~I own nothing but Claudia Stark and the story idea! Any similarities to other stories is purely coincidental!~
**Edited by MaliceInWonderland23**
*Dream *Thought
My name is Claudia Stark. Six years ago, I was adopted by Tony Stark and Pepper Potts. I've told them everything about me. Well, I haven't told them about my ability to control the elements. I've tried, but the right moment hasn't come up yet. I looked into the bathroom mirror and fixed my long dark curls into a high ponytail before added some eyeliner to make my green eyes shine.
"Claudia, it's time to go!" Pepper's voice floated into my room and my eyes flicked up to the clock on the wall. Already? I began gathering clothes frantically.
"I'm on my way down!" I lied, grabbing the first two articles of clothing I could find. I pulled on my jeans and tugged a white tee over my head, grabbing my black cropped coat on the way out. Pepper was waiting for me at the bottom in a suit, the door open as Happy grabbed the rest of the luggage. Dad came out of the kitchen in a white suit sipping his coffee, sunglasses already on.
"Pepper, do we have to go today?" He asked and Pepper sighed, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Yes. You're the one that made me keep the plan. We're going to try the arc reactor on Stark Tower." I popped up next to Pepper and I saw her jump slightly. My smile was innocent while dad's was more of a smirk.
"How do you always sound so quiet?" Pepper asked, an eyebrow quirked. I shrugged.
"I'm just light footed." She made an 'uh huh' noise and we all fit into the limo. The drive towards the plane was relatively quiet minus dad and Pepper talking about business stuff I didn't understand. When we arrived I tried to help Happy without bags, but he shooed me off.
"It's part of my job. Let me do it, go relax." So I went in the private jet and decided to take a nap. I woke to someone shaking my shoulder.
"A few more minutes." My words came out mumbled and I heard a laugh. I opened one eye and looked at dad's amused face.
"Come on kid, we're here." That was all I needed and I pushed myself up, running for the door. I could hear dad's laugh behind me. Once I reached Pepper, I was blinded by lights. Even though I was Tony Stark's daughter, I wasn't used to being photographed. I felt an arm wrap around my shoulder and he kissed the top of my head. He talked to a few of the reporters but I was more interested in the view. I could only see a few skyscrapers and Stark Tower but I could see the outline of the city on the horizon. Once he was finished talking, we got in another limo and went to the Tower.
"Hey, dad?" He looked up from his work in the living room and raised an eyebrow at me.
"Yeah?" I sat on the couch and took a sip of my drink.
"Why do you call me kid? I'm twenty-three, you know." He smirked and ruffled my hair. I swatted his hands away, faking annoyance. He chuckled and I fixed my hair.
"I like people to know I'm your father. It keeps the boys at bay." He winked and I sighed, rolling my eyes. I flicked through the channels and finally decided on watching a horror movie. Apparently, I lost track of time because the power was shut off (but only for a second before it turned back on.) I didn't even realize they had started with the arc reactor. I finished the movie and I heard J.A.R.V.I.S. come over the speakers.
"Sir, the telephone. I'm afraid my protocols are being overridden." I heard a new voice come through dad's phone.
"Stark, we need to talk." He picked up his phone and looked at someone. I stood up by Pepper and she gave me a small shrug and smile.
"You have reached the life model decoy of Tony Stark, please leave a message." I held in a laugh, the corners of my lips turning upwards.
"This is urgent." The man on the phone stated and he looked disappointed.
"Then leave it urgently." I giggled at that and he shot me a smirk. I heard a ding and we all looked towards the elevator as the man walked in.
"Security breach." He looked at Pepper. "That's on you." I glanced at the man as Pepper greeted him.
"Phil! Come in." Oh, Phil Coulson. Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Dad talked about him before, but I had never seen his face. I had was lost in my thoughts once again as dad pulled something up on his screen. It showed several people and their folders for the Avengers Initiative. I looked over the folders while they continued talking. Clint Barton: Hawkeye. Natasha Romanoff: Black Widow. Steven Rodgers: Captain America. Wait. What? Captain America? Wasn't he…you know…dead? Bruce Banner: Hulk (the guy that fought another guy trying to destroy Harlem). Finally, Tony Stark: Iron Man. These were all people with special abilities. Maybe, I could tell them and not have to worry about getting kicked to the curb. But something told me to hold onto my secret a little longer.
"I'll go. As long as you take Claudia to the Helicarrier." I looked from my father to Agent Coulson and he nodded. He looked towards me.
"You have five minutes to pack a bag." With that, he walked back to the elevator. I looked back to dad and Pepper.
"I have to go to D.C. You'll have to be on the Helicarrier where at least you'll be safe," Pepper explained. I nodded and she hugged me. I ran upstairs and packed a bag full of clothes before I went back down. I gave Tony a hug goodbye and went down to the ground floor. Coulson was standing in front of a black SUV with the S.H.I.E.L.D logo on one side.
"Four minutes and fifty-three seconds. Close call." I gave him a sly smile and got in the passenger seat. The drive to the Helicarrier was short and we pulled up to it by the docks. He didn't say anything as I continued to roll my suitcase behind us towards the jet. After a fairly quick ride, we were on a massive boat off the coast. Coulson brought me inside to a room which I guessed was for the agents to work. There were rows of computers with agents typing away on them. The wall on the front of the Helicarrier was all windows, right now giving us the view of the water. There were four monitors behind the rows, looking over them and a table with chairs. A man with an eye patch approached us.
"Agent Coulson, why is Claudia Stark on my Helicarrier?" I scoffed and rolled my eyes at him.
"Director Fury. It was Stark's request to do the mission." Coulson explained.
"More like an ultimatum," I piped up. "I was here or he wouldn't do it. He likes to make sure I'm safe." Fury's one eye glared at me and I smirked.
"Can you help?"
Not quite sure how to answer, I settled for "yes…?"
"Are you sure about that? I can't have extra weight on this mission. The world is at stake here and I need to trust that you can contribute to its saving." More than you could know.
"Yes, sir. I'll help in any way possible."
"What happens here is highly classified. You will have limited access to information and you may not ask questions. You must sign confidentiality forms swearing not to release any information you learn here unless given explicit permission."
"Okay."
After a moment of hesitation, he turned to Coulson. "Get her a room and the paperwork. Once she's signed everything, get her a uniform and a level one access card."
Coulson nodded and I followed him down a few hallways that all looked the same to me. He finally stopped at a door and I followed him in. There was a small cot on one side of the room with a neatly folded bundle and a stack of papers. There was door at the end of the hall, indicating a communal bathroom. There was a small closet as well. I walked back into my room and plopped the suitcase on my bed.
Coulson waited for me to fill out the paperwork, watching me intently. When I was done, he took the pile.
"I'll see you in the morning." Coulson turned and left before I could respond. I sighed and started to put my clothes away. After that, I took a shower and changed into sweatpants and a t-shirt. Once my head hit the pillow, the dream world took over.
I ran through the forest. The green leaves hid the stars from lighting my way. I ran and ran until I stopped in front of a stream, catching my breath. I looked around, trying to find a way out. They were coming closer now but I didn't want to hurt them. I saw the metal glint in what little light the stars offered and I screamed. I held my arm up to protect myself when I felt it slice through my skin like butter. I fell to the ground and cried. Two arms held my own while one lifted his weapon to plunge it into my chest. I closed my eyes, waiting for the pain, while screaming in the endless night.
I jerked up in bed, covered in sweat (gross) and breathing heavily. I wiped away the perspiration on my forehead and looked at the time on my phone. Five in the morning. I got out of bed and took a shower, changing into the clingy black body suit. I decided against using my gifts to fix my hair. This was S.H.I.E.L.D. after all, and an agent could enter at any moment. I put my hair up into a high ponytail and found my way back to the main floor. Fury and Coulson were there talking to two women (one was a brunette and one a redhead) and two men (one with blond hair and one with brown). Fury noticed my presence and he gestured me forward.
"Avengers, meet Claudia Stark, Tony's daughter." I offered them a smile and only the men offered one back. The blond extended his hand and I shook it.
"Captain Steve Rodgers, call me Steve. This is Doctor Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff." I nodded at them once again and shook Bruce's hand.
"Hello, it's an honor to meet you."
"Hopefully you won't have to meet the other guy." I frowned at Bruce and dropped my hand.
"The Hulk is a part of you, right? Sure, a big green raging part, but still you." He nodded disbelievingly. Natasha's green eyes stared at me, as if trying to figure out a puzzle.
"We need the Captain, Romanoff, and Stark's daughter, to go to Stuttgart, Germany. We've ID'd a man matching Loki's description." We nodded and Steve went to suit up. I got in the plane with Natasha and shortly Steve joined us. The flight was pretty quiet and when we arrived, it was nightfall. The man I guessed was Loki (based on the fact that he stood before a rather large crowd, all but one of whom were kneeling) aimed her spear-thingy at an old man. Jerk. Steve jumped out to block the guy with his shield.
"You know, the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing," Steve stated as he stood and approached Loki.
"The soldier. A man out of time." Loki's voice was deep and silky; it ran chills down my spine.
"I'm not the one who's out of time," Steve shot back smoothly and Natasha moved the jet to face Loki, all guns loaded and trained on him.
"Loki, drop the weapon and stand down." Her voice filtered through the speakers and he fired at the plane, causing Natasha to jerk it to the side slightly, barely dodging the shot. He then started to attack Steve, knocking him down.
"Kneel!" Loki demanded, holding the scepter towards him.
"Not today!" Steve flipped and kicked Loki down with his leg. I watched the fight with clenched fists, nails digging into my palms and leaving tiny crescent-shaped imprints. It was a close call.
Suddenly, the speakers began blaring familiar rock music. Before I could place the song, my dad's voice began speaking.
"Agent Romanoff, did you miss me?" I rolled my eyes, wondering how she and him had met. I watched Tony blast Loki with his arm and stand over him. Suddenly, Loki got rid of his helmet and scepter, holding his hands up in surrender. Um, wow. Natasha lowered the jet , opening the back as they entered. Dad saw me and glared at Natasha.
"What is she doing here? I said the Helicarrier, not to come and be in danger." I could practically feel his anger.
"Fury didn't want me to stay unless I could help. It's no big deal." I brushed it off but that just seemed to make him angrier.
"Do you understand you could have been hurt?" He was yelling as Loki looked on in amusement.
"Yes, but one, he's kind of like the man in charge here, and two, I've been hurt before." Too true. He didn't say anything but nodded and stood next to Steve, talking to him behind Natasha's seat. I sat down across from Loki and he looked at me with amusement.
"Can I help you with something?" I snapped at him and he glared.
"I am merely trying to figure out why you have a different aura, unlike the others." I blinked at him a few times. Could he tell I could control the elements? He just kept staring.
"Hey, Reindeer Games, want to stop staring at my daughter before I throw you out of this plane?" The anger was evident in dad's voice and Loki's eyes twinkled with mischief. I was about to say something when the lightning started. Apparently Loki didn't like it, since he jumped a little in his seat.
"What's the matter? Scared of a little lightning?" Steve asked, appearing amused and Loki kept his eyes on the ceiling.
"I'm not overly fond of what follows." Suddenly, there was a loud bang and a man with long hair came in and took Loki, flying out with him.
"Now there's that guy," My dad drawled with a sigh.
"Another Asgardian?" Natasha asked, glancing back.
"Doesn't matter. If he frees Loki or kills him, the Tesseract's lost." Dad prepared to jump out of the plane and follow them.
"Stark we need a plan of attack!" Steve shouted, attempting to stop him.
"I have a plan. Attack." He slid his faceplate down and flew out of the plane. Steve grabbed a parachute to follow when Natasha spoke.
"I'd sit this one out, Cap."
"I don't see how I can," He replied, putting on the parachute.
"These guys come from legends, they're basically gods," She argued.
"There's only on God, ma'am. And I'm pretty sure he doesn't dress like that." Steve jumped out of the jet and Natasha swore under her breath. I mouthed wow to myself as we landed in a clearing. There was a loud clang and we ran towards the sound to see dad, the man with the long hair, and Steve in the middle of a newly formed (as in dad-just-blew-up-an-innocent-tree) clearing.
"Are we done here?" Steve asked and dad went and retrieved Loki. We walked back to the jet and I could still feel Loki's eyes on me. This is going to be a long ride.
