Change

1

I spent the first five years of my life in foster care. I bounced around a lot, and I never could figure out why none of these families wanted me. I know now that it was because of the unusual powers that I had. When I was a kid I couldn't control them. I didn't even know what they all were. So I shuffled from home to home for five years. I was unwanted and alone.

And then, Tony Stark happened.

He found me by chance.

He saw me grab a glass of water off of a counter in a restaurant.

Except that I couldn't reach the counter. And I was outside the restaurant. That immediately peaked his interest. I can't still remember him coming up to me.

"Hi kid. I'm Tony. What's your name?"

I looked up at the strange man. He was dressed nicely, in a quit. I was young, but I knew it looked expensive. I looked into his eyes and he looked good nature, so I decided to trust him. I have always been an excellent judge of character.

"I'm Tessa."

"Nice to meet you Tessa. Can I ask you something?" he asked. I shrugged. I didn't see why he couldn't. "How did you do that?"

"Do what?" He pointed to the glass in my hand. I shrugged again. "Things come to me when I want them," I said simply.

Tony nodded. He didn't seem scared. People usually seemed scared. Tony seemed impressed.

"How old are you Tessa?"

"Five."

"And where are your parents."

"I don't have any."

I said it very matter-of-fairly, and Tony seemed surprised by my unflinching honesty.

"You're out here all alone?" He asked.

I nodded in response. "I have foster parents. But they don't like me. So I'll probably have to move again soon."

"You move around a lot?" He seemed concerned as he asked. I nodded. "Why don't you come home with me for a little bit?"

I looked at him for a moment, narrowing my eyes. I was sizing him up. And he knew it. Finally, I spoke.

"Sure. You can't be any worse than my foster parents."

We started walking to his car. Well he walked, and I followed. He slowed down to keep pace with me, but I still didn't know where we were going.

"You know kid," he said, looking down at me. "You shouldn't make a habit of going home with strangers."

"I know."

"Okay. As long as you know."

***

I stayed with Tony for a week. And then a month. As far as I knew, my foster parents never tried to find me. I hadn't expected them to. They were one of the worse families I had lived with.

Eventually, I had been living with Tony for so long, he had to ask me if I wanted to stay there. And I did. And that was that. My new name was Tessa Stark, and I had a dad.