I had been watching him carefully, down glass after glass, bottle after bottle, finally sitting there: completely wasted.
But God knew that it was not easy to be Tony Stark.
Finally I sighed, getting up from where I was sitting, walking to where he was. I gently pried empty bottle from his hand and tossed a bill on the counter. The only one I had. But I could always get more.
"Come on" I said gently, leading him out to his car. "Let's get you home".
I held out my hand and he reached into his pocket, placing his car keys in my hand. Not an incredibly smart move, considering that I looked to be only 12 years old; I cut him some slack: he was drunk.
Guiding him into the car, I drove down the busy streets of New York and pulled up at the famous "Avengers Tower". I took his hand and we slowly reached the entrance.
I was greeted at the door by Steve Rogers: the American hero, God's gift to mankind. Don't get mad, stay calm. I plopped Tony's keys in his hand. He looked at me in shock.
"Were you driving?" he asked. I considered lying to him, but I really hated lying.
"I'm older than I look". I left it at that and he asked me no more questions.
"Thank you ma'am for everything, we really appreciate it" he smiled at me. I saw that two more were joining him at the door. One with red hair, the other in a purple vest.
"Stay safe Tony" I said softly, Tony gave no sign of hearing me.
"Really", continued Steve, "is there any way we can thank you? It's late, you can stay here for the night". The girl with the red hair was indiscreetly kicking his shin, but he ignored her."Do you have a place to stay?"
I looked down, studying my shoes, "It's fine, really. I'm happy to help"
"But it wouldn't be too much work" he insisted. "You look like you could really use some rest"
Was it that obvious? I couldn't remember the last time I had gotten any sleep, the last time I had given in to the nightmares that followed me everywhere I went.
"I really shouldn't" I muttered but it was too late. His mention at my lack of sleep had completely destroyed my will to stay awake. My knees buckled and I fell forward. I was caught by strong arms at the last second and the world faded to black.
When I came to my senses, I was lying on a bed in a large minimalistic styled room. I was wearing the same clothes as last night, but somebody had taken off my shoes. I got out of bed and rubbed my eyes. A voice spoke from the ceiling.
"Miss, the Avengers are having breakfast right now. Down the hallway and to the left" The voice was male, and didn't have one of those funny American accents, it was British like mine. JARVIS he was called.
"Thank you Jarvis" I said, and made my way down the hall.
The whole gang was there, Tony Stark, Captain America, two assassins and the Hulk. Thor was missing, in Asgard I assumed.
"Come, sit" said Steve, breaking the awkward silence. Eying everyone at the table, I pulled out a chair and sat. A plate was placed in front of me, with practically every breakfast food imaginable. A glass of orange juice soon joined.
Everyone was watching me, I stared back them awkwardly. Only the red haired assassin, Natasha, understood. Reaching across the table she took a sip of my orange juice and took a sample from every type of food on the plate. I studied her, she seemed to be completely fine, she wasn't dying or anything. I deemed the food safe to consume.
I slowly ate and the others broke their stares.
Natasha tried to start a conversation "So Tes-" I cut her off.
"I don't use that name" I said coldly. "That was my birth name"
"What would you like us to call you?" spoke Bruce Banner. I thought for a moment.
"Some call me Mavis." He nodded and continued eating. No one spoke for a while.
"I have to ask" broke in Clint Barton, the second assassin. "I noticed you had a British accent. Were you born in England?" Tony interrupted him.
"I'm am so tired of saying, Robin Hood, just because a person is British doesn't mean that they know Harry Potter"
"But I thought everyone in England was best friends with Harry Potter!" Clint whined. "How am I supposed to get his Skype?"
"You're not supposed to; there's no such thing as Harry Potter!" Clint crossed his arms in a very childish manner.
"If you don't believe, you won't receive" he said. They continued to bicker like this and I zoned out. Finally a voice interrupted my thoughts.
"But you never answered the question, are you from England?" Steve Roger asked me. I looked him in the eye.
"I've never been to England in my life"
He frowned. "Are your parents British?' I looked down at my plate. Memories flooded my mind, my father looking at me, my mother by the door. The word that came from his mouth, that hurt me more than sticks and stones ever could. His gaze softened at this, he had seen my expression of pain.
"Do you have any parents?" he asked gently. I thought about this.
"Depends on you ask" I said finally said, answering his question without giving him an answer.
Tony spoke up. "Hey we all have daddy issues, it's okay". I nodded. I knew a lot about the relationship between Tony Stark and his father. I got up out of my seat.
"Thank you for your hospitality" I said in a monotonic voice. "I should get going, places to go, people to see". I put my dishes in the sink and turned to see Tony Stark, staring me with his big brown eyes.
"Please don't go" he said. He sounded sincere, and he didn't even make any sort of joke or sexual reference.
"I really shouldn't" I said offhandedly, ignoring the puppy dog eyes he was giving me. But of course, my life has the worst timing. Nicholas Fury burst through from the elevator.
"I see, you have met Mavis" he said, adjusting the black eye patch around his head. She will be temporarily joining you at the Avengers tower indefinitely." he gave me a look that said "I will always find you in the end, don't try to run away". I sighed.
"Who are you?" I asked politely, putting on the most innocent 12 year expression I had in my arsenal of weapons. He gave me a look.
"Director Fury of SHIELD" he said with authority.
"Well Mr. Furry" I said, eying Tony Stark who was unsuccessfully stuffing a fist in his mouth to keep himself from laughing. "I do not recall agreeing to stay here with SHIELD"
"That's because we never gave you the choice" He said and he walked out before I could reply.
"You sneaky little bastard".