//------------------------------// // Kindergarten: Plucking Weeds // Story: The Technological Technicolor Technomare // by Tatsurou //------------------------------// Tony Stark sat back in his lab, doing his best to focus on his work. For once, he wasn't working on something Iron Man related. He was actually addressing the business side of his company...or at the very least, he was supposed to be doing so. Unfortunately, his mind would not focus on that. Under normal circumstances, this would be due to his boredom with such mundane matters, but since the adoption of Rainbow Dash had been made official - along with her gaining American citizenship (classified as a 'born in America' citizen, since she had entered the world - albeit from another one - in America, which was the loophole Fury had used to streamline the paperwork...which had led to Nick and Tony joking that Rainbow could run for President someday) - Tony had been paying more attention to the work side of his work to try and set a good example for Rainbow...or at least a better one, according to Pepper. This rumination, of course, brought him back to the reason he was having trouble focusing on his work. Normally, when he was doing any sort of work on his computers lately, Rainbow would be sitting on his shoulder, watching in fascination. He still wasn't sure how much of what he did she actually understood and/or retained, and how much of it was her being fascinated by all the flashing lights. Still, even when she was out and about with Hulk and Zuki - or more recently, with Pepper - he didn't have trouble focusing, since there was nothing to worry about. As he closed the screen and returned to the pacing that had consumed most of his morning and midday, he came back to the focus of his thoughts. He was worried about Rainbow today...because it was her first day of Kindergarten. It had been a heated debate between he and Pepper. He favored home schooling Rainbow, since between him and JARVIS her education could easily be streamlined to as fast as she was comfortable with taking it and as much as she could absorb, while at the same time learning just how high her innate learning curve was. She was, after all, still an alien life form they knew little about beyond her ability to dominate the hearts of all around her through the power of cute (or awesome, according to Rainbow). Pepper, however, had argued that Rainbow needed to be schooled alongside other children just like any other so she could learn social skills. She made a valid - if uncalled for - point in stating this as one area that Tony was sorely lacking and incapable of teaching in. Tony had thought he would be able to talk her around...until Hulk and Rainbow had sided with Pepper. Hulk had said - though not in so many words - that keeping her in an Ivory Tower defeated the purpose of getting her citizenship and adopting her. Rainbow had said she wanted to make friends. And so, despite Tony's misgivings and concerns, he enrolled Rainbow in the local school district, and today she started in Kindergarten. He had taken her personally to drop her off, and had been torn between proud, nonplussed, and crying on the inside when she flew off to class happily without so much as a worried glance back and a happy wave. She had waved bye easily, secure in knowing he'd be back for her in the afternoon. And he hadn't been able to focus on his work at all since. "Bye Daddy! See you after school!" With those words - spoken freely and in joy - Rainbow had expressed the total absence of her worries...and filled Tony with his. It didn't help when Pepper informed him calmly that her lack of concern in being separated from him for school showed just how good a job he'd done in raising her...especially when he found himself oddly jealous of the other parents whose kids clung to them, screaming to not be left there. At that moment, the elevator doors slid open, and Hulk stepped out, with Zuki behind him, Rainbow on the 'puppy's head. "Rainbow?" Tony asked surprised. "School doesn't let out for another two hours?" He rushed to her side. "Is everything okay?" Rainbow hung her head, pouting. "I got kicked out..." Tony sat back in surprise, torn between wanting to comfort her and an odd pride in her achievement. "...What happened?" he finally asked. Hulk grunted. "Puny humans like little pony too much. Keep wanting pet, keep wanting hold, keep tugging. Little pony not like!" "They were touching my wings..." Rainbow whimpered, folding her wings around her and stroking the downy pinions protectively. Tony nodded in understanding. Rainbow was especially sensitive about having her wings or hooves touched, and only let him preen her because she wasn't able to do it herself yet. "Did you tell the teacher?" "...after flying up to the ceiling to get away from all of them," Rainbow admitted. Hulk scowled. "Teacher say Rainbow have to sit down with others, but Rainbow not like them touching her. Then Rainbow call Hulk, and Hulk come in. Hulk tell tiny humans to not pet pony. Tell them to pet puppy instead!" He gestured to Zuki, who grinned happily. "Tiny humans make stinky wet and loud noises, then Hulk yell for quiet." Tony did his best to keep his face impassive as he imagined how well that would have gone down. "So I got kicked out," Rainbow admitted. "For being a...disc-rip-stove influenza." "You mean a disruptive influence?" Tony corrected. "Yeah, that thing." Tony sighed as he sat down beside Zuki, lifting Rainbow into his own lap. "I have to admit, I was afraid something like this might happen. You're just too adorable and awesome to resist, and little kids are especially grabby at this age. Guess you'll just have to wait until you can be enrolled with kids a little older before you can start making friends your own age." Rainbow sighed disconsolately. "I guess..." "In the meantime," JARVIS spoke up, projecting his recently completed holographic self representation, a green humanoid image with - at present - few defining characteristics, "we can begin your instruction here in the home. I believe that between that and interaction with Tony's work acquaintances, you will be quite able to fill your days with amusing endeavor." "Guess so..." Rainbow admitted. The prospect of learning from the computers did intrigue her, and she did like most of those she met in the company. However, she had learned that sulking often got her good things, and she was dedicated to this sulk. Tony chuckled. "Come on, Dashie. Let's get you some ice cream." "Ice cream!" Rainbow cried happily, zipping into the air to fly circles around Tony's head. Chuckling, they headed for the kitchens.