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 17: Attack on Rose Hill
An utterly cold breeze washed all over Riley as the young brunette gained consciousness.
The frigid air settled on her body like a thin sheet of ice as she fought the urge to shiver.
Riley moved her hands a bit and felt she was touching something that made you feel like thousands of hot needles or razor blades slicing away your own skin.
But the texture was very cold and wet like…snow?
Suddenly, a familiar male scream rang out, making Riley's eyes snap open and stood up from where she laid, just in time to Tony, who still wore his Iron Man suit, crash land not far from where she stood.
"Dad!"Riley called out.
Ignoring the sore ache in her body, Riley carefully made her way over her father and bent down before removing the Iron Man's faceplate to see his face and saw he was still alive despite the wounds.
"Are you okay?"Riley asked worriedly."Are you in pain?"
"I'm fine, Rye-Rye."Tony answered."What about you?"
"A bit in pain, shock and freezing."Riley admitted while holding the Iron Man faceplate."But surprisingly still breathing."
"It's snowing, right?"Tony questioned, earning a nod from Riley."Where are we, upstate?"
"We are five miles outside of Rose Hill, Tennessee."J.A.R.V.I.S. declared.
Both Tony and Riley became stunned at J.A.R.V.I.S.'s declaration.
"Why? J.A.R.V.I.S.! Not my idea!"Tony demanded angrily."What are we doing here? This is thousands of miles away!"
"Dad."Riley said with a frown."Calm down."
"I gotta get Pepper!"Tony insisted."I gotta..."
"I prepared a flight plan."J.A.R.V.I.S. declared."This was the location."
"Who asked you?"Tony questioned."Open the suit."
"You don't want to do that."Riley insisted in a sing-song tone.
Suddenly, J.A.R.V.I.S.' voice began to crack up.
"I...I think I may be malfunctioning, sir."J.A.R.V.I.S. informed.
"Open it, J."Tony ordered.
The Iron Man suit began to whir quietly before it completely opened up to set Tony to the cold world that Riley was in.
Tony quickly sits up and then his body began to freeze due to the cold weather.
"That's brisk."Tony murmured.
Tony rubbed snow on his wrists, trying to soothe whatever frost pain he was having there.
Riley looked up in the sky.
Instead of stars to break apart the dark, it was the drifting snow and it looked nearly poetic in a way that the young brunette couldn't explain.
Instead of light and hope shining through the dark, it was only the bitter cold.
Noticing his daughter was freezing, Tony quickly puts his arm around Riley and pulled her to his side.
The billionaire helped her up into a sitting position and Riley leaned into him.
Tony pulled Riley's trembling hands up and blows on them, rubbing his hands on either side of the cuts that make up her hands.
"Hey, Rye-Rye, you okay?"Tony asked in concern."You alright?"
"I am fine, dad."Riley answered with a small smile."I am cold. But still fine."
"Maybe you will just cozy back up for a-"Tony started.
"I actually think I need to sleep now, sir."J.A.R.V.I.S. interrupted in a croaky and dying voice.
"J.A.R.V.I.S.!"Tony called out."J.A.R.V.I.S.? Don't leave us, buddy."
Riley let out a sigh, knowing she and her father would have to make their way to town without J.A.R.V.I.S.' help.
"Looks like we're walking, dad."Riley suggested.
Tony slightly shook his head as he stared at the ground.
It took a while for the two Starks to walk through the blistering cold before they reached a small town of Rose Hill.
Tony and Riley noticed a phone booth near a gas station and also a bench near it.
Riley didn't waste any time to sit on the bench since she was utterly exhausted at the whole attack on the Stark Mansion.
"Dad."Riley spoke up, earning Tony's attention."How badly damaged has the mansion become?"
"Yes. It got badly damaged, Rye-Rye."Tony declared."And to be clear, most of its parts had drowned into the ocean."
Riley groaned and covered her face in despair.
The Stark Mansion contained some many happy memories from her childhood as well as the drawings and the old paintings she done as a kid.
And now it was gone.
Tony's eyes landed on a wooden Indian statue that had a poncho wrapped around it.
The billionaire didn't even think twice before hurrying over to the thing.
Tony looked around to make sure that no one was watching before he stole the poncho and went running back over to Riley.
Riley looked up at him curiously, but he only gave her a small smile and wrapped the poncho around her.
"Here."Tony stated."This should help keep you somewhat warm."
"What about you, dad?"Riley asked.
"I'll be fine."Tony assured with a smile."Now just rest for a minute, okay? I need to make a quick phone call."
Riley nodded and Tony reached forward to kiss her forehead.
The young brunette's eyes closed under his touch and he smiled at her before getting up and walking over to the phone booth.
He quickly dialled the number that he needed to call before looking over at Riley.
"Stark secure server now transferring to all known receivers."A female voice declared.
Tony immediately began to give his voice message to Pepper.
"Pepper, it's me. I got Rye-Rye with me. She's okay."Tony responded."I've got a lot of apologies to make and not a lot of time. So...first off, I'm so sorry I put you and Rye-Rye in harm's way. That was selfish and stupid, and it won't happen again. Also, it's Christmas time and the rabbit's too big. Done. Sorry. And I'm sorry in advance because we can't come home yet. I need to find this guy. You gotta stay safe, that's all I know. I just stole a poncho from a wooden Indian and gave it to Rye-Rye to keep her warm."
Tony glanced at Riley and saw his daughter was fiddling with her poncho a little bit.
"I…..I've got to go."Tony whispered."I'll see you soon. Bye."
He then put the phone up before he could say anything else.
Tony stood there for a second longer before letting out a small sigh and going back out to where Riley and the Iron Man suit were.
"Rye-Rye, we got to keep moving."Tony declared."I think I saw what looks to be a garage belonging to a house that is just around the corner. We can go stay there and then you can sit down for as long as you want."
Riley stood up on her feet.
"What are we waiting for?"Riley asked with a small smirk."Let's get going."
Tony smiled softly and ruffled Riley's hair.
"That's my girl."Tony praised.
Tony and Riley then grabbed the Iron Man suit before the two of them began making their way to the garage of the house nearby.
Riley's hands and fingers were numb as she picked the lock of the garage's red door before it successfully opened.
Tony lets Iron Man go first as he made the suit stand up and then hits him over the head with a hammer.
Tony and Riley looked inside the shed.
The small garage was messy with an old truck parked off to the side including random tools and other random things scattered around.
Tony gave a slight nod, deciding that this will do.
The two Starks struggled to plop the suit down onto an old couch and he just lounged back.
"Let's get you comfy."Tony insisted as he arranged the suit's hands and Riley silently played along, arranging his neck and facing him forward."You happy now?"
Riley chuckled lightly at her father's sarcasm before she sat on a nearby chair and began to speak to her father.
"Dad?"Riley spoke up.
"Yes, pumpkin?"Tony said.
"If you're going to face off against the Mandarin, shouldn't you call the rest of the Avengers for backup?"Riley suggested.
"I can't do that, Rye-Rye."Tony stated.
"Why not, dad?"Riley asked with a frown."The Mandarin has backup himself. We nearly got killed from that maniac's lackies."
"I understand you want to help me and I appreciate that a lot, sweetheart."Tony complemented."But we can't always rely on the other Avengers to come to our rescue."
"So you intend to fight the bad guy by yourself?"Riley assumed in disbelief."Without assassins or a super soldier to help you out?"
"You could say that."Tony stated smugly.
"Freeze!"
Both Tony and Riley turned their attention to the entrance of the garage and saw a young boy standing there.
The young boy with sandy blonde hair standing in the doorway with a toy gun being pointed at us. He's wearing a winter coat with a floppy bill hat covering his head and a bag was slung over his shoulder and chest.
His eyes were narrowed slightly and he did his very best to look intimidating.
Tony looked up unamused to see a boy around Riley's age standing there with a toy gun pointed at him.
"Don't move."the young boy ordered.
"You got us."Tony stated as he held his hands up in the air."Nice potato gun. Barrel's a little long. Between that and the wide gauge, it's gonna diminish your FPS."
The boy suddenly jerked his toy gun to the side and pulled the trigger.
An oval potato blasted from the long barrel and then it smashed into a bottle on the shelf.
"And now you're out of ammo."Tony muttered.
The boy brought his attention on Riley, immediately becoming excited.
"Whoa!"the boy remarked with a smile."You're Riley Stark!"
Riley smiled as she stood up from the chair she sat.
"The one and only."Riley chuckled.
The boy then looked at the arc reactor on Tony's chest.
"What's that thing on your chest?"the boy asked.
"It's an electromagnet."Tony answered."You should know, you got a box of them right here."
"What does it power?"the boy questioned.
Tony and Riley glanced at each other.
Riley gave a shrug at her father before Tony pulled away and redirected the lamp towards the suit.
"Oh, my god!"the boy exclaimed excitedly as he dropped his toy gun and took a step towards Tony."That...that's...Is that Iron Man?"
"Technically, I am."Tony commented.
"Technically. You're dead."the boy declared and looked at Riley."Both of you are."
The boy handed a newspaper to Tony which had a picture of him and Riley on the front that read: 'Mandarin Attack: Starks presumed dead.'
Riley went over to Tony and bit her lip at the title on the newspaper.
"Snickerdoodles."Riley mumbled nervously.
"A valid point."Tony stated.
The boy walked over to the suit before touching the mask.
"What happened to him?"the boy asked.
"Life."Tony admitted."I built him. I take care of him. I'll fix him."
"Like a mechanic?"the boy assumed.
"Yeah."Tony agreed.
The boy nodded and then continued looking at Iron Man's head.
"Hmm."the boy commented."If I was building Iron Man and War Machine..."
"It's Iron Patriot now."Tony admitted.
"Wow!"the boy remarked."That's way cooler!"
Riley nodded in agreement.
"No, it's not."Tony denied.
"It totally is."Riley murmured with a smirk.
Tony gave Riley a frown as the two of them continued listening to the boy.
"Anyways, I would have added in, um, the retro..."the boy started.
"Retro-reflective panels?"Riley assumed.
"To make him stealth mode."the boy admitted.
"You want a stealth mode?"Tony questioned.
"Cool, right?"the boy agreed.
"That's actually a good idea."Tony praised."Maybe I'll build one."
The boy looked down at the Iron Man suit before touching the hand.
Within a second, he had accidentally snapped off one of the fingers.
"Yikes."Riley mumbled.
"Not a good idea."Tony declared.
"Oops."the boy said.
"What are you doing? You're gonna break his finger?"Tony scowled as he made his way over to his Iron Man suit."He's in pain. He's been injured. Leave him alone."
"Sorry."the boy apologised.
"Are you?"Tony questioned.
The boy looked at Tony with apologetic eyes.
"Don't worry about it. I'll fix it."the boy assured, earning a smile from Riley."So, uh, who's home?"
"Well, my mum already left for the diner and Dad went to 7-11 to get scratchers."the boy exclaimed as Riley sat back on the chair and Tony crossed his arms."I guess he won because that was six years ago."
"Hmm. Which happens. Dads leave. Ask Rye-Rye. I haven't been in her life for the first eight years. No need to be a pussy about it."Tony admitted before changing the subject."Here's what I need. A laptop, a digital watch, a cell phone, the pneumatic actuator from your bazooka over there, a map of town, a big spring and two tuna fish sandwiches."
"What's in it for me?"the boy asked.
Riley smirked at the boy's question.
"Salvation."Tony answered."What's his name?"
"Who?"the boy asked.
"The kid that bullies you at school."Tony admitted."What's his name?"
"How'd you know that?"the boy said with a shy expression.
"You have an adorable yet sad look which clearly means someone is bothering you."Riley remarked."The smart ones are always picked on."
The boy looked down and blushed at Riley's respond.
"I got just the thing."Tony admitted.
Tony moved towards the suit as Riley stood up from where she sat.
"Come on, dad."Riley pouted."Don't give him that."
"He'll be fine, Rye-Rye."Tony assured.
Tony pulled out a metal object from the Iron Man suit before kneeling down in front of the boy.
"This is a piñata for a cricket."Tony stated, earning a scoff from Riley."I'm kidding. This is a very powerful weapon. Point it away from your face, press the button on top, it discourages bullying. Non-lethal, just to cover one's butt."
The boy attempted to grab it, but Tony pulled it away from him.
"Deal? Deal?"Tony asked."What do you say?"
"Deal."the boy answered.
"Deal?"Tony repeated and gave the boy the metal object."What's your name?"
"Harley."the boy responded."And you're..."
"The mechanic. Tony."Tony replied before gesturing his hand to Riley."And that's my kid. Riley."
Riley gives Harley a smile and a wave.
"You know what keeps going through my head?"Tony commented, making Riley and Harley raise their eyebrows at him."Where's my sandwich?"
As the two of them left Tony to continue working on the suit, Harley and Riley sneaked into the house, trying to be careful even though Mrs. Keener, Harley's mum, wasn't even home.
A small blonde haired girl was sitting in front of her dollhouse in her room, but with the way she was playing with her barbie dolls, she didn't know the Starks were in the house.
Harley kept glancing back at Riley awkwardly as he lead her into the kitchen.
The two kids stepped into the linoleum-floored kitchen and Harley immediately made a beeline for the refrigerator.
Riley wrapped her arms over her chest as she pushed back against the counter.
Harley began pulling different things out of the fridge.
As he sets the different items on the counter beside Riley, his blue eyes lift up at her.
Harley cleared his throat, opened his mouth to speak and then cleared his throat again.
Riley chuckled quietly, raising her eyebrows at him in expectation.
"I-It's super cool to kinda actually meet you in person."Harley admitted.
Harley slopped some gushy tuna down onto the slices of white bread.
"Thanks."Riley thanked lightly."And thanks for letting us stay in your home. We don't have a lot of options at this critical moment, so we really appreciate this."
"Oh, yeah."Harley replied as he waved around the tuna spoon."It's no problem. I honestly think it's cool to help you guys."
Riley looked over the fridge and saw it had a few notes as well as a few Sonic the Hedgehog refrigerator magnets on it.
"You're a fan of Sonic the Hedgehog?"Riley assumed.
Harley blushed in embarrassment as he finished preparing Tony's sandwich.
"Oh..umm…"Harley started.
"Don't worry. So am I."Riley remarked, surprising Harley."Thought I more of a Blaze the Cat fan. I play Sonic Rush Adventure in my Nintendo DS."
Harley nodded as he continued preparing Riley's sandwich.
"So, if you, um, don't mind me asking."Harley replied."Do you have your own suit?"
"Huh?"Riley said in confusion.
"Do you invent iron suits like your dad?"Harley asked."Don't you want to be a superhero too?"
Riley gave Harley a slight chuckle.
"I…actually have secretly planned to make my own iron suit."Riley admitted.
"It sounds awesome."Harley praised.
"Really? Thank you. For a moment, I thought it sounded lame."Riley answered and her smile shrunk a bit."Though my dad thinks I am not ready to fight bad guys like he and the other Avengers did, Harley."
"Why not?"Harley asked and laughed a little."You took a video of the Hulk beating up that crazy guy, who tried to take over New York with an alien army."
Riley chuckled a bit at being reminded of seeing the Hulk beating Loki up.
"That's totally true."Riley praised."But I am actually more into fighting bad guys with my own fists than just filming other heroes beat them up."
"That would be so cool to see."Harley remarked in admiration."You would make a great superhero."
Riley gave Harley a bittersweet smile before he went to grab something off of the counter and held it out to her.
The young brunette carefully stepped closer to see what Harley had on his hand.
A pink Dora the Explorer themed watch, smiling up at her excitedly.
Then again, her dad did say he needed a watch.
It would have to do.
"You think that'll be okay?"Harley asked.
"Oh yeah."Riley replied with an awkward smile."My dad's gonna love this."
Harley heaved a sigh of relief and walked out towards the door with the two tuna fish sandwiches on plates.
"That's good."Harley responded.
As Harley disappeared out of the back door and heads towards the garage, Riley took in a small breath and bit her bottom lip.
She was going to be a superhero someday.
That's what she wanted to become in the future.
But that decision was going to be hers.
No one else.
An hour later, the Starks and Harley were walking into the city of Rose Hill.
Tony and Riley were both dressed in some very country, wintery clothing in hopes of blending in.
The townspeople passed by them and Harley, milling around happily.
"The sandwich was fair, the spring was a little rusty, the rest of the materials, I'll make do."Tony declared."By the way, when you said your sister had a watch..."
"Yeah?"Harley said.
"l was kind of hoping for something a little more adult than that."Tony suggested.
Tony yanked his sleeve up to show Riley and Harley the Dora the Explorer watch latched around his wrist.
Both Riley and Harley chuckled at Tony.
"She's six."Harley remarked."Anyway, it's a limited edition."
"That's what makes it better."Riley sneered with a small smirk.
"When can we talk about New York?"Harley questioned.
"Maybe never."Tony replied."Relax about it."
"What about the Avengers?"Harley suggested."Can we talk about them?"
Riley smiled gently as she thought about Natasha, Steve, Bruce, Clint and Thor.
"I dunno. Later."Tony stated."Hey, kid, give me a little space."
Tony's eye twitched as he, Riley and Harley looked around at the site full of crosses and letters left in memory of those who were killed.
"What's the official story here?"Tony questioned."What happened?"
"I guess this guy named Chad Davis used to live roundabouts."Harley replied as he sits down on the edge of the crater where Riley imagined where the blast occurred."He won a bunch of medals in the army. And one day, folks said he went crazy and made, you know, a bomb. Then he blew himself up, right here."
Tony and Riley looked at the shadows that were burnt into the wall.
"Six people died, right?"Riley asked.
"Yeah."Harley answered.
"Including Chad Davis?"Tony assumed.
"Yeah."Harley agreed.
Tony and Riley then sat down next to Harley.
"That doesn't make sense."Tony declared."Think about it."
"Six people died here."Riley responded."But the wall is only showing five shadows."
Harley nodded at Riley.
"Yeah. People said these shadows are like the marks of souls going to heaven."Harley exclaimed."Except the bomb guy. He went to hell, on account of he didn't get a shadow. That's why there's only five."
"Do you buy that?"Tony asked.
"It's what everyone says."Harley admitted."You know what this crater reminds me of?"
"No idea. I'm not."Tony said casually."I don't care."
Riley sighed and rubbed her forehead, already knowing where he's going with this.
"Don't, Harley."Riley murmured.
"That giant Wormhole in, um, in New York."Harley remarked and looked at Tony."Does it remind you?"
"That's manipulative."Tony answered."I don't want to talk about it."
"Are they coming back?"Harley asked."The aliens?"
"Maybe. Can you stop?"Tony suggested."Remember what I told you, that I have an anxiety issue?"
"Does this subject make you edgy?"Harley said.
"Yeah, a little bit."Tony replied, takes in a short breath, tilting his head back."Can I just catch my breath for a second?"
"Are there bad guys in Rose Hill?"Harley questioned.
Tony groaned quietly as his face scrunched and Riley gently took his arm.
"Hey, dad."Riley whispered."It's okay."
"Do you need a plastic bag to breathe into?"Harley suggested."Do you have medication?"
"No."Tony answered.
"Do you need to be on it?"Harley suggested.
"Probably."Tony responded.
Tony's head twitched to the side.
"Do you have PTSD?"Harley guessed.
"I don't think so."Tony retorted.
Tony began to take in some harsh breaths.
"Are you going completely mental?"Harley continued."I can stop. Do you want me to stop?"
"Remember when I said to stop doing that?"Tony scowled."I swear that you're gonna freak me out."
Tony groaned in annoyance as he stood up from where he sat.
"Ah, man, you did it, didn't you?"Tony complained."You happy now?"
Tony began to jog away from Riley and Harley.
"What did I say?"Harley demanded.
"Dad!"Riley called out as she got up on her feet."Wait up!"
Riley chased after her father, just in time to see him take off his jacket before he stopped at the end of the street.
Tony leaned against before falling onto his knees and breathing heavily.
Riley immediately got down on her knees when she arrived at his side.
"Dad."Riley spoke up."What's going on?"
Harley went over to the Starks.
"What the hell was that?"Harley asked.
Tony didn't respond as Riley reached out her hand to hold his own gently.
"It's okay, dad."Riley assured kindly."You're okay."
Tony's eyes flickered to look at Riley's, feeling his anxiety slowly fade away.
The billionaire then let out a small sigh of relief before grabbing some snow and putting his face in his snow filled hands.
Tony calmed down under the ice's coolness before taking the snow and throwing it at Harley.
"Your fault."Tony declared."You spazzed me out."
Harley gave Tony a sheepish smile as the man adjusted his hat.
Tony brought his attention on Rye-Rye.
"Thanks, Rye-Rye."Tony stated."I needed that."
"Happy to help, dad."Rye-Rye answered with a gentle smile.
Tony then looked back at Harley.
"Okay, back to business."Tony complemented."Where were we? The guy who died. Relatives? Mum? Mrs Davis, where is she?"
"Where she always is."Harley admitted.
Tony stared at Harley for a moment while giving Riley a side-hug.
"See? Now, you're being helpful."Tony remarked and gave a Riley a look."Stay here with Harley, Rye-Rye. I'll be right back."
Riley nodded. "Okay, dad."
Tony headed into the town's bar while Riley and Harley remained in the street together.
Seeing that it was going to take a while for Tony being in the bar, the two kids decided to chat with one another.
"What's it like being with the Avengers, Riley?"Harley asked curiously.
"It's totally awesome, Harley."Riley exclaimed."Since the Starks Tower, my home back in New York, is being fixed due to the damage caused by the alien army. My dad actually plans to have it renamed as the Avengers Tower. To be clearer, it's going to be the Avengers headquarters since it is going to provide the needs of each and every member."
"Really?"Harley said in amazement."That is so cool."
Riley nodded in agreement.
"Do you have a pencil and a small notepad?"Riley questioned.
"Yeah."Harley said.
Harley brought a small pencil and notepad before giving them to Riley.
Riley put her autograph as well as her phone number on Harley's notepad before giving it back to the boy.
"In case, you feel lonely and need someone to chat with."Riley remarked.
Harley stared at his notepad in awe.
"Whoa!"Harley chuckled in delight."Thanks, Riley!"
Riley smirked. "You're welcome."
Harley placed his notepad and pencil away, just in time for him and Riley to see Tony run out of the bar with his hands cuffed.
Looks of confusion and concern appeared on the two kids' faces.
"Is he-"Harley started.
"Handcuffed?"Riley finished.
Then a menacing-looking woman glowing in reddish orange colour came out of the bar.
"Hey, hot wings, you want to party?"Tony called out."Come on, you and me, let's go!"
At the same time, a man glowing exactly like the woman came out of his car.
The man took out his gun to shoot at Tony, who began to run away.
Before the man could fire any bullets, Riley and Harley began to throw snowballs at him.
The bullets missed hitting Tony and the man glared at the two kids with an annoyed look.
"Uh oh."Harley mumbled.
"Run!"Riley retorted.
Riley and Harley began to make a run for it as the man started walking towards them.
The two kids headed into an alley where various metal junk materials laid about before carefully going to another direction and hid behind a car next to a local book store.
Suddenly, a loud explosion erupted from the kitchen of a nearby diner causing Riley and Harley to duck down from being hit by flying rubbles.
Once the rubbles stopped dropping around, Riley immediately left Harley to go check on her father and saw a water tower falling down.
"Dad!"Riley called out.
Riley attempted to go where the water tower fell, just in time to scream when the glowing man from before grabbed her.
"Let go of me!"Riley shouted angrily.
The glowing man picked Riley up and put her over her shoulder.
"Help me!"the glowing man mocked."Help me!"
Riley was brought to the wreckage before being roughly placed on the ground before being forced to sit on the glowing man's knee as he wrapped his arm around her neck.
The brunette struggled in the glowing man's grasp before realising Tony in front of her with his foot trapped under some metal from the falling water tower.
"Dad!"Riley yelled out.
Riley paused as the glowing man's grip around her neck tightened.
"Hey, doll face."the glowing man sneered."What would you like for Christmas?"
"Your freaking hands off me, creep!"Riley scowled with a glare."That's what I want!"
The glowing man looked back at Tony.
"I think she was trying to say, "I want my goddamn file."the glowing man remarked.
Riley growled and struggled more under her captor's grasp.
"Hey, Rye-Rye, it's going to be okay."Tony assured.
Riley gave Tony a confused look, but then she heard the familiar voice of her new friend.
"Riley!"Harley shouted."Look away!"
Riley did as she was told and closed her eyes and looked away right as Harley used a device that flashed a bright light at the man.
The glowing man fell back in surprise and let out a small groan.
Riley was quick and kicked the man where the sun doesn't shine, making him release her.
The brunette then ran away from the glowing man and over to Harley.
Harley and Riley ran away, leaving Tony with the glowing man.
"You like that, Westworld?"Tony taunted."That's the thing about smart guys. We always cover our ass."
Tony then held his hand up where a blaster was attached before he shot the man in the face.
The glowing man went flying back before slumping to the ground lifeless.
Tony let out a groan as he threw the flickering blaster on the ground before he used a metal pipe to help pry the metal off of his leg.
After getting the file and taking the car keys from the dead man, Tony walked out of the alley and back into the street.
Riley noticed her father almost instantly and let out a sigh of relief before running over to him.
"Dad!"Riley exclaimed.
Tony turned around before Riley jumped into his arms to hug him.
Tony stood there for a second in shock before letting out a small sigh of relief and hugging Riley back.
Harley went up to Tony and Riley.
"You're welcome."Harley admitted.
Tony sighed before putting Riley back down on the ground and looking at Harley confused.
"For what?"Tony asked."Did I miss something?"
"Me. Saving your life."Harley admitted."Both of your lives."
"Yeah. A, I saved you first. B, thanks."Tony complemented as he took a pair of keys out of his pocket."Sort of. And C, if you do someone a solid, don't be a yutz. All right? Just play it cool. Otherwise, you come off grandiose."
Tony stopped next to a car that Riley assumed belonged to the man Tony and just fought before he started to get in.
"Unlike you?"Riley guessed with a smirk.
Tony sent Riley a playful glare.
"Haha. Very funny."Tony said sarcastically."Come on, Rye-Rye. We need to get going."
"What?"Riley said in confusion."We're leaving?"
"Rye-Rye, don't argue, please."Tony muttered.
Riley frowned before looking to Harley, who frowned as well.
"Admit it, you need me."Harley insisted."We're connected."
Tony watched with an amused look as Riley and Harley wrapped their arms around each other before giving Tony their best sad faces.
"Please, dad."Riley begged with a pouty face.
"Yeah. Nice try. Both of you. But not gonna happen."Tony declared and looked to Harley."What I need is for you to go home. Be with your mum. Keep your trap shut. Guard the suit and stay connected to the telephone because if I call, you better pick up. Okay? Can you feel that? We're done here. Move out of the way or I'm gonna run you over."
Riley frowned as Tony glanced at her.
"Rye-Rye, say goodbye to him and get in the car."Tony ordered."We need to go."
Riley gives Harley one last hug before pulling away from her friend.
"Bye, Harley."Riley stated.
"Bye, Riley."Harley responded.
The two kids offered each other weak smiles before Riley walked around to the other side of the car and got in.
Tony nodded and looked to Harley.
"Bye, kid."Tony replied.
Tony got in the car before quickly turning it and rolling down the window.
"I'm sorry, kid."Tony apologised."You did good."
"So, now you're just gonna leave me here, like my dad?"Harley questioned.
Riley had to put a hand over her mouth to hide her smile, knowing exactly what her friend was trying to do.
"Yeah."Tony agreed before realising what was going on and looked to Harley in shock."Wait, you're guilt-tripping me, aren't you?"
Harley didn't answer and instead wrapped his arms around himself.
"I'm cold."Harley admitted childishly.
"I can tell. You know how I can tell?"Tony said mockingly."Because we're connected."
And with that, Tony drove away, leaving Harley to stare after the car while Riley waved goodbye to him.
"Bye, Harley!"Riley remarked."And thank you!"
Harley waved back to Riley before sighing as the car drove out of view.
"It was worth a shot."Harley mumbled with a shrug.