It would be the first of daddy's charity events that Lola would be able to go to. Pepper was bust trying to straighten out her hair while Tony listed all the rules. "No smoking, no drinking...no speaking to boys. Ever. And please hun, I beg you no matter how funny it is, no biting Justin Hammer's ankles."
"Daddy it was only one time."
"Four actually. Four times." Tony replied with a grin. Lola beamed back. Her mother had put her in a Red dress with a yellow band as to show her off as Iron Man's little daughter. Her mother looked lovely in a Emerald dress, a color that Lola had come to adore and had been quite disappointed when her parents refused to let her wear it. Said the color wasn't right for her...But she supposed red looked okay on her. One day she'd go to prom like the girls on t.v and her dress would be green and her parent's wouldn't be allowed to say no! Her mother finished with her hair and went to do her own. She had been forbidden from playing with Zelda in her dress. So Lola trudged around, following her father as he did his tie. He hummed as he walked around oblivious to his trailing daughter. He walked past Zelda who was snoozing by the couch.
Lola sat on the couch and called Zelda over to her. She cooed and hugged the dog kissing her massive head. Pepper emerged from her room looking beautiful, just beautiful. Lola sometimes wondered why she didn't really have either of her parent's looks. Maybe her grandma and grandpa looked like her. She wished she could look as nice as her mom though.
The party as it turned out was tedious and stuffy. It would lead to the first argument she would get in with her mother. Everyone was dressed up fancy and speaking words that Lola couldn't understand. Coulson had shown up and had spent the evening with her parents. And of course Justin Hammer showed his face. He had grinned and Tony and the two had spoken in sarcastic neenerneener voices before Justin's eyes had landed on Lola. Lola had been sipping apple juice from a fancy plastic wine glass.
"I hope that's not beer." He had said. Lola's parents were not in ear shot. She didn't think she was allowed to have beer. She told Justin that and he laughed as if she had something very funny.
"Maybe when you're parent's aren't looking, I'll give you some to try." He told her and Lola had smiled because it was not allowed but that was what drew her attention. She was only seven...six mind you but she was advanced for her age. But still just a child and she had shyly shook her head at him and took another sip from her apple juice.
"Probably for the best. We don't want you to end up a drunk like your daddy." Now this was where Lola had gotten in trouble. You see she used to bite ankles. But now that her teachers were speaking about how advanced she was, she couldn't do something so childish. Hammer had been kneeling down in front of her. She had looked at him hard. She remembered on t.v. how when a man insulted or upset a lady in a fancy setting, she usually had a glass of wine or something with her. And she would toss it in the offender's face. It seemed to work for them, so Lola decided it was never too late to be fancy. She took her glass of apple juice and with Hammer kneeling in front of her confused by her sudden expression she had lifted the glass and poured it over Justin Hammer's rude head.
Mommy had rushed forward sputtering apologies while Justin leapt to his feet, face furious and red with embarrassment. Lola planted her feet firmly on the marble floor and met his glare head on. Daddy had strolled over trying (and failing) not to laugh. The party ended with Justin storming away and Lola being tugged out of the room by her irate mother. The two had argued all the way home.
"Why would you do that!?" Pepper had asked exasperated feeling like it was Tony all over again.
"Because he was mean, mommy!" Lola had shot back arms crossed over her chest.
"That doesn't give you the right to pour your drink over his head!"
"Daddy thought it was funny!"
"I don't want to discuss your father right now!"
If she had been irate then, than the next morning the front cover of the paper showed Lola Marie Stark pouring apple juice over Justin Hammer's head. Lola hadn't even known there were photographers were there but they captured the shot. The headlines read. Little Lola Stark; Taking After Her Father in More Than One Way. At school, Lola had become an instant celebrity. Not only for being Tony's Stark's daughter but also for her news worthy photo.
The school days were dragging on almost at an end. It would be during recess that Lola would be taken.
He had been watching her for some time. This little girl who the Avengers seemed so protective of. She was a scrawny little thing. Thin mouth and knobby knees. She would probably not grow into anything beautiful. But she was adored. Victor Von Doom could step on some pretty important toes by attacking Tony Stark/ Iron Man's daughter. Victor Von Doom wanted to crush those toes. Lola was on the swings. Caleb on the swing beside her. They were attempting to out swing each other, both pumping little legs, pushing themselves higher. Then once they reached as high as they felt they could go they would leap from the swings, soaring through the air and landing in a heap on the grass. Caleb landed on the grass and rolled laughing. He sat up and turned to where Lola landed, grinning ear to ear.
Only.
Lola did not land next to him. Caleb glanced around him and then looked up in the air. No Lola. He stood slowly uncertain on what had happened. He approached the swing where Lola had been moments ago. Was she playing a joke on him? Was she hiding? A glint caught his eye and Caleb bent over picking up a metal device. He recognized the face from t.v. Doctor Doom leered up at him from a silver pendant. Caleb frowned. He took one last glance around before tearing off towards a teacher watching over the children; the pendant clutched in his fist.
Tony was in a press conference when he got the news. Pepper had been in the crowd when Tony had met her eyes, his face having gone pale, and she knew something was wrong. Bruce had been in his lab when the phone rang. By the time he returned to himself, the lab was destroyed. Natasha had, had the day off and was at a local cafe ordering herself an espresso when she received a text from Clint. Clint had found out when Coulson had approached him while shooting, his face grim. Thor had been in Asgard when Heimdall had seen it happen. He left Asgard in such a rage that lightening had struck one of the pillars jarring the higher floors of the palace.
Doom kept her locked away. He gave her a book to read but she petulantly pelted it for his face. He despised children, and it seemed Lola Marie Stark would top that list. But he had to be cordial he he to be precise. For eight days he kept her. Eight days, where Pepper lay awake at night unable to sleep. Eight days where Tony searched relentlessly with Thor at his side; Heidmall unable to see her. Eight days where Lola began to cry for her mother and shout at Doom to release her. On the evening of the third day Lola made an escape attempt. She kept herself hidden by the door, so once Doom opened it she clamped her teeth on his leg.
His shout was more of surprise than anything, but she used it to her advantage and slipped out the door closing the door behind her, and gleefully hearing it lock. She ran down the barren halls seeking an exit. She charged up the stairs, lights flickered overhead. Lola turned down a hall just as the door behind her slammed shut. A scream escaped her throat and she tore down the hall.
She reached the other side and wrenched at the door handle. It was locked. Down the hall where she had just came, was Doom. Lola shrieked and wrenched at the handle again. All the while Doom slowly sauntered to where she stood. Lola's chest heaved. She banged her little fists on the door bawling for Tony.
"DADDY HELP ME! DADDY!" She screamed. Doom reached her and easily plucked her struggling form off her feet. "MOMMY! DADDY! HELP ME! HELP ME!" He cried echoed off the wall and Doom calmly carried her back to her room and tossed her in; closing the door as Lola charged back towards it. She wedged her fingers in the door frame before it could shut and Doom slammed it on her fingers. She wrenched her hand back, cradling it against her chest, a howl escaping her lips.
She sank to the floor clutching her hand and sobbed. That would be her last escape attempt. She became very quiet after that. Doom never outright mistreated her, yet never showed her affection. She was given meals regularly and she picked at it unhappily. Her hand ached, her fingers purple and pulsing. Doom had casually looked them over and told her they were not broken, just sprained. She wanted to go home. Lola sleep most of the time during the first couple of days. But then she began to stay awake. Huddled and nervous.
"When can I go home?" She timidly asked Doom as he lay out a plate of chicken and rice.
"Soon." Was the curt reply.
"How soon?" Lola muttered, eying the food unhappily. Doom shifted and headed towards the door.
"Once Doom's point has been made." He replied cryptically.
Finally on the morning of the ninth day he drugged her and silently released her on the streets, only two blocks away from Avengers Tower. She walked dazedly, tripping over her own feet. Yet the sad reality of the city was that no one bothered to help the little girl. No one had time to care. In her unhurt fist she clutched a letter Doom had written. She stumbled down the sidewalk and tripped, landing face first on the pavement. Around her people walked on. Shakily she got to her feet and made her way towards the tower. She made it through the front door before the receptionist recognized her and instantly called out her name while paging Tony.
"Oh Lola! Sweetie come here." He receptionist called out. Lola looked at the receptionist with a dazed look. She smiled slightly when she recognized her and held out her arms to be picked up. The receptionist quickly swooped down and gathered the little girl into her arms.
"Contact Mr Stark!" She hissed at her coworker. She held Lola close stroking her hair waiting for Pepper or Tony to show up. About five minutes later, Tony charged through the door. His hair in a worse mess than usual; his eyes wild. When he spotted Lola, he dropped to his knees and held out his arms for her, gathering her against his chest. Lola's hugged back, burying her face against her father's chest. When Tony noticed her badly bruised hand, a rush of harsh rage washed through him.
"Call for an ambulance." He muttered to the receptionist who was on her feet charging for the phone as quickly as she could. They stayed huddled on the floor for ten minutes before the paramedics arrived. They helped Lola into the back of the ambulance along with Tony who shot everyone a quick message.
Shes bk shes alive going 2 hspitl!
As he sat down beside his daughter, she handed him the crumpled note Doom had placed in her hand just before leaving her. Tony opened it and read Doom's cramped writing.
I took your child without anyone to see or stop me. Imagine what I could have done to her. Doom does hope you keep a better eye on her in the future. My regard, Dr. Doom.
Tony scowled and shoved the note in his pocket for later. A threat if he had ever seen one. Pepper met them at the hospital. Her eyes were red and puffy and she cried as she held her little girl in her arms after nine days. They were ushered to a hospital room where they did tests on Lola, finally deducing that she was heavily drugged and three of her fingers were sprained. Tony had reached his point.
The rest of the team arrived together, but Lola was sleeping. Thor had taken one look at her and was unable to stay. He left with rugged apologies and saying he had to get away. Tony understood. Rhodey had called and asked if she was alright and assured Tony he was going to look for Doom. Natasha and Clint left Lola a stuffed bear while Steve left her roses and chocolates from Fury, Coulson and Maria Hill. Bruce too was unable to stay for long. When Lola awoke, it was only her parents left.
She was able to return home that evening. Tony carried her against his chest as she sleepily hugged the bear in her arms. Her hand nicely bandaged. She snuggled against Tony's shoulder and sleepily told him that she had missed him.
She did not return to school that week, the week after was her birthday. Back at school all the students demanded answers and Lola grew frustrated and the next person who asked her what happened; she smacked in the mouth with her uninjured hand. She was put in the corner for 5 minutes, but her teacher privately apologized and told her just to come to her if anyone bothered her.
Lola's birthday was a quiet affair. Her classmates came over, she ignored most of them in favor of Caleb. When the other children went home, she and Caleb watched reruns of Game of Thrones. Caleb had compared Lola to Arya Stark. Lola had almost kissed him for that.
Almost.
She did not see Thor that year.
Pepper and Tony watched her more anxiously now. Doom had yet to be spotted. The note her left was read by each Avenger before being sealed away. She was getting older. No longer a baby, but still so young. Tony could only think to have her chaperoned from now on. What if next time, she was not returned?
Saw the S.H.I.E.L.D trailer and Coulson lives! And he named the car Lola! I find that hilarious my head canon for my story is now that he asked little Lola what she should name his car and Lola being at that young self centered stage tells him to name it Lola.
