[hero, the hard way]↣ p. parker | t.s daughter

|seventeen| - edited

"Wake up, Ari. Come on," I woke up to Peter shaking my shoulder.

"M' awake. What?" I asked tiredly. I was too tired to open my eyes.

"Sorry, um, people want to talk to you," He said. I furrowed my eyebrows, but my eyes stayed closed.

"Please tell me they aren't in here," I mumbled, my eyes peeking open. Peter was sat on the bed indian style.

"No, they're in a conference room. It's the police, Ari," I sat up and crossed my legs as well.

"No, no, I told my dad that if he told anyone where Bucky was I would give myself up! Why would he-"

"S' not about Bucky. This is about Kayden."

"Oh." I managed.

"They said that you should go up as soon as you could. You've been asleep for a few days, Ari."

"Days?"

"Yeah, Mr. Stark said it was probably shock. Do you remember the night you fell asleep here?" The shower, the talking. I think I'm in love.

"Yeah," I mumbled. I rolled my shoulders and stood up, sliding my leg on. "I'm just gonna go change..." I jabbed to the door and he nodded.

"I'll walk up with you?" He offered, and I nodded. I went into my room and ducked into my closet, changing into a pair of leggings and a graphic tee. I caught my reflection in the mirror, thankful that some of the bruises were beginning to fading away. They were still there, still obvious. I slipped on my right shoe and then slipped out the door again. Peter was stood, waiting.

"You ready?" He asked softly. I felt my head nod, but I didn't feel ready. We walked down the hallway, fingers laced together. He didn't say anything. For that, I am thankful. I just needed some time to think. I met up with Dad, Pepper, and Rhodey outside the conference room. We all exchanged hugs and talked in hushed voices.

I looked over Dad's shoulder and saw a young woman sat in front of a bunch of papers. She was dressed in a police uniform. I had to wonder why she came to us instead of the other way around.

She looked up and met my gaze, tilting her head to offer me the chance to go in.

"She wants me to go in," I said softly. Peter squeezed my hand.

"You don't have to do this alone, kid," My dad said softly. I nodded, I knew, but I ended up walking in alone anyways. The four of them watched from outside the glass.

"My name is detective Benson. I'm very sorry that we have to meet over these circumstances, Aurora," Her voice was soft when she spoke. I had to imagine that she said that sentence a lot more than she would like.

"It's Ari," I corrected. She nodded in understanding.

"I'm going to be the lead detective on your case. This is the department that I work in the most, so I assure you that you're in good hands."

"And what department is that?"

"Domestic and sexual violence against minors. DASVAM." I nodded and she gestured for me to sit.

"Tell me everything. From the very beginning, don't leave a single detail out," She instructed softly. I nodded and obeyed. I told her about the first date, how he yelled, when he hit me. I told her everything. At some points tears tracked down my face but I didn't stop. At the end, she looked up from her pages of notes.

"You have a good case, Ari. A great case, actually. Your father said everything in Stark Tower is on video record, so we have video proof of everything happening."