fox (iron man's daughter)

3

pepper's p.o.v

fox leaves the room and i sigh, resting my elbows on the counter and holding my head in my hands.

"he hasn't spoken to her?" natasha spits, evidently disgusted.

i rub my eyes and stand up properly "no, he's avoiding her, suppose he thinks that if he doesn't meet her she'll just cease to exist".

"should one of us go talk to her?" steve asks tentatively and i sigh, remembering his clumsy comment which clearly unsettled fox.

"no, i think she needs space, besides who knows what you'd say to her" i shoot him an accusatory glance before heading to mine and tony's bedroom.

fox's p.o.v

i don't sleep, dread is sinking into my veins. i know that at some point i'm going to meet mr stark, and just the thought makes me feel as though i'm going to vomit.

at around 6 am i decide to get out of bed, it's making me feel worse.

i change into black skinny jeans and a pink print-t. i observe myself in the mirror on the wardrobe. my left arm is bruised all the way up to my shoulder. i landed awkwardly the other day when i was pushed down the stairs at the group home so i guess that's what that is. i realise suddenly that i'm aching and roll my eyes as i attempt to stretch it out.

i decide to go to the living room kitchen area where pepper took me last night and just hope that no one's there. to my dismay, captain america is sat up to the counter on a stool.

he looks up at me as i pad in and we lock eyes for a minute, but i look away again and sit down on one of the sofas.

i start to scroll on my phone, my heart racing, i don't really know what to do.

"i'm steve" he interrupts the silence, standing up from where he's sat and moving to sit on one of the sofas opposite me.

i give him a small smile, conscious that he's about to start a conversation "fox" i introduce myself softly.

"that looks like it hurts" he looks at my arm and i pull it in self consciously "how did it happen?".

i furrow my eyebrows, wondering if i should actually tell him "i fell" i lie badly and then pull a face.

surprisingly, steve laughs "you shocked yourself with that awful lie, huh?" .

his laugh is warm and as much as i attempt to hold it back, a smile cracks on my face "i've told better".

he stares at me for a moment "you don't have to talk about anything you don't want to, i just think that we should get that looked at later, i'm sure bruce wouldn't mind".

i nod without a word and we sit in silence for a minute whilst he just looks at me "sorry for what i said last night".

i look up in surprise "oh uh.. it's okay" i mumble in response "i wasn't in a great mood so i probably would've snapped at whatever you said"

"probably wasn't very tactful of me though" he winks and i laugh a little "probably not".

"i can't say i blame you for being upset either, i know how it feels to lose people you love"

this time i don't show my shock, i just look at my nails and play with the hem of my t-shirt "i don't know if love is the right word" i tell him.

it's his turn to be shocked, but he doesn't say anything. we make small talk until bruce walks in with black widow.

"hey uh bruce do you think you could have a look at fox's arm? it's really bruised and i just want to make sure that it's okay" steve calls him over and bruce smiles at me "of course".