Disclaimer: I do not own nor make profit off of The Avengers. It all belongs to the MCU and The Walt Disney Company
Little Spider Heart Attacks
Tony landed on the platform and tapped on his chest waiting for his suit to retract back into the metal piece he kept on his chest. These days he liked to just send out the suit alone, but he decided that for hunting down the kid he would go out personalty, and she says he never does anything for her. Okay she didn't say it in those words exactly,
"If you even cared you'd actually be here"
"Tony" Steve stepped forward. It was determined that when they were splitting up to look for Penny both Steve and Bruce would stay at the tower, while the others went out looking. This wasn't how they were suppose to spend their Saturday night, then again since they had rejoined the team, nothing had turned out exactly how it was suppose too.
"She with Bruce?" Together they started walking down the hall to the med bay,
"Ya, he took her down and called Strange,"
"Strange, why's he call Strange?"
"Because a 14 year old is having a heart attack and Strange is a skilled surgeon."
"Neurosurgeon we don't need him." Tony kept up his fast pace, Steve followed close by, "And she's 15, 16 next month." He almost forgot that, how could he forget that, for the last two weeks she kept reminding him. He remembered they were working in the lab, she was focusing on blue prints, he was soldering something
"In a month and two years you won't be able to call me kid anymore, I'll technically be a adult"
"Shut up kid, the adult's concentrating." He could see her roll her eyes. He'd never stop calling her kid, at his age everyone younger than him was a kid, she's grow up and she'd still be kid.
It doesn't take long to get to the med bay, Tony designed it that way. In all fairness when he put this whole room together he had more...normal...mortal people in mind that would use it, yet here was a super healing teenager with a heart attack as it's first victim. Their was only one real room, it had all the updated machinery and technology that both Bruce and Helen Cho would need, even some of Helens own technology brought in from Seoul. Their was windows around the room but he gave them each nano technology to darken on command for more privacy. Bruce had the windows open and clear. He had Penny laid flat on the table, only in her jean shorts, socks and sports bra. He'd seen her working out in that exact bra at least ten times, but here laying on the table she looked too exposed. One IV sat in each arm, that was a bit much Bruce wasn't it? Sticky pads were affixed to all vital pulse points, while her heart beat was displayed by the lights in the air. It was still erratic and Tony had no doubt Bruce was pumping her full of drugs to stop it,
"What exactly happened?" Steve asked after a second of silence,
"When I find out I'll let you know." The air changed taking on a warmer hue and a four degree temperature increase at least. Tony turned expecting the portal that open, he'd felt this before knowing to expect it when the wizard walked through. Sure enough there he was, dressed as usual...did he own anything this else?
"Stark."
"Strange." Steve looked between the two men before reaching our with his hand,
"I'm Steve,"
"Yes Captain America I know." Steve held his hand in id air for another second and then let it fall. Silence hung in the air until alarms started going off
"She's going into cardiac arrest, Strange get in here!" Bruce calls. For once Tony feels a sense of mild relieve with Strange around. He's not the most conversational man, nor has he consented to being "cool facial hair bros" but he is good at what he does and thats saving people, even if he is arrogant about it. Strange immediately jumps in the room, muttering something to his cape making it fly off his shoulders and come to...float next to Tony and Steve. Steve can't take his eyes off the magic fabric, Tony could care less, watching Strange begin compressions on the teens chest, while Bruce reaches for the paddles to shock to the girls heart back into rhythm. He dreads when it comes, but it will. Strange steps away and Bruce lays the paddles down on her skin and...Tony closed his eyes. When he opens them again, her hearts stopped, and for a second she's dead, then Strange and Bruce jump right back at it, Bruce shocks her while Strange forces air into her lungs and then shock, no change, shock, no change,
"Come on kid." Tony demands under his breath, shock, no change, shock, no change, shock, no change. Tony steps towards the glass,
"Tony" Steve reaches for him,
"I said COME ON KID!" Tony bangs on the glass hard, shock...
"We've got a heartbeat."
...
"So you mean to say, that a healthy, enhanced, 16 year old girl is dying and you have no idea why?" Tony Stark asked both Bruce and Strange, pacing back and forth. In his right hand was a pair of marbles that he kept rolling around his palm. Only those in Tony's inner circle knew he was a fidgeter, he always kept small things in his pocket to keep his hands busy, and if their was nothing to reach for Tony tended to snack, small foods, blueberries, yogurt chips, M&M's, mini peanut butter crackers were a favorite of his. Right now he didn't feel like eating. The kids was dying, her heart was just giving out, so far Strange had given her enough Heparin, Midazolam, and Fentanyl to keep an elephant form dying but still her body kept trying to shut down.
"Sound it out Stark, healthy, enhanced, and 16, theirs no reason for this to be happening yet it is." Strange pointed out, still twirling the balls in his right hand Tony stopped. He felt a heavy pressure on his shoulders and turned around sighing,
"Strange control your table cloth."
"It's trying to comfort you." Tony turned back to the cape that had laid it's self on his shoulders,
"Thank you, sorry for the table cloth remark, I'm stressed I really do like you more than him-" Strange sighed,
"Stark"
"Huh?"
"You need to make decisions." Tony turned to Bruce who had kept silent this whole conversation,
"Decisions on what?" Strange kept quiet sensing this needed to come from one of Tony's few friends
"Tony," Bruce started searching for the perfect words, their were none here, "Eventually theirs not going to be anything we can do, without knowing why this is happening, her heart...it's just going to give out. The way things are looking right now she might even stop breathing before that, we just...we just don't know, theirs no medical reason for this." Tony stepped forward gripping the marbles hard he pointed a finger at both Bruce and Strange. The cape that sat on his shoulders flew off flying closer to it's master,
"You keep her alive!"
"We are but Tony...does she have any family." Tony dropped his arm, he couldn't believe what he was hearing, for a while he didn't say anything, neither did the other two men in the room, and if the cape could talk he'd probably remain silent too.
"She has an aunt,"
"We should-"
"Don't contact her." Natasha pushed open the door. She too had been sent out to look for the teen web slinger, but unlike the others she still looked perfect, soft curls still in place, black pants, dark blue tank top and leather boots and jacket still pristine, even in the 90 degree heat of the evening. Tony had asked her to go to the Parkers apartment to see if she'd headed there, it seemed she found something else as she walked up to Bruce reaching into her pocket she pulled out a small vile,
"What-"
"Test this and then test her blood," Bruce took it between two large green fingers,
"Natas-" Bruce started
"It's a chemical, labeled and purchased as all natural from a health food store. The apartment manager at the Parkers complex has been spraying it for the last three days. When I asked he said and I quote "hallucinations and little spider heart attacks."" Tony stepped up looking at the blue liquid in Bruces hands, how it's legal to label anything blue all natural he'd never understand.
"How'd you get this" Strange questioned, Natasha turned and shrugged,
"Like it's hard? Mr. Ronley said it wouldn't effect humans but-"
"Pennys been enhanced from radioactive spider venom," Tony whispered sounding out the words, he's seen a lot of weird things but saying those words still sounded the weirdest to him. He looked up to Bruce "Is that possible?"
"We'll see" Bruce said clutching the vile. Natasha tuned to look at Penny before turning back to Tony,
"Let the men work," She held her hand out toward the door. Tony twirled the marbles in his hand and then took the lead out the door.
...
"She out ran and outflew you, I kept up with her the best."
"How many times did she stop and you still didn't catch her?" A moment of silence hung in the hair,
"Steve asked me to poker night first." Bucky Barnes finally said taking another bite from his bowl full of cheerios. Sam Wilson aka The Falcon sat mid bite from his own bowl,
"I hate you." He mumbled finishing off it off before getting up to drop it in the sink. Tony entered the kitchen, he wasn't hungry but Natasha insisted and she followed closely behind to insure he followed through. Sam turned leaning on the sink, crossing his arms,
"Hows the kid?" Tony ignored him, instead heading for the refrigerator and grabbing one of the pre-made sandwiches he always kept stocked in the fridge from a small market down the street. The turkey, cheese and apple butter were his favorites, while the good old American cheese and ham were Steves, and the salami and peppers were Penny's, he always had plenty of all three.
"We don't know yet." Natasha answered when Tony made it clear by unwrapping his sandwich loudly that he wasn't answering. Bucky finished the last of his milk before peaking up,
"She's fast, on land and ai-"
"Let it go," Sam stressed, Bucky smirked, Tony bit into his meal. He pulled the sandwich back, peppers and salami, he grabbed the wrong one. He chewed slowly, the kid liked spicy, why did she like spicy. He held the sandwich in his hands and then squeezed it before walking over to the trashcan and throwing it away,
"Tony" Natasha called,
"I'll be in the lab." He needed to blare music and bend metal, he need to get away.
...
"And you shook me all night long. Yeah, you shook me all night long"
Tony turned down the music when the red light over the lab started blinking. He'd installed it a few years ago when he missed one too many calls from Pepper during his long nights building new Iron Man suits.
"Hello Honey," he called out holding up a prototype for a new proton cannon,
"Tony what are you doing?" The voice of his secretary, turned romantic interest, turned girlfriend, turned fiance, turned wife, asked on the phone. She sounded a mix of worried and tired, then again she always sounded like that when she was talked to Tony.
"I'm doing a puzzle!" He set the cannon down carefully, not making any noise to lead Pepper onto the fact what he was really doing,
"Tony," She sighed,
"Oh look it's a log cabin on the water, I think we should buy one of those, maybe three,"
"Natasha called." Pepper finally said after a second, Tony placed his hands on the table, of course she did. He took a deep breath,
"Come home Pep" Tony mumbled,
"Tony I can't," Pepper flew to Hong Kong three days ago to work out a deal between Stark Enterprises and new company specializing in a lighter and more durable metal similar to Adamanium without being as heavy. Tony hadn't believed it so Pepper had flown out to get an in person tour and sample of the product before making any deals to start manufacturing the metal in the Stark factories.
"I know," Tony knew she couldn't just drop it all and come back, but it still wanted her too. This was all too hard for him, she knew about the nightmares Tony had. Years ago Wanda had put visions in his head, making him watch as each and everyone of his friends and teammates died. He didn't know Penny back then, he thought it he'd never have to watch that, and then when the kid got the infinity stones she snapped her fingers. If she wasn't enhanced she would have died, and now here they were again, dying.
"Talk to me" It was about 10 AM in Hong Kong right now. Pepper would have already showered, gotten ready, eaten breakfast and had a meeting, and now she was taking time out of work to call him, he took a deep breath and looked around,
"I can't do this Pep, watch those around me get hurt, die."
"Tony, no one's died." Tony slapped the table,
"How long, how long until someone does, half the population was almost lost when Thanos hit, what if something bigger and worst is coming?" He hated saying it, he hated to sound like he was weak or couldn't handle the problems that came with being Tony Stark and Iron Man. He hung his head, "I can't do that."
"You don't have to do this alone." He didn't, he knew that. Pepper had always been there, it didn't matter, she was always there. It was a no brainer he had to marry her. Before Thanos they were planning a huge wedding, one that all the tabloids were constantly trying to get information on, however all that changed after Thanos. A big wedding would have been fine, but the one they ending up getting was perfect. After they landed back home and Penny recovered, Tony took Pepper, her family and the Avengers down to the court house and got married then and there, life was too short to wait to marry the love of your life.
"What would I do without?" she chuckled lightly,
"You would have to fly to Hong Kong yourself." Tony nodded,
"You're right."
"Tony" Natasha through open the shop door, Tony throws his arms out wide,
"Privacy!"
"Bruce wants to see you."
"Go to Bruce, Tony." Pepper told him softly,
"Love you Pep"
" I Love you too." Just like that the call ended leaving Tony standing their staring at Natasha who stood in the doorway holding the door open, he followed her out.
...
"We have something." Bruce turned holding up a small syringe. Both Tony and Natasha stared at the needle for a few seconds, before Natasha finally spoke,
"What is it?" Bruce stepped back and self consciously fixed his glasses,
"Right, using the insecticide and a sample of Penny's blood I think Dr. Strange and I were able to make a antitoxin to flush her system."
"She'll be fine, like it never happened?" Tony knew how medicine worked, it didn't take much for him to remember and master things, medicine included but somehow asking questions made him feel better. Bruce made a face,
"Yes and no, it should help to get rid of any of the toxin out of her body, but her hearts taken a beating."
"She's enhanced," Tony reminded him, as if Bruce could forget, he's watched the kid grow bone, muscle, tendons, veins and skin, after her arm was practically blown off from the Infinity stones.
"She'll most likely heal, but it's going to take time. Her body will have to build itself back up again." Strange said turning to Bruce, the syringe looked tiny in his hands but it actually contained a 1ml of the antitoxin.
"How long?" Bruce shrugged his shoulder,
"We don't know." He waited a second longer before walking over to the teen grabbing the right IV line and sticking the needle into her port, he waited a second almost holding his breath, then he pushed the plunger down.
...
My favorite feeling is swinging, when you're swinging between two buildings it's almost like you're floating. I feel like I'm floating, but I know I'm not, one because I'm laying down and two because I have no memory. I can't be swinging through the city of New York without being awake. Wait I remember something, I wasn't swinging through New York, but I was running, up and down, and then through the subway. I was being chased...Uncle Ben, Mother, Howard Stark, Peggy Carter...they were all there. I remember talking to them, I remember the way Mr. Stark looked at me when I told him I who I was talking to, like I was...crazy. My body tells me to stay down, but the mind is a funny thing, it can make you hallucinate into seeing ghosts, but it can also override everything. I sit up quickly, trying to catch enough air to get a proper breath. I feel a pull on my arms and chest and start grabbing at what feels like strings or wires, I pull them off as quickly as I can before large hands grab onto my wrists. I hear someone talking to me, but my ears feel like their underwater, the sentences coming out distorted. I suddenly feel really warm and then another hand rests itself on my forehead for a second before carding itself through my hair, once, twice, three times. This time when I hear a voice it's clearer,
"That's it." I take a breath finally catching air. My ears pop and I make out the voice better "In, out, just like you learned at birth, calm down." The voice is distinct with a hint of permanent sarcasm, Mr. Stark. I blink a few times and sure enough, there he is.
"Mr. Stark?" He pulls his hand back from my hair and grips my chin, pulling my face up as if examining something...do I have a booger or something? After a second he lets go,
"Do you see any ghosts?" I take a breath and shake my head. I look down to my wrist which are currently encircled in Dr. Banners large green hands.
"I don't feel right?" The warm feeling disappears and I feel weird. Run down, tired, my chest and head hurts and once again when I look around I find I'm back in the Med Bay,
"A heart attack will do that to you." Mr. Stark remarks, while Dr. Banner slowly and carefully lets go of my wrists. Their not gone for long, he grabs a piece of gauze and starts wiping a long drip of blood off my hand. I look behind me and find two IV lines one ripped out one still in my arm, thats what the strings were. I look back to Mr. Stark...Mr. Ronley
"My apartment-"
"Was spraying for spiders." It's not even a question, he already knows, I nod, "We know, you tell the complex manager anything bright blue isn't all natural."
"He tries," I swallow. Dr Banner reaches up and places four sticky pads back on my chest from where I pulled them off. "It's my fault anyway." I turn back to Mr. Stark,
"Let me guess, you attract spiders?" I nod, Mr. Starks grimaces "Thats terrifying." Not wrong,
"I know" I groan "May is terrified of spiders."
"We'll come back to that, how long were you seeing dead people for?"I swallow, since the subway,
"Since this morning."
"You mean yesterday morning." I bite my cheek, how have I lost so much time, it seems like today...yesterday left me confused and alone, wondering where it had gone.
"Then yeah, yesterday"
"You were inhaling that stuff for three days but it seems to have only started to affect you yesterday." Dr. Banner adds ,
"It's only suppose to get rid of the spiders,"
"According to your landlord it makes them crazy and die, did you forget the radioactive spider venom racing through you're veins that gives you enhanced abilities and also makes you oddly sticky?" I shrug,
"Well when you say it like that."
"You mean crazy and die?" He elaborates, I run my tongue over my teeth,
"...yeah"
"What did these "Ghosts" say to you?" Mr. Stark uses quotation marks around the words ghosts.
"uncle Ben kept saying it wasn't my fault."
"Your fault?"
"Welcome Steve." Mr. Stark rolls his eyes when Captain Rogers peaks his head in through the door. Peggy Carter enters my head, I openly talked to her in Mr. Rogers presents, the one girl he's ever wanted, the one he can never have, guilt settles into my aching chest. Why couldn't my old neighbor Mrs. Chord haunted me instead,
"Ya, my fault." I shiver when Dr. Banners hand lands on my back, something cold being pressed,
"Deep breath." He orders, I do as he asks but it hurts. Since being bitten I don't get sick and I'm careful enough not to get hurt...a lot. So this feels absolutely awful and I'm afraid my tolerance has gone down.
"When he died." Mr. Stark confirms. I never told Mr. Stark that my uncle was dead or how he died, but he somehow just knew. I nod,
"I'm sorry Penny." Mr. Rogers states, Dr Banners hand moves,
"Once more." Again I follow his instructions,
"You were there" I breath out, Dr. Banner hand stalls and both Mr. Stark and Mr. Rogers look surprised and confused,
"I was?" Mr. Rogers questions, I nod as Dr. Banners hand leaves my back,
"Yeah" I reply in a whisper, that night plays in my head like a bad movie. I don't like to think about it. "It was a robbery gone bad. I was in this convenience store trying to buy candy. The owner accused me of stealing when I took too long to get to the register, they were sold out of sour strings, so I kept trying to find something else. That was all, but he wouldn't sell me anything and told me to get out. The guy behind me held up the register as I was leaving." I swallow hard and it hurts, but so does thinking about this part. I feel a tear slip down my cheek and reach up to wipe it away quickly, "After the guy got the money from the drawer he ran, and I-" My voice cracks and I clear my throat "I held the door open for him, it was my way of getting back at the man behind the counter. I stayed behind a second to gloat when I heard the gun go off...He tried to take our car and uncle Ben being the loyal 20 year cop he was wouldn't let it happen, so he shot him, dragged him out of the car and drove off." I'll never forget the look when only a few minutes later Captain America ran by, hearing the commotion. Turns out Mr. Rogers was on a walk through Queens when a man dragged a women into an alleyway and was stopped by a superhero. It was in the paper the next day right next to article about my uncle's death. Mr. Rogers pupils grow as if he's now just recognizing me. He only spared me a glance as he ran by, but it seems it was enough, even with my clothes covered in blood and cheeks stained with constant tears.
"That was you?" Mr. Rogers asks after a second, I nod.
"Ya, it was me." Mr. Roger never caught the guy, he's fast but not 80 miles and hour fast. No, I caught that man weeks later and I left him for the police but part of me always wishes I had shot him in the stomach and left him bleeding on the streets.
With great power comes great responsibility
he wasn't wrong, then again he never was. I feel drained and tired,
"She need rest." Dr Banner says after a seconds pause,
"Rest and food, you heal better with food right?" He asks, I don't know why, he already knows the answer, but I nod anyway and he walks over to a small drawer. When he opens it a puff of cold air leeches out and Mr. Stark reaches in pulling out a protein shake. He walks over pops the lid off grabs a straw from a small cup, plops it in and holds it out,
"Drink it, all of it."I take it from him and Mr. Stark looks behind to Mr. Rogers, "Thank you Cap that will be all." Mr. Rogers stand a second longer and then turns leaving the same way he came,
"He could have stayed." I mumble, bitting the metal straw,
"He's just being nosy-"
"About Mrs. Carter?" Mr. Stark doesn't say anything, it's his specialty, he just stands there making you feel intimidated, "I don't know why she was there, My uncle and my mother, that makes since, but Howard Stark and Peggy Carter...she called my mother Rosemary and she had red hair?" I swear my memories of my mother she was a blonde...or was she.
"I dated a Rosemary."
"Figures" I roll my eyes, taking another drink of my protein shake. "You have a thing for spices." Dr. Banner releases a laugh behind me and then clears his throat. Mr. Stark stares at him,
"That was...that funny." I look down and smile, Mr. Stark snaps,
"Hey up here,"
"Tony-" Bruce sighs,
"One second, big, green, and angry-"
"Tony!" Dr. Banner insists, Tony makes a face and takes away my now empty protein shake,
"Fine, but we'll talk later." Tony points at me. I feel light and hazy and nod. He's talking again, but I can't really hear it. I really want to lay down and turn to Dr. Banner,
"Do you hear mumbling too?" I shouldn't have turned, I feel off balance and for a second feel like I'm falling until a large green hand catches my head gently and begins lowering me back down onto the bed,
"Down we go." Dr Banner's mutters lightly, laying my head on a soft pillow "Sleep well Penny."
...
"I know I should thank you, but part of me still doesn't trust you Strange." Tony said closing the door to the med bay. Bruce had snuck a little experimental cocktail into Penny's IV and it had done it's job of knocking the teen out. Bruce was right she really did need rest he's just glad he got one of Cap's high calorie'd protein shakes into her before she's passed out. Strange turned toward Tony not a single readable emotion crossed his face,
"And that's the relationship I believe we shall maintain." Tony shrugged and sniffed at the air,
"If that's how you want it to be, but I do think you fit nicely into our little group of weird. You see theirs too much humble and happy not enough emotionally distant and hard to play with such as you and I." Dr. Strange blinked once, twice,
"Yes you can continue to call on me for matter effecting the world-" his eyes flashed to the sleeping teen being monitored by the Hulk inside the highly advanced med room. "-and other matters when needed." Tony's eyes darted up just for a fraction of a second, it was one of two times Strange hinted to being open to working with the Avengers. Hopefully at some point they could turn that into recreationally. He could come to one of the few parties they held maybe even a meeting or a dinner night usually held by Steve and Natasha at the compound. Tony gave the wizard a strong and sturdy nod, while an orange portal was summoned back to the sanctorum. However before he could pass over completely there was one last thing Tony had to say,
"Thank you." He called back to Strange, who completely halted his movements, "For-" he motioned back into the room "You know, I know Bruce couldn't have created that antitoxin without you...so thanks." Tony didn't often say thank you. Why would he, he paid for everything, solved all problems and was fiercely independent. You didn't have to say thank you when you did all those things, but this was one problem he couldn't fix, this was one problem where he needed help and when you need help you say thank you. Stephan Strange lips quirked up,
"I had too" He stated, " Were cool facial hair bros." He stepped thought letting the portal completely disappear. Tony shoved his fists into his pocket and pursed his lips,
"Well son of a bitch."
...
"And I have to wear this for how long?"
"Three days, just until I can determine if theirs any permanent damage to your heart." Dr. Banner informs me, readjusting the sticky pads on my chest while tucking one of the wires under the strap of my sports bra. I look to Mr. Stark and raise my hand,
"Bad heart buddies." Mr. Stark raises one eyebrow and then raises his hand,
"Don't high five her," He high fives me. "Tony!"
"You told me not to do it, I did it." Dr. Banner rolls his eyes and adds more tape to one of the wires at my side. I've been sleeping on and off for the last 24 hours, I pretty sure part of it was my body just trying to get the "all natural spider killer" out of my system and the other part was whatever Dr, Banner kept pumping into my IV when I wasn't asleep,
"What am I going to tell people?" I look between both men,
"Oh, you're not leaving this tower." I reel back a bit and furrow my eyebrows,
"What?"
"Yeah" Mr. Stark says it like it's most natural idea, "Your aunts working for the next three days, theirs no one back at you're apartment you need to be monitored, you stay here capisce?"
"assolutamente no"
"You speak Italian?"
"Mr. Stark I can't stay here, wait, how did you know aunt May's working " Mr. Stark shrugs,
"I hacked the hospitals records, they asked her to stay by the way." I sigh,
"That's just great."
"Why, you don't like me?" There is again, his go to sarcastic way,
"What? No I-"
"Then I don't see a problem." I take a slow breath,
"You're not going to win." Dr. Banner informs me, fixing the monitor inside a plain grey fanny pack I'll have to wear at my side the next three days, I'm already uncomfortable. I crack my jaw,
"Fine."
"Also here" Mr. Stark reached into his back pocket and holds out a rectangular box with the words, Stark Interprises on it. I shake my head,
"I can't accept that." Mr. Stark shrugs and plops it on my lap anyway,
"You broke yours remember?" I wince. It took me months to save for that phone and in one second I smashed it beyond fixing. I grab the box, this is a brand new Stark phone, I could save up ever piece of spare change I find and all of my allowance and I still wouldn't be able to afford one of these until I'm 24, and here Mr. Stark is just handing it over to me.
"I still can't accept it." No matter how much I want to. I try to hand it back but Mr. Stark crosses his arms,
"Alright but it will have to go in the trash" I look down, the box is still incased in cellophane, what does he mean it has to go in the trash?!
"Wa..why?"
"It's a brand new model build specially for Spiderman, build with some of the toughest metals money can manufacturer and buy, along with a few build in modules that aren't available to the public right now. If Spiderman doesn't want it, then it has to be destroyed." My mouth goes dry and I look down to the box and then back up,
"Well...if you're going..to throw it away then I guess-"
"Great!" Mr. Stark cuts me off, "Then it's settled."
"Aunt May would kill me if she knew you were giving me a phone that probably cost more than her wedding ring." I start unwrapping the cellophane from the box,
"Shush, you keep complaining, you don't get pizza" Mr. Stark frowns, I pull the phone out and hold it in my hand, it feel heavy, I set it down and look back up,
"Were getting pizza?" I wait for it, for the sarcastic comment that will follow, I can already hear him say, "No, you're complaining" Instead Mr. Starks face softens, and he reaches out and for a second I think he's going to push my hair back or cup my cheek and then his hand comes down smacking the back of my head, "Ouch!"
"Come on kid I'll buy you pizza." I reach up to rub the back of my head
"Wait, really?" Mr. Stark shoves his hands in his pocket and shrugs,
"Ya," He pushes his lips, "She done Bruce?" I turn quickly pleading silently to Dr. Banner. He looks down and then after a second he grabs my shirt from the side table and holds it out,
"I'm done." I smile grabbing my shirt and throwing it on covering the wires and electrodes, and jump down from the metal table. Mr Stark throws his arm around my shoulders and leads me to the door,
"We're really getting pizza right, this isn't a joke." I look up and for a second Mr. Stark smiles,
"Yeah, were getting pizza?"
...
"So this is where you and Ben would go too ever Sunday?" May asks, taking a large sip from her tropical peach smoothie. She smiles, "It's just like I remember." I push my straw into my own topical peach and smile,
"I remember, I'd always asks for a large. I couldn't finish it, but uncle Ben would always get me one and then you would finish it." Aunt May laughs,
"I looked for all the smoothie shops but somehow this one always missed my radar." I nod. It was only a week ago that the hallucination of my dead uncle sat with me at this very booth and told me I should bring Aunt May here. I've decided to take that advice and this morning told aunt May were were going on a field trip, she smiled when she stepped inside and put the pieces together. It's also been a week since my heart attack. Mr. Stark and Dr Banner were true to their words and I was forced to stay at the tower for three days under Dr. Banners eye all while wearing a heart monitor. In those three days random people seem to constantly be popping up. One day it was Mr. Rogers and Mr. Barnes and the next day it was Miss. Romanov. Mr, Stark had a room set up for me and would let me help him in his lab each day and then every night Mrs. Potts would demand we have a sit down dinner...it was actually nice. At the end there was both good and bad news. Good news my heart recovered and their wasn't any lasting damage, the bad news, according to Dr. Banner my healing responds was permanently slowed. In his own words I still had an impressive healing ability but it wasn't what it once was, whether that was because of the drug or the complications from it, he didn't know. Mr. Stark didn't say anything, I took it as a good thing and after one last nightly dinner he had Happy drive me home. We didn't talk but when he dropped me off in front of my apartment building he insisted on going in first. Apparently Mr. Stark had something build that was able to detect insecticides and repellents. When it detected nothing he let me in, but not before telling me he was glad I was okay. I think thats the nicest thing Happy has ever said to me. A chase down through the city, A heart attack, and a three day stay at the Avengers Tower and I still made it home before Aunt May.
"What made you decide to take me here." May asks taking another long sip. I shrug,
"When I came here with my friends it was the first time back since..." I don't have to say it, she knows and reaches across the table to place her hand on mine, "I realize how much I missed it, and that Uncle Ben wouldn't like that I don't come here anymore." I swirl my straw around, "So I thought we should come. Keep the tradition, keep the memory." May smiles,
"I think thats a good idea." Life is short, it should be enjoyed,
"I love you Aunt May."
"I love you too Penny."