The Rules of Living with the Avengers

27. Do not let Tony know that Steve has cheated on you. It is bad.

"Ellie, I'm sorry!"

"Sorry isn't good enough, Rogers!" I yell back as I storm through the tower. I push past Tony and he looks confused as Steve runs up to me. He grabs my arm and spins me round. "Let go of me!"

"Ellie, listen to me!"

"No! You can't explain it to me! Let go of me!" I pull away from him but his grip is tight and I wince.

This must trigger something in Tony because he's suddenly beside us, anger clear on his face. "Let go, Rogers," he says, his voice low and dangerous.

"Tony, you don't know what's going on," Steve says.

"I don't need to know. You're hurting my niece and that's enough. So let go of her or I'll get in the suit and we can go a few rounds." Tony threatens. Steve releases me and I step away. Clint is behind me and he holds my arm gently.

"What's wrong?" He whispers and I turn away and feel tears running down my face. I run to my room, leaving the two arguing behind me. They'll start a new war with how much fighting they'll be doing.

I'm curled up on my bed, still crying, when someone knocks on my door. "El, can I come in?" Tony asks.

"Go away!"

"I'm coming in. I haven't told Pepper yet." Tony said. "I also broke Steve's nose."

"Is he okay?" I sit up, frantically. Then I sigh. "I'm not supposed to be concerned am I? Ugh. He was my first real boyfriend! Tony, what should I do?"

"Leave him. He's not worth your time," Tony tells me and he comes to sit on my bed awkwardly. Bless him. "Now do you want to go watch The Notebook whilst eating ice-cream?"

"No. I want to beat someone up then shoot at a target for an hour," I scowl. Don't need stupid love films. Love doesn't last. And ice cream melts. Stupid flowery puppies and rainbows.

"I can organise that too," he says but he looks frightened.

"Best uncle ever," I smile and hug him.