The Avengers: A Change of Fate

Chapter 6

Outside, Iron Man waited for her. He leaned against the banister, his emotion hidden under his mask. He got up when Stella came out, and crossed his arms.

"What did he say?"

"He wants to stick me in a cell for all eternity, but he let me off this time," Stella replied.

"You got it all taken care of then? I won't be getting any phone calls?"

"Not about me anyway. We still aren't on good terms with them."

"We'll never be on good terms with them."

Stella laughed, "Yeah, probably not."

"So how did you get away with it? You must be just as good as I am."

Stella sighed, "They'll always let me get away, Tony."

"Oh really? Why's that?"

"Two things. One, I turn into a monster. Two, they need me to save the world."

"A little egotistical don't you think?"

Stella shrugged, "Maybe."

"S.H.I.E.L.D is powerful, Stella. Don't think they wouldn't be able to stop you."

"I don't think anyone could, and I hardly think that's a good thing, Tony. It scares me."

"Trust me, I don't think you're unstoppable."

Stella leaned against the doors to the conference room. Tony had returned to his lean on the banister, but still had his arms crossed. She refused to look at him now, and disregarded his retort. She studied her hands with a sad expression.

"Tony- do you think I'm a monster?"

"Everyone has a dark side," Iron Man replied.

Stella looked up at him. That sad, desperate look had returned to her eyes, "What's inside us isn't what makes us monsters, Stella. It's our actions that decide that."

"But I do bad things."

"You do good things too. You saved us today, and best of all, you try and redeem yourself for the bad things you've done. You feel bad for those things you've done, which means you still have good in you, and you can fix what you are now with the decisions you make."

"Give me a straight answer, Tony."

"Look, Kid, I used to be a monster too. I made weapons for a living. I ruined people's lives, but now I save them, and change them for the better. Honestly, I still have a lot of fixing to do, but I'm a much better man than I was."

"So you think I am a monster?" Stella asked, devastated.

Iron Man sighed, "No- I mean- Like I said, we all have a dark side. Stella, I know you're a good person. You have a dark past, and honestly, I can't judge you for the way you are. Even today you acted to protect us. Your heart is in the right place."

"So what are we doing now?" Stella changed the subject.

"We'll stay here tonight, and wrap things up tomorrow. Then we'll all go back home."

"Will I go home with you?"

"Why not?"

"Well- I mean- you still want to adopt me?"

Honestly, Tony wasn't all too sure right now, but he couldn't tell her that, "Yeah, of course. Sure you have a few dents here and there, and maybe a few nuts and bolts missing too, but you're still good, like an old car or a shelter rescue."