"A new international phenomenon has been occurring over a series of days, with record breaking wind speeds, levels of precipitation and highest waves recorded in recent history. The most interesting part of this, however, is that these record highs are bound to the sea, and have not touched terra firma in any sense of the world. Some scientists claim that this astonishing new weather pattern had shown signs of occurring in the last few months..."

Pepper watched the large screen with a little anxiety, her eyes flickering to the small girl palm's firmly on the screen, the news' footage of astonishing waves and violent winds a high contrast to the unique structure of Ariel's face. She looked over to her boss, watching as he watched her, brows furrowed.

"She's been watching that for hours."he said, and frowned as she placed her cheek gently against the scene of dark clouds circling rapidly into a typhoon. Something in his voice seemed to ask Pepper to get her away from it.

Ariel didn't cry, she just watched the screen with attentive eyes, glued to it as if she wished to be sink through and into it, becoming a part of the violent and powerful scenes. Pepper heels clicked as she walked over to the little redhead, carefully and softly, and the girl who usually turned at the slightest noise didn't even glance up. She placed a hand on her shoulder, and Ariel turned over, frowning and lower lip trembling.

"Honey?"

"Daddy..."she whispered, so quietly Pepper nearly missed it. Ariel tapped the screen again and repeated the word.

Pepper swallowed, and gently moved the girl away from the screen.

"Your daddy?"she asked her, afraid, and she felt herself blanch when she nodded, thinking the worst had happened to her father, because why else would she be pointing at such frightening scenes?

Ariel's eyes were darker than normal,she looked worried, and as Pepper looked down at her, she wondered if the girl hadn't been thrown away at the beach at all, but instead shipwrecked and had miraculously been found on the edge of Malibu.

"Where's your mommy?"

"Gone."Ariel said it matter-of-factually, if a little sadly, and Pepper got the impression that the girl's mother had been a long time. She hugged the girl closely to her chest, and watched as Tony stared at them, though for the most part his eyes focused on the shock of bright hair beneath her chin.

He seemed somewhat sad, but the sense of determination in his brown eyes sent shivers down her spine.

"We'll find him."said Tony, and Ariel simply nodded, firmly, as if she trusted his word as fact.

Something in Pepper's chest twisted, and she felt as if the winds were changing...