"In coming call from Peter Parker!" Brandon called out. I picked up the phone.
"Hey Peter, whats up?"
"Hey Crystal. Nothing really. I have a important thing I want you do for me."
"Sure! What is it?"
"Im going to a school trip to Italy, and i want to buy a girl, i like for a while now, something nice. And well, i was wondering of you have anything you can recommend?"
"What does this girl like?" Peter laughs through the phone.
"Shes one of a kind. She likes dark things." I started to type on my computer. "She likes murders, you know, creepy things."
"Found the right one for you. Its a black dahlia necklace." I sent him a picture. "One of a kind, just like her."
"It's beautiful."
"I can place it on hold for you. I know the guy who has it."
"Really!" Peter cheers. "Please! Thank you Crystal."
"Yeah no problem Pete. Just be careful okay. Keep me updated."
"Dont worry, i will. Soon as I get to Italy."
"Bye Peter."
"Bye Crystal." We both hung up. I called the man who had the necklace and placed it on hold. Its a lovely Friday afternoon. Steve is at work, Natalie is about to get out of school, and I got out work early. Pretty cool I say to myself. I drove to Natalies school to pick her up.
"Can we go shopping?" She told me as i looked at her.
"I mean you did good on you math test yesterday." I hummed. She gave me these big puppy dog eyes. I just chuckled. "Why not." I pulled up to the mall. Natalie holding my hand as we walked and tried on clothes. Natalie was definitely a Stark, always cared how they looked. After a whole 2 hours at the mall, we went back home. Steve came home the same time we did.
"Hey." I smiled as i kissed him.
"Hello." He smiles. We turned Natalie running to us.
"Im loaded with swag!" She giggles. Steve comes and sweeps her from her feet.
"You did deserve it." We went in the house. Natalie went to organized her clothes by color. I started to make dinner. We had a lovely dinner, a nice chicken pasta with red wine, for me and Steve of course, and water.
"I need help on my history homework." Natalie said as she brought her homework on the table.
"What is it about?" Steve asked as he dried the dishes.
"World War 1." She looks at him. "But my teacher said that you cant help me because you were there." Steve chuckles.
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"I mean, she's doesnt need to know that your dad helped you." I wiggled my eyebrows.
"Isnt that cheating?" Steve whispers.
"Its not cheating if they dont know." He shook his head. "I can help you but you have to do it okay." Natalie nods. I grabbed my wine glass and sat down on the table. The doorbell rang. "I wonder who is that?" I said as i got up. I opened the door and saw Fury and Hill. "Hill! Fury! Come in." I let them in.
"Hello Crystalline." Fury said. I frowned, he never called me by my full name.
"Hey Fury." I coughed. Steve comes in.
"Fury." Steve shakes his hand. "Hill. What brings you here?" Steve shoves his hands in his pockets.
"We came to talk to Crystal." Hill commented. She looks at me. I tilted my head, this seems off. I placed my hand on Steves chest.
"Keep helping her, ill be in my office." He nodded and kissed my cheek. "Please, follow me." We went to the basement. I typed in the passcode and entered. I signaled them to have a seat. I sat on my desk, slightly messy, all work papers, Natalies drawing and graded test, and Morgans letters scattered around the desk. "What can I help you?"
"We need you." Fury demanded. I fell back on my chair, biting my lip.
"Need me? With what?"
"Shield." I shook my head.
"I cant do that." I told them. "Im retired, i have a company to run, a family, i cant."
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"We need you to help out Quentin Beck with these water monster, you can help."
"Last time i checked, water beats fire, i have no use being there." I sat up. "Im sorry Fury, but i cant."
"What if Parker wants your help?" I froze. Peter.
"If Peter wants my help, he can call me. Dont bring him into this. He's going on a school vacation, probably going to ask a girl that he really likes and i know for a fact that he doesn't want to tied in superhero stuff at the moment."
"But we need you Crystal." Hill leans in.
"Im sorry, but Firestone is gone. Firestone died when iron man died. Shes tucked in the back of the closet, not wanting to be touched." I sighed as I rubbed my forehead. "I have a daughter. I promised her that I wont be doing this anymore."
"What if theres a bigger threat like Thanos?"
"Ill think about it when that day comes, but today isnt the day." I stood up. "Sorry I wasn't a big help." They stood up.
"At least we tried." I walked them up to the front door and they left. Steve and I went to our room.
"What did they want?" He said as he wrapped his arms around me.
"To fight some monster, help some guy named Quentin Beck. They are probably pulling Peter into it."
"What did you say?" I sighed, as i turned to him.
"That firestone died. I promised Natalie that i wont be going on missions anymore." I played with his hair.
"Can I be honest?" I nodded. "If you want to, go help Peter. I wont be mad."
"I just dont think its right."
"You grew up with Shield, saving the world at 16, i wont stop you if you go." I smiled.
"If Peter calls, i guess I can go." I sighed. "Only for emergencies."
"Peter looks up to you, you know."
"I remind him too much of my dad."
"Thats why." He placed his hand on my cheek. "Tony would be proud of you."
"He is." He kissed my goodnight. I didnt sleep at all, I just kept looking at the closet. I had the nerve to get up and walked in the closet. I brought down a box and opened it. My suit. Its been too long. I closed it back up and put it back. I crawled back to bed.
