Obsessions ⇢ Tony Stark

22 | I'll Be There For You

"So, what is this all about?"

Eleanora stared at her mother for a moment, stunned by the question. As if she had chosen this, as if this was some stunt she had pulled to get her parents' attention or prove a point.

"I didn't ask you guys to come," she said bluntly.

Reginald let out an impatient sigh. "Eleanora, just tell us what's going on. This isn't a good look for you or the family."

Eleanora felt as if she had been struck, and she swallowed the lump in her throat. "That, right there. It's not a good look, you're always so concerned about appearances and looking good and maintaining reputation and being perfect. Not only that, you're always judging and criticising other people - and for the most trivial things, too.

"And it's one thing to think that way, but I've grown up hearing it constantly from both of you and it taught me to think that way too. I've spent the last five years or so of my life trying to be a better person and change the way I think about other people, to not criticise or judge the way that you do. And I have, I've become a much better person, but for some reason I still couldn't stop thinking that way about myself.

"You always expected me to be confident but I how the fuck could you expect that when you trained me to nitpick at everyone around me, to find their flaws. How could I not look at myself the same way? You knew I looked up to you, you knew the influence you-"

"Give me a break!" Beatrice cut her off harshly. "You really want to blame this on us? We just wanted you to fulfil your potential, to always seek improvement and not settle for good enough. If it was really our fault then how come Serena turned out just fine? Just because you took that too far and that you were too sensitive to handle it and decided to act out and throw this big hissy fit instead, doesn't mean that we need to be sorry for that." 

Eleanora stared at her in disbelief. "You really have no idea, do you?"

"You're eighteen, Eleanora," Reginald sighed condescendingly, "don't tell us that we don't understand."

"But you don't! You don't have a fucking clue, and the frustrating thing is that you refuse to even try to understand or to accept the vaguest shred of blame."

"Why should we? You can't handle a bit of tough love so you try to blame us for insecurities and pull a stunt like this to- to what? To embarrass us? If so, congratulations, you've done it well."

"I think you should leave," Tony declared furiously, standing up from his seat.

"This is none of your business-"

"Get out," Eleanora cut Beatrice off, voice trembling. "Get out!"

"Come on," Reginald shook his head, guiding his wife out of the room.

Eleanora had known that the conversation wasn't going to be pleasant, but her parents' words were so much more hurtful than she had expected, and her eyes burned with tears. That wasn't just rejection, that was cruel. And yet, she still didn't think they were even trying to be.

"How dare they?" Tony seethed, staring at the door. "How- I can't even- I don't understand how people like that produced someone as kind as you, I'll tell you, It's a fucking miracle."

"That really fucking hurt," she managed calmly, making the boy turn around as tears started to trickle down her cheeks. His expression softened and he sat straight back down and placed his hand over hers.

"Lenny, none of what they said was true. You know that, right?"

She stared a their hands for a moment, not sure all of a sudden. Was she just weak? Was she being too harsh on them? She didn't argue though, just gave a small sniff, trying her hardest to keep herself together, but fighting a losing battle. "Still hurts."