"This isn't exactly the kind of Christmas gift any nineteen-year-old would want," Tony arched a brow at the three-year-old girl holding his father's hand in the family room, dressed in a white flurry dress for the holidays.
She stared at him with large bright amber eyes, that in a certain light took a golden hue. Wondering who he was, just as he did. When he came home for the holidays, requested by his father, expecting an actual surprise his father told him about six months ago. His mother was right, he was surprised by the discovery. Honestly, he was expecting something like a corvet or shooting in the dark, a hug from his old man. But, nothing like this some child...correction toddler; who was cute he gave her that. The soft heart-shaped face looked well on her and the way strands of her brownish-red curly wavy hair framed it, the rest pulled back into a ballet bun adorned with a white flower hair clip suit her.
"Knew dad's escapades weren't over, still got your libido, huh?" Tony ribbed at Howard, taking joy quietly from the man's hardened frown.
Maria quickly stepped in, "This is May, Tony." She kneeled down next to the girl and took her other hand with a gentle smile, "She'll be staying with us for some time. Why don't you welcome her?"
"Staying with us? Huh? Not suspicious at all."
He kneeled a little to May's level, her eyes followed him, meeting his brown ones equally. Most toddlers would cringe a bit terrified or have some reaction to a stranger they've never meet. Not May, there was this curiosity gleam in her eyes that erased such emotions. She had no indication of physical similarities he could find, her bronze-colored skin could easily be an indicator of his father's escapades. He saw the way some of the women eyed him and with his father's track recorded it wouldn't surprise him.
Taking a deep, steady breath he stood up and did as his mother asked, "Welcome to hell, sis."
"Tony!" Howard snapped raising his voice, tucked May closer, and with his other hand covered one of her ears.
A gesture that Tony frowned at, shoved his hands into his pockets and walked away. Ignoring Howard's demand to return and apologize. Before leaving the room, Tony tossed over his shoulder one more thing, "Oh, yeah, Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas to you too!"
The halls of the shared house in Oxford bustled about, shouting their good-byes for the upcoming holiday. The school would be closed for the three-weeks and resume a week after New Year, by then it'll be 2000. With luggage packed and minds far away from finals and papers, replaced them with warm eggnog, snowfall, and bright warm lights. It stirred wistful thoughts in the only student still in her room, at her desk, popcorning between three books. The look of diligence any professor would be proud of and the fact a twelve-year-old made it look so effortlessly was a feat all its own. Then again it shouldn't be much of a surprise considering her family ties.
But what choice did she have? Everything everyone saw was nothing but the surface and nothing more. Turning a page her sullen amber eyes zip through, absorbing each and every word and vowel. Her lips softly mouthing along. Moved to the next page on the second book, then to the third. Sinking deeper and deeper in, trying to drown out the merriment of others. Soon she emptiness would be her companion these next three weeks, just as it was the last few years. Closing her eyes for a moment, remembered just barely the joy filling holidays years ago. Colorful presents. The smell of fresh pine and a star as bright as the sun itself sitting on the top. Her mother on the piano, playing beautiful each Christmas song. Her father holding her strong and gently in his lap, helping her clap to it and produce the words. His warm smile under his ticklish mustache. He even would help her open presents. It was always magical, even with Tony's standoffish present.
It was the holidays.
Going further, she was held by Howard watching Maria kiss Tony good-bye before heading off to the tropics and then...
"May! What are you doing still here?" Patti gasped standing in the hall.
Startled, May nearly jumped from her chair, a faint flash came from her hands. Leaving a small charred mark. Puzzled for a moment, turned away from her reading, May found the twenty-two housemate at her door, hand on firmly on her hip and brow so knotted together the pre-teen was afraid they might break. Tall, beautiful chestnut hair and emerald eyes, yeah she'd be someone Tony would give attention to.
"Well? Care to explain?" Patti pushed, tapping a heeled foot. "Hmm?"
May's mouth dried up and eyes barely held themselves up, forcing them to smile. "Just reading. That's all. Can't really get enough of history. You know?"
"Only someone like you would find studying fun and that's not what I meant. You know it. Why are you bloody still here? Huh?"
May's heart dropped, Patti's fierceness soften. "Again? Huh?" She walked over and placed a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder. May kept her eyes on her books and a false smile on. An idea came to Patti, "Hey! Why don't you come and join me and my family? I'm sure they wouldn't mind. Where spending the holidays in Pari-"
"I'm actually spending the holidays with someone. Sorry. But thank you for the offer." May smiled, closing her eyes.
Patti was surprised. That didn't stop her from burrowing.
"Really? With who? Hmm?"
May stood up, closing her books, walked over to her closet, and fished out a long brown coat. "She's an old family friend, my father knew." She explained, untucking her shoulder-length hair.
"Really?" Patti raised a suspicious brow, folding her arms. "How come I've never heard you talk about them until now?"
May was slipping on her boots, "Because, as much as this is a surprise, I do enjoy keeping certain things to myself. Also," she grunted, keeping herself from falling over. Patti provided support. "if you recall the few times I've left campus for some times on the weekends. That's where I go. To visit her."
"I see. So where does family friend live?"
Understanding her housemate's concern, May knew she wasn't at liberty to disclose an answer. Also, she didn't think it was needed, since she'd grown used to no one questioning her. Giving a quick smile, she grabbed her bag shouting bye to Patti, and left. The chill of London hit her like little daggers, being here for some time she still hadn't accustomed herself to the climate. Bundling herself up in her coat tread through the cold, catching a bus then a train, arriving an hour later. She took another taxi, holding her book bag close, opened them, and started where she left off. A girl her age shouldn't be traveling alone like this, it was a good thing she had her books. Norse mythology was quite interesting. Anything with history was in her mind, she could escape there away from the present.
Turning to the next page, she stopped for a moment and looked up out the window, towards the sky. The hairs on her arm rose. She wasn't sure why but...it always seemed as if someone was watching her. She couldn't figure out where, a tiny part of her hoped it might be Tony. But, she knew better and such feeling reburied itself. Turning back to the page, it was Heimdall. Gatekeeper of Asgard and the Bifrost. What a boring job, May thought. Effortless she read through it all. All-seeing. Combatant master. Lackey, was the word she added herself. May managed to get through twenty pages, Tony would have done fifty, arrived. Paying the driver and thanking him, walked to the door.
"And what knowledge are you absorbing this time, hm?" Peggy smirked proudly, eyeing the books in the girl's bag sitting in the cafe towards the back. "Ah, mythology. History. Not a surprise."
May perked up, laughing behind her hand. "I enjoy the past. It's more interesting and helps to fill in missing gaps. Plus, I wanted to get a headstart on the new semester. Term papers don't write themselves you know."
Peggy took a light sip of her tea, "Yes. I'm quite aware. How many this time?"
"Fifteen. Fifteen units. Two advanced. Two lower. Tony of course would have all his advanced courses. "
A frown formed on the elderly woman, her eyes flashed brimming frustration. "For a genius, he's quite an idiot." May opened her mouth to defend, but the sharp look from Peggy silenced her, "I don't want to hear it. Howard wouldn't approve of this treatment. Neither would Maria. It's asinine really." May's mouth slightly opened, she shut it again.
Peggy took a sharp sip of tea, set the cup down roughly, "Foolishly gallivanting his unchecked ego and wounded emotions. Fool more than genius." She finished her tea and her rant...for now.
Timidly May picked up her hot cider and quietly sipped on it. Mulling over the right words to say, despite agreeing with Peggy's. "Well, I mean...he is busy and I like it here." She tried to lighten it with a weak defense.
A look from Peggy melted it. "Busy or not, Howard made time. He'd be furious if he saw what happened to you. Guardian or not, it was instructed by Howard you are to be taken care of, and no," she held a finger stopping May from uttering a word, "a fine education doesn't cut. Neither does monthly funds. I've seen dogs with well-deserving meals. Anyway," she breathed, "let's change the subject shall we?"
"Yes!" May dug into her bag, ruffled through it, "I wanted to share something with you!"
"May."
"I took the liberty to explore the remnants of WW1-"
"Dear."
May held up a finger, taking out a few things, set them on the table. Nearly knocking the cups over. Peggy removed them. Trying to get the girl's attention to avail.
"-which I found rather interesting. Also, my father was showing his inventions. The first Stark Expo. Anyway, I pulled up some files from a Dr...Dr.." she paused trying to recall. Remembered. "Erskine!"
"May. I need you-"
She kept going, "I will. Just hear me out. Okay?"
Peggy opened her mouth to say something but closed it. May reminded her of Howard for a moment, the eagerness and warping mind when filled with excitement. She also looked like...
"I forgot it," May said frustrated than disappointed. She instead pulled out somethings on ancient text. "I have these instead." Sighing she flopped them on the table. Peggy handed her back the cider. "Sorry. What was it you wanted to tell me?"
Peggy collecting the papers and straighten them, "I've put in a good word for you." A brow raised on the girl, Peggy set the papers aside. "You see there is this program that well...I believe you will benefit from it tremendously, in fact, I believe Howard would approve. Of course, you wouldn't downright obtain the position but in time you just might."
"What is it?" May asked, her patience reaching its limit. Finished her cider. "Is it another course?"
"One could say that," Peggy said rather vague, "of course that depends if you're willing to take it. You have particular skills that would benefit from it. Your father was apart of it, it seems only fitting you'd be apart of it. Plus it'll get out of this cold prison. In fact, I'm in the works of signing up my great-niece, you two should meet I have a feeling you'll both click right away."
It sounded intriguing and interesting, May's natural curiosity guided her instant answer, "Yes!" Her amber eyes flashing bright, shot up knocking the chair over. Echoing a loud thud, turning a few heads. She paid it no mind. "When do I start?"
Taken back for a moment, a warmth spread through Peggy's chest hearing those words, her old eyes misted for a moment. She was glad you were nothing like...grinning to herself, raised her eyes firmly to the girl. Locking with them. She looked so much like...shaking that from her mind focused on May. Reaching across the table held the girl's hands in her own. Gave them a squeeze.
"Wonderful, dear. Wonderful."
