he's my hero → t . stark ( ON HOLD )

Chapter 2

At ten thirty the next morning, Zoza found herself climbing the shelves in the closet, trying to get something for breakfast. Rosemary was still in her tear-induced slumber, and Zoza was used to this. She reached the desired shelf when she heard the front door open, and she froze. 

“Hello? Rosemary? It’s me, Pepper.” Zoza heard her Aunt Pepper call out. Pepper walked into the kitchen, and when she saw Zoza, she smiled a bit. But, when she saw what she was doing, she gasped and helped her down. 

“Zoza, what were you doing?” 

“Gettin’ breakfast Auntie Pepper.”

“Let me get it for you. I don’t want you to get hurt.” Pepper reached up and grabbed a Pop-Tart out of the box and handed it to Zoza. She took it and walked off to the living room, and she saw the bag on the couch. Rosemary came stumbling into the room, rubbing her eyes and yawning.

“Momma, why is my bag on the couch?” She asked, and Rosemary froze. Fresh tears welled in her eyes, but she wiped them before Zoza could see.

“Sweetheart, you’re going to be staying with Aunt Pepper and Uncle Tony for a little while, okay?” Rosemary said softly, walking over and cupping her daughter’s cheeks. 

“But why Momma? I wanna stay with you.” She said, and Pepper walked over, taking the girl’s bag.

“Because things are difficult right now, for mommy. Believe me, I want you to stay with me, too, but it’s for the best. Don’t worry though, Princess. Things will get better, and then you can come home.” Rosemary said, and tears dripped down her cheeks. Zoza nodded sadly, not allowing her emotions to break through.

“I’ll go get dressed then.” Zoza said softly, jumping off of the couch and running to her bedroom. She shut the door quickly, locked it, and slid down the door slowly. She didn’t want to leave her mother behind, or Karla, or her few friends. She barely even knew her Aunt and Uncle, yet she was expected to go and live with them for who knows how long? Zoza stood shakily and did what she said she would, and got dressed. She pulled on her favorite green shirt with a garden scene on it, blue jeans, white socks, and her sneakers. She grabbed a pony-band and put up her hair into a ponytail. She looked in her mirror, nodded at her reflection, and left her room again.

“Ready to go Zoza?” Pepper asked, and the girl nodded slowly. Rosemary bent down and opened her arms for one more hug, which Zoza returned. She hugged her mother tightly, and she almost cried when they had to let go. Pepper held out her hand for Zoza to take, which she declined politely, and they left the apartment.

***

They got to the car, and Zoza took her bag and sat in the backseat with it. Pepper climbed into the driver’s side, started the car, buckled up, and drove off. Zoza looked out the car window, watching everything whiz by. She unzipped her bag and pulled out a teddy bear, hugging it close. At this moment, she didn’t feel thirteen anymore. She felt like she was four. Like she was lost and alone. Pepper kept looking back at her niece, but not saying anything. She didn’t know what to say. She wanted to tell Zoza about the Tower, about Tony, about the Avengers, about everything, but it would be overwhelming. When she told Tony and the others about Zoza, they all seemed excited, but Tony, not as much. He never had any kind of experience with kids, or teens before, and this might’ve been a stretch.

***

“Okay Zoza, we’re here.” Pepper said gently, shaking the girl awake. Zoza had fallen asleep along the way, and she was holding onto her bear in a death grip. When she opened her eyes Zoza sighed sleepily and let go of the bear. Pepper caught it and carefully put it back into the bag and helped the girl out of the car. Pepper heard footsteps coming towards her, and looked up to see Steve coming down to greet the two of them. Pepper smiled, and Zoza rubbed her sleepy eyes. Steve smiled back and looked over at the girl, and he walked closer. Zoza was about to take a sleepy step forward, but she stumbled. Steve rushed over and caught her just in time, and Zoza fell asleep again. Steve picked her up, and she curled up against his chest.

“She’s so adorable. Blossom is really going to love her.” Steve said softly, and Pepper nodded, and she grabbed Zoza’s bag.

“I’ll carry her inside.” Steve said, and Pepper nodded again. She and Steve walked back into the tower, Zoza still sleeping soundly in Steve’s arms.

***

When they reached their floor, Zoza was still sleeping, and she looked utterly adorable. But, it didn’t last long.

“Welcome home Miss Potts.” JARVIS’s AI voice rang out, waking and scaring Zoza. She screamed and fell out of Steve’s arms, and she went to cower behind her aunt.

“Auntie Pepper, who was that?” She asked, and then she looked at Steve, which made her jump.

“And who’s that?” She motioned to Steve. Pepper turned and bent down to take Zoza’s hands in hers.

“That’s Uncle Steve, and that voice you heard was JARVIS. He’s a friendly system, so don’t worry. No one here is going to hurt you, so no need to worry.” Pepper said softly, and Zoza eased out from behind her aunt.

“Sorry uncle Steve. Sorry Mr. JARVIS.” She said softly, and Steve smiled.

“It’s all okay. I understand. New place, new people, new things. It’s a lot to take in.” He said, and she smiled a little. Just then, a few more people entered the room, and Zoza hid behind Steve this time. He looked down and smiled at her, and then he set a hand on her back. She looked up at him, a little intimidated, and he patted her back.

“No need to hide or be scared. It’s just friends of ours.” Steve said softly, and she raised her head a bit.

“Steve, who’s this?” A woman asked, walking closer. She was smiling, and her hazel eyes were sparkling.

“Blossom, this is Zoza, Tony’s niece. Zoza, this is Blossom, my girlfriend.” Steve said softly, and Zoza nodded slowly. He set her down, and she hung her head to avoid any more conversation. Pepper smiled sadly and set a hand on her shoulder.

“I’ll take you to your room. You can meet everyone at dinner.” Pepper said, and Zoza nodded. She squeezed her shoulder gently and led her down the hall to the spare room Tony had set up, or tried to set up. Pepper set Zoza’s bag down, and she smiled at her niece.

“You’ll be able to decorate this place however you like, okay?” Pepper asked, and Zoza, and she nodded. Pepper pat her back gently before she left Zoza alone in the room. Zoza waited for her to leave the hall before she rushed to shut and locked the door. She bit her lip and went to sit on her bed, and she dug out her teddy bear from her bag. She hugged it close to her chest, missing her mom. She squeezed the bear, and a soft melody came from its paw. The song Matilda started to play softly, bringing tears to her eyes. Her mother used to call her 'my little Matilda' since the likness between her and book character was uncanny. There was a soft knock at the door, so Zoza jumped up, rushing to the door. She unlocked it, pulled it open, and looked up at her uncle, the famous Tony Stark.

"Um, hey there kiddo. Dinner time, okay?" Tony asked. Zoza nodded, and Tony left her doorway. Zoza sighed, walked back to her bear, turned the song off, and left her room slowly, dreading the new people she'd have to meet.