The Avengers: A Change of Fate

Chapter 29

Stella was withdrawn. She mostly stayed in her room, and tried to avoid the Avengers. When Vision finally did get her around them again, she was so tense, and jumped at the slightest commotion. Hulk felt so bad about it, that he started to just sit there silently so he wouldn't scare her, they all did. Vision took to always keeping a hand on her because she jumped every time he would touch her.

She got better enough to hate how silent they were around her. She started to eat again, but she still felt dead inside, and the Avengers could see it. One night Tony walked into her room. Vision and her had been sitting on the bed, talking when he knocked on the door, which was new for him. Tony never knocked when Vision and Stella were in the same room together. She guessed things were different now that she was broken.

"Vision, can I get a moment with Stella?" Tony had asked after opening the door.

Vision looked at Stella before answering, "Sure."

He got up to leave, and Stella watched as he floated away. She felt empty without him. Tony took his place beside her.

"I wanted to see how you were doing," Tony started a conversation.

"I'm fine," Stella said lightly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," she insisted.

Tony sighed, "Stella, I know something's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong, Tony. There's no problem."

"I know there's a problem when you're wearing black all the time," Tony retorted.

Stella looked down at her clothing. She couldn't remember the last time she hadn't been in black.

"Me wearing black has nothing to do with me being upset," Stella tried to throw him off.

"Forget about that. We can see it in your eyes, Stella."

Stella sighed, "What do you expect?"

"Nothing."

They were silent a minute, "Seriously, why do you wear so much black?"

Stella shrugged, "Because it's what a badass wears?"

Tony gave her a look. Stella sighed, "I don't know, Tony. Honestly. That's all I've ever really worn. I guess when you wear the same thing for so long you get used to it."

"I want to help you get better."

"Well, clothes isn't going to change anything."

"Maybe, maybe not."

Stella didn't want to argue, "I want you to come home," Tony stated.

Stella got a distant look, "Stella, I know you think you can't come back, but you can. Pepper misses you- I miss you. Pepper is so upset, she can hardly look at the art you made without crying. She misses you, she really does. She wants you back."

Stella looked at him, "Look, she feels bad for what she did, she knew it was wrong, she knew it was selfish. She doesn't blame you for what you did. She just wants you to be her daughter again. We promise we won't try to change you again. Whatever you want to do with your life, we'll let you do it, and we'll be there for you."

Stella gave him a smile, the first one she managed in weeks, "It can be just like before, I promise. Pepper says she still owes you that shopping spree, and you need new clothes. If you can just go with her..."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"I'll go. I'll come back home, but I need Vision with me. - And Tony, don't think that anything will change, that it'll get better, because I'm not going to guarantee that it can or will."