Seeing Red (Stark's Daughter 5)

Chapter 10

I clutch the folders and files to my chest, being extremely careful not to drop them. A cardboard box stands on top of the files in my hands and contains everything Hope could have used to build the new arc reactor. I close the car door behind me with my foot and step up to my dads house. I place my thumb on the scanner and the door opens.

"Come on Pepper, stop being ridiculous." I hear my dad shout.

Bulging bags are thrown from the top of the stairs and land in front of me.

"Jarvis, what's going on?" I whisper.

"It appears, Mr and Mrs Stark are having an argument." He announces.

"Oh, so im ridiculous now. You've called me a lot of things, Tony but not ridiculous!" Pepper snaps back and i hear her footsteps towards the stairs.

"How long are you going away for?" Dad asks, following her down the stairs.

"A week. Just a week. I need space." Pepper admits, walking past me and picking up her bags.

"Pepper, please don't do this. I need you to stay. What do i tell Aiden?" He asks, throwing his arms in the air.

"Tell him I've gone to my mothers. Tony, you are driving me crazy at the moment." She whispers, looking down at her stomach, where a new baby is growing their tiny fingernails and forming brain cells.

"Im driving you crazy?! You are just as bad!" He shouts back.

"You are unbelievable." She replies, grabbing her bags and marching out to her car on the driveway.

Dad sighs deeply, picking up a drinking glass and throwing it over his head. It smashes by the sofa.

"Pepper is just stressed, give her some time and space and she will come around." I whisper, placing the files and cardboard box on the kitchen counter.

Dad sighs again and sits on the black leather sofa, placing his head in his hands.

"I don't know what to do. We've been married for 8 years and now she's doesn't seem to care about me anymore. We're drifting apart." He admits.

"Give it time and you'll come back together. Trust me." I advise, placing a comforting hand on dads shoulder.

"Thanks. What did you find in Hope's room?" He asks, changing the subject and smiling.

"Some iron, aluminium, soldering iron, hot glue gun, metal and some bottled chemicals." I explain, showing him the box.

We walk down to the basement and sort through everything. We use our arc reactors and switch the wires around, inserting dangerous chemicals. Soon, we have a replica. I toss it between my fingers, the wires wrapping around my fingers.

"This looks right." I whisper.

Suddenly, the arc reactor turns blood red and it burns into my skin. I drop it instantly and watch as a scorch mark appears on the tiled floor.

"Woah!" Dad comments.

"Its gonna blow." I mutter. I grab dads hand and jump under the metal table.

I hear the arc reactor shake on the tiles, i place my hands over my ears as it rattles violently.

After a minute, nothing helps. I slide out from under the desk and watch the red arc reactor shake on the floor.

"It didn't blow?" I question.

"Weird." Dad mutters.

He picks up his glove from the side and pulls it onto his palm. Then he shoots the red arc reactor. The glass sprinkles onto the ground like snowflakes.

"What did you do that for?" I ask.

"I didn't know if it was going to explode. Better safe then sorry." He mutters and sits on the desk chair, sighing.

"We're screwed. Hope is never going to be found." I whisper the thought that has been taking over me, a thought that i never dared to say.

"No, we will find her." He promises.