Ágnostos

Chapter 1

Althea

Being Tony Stark's daughter created a world of isolation for me. He wanted to keep me out of the limelight and away from danger. I know he didn't want me — not because I was a burden, but because he didn't want a child in the condition that he lived in as Iron Man. He had me before Iron Man, eight years before to be exact. But he wasn't ready for a child then, either.

But when my mother — whose name I don't even know — dropped me off at the Stark mansion in a basket and a note saying I was his daughter (it's a real cliche but my dad says it happened) he couldn't give me up. He said it was instant love looking into my big hazel eyes.

To keep me safe from public and from danger, he kept my existence a secret. The only people who know of me are the avengers, Happy and Pepper. It gets quite boring.

I long for social interaction and for friends that aren't superhuman. Well, i'd settle for my age. Like Wanda. Wanda is my best friend. She's gone now and I'm alone again.

I crave a normal life. Or at least the ability to fight beside my dad. But no, I received only loneliness. A loneliness that increased tenfolds after the war between the avengers.

Gone were the days of hanging out with Uncle Steve and hearing of the great forties. Gone were the days of Natasha teaching me how to fight like a bad ass assassin (she always said I put the ass and sass in assassin). Gone were the nights with Wanda were we talked until all hours of the night — laughing and watching vines. Gone were the days of having a full family.

Sitting in my room, I stared blankly at my tv, watching Star Wars for the hundredth time that week. My homework lay forgotten on my pillow. I had my whole boring life to complete it. Besides, I knew everything anyway. I am a Stark, after all.

I heard feet hitting against the tile. I figured it was either Happy, Pepper, or my dad but when a young boy threw himself into my room I was lost for words.

Mainly because the boy was hella attractive. I mean I don't have much experience with boys my age and I haven't seen many to compare him to but from what I've seen on tv, I could comparatively say he was the most attractive male I had seen.

"Oh," said the boy, his face turning red. "This... this isn't the bathroom."

I chuckled, quickly standing to my feet. Or more so, stumbling to my feet.

"No, the bathroom is on the other side," I explained.

I had to keep him here though, I needed this boy in my life.

"Are you related to someone here?" I asked. "Pepper? Happy?"

"Uh... no. I'm uhm, an intern with Tony Stark," he said.

It clicked. He was Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man. Oh my gosh. Spider-Man is my age! And he's super cute!!

"Oh! You're Spider-Man!" I exclaimed. "My dad talks about you all the time! Wait, how old are you?"

"Seventeen," He said. "I have to be honest, I'm very confused right now."

"Wow," I exclaimed, ignoring his last reply. "You're so much cuter than I expected. I had no idea you were my age! Of course my dad wouldn't tell me that. Then I would argue about why I can't be on the team, which I will do because this is just not fair."

Peter blinked in confusion. "Who are you?"

"Oh! Right duh. Introductions. I'm Althea," I held my hand out to him. "Althea Stark."

"Stark? Althea... Stark?" Peter questioned, ignoring my extended hand. "You- you're... Tony's... daughter?!"

"Yeah," I said in a duh tone. "I don't know much about introductions but I'm pretty sure it's awkward for me to just extend my arm like this and not receive a hand shake in return."

Peter gave a light chuckle before placing his hand in mine. I had to admit I wanted to interlock our fingers like in the movies. The feeling of his skin on mine — well it was literally like nothing I had ever felt before! It left a series of butterflies to erupt within my stomach. Wow. He's actually so beautiful!

Our hands stayed like for, probably longer than necessary for a handshake, until someone cleared his throat.

It was my dad.

Peters hand quickly pulled to his side.

"T-Tony!"

"It's Mr. Stark," he said with a hint of overprotective father. "Get lost on your way to the bathroom."

"A-actually yes," Peter stammered.

"Other side of the kitchen," my dad instructed. "Hurry up kid so we can start the meeting."

Peter quickly stumbled over the the bathroom.

"He's cute," I said, my eyes following him as he walked away. They trailed over his back, admiring the muscles peaking out of shirt, noticing the veins in his muscular arms. Not to mention... He had a great butt. "Like, super cute."

"No," my dad said, pointing a finger me.

"That --" he motioned between Peter and myself. "Isn't going to happen."

He began walking away, causing me to trail closely behind him. "C'mon dad. At least let me be friends with him? Hang out... not in the avengers tower. I'm so bored and I just want a friend."

"You have plenty of friends."

"Vision is great and all but he always beats me in chess and he just doesn't get the humor of vines," I argued.

"That makes two of us," my dad mumbled.

"Please, dad," I begged. "I'm so lonely all I want is one night out in New York with a couple people my age."

My dad peered down at me, mumbling and grumbling. The bathroom door opened revealing Peter. My dad sighed heavily, shaking his head.

"Hey, kid," my dad called him over. "Got any plans tonight?"

My hopes began to skyrocket, I looked at my father with wide, expecting eyes.

"Just going to dinner with some friends, sir... Mr. Stark, sir," Peter scrambled.

"Call me Tony," he said with a wave of his hand. "Would you take Thea here with you?"

I tried holding in my squeal of excitement to come off more normal than I really am, but I failed.

"Thank you dad! Thank you!"

"Wait, Peter didn't answer," my father turned to Peter. "So?"

"Uh... Yeah. I wouldn't mind at all," Peter said with a shy closed-mouth smile.

I began jumping around like a total spazz and I knew I looked very crazy to Peter but I was beyond excited to have real friends and to go outside and to eat something other than take out. Dad was pretty good at cooking but a lot of the times he was too busy to make something.

"I will have Happy drive you to Peters apartment. He will linger around and pick you up at nine o'clock. Hear me, nine o'clock. Not a second later, got it?" He directed his attention onto Peter for the last part.

Peter nodded with awkward speed.

"Do not tell anyone your name," he said bringing his attention back to me. Again to Peter he said, "her name is not Althea Stark. Althea Stark does not exist, got it?"

Again, Peter nodded.

"I trust you Peter," my dad said. "Keep her in good hands."

"She's in the greatest of hands, sir," Peter said.

"Yeah, no... let's keep it good," my dad replied.

"I'm going to go get ready!" I exclaimed, rushing off to my room. Granted I tripped a number of times on the way but my excitement to leave this place was greater than my embarrassment.