Illegitimate Prodigy

Rid your guilty conscious

The moment they pulled the small infant from Elizabeth, she wasn't breathing. No movement, or flailing like newborns often did. The Stark didn't panic hardly ever but he felt short of breath and his chest became unbelievably tight. Their doctor had explained to them that it was possible that she wouldn't come out breathing because she was early— and the C section effects the natural process of when the Baby enters the world. The nurses rushed her to a table on the opposite side of the room, using every medical utensil to remove the fluid from her lungs. Minutes seemed like hours, until Tony heard his daughters cries. He scanned his eyes back to Elizabeth, swallowing hard in relief. The air trapped inside his body released and he finally felt all anxieties wash away.

It was that memory. The events leading up to Belle's birth— that Tony was thinking of as he walked down the hallway toward her new bedroom in the facility. He could hear more than one voice coming from inside the room— only the voice sounded like Lizzie's. He turned the corner quickly, irises meeting Annabelle sitting on her knees in front of a flatscreen. He could see a watery reflection in her dark hues before her eyelids completely enveloped them, drawing a tear that had been threatening to fall.

"Tony!" His attention jumped up to the screen. It was him— much younger. His haircut was about the same, only he didn't wear a beard then. Hands were under his daughters shoulders, tossing her in the air. He got higher each time. "Please, don't throw her that high, honey!" Elizabeth's voice whined and of course he ignored. Belle gave a belly laugh, attempting to spit out the word 'Daddy.' The memory gave him a rush. It was almost like the feeling you get when falling in love with a person— but more. Much more than that.

In hearing him enter the room, his daughter didn't even face him. Anyone that came close to that room could feel the palpable tension.  "Annabelle..." a quiet sigh escaped him, and he grew speechless. How was he going to elaborate his reasoning for leaving her at such a young age without sounding like an asshole? "I can explain."

"Please." She pushed herself up off the floor. "Please, explain to me why you left... because I'm confused." Tony could see the disdain in her stare, the familiar but bitter tasting look that she had given him at her mothers funeral. "You didn't just know I existed— you were there. The whole fucking time.—

"Annabelle." Tony retorted sternly.
"STOP IT. Don't even pretend like you give a shit." She practically screamed, her index finger jabbing his direction. Tears rolled down her cheeks at a rapid rate. "You're so selfish, all you care about— is your—self," She shuttered, close enough now that her appendage was poking him hard in the chest. The finger curled in and her fists began to pound.
"Annabelle." He said her name again but it wasn't enough. "Belle, I do. I do care."
"Liar!" A scream echoed into the hallway, Tony's hands then grabbing her wrists once the punches got stronger. She fought for a minute, her crying obviously uncontrollable. Her knees buckled and Tony caught her, his hand on the back of her head and his arm catching her under one shoulder. His shirt was wet from tears and she only continued to sob. "You're a liar—." She muttered. "I'm just here to rid your guilty conscious."

"That's not even remotely the truth, Annabelle."

Proceeding Annabelle's break down, he carefully sat her down on her bed. The two stared at one another for a moment until Tony felt almost awkward. "Do you want to discuss this?" He tilted his head, his gaze staring at the hues that matched his.
Annabelle adjusted herself uncomfortably on her bed, turning to crawl toward her pillows. Tony didn't want to discuss it— it brought up so much history. So much more for her to be angry about. Her father leaving, Whitney Frost, Obadiah, her grandfather, and even her mother. It was all a world that was so against her. Something that didn't occur to the older Stark at the time.
"Not now." She sniffled.

[The video is of a similar character I role played quite sometime ago. I recommend watching it on its highest quality. Nonetheless, it reminded me of this situation between Tony and Annabelle. Remember to vote, thanks for the support everyone.❤️]