The Avengers: A Change of Fate

Chapter 3

Tony left the conference room late in the night again. He had pulled yet another late night in attempt to find the Serpent Society, but he had failed to get them again. He was about to retire to his room, but he couldn't shake his thoughts of Stella. He decided to check on her. He went to her room and placed his hand on the knob. There were two small beeps and then a click.

He opened the door, but as he did, a knife whipped out from the dark at him. He felt the wind of it as it shot past him just shy of his head. He had managed to move in just enough time for it to miss. It landed in the wall behind him.

"Jesus!" He exclaimed leaning against the door, his heart racing.

Stella sat up from her bed, eyes wide, breathing heavy. He caught sight of her, "Sorry," He apologized.

He took the knife from the wall and went into her room to give it to her. He handed her the knife, and she took it shakingly, "It's okay. I only wanted to check on you," He said as he sat down beside her.

"You don't trust your own system?" She asked.

"I'm afraid you don't," Tony informed.

Stella shrugged, "I got my knife."

"Well, I'll let you get back to sleep then," Tony said as he got up.

"Tony?"

"What?"

"Can you stay?"

Tony looked around unsure if he should, "Yeah."

He sat on the other side of her bed as she laid down. The lights darkened and he stared at the emptiness in front of him. Stella laid with her knife tightly grasped in her hand. Tony eventually fell asleep. When Stella awoke she set her knife on the nightstand and sat up. She looked at Tony whom still sat in her bed. He was asleep with his head leaned back against the headboard of the bed. She hugged him then and held him in her grasp, enjoying his warmth and the sound of his heart, thinking that she'd never get a moment to hug him when he was conscious.

Tony awoke to Stella embracing him. He was shocked and didn't know what to do, but he slowly lowered his arms around her and tightened his grasp to return her embrace. She really was growing on him. He rubbed his thumb across her shoulder with one hand as she rested her head on his chest.

"Thank you," she breathed, finally letting go.

"You're welcome," he said.

Stella sat back with him against the headboard, "I should get going. Cap wants to train again, and he'll wring my neck if I'm late," She sprang from her bed and rushed to the bathroom.

Tony laughed, "I'll never understand how he likes to get up so early. But, hey. I'm going to make you a jousting sword. I should have it done by the time Cap gets his shield back so that you can train with him."

"Thanks, Tony. I'll catch you later!" She said as she ran out her door from the bathroom freshly dressed.

The next several days fell into a routine. Stella rose early in the morning with Captain America to train. After lunch they'd hit the gym and work out. Stella would also run the track with him and swim if she wasn't too exhausted. Afterward she would go to the lounge and watch the news or Hawkeye play video games. She would even join in if no one else was playing.

Then she would meet with Vision, and they would walk out to his garden. They would sit and talk or just listen to the birds sing until the sun began to set. They would walk back then and Stella would make dinner for the whole group. They'd sit and eat together and talk about their day. After dinner, Stella would bring food to Tony if he had been too busy to join them, and make sure he ate. She would then retire to her bedroom and read for a bit. Tony would check on her late in the night, and when she woke up, he'd sit with her until she returned back to her sleep.