14

Chapter Text

Daisy leaned against the wall of the slightly dinghy hall while holding her phone to her ear. She was taking a few minutes between rounds of Peter's decathlon to catch up with her friend. "So you're running all the labs now?"

-"Yes that's what I've been saying."- Jemma's fondly exasperated tone caused Daisy's lips to twitch upwards. It was a very specific tone of voice after all.

She hummed. "Well congratulations on the promotion. That's good that Director Mace is trusting you all more."

-"Yes, it's quite nice not getting death looks from May. Everyone was so prickly about him being director. And with you gone and the whole manhunt thing. It was quite chaotic. But things have been more orderly lately. Did I tell you, Fitz and I found the perfect apartment?"- Jemma was babbling.

Daisy rolled her eyes. "Jemma, do I need to use our safeword so you'll tell me what's up?"

-"Manscaping? Wait...no we need to change that. I think half the team knows it."-

"Jemma. What's wrong?" Daisy shook her head slightly. Not that Jemma could see that but the feeling still counted.

Jemma was silent for a long minute. -"There's something about Fitz… he's keeping something from me and I think it has to do with the Aida unit."-

"We wiped the knowledge of the darkholm from the LMD." Daisy's eyes narrowed, her body tensing ever so slightly. "And Radcliffe's LMD project hasn't been approved yet."

-"I'm not sure that means he's paused the project."- Jemma's voice lowered. -"If he hasn't we'll need you."-

Daisy frowned. "You think Fitz is still helping Radcliff." She sighed as she considered the danger that involved. "If the LMD project turns to be a real threat Stark would be the Avenger best able to help."

-"You want to bring Stark in on this? It's nothing. I'm probably just going crazy with the stress of everything."- Jemma tried to wave off.

Daisy straightened, pushing off the wall. "You're not crazy Jemma. I'll talk with the family. It shouldn't be a problem for me to come spend a week working on SHIELD's firewalls. I'll look into Radcliffe and the whole Aida thing. If it's nothing you can take some blood samples like your vampiresce self. It'll be like old times and SHIELD will have better electronic security. Besides, I've missed the team."

-"Thank you. I don't know how to… it's different without you here."- Jemma sounded tired more than anything else.

Daisy settled, it would be good to go back to the team for a while. She wasn't lying about that, and honestly the Barnes stuff was a type of drama she'd like to avoid. "I'll brief Stark so if we need robotics assistance he'll be prepared. But I can be there by tomorrow. Peter's decathlon is competing today and I tagged along. They're cute kids."

Daisy clapped as Peter's classmate Michelle answered the last question. She gave a thumbs up to Peter as the team started jumping everywhere as they were declared winners. Daisy shared an amused look with their teacher when Flash Thompson's voice squeaked as he held the trophy. It would seem she was buying celebratory ice cream for the kids instead of conciliatory.

"Want to tell me why you're not going up the monument?" Daisy sat down next to Peter on the public bench.

He shifted slightly. "I don't know...just didn't feel like it."

"Huh huh." Daisy hummed, specifically not looking at him. "And it has nothing to do with the guilty looks you've been shooting at Liz?"

Peter twitched. "Michelle didn't go up either."

"And Michelle delights in being contrary and had a point about slave construction. You on the other hand have been making cow eyes at a girl but turning all guilty and pouty anytime she talks to you. So want to try that again?"

He groaned, shoulders slumping. "It's just her dad was the gunrunning guy in the bird suit. She's moving next week to Oregan. And her dad's in jail because of us and I…"

"Ah." Daisy reached out and dragged Peter into a side hug. "That sucks. Gotta say locking up your girlfriend's dad is not something I have a speech for."

Peter was slightly stiff, but still leaned against her. "She isn't my girlfriend."

"But you wanted her to be?" Daisy prodded gently. Which...she remembered how consuming crushes had been when she was Peter's age.

He nodded. "I mean she's smart and pretty and just so nice." Peter heaved a sigh. "But I can't ask her to Homecoming or anything. We dropped her dad from five stories up while his suit caught on fire. He had to get skin grafts. And you know...jail."

"No I don't think she'd be too happy if she found out." Daisy winced. "I think I'm supposed to say there will be other girls."

Peter's eyes flicked to her in disbelief. "Thanks?"

"I don't know. I have terrible dating history. I mean Miles is still stuck in China somewhere with a SHIELD babysitting bracelet, I shot, stabbed, and attempted to murder Ward very very hard. And…"

Peter leaned into her. "You don't have to talk about Lincoln."

"Anyways, maybe talk to Aunt May about it? Or Darcy?" She offered up better alternatives. Really even before SHIELD she hadn't had the normal sort of life.

He snorted. "Darcy would...she's not a good person to ask."

"Probably fair." Daisy groaned as she saw the sudden chaos. "I have a feeling your friends need some help."

////

Peter waved at the security officers Daisy had just sent flying. "Sorry!" He ducked into the monument right on Daisy's heels.

"Alright, without climbing the side of this thing we're not going to be able to stop the elevator from falling. So we're not going to do that." Daisy's eyes were sharp as she skidded to the closed elevator doors.

He politely ignored that while she had her Quake mask and top on, she was very much still wearing jeans. Apparently time for a full change hadn't been on their side. "Wait, we have to help them!"

"Of course. Help with the doors." Daisy grabbed one side of the elevator doors and ripped it open.

Peter grabbed the other side hauling it back. "So weird." And it was weird seeing the elevator shaft without well, an elevator in it. "Now what?"

"When the elevator falls I'll slow it." Daisy hopped into the shaft dropping to the ground. "As soon as it stabilizes, get them out of the elevator. Signal me, I'll launch the thing a few stories up so you can snag and drag me out."

He nodded. "Ok um..that sounds like a terrible plan?"

"You have a better one?" Daisy grinned up at him from the bottom of the shaft. She rolled her shoulders. "It'll be fine."

Peter shot a web attaching a guard's hand and firearm to the wall. "I want it noted I still think this is a terrible idea."

"Eh, it'll work." Daisy paused as there was a horrible snapping sound, and then her hands were up, the air vibrating with her powers.

He only let out a slight yelp of alarm as the elevator car came crashing down, hiding his sister from sight. The gentle vibrations under his feet, and the fact the elevator hadn't fallen all the way to the bottom of the shaft reassured him she was alive. Peter lept into action. He needed to get everyone off that elevator as quickly as possible.

Peter grabbed the elevator doors and wedged them open. He let out a silent sigh at the sight of his alive but very traumatized looking friends. "Come on!" He waved them out.

Ned seemed to blink out of his 'I'm gonna die' expression first. "Spiderman!"

Flash blinked and then was sprinting out of the elevator car.

"Come on. It's not safe!" Peter grabbed Ned's shoulder and hauled his friend out. The others got the hint and piled out in a rush of panic. Flash was hugging the floor.

Peter tapped his comm. "They're out."

The elevator launched upwards. He shot a web hitting Daisy's side and then yanked. She came shooting out of the shaft. The elevator came crashing back down. She must not have sent it launching up that high because she barely missed it as he hauled her to safety. She skidded across the marble floor.

Grinning, she patted him on the shoulder. "Good timing."

"You!" He spluttered.

"It ended fine." Daisy punched his shoulder lightly.

Ned made a weird gurgling sound. "Holy shit. We got saved by Quake and Spiderman!"

////

Tony lowered his arm, his suit's arm folding away. "I could have hurt you kid."

"Eh, I could have ducked." Quake stepped through his lab's door. "Also you upgraded your security after you fired me. Good call, took me three hours to get in."

He decided to just go with exasperated about the kid tearing through his firewalls and physical security. Like at least if someone was making it look easy, it was his kid. "Well, guess I'll be having to upgrade it all. Again. What are you doing here kid?"

"Heads up on some possible SHIELD bullshit." Quake shrugged. "And thanks for the new gauntlets and mask. I'm not sure why you did it, but it means a lot."

Tony considered that. He'd been warned enough that even he was aware she was about as fucked up on the family issue as he was. "Well I'd be a pretty shitty bio dad if I didn't throw money and gifts at my spawn."

She stilled and then snorted. "I suppose we weren't hiding it particularly well." Quake looked at him, her head tipping ever so slightly. "You should talk to Peter, he's got a poster of you in his room."

"Wasn't sure you wouldn't kick my ass if I showed my face near the kid." Tony watched her curiously, she walked...not like Nat. No Nat was all elgence, his kid wasn't that. To much slouch, and a certain unhidden power. She walked like if Steve and Nat had had a kid. Which wasn't that a terrifying thought.

Quake's lips twitched. "Well, good to know you're aware I can kick your ass. Complicated machinery doesn't like localized vibrations."

"Is it weird I'm touched you plotted how to murder me? Cause I'm kinda touched." He tapped his arc reactor. "Thoughts?"

She snickered. "We're fucked up?"

"Not going to argue that." Tony cleared his throat. "So you said SHIELD bullshit? What more secret Natzs? Mind control? Lay it on me."

Quake's lips twitched. "Think more Terminator."

"Someone thought that was a good idea?" He twitched, panic sparking through him.

She stared at him. "Ultron."

"That hurts, but fair." Tony looked at his daughter, he really didn't know how to read her. But he was fairly sure she'd be far more tense if the situation was too dangerous. "So you controlling the evil robots then Skyenet?"

Quake sighed leaning against his work bench, stuffing her hands into her pockets. "Dr Radcliffe made a robot lady. Calls his project LMDs or Life Model Decoys. Idea is to replace people on suicide missions or high risk missions with look alike robots."

"That's a terrible idea. Really terrible idea. I'm saying it's a terrible idea." Tony crossed his arms.

"I know right?" Quake was completely exasperated. "But Mack chopped the LMD's head off and SHIELD is like...going through his research to see if there's any of it worth keeping and not just being burned."

Tony relaxed slightly, that sounded fairly secured. He was….huh that would explain why his spawn was here talking to him about it. "You're planning on investigating it's as handled as SHIELD is saying?"

"One of my old teammates called. I'm going to go bump up security, look into it. I know the director and the higher ups are aware of how horrifying terminator bots are. But spy stuff." She brushed some of her hair back. "I have a system set up with Darcy. But if things go FUBAR, you're the most suited for identifying and destroying robots. Probably won't need you to do anything, but well back up plans are important."

He twitched, he wanted to fly straight to California and let that new director Mace know that he better handle his robot problem. Maybe blow some things up. "I want updates or I'll come in weapons hot."

"Deal." Quake straightened. "I don't hate you, you know."

Tony felt a slight burning. "But you don't like me. Which fair, I've been informed I'm an acquired taste."

"I don't know, you're an arrogant asshole with a god complex. But my step dad was a serial killer and I visit him every couple of months. So you know, too soon to tell." She paused slightly on her way out. "Talk to Peter, he's good."

He dropped his arms. "I appreciate the way you can send people flying with your hands. Very cool."

"Thanks." Daisy grinned and then vanished out the door of his lab.

Tony groaned. Shit, he was getting attached.

////

Darcy hummed along to her Beyonce playlist while scribbling notes on her new build of the portal tech. Pushing the notes to the side she grabbed the scrapbook. It was excellent. Also she knew May would love getting this for christmas. Her four newspaper subscriptions, plus the new printer she'd built were paying off. So good.

"Should I be afraid of whatever that is?" Daisy asked while knocking on the doorframe lightly.

She turned down the music, closing the scrapbook. "Nope." Darcy beamed. "So, what's with the serious face?"

"Running some system checks for SHIELD. I'll probably be gone for a week or two." Daisy gave an amused look at the Thor poster on her wall. "Really?"

Darcy smiled unrepentantly. "I can hold the fort down. And don't judge. I know you have a star spangled throw blanket, Cap Knows Best sign, and a Cap bobblehead."

"First those were gifts when AC found out I was getting my own room. And make sure Peter doesn't over work himself." Daisy tossed her the car keys.

Darcy took in the artfully casual aura/stance Daisy was in. "Kick whatever supes evil, world ending, thing's ass."

"Planning on it." Daisy just looked smug.

Darcy clamored to her feet. "So need a ride to a bus stop or something in the morning?"

"I'm good, and aren't you meeting your new bodyguard tomorrow?" Daisy raised a brow.

Darcy poked at Daisy's chest. "You know who it is! Traitor!"

"Like I wouldn't vet your future bodyguard." Daisy rolled her eyes. "And I'm totes stealing him for a beer and catching up when I get back."

Darcy grinned in victory. "Former SHIELD then! BooYa."

"You two will have fun." Daisy looked far too delighted. "When he gets grumpy, tell him Liverpool are a bunch of wankers and can't play their way out of a paper sack."

She snorted. "British soccer fan then?"

"Please call it soccer to his face." Daisy snickered.

Darcy patted Daisy's shoulder. "You're evil and I support it entirely."

Darcy beamed, holding her hand out to the scruffy looking brit in Hill's office. "Yo! I assume you're my new bodyguard?"

"Oh I'm going to regret this." The scruffy brit groaned after looking her up and down. "I'm not protecting some hipster uni girl? Not that desperate yet."

Darcy lowered her hand, but her smile just grew. Oh she got why Daisy had been snickering now. "Oh you live with your foot in your mouth don't you? Is that in his file? Cause sticks foot in mouth should be under skills."

"Bad interpersonal skills are." Hill replied, and while her tone was bland, her eyes were far too bright not to find this hilarious. "And Dr Lewis this Lance Hunter, Hunter this is Dr Darcy Lewis."

Hunter shook his head crossing his arm. "Doctor?"

"Yupperoo." Darcy enjoyed how his face twitched in horror.

Hill was definitely biting back a smile as she cut in. "Dr Lewis here is Tony Stark's illegitimate child. Her work with Dr Foster on creating stable einstein rosen bridges, parentage and the fact she makes tech for Quake and Spiderman make her a target."

"You help Quake?" He dropped his hands to his hips.

Darcy shot finger guns at him. "She said Liverpool are wankers and can't play their way out of a paper bag. Very bad at soccer."

His whole face spasmed. "Where does she get off saying that!"

"It's true? I mean I googled it and when was the last time they won again?" Darcy was positively smug. This was a type of asshole that would be excellent as a bodyguard.

Hunter started to reply and then laughed. "Yeah you know Quake." He shook his head. "Fine I'll do it. And I want a pay raise. Illegitimate Stark, weird science...bridges, that sounds expensive."

"Did you enjoy living in Bangladesh stuck in a studio apartment with no one but Bobbie to talk or interact with?" Hill asked.

He grumbled. "Fine, I'll do it."

"Come! We are due to force Janey to eat and then there is science to do!" Darcy turned on her heel and marched out to the elevator. She was positively giddy as she heard him following her. Oh she was going to get new blackmail on Daisy. "So new minion, you got any stories about Daisy? Cause I need blackmail material."

Hunter hit the correct elevator button. "You're going to make me regret my life decisions aren't you?"

"Oh totally." Darcy beamed.

"JANEY NO!" Darcy grabbed the controller out of Jane's hand. "Bad Jane!"

Jane glared at her. "I need to run the test again to confirm the aura's magnetic variance!"

"Your franken bot isn't certified not to blow up yet!" Darcy held the controller out of Jane's reach. "You don't even insulate your wires!"

Jane blinked. "I thought you changed that?"

"I haven't gotten through all of them!" Her cheeks pinked slightly. "What!? Holo tables and new toys! I've been distracted."

Jane groaned. "We need those readings Darcy!"

"Then use frankenbot march 2. I mean it should work enough for some quick readings and not set the lab on fire!" Darcy chucked the controller at Hunter's head.

Hunter startled, barely catching it while dropping his weird sports magazine. "The hell?"

"March 2 has unreliable results. We can't use it." Jane glared.

Darcy shoved a poptart into Jane's hand. "Then take a break while I do some finagling so we can run it. It won't be pretty, but it shouldn't blow up in our faces."

"I'll go get some coffee." Jane sighed, her shoulders slumping in acceptance at a pause in the mad science.

Darcy grabbed Hunter's sports magazine. "Go help the science boss get us all coffee. I'm safe in the lab from evil villains."

"I'm not fetching coffee." Hunter stared at her, he looked like he wished he was dead inside.

Darcy laughed, oh having a sister who knew her bodyguard was excellent. "I'll tell Bobbie."

"...are you threatening to tattle tale on me?" He asked in disbelief.

Darcy felt like cackling, her chin tipped up slightly. "Yes I am."