Stark's Shadow

Chapter 13 - Mini Olive

I woke up early again today, "It is today, right, Jarvis?"

"Yes, it is,"

I quickly get out of bed, not bothering to untangle myself from my bedding. I drag all my blankets off the bed with me as I make my way to the closet, tripping on the way.

I grab shirts off hangers and hold them up to me one at a time, then toss them aside again, "I'll pick those up later,"

They're not little kids; Olive is eighteen, and Colby is fifteen. I worry they won't like me. They've never met me before. And without their mum, they probably haven't heard about me too much. I decide on a black shirt and jeans. Basic, I know.

I go down to the kitchen and make myself some breakfast. Pancakes. I like to put berries, chocolate chips and honey on them.

"Hey, Jarvis, is anyone else awake yet?"

"Just your brother,"

"Okay, if it isn't too much trouble, could you ask him if he'd like some pancakes?"

"Of course," Jarvis tells me, then a few seconds later, he responds, "He says he'd love some. He's on his way up."

A few minutes later, Tony shows up, looking exhausted. He grabs a plate and sits across the table, "Why are you awake?" He asks.

"Couldn't sleep, too excited. And it's not that early, Tony."

"Olive, it's four thirty in the morning,"

"Then why are you awake?"

"Haven't slept yet, didn't even realize the time until Jarvis told me you made pancakes,"

"Well, you should go sleep after you eat," I tell Tony, "And besides, it's not safe to drive if you aren't alert. Which you're not."

"I'm fine, Olive. Never been more alert in my life,"

I throw a pancake at him, but he doesn't react, "Well, that's concerning,"

"Thanks for the pancake," He says.

"I threw that at your face, space cadet,"

"I've been to space. Only for a few seconds, though. It was busy,"

I laughed. I know I shouldn't have. That was traumatic for him, but saying space was busy caught me off-guard, "Yeah, you need to sleep,"

We ate in silence for a few minutes, then I heard footsteps. Tony didn't seem to notice.

Pepper rounds the corner, "Tony! Why are you still awake? You haven't slept in four days!"

Tony looks in her direction, though I'm not sure he actually saw her. He looked at me and loudly whispered, "Do you see that too?"

"That is your girlfriend, airhead,"

He looked panicked, "My head is made out of air?"

Pepper rolls her eyes and walks over, gently grabbing his arm, "Sleep. Now," then she looks at me, "He is so difficult, but I'm sure you know that."

I laughed and nodded in agreement. The two walked away, Tony still not looking too sure about Pepper. Gotta love sleep-deprived hallucinations.

Seeing as it was about five now. I went down to the gym. I knew Steve would be there.

I open the doors and see Steve punching the bags. Bucky was lifting weights with one arm. The not metal one.

"Oh, hey, Olive," Bucky says, seeing me, "You're up early."

Steve stops, looking over, "Yeah, why are you up so early? After yesterday's accidental marathon, I thought you'd sleep until dinner today,"

I shrug, "Had plans, couldn't sleep," I tell them, walking over to the pullup bar, "Meeting my dead best friend's kids and husband."