he's my hero → t . stark ( ON HOLD )

Chapter 11

"Uncle Tony! Uncle Steve! Uncle Bruce! I got a hundred! I got a hundred on my math test!" Zoza laughed, running into the tower. This time, after school, she was allowed to walk back on her own, but she ran the entire way. In the hall, she dropped her bag and ran to greet her family. Steve caught her in a hug, and she laughed.

"See? I told you that you'd do fine." Steve smiled, and he set her down. She hugged Bruce and Tony next, and Tony seemed to relax when she touched him. Steve crossed his arms, sharing a look with Bruce. They both smiled, and Zoza went to go grab her bag.

"What's for homework tonight?" Steve asked, and she set her bag on the counter before climbing into her chair.

"Believe it or not, my REACH class is working on World War Two stuff. We picked a topic out of a bin for a paper, and guess what I pulled out?" she asked, and Tony shared a look with Bruce.

"Red Skull?" Tony asked, glancing at Steve with a smirk on his face.

"No Uncle Tony! I actually picked Captain America and the Howling Commandos! How cool is that?" she asked, her eyes shining. Steve smiled and ruffled her hair playfully, making her giggle.

"Well, if you need help, you've got the one and only Spangles." Tony shrugged, and Zoza nodded.

"Hey, where is everyone?" Zoza asked, and Bruce faced her.

"Natasha's still sick, Clint's taking care of her. And Pepper went to go take care of something. She got a phone call, and she left, saying it was urgent. And Blossom is with Cynthia, in our room, talking baby names." Bruce chuckled, and Zoza nodded. She began to work on her homework, and Bruce sat with her, helping her with her literacy homework. Steve was in the living room, working on a sketch, and Tony was tinkering with something at the kitchen counter. As she and Bruce finished up, Zoza bit her lip gently.

"Hey, Uncle Tony?" she asked, and he looked over to her.

"What's up?" he asked, setting down his tools and walking over.

"You're good at designing, right? Cause' I've got a wood shop project coming up, and I could use some help drawing up some sketches." she asked timidly, and he smiled.

"Of course, and you're working with wood? Heh, just wait until high school, when you get to auto body shop. then I can really help-" Tony was cut off by the slamming of the front door, and Pepper rushed in, with tears in her eyes.

"Pep? Pep, what's wrong?" Tony asked softly, rushing to her side. He wrapped his arm around her and eased her into a chair, sitting beside her. She began to sob, and he held her close.

"Pep, please tell me." he whispered, and Steve stood, along with Bruce. Zoza remained seated, looking at her aunt from a distance.

"Oh God, Tony... It's my sister, Rosemary.... She-She's dead..." Pepper sobbed, and Zoza froze.

"How?" Steve asked sternly. Even though he had never met her, he figured she was a good woman. How else would Zoza turn out so sweet?

"She had a heart attack this morning. That's why I left so quickly. I got there just in time to say my goodbye, which I wasn't ready for, and she had another one." Pepper wiped her eyes and Tony left to get her a tissue. He came back, handed her one, and everyone looked at Zoza. She hopped down from her seat, and she smiled. Then, she started laughing.

"Aunt Pepper, you're kidding right? I just talked to her last night. She's fine. She wouldn't.... leave... me." Zoza's laughter died slowly, and it was replaced with tears.

"You're lying to me, I know it! She's not gone! She Skyped me last night, and she said she'd see me soon...." Zoza had tears dripping down her cheeks, and Steve walked over, hugging her tightly. She began to sob and thrash around, trying to get away, and her sobs turned into laughter, then back to sobs. She broke free from Steve's grasp, and she ran to her room, slamming the door. Picking up her phone, she dialed her mom's number, listening to the line ring, ring, ring three times before voicemail came up. She tried again and again, tears streaming down her face. There were knocks on her door, and she sobbed as she tried the number again. Finally, Tony was able to get into her room, asking J.A.R.V.I.S to get the door open, and he went to her side. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to his chest, rocking her back and forth.

"Shh... Zoza...shh... I know, I know." he whispered, and she cried onto his chest. He rubbed her back gently, and her cries turned to whimpers.

"She can't be gone. She can't be. She said we'd be together soon..." Zoza mumbled, her eyes shut tightly.

"I know, I know. My mom said the exact same thing to me before she and my dad died." he whispered, and she looked up at him.

"Your parents are dead?' she whispered, and he nodded.

"Mhm, were killed in a fatal car accident, but I'm pretty sure it was no accident. Zoza, you've just become part of a much bigger world than you can even imagine." he whispered back, and she sighed.

"Sometimes I wish the world wasn't so big." she muttered, and Tony kissed her hair gently.

"Me too kid. Me too."