the strongest avenger (2)

seventy nine

I texted Peter. And now him, Ned, MJ, and I are all going to get together in a few days, but the only thing present on my mind is the fact that we're waiting.

A small team went to scout, composed of Natasha, Steve, Sam, and Wanda. James and I have been trying to keep ourselves busy so that we don't succumb to our needs with each other and so that we don't worry too much.

Currently, I'm reorganizing my book case, I have two. The top two shelves are filled with trilogies, then the third and forth are my favorites and then the bottom shelf is filled with standalone books. I'm working on the second, having my classic and older books in the middle shelf with more of my series on the tops and bottoms.

Friday's playing my music in the background and I have a pizza cooking in the oven. I am officially declaring myself as the queen of multitasking.

A dinging disrupts the music, the alarm for the pizza.

"Friday, stop alarm." The dings stop, and I place the most recent book where it belongs.

Sliding on my slippers, I make my way to the kitchen, the scent of food cooking filling my nostrils. Tony's in the kitchen, a cup of, I think, coffee in his hands.

"Elsa! Feel like I haven't seen you in forever."

"Pretty sure we saw each other yesterday." I say while grabbing oven mits and putting them on.

"Yeah, but we never get to talk anymore. You're too busy for your old man."

"What about Morgan?" A big puff of smoke exits the oven as I open it and take my pizza out.

"Well she doesn't talk like that."

"Where is she? I never see her."

"Her and Pepper alternate between here and the lake house."

"Got it."

Tony assesses me as I cut the pizza and put a slice on my plate, settling down at the table.

"Whatever you want to say," I start while taking a bite, ignoring the hot sting. "just say it."

"You're different."

I pause and look up, what am I supposed to say to that? "Uh, yeah?"

He looks down at his drink before his gaze settles on me again. "I mean...you're just not who you used to be."

A sigh leaves me as I set my pizza down. "I grew up. And you weren't around."

His brows furrow and his head tilts to the side, confusion settling over his features. "What do you mean?"

"During those five years...I barely saw you. You had a kid, moved on, became happy...I didn't. I changed because I lost a lot of people."

"Well, I thought you wanted distance."

"I wanted my dad!" Surprised at my outburst, Tony shrinks back, his eyes wide and his mouth forming an O.

Honestly, I surprised myself. And now, I feel myself getting choked up.

"I just wanted someone to be there for me," I look away, tears threatening to spill and my appetite gone. "and you weren't that person."

Annoyed and upset, I get out of my chair and grab my plate, going to head back to my bedroom.

"Tal..."

"No," I pause and turn around. "I said I wanted my dad, but I just remembered...I don't have one and I never did." I feel slightly guilty at how taken a-back he looks. "It was all fake. It was all a lie. You say that I changed...and yeah, I did. If you had actually been around for once, it wouldn't have been so drastic."