Major spoiler: Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the Marvel cinematic universe as Doctor Doom!
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 16: Tony's Fear
Rhodey drove Riley back to the Stark Mansion while the sun setting was setting down in the background.
"Say Rhodey?"Riley spoke up."Do you think my dad will ever be himself again?"
Rhodey let out a sigh.
"Well…your dad is still traumatised from having almost sacrificing himself to save the world, Riley."Rhodey explained."So it will take time for him to get over the events that happened in New York."
Riley nodded at Rhodey in silence.
Soon, Rhodey's car arrived in front of the Stark Mansion.
Riley climbed out of the car, only for her jaw slowly fell slack at what she saw before her.
A very large stuffed rabbit stood out on the front porch.
It was just chilling there without any purpose.
"Okay?"Riley responded, not knowing what to say before glancing at Rhodey."Thanks for the ride, Uncle Rhodey."
"No problem, Riley."Rhodey answered with a wave."See you later."
Rhodey then drove away in his car as Riley made her way inside Stark Mansion after waving him goodbye.
Riley headed inside the Stark Mansion, but saw neither Tony or Pepper weren't around.
"Did I just beat everyone on the trip back home?"Riley asked enthusiastically.
The brunette then simply shrugged and went to sit down on one of the chairs near the mantel to use her iPhone to chat with Gwen.
Gwen: How is Malibu?
Riley: Fantastic. It seems I am home alone for a moment. What about you?
Gwen: New York still the same. People miss the Avengers while some see them as a total problem.
Riley: All people have different views.
Gwen: Took some surfing lessons?
Riley: Not yet. My dad is still bothered from what happened during New York.
Gwen: Worm hole?
Riley: Worm hole.
"Who are you texting?"
Riley freaked out and fell off from the sofa chair she sat on.
She looked up and saw her father was dressed in his Iron Man's Mark 42 armour.
"Dad!"Riley scowled."Quit doing that!"
"Sorry, Rye-Rye."Tony apologised."Just wanted to check on you."
Riley frowned. "After you left me behind?"
"That was a mistake."Tony declared."Not doing that again."
Riley picked up her iPhone as she stood up from where was.
"I was texting Max."Riley stated.
"Max?"Tony questioned, becoming suspicious."Who is he?"
Riley frowned, knowing her father was going to overprotective mode.
"First off, he is a she."Riley corrected."Second, Max is a nickname for Maxine. And lastly, it is my best friend's middle name. Gwendolyne Maxine Warren."
"Oops."Tony responded while putting his hands up in defence."My bad."
Riley chuckled at her father's mistake as Pepper showed up in the house.
"What is that?"Pepper asked."You're wearing this in the house now? What is that, like, Mark 15?"
"Uh, yeah."Tony answered, making Riley frown."Something like that. You know, everybody needs a hobby."
"Oh, and you have to wear your hobby in the living room?"Pepper questioned.
"Just breaking it in."Tony replied.
"He was in his over-protective mode a moment ago because he thought I was texting a boy."Riley admitted.
Pepper gives Tony an amused smile.
"Really?"Pepper asked.
"Just making sure Rye-Rye doesn't stick in the wrong crowd."Tony answered casually.
Riley frowned and placed earphones on her ears to listen to 'Vogue' by Madonna on her iPhone as her father made his way to where Pepper was.
"Well, hey, did you see your Christmas present?"Tony asked.
"Yes, I did."Pepper answered as she picked up a few papers that had drawings of Iron Man on it."I...I don't know how I could've missed that Christmas present. Is it gonna fit through the door?"
"Well, actually, it's a good question."Tony stated."I got a team of guys coming tomorrow. They're gonna blow out that wall."
"Okay."Pepper responded.
Tony began giving Pepper a slow massage by the shoulders.
"So, uh...Tense? Good day? Huh?"Tony remarked."Ooh, shoulders, a little knotty.
Naughty girl. I don't want to harp on this, but did you like the custom rabbit?"
"Did I like it?"Pepper chuckled.
"Nailed it, right?"Tony assumed.
"Wow. I appreciate the thought very much."Pepper remarked as she stood up to go over Tony."So, why don't you lift up that face mask and give me a kiss?"
Tony imitated computer beeping as he tapped his masked head.
"Yep. Damn it, no can do."Tony declared and pointed to his closed lip."You want to just kiss it on the...the facial slit?"
"Uh-huh."Pepper giggled as she backed away to head to the garage."Well, why don't I run down to the garage and see if I can't find a crowbar to jimmy that thing open?"
"Crowbar, yeah."Tony agreed before realising something."Oh. Except there's been a radiation leak."
"I'll take my chances."Pepper insisted.
"That's risky."Tony warned.
Riley noticed a warning signal coming on her iPhone causing her to pause the music masterpiece she was listening before removing her earphones and stand up from where she sat to go join Pepper in the garage.
"I have a crowbar is in my old toll chest."Riley stated as she walked down the stairs with Pepper."That's also where I keep my Tamagotchi gadget."
Pepper looked at Riley curiously.
"Are you planning to building your own armour, Riley?"Pepper asked.
Riley gives Pepper a small smirk.
"Only if dad allows me to-"Riley started.
Riley trailed off when she and Pepper arrived in the garage, only to see Tony sitting in the lab and not wearing his suit.
The billionaire was the middle of doing exercise and turned to look at the two while wearing some digital mask on his face.
Riley glanced behind Tony and caught sight of a screen that had video surveillance of her from behind which was where the Iron Man suit was at the moment.
The young brunette folded her arms as she looked at her father in disappointment.
"Busted."Tony muttered.
"This is a new level of lame."Pepper declared.
"Totally."Riley agreed with a nod.
"Sorry."Tony apologised.
"You ate without me already?"Pepper said in disbelief as she gestured towards a plate of half-eaten food that was on one of the tables in the lab."On date night?"
"He was just..."Tony started.
"You mean you."Riley corrected.
"Well, yeah, I just mean we were just…just hosting Pepper and was going to pick you up while I finished up a little work."Tony admitted.
"I don't like being left behind, dad."Riley retorted with a frown."You know that."
"Rye-Rye."Tony said with an apologetic look.
"Tony-"Pepper spoke up.
"And yes, I had a quick bite."Tony declared and looked at Pepper."I didn't know if you were coming home or you were having drinks with Aldrich Killian."
"Eh?"Riley questioned.
The Iron Man suit looked at Pepper accusingly.
"What?"Pepper asked before glancing back at Tony."Aldrich Killian? What, are you checking up on me?"
"Happy was concerned."Tony stated.
"No, you're spying on me."Pepper corrected.
"I wasn't."Tony denied.
"I'm going to bed."Pepper declared.
Riley shook her head as she and Pepper began to walk up the stairs.
"Hold on. Come on. Pep! Rye-Rye!"Tony called out panicking before quickly raising his voice and hands."Hey! I admit it! My fault! Sorry!"
Both Riley and Pepper slowed on the stairs as they turned back to look at Tony.
"I'm a piping hot mess."Tony admitted as he dropped his arms back to his sides and uncomfortably crossed them over his chest."It's been going on for a while. I haven't said anything. Nothing's been the same since New York."
Pepper and Riley headed back down the garage.
"Oh, really?"Pepper questioned."Well, I didn't notice that. At all."
"You experience things and then they're over, and you still can't explain them."Tony complemented as he shook his head slightly as he squinted at her, trying to get her to understand what only a few people could."Gods. Aliens. Other dimensions. I-I-I'm just a man in a can."
Riley took in a deep breath as she and Pepper listened to Tony.
"The only reason I haven't cracked up is probably because you moved in."Tony admitted."I love you both. Which is great, I'm lucky. But honey, pumpkin, I can't sleep. You two go to bed, I come down here. I do what I know. I tinker."
Tony heaved a weak yet defeated sigh as he sat back down on the railing.
"Threat is imminent."Tony declared.
Riley bit her lip.
It was true.
She somehow knew that these threats wouldn't ever stop.
A superhero life was always filled with danger beside fame, admiration and glory.
"And I have to protect the two things that I can't live without."Tony exclaimed and gesturing to Pepper and Riley."That's the two of you. And my suits, they're, uh…"
"Machines."Pepper finished.
"They're part of you."Riley murmured.
"A distraction."Pepper stated sadly.
"Maybe."Tony replied.
Pepper slowly walked over to him and hugged him to her chest.
She gently leaned his head down against her as she held onto him.
Riley smiled lightly before walking forward to share a hug with Pepper and Tony.
Riley was utterly silent as she sat by Happy's right side.
The brunette wore a grey cat t-shirt, floral shorts, purple tights and a black military jacket with short black boots.
She held onto his arm gently with tears in her eyes as she stared at Happy laying in the hospital bed before her.
Apparently, last night, while they had all been asleep, he had been in some kind of accident where a sudden explosion happened at the Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.
Happy was the only survivor that they knew about.
Everyone else had been burned so badly and as an result all that was left were their shadows on the walls.
Riley sniffed and wiped away the tears in her eyes with her sleeve as she tried to comprehend what was happening.
Happy was like another uncle figure to her.
She couldn't lose him.
The door to the room opened up and a nurse walked in.
The nurse paused at the sight of Riley and gave her a small smile to which the young brunette returned with a weak one.
The nurse walked over and checked on a few things before grabbing the TV remote.
She was about to turn it off and Riley turned to look at her.
"Hi."Tony greeted.
The nurse jumped in surprise and saw Tony standing in the corner of the room.
"Oh."the nurse said.
"Uh…mind leaving that on?"Tony asked.
"Sure."the nurse replied.
Tony smiled slightly as he got up out of his seat.
"Sunday night's PBS 'Downtown Abbey'."Riley whispered.
The nurse turned to Riley with a confused expression.
"That's his show."Tony remarked."He thinks it's elegant."
Tony paused for a moment and looked over at Happy and Riley.
He looked back to the nurse.
"One more thing...make sure everyone wears their badges."Tony instructed."He's a stickler for that sort of thing, plus my guys won't let anyone in without them."
Tony then glanced at Riley and sighed before holding an arm out.
"Come on, Rye-Rye."Tony instructed.
Riley hesitated at first before she looked over at Happy before squeezing his hand gently with tears in her warm brown eyes and quivering lips.
"You're going to be okay, Happy."Riley assured with a weak smile, fighting back her tears."You have to be. Who else will I watch Downtown Abbey with? I love you, Happy. Keep fighting, okay?"
Riley then squeezed his hand one more time before getting up and walking over to her father.
When his daughter headed out the room, Tony went over to Happy.
Tony sighed and he could already hear what Happy would be telling him if he were awake.
He glanced at his friend and smiled sadly.
"You're gonna be okay, Hap."Tony assured firmly."And I promise I will fix this."
The two Starks walked out of Cedars-Sinai Hospital with their heads down and sunglasses on.
They were hoping the reporters wouldn't notice them.
But who wouldn't recognise the famous father and daughter duo?
"Mr Stark! Miss Stark!"A reporter called out, but neither Tony or Riley were paying attention."Our sources are telling us that this is another Mandarin attack. Anything else you can tell us?"
Riley kept quiet while Tony was watching her with a sad expression.
The billionaire didn't even hesitate before wrapping an arm around his daughter and pulling her close to his body to shield her from the reporters and photographers.
Tony and Riley continued their way to the car, but the reporters kept calling after them.
"Hey, Mr Stark! When is somebody gonna kill this guy?"A second male reporter questioned while holding his phone."Just saying."
Tony froze and turned to face the reporter angrily before Riley got a hold of his hand to keep him calm which sort of helped.
"Is that what you want? Here's a little holiday greeting I've been wanting to send to the Mandarin."Tony stated with a stern look."I just didn't know how to phrase it until now. My name is Tony Stark and I'm not afraid of you. I know you're a coward, so I've decided that you just died, pal. I'm gonna come get the body. There's no politics here; it's just good old-fashioned revenge. There's no Pentagon. It's just you and me."
Tony then took off his sunglasses and looked directly at the camera.
Riley kind of expected what he was saying, but what she wasn't expecting was him giving out their home address.
"And on the off-chance you're a man, here's my home address."Tony declared."10880, Malibu Port, 90265. I'll leave the door unlocked."
Before anyone knew what was happening, Tony had grabbed the reporter's phone.
"That's what you wanted right?"Tony assumed.
The billionaire turned and threw the phone at a brick wall, the device instantly shattering into hundreds of pieces.
He turned back around to the reporter and didn't even blink.
"Bill me."Tony declared sightly.
Tony then helped Riley into the car before he got in as well and drove away from the crowd.
The Stark Mansion was on lockdown for the rest of the day according to Tony.
Riley hadn't bothered listening much to what he was telling her in the car seeing as she couldn't seem to focus.
However, she picked up bits and pieces about how he had threatened the Mandarin, so it was best if everyone stayed home and no one came in.
Other than that, it had gone in one ear and out the other.
Riley had since been locked in her room, watching as helicopters flew by hoping to catch some pictures or videos on the Starks.
No doubt Gwen, Peter, Ned or any other classmates from Midtown West Middle School would be tackling her with messages on the bad guy her father was going to face without the rest of the Avengers anytime soon.
Riley went to her father's room and saw Pepper packing a few bags.
Apparently last night, her mother-figure went to sleep with her when the Mark 42 Iron Man suit attempted to attack her while her father had woken in shock due to the nightmare he had based on the battle of New York.
Maybe a holiday somewhere else could help her father with his traumatic stress?
Skiing in the Alps?
Sunning in the Bahamas?
But then again, staying a quiet place for Christmas wouldn't be so bad.
"Hey, Pepper."Riley greeted, coming out of her thoughts."Whatcha doing?"
"Packing."Pepper admitted."We're going out of town."
This caused Riley's mood to brighten up.
"Ooh, where are we going?"Riley asked excitedly.
"Rome."Pepper declared.
"Awesome."Riley praised with a smile."I'll get my backpack."
The young brunette went to her room and started packing her things in her backpack when she heard the doorbell go off.
Who could be at the door?
"Were we expecting a visitor?"Riley said in confusion.
"Not that I am aware of."Pepper responded.
Pepper and Riley tossed their bags on the floor below near Tony, who got out of his Iron Man suit and Maya Hansen; one of his ex-girlfriends during his time in Switzerland.
"Tony?"Pepper called out."Is somebody there?"
"Yeah, it's Maya Hansen."Tony admitted."An old botanist pal that I used to know, barely."
Riley and Pepper began making their way down as Tony spoke to Maya.
"Please don't tell me there's a 12 year old kid waiting in the car that I've never met because I can only handle one kid."Tony declared.
"He's 13 and no."Maya admitted."I need your help."
"But, what for?"Tony questioned in confusion."Why now?"
"Because I read the papers and frankly, I don't think you'll last the week."Maya stated.
"I'll be fine."Tony assured.
Riley gives Maya a wave as she and Pepper went next to Tony.
"Hello."Riley greeted with a wave.
Maya simply smiled at Riley and gives her a wave back.
"I'm sorry, with Happy in the hospital, I didn't know we were expecting guests."Pepper remarked.
"We weren't."Tony responded.
"And old girlfriends."Pepper added.
"She's not, really."Tony stated.
"No, not really."Maya agreed."It was just one night."
"A dinner date?"Riley guessed.
"Yep."Tony answered casually.
Pepper gives Tony an amused smile.
"That's how you did it, isn't it?"Pepper said.
"It was a great night."Tony admitted.
Riley gives Tony a bewildered expression as Pepper looked at Maya.
"Yep. Well, you know."Pepper responded."You saved yourself a world of pain."
Tony frowned. "What?"
Riley let out a soft giggle.
"I'm sure."Maya chuckled.
"Trust me."Pepper assured and glanced at Tony."We're going out of town."
"We're going to Rome."Riley chuckled.
"Okay."Tony complemented, not happy with the idea that Pepper and Riley had on leaving Malibu."We've been through this. Nope."
"Yep!"Pepper agreed.
"The man says no."Tony argued.
"Immediately and indefinitely."Pepper insisted.
"Rome has traditional gelaterias and cannoli."Riley informed with a small smirk.
"Rye-Rye..."Tony started.
"Great idea."Maya agreed."Let's go."
Riley went to put on her backpack while Maya went to pick up Pepper's bags.
"I'm sorry, that's a terrible idea."Tony declared."Please don't touch her bags."
Pepper frowned at Tony.
"This is how normal people behave."Pepper stated.
"I can't protect you and Rye-Rye out there."Tony argued.
"Dad."Riley scowled, earning Tony's attention."The Mandarin. I think I know that."
Maya noticed the large stuffed rabbit in the living room.
"Is...Is that normal?"Maya asked.
"Yep."Riley mumbled with an awkward smile."For him."
Pepper laughed lightly, nodding towards the bunny and then towards Maya.
"Sadly, that is very normal."Pepper declared.
"Yes, this is normal."Riley replied.
"It's a big bunny!"Tony snapped."Relax about it!"
"Calm down."Pepper instructed.
"I got this for you."Tony commented.
"I'm aware of that."Pepper said.
Riley looked down on the floor with a disappointed look.
"We are supposed to be on holiday."Riley muttered quietly.
Tony didn't hear Riley's respond since he was busy arguing with Pepper.
"You still haven't even told me you liked it."Tony reminded.
"I don't like it."Pepper admitted.
"I asked you three."Tony retorted, bouncing on his knees a little and motioning on one of his hands."You don't like it."
"We are leaving the house."Pepper demanded.
"Guys?"Maya spoke up, earning Tony, Pepper and Riley's attention."Do we need to worry about that?"
Tony, Pepper, Riley and Maya's eyes shifted towards the TV and saw the Starks Mansion being displayed on a live news network.
Riley became horrified when she saw a glowing object with a smoke tail burning towards the white mansion on the cliff.
Then the missile dived into the cement of the house causing an explosion.
The terrace was blown apart and its flooring was blown towards the group, carrying a wave of fire in its wake.
Riley witnessed glass, debris and dust scattering throughout the room as her body was bent and lifted.
She and the three adults were all thrown off of their feet and flown back.
The world was brought into a strange mix of time as they were suspended through the air.
The time became too quick for any of them to scream, but slow enough for us to see each other.
Riley's hair flew all around her face as her eyes dart nervously to her father.
Tony arranged his arms, calling the suit to shield Pepper's body.
But the last thing Riley recalled seeing was Tony attempted to reach out for her.
And then she felt her head hitting hard against the wall before everything goes black.