Bella had been a lot of places in the few years of her life that she could remember. Mostly, she'd spent all her time in those places in labs, but she could still say she'd been there.
In any case, Monaco wasn't one of them.
When they pulled up in front of the hotel, there was press everywhere. Bella suddenly felt sick. This was not good. Her face splattered everywhere. Bad idea.
People crowded toward them as they walked forward. Reporters yelled questions. It took every bit of restraint Bella not to turn and run.
She followed Tony and Pepper around as people greeted them and took pictures. No one addressed her, and she was content to just watch. Briefly, Tony talked with Justin Hammer. He was the first person to even address Bella's existence.
"Hey, isn't that the girl you're adopting?" asked Hammer, peering over at her.
"Yes. This is Izzy," said Tony. "You know who this is, right, Izzy?"
"Justin Hammer," replied Bella. "Yes, I've heard of you, Mr. Hammer."
"He tells you about me?"
"Yeah, I told her about your contract being revoked," said Tony.
"Actually, it was put on hold."
"What's the difference? The truth?" asked Tony.
Bella grinned.
After Tony vanished for a while, she went to find Natalie and Pepper. They were watching the events leading up to the Grand Prix on a TV screen.
And that was when Tony walked onscreen.
Bella gasped.
"Well what's the use of having and owning a race car if you don't drive it?" asked Tony on the screen.
Bella groaned.
"Do you know about this?" asked Pepper, addressing Natalie.
"This is the first I've heard of it."
"This cannot happen," said Pepper.
"Absolutely. I understand. How can I help you?"
"Where's Happy?"
"He's waiting outside."
"Get him, I need Happy."
Natalie walked off.
"Bella, you're going to have to stay here with Natalie."
Bella nodded.
And then the screen showed someone stepping into the middle of the track. A man. He tore his shirt open, revealing… was that an arc reactor?
And then two energy whips sprouted from his arms and he sliced through the car speeding toward him.
Pepper stood up and walked away quickly.
"Help," whispered Bella, staring at the screen as Tony sped toward the man with the energy whips.
The whip cut through the car. Bella couldn't make a sound. She couldn't breathe. Her heart thudded against her ribs.
"Miss Stark?" asked Natalie.
Bella didn't respond. Her eyes felt as if they were glued to the screen. The man with the whips walked to the car and brought the whip down again.
The seat was empty.
Tony appeared suddenly, whacking him over the head.
And then a car slammed into the man. Happy and Pepper.
Bella could see that Pepper and Tony were yelling at each other. Then the man started moving again.
"Miss Stark? Are you all right?" Natalie again.
Bella didn't respond. She couldn't. She felt absolutely helpless, watching the events on the screen.
They were fighting again. The man with the whips sliced through the side of the car.
Bella gasped.
Pepper, onscreen, threw a suitcase at Tony. It unfolded into his suit. He pulled it on and fired at the man, only to be entangled in an energy whip.
Bella couldn't tear her eyes away.
Then the car slammed into the man. Again and again.
That took him out.
Bella relaxed finally, for what seemed like the first time in years.
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Izzy met them on the steps of the hotel. Natalie stood behind her, watching.
"What. Were. You. Doing?!" she demanded, running toward him.
Admittedly, maybe that hadn't been one of his brighter ideas. But it had seemed like a good idea at the time.
Izzy wrapped both her skinny arms around him in a hug.
"I thought you were going to die!" she said.
"So did I," he said.
The looks which both Pepper and Natalie shot him told him this was probably not the best thing he could have said.
Izzy pulled away, glaring. "What on Earth possessed you to do that?" He'd never really seen her angry before. And he'd thought Pepper was scary when she was mad.
He couldn't tell her. Not here. Not now. "Let's just go inside. Here is not the best place." Reporters pressed in toward them, shouting questions. If he was going to apologize, then he wasn't going to do it with everyone watching.
She still looked angry, but followed him inside.
"It was a mistake, Izzy. A big mistake. And I'm sorry." He was pretty sure that was the first time he'd said "I'm sorry" in a long time.
Pepper shot him a 'you're forgetting something' look.
"I'm so sorry," he added, then turned slightly to face Pepper as well. "To both of you."
He meant every word of it. He hadn't been thinking straight. How could he have possibly thought it was a good idea?
I've had a few people ask if I'm going to add in a little Tony/Bella romance. The answer is no. There are main reasons for this.
1. I like Pepperony.
2. I doubt Tony Stark would be romantically interested in a teenaged girl. Admittedly, I haven't mentioned her age yet, but remember, Tony thought she was thirteen in chapter one. Although he didn't get it quite right, I don't think he's going to fall in love with a girl around that age.
Reviews motivate to me update, by the way, and are a good way to make suggestions, should anyone have any.