Daughter's Day (Part 2)

                                    

                                          
"Rhodey....will she even want it ?", asked Tony....his face in his hands as he sat in his bedroom...a bunch of papers in front of him...the most important papers he would ever sign in his life.... adoption papers for Penny Parker....the little girl who had came in his life as an intern and was able to crawl her way into his heart in the past one year. He didn't even realise when he had started seeing her as his daughter.....or did he always see her that way. Even though he loved the kid to death and would do anything for her...he still didn't think he was fit to be her father. He was afraid he would end up being like a father he had and he would never even dream of hurting Penny the way his father did to him. "Tony.....I know she would love it....she would love to have you as her father.....have you seen the way she looks at you ?....the kid worships you Tony...she thinks you are the greatest person in the world...maybe you don't notice but I did.....the kid has lost enough in her life....but everytime she is with you she gets a part of herself she lost back...and so do you Tony. You are a totally different man from what you were a year back all thanks to the Kid. She loves you Tony. So don't think too much....just go for it." And he did. In the next 2 hrs Tony found himself in front of Penny's orphanage only to know that she wasn't there. "She has gone to her school Mr. Stark .... it's Daughter's Day today and her school hosts an event every year", the orphanage owner had said and he had felt terrible....how can he expect himself to be a good father when he didn't even remember Daughter's Day. "I think....you should go to her school Mr. Stark. Penny is a sweet kid....she has lost a lot in her life...she doesn't attend this event a single year but this time she did.....cause she is so selfless that she wanted to go to help increase donations for charity....but I know how upset she was. Maybe you should tell her this today itself....it will make this day she hated into a day she loves....she deserves it Mr. Stark....and she loves you.", the old lady had said with kind eyes and soft words. And that somehow gave Tony the confidence he needed and he had driven to Penny's school promising himself to give the little girl every bit of love and care she deserved. 
Tony walked into the room with stealthy steps. Living up to his titles he looked intimidating as always. The way he walks is enough to make people gape at him in awe. His body language screamed power. Removing his sunglasses and placing them in the front of his shirt Tony looked around the room as if searching for someone. And when his eyes landed on the person his face cracked into the biggest smile...but it wasn't the ones he gave to the paparazzi....no....it was a real smile ..a genuine smile of happiness on noticing his favourite person...his favourite intern even though she was his only intern...on noticing Penny. 
Penny's mouth was left open as she blinked comically at Tony. What was he doing here ??....did her school invite him as some guest of honour or something??. As she was sorting through the reasons in her mind for him to come to her school Tony had walked up to her. The several parents and children stared intently at his moves. Especially Flash and his minions. "Sorry for being late..... Someone didn't inform me they would be in school today", joked Tony flashing a smirky grin. "M-Mr. Stark what are you doing here !!!!", asked Penny surprised....but still couldn't stop the grin forming on her face seeing her favourite person in front of her. But Penny was surprised when Tony's confident and sarcastic face slowly turned into a weird mix of nervousness. His usually fierce eyes were now so soft and delicate as he looked at Penny....the girl he already looked at as his own daughter. "Well....I have a little surprise for you", said Tony with a smile. He offered his hand to Penny which she hesitantly took. "Such a gentleman", said Penny with a mocking grin to defuse the heaviness of the atmosphere earning a snot from Tony.
He guided her gently towards the stage. Getting up on it he placed a hand around Penny's shoulders placing himself in front of the mic. "I know all of you are so confused.....I know what's happening is so out of the box right ??....but what I'm gonna say is probably going to be the most important speech I give in my life. I..... I'm bad at this but I think there can't be a better day. I never thought I was fit to be a father.... I don't think anyone in this room thinks so either. I don't really have the best history. But it all changed when I met this little genius here beside me. Penny had joined SI as an intern a year back and on her very first day she had started building a protocol of my Iron Man suit. I still remember how I was kinda jealous knowing there was someone as intelligent as me in the building and i had made her my personal intern originally to challenge her intelligence.", Tony said with a smile on his face fondly looking down at Penny while reminiscing the memory . "But as time passed I didn't even realise when we became a team...a duo and now it's been over a year since I've been working with this genius. But...more than an intern or a prodigy, i gained a daughter in the process. I know we don't share any blood or DNA or any distant family member but is the relationship of a child and their parents only limited to matching blood streams?? My father and I shared the same DNA but it would be a lie if I said I ever felt anything father like with him. All I want to say is you don't have to be related to mean something to someone. Whether it's a daughter or son or father or mother. I still don't think I'm fit to be a father to anyone but Penny you have no clue how much you have changed me just by being there. I am now happier than i have ever been and I'll be the happiest person on earth if you accept this one last request of mine." Taking in a deep shaky breath and pulling out a stack of papers from his coat pocket he said, "Penny Parker...will you be my daughter?", said Tony followed by the hall room being filled with collective gasps by people as they witnessed the billionaire do something no one had imagined. And as for Penny, she was rooted at her place...she had been since the past 10 minutes from when Tony had started his speech. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was it even real??? Or was she just day dreaming. The person she had always considered as her Father figure had seen her as his daughter??....The Tony Stark had seen her as his daughter??....how was all even true. Penny's eyes were glossy as they filled with tears of joy and affection. "M-Mr. Stark....I....", she said but couldn't continue. So Penny did the only logical thing to do at the moment and threw herself into the protective and caring arms of Mr. Stark and let her tears fall. And she had no doubt that he would catch her and he did. Tony wrapped his arms around the small girl bringing her close and holding her with so much love and care. "M-Mr. Stark ...Yes...Yes i would love to...thank you Mr. Stark. I love you so much", sniffled Penny into his coat. "Oh Penny thank YOU for being in my life. I love you more Sweetheart", Tony said, his eyes filling with tears as he let out a breath of relief and placed a soft kiss on top of Penny's head. Both of them too emotional to hear the claps by the crowd.
And soon as the music started, Penny and Tony had danced hand in hand with teary eyes and the biggest smiles both ever had on their faces creating a memory that they would keep stored in their hearts forever. 
But there was one more thing Tony had to do before leaving. "Flash is it ??", he asked the kid standing in front of. Staring down at him with the iconic Tony Stark glare through his sunglasses, he raised his eyebrows in question. Flash looked up at him..fear clear in his eyes. "Y-Yes sir", he stuttered. "Ok so i know what you said to Penny today....yk right before I came in...you don't need to know how I do I just do. From this very moment Flash, if I get news that you as much as sneezed anywhere near my daughter you're gonna meet hell and I'll make sure you and your gang of minions learn a lesson you don't wanna learn....am i clear ?", said Tony in the most obvious monotonous voice but it still sounded so steely. It was difficult to believe it was the same man on stage a few hours back. Earning a horrified look and nod from Flash Tony walked past him. Shrugging his shoulders and giving a smile to a confused looking Penny he placed a hand around her shoulders and left the venue......now as the Official Badass Father - Daughter Duo.