Author's Note: I don't own Avengers or its characters. I only own Riley Stark and other OCs that appear in the story.
Take on the World
Chapter 3: The Living Legend
Riley sat in the desk of her bedroom, looking through the sketches she had done over the last couple of years.
The brunette wore a pink metallic jacket, a white shirt, denim vest and a dark brown lace skirt with a pair of black short boots. Her chestnut brown hair was in a loose and straight hairstyle.
On her desk was a soft pink spiral notebook with the word 'Wonderland' written on the front in white. Several loose pages stick up from the top of the notebook.
Two dark blue pencils were placed on the right side of the notebook.
Like Gwen, the Stark heiress enjoyed shopping and video games.
But there are also times that she preferred drawing beside anything else.
A light chuckle escaped from Riley's mouth as she stared at an adorable drawing of the Powerpuff Girls that she had drawn when she was seven years old that looked a bit scribbly.
Riley turned a few pages of her notebook and stopped to look at her late mother's five intricate Hanafuda cards sticked on one of the pages.
She recalled the times that she used to snuggle next to her mother and Sarah would always tell her daughter amazing stories that were from different places around the world.
Like the Mysterious tunnels hiding in the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Magic Paintbrush, Rip Van Winkle and various others.
That inspired Riley to wanting to see more of the world.
Not just the parts where her family relatives lived in.
After closing her notebook, Riley made her way to the kitchen to have breakfast.
The brunette opened the fridge and took out a packet of Kellogg's Eggo blueberry waffles.
Riley placed a couple of frozen waffles flat on a baking sheet and then heat in the oven for about 5 minutes.
Once the waffles were crispy and hot, the Stark heiress used her oven gloves to bring them out and then place them on a plate.
Riley placed a bit of butter and syrup on the waffles before going to sit and started eating them.
She murmured in delight upon feeling the waffles bursting with berry flavour in her mouth.
Then Pepper came into the room and gave Riley a kiss on the forehead.
"Morning, Riley."Pepper greeted.
"Morning, Pepper."Riley answered."Did dad already left to go to work?"
"I'm afraid so, sweetie."Pepper replied with an apologetic smile.
Riley shook her head.
"It's okay."Riley assured."Dad is a superhero. He has to help those who can't even defend themselves."
Pepper prepared herself a cup of coffee before sitting in the opposite seat next to Riley.
"So how does it feel to be back to school, Riley?"Pepper asked.
Riley finished eating a piece of waffle before responding back to Pepper.
"It's alright. Everyone was happy to see me back."Riley exclaimed with a shy smile."Especially Gwen."
"You're growing up so quickly, Riley."Pepper complemented.
Riley chuckled at Pepper's respond.
"Well, I'm only eleven years old."Riley replied as she cut a bit of her waffles."Say, Pepper? Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead, dear."Pepper insisted.
"Well, do you think I'll be able to travel to other places in the world someday?"Riley asked."l mean I love New York, but l really want to learn and see new things."
"That's a good ambition, Riley."Pepper praised."The more the places you go see, the more things you learn. I'm sure that someday will come soon."
Riley gives Pepper a grateful smile.
"Thanks, Pepper."Riley thanked.
Steve Rogers (also known as Captain America) was inside his small apartment and watching a World War II documentary on a laptop. He then looked at a file that included the status of Peggy Carter and the Howling Commandos.
In that file, Bucky Barnes was listed as 'Missing in Action' while Howard Stark was among the deceased.
Peggy was still alive, with her address and telephone number on her file, but Steve decided not to call her.
It had been 70 years since he last saw her.
How could he just suddenly call her after so long?
Steve later walked through New York City, bewildered by this new modern world that he was now in and eats at Cal's Diner.
Riley met up with Gwen in the Central Park.
The area had a storied history, and its winding trails, rocks, and streams await discovery. If anyone wanted plenty of sunshine and more of a social vibe, spread out a blanket at Sheep Meadow, where groups playing guitar, catching frisbees, and tanning are sprawled out as far as the eye can see.
It's also, of course, the most famous park in New York City.
The two girls sat on a bench together; Riley held a book that talked about World World II while Gwen was fixing the wheel on her skateboard.
Gwen wore an AC/DC top, a studded leather vest, dark grey jeans and studded lace-up boots.
"Alright, Gwen."Riley complemented."What was the Great Depression?"
"A very bad event."Gwen answered while fixing her skateboard.
"Yes."Riley agreed with a nod."In 1929, our country fell apart. Not only because the economy suffered, but because we neglected the working class people who served us with pride and dignity."
"And because we never cared enough to get to know them, they were easily taken for granted and became 'The Forgotten'."Gwen added.
"Bingo."Riley praised proudly.
Gwen glanced at Riley.
"Come on, Riles."Gwen answered with a small smirk."I don't see how a history test could cause you to be so worrisome."
"I have the right to be."Riley admitted."I need to make sure I have to ace every single test that comes up in order to do awesome on the real exams. Otherwise, I'll end up as one of those brainless women that wasted their lives."
A slight chuckle escaped from Gwen's mouth.
"I don't see that ever happening."Gwen admitted."You're Riley Stark."
"Yes. I am Riley Stark. A middle school kid. My dad is a genius level intellect beside being a proficient scientist and engineer. I want to make him proud."Riley stated with a determined look."But I want to be the first female Stark that is unique in her own special way."
"You already are."Gwen assured."Just be yourself and don't ever try to be nobody else."
Riley chuckled as she rested her head on Gwen's shoulder.
"You know Mr Daniels will make us repeat the history test if we fail, right?"Riley asked.
"Oh yes."Gwen answered, still smiling."And I totally don't want that."
Riley and Gwen headed out of the Central Park to go to Cal's Diner.
The two girls sat down on an empty table.
"So basically the history test will include questions based on how World War 2 started and what occurred during it?"Gwen assumed.
"Yep."Riley said with a nod.
"Sounds exhausting."Gwen grumbled and took out her phone to check the date for the school history test."At least it will be within a week."
"Well, we can always use the books that Mr Daniels gave us to study on."Riley suggested.
"I rather we use the internet."Gwen admitted.
"Alright. The internet it is."Riley remarked."I actually found a few websites that happen to be reliable sources to ace those history tests."
Gwen nodded before looking at her phone to play a bit of 'Candy Crush' on it.
"That's great, Riles."Gwen praised."But I think we'll also have to be careful not to-"
Gwen's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she observed how Riley seemed to be staring straight at something behind her with a stunned look on her face.
"Riley? Riles? Hello?"Gwen questioned while waving her hand on her best friend's face."Are you okay?"
Gwen then glanced behind her to follow her best friend's line of vision.
Standing a short distance away was a man with blonde hair and blue eyes that appeared to be 25 years old, who was busy drawing on a sheet of paper.
Gwen glanced back at Riley, having no clue why her best friend was looking at some random guy all the sudden.
"Who is the dreamboat?"Gwen asked slightly."Do you know him?"
"Yes."Riley answered.
Riley gestured Gwen to bring her ear closer to whisper something at her.
"Gwen."Riley whispered, speaking in Gwen's ear."That's Captain America."
A look of disbelief appeared on Gwen's face.
"Riley, come on. That's crazy."Gwen complemented."How can that guy be Captain America? If he was still alive, he should look like somebody in his 90s by now. Old and wrinkly. Not still young and dreamy."
Riley opened her backpack and took out a dark brown coloured photo album before placing it on the table.
"This belonged to my Grandfather Howard."Riley exclaimed as she began to show the photo album to Gwen."And it shows pictures of him with Grandmother Mario, my dad and some of his close friends. Look."
Riley showed Gwen a picture of Howard Stark as a young man with Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers.
The brunette pointed at Steve's face on the picture.
"Do you see the resemblance?"Riley said softly.
An utterly stunned look appeared on Gwen's face upon seeing the similarities before giving a small glance to Steve, who continued drawing on his sheet.
"No freaking way."Gwen muttered."How can he still look so young and dreamy after 70 years?"
"I don't know."Riley answered.
"Perhaps he found a fountain of youth somewhere after the war?"Gwen guessed.
Riley frowned. "There's no such thing as a fountain of youth."
Gwen smirked at Riley.
"Why not ask him and find out?"Gwen suggested.
A nervous wave washed over Riley over Gwen's request.
"Oh, no, no, no, no."Riley answered, immediately becoming nervous."I can't talk to him."
"Why not, Riles?"Gwen asked."He was your grandpa's friend. So that makes him utterly a family friend to you."
"The thing is my dad doesn't like Captain America because my late grandparents kept bragging about him so much."Riley admitted as she placed the photo album back in her backpack."If he learned that I met him, he won't take the news well. The super soldier may have been my grandfather's friend, but my dad is not his biggest fan."
This caused Gwen's smirk to grow.
"But your dad isn't here right now."Gwen reminded smugly."And he doesn't need to know. So…"
Gwen gestured her hand to where Steve was sitting causing Riley to grin in a rather nervous way.
"Fine."Riley replied in defeat."I'm going to talk to him."
"Bravo."Gwen praised proudly.
"But what do I tell him, Gwen?"Riley questioned.
"You can just first introduce yourself."Gwen insisted.
"You know I can talk to him some other time."Riley suggested, trying to change the subject."And hey, we came here to eat and-"
Gwen frowned. "Just go already, Riles."
"Okay."Riley whimpered worriedly.
Riley slowly stood up from her seat and took a deep breath before slowly making her way to where Steve was.
She then spoke up to earn his attention.
"Mr Rogers?"Riley asked.
Steve looked up to meet Riley's gaze as the brunette smiled anxiously at him.
"Hi, I'm Riley Stark. Howard Stark's granddaughter."Riley admitted, keeping her cool."How are you doing in this fine day?"
Steve gives Riley a smile.
"I'm doing fine, Miss Stark."Steve replied."But please call me, Steve."
"Well…okay, Steve."Riley remarked, surprising how kind the famous WWII soldier was."Then you can just call me 'Riley' as everyone else does. No need to be formal with me either."
Riley then notice the unfinished yet unique sketching of Stark Tower on a paper that was near Steve.
The brunette did learn that Steve was an artist before he becoming a super soldier.
"Whoa, you're a pretty good artist."Riley praised in awe and looked at Steve."Are you waiting for my dad to fly by? Most people come here just to see that."
"Right."Steve said with a smile.
"You look so lost."Riley suggested, knowing how troubled Steve was."Trying to fit into modern society must be hard after having to have missed so much, huh?"
"You could say that."Steve complemented."The world has changed a lot since the last time I saw it."
Riley nodded at Steve, understanding his troubles.
Gwen suddenly appeared and placed her hand over Riley's shoulder.
"Hey, Riles. Why not ask the famous guy if he's hungry for something sweet."Gwen requested."A little something sweet usually makes someone feel better."
"Right, Gwen."Riley replied, utterly confused what her best friend was trying to do."Steve, this is my best friend, Gwen Warren. Gwen, this is Steve."
Gwen shakes hands with Steve.
"Nice to meet you, Steve. Your heroism in WW2 is famously known throughout the world. Not just here in America."Gwen admitted smugly."I must say it's a rare yet pure honour to meet the sickly young man, who became the super soldier capable of amazing feats single handily with his team, the Howling Commandos."
Riley frowned at Gwen over her choice of words, but Steve simply gives the young blonde a kind smile as well.
"Thank you."Steve replied."And it's nice to meet a companion to a granddaughter of an old friend."
Riley glanced at Gwen.
"Hey, Gwen."Riley said brightly."No need to make Steve feel so nostalgic."
"I'm not."Gwen assured with a smirk."Just to trying to build up the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
Riley gives an anxious chuckle at Gwen's respond.
"Of course, it is."Riley replied before looking at Steve."Say, Steve. Would you like to try some pecan pie? My treat."