grounded

malibu

middle of march

tony pov

requested by: Hrujeetee  
(like a while ago, but there wasn't enough time to

add it during iron man // TBoL)

tony stood hidden behind the foyer waterfall. 

a lame place to hide, but he didn't really care.

today was the day. riley's friend percy jackson was coming over. tony didn't have any problems with his daughter's friends, but percy was a boy. and he had a nagging suspicion that the two liked each other. that's when his dad side kicked in.

he peeked through the waterfall and noticed his daughter tapping her foot. it was one of her impatient habits.

percy strolled through the doors, and happy took his bags up the stairs.

"hey," he said to riley, who had zoned out.

"you're late," was her deadpan response.

"by four minutes!"

"still late."

percy facepalmed.

tony watched their little quarrel unfold from behind the waterfall. he knew his daughter wasn't really angry with him, just pretending.

"yes, i'm late," percy said, realizing he wasn't going to win. "and i apologize for that your majesty. now, can we get on with our day."

riley smiled, "why of course, peasant."

and once again, percy facepalmed.

tony wondered if you could get brain damage from facepalming too many times. then he wondered if riley wouldn't like percy anymore if he had brain damage.

riley began leading percy out to the back, near the skate ramp. he followed them. he knew he was risking getting caught, but he was curious. and very protective over his daughter.

if that percy kid hurt her, he wouldn't live to see the light of day. (super-powerful demigod or not).

he was about to follow them out the door when a hand grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back. he turned around, face-to-face with an angry looking pepper. instantly, he knew this wasn't going to end well.

"hiii, uh.. hey pepper," he tried acting casual.

"cut the crap," she said, not wanting to beat around the bush. "i know what you're trying to do, and i'm telling you to stop. riley's had a very hectic few months. she deserves this, she deserves some peace. and if i hear about you causing even a little bit of trouble, i will ground you."

"you wouldn't."

"try me."

tony looked into her eyes, and realized she wasn't joking. he gulped nervously. 

"on second thought... maybe i'll leave them be."

tony didn't leave them be.

he followed them at a distance (now wary of pepper's watchful eyes, and the demigod's heightened senses). training for monster attacks kept them alert at all times.

he watched as percy and riley strapped on their gear for skateboarding. he was too far to make out their conversation but percy said something, and his daughter started laughing. 

then, percy his board to his feet, and went down the ramp. tony noticed how the boy wasn't doing any tricks. 

good, he thought to himself, he's not trying to show off for her.

percy was going a little slowly, as if he were getting used to it again. after a few minutes, he flipped the board. riley cheered him on, and percy's smile grew wider. 

tony wished he could go out and stop them. not yet, he told himself. not unless it gets 'funky'.

percy skated a little faster, and began doing more tricks as he got used to it again. tony watched as his daughter also went down the ramp. the duo performed tricks and flips as they continued skating.

tony noticed a few good-natured jibes from time to time. they got along well, he thought to himself bitterly.

they continued skating for a while. when they tired out, they sat with their feet dangling over the ramp. the duo shared a few candies that riley had with her. tony wondered where she got it from. she seemed to always have some candy with her.

he watched them pack up their stuff a little while later, and head inside. well, riley was pulling percy along. tony had a feeling she wanted to show him something.

he decided to have a little fun. he knew pepper was going to catch him in the end, but he wanted to go out in glory.

he kept an eye on his daughter and her friend. she seemed to be leading him up to the roof. 

tony smirked. this was too easy.

he rushed down to his workshop. 

"J.A.R.V.I.S., pull out a suit," he ordered his a.i.

"of course, sir. does this have anything to do with your daughter and her friend on the roof?" J.A.R.V.I.S. asked.

tony rolled his eyes, "keep your non-existent nose out of my beeswax."

"personally, i don't think you should use your suit. it's known to spread the toxins in your blood faster and further."

tony thought about it, "not as much if i use the newest suit. it's specially designed to help me. and if riley asks, i'll just say i was doing a test run."

the a.i. didn't respond. instead he pulled out the latest mark suit, and got the mechanical arms ready. they fastened the suit on, and tony smirked.

this was what he was born to do.

the mechanical arms whirled around him and finished bolting him up. tony felt a small pang as he remembered yinsen, who had bolted him up the first time.

the mechanical arms sunk back into the ground, and tony shook his head. 

time to crash a party.

tony flew around the city.

he knew he couldn't just fly into their conversation, he had to do something else first. he kept an eye on them as he flew.

he loved flying around the city. the adrenaline, the thrill, the feel of doing something good fir once was amazing.

tony was dying. he knew it. 

but if he went out saving the world, maybe he could live with it.

well... not live with it, but point's been made.

the toxins in his blood stream were irreversible. there was no known substitute to his palladium poisoning. the arc reactor was the only thing keeping the shrapnel out of his heart, but at the same time, it was killing him.

tony noticed the sun beginning to set. he sat on the ledge of some random person's house and watched it. it was beautiful.

he turned his gaze towards his daughter and her friend. they sat on the ledge of his own house, watching the sunset.

he got J.A.R.V.I.S. to zoom in on them. riley was leaning back with her eyes closed, while percy turned his gaze to her, nodding in agreement of something she said.

and... that's my cue, thought tony.

he activated his thrusters and flew towards them, a little slowly at first.

"J.A.R.V.I.S.?" he called the a.i. "mind telling me what they're saying?"

"i'm afraid i cannot do that sir," his a.i. answered. "riley had specifically ordered me against it and asked you to go away."

"well, that's not happening," tony muttered. he activated his thrusters, and flew past the two friends sitting on the roof. (he wasn't completely sure, but there may have been some leaning in.)

"oh my gods!" he heard his daughter's voice.

"oh, hey riley. riley's friend," he nodded briefly from inside the suit.

riley tried to get her hair out of her mouth while percy watched the iron man suit in awe. tony liked his awed expression, but fear might be better, he thought. that way, he'd stay away from riley.

"what are you doing here, dad?" riley groaned as she got the last few hairs out her mouth.

"oh, nothing. just testing out the newest mark."

riley narrowed her eyes, "why—"

she was cut off by pepper appearing behind her.

"tony!" 

tony immediately knew his fun was over.

"heyyyy, pep. listen, i gotta go fix the... um... the coat rack—"

"oh shut up. come with me, now."

"but—"

"now!"

realizing arguing wasn't going to win him any favors, he followed her in the suit. before leaving sight he decided to give the boy a piece of advice.

"listen up kid. never cross a woman. if she tells you to do something, you better listen."

percy nodded, as if he were thinking about a different situation, "noted."

and tony followed pepper inside, waiting for the lecture.

REY WRITES !

thanks for reading !!