『ᴀʀᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇʟ || ᴀ ᴍᴀʀᴠᴇʟ ꜰᴀɴꜰɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ

Ch. 1: A Heartbeat

"Miller, are you even paying attention to what I've been saying?"

I looked over as my name was spoken, an innocent smile plastered on my face as I chuckled quietly, "No sir. I apologize for that. I was focusing on something else."

He brought a hand over his face, murmuring something under his breath before exhaling deeply, frowning as he watched my movements carefully, "You've been all over the place since we've arrived in New York. What is the issue?"

"Oh, nothing wrong, Mr. Roberts," I waved in front of me, turning my attention back towards the screen I was focusing on, my hands placed delicately on the glass as I watched the gears function, like clockwork under a naked eye.

"Then why are we having this conversation?"

"You assumed something was wrong, and nothing was. I was just watching the machines- it's genius, isn't it? Mr. Stark has done a great thing- technology is extremely advanced," I hummed, my blue eyes fascinated by what I was watching.

Mr. Roberts pursed his lips, shaking his head as he motioned to the rest of my class, "Well since Miller here decided to focus on something else, rather than what we were going to learn about, I guess we can get into the topic of-"

An explosion rattled the area, and my feet shook beneath me. I whipped my head around, seeing the scared faces of my classmates as Mr. Roberts rounded them together. People were rushing around inside of the museum, screaming over each other as students began to break down, "The building down the block has just exploded! Evacuate the area!"

. . .

I rubbed my head as I walked beside my friend, Stephanie Robinson. We've known each other for a long time, and we're known to be quite the troublemakers sometimes, "So like I was saying, we should totally visit New York sometime," Stephanie finished, putting her arms behind her as she grinned excitedly, "I know how much you like exploring."

"Not as much as I like where we are now. Maine's a pretty place, you know that, Steph," I responded, following Stephanie slowly as we continued walking, the breeze calming the two of us.

"Oh come on! Don't tell me you're already done with your childish dreams of meeting and working for Tony Stark, Nicki!" Stephanie replied, staring dumbfounded at me, "I mean, you've been following his work for years! What's with the change of heart?"

What was with the change of heart? Nothing really changed, I just didn't want to seem weird for knowing all that I did about my idol.

"Nothing changed, Steph," I lied, smiling as I brushed my friend off, picking up my pace, "It's not like my family can afford sending either of us to New York- less likely the both of us."

"Then we can work for him when we're older!"

"What will we do? Sweep floors, clean his workshop? He's a busy man- I doubt putting ourselves into his life would make it any better for him, or us," I said, dragging my eyes over to the sky that was overhead, "Anyways, we're only 12. We shouldn't be thinking too much like this. We're still kids."

Stephanie scoffed, and continued walking, the conversation ending there. I felt bad- Stephanie had grown to admire the CEO of Stark Industries because of me. I, however, was fascinated with him because of my father's admiration towards the man. He's been through a lot, even if he didn't like to admit it.

Tony Stark. Anyone who says they don't know him is a liar in my eyes.

People say it's freakish, how much I admire him. But I can't help it- I've always created things, and I have won competitions because of my creativity and smart mind. My family wonders where I gets the gift from- certainly neither of my parents were good at engineering.