Beautiful Ruins

Chapter 78

I wake up slowly, it takes a few seconds for my mind to remember what happened. I glance around the room, half expecting to see Henry, I don't. It's just me in this room, it's not the same room I had before.

I pull the blankets off and stand up, my feet touch the white, soft carpet as I observe my surroundings. There's a window seat, the window reveals the streets of New York, nothing appears to be amiss. There are two books on the bedside table and a wardrobe, I open it and roll my eyes as I see a bunch of my clothes that I left behind. A wooden desk next to the wall has an iPad on it as well as a notebook, I walk open and look at the notebook, the cover is grey with nothing on it. I open it, it's empty.

The corner of the room has a weapons stand with no weapons on it. I think the avengers are aware by now that I don't need weapons. I am a weapon; I was literally raised to be a weapon.

I try the door, not surprised to discover it's locked. My mind flickers to Henry, is he waking up in a similar room right now? I sit down on the window seat, glaring at the people below as if it's their fault.

The door opens and I glance to see Tony walking in. My heart sinks, I'm not ready for this conversation, I won't ever be ready for this. I look away and glance out the window, maybe if I'm silent Tony will get the hint and leave.

"I'm glad you're safe" Tony says, pulling out the red chair in front of the wooden desk and sitting down. "Storm, can you look at me please?"

I turn and look at Tony, it's the least I can do after ruining his life. Tony looks exhausted, which sadly seems to be a normal thing for him, my mind remembers Peter telling me Tony hasn't spoken much to Steve and Natasha since everything was revealed.

"Are you in pain? Clover told us what they did to you, she said you told them to torture you and to leave Henry alone" Tony tells me. Tony shouldn't be worrying about me, I screwed up his life for no reason – I'm not his kid. I wordlessly shake my head, not trusting myself to speak.

"I was looking for you and Henry, I just didn't think that Clover would be involved" Tony says hesitantly, like he thinks I won't believe him. The stubborn part of my brain tells me he's lying, but the other part knows Tony knows he would have searched for me, even though he knew I wasn't his child. "Henry's safe, he woke up a little while before you did. He's with Bruce, he'll be gentle with him." I don't think Henry particularly cares if people are 'gentle' with him, but it's nice to know he's not waking up to Steve or Natasha.

"I'm sorry" I say quietly, unable to look Tony in the eyes. "Your life would be so much easier if Peter had just killed me on the mission." It feels like a lifetime ago that I was certain Peter couldn't be trusted and I hated him, but now Peter is probably the best person I know, he's always willing to do the right thing even when it's hard. I don't blame Peter for drugging me, deep down I know that stopping the x-men is the most important thing, more important than people's feelings.

"This isn't your fault, Storm. The x-men started this before you were born, I would be in this position even if you weren't my child" Tony says firmly.

"But I'm not your child" I whisper, my eyes burning with unshed tears. Tony was everything I would've asked for in a father, but he's not mine.

"You're the closest thing I have to a daughter, and I love you" Tony says, walking over and sitting next to me. "I couldn't breathe the whole time you were missing."

Tears blur my vision, I know Tony is telling the truth, I can't explain it, but I just know he's not trying to manipulate me. "I wish you were my dad." I truly wish he was. He is suited for parenthood; he was amazing from the second he was told I was his daughter.

"What happened in there?" Tony asks me. I look out the window, not wanting to rehash the past week. I'm no stranger to getting hurt, the x-men would also torture us to make sure we wouldn't break if we were captured, but this time felt different.

"They wanted me to kill you, I said no. They didn't like that, so they hurt me and electrocuted me, but I didn't say yes. I would never hurt you" I say, looking at Tony.

"I know you wouldn't, you're a good person" Tony says quietly. The tears I've been holding in finally escape and trickle down my cheek. "Can I hug you?" Tony asks.

I nod, so Tony embraces me tightly. I close my eyes as more tears roll down my cheek. "She just watched" I sob, I can feel my body shaking.

"I know, but you're safe now, I won't let anybody hurt you" Tony says, his hand stroking my long brown hair. He hugs me tightly, like he's afraid I'll be ripped from him again.

*Author's Note* Tony truly is the father Storm deserves.