Marvel: A Tale of Shadows

They followed Pepper to a corner of the room where most of the guests were avoiding. Then she stopped and turned around and looked them over.

"First off, I completely apologize to Mr. Forge. As soon as Tony was alerted to the security breach he was on his way as well as summoning the police who should be here shortly. Apparently they paid off one of the security guards to let them pass with their phony badges. The security guard is in custody and if you want we can set up a line of communication so you can be alerted to anything that happens like this in the future." Pepper explained.

Forge nodded, "I would greatly appreciate that. But do we know why they were here?"

Pepper shook her head, "no and I doubt we will. When we tried to do a background check they came up blank. Which means they probably work for someone with a lot of flack in the government or deep pockets."

Forge nodded as he thought of possible culprits. While he did that, Pepper turned her attention to the couple and smiled.

"Thank you again Ethan." She then turned her attention to the black haired woman, "you must be Felicia. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Felicia blinked in confusion. "Umm… yes."

Pepper looked her over, "Ethan mentioned you were attractive but he was not kidding. You are a serious knockout."

Felicia blushed as she quickly punched Ethan's arm. "It is a pleasure to meet you as well Ms. Potts. I assume you and the police will need our statements. Shouldn't we take care of that first before talking?"

Ethan frowned and rubbed his arm.

"I suppose we could, how about joining me for dinner?" Pepper asked. "I know a good place where we could catch up."

Felicia nodded, "okay, I suppose we can. I was hoping to see the Xavier Institute's inventions but I am guessing that will be delayed." She looked towards Forge who nodded at Felicia's words.

"Yeah, after giving our statement we are heading back. This specific attack will have to be investigated before we come back here." Forge told them with a frown. They would have to find an opportunity for either the Professor or Jean Gray to interrogate them.

"If the Xavier Institute needs any assistance you only need to ask. Stark industries is willing to assist or cooperate in any way." Pepper explained as they made their way to the police officers that were taking witness statements.

—-------------------------------------------------

A few hours later they were sitting themselves down at the table with Pepper at a high-end Japanese Sushi Restaurant.

"This place is nice." Felicia cautiously observed.

"Yes it is, when I had to entertain investors from Japan I came here because the servers are for the most part Japanese immigrants." Pepper explained as she pulled over the drink menu to her, "I will order the drinks, they have this hot sake that goes great with their appetizers."

"So you and Ethan…" Felicia's assumption was thrown out there.

Pepper shrugged, "we were more temporary friends with benefits." She glanced at the menu for a moment before setting it down. "So please tell me what you are up to these days. Because last I checked you were investigating something."

Ethan nodded, "I finished then quit. Going back to school."

"Yeah, we are currently wasting away our summer. But I am actually going to do an internship at the Xavier Institute… hopefully. I have an interview tomorrow." Felicia explained.

"Oh? Sounds like they are thinking about expanding. So you plan on being a teacher?"

Felicia shrugged, "sort of, I plan to get a major in chemistry and a minor in teaching. But I am just going to tutor there and see how I like teaching."

Pepper hummed in understanding, "don't tell me Ethan's lazing about this summer."

"Lazing?"

Ethan shook his head, "not that busy but I am not free either."

Pepper narrowed her eyes as she frowned, "one of these days I will try to hire you. You are the only other person I know that could go head-to-head with Mr. Stark in tech creation. It is only unfortunate you don't have as much desire for fame as he does."

Felicia blinked, "what do you mean?"

Pepper grinned, "Ethan here has shown me some tech he has tinkered with and he is the only one I have seen come up with stuff that rivals stuff that is as good as Stark products. Though he is less nonchalant about it and does it in-between activities. Honestly it is a problem…"

"You mean with your relationship." Felicia asked. When she noticed Pepper's confused and befuddled stare, "the man that was notorious for being caught in bed with models and other beautiful women has not been seen in an affair in months. While some could say it is because of his whole super hero stick, I would say it is a woman."

Pepper was fully blushing now, "so? That doesn't explain your jump to it being me."

Felicia shook her head, "well I only suspected because Mr. Stark seems like a showoff like you said. So he would show off his woman to the public, but the only woman who has even been around Stark…" Felicia then pointed, not accusingly but more teasingly, "is you."

Pepper frowned while blushing then she looked away, "okay so maybe me and Stark decided to start something with me but I have not taken anything more than a dinner date with him." Pepper shook her head, "if it is just a passing 'something' then it can pass without doing any damage."

Ethan smiled, "if it's not?" His statement made Pepper cough nervously.

"Anyways, any new and interesting inventions you are working on lately?" Pepper changed the subject.

Ethan chuckled, "a few."

They continued to talk for a few hours over dinner and eventually desert.

—------------------------------------

When Pepper arrived back at the tower the elevator doors slid open to reveal the mess that had become her and Tony's shared apartment. Looking at the various pieces of armor, electronic, and mechanical parts annoyed her greatly.

She stepped around the pieces as she made her way to Tony's work area. Arriving at the table she saw him working on a helmet. Probably a new armor he was developing.

"What are you making now?" Pepper asked as she looked over his shoulder.

Tony glanced at her, "I am creating a suit for tracking and anti-stealth. Most of the modifications will be in the helmet itself. But I am having issues with the target tracking system."

"Jarvis, why is he making a suit this time?" Pepper asked openly.

"He is nervous since you disappeared off of his tracking software for a few hours." Jarvis clarified. But the reason did not exactly put her at ease. While it did make sense it was still bothersome that she did not even know about it.

But as she was thinking about it she realized something, "I suppose that makes sense. Were you worried?" Pepper smiled as she teased him.

Tony frowned then spun around on his chair, "where were you and why couldn't I find you?" He spoke like a parent angry about a child staying out too late. It honestly made her chuckle for a moment.

"I was out having dinner with an old friend in the hopes that I could hire him." Pepper explained as she rolled her eyes and started walking away.

"This wouldn't happen to be the one you had a 'friends with benefits' relationship with would it?" Tony asked as he stood up unsteadily and followed her. "You aren't um…"

"No I am not cheating on you, I went and met up with him and his girlfriend and we went out and had dinner. Sushi specifically, we talked business for a quick minute and then we caught up." Pepper explained as she hung her coat up.

Tony seemed to mule over Pepper's words for a few minutes before he nodded, "okay, so what did you hire him for?" One of the reasons he put so much trust in Pepper is that should close a deal with just about anyone. If he was the face, tech, and business; then she was the voice, business manager, and negotiator.

"Couldn't. He has decided to continue to stay under the radar." Pepper turned to see a shocked expression on Tony's face. "Don't worry I was at least able to get his help on the rare chance that any tech help is needed." This time she got to see a very entertaining array of emotions go across Tony's face before it stopped on annoyance.

Pepper just shrugged, "you weren't able to find me right? I assume that is 'his' doing, he doesn't like to be watched and is far more paranoid than you are." Pepper explained.

Tony could only make a pouting face as he started walking back to his workbench. Grunting in annoyance as he went.

Only for his annoyance to be interrupted by a beeping device. He opened up the message then quickly ran to get his armor on.

—-------------------------------------------

The next day Felicia went to her interview while Ethan went to another lesson and meeting with Frigga and Loki.

Felicia arrived roughly five minutes early at the coffee shop. Strange place to hold an interview, but also understandable. As she sat down at a table she waited patiently, ordering a tea in the meantime.

A few minutes passed and a beautiful redhead dressed in a pantsuit walked in. Felicia couldn't hide the smirk that appeared on her face as the red head looked around confused. As her gaze swept over to her, Felicia waved at her invitingly.

Walking over cautiously, the woman seemed to only partially focus on Felicia. She could tell it too. Half of the woman's thoughts were more focused on scanning the surroundings. Probably looking for signs of hostile entities.

As she sat down she frowned.

Felicia smiled as chuckled, "it really does throw you telepaths off when you can't read a person's mind… I apologize but there are some things about my personal life that I would like to keep personal."

"Umm… okay. Are you… Felicia Hardy?"

"Yes, I assume you are the one that will be interviewing me?" Felicia asked.

"Yes…" It was clear that the woman was having a hard time recovering from the idea that she could not read her mind, "my name is Jean Grey I am one of the science teachers at the Xavier Institute as well one of the staff administrators."

"Hello, Miss Grey. I am Felicia Hardy, a freshman going for a chemistry major that graduated high school recently. In addition to my chemistry major, I am also going for a teaching minor. So I figured it would be a good idea to tutor somewhere and see how I like it." Felicia explained.

"Well that is… understandable, I suppose. But why did you decide on the Xavier Institute in particular?" Jean was on edge, it was rare for her to interact with someone and not know what they were thinking.

"Because I figured a position like a tutor at a place as famous as Xavier Institute would look good on a resume. Not to mention any places that would not hire me if I worked there would mean I would not have to quit those jobs later when I found them to be racist." Felicia explained.

Jean blinked in surprise as she processed Felicia's words. "So… you are genuinely curious about teaching and figured being a tutor at Xavier Institute would be a good notch on the resume." Taking a minute to process her words it appeared Jean started to get back her bearings. "Okay… from what we understand you more specifically signed up for chemistry, biology, basic science, basic math, and algebra. But you have no record for any college time. Do you have any reason why we should hire you for those subjects?"

Felicia nodded as she pulled a folder out of the bag she brought with her and opened it, turning it to Jean. "Yes, in high school I had A pluses in all respective subjects. I was also in the Chemistry club and had multiple write ups for chemical experiments and explosions."

Jean nodded and read through the folder quickly, "You blew up…" Jean looked at Felicia again who only smiled back. "Well you are certainly an eccentric type. Since I assume this would be your first time teaching you would have no issue with multiple different age groups. I also have your available days for the week, so we can make a schedule where you come out to us. I only have one last question that is not really related to your tutoring position." Jean looked at Felicia squarely, "how are you preventing mind reading? Don't get me wrong, it won't prevent you from getting the job, we won't discriminate on that front. But I am curious how you obtained the ability."

Felicia let out a breath, "my boyfriend made it. He is a combination of genius and paranoid." Felicia touched the earring that was on her ear. "He is working on a better version that can change the level of protection. But he did not like the idea of me being near someone who is quite literally dubbed, 'the mind rapist' in certain circles."

Jean frowned and pointed at herself with a raised eyebrow.

Felicia shook her head, "no not you. He meant Xavier Charles. I have yet to see it but apparently he has a rather mixed past, due to the 'greater good' or 'survival'." Felicia explained while shrugging, "that's all."

Jean frowned and thought it over, "do you think he could make one for telepaths?"

Felicia shrugged, "maybe."

Jean nodded, "okay Miss Hardy. I will call you within the next few days. I do expect a positive response, so I am hoping to see you a lot more in the future." Jean stood up as she went to hand the file back.

Felicia only shook her head as she stood up, "those are copies. Feel free to keep them as reference or records to convince the others. Thank you for the chance Miss Grey. And I apologize for scaring you with..." She waved at her ear.

Jean nodded then stepped away, stopping at the door and glancing at Felicia for only a moment. But Felicia felt a shiver as she swear saw Jean's irises turn a fiery red for a moment.

Felicia frowned for a moment before she picked up her bag and left the shop, "that was strange." She must have been seeing things…right?