Assemble (Book 2)

1.4

December 17, 1991

"Tony, I got here as fast as I could. What's up?" I yelled as I walked in the door. Maria and Howard had left just yesterday to the "Bahamas" and wouldn't be back until next week. In reality they had left for the pentagon because of the serum. Howard had finally perfected the serum and had made enough for about 5 men or women. It would change the world.

The house was quiet, as I put my keys on the counter. "Tony?" I called out once more. Getting worried, I searched the house for him. He wasn't in the living room, nor was he anywhere upstairs. Then I tried downstairs in the basement where I heard a loud crash. I ran down the rest of the stairs where I saw Tony, destroying everything. "Anthony Stark! What is heaven's name?" I yelled, as he turned around. I stopped in my tracks, seeing the tears in his eyes. "Tony, what's wrong?" His face was pale and his eyes were filled with sadness and anger. I walked closer to him, holding him in my arms. "They're gone." He mumbled, into my shoulder even though he was taller than me. "What are you talking about? Your parents will be back next week." I tried reassuring him. He started crying as he tore himself from my embrace, pacing the room. He was having an anxiety attack. He had anxiety attacks before, but there was something different about this one. His hands were tugging his hair as he continued to pace, his breathing out of control. "Tony... stop. You need to calm down. Look at me. Talk to me." I tell him, moving closer. He looks me in the eyes and he fell to the ground. "Clara. They're gone. I got the call this morning. They died in a car accident. Dad ran off the road and into a tree. Then the car exploded."

I didn't know what to feel. I promised to protect them. They were my family. Maria was my best friend. Howard was an ass but I still loved him like a brother. "I never told him I loved him." Tony said, breaking the silence. "Tony, he knew. He always knew. He loved you so much." I said as I sat on the floor with him, tears falling from both our eyes. "But I never told him. I know he tried hard to be a good dad. He tried his best but I was never once grateful." I kissed the top of his head, not having anything to say.

I was disappointed in myself, just as much as Tony was upset with himself, if not more. I've protected thousands of people from the harm of others. I've killed 5475 people in the past 5 years for raping, assaulting, and abusing other people. And yet, I couldn't protect my own family.

But there was something bugging me. Howard was a great driver. He wouldn't have crashed. There had to have been something I wasn't aware of. I tried to stop thinking about it for Tony's sake but I couldn't stop. It was eating my brain away. What really happened the night of December 16, 1991?

January 24, 1992

"Let's move." Tony says, out of the blue one day. "Excuse me?" I ask him. He sighs, looking at me. "You heard me. Let's leave. My parents had a house in Malibu. It's perfect. Sun, fresh air. Hot chicks." I laugh, shaking my head. "Tony, we cannot just drop everything and leave." I replied. He shrugged at me. "Actually, we can." I sigh, avoiding eye contact. "Come on. Don't be a mom." I look at him, raising an eyebrow. "What characteristics does a mom have?" I ask, playing along with his joke. "What about the company?" I ask him, going back to being serious. "Clara. You know I can run that from everywhere." I sigh, knowing he's right. "Don't you want to get out of this old house? Somewhere where it doesn't remind you of everything we've lost." I sighed, remembering that dreadful December night.

"Fine." I groan, shaking my head and standing up. "Really?" He asks, shocked. "Yes, Tony. Go pack some clothes and I'll get in touch with your pilot." Tony smiled at me. "I didn't think you'd cave so easily. But I've already called him. We leave tomorrow morning." I turn around, looking at Tony, who had been trying to sneak away. "Tomorrow morning! Tony!" I yell at him. He looks at me smiling mischievously. Picking up the pillow next to me, I throw it at him. He laughs as he moves away. "You missed." He laughs as he runs up to his room to pack. I swear. Sometimes that kid acts like he's 5. And he's almost 22.

We were gone the next morning.