Illegitimate Prodigy

Crossing the line

"Mr.Stark, she came to me, I wasn't encouraging it," Tony ignored the panic in the teens voice as his eyes practically pierced through the helmet of his suit, he was glaring so intently. Peter was always quick to apologize, so much so Tony tried to recollect if he had been so apologetic with his father at that age. He shook the thought from his mind, realizing he was practically calling Peter his son, while being angry for putting his daughter in danger.

"You're lucky I don't..." A message popped up, blinking red on the side of the screen in his suit.

EMERGENCY PROTOCOL
AVENGERS TOWER
He felt his stomach jump into his chest, that familiar swift heart beat making itself known. He swallowed dryly. His heavy iron feet turning to the ledge of the roof. "Don't follow me. We aren't finished discussing this." Without another word, his suit shot toward the sky and toward the tower. "F.R.I.D.A.Y., what's the emergency?"

"Intruder in Avengers Tower, armed and extremely dangerous."  FRIDAY's tone was concerning.

"Where is the intruder?" Tony snapped.

"The flat. The alarms are sounding."

"Is anyone in immediate danger?"

"Just one."  FRIDAY paused. "Annabelle."

Tony clenched his fists his suit beginning to pick up speed, and his eyes were already set on the tower.

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The Vulture had finally dropped Annabelle, but only a moment later he had his brown gloves grabbing a hand full of her hair and began dragging her down the long hallway toward her father's shop. "You're the last piece of the puzzle, my darling."

"Let me go!" Belle screamed, her hands trying to unravel his fingers from her hair. Her feet kept buckling underneath her every time she tried to bring the dragging to a halt. Her brown eyes met the ceiling, when the Vulture came to a stop. Yanking her up by her hair, she whimpered. "Hand!" He demanded. Annabelle shook her head immediately. "No."

His open hand quickly plucked her left hand, slapping it to the glass scanner on the side of the door. Annabelle stared at the other side wondering what his reaction would be when he realized she didn't have access to the shop. The next door was strictly locked. The light blinked unlocking the first door. She felt like an abused dog pulling back on its leash.

In that moment, Annabelle realized her father was right. Going after the Vulture would get her killed. Unfortunately for her, he beat her to punch. Would she be dead before her father got here? Was the Vulture's goal to kill her? Or was it just to gain access to her fathers weaponry?

As he pulled her hand to the next scanner, Belle shook her head. "I don't have access. You're wasting your time." He tried anyway, the scanner blinking red each time. "What part of I don't have access do you not understand?"

A loud yell escaped the confines of his chest, releasing her hand. Only for a second did the younger Stark feel relieved... until the Vulture quickly used his other hand to strike her. Black.

- - - - - - -

Tony had noticed a fast bright light leave the giant hole that was in the side of the tower. He knew it was him leaving. Adrian Toomes. He wanted to follow him, but he could hear the alarms from the tower—reminding him that Annabelle was still in there. Potentially hurt—- or worse.

Shooting through the gaping hole, he landed. "FRIDAY, alarms off." He had never feared such silence in his own building. He released himself from his suit, his brown eyes scanning what use to be the living room. "Annabelle?" He shouted. No answer. "Belle?"

His feet quickly drew him to the hallway where the ceiling had fallen. The small amounts of blood smears was enough to make him want to vomit. Stepping around pieces of giant rubble, his eyes hectically searched for his daughter. He made his way toward the shop, hoping for confirmation that Annabelle was alive.

The hallway seemed so much longer in that moment. He heard Pepper and Happy race into the apartment from the elevator. "Tony?! Annabelle?!" His girlfriends heels clicked quickly throughout the flat. Tony ignored the continued shouts, and finally reached the first shop door. His eyes fluttered shut when he saw the beautiful brunette locks on the other side of the glass. Only she practically looked lifeless. Left hand smacking to the glass, the latch clicked and he stumbled through. "Annabelle." He said breathlessly. "Annabelle, sweetheart." Nothing.
His hands cupped her face, gingerly tapping her cheeks with his fingertips. "Annabelle, wake up." His breaths became shallow, and helplessness enveloped him. He focused on every detail of her face, as if he was seeing it for the first time. A cut on her forehead trickled the smallest amount of blood. Her eyelids fluttered just slightly, and his sense of relief returned.
"Dad?" She whispered, her brown eyes peeking through her eyelashes. The feeling he had was hard to describe. It was similar to when he checked Rhodey's body after he fell from the sky. He was alive. She was alive. He didn't hesitate to quickly wrap his arms around her, his fingertips sweeping her hair. "Thank god," he murmured.