Avengers Oneshots Series

Run (Part 2)

As soon as Penny reached the Tower she dashed inside without looking anywhere else and right up the stares. No one stopped her as everyone knew she was Tony's personal intern and neither did she need a badge to enter. Her mind didn't even work enough right now to take the elevator. She made her way quickly to the lab only to find it empty. Panic rose in her but before she could have an attack FRIDAY said, "Mr. Stark is in the conference room at the end of this hall Ms. Parker". And Penny rushed to the room and opened the door without thinking twice. The room was full of people staring at her with bewilderment but the only person she saw was Mr. Stark.

It took Tony a second to register that Penny was the one standing there cause it was supposed to be her school time...it took him one second to take in the look on her face and her appearance...it took him one second to get out of his chair and rush to her and it took him one second to catch Penny who practically fell into his arms. Lowering both of them together he felt Penny latch onto him as if letting him go would kill her. Supporting her back on his legs he wrapped his right arm around her back and placed the hand behind her head while the left hand wrapped around her torso supporting her body. Penny grabbed onto his left shoulder and right forearm placing her head on his shoulders before letting out a cry in despair barely breathing. The cry broke Tony's heart into a million pieces as he slipped out of his surprised state. His throat felt heavy at the sound of agony that left Penny's throat. It was Penny after all....the Penny Parker who had tried sleeping off a broken arm cause she didn't wanna drag Tony out of his meeting and now that Penny Parker had interrupted a meeting and he knew something was terribly wrong and that at this point he will even destroy the world if it meant keeping Penny away from whatever had caused this. But right now Penny was in his arms crying and it hit him how small she actually was and he needed to calm his kid down and let her know she was ok. "Penny...Penny dear listen to me...Penny breath. Cmon love you can do this. Follow me sweetheart.", he said before exasperating his own breath for her to follow. Taking in deep breaths in and out he felt Penny try to follow his instructions. Tony was in a panic mode...and how will he not be ??. His kid was barely breathing in his arms balling her eyes out and all he could do was sit here and wait for her to calm down...but he had to stay calm for her. When he finally felt Penny breathing normally again he said, "Do you want to tell me what happened Kid. I'm right here to listen", as he cradled her head in his arms slowly rubbing a hand on her back. "H-He is b-back Mr. Stark....he is back and he knows where I am and H-He's gonna hurt me and do that again Mr. Stark.. I don't wanna do that again P-Pls", Penny whimpered. Her voice barely above a mess of whispered stutters and even though Tony got the slightest clue of what she was talking about he wasn't ready to believe it. "Who Kiddo??", he said in the softest voice possible. "S-Skip", Penny said when FRIDAY'S voice erupted through the room. "Skip Westcot. Has been released from jail two weeks back. Was imprisoned four years back for the Sexual Assault of Penelope Parker at the Queen's Orphanage". And this information hit Tony as hard as the swing of a baseball bat. Everything fell into place...Penny being nervous, her guards always being up, her flinching at the slightest touch.... everything. Tony's breathing was now the one which got faster. Four years back which meant Penny was ...11..  she was an 11 year old kid when that monster.....

Tony was broken out of his trance when he felt Penny bury her face further into his chest as if she was trying to disappear from the world letting out another series of deep sobs. Each sob acting as a direct stab wound to his heart. He felt tears grow in his eyes. Shutting his eyes close to let them set in without flowing he wrapped his arms tighter around his kid and buried his face into her hair keeping her away from this horror. He realised how difficult it must have been for Penny to be around any grown man but still she had come to him.....the first person she thought of to run to was him and she had trusted HIM to keep her safe and when he touched her she hadn't flinched and if it wasn't the best feelings in the world to be trusted by his kid and Tony promised himself he would never break this trust ever cause he loved Penny and she was His kid and he would kill and die for his kid.