Hello! IDK, guys.
ooooOOOO – LINE BREAK – OOOOoooo
Title: Anywhere
Summary: She asks for one thing. Parents that will live through her childhood. It isn't quite what she imagined, they are cold and distant and don't really know how to act towards her. But they love her, and they are there. That is all that she wanted, all she asked for. But then she turns eighteen and her childhood is officially over.
Warnings: reborn Harley, Harley is Tony, female Harry, female Tony, author has no idea why she did this to herself, dysfunctional Stark family, Master of Death Harley
Pairing: Tony Stark/James Barnes
Progress: 1/¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Beta:
Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Iron Man, Captain America and Avengers franchises and their characters belong to their respective owner/s. This is a piece of fan-authored fiction created without material gain or for the purpose of infringement of ownership rights. The author retains ownership of only the original plot and characters. No profit was made or intended through the creation of this piece of fiction, merely entertainment.
ooooOOOO – LINE BREAK – OOOOoooo
Chapter one – Where to?
It is a chilly autumn day. Aunt Petunia says it is going to rain, so Dudley needs to take his umbrella to school. She doesn't even get a glance. Dudley is excited, first day of school, big day, he forgets, aunt Petunia doesn't. When she leaves them at school Dudley gets a big kiss on the cheek and an umbrella. She is forgotten. It starts to rain during their third class and only get worse as the day progresses.
Aunt Petunia is there at the end of the day, a big red umbrella over her head and a giant smile on her face. Dudley runs to her, forgetting to open his umbrella. He crashes around her middle, swaying aunt Petunia on her feet, but she doesn't mind. Excited chatter fills the air as he tells his mum about his day, school, classes, new friends. Aunt Petunia laughs and smiles softly as she opens the car doors and fastens Dudley in his seat. They drive off slowly, behind everyone else. She is forgotten.
She stands there. Oversized shirt damp and hanging off her thin shoulders and old sneakers already wet. She clutches her notebook closely to herself until the covers are all crinkled. Her glasses are foggy and her hair is falling in her face. She is forgotten and she has no umbrella.
.
Hermione's parents are nice. They are always smiling and seem overly optimistic. She watches Hermione light up at the sight of them. She runs to them, forgetting everything around herself. She jumps at her dad. He catches her and spins her around as all three laugh. She stands and watches. It is a heart-warming scene. She feels cold.
Uncle Vernon is there too, a frown on his face. His mustache seem bushier than ever before, like one of Mrs. Figg's cats. He grunts at her in greeting before throwing her suitcase into the car. She glances once more at Hermione. A large smile is stretched over her face as she tells her parents about her year, school, classes, new friends.
Hermione catches her eye and waves with a large smile. She turns to her parents for just a moment. Both adults look at her and smile softly. She isn't so cold anymore.
.
Ron's family is loud. They are all over the place. Constantly in motion, constantly chatting. She sits in her little corner and watches. She watches Mrs. Weasley walk through her kitchen like a storm, preparing all kinds of food. Food that doesn't taste any better than regular food, but Mrs. Weasley lights up so much when they all eat that the food tasted like Heaven to her. Mr. Weasley is reading a newspaper a giant smile on his face as he talks to his wife.
Ron and Ginny are arguing about something or other. They are loud and aggressive, but they are smiling, she can see it in their eyes. Mrs. Weasley yells at them from the kitchen. They continue their argument in lower tones. It shouldn't work, but somehow it does. And as Forge and Gred grab her and pull her from her little corner to their room for some plotting, she feels warm.
.
Nevil's parents are lost to the world. They simply do not react to anything. They walk through the room like zombies, their faces set in the same expression. She watches Nevil go to his dad. He tells him about his year, school, classes, friends. His dad doesn't react, not to his words, not to his presence. He just stares at the same spot, an empty look to his eyes. Nevil seems to have given up.
His face falls and he sadly tells his dad he loves and misses him. Brown eyes are suddenly clear and focused. The man smiles at his son and she feels something break deep down. Nevil is staring. It is just a moment of clarity. Brown eyes look like they are made of glass again. But Nevil looks like he might just cry right then and there. His smile is wide, but his eyes are sad, as he tells his dad he will visit soon again.
Their roles could have been easily reversed, she realizes. Just one different decision, and she could have been here telling the shell of her dad about her life. And she isn't sure if it would be the worse option.
.
"We love you so much sweetheart. So, so much." Her mother says, her voice breaking. "We are so proud of you, we always have been." She feels like she is going to break. "We will be there with you no matter what." They both smile down at her. Her heart stops for just a second and she isn't sure what to do.
She just nods, afraid she might break down if she speaks. There is a need to stay right here, with her parents, but she cannot. There is a war. She needs to finish it. The stone slips from her fingers. Her parents disappear and she feels like screaming. She wants to cry and beg them to stay.
Instead she walks forward.
.
"Where to Master?" Death asks her. She thinks for just a moment.
"Anywhere." is her answer. "I just want parents that will be alive throughout my childhood." A moment passes and Death just nods at her request. She takes the offered hand and then there is only darkness.
ooooOOOO – LINE BREAK – OOOOoooo
This story has been rattling in my head for a while now. I just didn't think it would have such a sad beginning.