Riley Stark, Tony's daughter, is also an Avenger. She's considered the little sister to the rest. But what happens when a connection is established between her and an old friend of Steve Rogers?
I do want to say the first few chapters my be rushed a...
I wake up in my old bed at the compound. The silence I hear is deafening. I sit up and throw my feet off the side of the bed. My world is gone. Bucky...my dad. I am lucky to still have Nat, Rhodey, and Steve but since the Accords debacle, we aren't as close as we used to be. Therefore, I feel completely alone. I am now a stranger in the universe.
I look out my window and see what looks to be a spaceship land. Curiosity getting the best of me, I run outside as I see my dad being helped down the ramp.
"Oh my god..." I whisper to myself as I run up to him. I wrap my arms gently around him, partly in relief he was alive, partly in helping his stay on his feet.
"I lost the kid." He says, referring to Peter.
"We lost." Steve said. My dad looks over at me. He looks very pale and frail. I give him a small smile, which he tries to return. The small group of us help him inside. We discuss what all happened but as the discussion continued, my mind drifted off. I could still hear what they were saying but the words were meaningless.
"How is she?" I can hear my dad asks, not knowing who he was referring to.
"She's lost, hurt. We all are, but I think it's hitting her a lot harder than us right now." Steve replies.
"Is this all of us?" My dad asks.
"Thor is somewhere. He feels responsible and felt he was no longer wanted. Plus, Thanos also killed Loki right in front of him, hurt their people." Nat answers. "But otherwise, yeah. It's just us standing."
"What about--?"
"She watched him fade away." Steve whispers, though I could still hear him.
I tap some buttons on the computer dash and up comes photos and names of those who suffered at the snap of Thanos. The first one I see was Bucky. My heart breaks more than I thought possible. Tears fall from my eyes and I must have let out a sob as I notice everyone staring at me as Bucky's photo changes into someone else. Nat takes a hold of my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. I fall into the chair behind me.
"There has to be something we can do." I whisper.
"I fear the only thing we can do is take the time to heal and eventually move on." My dad says. I look up at him with disgust.
"How can you say that!? How can you say these people--" I point to the images before us. "are an acceptable loss?! How can you sit there and NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING?!" I yell as my dad falls to the floor in a sitting the position before falling over. "Tony?" We all scramble to help him.
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First Year Since the Snap
Tony and Pepper have gotten married and welcomed a daughter named Morgan H. Stark. I did not attend the wedding but I have met Morgan a handful of times, staying until my dad either asks me to leave or we get into an argument.
Steve and Nat has been helping those who lost loved ones through the blip by holding counseling sessions on learning to cope. Bruce has transformed into the Hulk and remains in his large, green form, though it is still Bruce's mind.
I, on the other hand, have not left the compound. I keep searching for a solution, using others who are all over the world as eyes and ears. We meet once a week, though we are never truly in the same room. I don't even resemble who I once was. My toned body has lost some of it's tone, though I do try to work out. My skin is pale and sickly looking. I have lost weight. I have severe baggage under my eyes.
My appearance has everyone worried but I just don't care anymore. I have listened to their concerns but I ignore them. I have even contemplated going on my own mission researching but I just don't even know where to begin.
I am sitting at the desk following my latest meeting with those out there on missions nibbling on a peanut butter sandwich as Nat walks in.
"Hey, Nat. How was your night." I ask, not looking up at her. I feel her eyes on me.
"Have you ate today?" She asks. I hold up the sandwich half that was already in my hand. "Anything else?" I just take another nibble as she sighs. "Riley, sweetie. You are killing yourself."
"I'm fine, Nat. Just have a lot going on."
"I know you don't want to give up hope, none of us do--"
"Then don't finish that statement." I say, dropping my sandwich. I rise to my feet, grab my plate and walk away. Before leaving the room, I stop momentarily to drop my sandwich in the waste basket, then continue on.
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Second Year Since the Snap
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Everyone's mission remains the same as it was a year ago. Everyone's has continued as it did before with some pain and guilt. For me, life is heavy, and I have lost my strength.
Natasha walks into my room and sits on the edge of my bed, my back to her. The room remains silent as neither of us say a word. It has been months since I went to see Tony, Pepper, and Morgan. I just don't have the energy to do so, not anymore.
"I know deep down, you want to see them, even if it is just Pepper and Morgan." She says. She sighs when I do not respond. "I know out of all of us still here, the one person you care for is Morgan and I know you would do anything for that little girl."
"I am doing what is best, Nat." My back remains to her.
"She needs her big sister."
"Tony and I have our differences and I refuse to let them affect her." I move to sit up beside her. "She's only two years old. The less I am around, the better her life will be. She can be happy and loved. She won't even remember me."
"I know how deeply affected you are, but you need help. Why don't you go sit in on a session or two with Steve? Or just talk to him privately. He knew Bucky best."
"Stop!" I yell, jumping to my feet. Tears stinging my eyes. "Just stop! I don't need help! I don't want help!"
"I am worried about you! Can't you see that?!"
"Well, just stop it, Nat!" I take a deep breath to calm down. "I'm not worth it." She stands and pulls me into a hug.
"Yes you are. We are family. I miss the girl I knew years ago. The girl with the big Stark attitude, that sarcastic bitch, strong fighter that I know and love like a sister? Where is she now?"
"She's gone, Nat. She's gone and may never come back. She died after Thanos won."
"Maybe if you went to Wakanda--"
"I can't. I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"Too many memories! Intimacy. Lost. Good. Bad. That place holds too much for me. I can't go back." The dam breaks and I start to scream and cry. "Please, don't make me go back! Please! I just want to stay here!" She holds me tight, even as we fall to our knees.
"Okay. It's okay. You don't have to. We got you."
"What happened?" Steve says, voice thick with concern.
"Breakdown. I might have mentioned needing help and Wakanda." Nat answers. I scream/cry again.
"I can't! Please!" I shout through the cries. Suddenly, I feel Steve's hand rubbing my back. I know they must be looking at one another silently discussing what do to next.
