DISCLAIMER: I only own Melanie and other OCs
Tony's POV.
Weeks passed, Fury and Hill finally got their heads out of their asses and decided that the safest place for Melanie once she left the hospital was Avengers Tower. (Which Steve and I could have told them the day after we rescued the kid)
The day we brought Melanie home, she followed Steve around like a lost puppy, afraid of being alone. Though over the weeks that followed, as she slowly got to know the rest of the Avengers, her confidence grew.
Then One night, she wandered down to my workshop.
Steve was on a solo mission, Peter was on Patrol and I was working. I hadn't slept for two days and was onto my sixth cup of coffee for the night when the door to my workshop opened.
"Pete, that you Underoos?" I asked, Peter often came to the workshop when he finished patrol.
"Ummm, It's me Mr. Stark," Said a voice that was Obviously not Peter.
I turned around from the workbench and Melanie stood in the doorway. looking terrified.
"What's wrong Mel?" I asked, gesturing that it was okay for her to come in.
"I... I had a bad dream."
I reached for a rag and wiped the grease off my hands before walking over and putting my arm around the girl, "You wanna talk about it?"
"But..." she started, but I cut her off.
"I know what a bad dream is like Mel. I've had a few myself." I said, "You can tell me. It's ok.
She took a deep breath, "It was about... HYDRA...They... they turned me... turned me into some kinda...Puppet... and I... I hurt Steve..." She burst into tears and wrapped her arms around my neck, "Mr. Stark, I hurt him so bad... and you... didn't want me anymore... "
"Oh mellie... That's not gonna happen. I promise. I will always want you around." I said, pulling her into a hug.
"But I..." she broke down into tears again, "But I was so scared... I don't wanna go back... I was so scared..."
"It's ok Mel. It's gonna be ok." I said, "Come on, let's get you back to bed."
I pulled the girl close to my side and walked her back to her room, tucking her back into her bed.
Our resident Flerken; Goose, hopped up onto the bed and curled into the little girl's side. Since Melanie`s arrival, Goose had taken to spending nights with her, snuggled beside her and keeping her safe. We were yet to tell Melanie that Goose was an alien, it was easier letting her believe that she was a regular earth cat.
"I'm Sorry Mr. Stark," Melanie whimpered as I adjusted the blanket over her.
"What for?" I asked.
"For coming down to the workshop. I know You were busy and I... couldn't even..." Melanie was crying again, she rolled over, facing away from me.
"Come on Mel, It's ok, It's not your fault." I soothed, "You know that, right?
"I-I know." Melanie sniffled.
"You can come down to the workshop anytime" I said, "I'm always gonna be here for you. We all will."
Melanie sniffed again. "Promise?"
"Promise."
Melanie rolled back over, looking at me with tears in her eyes. "Thank you Mr. Stark." she said, "For everything you said.
"You're welcome Mellie."
"Will... will you stay for a bit? Till I fall asleep?"
"Sure," I said, more than a little surprised at the request. I settled in the chair beside Melanie's bed. My Project could wait a while. "Get some sleep kiddo, I'll keep you safe."
I must have dozed off at one point because the next thing I knew, it was the next morning and Peter was nudging me awake. After I rushed my Spider-ling to school, I returned to my project, only to find Melanie waiting for me in the workshop. She was sitting in what Steve called his "Sketching corner," an armchair and coffee table with pencils, a pile of loose drawing paper and a sketchbook.
"What's going on Mel?" I asked.
"Ummm, I wanted to thank you, for last night," Melanie said, brushing a strand of blonde hair from her face.
"You`re welcome kid, I know how real those nightmares can feel," I replied.
suddenly, Melanie's heterochromatic eyes went as wide as saucers, "Mr Stark, Steve needs help."
"Miss Peters is correct sir," JARVIS confirmed, "Captain Rogers is upstairs, he appears to be ill."
We both grimaced at the news, "We should hurry," I said, grabbing Melanie by the hand and leading her upstairs. Cursing under my breath the whole way. Steve never gets sick. Ever. Something was seriously wrong.
My fears were confirmed when we got to the penthouse and found Steve throwing up into the toilet; he looked terrible. His blond hair was soaked in sweat, practically plastered to his forehead, and his big blue eyes lacked their usual sparkle.
"Steve, Steve," I said, kneeling beside him "You look awful sweetheart."
"Tony, is Melanie okay?" Steve asked, breathing heavily.
"She's fine, she and i've been down in the workshop," I replied. combing my fingers through his damp hair.
"they`re... coming for... her, you have... to protect her.."
"And leave you here bringing your guts up? No way."
"I`ll Be fine, this is the serum, it's getting the poison out of my system."
"Poison?" I asked, alarmed.
"I`ll explain later, just keep her safe. Please Tony,"
"I promise, I will." I kissed his pale cheek before getting to my feet and leaving to find Melanie. she was waiting just outside.
"Melanie, we need to talk," I said.
She nodded, her Heterochromatic eyes full of fear and concern.
I took her by the hand and led her into the Laundry, "Do you remember that first day at the hospital? Where Peter hid you when HYDRA agents came looking for you?"
Melanie nodded, "In the Bathtub," she replied.
"Well today`s a little bit different," I said.
Melanie seemed to understand what i was implying and clambered into the Laundry basket. I quickly arranged the clothes so she was concealed from the outside and placed a blanket on top of her.
"one of us`ll come and get you when it`s safe `kay?"
Melanie made a little sound of acknowledgement.
The basket was beside the dryer, so I turned on a load. Figuring that the noise would conceal Melanie`s breathing and keep her warm at the same time.
When i closed the lid to the basket, Goose positioned herself on top of it.
"Goose, Stay. Protect her," I instructed
"Meow," Said goose.
By the time I`d called my suit, Steve was staggering into the living room.
"Melanie?" he asked.
"Safe, Goose`s on guard duty" I replied, "You sure you`re okay?"
Steve took two steps towards me and nearly fell over in a heap. I caught him and eased him onto the ground, (thanks to the Armour, i never would have been strong enough otherwise)
"m'ok." Steve said "I lost my focus for a moment, that's all." He stared at up at me, blue eyes glassy.
"Yeah no, You're far from ok." I replied, "You need to sit this one out."
"Can't.." Steve protested, "I promised Mel... I'd Protect.. her."
"That's a promise we all made," I reminded, but before I could continue, A Bomb broke through the Skylight, Flooding the room with Gas.
My Helmet closed immediately, and I sent out the Avengers Assemble code before looking down at Steve. His super-immunity was busy fighting whatever these Lunatics had poisoned him with, thereby lowering his resistance to the gas.
"Come on Capsicle, Stay with me," I said as I started to drag him out of the Gas cloud. When we retreated to the hall, My fiancé had passed out, but he was still breathing.
Before i knew it, The rest of the Team had gathered around us.
"F***! What happened?" Natasha asked.
"Some Lunatic poisoned him," I replied, "And then HYDRA tossed a gas bomb through the skylight. Bucky, can you get him down to Medbay?" I asked.
Bucky nodded, and I watched as he grabbed Steve and supported him. About a year ago, I wouldn't have trusted my fiancé`s best friend as far as I could throw him. But after he saved Peter's life from A Vengeful Green Goblin. It forced me to admit that maybe i was wrong.
"Where`s Melanie?" Clint signed as Bucky disappeared down the fire escape.
L-a-u-n-d-r-y B-a-s-k-e-t G-o-o-s-e I signed back.
Clint Saluted and ran off.
As I charged my repulsers, The memory of last night, and Melanie's distraught, terrified face flashed before my eyes. taking a deep breath, I prepared for the battle ahead. Those Asses were not going to take My girl away.