I'm just to excited so I decided to post early. Loved the reviews last chapter! Thank you guys so much! I'm super excited for things to come and hope you are too.
I won't spoil but we're going to get into some deeper stuff? I guess you could say, I don't know how to describe it without giving anything away. Though, I tried my hand at some foreshadowing in the next chapter that should be up in a day or two.
Thanks for reading!
Words: 3,546
Ada spends the whole weekend at the compound. She hadn't been sure at first but then Sunday was there and she had yet to return home. Mr. Stark talked to her some more after he returned. She was thankful that he didn't go telling the others what happened. Not that she thought he would.
She ended up spending a lot of time with Wanda. The older girl let her borrow some of her smaller clothes and anything else she needed. The others didn't question the sudden sleepover.
But when Sunday night rolls around, Ada becomes anxious. Peter has to go back to the city soon and so does she if she wants to go to school in the morning. Which she doesn't, not really, but she doesn't want to miss it either.
With a little help from FRIDAY, Ada finds Mr. Stark in his office. A change from his normal place in the lab but the teenager doesn't question it, only knocks on his opened door.
"Hey, kid," He greets when he looks up. "What's up?"
"Um," Ada slowly moves into the room, taking a hesitant seat across from him. "Could uh, I was wondering...if I could go home tonight."
Setting his pen down, Tony takes a breath before nodding. "Yeah, if that's what you want." He doesn't like it but despite that, there wasn't anything inside him that was telling him not to let her go. "If you're sure."
"Yeah," Ada nods, more confidently now. "And like you said, I'll call you or Peter if I want to leave."
Nodding, Tony braces his chin on his joined hands, elbows resting on his desk. "You know, Pepper misses you. She's upset she's hasn't seen you in a while."
"I think Ms. Potts could use a vacation." Ada says with a small laugh. The last few times she's dropped by, the woman has been away or to busy with work. It was disappointing, Ada really likes Pepper. She's nice. Motherly.
"You might be on to something, kid." Tony laughs along with her. He leans back in his seat and rests his hands in his lap. It wasn't a bad idea. Pepper has been working hard. Maybe they could go away for a week sometime. He just didn't feel comfortable leaving right now.
"And maybe get her some flowers." Ada shrugs, pulling her feet into the chair with her. "Or something expensive."
"Both?"
Chuckling, Ada nods while playing with a loose strand on her loaned jeans. "Both, yes. Just don't buy strawberries again."
Narrowing his eyes, Tony cocks his head to the side just slightly. "She told you about that?"
"Oh, she's told me a lot of things."
"All PG-13, I hope."
"Eww, yes." Ada cringes and Tony laughs. "Why would you even say that?"
Tony's laugh trails off into a sigh and he leans forward in his seat, arms resting on his desk as he regards the teenager. "You okay?"
Nodding, Ada looks away from him and bites her lip. "Yeah," She whispers before clearing her throat and sending him her best smile.
"Alright, go find Peter, we'll leave soon."
"Okay," Jumping from her seat, Ada rushes from the room and to where she last saw Peter. "Hey, dork." She greets the brown-eyed boy, leaning over his shoulder to look at his cards.
"What does he have?"
"Why would I tell you?"Ada questions Sam with furrowed brows.
"Because I'm you're favortie." He says with so much confidence it has everyone at the table laughs.
"Sure," Wanda smiles at him before putting down a card into the pile.
"We're leaving soon." Ada goes back to ignoring them, plopping into the free seat next to Peter.
"You going home?" Peter asks, his head shooting over to look at her in time to see her nod. "You sure?" He whispers, lifting his cards slightly as if he could hide behind them.
"Yeah," Ada tells him before nudging his leg with her own. "Now finish beating their butts."
"Hey!" Sam shouts. "He's so not winning." But despite his words, Peter wins before both teenagers bid everyone goodbye and head off to find Mr. Stark who was driving them back into the city.
"Buckle up, kiddies." Tony is sure to tell them before starting the car.
Once arriving back in the city, the chatter dies down. Tony watches the road closely while both teenagers stare out their windows. The car rolls to a stop outside Ada's apartment building.
"Here we are," Tony twists in his seat, turning to look back at them.
"Right," Ada nods and unbuckles her seat belt before collecting her hoodie. "Thank you."
"No problem, kid." Nodding once, Tony sends the girl a smile and watches her exit the vehicle while Peter climbs into the passenger seat.
Closing the car door behind her, Ada takes a deep breath and turns to her building. She doesn't hesitate to enter. She knows they're watching her and she doesn't want them to see. So she waits until she gets inside to pause. The elevators are lined on a wall in front of her, their shiny doors showing her distorted reflection.
Looking around at the nearly empty lobby, Ada places her hand over her pants pocket to make sure her phone is still in there before she steps forward and pushes the up arrow.
The elevator arrives quickly and it's empty, leaving Ada to climb in and push her floor number. She's not sure if she wants the metal box to go faster or slower.
A ding sounds when the doors slide open. The hallway is eerily quiet.
Shaking her head, Ada uses her key and opens the door to her home before entering and closing it behind her. The first thing she notices is the emptiness. No one is where she can see. The next thing isn't so simple. She's not sure what it is, but something just feels different. Like when the furniture is moved just enough for the room to feel off but not enough to notice unless you know what you're looking for. The furniture hasn't been moved, so it's something else.
"Dad?" She calls out into the apartment, waiting for a response that comes in the sound of footsteps approaching.
Nathan appears around the corner that leads to his office. Ada blinks at him. She can't remember the last time she hadn't seen him in a suit. Now he wears a plain white T-shirt with dark pants.
"Uh, hey," The teenager mumbles, unsure of what else to do. Maybe she could just go to her room, finish her homework, and let everything go back to the way it was.
"Hey," Nathan whispers, rubbing the back of his neck and licking his lips before sighing. "Come here, I want to show you something." Without waiting for her response, he turns and goes back the way he came, leaving his daughter to follow him. And she does.
Ada pauses at the threshold of her father's office, watching him open the closet on the far left wall. He moves a few things before pulling a box from the back of the top shelf and carries it to his desk.
When he motions for her to join him, Ada hesitates. She's never really been in his office before. When she was younger he always had the door closed so she wouldn't disturb him while working. Then as she got older, she steered clear by choice.
Taking a breath, Ada feels her phone through her pocket once more before joining her father's side. The box is simple, meant to hold files. Dust lingers on the lid but Nathan pays it no mind as he removes it, letting the grey particles fall to the floor.
Ada's breath hitches when she sees the contents of the brown box. She's always wondered where they went.
Reaching into the box, Nathan lifts the first frame into his hands, running his thumb over the picture that resides inside it. "It was hard looking at them." He says quietly. "Seeing her trapped in moments I'd never get to live again. Taunting me with the knowledge that we could never make more."
Ada listens with rapt attention, her gaze moving between the picture of her mother and her father's face. He doesn't talk about her. He doesn't talk about anything. The sudden change was unexpected but not entirely unwelcomed.
"I never should have taken them down." Nathan whispers as he pulls another frame from the box. "It was just easier." Taking a forced breath, he bits the inside of his cheek before continuing. "She was the only one who saw the good in me. She was the good in me. When I, when we lost her, I thought I lost everything that was good." Slanting his head down, Nathan finally looks at Ada, pained by the tears evident in her eyes. "You look so much like her."
Ada bits her lip to stop it from trembling. Nathan slowly raises his hand when a tear slips from her eye. He places it on her cheek and she lets him wipe away the salty liquid from her skin. His palm is warm, soft but rough. Gentle. A stark contrast from two nights ago.
"There's no excuse for what I did. I don't expect you to forgive me." Nathan's voice is heavy and Ada blinks away the water in her eyes and stares up at him. "But if you give me the chance, I will do everything I can to make it up to you. You're my daughter Ada, and despite how I've been acting, I do love you."
Nodding, Ada doesn't stop the tears this time and leans forward to wrap her arms around her father's back. She hasn't hugged him in so long but he doesn't hesitate to return it.
"You know your grandmother, she wasn't exactly..." Nathan trails off with a shake of his head, struggling for the words. "The best parent. I don't think I blame her, not entirely. Dad died before I was born my brother a few years after that." Clearing his throat, Nathan tightens his hold on his daughter. "This sounds an awful lot like excuses, I know. Your mother, she's the one out of us that knew what she was doing. She'd told me I'd figure it out. I never did."
"You try." Ada says, her voice muffled in his shoulder and she feels him shake his head.
"Not hard enough." Placing his hands on her shoulders, Nathan pushes Ada back just enough to look down at her. "I didn't realize I hadn't lost everything until I almost did."
Clearing her throat, Ada wipes her cheeks and tries to smile. "Can we...can we put them back?"
"Yeah, I think it's time." Picking up one of the frames, Nathan hands it to Ada before lifting the box into his arms. They walk out together. Ada places the photo of her mother on the buffet table behind the couch when her phone vibrates in her pocket.
ManOfIron: Everything okay?
Thumbs hovering over the screen, Ada looks over to her father to see him placing a picture on the mantel. It's one of their wedding photos. Ada always liked looking at it when she was little. She loved how happy her parents looked. A moment in time captured forever.
Ada: Yeah
Pausing, Ada furrows her brows before typing again.
Ada: You're not still outside, are you?
The bubbles with dots pop up before disappearing completely only to reappear a moment later, followed by a new message.
ManOfIron: Maybe
Smiling, Ada shakes her head with a soft smile.
Ada: Thank you. But I'm okay. You can go now.
ManOfIron: Alright. Text me later
Ada: Will do
Sliding her phone back into her pocket, Ada pushes away from the couch and joins her father before taking another frame from the box.
Feet pounding against the hard ground mix with the sounds of the young girl's quick breathing. Her heart pounds inside her chest as she weaves through the people around her. The sun shines brightly in the sky, chasing away the chill in the air.
Ada barely slows as she bursts through the doors. Her feet carry her through the room and around the many tables until she's falling into her seat.
"Sorry, sorry, I'm late." She says, removing her purse from over her shoulder.
"What, did you run all the way here?" Peter asks, his voice amused as he looks over the table at his panting friend.
"Okay, Mr. Super Stamina, shut it." Ada whispers to him, smiling when Ned snorts. "I was going to pay for everyone's drinks, but now..."
"He apologizes." MJ puts in from beside the girl, shooting a glare to Peter who raises his hands in surrender.
"Accepted." Ada states before shaking her head with a laugh. "Alright, why was this meeting called again?"
"Uh, we haven't seen you in forever?" Ned says it like a question, his brows furrowing with the look he sends her. "You should transfer schools."
"Ha, easier said than done." Ada chuckles just as a waitress brings over drinks.
"I ordered for you." MJ tells her friend when a cup is set in front of her.
"Thanks," Ada mumbles before sipping the hot drink, the rich chocolate flavor enveloping her taste buds. She's sure she's one of the few teenagers who doesn't like coffee. And she's been cutting back on caffeine in general. "I canceled plans for this, so..."
"What plans?" Peter asks with narrowed eyes.
"I'm being sarcastic," Ada replies with a slight eye-roll. "Though I do have to be home early tonight because I do have dinner plans."
"A date?" Ned asks and Ada startles when MJ snorts.
"Uh, no, not a date," Ada says slowly, her eyes shifting from the girl beside her and to the boy across from her. "Dinner with my dad."
"Oh, okay," Ned nods with a sigh and looks down but Ada quickly turns her attention away with a shrug.
"Speaking of dates," Ada whispers into MJ's ear, grunting when the taller girl elbows her in the ribs. "Touchy. Anyway! What's on the agenda today? This is all I was informed about."
"Well, there's this new exhibit opening at the museum on 48th street," Ned explains excitedly, motioning around with his hands. "I thought we could check it out before heading to the theater to see the new movie."
"Which one?" Ada asks him, cocking her head to the side in question.
"Which what?"
"Movie, there're multiple new ones."
"Uh..." Ned trails off. He shares a glance with Peter before they both shrugs.
"Boys," MJ rolls her eyes and Ada chuckles.
"That's fine, we'll figure it out."
"I'm not saying it was bad, just that I didn't really like it."
"Isn't that the same thing?" Ned questions and Ada shakes her head quickly.
"No, no," She says, Peter and MJ's footsteps sounding distantly behind her. "Not the same. It wasn't a bad movie, I just didn't care for it. The actors were great, the writing was good. But I wasn't entertained."
"Oh, well, I'm sorry."
"Why?" Ada huffs a laugh. "You didn't write the movie."
"No, but I helped pick it." Ned points out, kicking his feet out in an exaggerated manner
"We all agreed, Ned." She reminds him as the others join their sides. "And I might not have liked the movie but I had a good time."
"My favorite is when MJ got a piece of popcorn stuck to the back of that guy's head." Peter puts in, leaning forward to see everyone from his place beside Ned.
"He shouldn't have been on his phone."
"Dang straight." Ada states firmly and gives a single nod before laughing along with Ned.
"Don't worry, you can pick what we do in four weeks." Peter says into the silence that falls between them.
"What's if four week?" Ada questions him, gaze switching from him and onto Ned when the boy furrows his brows and looks at her in confusion.
"Uh, your birthday?" He says like it's the most obvious thing and Ada stops in her tracks.
"How do you know that?"
"MJ told us." Peter saw and Ada turns to the girl who shrugs.
"I have my ways."
"That's not creepy at all." Ada mumbles before shaking her head. "Anyway, I don't really celebrate my birthday."
"What!?" Ned nearly shouts, lowering his voice when a few passers turn their heads towards the group of teenagers. "What do you mean you don't celebrate your birthday?"
"I don't know,' Ada shrugs, shoving her hands into her pockets and looking to the ground. "I just haven't felt like it the last few years I guess." Her mother always went all out for her birthday but after she died...Nathan didn't bother. Rosa always brings her a cupcake with a single candle but that's as far as it ever gets.
"We can't let this continue." Ned says, seemingly outraged by this newfound information. "We have to-we have to, do something."
"Okay, okay," Ada laughs with a shake of her head. "We can all hang out."
MJ and Peter share a mischievous look behind the others back that goes unnoticed.
A ding cut through Ned's victory fist bump and Ada pulls out her phone to see the alarm she'd set showing her the time. "That's my cue, if I wanna get home on time I have to leave now."
"We'll walk you to the train."
The rest of the walk is filled with random talk until the teenagers have to split. Ada waves them goodbye and sets on her journey home.
It was different than it used to be. She wasn't dreading the moment she'd walk through the door and into her home. It was still weird, having her father act like her dad again. Getting used to it was easy but accepting it wasn't so simple. She's wanted this for so long and having it so suddenly, it felt like it could be taken away just as quickly.
A greeting was on Ada's tongue as soon as she opened the door to her home, but the teenager stops short at the sight that greets her.
"Okay," She says slowly and lets the door fall closed behind her with a quiet thud. "Not sure what I was expecting but it was not this."
"Yeah," Nathan nods and purses his lip, looking down at himself. Flower coats the front of his clothes, most of his shirt saved by the apron tied to him. "Though I'd try too..."
"Burn down the kitchen?" Ada questions while turning off the stove with raised brows. "Where's Rosa?"
"Gave her the night off." Nathan says with a disgusted face at his hands before he walks to the sink to wash them.
Resisting the urge to ask 'who are you and what have you done with my father', Ada shakes her head and takes a deep breath. "Alright, well, we have two options." She says while handing her father a towel. "We clean this...disaster and start over. Or takeout."
Twenty minutes later, Ada sits next to her father at the table, Chinese food scattered on the table around them. The teenager holds chopsticks between her fingers and picks at her food while Nathan uses a fork.
"So," Ada starts hesitantly, waiting for her dad to look up before speaking again. "Four weeks, it'll uh, it's my birthday and some friends wanted to hang out. If that's okay."
Swallowing his food, Nathan nods slowly. "Yeah, I don't see why not. Though I was thinking we could, I don't know, uh, breakfast. Dinner maybe. We could go out." When Ada chuckles, Nathan sets his fork down and folds his hands under his chin. "I'm trying."
"I know, I know," Ada assures him, holding her hands up in surrender. "It's just so different."
"Guess that's on me, huh?" Ada doesn't bother denying it, only nods her head. Sighing, Nathan opens his mouth to say something else when his phone rings. Ada looks from the device now resting in her father's hand before her gaze moves to his face.
"It's fine." She tells him with a shrug, watching him stand and move away to answer the call. Huffing, Ada drops her chopsticks and leans back in her seat. It was just one phone call, she tells herself. Plus, she told him he could take it. It was nothing to worry about.
Would you look at that? The Grinch really does have a heart. What do you guys think? Also, Ned is adorable.
What's coming? Do you guys have any ideas?
'-'