fox (iron man's daughter)

10

fox's p.o.v

it's stupid to cry over, but i'm at a bit of a loss. i can't talk to them because i don't know how, and i don't want to be compared to my mum, and i don't want to be like her at all.

so i sit listening to that song, growing pains by maria mena because i need to know it inside out if i want to stand any chance tomorrow. not that i'm not already doomed to lose anyway.

no one comes to check on me, which i'm partially glad about but also a little hurt because i thought they might've worried, but it's okay. i told them to give me space so they have.

tony's p.o.v

i don't sleep because i keep reminding myself that if i fall asleep here and she opens her door, i'll fall into her room and probably crush her which isn't ideal.

i can't move from outside her door, i need to be here if anything happens.

all i can hear is soft crying and that song playing on repeat.

fox's p.o.v

"fox, you up?"

i frown as i roll over, trying to recognise the voice.

"it's steve, can i come in?"

ohh.

"sure" i call back, my throat kind of dry and scratchy. i rub my eyes, sitting up as the door handle pushes down and steve is revealed in the doorway.

"your dad wanted to talk to you, he's down in the lab" he pauses, as if to say something else. i can see his eyes scanning me and his smile is forced and pitying. i hate it.

"okay, thanks steve" i return the smile and watch as he leaves.

now i need to think, because i need as much practice as i can get before this evening and i'm pretty sure my dad isn't going to let me go out again.

so it looks like im sneaking out for the second time.

i quickly change into tight fitting jogging bottoms and a cropped dark blue top. my hair is still in a ponytail and i just brush away some of the free hairs.

then, i grab my bag, and make my way out the back door.

i keep my phone off, i know that tony and pepper will be mad and i'm not ready to face the angry texts and voicemails yet, so it's in the bottom of my bag.

i reach the theatre after half an hour of walking and push through the doors, stepping into the warm lobby. i can't help but be relaxed here, i grew up here, i made my closest friends here, i do what i do best here.

i dance.

i make my way to the very back room, a small empty space with nothing but mirrors lining the walls, and i practice.

i practice all day, by myself, and when my team arrives i practice the group dance too. nerves twist inside of me as the dancer before me starts her solo and i turn on my phone reluctantly.

tony's p.o.v

i pace the kitchen impatiently, i need to be doing something, i need to find her. anything could be happening, literally anything, and what with the state she came back in yesterday im not feeling hopeful that she's just with friends. it's been eight hours since she left the building.

"sir we have a track on miss brooks' phone" F.R.I.D.A.Y informs me and i run towards the lab.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y set a flight path".

pepper, steve, thor, nat, clint, and peter all insist on coming with me, and we look interesting as we land outside an inconspicuous looking theatre.

"are you sure this is the right place?" clint pulls a face at the building and i falter.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y?" i ask.

"miss brooks' phone is located here"

"i guess so" i mumble, making my way to the door.

i don't bother taking my suit off, not wanting to drop my guard. it might look normal from the outside but i've learnt that nowhere and no one is ever as innocent as they first appear.

fox's p.o.v

i bite my nails, almost jumping out of my skin when two hands grip my shoulders. i whip around quickly "daisy i can't do this" i chew my lip.

daisy has been my best friend since i was tiny, by my side since the beginning. her red hair is braided nearly, her green eyes sparkling, freckles speckling her nose and cheeks. "you're going to be fine stop being a pleb" she rolls her eyes, shaking me a little "pull yourself together".

a crash across the room grips my attention suddenly and my heart drops to my stomach like a boulder.

why is my dad here, as iron man, with the entire fucking avengers team.

i start to timidly make my way over, my legs wobbling more with every step. i make eye contact with pepper and she grips tony's arm, pointing me out.

i have so much explaining to do.

"fox you're up" daisy grabs my arm, yanking me in her direction and im pulled away helplessly. she forces me to face her, a glint in her eyes "snap out of it, get your head in the zone, i don't care what's going on you can tell me later but right now you need to do this solo and smash it and smile" she pats me on the shoulder quickly "now go". daisy gives me a gentle shove up the stairs as my dance is called and i have to walk onto the stage.

as i hold my opening position, my heart is pounding and i can hear my own blood flow. i wait for the music, the silence causing my thoughts to be louder, and i think about my current situation. it shouldn't be funny but the avengers just appeared at my dance competition and i have to bite back a smile. come on fox, dance mode.

when i dance, i channel everything i have into it. it's an outlet for all of the emotions i'm not allowed to express. i've been dancing since i was two, mum was a dancer and she was incredible. i haven't told tony or pepper, i was going to, but i don't want them to think i'm any more like my mum. i cant handle that. i tend to pour my soul into my dancing, if i do that there's nothing else that i can give and i know i've done my best.

so that's why i'm happy when i finish my piece, bowing and making my way back to my team.

immediately daisy's arms are around me, tearing me from the floor and spinning me round "SHES BACKKKKK" my best friend squeals "FOXIE BLUE IS BACCKKK".

i laugh as i wriggle free of her grip, my feet searching for the floor "put me down you absolute giant" i giggle, daisy wrapping her arms around me tighter. after a sharp squeeze she puts me down and ruffles my hair "knew you could do it".

"don't ruffle my hair i'm not your kid we're the same age" i pull a face at her and suddenly her eyes widen.

"am i allowed to ruffle your hair?" i look up to see tony, wearing his suit with the mask off, everyone else stood behind him.

for fucks sake now what?