Everything was always the same in the village where you lived.

Every day you put on your dress and then your apron, tied your hair with a ribbon and left your house, feeling the morning breeze caress your skin gently, filling your lungs with the refreshing scent of the morning as the first rays of sunlight painted the sky.

And then, when walking through the center of the village, everyone would say "good morning" and continue with their routine chores, giving you some strange looks from time to time.

Not that it surprised you. No, not anymore. Life in the countryside was calm, which gave plenty of room for gossip. And what could give people more of an issue than the weird daughter of the crazy inventor next door? You shook your head at the thought.

The little bell rang as soon as you opened the door to your favorite place, Mr. Robert's bookshop, alerting him to your presence.

"Oh, Y/N! Good morning!" The friendly man smiled over a book he was reading.

"Good morning! I came to return the book I just finished reading," you said, placing it on one of the shelves, looking around for something new, "have any more books arrived?"

He chuckled, "not since yesterday, I fear."

"That's okay, I'll take..." your eyes found the title you liked so much, "this one."

Seeing the one you held, Robert raised his eyebrows slightly, "but you've read this one twice."

"It's my favorite," you sighed, caressing the cover, "adventures in distant lands, sword fights, magic..."

"If you like it so much, it's yours."

It stopped you on your tracks, now surprised, "really?"

"Really. Anyway, you're one of my only customers, so..." he shrugged.

"Thank you so much, your bookstore makes this place look a lot bigger," you smiled gratefully, before leaving and going on your way through the village, this time with your book in hand, avoiding other people's looks and whispers.

Your peace, however, did not last long. It never lasted when John Walker was near, and at that moment he was very near.

"Y/N How nice to see you, I really wanted to talk to you!"

'But I didn't want to,' you thought, before smiling and closing your book, waiting for him to keep going.

"You know, Y/N... I think you should stop paying so much attention to these..." he grimaced, "books. It's not right for a girl to read. You could instead focus on something more important, how to get a husband, for example," he smiled arrogantly, making some girls sigh behind you.

You shook your head, "what are you suggesting, John?"

"Come on, Y/N, haven't you ever imagined yourself as T/N Walker?"

This almost made you flinch, taking a step back, "I'm sorry, John, but I don't feel like this towards you."

This could be the dream of every other girl around the village. John had fought in the war, he was a good soldier and hunter. But so damn full of himself, he was insuferable. So no, he was not a dream of yours. The other girls could have him.

You started walking away, trying not to meet his eye, when he once again got in front of you, "you understand what staying single means, right? Simple people like us can't afford that luxury, Y/N."

This time you stopped right away, scoffing, "I'm not simple and I'm not marrying you, ever," you said before running past him, wanting to get home as soon as possible.

As soon as the door closed, you released the breath you hadn't noticed you were holding, smiling again at the sound of metal clinking in your father's, Tony Stark's, workshop.

"Are you back already, dear? I thought you were going to enjoy the daylight a little more," he commented without taking his eyes off the project on his desk.

"I was going to, but you know... it's not very easy to deal with the people here," you shrugged, watching your father's work.

"It's a small town with small minds, Y/N... but here is a safe place for us, you know that," he finally released the tool to look into your eyes and stroke your hair.

You nodded, sighing, "I know, papa, I know," his eyes focused on the machinery in front of him again, "is it ready yet?"

"Almost, just a few more adjustments and I'm going to start preparing Jarvis for the trip. Could you give him some carrots in the meantime?"

"Sure, papa," you nodded.

When you arrived at the small stable, Jarvis was already awake and very willing to get some carrots, in addition to his horse feed, which you carried in a bucket.

While he was enjoying his meal, you stroked his mane and thought about what John had told you. Y/N Walker? Seriously?

The thought alone repulsed you. You didn't want to be trapped in this country life forever, you wanted adventures, trips, emotions... but most of all, you wanted someone who trully understood you.

For a few minutes, you let yourself imagine more about all the things you still wanted to see and live. But none of them included any man, other than your father, of course. And speaking of him...

"Good job, Y/N," your father praised you, walking up to you with his curious apparatus in hand, placing it on the wagon that would soon be taken by Jarvis.

"Everything ready, papa?"

"Yes," he nodded while getting on the wagon, before frowning, "well, almost everything. You still haven't told me what you want from the market, Y/N."

"Bring me a rose," you asked. They did not bloom near the village and you have fallen in love with them ever since the first time your father brought you one.

"You ask me for one every year," he shook his head, smiling tenderly.

"And every year you bring one to me," you returned the smile, before walking away from Jarvis, "have a good trip, papa."

"I'll be back before you know it, I promise."

You really hoped so.