Trick 29: Getting picked up by a Superhero!
Ace was held like a purse as Pepper got into a car, saying "The Mansion please, Happy." The driver nodded and replied "No problem, Pep." as he started the car and drove off.
Next thing Ace knew, he was being bathed by Happy, who muttered "Hey Happy, can you wash this cat? Hey Happy, you're not strong enough to be Ironman's bodyguard! You should sit this one out, Happy! Can you beat an Iron suit, Happy?"
Ace just sort of looked at him before shaking his head and meowing in understanding. Happy stopped and looked at Ace, asking "You feel bad for me too, little guy? I guess you're not that bad after all…" Ace just stayed silent this time as Happy took him out and dried him off with a towel, letting him loose in the house.
Ace's ear twitched as he heard faint shouting coming from the stairs. He looked around the house before running off, unfortunately, this house was extremely huge! Ace almost got lost, trying to find the source of the noise, but luckily he found a staircase by a huge glass… thing.
He looked at the thing and didn't really know what it was, even after tilting his head and observing it for a few moments. He finally shook his head and went down the stairs, promising to never try and understand the minds of rich people again…
Ace landed on the bottom floor before he was thoroughly shocked by the sheer amount of technology here. He stood against the glass wall, looking around at all the holograms and robots doing things without human interaction!
Needless to say, Ace was amazed at what he saw! If not for the fact that he knew it wasn't magic, he would've suspected Tony Stark of being a mage himself!
As Ace put his paws on the glass, staring at everything, Pepper and Tony were arguing. Tony paused and looked over, asking "What is that?" Pepper turned her head, saying "Oh I found a cat in the garbage at the company, I figured I'd clean him up- Hey! Don't change the subject! I'm doing your job!"
Tony walked to the door and replied "Yeah, that's what I'm trying to tell you, Pepper. By the way, you know I don't like cats, right?" as he opened the door and picked Ace up, adding "Also, don't say Wind Farm, I'm getting gassy already."
Pepper snatched Ace from Tony's hands, saying "What are you doing?" Tony pointed at Ace and said "Taking out the trash?" Pepper blew up, "It's just a cat, Tony! Honestly, it's really a wonder why you even own a company in the first place! This is so like you!"
Tony spread his hands and said "What do you mean?" Pepper retorted, "I have to do all your work-" Tony interrupted with a snap of his fingers, "So just do it!" as he walked to a bar, Pepper followed him, while holding Ace, as she replied "I do what?"
Tony looked at the air, saying "Excellent Idea. I just figured it out. You run the company." Pepper retorted tiredly, "Yeah! I'm trying to run the company!" Tony said instantly, "Pepper, I need you to run the company. Stop trying to do it and do it."
Pepper and Tony talked over each other, going back and forth until Tony grabbed Pepper's shoulders, saying "I'm trying to make you CEO!" Pepper froze and stared at Tony in confusion, as he added "Why won't you let me?"
Pepper made a strange face and leaned in, asking "Have you been drinking?" Tony turned around and waved a finger, saying "Chlorophyll." before turning around and adding "I hereby irrevocably appoint you chairman and CEO of Stark Industries, effective immediately."
He paused for a moment and continued "Yep. Done deal, okay?" as he turned to a robot carrying a tray as he went on "I've actually given this a fair bit of thought, believe it or not. Doing a bit of headhunting, so to speak, trying to figure out who a worthy successor would be. And then I realized…"
He opened a bottle of champagne with a pause and filled up 2 glasses, smiling to Pepper, "It's you. It's always been you." Pepper stared at him and sat down on a couch, gripping Ace extremely tightly as he hissed to no avail.
Tony turned around and presented a champagne glass to Pepper while sitting down, adding "I thought there would be a legal issue, but actually I'm capable of appointing my successor. My successor being you." Pepper looked up at him in shock as he shook the glass, saying "Congratulations?"
Pepper was frazzled and slowly took the glass, unable to speak a word as Tony smiled "Take it, just take it." Pepper replied with a quivering voice, "I don't know what to think." to which Tony responded simply, "Don't think. Drink." before clinking his glass with hers as Pepper giggled.
Ace was in the middle, on Pepper's lap as she finally let go. He jumped to the ground and stretched his limbs, looking up at Tony, who was drinking. Ace was trying to figure out what the Ancient One meant when she said Tony was in danger.
He scratched behind his ear trying to think of how he should help him and if protecting Pepper would thereby help Tony by extension, but he didn't know much about Karmic ties and therefore knew nothing!
Ace sighed to himself inwardly, Tony looked at him and asked "So the cat…" Pepper drank her glass and asked "Cat?" before realizing and picking Ace up again, saying "No, Tony. He's lucky!"
Tony sipped his champagne, remarking, "Usually black cats are the opposite…"
And so, Pepper kept Ace with her and a few days passed.
Today, Pepper brought Ace into an in-home gym that had a boxing arena!
Ace escaped from Pepper's arms, noticeably with a collar now…
Which he was not happy about…