"After...the attack, everything's a bit blurry in my mind. I was taken by the Ten Rings, a terrorist group." Tony ran his fingers through his short hair, and It was obvious he didn't like reliving the memories, but he wanted her to know. "But when I woke up, in this...cave, I had this," he pointed to the circle of light in his chest. "in my chest, and it was hooked up to a car battery, and that's how I survived the first few weeks." Rebecca felt her heart drop at Tony explaining to her just how lucky he was to be alive. "During the attack, a missile landed not very far from me, and I tried to run but I just wasn't quick enough. I was hit by the shrapnel, and it stayed in my body, slowly making it's way to my heart, killing me. Yinsen, the only other captive there with me, designed this electromagnet. It keeps the pieces of tiny metal from making its way to my heart. This is what keeps me alive."
Rebecca didn't know what to say exactly, there were too many things she wanted to say, but when you hear about your father's life being held by a miniature arc reactor, you aren't in a state of mind to express yourself. She could see the worry in Tony's eyes, but it wasn't for his life. It was worry that his daughter would look at him differently now, because he couldn't do anything to stop what was happening. He couldn't even keep himself alive, he had to have a magnet embedded in him for that. He was afraid she wouldn't see the same father she had always had, instead a broken, weak man. He couldn't have been more wrong though. Rebecca was still processing the fact that this wasn't something little, or something that could be treated and medicated. It was permanent, and it was deadly.
"Does it..." she reached her hand out to the circle before pulling back. "Does it hurt you?" she asked softly.
Tony grabbed her hand and rested it on top of the circle, showing her it wasn't something that was easily broken, it wasn't as fragile as it seemed. "No, I can't feel it." he answered, watching as she studied. "It just stops the shrapnel moving in my body. A magnet."
Rebecca looked at the marks on the little circle, the detail put into creating it. Such a tiny, harmless appearance, but such a significant role. She looked up at her father who still held the worried look in his eyes. "I can't believe what they did...all for a missile."
"They're terrorists, they'll do anything." Tony began covering the circle. "I'm just one of the lucky ones, I got away."
"How did you get away?" Rebecca asked before thinking.
"I'll tell you about that another time, I think you've had enough of an overload from me tonight." he hung his head.
"Dad," she nudged him to look up at her. "I'm really proud of you."
Her words struck Tony unexpectedly. All his shame and regret was swimming through him, thinking she had lost faith in him, and she says the complete opposite. He grinned, looking at the same little girl he remembered from when she was younger, she still had the same innocence and warmth, and her faith in him was still there.
"I love you, dad." she pulled herself closer to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, embracing him in a tight hug. "Always will."
Tony breathed deeply and pulled her closer to him. "I love you too." he spoke quietly.
Pepper came to the door not long after, seeing if he wanted some dinner, and her heart warmed at the sight of the father and daughter, so she left them be.
"Have you told anyone about what happened?" Rebeca asked, breaking their silence as they sat comfortably on the bed. "About..." she pointed to his chest.
"The public know very little of what happened, and I had to tell the government the whole story. But this," he tapped the circle of light on his chest. "only Rhodey and Pepper know, and now you."
After another moment of silence, Tony decided to take the topic off of him and talk about her, since this had now turned into a sharing session. He didn't want to ask her anything personal because he knew it would hit soles nerves, so he just asked about issues relating to the press and the company.
"I went to a board meeting, and they wanted someone to take over your position in weapons manufacturing, but they couldn't do anything unless I agreed. Which I didn't." she told him, and he smirked at her stubbornness, definitely reminding him of himself. "Obadiah wanted to take the position, but I didn't want to change anything. I think he might have got a little annoyed with me."
"What? Really?" Tony asked, a hint of surprise in his voice. "Obi?"
"Yeah, I don't know why he'd want the position." Rebecca shrugged.
For the next few hours, Tony and Rebecca talked about all that had been going on within the company and how the reporters would chase her around asking about him. It was, in a way, very relaxing. It made Rebecca feel as though he hadn't been gone, the way they just talked the same way as they used to. She was worried he would take some time to adjust back into things, but he didn't. All he had been wanting and surviving for the last few months were for his daughter to be okay, and now that he was here with her, and she was safe, he was okay as well. As the conversation died, Rebecca had peacefully fallen asleep on her dads bed, which led to him peeling back some of the blankets to lay over her, smiling at the sound of her soft snores. He sat there for a while just watching her sleep, content. That's all he could want, and all that he'd been hoping for, that she was alright, and he was now looking at her before him, safe and sound.
Tony walked out into the kitchen after he made sure Rebecca was comfortable, and Pepper was just preparing to turn the television off when the latest news reports were over. Tony, as expected, had made headlines with his return, but also for his unexpected decision to shut down the weapons manufacturing of his company. The press had labelled him mentally unsound, using his three months of captivity as his reasons for the decision. Post traumatic stress was nothing new, they had all been warned that Tony was at risk of developing it, but he knew what he was doing.
"Where's Bec?" Pepper asked, turning so that her back wasn't to him when he took a seat on the couch with a bottle of water.
"Asleep, exhausted." he yawned.
He and Pepper had already had time to talk about things, everything that happened to him and all that had to be taken care of, and that's why Pepper had been watching the news, figuring out what needed to be fixed.
"Really?" Pepper glanced at her watch. "And without taking anything." she made a face in disbelief before ordering her folder.
Tony looked confused. "What do you mean?" he asked. "Take what?"
Pepper sighed. "She just hasn't slept well since...well, for the past few months. The doctor prescribed some sleeping pills, that's the only way she can get some sleep."
"She's taking sleeping pills? She used to sleep all the time, no problem." Tony couldn't believe his daughter, who some mornings refused to leave her bed, had trouble getting any sleep. Pepper looked around nervously, knowing he was going to ask her more, so she took it upon herself.
"A few weeks after all this began, I took her to the doctor, she wasn't sleeping, eating or doing anything really." she explained as Tony listened intently. "She was diagnosed with mild depression. She had to be medicated, and was prescribed sleeping pills to help as well."
The look on Tony's face was enough to make Pepper look away. Mixed emotions crossed his face. All the grief that he had caused his daughter, at such a young age. All this time since he had come home he had been trying to make sure Rebecca was okay, but he could never ask her personally.
"Depression?" he looked up at Pepper after a brief pause. "All of this...made her develop depression?"
Pepper nodded slowly. "Mild, not full blown depression. The only person she'd ever been with her whole life was you, and then you were gone. I tried my best, and the medication helped her, but I'm not you, Tony. I couldn't make her okay, I couldn't comfort her like you can."
Tony shook his head. "No, Pepper, you've been amazing. You're the only one I'd trust to take care of her during all of this, the only one," he placed his hands on her shoulders. "I'll always be in debt to you for what you've done." Pepper grinned, thanking him for his words. "You've gotta tell me what else has happened. How did she find out?"
Pepper began explaining to Tony everything that had happened following his disappearance, starting from the morning that they had to tell Rebecca. Throughout everything Pepper was saying, she would sometimes take notice of the fear in Tony's eyes, the way he had to look away from her as she spoke and he fumbled with his fingers. He didn't like hearing about Rebecca not leaving the house in weeks at a time, and having to answer to the board while she was dealing with everything else.
"She's been brave Tony, really brave." Pepper told him. "Even me, on my best days, I don't think I could've handled this the way she has. I'd been expecting many, many tears and breakdowns...but she's just been wry introverted."
Tony let all of the information sink in before he thanked Pepper once again, making sure she understood his appreciation. Pepper began to gather her things and return to her apartment that she had only spent the days in these past few months, but Tony insisted she was welcome to stay after all she had done. A part of him felt more comfortable with Pepper in the house, she kept him organized and he especially needed help getting organized in the next few days.
Tony returned to his room after having some food and wandering around the house for a while, taking in all the changes which were few, and feeling comfort in knowing he was back at home. Rebecca was still sound asleep when he walked into the room, her faint snores continuing, and Tony took his seat once again across from the bed to observe. He just watched her peaceful expression as she breathed heavily in her sleep. All she had been through, everything he had unintentionally thrown her into had all caused her so much pain, it was hurtful for him to think about. He reached his hand out and brushed the hair from her eyes as it fell down, kneeling down to give her a soft kiss on her forehead before walking out of the room once again, leaving her to rest.
Tony made his way down to the workshop, effortlessly putting the code into the door out of habit, and the lights lit up the room as he walked inside. All of his equipment remained relatively untouched, apart from a few tools here and there. He walked straight to his workbench and unlocked his computer, remembering all of the codes although they had been the furthest thing from his mind in months.
"Jarvis, miss me?" he spoke.
"Indeed I have, sir." Jarvis answered.
Tony took a moment to think to himself, remembering all of the things he had seen during his captivity. All of the pain and death that the Ten Rings had caused so many people and their villages, all of the screams of terror and gunfire. Everything they had done to Tony, changing his life forever. All the pain they had caused his family. Tony was breathing heavily with anger, remembering how he escaped from them. Yinsen hadn't been so lucky, but Tony know that he found his eventual peace. The suit he created was just the beginning, just the start of his new mission. Revenge.
