penny prompt: im v into biochem!nerd peter/penny. like they rly like engineering but their passion is biochem, so tony introduces penny to one of the researchers working in SI's biochem branch and offers to have penny help him with hsi research while he's on a business trip/otherwise occupied, but the researcher is Mega Creepy and starts aggressively coming on to penny, who doesn't know what to do bc he and mr stark are *friends* and what if shes overreacting etc. then irondad to the rescue

Okay.  Guys…this was hard to write.  And it’s really long.  PLEASE read the prompt and also know that this fic mentions sexual harassment and assault (but not rape) of a minor.  

Penny drummed her fingers on her leg, stomach fluttering with butterflies as Happy drove her up the driveway to the building in upper Manhattan. The man glanced up at her in the rearview mirror, eyebrow raised. She shot him a quick smile, physically forcing her fingers to stop, then clenched her hands in her lap, leg bouncing. This would be her first time working somewhere other than Mr. Stark’s lab…her first time working in a lab with someone other than Mr. Stark.

The man had found her reading an article on the latest advancements in different areas of biochemistry the week before, peering over her shoulder for almost a full minute before she’d noticed him, jumping and practically dropping the paper. “Oh…hey, Mr. Stark! I thought you were still…working.” She had been sitting at his kitchen counter, putting the paper down, and then he’d snatched it, giving it a once over and nodding, lips twitching into a smile.

“Gene therapy…good stuff. I know Doctor Watkins…he works out of California, but we worked together for a little while. He really knows his stuff.” He’d put the paper back down and had given her a critical look, taking a seat at one of the barstools. “What kind of science classes are you in right now?”

“Just Chemistry. Next year I can take biology but I don’t think we’ll be studying much biochemistry.” She’d shrugged. “I think that’s what I want to study in college but I’m not sure. We don’t really get to do much independent study yet.” He’d nodded slowly, eyes on the counter.

“You know, I’m going on a business trip to Tokyo next week, and I’ll be there for at least a week. But a colleague of mine has an independent research lab. They do a lot of work for pharmaceutical companies, but they do have some pretty interesting biochem research. How about I see if I can snag you a short-term internship while I’m out of town?” And even though she’d been nervous to work with someone who wasn’t Mr. Stark, she was excited to do some actual work in a field that fascinated her but that she’d barely gotten to do any research in.

“Thanks for driving me, Happy. But I can take the bus from school. It’s not that far from my school.”

“Boss’s orders, kid.” Happy told her, voice flat.

“Well…thank you.” She gave him her best smile, but the man only hummed.

“I’ll be here at six to take you home.”

“Okay. Thanks, Happy!” He didn’t respond and she climbed out of the car, wondering if she would ever get Happy to like her. Mr. Stark insisted that the man didn’t mind driving her and that he liked her just fine, but Penny didn’t believe him. She’d mostly stopped calling him to give reports, and he hadn’t complained, so she didn’t think he wanted to hear from her about her patrols. Or about anything.

It was a Monday afternoon, and she’d be going to this new internship every day after school until Saturday, when Mr. Stark was scheduled to arrive. And…she was nervous. Really nervous. This was a friend of Mr. Stark’s! What if she messed up? What if she broke something or offended him and then Mr. Stark lost a friend because of her? And then Mr. Stark didn’t want her around anymore? She made her way up the stairs, heart pounding, and, taking a deep breath, she pulled the door open, stepping inside the glass front building. It was beautiful inside…a huge glass lobby full of modern furniture. But, of course, it was nothing compared to Mr. Stark’s building.

She’d dressed up a little in a skirt and button-down shirt, wanting to make a good impression. Ideally, she’d get to work Stark Industries when she was old enough to get a job, but it couldn’t hurt to impress more people in the field she loved. Stark Industries apparently didn’t have much of a biochem department, but maybe she could change that.

The receptionist glanced up at her as she approached her desk, trying not to wring her hands. The woman was probably her aunt’s age, and she smiled at Penny as she came to a stop in front of her desk. “Hello. How can I help you?”

“Hi. My name is Penny Parker and I’m one of Mr. Stark’s interns. I’m supposed to meet Dr. Saunders…”

“Right…” The woman smiled a bit, but there was a strange look in her eyes. “You’re Miss Parker?” Penny nodded, stomach clenching. Why was the woman looking at her like that? Was Dr. Saunders mean? Surely Mr. Stark wouldn’t have sent her to work for someone mean. “I’ll call him and let him know you’re here.”

Keep reading