Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist...father?
Tony Stark has dealt with gods, aliens and terrorists. The thing he doesn't know how to deal with? Finding out he has a fifteen-year-old daughter. A daughter with bruises she won't talk about...
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Thalia's POV
I watch Tony warily as he leads me back through Stark Tower. What do I even call him? I wonder. Mr. Stark? Tony? ...Iron Dad?
No, I remind myself. Tony may be my biological father, and he may be letting me stay for a few days. It's unexpectedly nice of him, especially since he's putting himself in jeopardy if someone finds out he's housing a runaway. But I can't make the mistake of thinking this is anything more than kindness.
If Tony had wanted me, I wouldn't have grown up with Darrell. I have my bruises to remind me of that.
Tony sits me down at his kitchen counter and fetches a first aid kit from one of the cabinets. He considers a bottle of whiskey sitting on a shelf.
"Tea? Coffee? Or something stronger?" he asks me over his shoulder.
He's kidding. I know I'm supposed to laugh, and maybe crack a joke about underage drinking and responsible parenting. But my heart clenches at the sight of the alcohol. I feel the blood drain from my face, a flashback hovering on the edge of my vision.
Tony notes my reaction with raised eyebrows, but doesn't say anything. I can tell he's observing, collecting information. I wish I could hide the bruises on my arms and legs, but at least my shorts and tee shirt cover the worst of it.
"I know," Tony says, snapping his fingers. "Hot chocolate. You like hot chocolate?"
I nod, swallowing the panic in my throat. Relax, I tell myself.
As Tony prepares the hot cocoa, I take a deep breath. "Why did you do it?"
He looks up at over the pot of warming milk . "That shrapnel would have killed you," he says. "You needed another option. I had one."
He thinks I'm asking why he put the arc reactor in my chest. "No." I shake my head. "I mean, why did you save my life just now? If you had just let me leave, I wouldn't be your problem anymore. I know that's what I really am." I snort. "Iron Man's not the type of guy to want kids."
Tony sets two steaming mugs of hot cocoa on the table and slides one toward me. "How does he know?" he asks. "He's never had a kid before."
I laugh bitterly. "Surprise."
"He's never had a kid that he knew about before," Tony amends, grimacing.
I roll my eyes.
"I don't know what made me follow you." Tony admits. "I just had a bad feeling about those guys, and I knew that I couldn't let my daughter die."
Daughter. The word makes my heart ache. Darrell has never once referred to me as his daughter.
Suddenly Tony's phone rings. He pulls it out of his pocket and checks the caller ID, giving me time to swallow the lump that has formed in my throat. Get it together, Thalia. Geez.
