, they were all looking at each other.
Rhodey: Wait! Why are we all looking at each other?
Tony: I don't know.
Pepper: I guess we are all a little nervous.
Tony knew that even though he wouldn't admit it out loud, he was nervous and he didn't know why. He was Iron Man for friggs sake! He had fought his crazy uncle, killer robots, and even some kind of.................... actually, he had no idea what the Mandarin was. He was just a normal person who gained mythical powers through a bunch of rings, who also happened to have a cult of his own. He touched the silver polished door knob, gave a glance at both Pepper and Rhodey, and turned it.
When they stepped in, a sudden blast of cold air hit their faces. They were in awe at the room before them. This isn't something they haven't seen before, but they never expected something this grand in a horror movie esque school. The room was covered in a red wallpaper and had a small golden chandelier hanging above their heads. There was a leather couch near a bright glowing fireplace. The principals assistant was typing in her computer until she heard three kids come in. She looked up and ushered them all in to take a seat.
Principal's assistant: Principal Fury will see to all of you shortly.
Tony ran his hand along the armrest of the couch. He knew what real leather looked like. He just wanted to make sure. He glanced around the room again. If the school can afford a room as fancy as this, why did the building look like it was built in the 1850s? His thoughts were interrupted by the principal's door suddenly opening. A 14 year old boy with blonde hair and bandages all over his face suddenly opened the door.
Principal: Meet back here after school Barton!
Kid: Yeah, yeah. Keep your eyepatch on.
Pepper (mouthing silently): Eyepatch?!
The kid was about to walk out of the door when he suddenly spotted the trio sitting on the couch and went up to them.
Kid: Sooooooooooooooo,what are you guys in for?
Principal's assistant: CLINT, OUT.
Clint looks at her and turns back and looks at Tony completely ignoring the direct order expecting an answer when Pepper replies.
Pepper: We didn't do anything. Since we are new students the principal wanted to talk to us.
Clint: Oh. I was wondering why I haven't seen you guys around before.
Principal's assistant: CLINT!
Clint: Relax lady. I'm just giving the new kids a piece of advice.
Pepper: What kind of advice?
Suddenly Clint moves so close to Tony that his face was only an inch away from his face and replies .
Clint:This place is a hellhole! Get out of here while you still can! There are things that will not hesitate to rip you to shreds here!
Principal's assistant: CLINTON FRANCIS BARTON I WILL CALL SECURITY I AM NOT EVEN KIDDING RIGHT NOW.
Clint face morphs into shock and surprise and raises his hands in a surrender like way.
Clint: Okay! I'm leaving geez!
Clint left the room with his hands in his pockets while his words deeply resonated with the three of them. Rhodey decided to make a joke to lighten up the mood.
Rhodey: Boy! That kid leaned in so close to Tony I thought he was gonna kiss him!
Pepper laughs out loud and Tony looks weirded out.
Principal's assistant: You three may see the principal now.
Everyone looked at each other and went into the door one by one and found that the principals room is in a similar fashion to the waiting room. The desk was near the edge of the room and a swivel chair near it was facing backwards facing the window behind.
Rhodey: Ummmmmmmm, Mr principal sir?
The swivel chair suddenly turns to reveal an african american bald man with a goatee.............with an eyepatch sitting there. He rests his chin on the back of his hand and raises his eyebrow.
Principal: That's Principal Fury to you.
Rhodey: Sorry Principal Fury.
Principal Fury: So, to start things off, me and the rest of the staff at SHIELD academy would like to extend a warm welcome to you three.
Tony: Do you have anything else to say other than welcoming us or is that what the whole speech is about?
As a response to Tony's snarky remark, Pepper elbows Tony's ribs, causing him to wince in pain. Fury's eyebrows draw together and his
Principal Fury: Well, if your that impatient I suppose we will have to get right to it then. We need to talk about your transport situation
Tony : Because where we live is too far away?
Principal Fury: Yep. You kids have two options. Either you kids have to walk miles to school every day or you can stay in our school dorms like most of the students here do.
Pepper (mouthing): I got this
Pepper: We'll take the dorm option please.
Principal Fury: Very well then. You three may leave.
They all left the room and waved goodbye to the assistant and left the room
TO BR CONTINUED
