MCU Parental one shots - part 2

[ 13. ]

Tony Stark x !child reader

Age of reader: 11

She / her.

Warnings: mentions of death

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It was past midnight when Tony woke up with his recurring nightmare. He let out a long drawn sigh, rubbing his hand over his face as he sits in bed motionless for a moment. Looking around he notices its barely two, groaning heavily. 

He gets up, tugging a t-shirt over his head as he walks downstairs. Maybe a walk will calm him down yeah?

The gravel crunches under his feet in a soothing beat as he strolls down the nearly empty street. As he rounds the corner towards the park, he notices a small figure sitting on the bench, a notebook in hand. He frowns slightly, walking closer as he realizes its a little girl.

At this hour?

"You can come sit beside me you know" he lets out a startled noise which makes the girl laugh, turning around. His face softens as her hazel eyes meet his, bright smile tugging her lips as she shifts slightly on the bench to make space for him.

"What are you doing here this late? Do your parents know?" He asks, looking over at the girl who was already watching him with curious eyes.

"I come here daily when I can't sleep, its routine no one worries anymore" she shrugs and Tony nods, although a bit unsatisfied with the lack of attention the parents have. 

"What about you?" she questions, looking up at him slowly. He shrugs, playing with the hem of his shirt.

"Nightmare" he says, not able to believe he just said that. The girl had an oddly trusting energy.

"I have those too, you know once I had a nightmare about going to school without my pants on" she says and Tony puffs out a laugh, if only his nightmares were this easy.

"That must've been horrible" he chuckles, tension and stress dissipating from his body swiftly. 

"Very" she smiles, sliding her book towards him. "Look, I drew you" she says nervously flipping a few pages until an amazingly real sketch of Tony in his Iron-Man suit lies near him. He stares at it dumbfounded, lifting it closer to inspect it.

"This-wow this is so beautiful" he says and she smiles widely. 

"Thank you" she smiles.

"So you knew who I was all along?" he smirks playfully.

"Well, I certainly don't live under a rock so yes I did" she says which makes Tony laugh louder, he himself is surprised how genuine and carefree the laugh is. 

"You have some mouth for someone your age" he quips

"Heyyy" she drawls in mock offense "I'm 11 years old, I'm basically really old" she says 

"Of course your highness"

She giggles and puts the notebook back in her bag. Her legs swing aimlessly against the grass, humming a song in her mind.

"Do you want to get ice cream?" Tony asks suddenly, her head snapping up with immense joy.

"Really!?" she asks turning her body towards him. He nods, standing up as he took her small hand in his.

"So, now that we're going to get ice-cream, am I allowed to know your name?" He chuckles

"Oh-" she laughs "My name's Emma" she says skipping along the empty footpath as they enter a ice-cream shop.

"Its a nice name" he says, letting her order before getting a strawberry one for himself. 

"Why thank you" she says getting ice cream smeared all over her nose and lips. Tony chuckles and takes a tissue to wipe it off. 

"Tony?" 

"yes?"

"Can you give me a piggy back ride?" she asks sheepishly, leaning over his leg. He smiles fondly, leaning down to motion her to jump.

Her sparkle with joy as she wraps her arms around his shoulders, her legs held in place by him as they stroll around the city. 

"Its getting late, where do you live Em?" he asks, noticing the almost asleep girl on his back. 

"New York city children's hospital" she mumbles rubbing her eyes

"Wait what!?" he asks shocked out of his mind. "Do your parents work there?" he asks

"Nope. I live there since the past month because I am being treated there" she says

"Treated for what?" he asks, breathe hitching.

"Glioblastoma" she says and Tony's steps falter.

This girl had terminal brain cancer, this girl that looked so lively so happy was actually dying inside. The cancer-

"And they let you wander on the streets of New York alone?" he asks a little perplexed 

"No, I usually go to the park that's just opposite to the hospital, the one you came to" she says and he nods. "The nurses keep checking on me time to time" she says.

"Alright, let's get you home yeah?" he says and she nods.

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Part 2 soon.