Thaw

Stark tower.

I had read all about Tony Stark and the work he did. It was all the news liked to talk about these days.

Fury nodded at the security and they let us pass with ease. We made our way to the elevator and rode up to the top floors in silence. I tapped my foot with anxiety.

"What are you planning to do with me here, more tests?" I asked breaking the silence. He didn't reply. A moment later the door opened up into an elegant penthouse. What? I expected a large lab, another cell. Instead, I noticed a lady in a business suit talking on the phone on a balcony outside, she turned when she heard the ding of the elevator closing.
"Nick, nice to see you." She said, ending the call. They greeted each other and talked lowly every now and then glancing up at me. She studied me with curious blue eyes, she was thin and tall with her stiletto heels on, she had blonde hair which she wore in a ponytail. I let myself wander and found myself at a modern bookshelf, I let my fingers skim the bridges reading over the titles. I looked up when I heard the elevator open again and Tony Stark himself came out. I knew it was him from the memory of seeing his picture in an article I had read for 'school', this day just kept on giving. He went to the woman and Fury, joining in on their conversation. I was beyond confused, just a few hours ago I was sitting in a cell, now I stood in New York in front of Tony Stark. Why? I had no clue.

I hadn't realized they were staring dead at me until noting the silence, I looked up and fury came over to me.
"This is your new placement," Is all he said to me before exiting through the elevator we came from and suddenly I was more confused than before which didn't seem possible.
"Ok kid, listen. Now that Fury has left you in our care we have a few ground rules." Tony said coming towards me.
"Actually scratch that, do whatever just don't do something stupid, or else you'll make me look stupid, and I'm a lot of things but stupid is not one of them." He gave a serious look but I couldn't help but pick up on the sarcasm that was evident.
"What Tony means to say is stay out of trouble. You'll be left alone most of the time but that doesn't mean we're not watching. Things are going to be... different here." The lady said. I could tell she was the more mature one in whatever relationship they had. "What do you mean I'm 'in your care'...." I asked confused.
"It means that until further notice, you'll live here in Stark tower. I'm Pepper Potts, and I'm sure you know Tony here." She said coming towards me, she shook my hand.
"Astrid," I replied.
"But, can I just ask why? It makes no sense?" I asked.
"Would you rather stay in the lab?"
"No, of course not, but it's all so sudden? What will I do here?" I asked.
"That we are still deciding." Tony Stark replied.
"For now, until we figure that out, you will live here and try to stay out of trouble."
"But-" I began,
"There's not much we can say, whatever you want to ask will be answered in the following weeks." Pepper Potts said, cutting me off.
"First we have to see how you do here,"
"How I do what here?"
"Once again, not a question we have an answer for,"
I sighed and once again turned to the book shelf.
"If I'm really staying here, than can I borrow this?" I turned around to see they were still watching me, it was a book on physics and astronomy.
"Uh, sure, yea knock yourself out," Tony replied looking a little confused.
"I'll show you to your room." Pepper touched my arm, she motioned me to the door at the side of the room. She led me through hallways and we stopped at a modern grey door. She opened it and gave me a little nudge inside. It was huge. It made my cell back in 'Triskelion' look like a chicken coop.

I wandered around taking in every detail of the amazingly designed room. There were trinkets and games. A reading nook full of books along with its own sitting area. A desk with a laptop and phone. It looked like a room for a princess. What are they trying to do? Make up for my lack of freedom in toys? Well, it's not working.
"I don't need all of this," I said in an annoyed voice that could be mistaken for ungratefulness. I'm not going to warm up to strangers just because they bribe me with things like this. They could place me in a cupboard under the stairs and id still despise them the same.
"You're a kid, Astrid. You're not some government project... We're not like them." I just looked at her like she grew an extra head.
"She's right, you need to experience being a kid. You're not a machine." Tony said letting himself in. I let out a brittle laugh,
"You think I'm just going to believe that? After years of living in that place, your just going to let me out to be a-a KID? Since when did you people care about what's right for me? After all, I'm only here because of my curse." I replied bitterly,
"You're more than your gifts, you're a human." Pepper butted in.
"That's not how they treated me..." I muttered under my breath looking down fiddling with my hoodie. I looked up and pepper was giving me a sad look.
"All right well, its pretty late but I'm guessing you haven't eaten dinner. I'm sure you want time to unpack and shower. When you're done come down to the dining room." Tony said as if I knew where the damn room was. They left the room and I was left to unpack the few things I owned. I didn't dare touch any of the objects that they gifted me. The room was themed teal and grey. I found the attached bathroom and washed my face with cold water. Any second believing i'd wake up and be back in the cell i'd become so used to my whole life. I didn't go down to eat. Instead, I sat on the ground with the physics book I borrowed from them.

It sounds weird, a 14-year-old reading a book about advanced science. But with nothing to do i'd thrown myself into the studying and the education they gave me in Triskelion. I favored science and quickly adapted to the theories and ideas. It was one of the things I was good at. They never rewarded me for the high grades I achieved. But I knew they were impressed, by they I mean the scientists and guards that watched over me. I moved up in levels and was currently studying at 12th-grade high school level. My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. It opened a crack and Tony's head popped in, he saw I was just reading and swung the door open, he was carrying a tray of food.
"You didn't come down to eat," he said, stating the obvious. I continued to stare at him and he just sighed and set it down on the study table in the room. He turned and leaned back on it crossing his arms.
"I know you're confused right now but don't fret it, you'll get used to everything quickly. Now eat, and sleep, it's late." he said walking back to the door, he left and closed the door, just when I thought he had gone he popped back in again,
"Pepper made me say that by the way, I'm not nearly as nice." he said before winking and once again leaving and closing the door. "Figures," I muttered before going back to the book.

It was now 4:13 am and I could barely keep my eyes open any longer. I tried to fight off the fatigue, wanting to stay up just in case something happened in my new surroundings, but ended up falling asleep on the sitting chair I had moved to and slipped into a dreamless abyss.