[1] BROKEN ONE // t. stark

2

"So," Dad started as we both entered his Audi, "you didn't tell Pepper I was going to pick you up, I see?" He was starting the engine, where it roared silently. I think it is amazing how an intimidating like Audi could be peaceful as sleep.

I shrugged as I struggled to pick up my walking crutches to throw them at the back of the car. Good thing, Dad closed the roof of his orange Stark 01 Audi so people won't stare at me in sympathy. (And, seriously, when your dad has a collection of Audis, you just can't remember their model because sometimes they look the same. So I learned to remember Dad's car by memorising the plate's number.)

Dad helped me putting the sticks at the back at the car carefully, not to break the sticks and scratch his car. When everything's settled, as in we both are comfortably seated, Dad sighed, looking ahead of him with his left hand on the steering wheel and right hand on the gear. But the car didn't move immediately. He looked deep in thought as he stared blankly the world beyond the glass.

"Is your mother seeing someone else?" Dad asked out of the blue. His voice was uncomprehensible, but by the look on his face, I know he was hurt. He looked afraid to hear my answer. And I assume Dad understood what I was trying to do back there.

"No," I answered confidently.

"But she looks different," Dad stated, changing to Gear 1 and slowly pushed the car to the open road before changing to Gear 2 and then quickly to Gear 3.

I looked at Dad with curiosity. "By different you mean?"

"I don't know," he answered truthfully. "She didn't look happy to see me, did she? She looks like she was blaming me with everything. Now, let me tell you, she blamed me for getting insane with the robots, but not- hmm..."

Dad couldn't find any words to finish his sentence, but I understood him. "Mom didn't trust you to look after me over the Summer, for your information."

"See?" Dad winced. "I get it. Ultron was my fault, but on the bright side, Vision was born and he killed him. Now, Vision is someone as important as the others. Can't she see it?"

"Maybe she's just afraid, Dad. She's been with you too long. She's seen all the risks you've done to yourself. She's been through a lot with you, maybe now she just wanted to live like a normal family would, like, not being worried about her daughter getting kidnapped by villains or not worrying about you getting killed by your own demon."

"But that's bullshit!" Dad blurted, in which he didn't normally do in front of me. "She knows damn well we won't ever have a normal family. As long as I own all these technologies and there is Thor and weird creatures out there, we won't have a normal family."

I pressed my lips into a thin line and breathed in deeply, looking for correct words to say to my dad as he drove us to M.I.T. When I glanced at the time, it was already eight. But I doubt we're going to be late with the sport car Dad was driving. Or at least, we're going to be on time, sharp at eight thirty.

I continued to keep my mouth close, didn't know what else to say to my father. I understand their struggles because I'm facing them as well, but I didn't know how to console Dad. I knew Mom wouldn't act like that if she didn't care; and I knew Dad wouldn't believe anything I say until it's proved. So I'm out of ideas how to get them back together right now.

After long, with me gazing out the car window, enjoying myself watching the world I haven't seen since Mom and I moved, Dad called me. It was a soft call. The kind of voice that begs for your attention.

"Hey, Terri?"

"Yes, Daddy?"

"Beside Rhodey, you're the only I have now, honey," Dad opened up. He never forgets to tell me this since he and Mom broke up, but this time he sounded desperate.