ᴋᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴋ'ꜱ | Avengers POV | ON HOLD

TEN: I can't

"Dad I can't do it!" Your leg buckles and you fall down to the ground in the training centre. Tony rushes over to help you up again. It's been another 2 weeks and Bruce has given you the all clear to start your physio therapy. You were reluctant to begin this after your incident on the stairs two weeks prior. You'd barely seen Steve since that night which really upset you. You can't help but think of that night. It replayed over and over again in your head. The way he kissed you so gently but with so much care and passion. He made you feel something you hadn't felt in such a long time. Worthy.

Despite the kiss all you cared about was having your best friend around you. You needed his support but he wasn't there to give it.

"Yes you can princess." Tony lifts you up again placing your hands on the beams. "No I can't! I don't even want to be here! Let me go back to my room." Tears start filling your eyes and the frustration is obvious in your voice. "No Ariana you cannot go back to your room. Not until you can walk at least the full length of the beams without holding onto them." Your grip tightens around the beams you're really not in a great place mentally to be pushing yourself. "NO!" You then simply let go of the beams placing too much weight on your right knee and allow yourself to fall back onto the floor. It hurt a lot falling once more but you didn't care. You didn't want to try. Not anymore. It was too physically exhausting and you were too upset to care. "Ariana get up off the floor...NOW!"

"NO!"

"Ariana Stark enough with the attitude I'm trying to help you."

"Well I didn't ask for your help Dad! I didn't even ask to be a stupid avenger! I didn't ask to be part of this stupid family." Tony looks at you stunned. He's hurt by your words and you can sense that. You know you should apologise but you're just too frustrated to care.

"Do you know what fine. Stay here all day I don't care but it's obvious you're not going to help yourself, so why should I!?" With that your dad storms out the training centre leaving you helpless on the floor. You sit there a moment clenching you're fists together tightly, breathing heavily trying to keep calm. It does not work. As he's storming out you shout back in anger,

"AAAAAAHHHHH! FUCK YOU!" You relax your hands take a deep breath and drop back allowing your head to hit the floor. You just decide to lay there looking up at the ceiling. Not even attempting to move.

Tony makes his way through the compound heading for his office. When making his way through the main living area he is stopped by Peter who's been hanging out with Steve. "Hey dad I thought you were doing physio with Ari?"

"Yes Peter so did I but apparently your sister is in no mood for helping herself today." Peter can see the frustration plastered over his face. "So where is she then?"

"My guess... still on the floor." Tony then proceeds towards his office leaving Peter and Steve stunned by his little outburst.

"The floor?" Peter questioning to himself. He stands a moment before his eyes widen and begins bolting down to the training centre, Steve is quick behind him. They get to the training centre bursting in.

"Ari! Ari? Are you okay?" Peter comes rushing towards you. You hadn't moved since your dad left. "What do you want Peter?" He kneels down next to you trying to pull you up. "The fuck, get off me!" You jolt your arm away from him. "Ari I'm trying to help." You push yourself up to a seated position instantly locking eyes with Steve.  You roll your eyes at Steve before turning to Peter. *sigh* " okay so I'll tell you what I told dad. I don't want any help. I never asked for this did I? But here I am. So please for the love of god. LEAVE. ME. ALONE!"

"Ari, please-"

"No Peter I don't want your help. I don't want anyone's help I just want to be alone. Please?" You lower your head and tears begin falling down your face, Peter is really struggling to see you like this. Steve walks over to you both and kneels down by Peter whispering something but you don't hear what. Peter slowly gets up and begins leaving the training centre. Steve stays though, slowly lowering himself to sit next to you. He wraps his arms around you and pulls you in. You bury your head into his chest crying silently.

"You've been avoiding me." You shift your head to look at him. He continues to look straight ahead before dropping his head slightly then turning to face you. "I know and I'm sorry."

"Why Steve? What did I do?" More tears begin falling. "You did nothing Ari, I'm sorry I just feel awful after kissing you, I should have respected your wishes on how you feel about not wanting to date people or about ruining our friendship." You move your left arm and wrap it sound his waist. "It's okay, as long as I don't lose my best friend I'll be fine." You give him a squeeze. "I'm not going anywhere." He smiles giving you a light kiss on your forehead, a warm feeling rushing through your body. He takes his arm from around you and shift to face you head on. " Now let's dry those eyes and get you up. You're gonna make this walk then I'll help you to your room. Okay?" You laugh slightly before raising your head.

"Okay." Steve begins to stand then reaches his arms out to you helping to pull you up. Once you're up Steve helps position you properly to help give you the right support. You place both hands on the beam. Steve walks to the opposite end. "Right Ari take a deep breath. You can do this. Just take it slowly and pace yourself. It's not a race." You nod in response. "Ready?" He asks in an encouraging tone. You smile "Ready." You let go of the beams and begin walking towards him doing as he said taking it nice and slow.

You're about halfway there when the doors to the training centre open. You're too focused and facing away from the doors that you don't hear them open and close. Steve lifts his head slightly and gives a nod, when he sent Peter away he'd asked for him to go get Tony and bring him back down to the centre. Tony and Peter quietly make their way over to you and Steve. You're still going strong when you accidentally put too much pressure on your right knee causing it to buckle slightly. You give out a small yelp in pain. You place your hands down and tighten your grip onto the beams refusing to fall. Tony and Peter freeze holding their breath when you buckle. Scared that you'll fall once more. But you don't. You compose yourself slowly let go once more and continue walking. You make it to Steve and let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Oh my god I did it! I did it Steve! I did it." You raise an arm and Steve pulls you into a hug. "Yes you did. That was amazing I knew you could do it." He pulls away and allows you to put both hands back on the beams for support. "OMG I need to tell my dad and Peter-"

"No you don't princess." Tony shouts. You carefully turn to see your dad stood behind you. "Dad you're here! But you left-"

"And Peter came to get me. Told me I wouldn't want to miss this and he was right." He walks up to you pulling you into a hug. "Dad I'm so sorry about what I said I didn't mean it." You're holding him tight. "I know you didn't, it's okay."

"I love you dad."

"I love you too."

"Hey what about me!?" Peter chims in looking jealous not to be apart of this moment.

"Get in here you!" Tilting your head gesturing for him to join the hug. Peter comes running over and wiggles his way in between you and Tony. You all laugh. "Man I love you guys so much."