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Los Angeles, California 15th of November 2011
"Will it work?" Pepper asked as her, Tony, James and Happy were outside the conference room.
"I don't know." Stark shrugged.
"You sure you wanna do this?" The colonel asked.
"Yes." He paused. "She needs to know we'll be there for her no matter what."
"Then shall we go in?" Happy asked, walking to the door and opening it for the three others.
Meanwhile Turin, Italy
Julianne had been laying low in the European country for the past two weeks. She had managed to steal money from her abductors before setting them on fire, and was now in a hotel, thinking about her next steps.
She went downstairs to the hotel's bar and ordered a drink, looking around. There was a woman smoking on a table further away and a man eating a meal behind her. Her eyes then fell on the TV on the shelf behind the bartender. She could see journalists waiting patiently for something to happen in a conference room. Was someone important about to give a speech?
"Grazie." She thanked once her drink was put in front of her.
As she took a sip, the blonde noticed that the journalists started becoming agitated as people were walking in the room. And she recognized her mother's strawberry blonde hair and blonde figure, before recognizing the three men with her.
"Alza il volume per favore." (Turn the volume up please.) The bartender did as she asked.
Tony had stepped forward to talk, his girlfriend and friends by his side, and she could now hear what was being said.
"So some time ago, I discovered that I have a daughter. Just my luck, she was kidnapped five years ago. But I saw her. Just two weeks ago, I saw her." He sighed and massaged his temple. "Julie, I know you're out there. And I know you're confused, and scared. But please come home. I swear everything will be okay. We'll all be here to support you and help you, you don't have to go through this alone. So come back home." He stepped back and left, leaving the questions unanswered.
A journalist started speaking, summing up what the billionaire had said but in italian. But she couldn't hear it. Everything seemed to have faded away.
Julianne could feel her heart aching, she wanted to go back to her family so bad, but how could she, when she had become such a monster?
"Wow, non ci posso credere! Iron Man ha una figlia!" (Wow, I can't believe it! Iron Man has a daughter!) The bartender exclaimed.
The blonde froze. "Cosa hai detto?" (What did you say?) She said, her voice trembling.
"Non lo conosci? Quello è Iron Man! Tony Stark!" (You don't know him? That's Iron Man! Tony Stark!) He said, in disbelief. That woman didn't know Iron Man?
Her breath hitched and she quickly put some cash on the table for her drink and left in a hurry.
Julianne was now outside the hotel, taking big breaths. She couldn't believe she almost considered going back home. Her dad was the man she was assigned to kill. What if she had done it? What if she ended up killing him? She couldn't face him anymore.
But she had to. At least once. There was something she needed to do. They had to understand why she couldn't go back.
A few dayslater Malibu, California
"J.A.R.V.I.S. are the heaters not working?" Tony asked as he walked out of his bedroom.
"They work perfectly well, sir."
"Then why is it so cold for gosh sake, it's California not Alaska." He groaned.
"I advise you to look outside, sir."
Tony frowned but still walked out of the house after putting on a bathrobe. He was alone, Happy and Pepper had already left for work.
When he stepped outside, he couldn't see anything or anyone out of ordinary. But as he turned to go back inside, his eyes fell on the silhouette leaning near the entrance.
"Hi dad." She said with a small smile.
His heart warmed up with joy, though his face expressed pure shock. It was the first time she called him "dad".
"You came back." He stepped towards her but stopped when she lifted her arms, signaling him not to come any closer.
"No. I can't."
He paused. "You came back to tell me you can't come back."
"I couldn't say that over the phone." Her smile turned sad.
"At least wait for your mom to get home. She misses you so much."
"I can't, I have to leave. If I stay I'll put you all in danger."
"Is someone after you?"
"Not that I know of." She shrugged.
"Then you don't need to worry. I can help you, and I swear nothing will happen to any of us-"
"You don't understand, I'm the danger." She cut him off. "I was assigned to kill you that day."
"But you didn't. Why?"
"I don't know."
"Yes you do, because you know you're not a killing machine."
She sighed. Tony Stark was stubborn. She couldn't persuade him. "I'm sorry. I just want to protect you. I love you all." The blonde enhanced made a hand movement, and she started slipping away from the house, sliding on ice.
Tony watched her go with a frown. "J.A.R.V.I.S. follow the tracer I just activated." He said once he got back inside, the cold feeling had disappeared, but now he wished it had stayed.
Later that day
"She was here?! Right here!?" Pepper exclaimed.
"Well, in front of the house actually, but yes."
"How is she? Where is she now? Is she coming back?"
"She's afraid. I'll get her to come back, I promise."
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I was feeling inspired I'll check tomorrow for mistakes, gn <3
