Ambition {𝟙𝟛} | Marvel √

chapter one

The early mornings of April 17, Tony Stark stood nervously behind his daughter's bedroom door at the Avengers Tower. He fiddled with his hands, his head cowered down as he thought of his fight with her the day before. And afterwards...forcing her to watch the footage of his parents — her grandparents — murdered by The Winter Soldier.

"Emma..." he finally said, and as he expected, complete silence, "Emma, I think we should talk...about yesterday, I...Can you open the door please?" But complete silence. So much silence...it was like no one was even in the room. "Emma—" Tony grabbed the doorknob to open the door but was taken aback when he realized it was already open. Cracked open. He eyed the door deeply confused before fully opening the door, finding a complete shock of a scene. Emma's room was...well, disturbing. Things had been knocked over. Lamps, broken. A nearby bat...scattered on the ground. And some of Emma's favorite books, knocked off her shelf.

There was clearly a disturbance. And no Emma Stark to be seen.

Tony stood in the doorway of his daughter's room, a slow, horrid look coming over him. There could be only one reason why her room could be a complete disaster and that realization sent him into a wave of panic.

"Friday..." he murmured.

"Yes, sir."

"When was the last time...Emma Stark was in her room...?" he hesitantly asked.

"11:30 pm, April 16."

Tony froze, just as his heart did. But it squeezed up at the same time. His baby had been taken.

"Pepper!" he quickly yelled, spinning around and running off towards the elevators, "Pepper!"

✵ • 🕸️ • ⍟

Two days prior, Tony had gotten a package in the mail — from Steve. Once he was alone in his office, he opened up the package to find a phone and an envelope, the words 'Tony' written across it. He sat down behind a desk before he opened it up, reading the letter;

'Tony...

I'm glad you're back at the compound. I don't like the idea of you rattling around a mansion by yourself. We all need family. The Avengers are yours, maybe more so than mine. I've been on my own since I was 18. I never really fit in anywhere, even in the army. My faith's in people, I guess. Individuals. And I'm happy to say that, for the most part, they haven't let me down. Which is why I can't let them down either. Locks can be replaced, but maybe they shouldn't.

I know I hurt you, Tony. I guess I thought by not telling you about your parents, I was sparing you, but I can see now that I was really sparing myself, and I'm sorry. Hopefully one day you can understand.

I wish we agreed on the Accords, I really do. I know you're doing what you believe in, and that's all any of us can do. That's all any of us should...but I just ask one thing of you.

Take care of Alexandria for me. I believe in her, and I know you do, too. She's in a bad place, now more than ever. She'll need someone to take care of her. And I think you're the best person for the job.

But no matter what. I promise you, if you need us. If you need me. I'll be there.

— Steve'