Stark's Little Stardust

12: The Time Traveler's Dilemma

That evening, the Stark Malibu Mansion was wrapped in a warm glow, the ocean waves crashing in the background as Tony took you aside after dinner preparations, his expression a mix of curiosity and mild concern.

"Alright, kiddo, we need to talk about something," he began, glancing around before lowering his voice. "Why did you cuss in front of the Avengers? I mean, it was one heck of a show, but now they're all gonna think I didn't raise my kid right."

You couldn't believe it; he was actually bringing this up! You crossed your arms defensively, standing your ground. "Dada, you raised me just fine! And anyway, Uncle Thor was practically choking you—what else was I supposed to do? I couldn't just sit there in silence."

Tony's eyes twinkled, clearly amused by your earnestness. "So, you love me that much, huh?"

You nodded vigorously, your arms swinging as you emphasized, "Cecause I love you more than anything in the world, dada, more than anything."

Tony held back a grin, shaking his head at your little speech. "Cecause, huh? Well, alright, I did raise you right, but let's work on the language, kid. Next time, try to keep it PG around my friends, or they're gonna start thinking you're a little Stark brat."

He tried to put on a stern face, but the pride in his eyes betrayed him. You could tell he was delighted by how you'd inherited some of his attitude and behavior. Then, he added with a smirk, "By the way, I'm winning against Pepper, now that you love me more."

You giggled, playfully whispering, "Dada, mama's coming, shh..." and pretended to zip your lips.

At that moment, Pepper strolled into the room, crossing her arms with a look of amused suspicion. "Alright, you two, what mischief are you up to this time?"

Without missing a beat, you put on your most angelic expression. "Hi, my sweet and caring mama! We were just talking about how amazing you are, and how much we love you."

Pepper raised an eyebrow, fighting a smile as she watched you and Tony exchange conspiratorial glances. Tony's eyes lit up as he thought to himself, She changes colors faster than a chameleon. Yep, definitely my kid, my little carbon copy.

"Aww, stop buttering me up," Pepper chuckled. "Come on, you two, to the dining table. Dinner's ready!"

Just as you all headed toward the dining room, you remembered something and excused yourself to use the restroom. "I'll be back in five!" you called, leaving Tony and Pepper to settle in at the table.

Outside in the hallway, as you turned a corner, a shadowy figure stepped into view, catching you off guard. You froze for a second as Mobius from the TVA gave you a knowing look, crossing his arms.

"Well, well, if it isn't the little time traveler," he said, raising an eyebrow.

You opened your mouth to explain, but he cut you off immediately. "I don't wanna hear it! Do you know how much trouble you're causing at the TVA? I had to leave my jet ski for this."

"But, Mr. Mobius—" you started, but he raised his hand again.

"Nope, zip it, kiddo. You're messing with the timeline, and it's causing all kinds of anomalies," he said, giving you an exasperated look.

You shuffled nervously, but finally managed to get your explanation out. You told Mobius the entire story—why you'd come to the past, what your mission was, and how you hoped to fix everything.

Mobius listened, arms crossed, his face going from frustration to reluctant sympathy. After a moment, he let out a long sigh. "Look, I'm totally against this plan, but I've got a soft spot for kids, alright? And I can't say no to you. I'll contact future Dr. Banner to help set up the fix, but remember, this is a one-time favor."

Your face lit up with a relieved smile, and you practically bounced. "Thank you so much, Mr. Mobius! I promise, I'll be careful from now on!"

Mobius nodded, his face softening a little. "Good. Now get back in there, kid. Before they start wondering where you went."

As Mobius vanished back into his timeline duties, you slipped back into the dining room where Tony and Pepper were waiting, sharing a quiet moment over the table. Tony's phone suddenly buzzed loudly, making both him and Pepper roll their eyes. With an exaggerated sigh, he pulled his phone from his pocket and checked the screen. "Coulson. This hour? Really?"

Pepper chuckled as Tony shook his head. "Coulson says he wants me to cancel the party because Point Break is dead set on dragging 'Rock of Ages' back to Asgard," Tony muttered, rolling his eyes as he tapped a message back. "Well, I'll let Capsicle and Jolly Green handle that tonight. I mean, it's not like we don't have enough party animals on the team, besides Triple Imposter and Legolas."

Pepper reached for her drink, chuckling. "Tony, maybe it's time you stopped nicknaming everyone."

Tony's face broke into a mischievous grin. "Sorry, not sorry," he shot back with a wink.

At that moment, you dashed back into the room, a bit out of breath. Tony looked at you with slight worry and wagged his finger. "Slow down, Stardust, you'll trip."

"S-Sorry, dada," you huffed as you slipped into your chair, eager to dig into dinner.

Pepper laughed, looking at you with soft amusement. "Catch your breath, sweetheart. There's no rush."

Tony leaned over and playfully waved it off. "Nah, food first, breathe later! Besides, if she inhales the food, she'll get less picky!"

Pepper sighed, pretending to scold him. "What kind of ideas are you putting into her head, Tony?"

You broke into a grin, sitting straighter. "I'm going with Dad's rule!"

Tony grinned back proudly and reached across the table to give you a high five. "Plus point for Team Stark!" he teased, winking at you.

Pepper rolled her eyes, laughing as she finally gave up. "Alright, fine. Just eat, you two troublemakers."

As you all began to dig in, you felt a warmth spread through you. Here, in this strange blend of past and future, you were with your family, sharing laughter and a meal, and at least for a moment, all felt perfectly right in the world.