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MARVEL
──── ❝ it's not safe.❞

CHAPTER EIGHT
.ೃ࿐, marvel
*ೃ༄ ﹌﹌﹌ღ ‗ ❍ . . . . .🧸🩰
•◦• ACT ONE
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✧.*

   CARMEN FONTANA FELT USELESS.

  she could feel her heart painfully thumping against her chest, leaving her palms sweaty and forcing tears to stain her cheeks. she was so scared. her father had been attacked right before her eyes, and she couldn't do anything to prevent it. she had never dealt with anything like this before, and she was almost positive that no one else had seen what seen had.

Carmen release a small grunt as Tony stumbled against her, losing his balance and thudding against the wall of the elevator that led to his Lab. whatever Obadiah had done to paralyze tony was hardly wearing off. Carmen, wanting nothing more than to help her father, rushing toward him as soon as Obadiah left, asking him what she could do to make it better. she received no answer, only watching as his dark brown eyes shifted towards the hallway to his Lab.

she didn't waste another moment before helping him to his feet.

and so, here they stood, waiting to be released from the elevator that smoothly shifted between floors. Carmen viciously gnawed on her bottom lip until metallic crimson stained her tongue. ding! the door slid open, and she didn't hesitate before shakily guiding Tony into his lab. the billionaire lifted his arm, a heavy breath falling from his lips as he pointed to a nearby desk. Carmen spotted a large, glowing artifact that was enclosed in a glass display.

she led him towards it, releasing her grip on him and allowing him to curl his fingers around the desk in an attempt to stabilize himself. he took in a sharp breath as he swiftly fell to the ground.

"Tony!" she cried out, bending down to aid him. his chest rose and fell, and she didn't hesitate before reaching for the glass case on the desk that held his old arc reactor. she knelt down beside him, extending the display case toward him and wiping her tears with her free hand. the billionaire shifted his eyes toward her, watching as the fearful glint in her eyes amplified.

he managed an unsteady smile, "thanks, kid."

he then used all of his strength to turn over on his side and slam the display case on the ground, shards of glass sliding against the cool tile. Carmen screamed in shock, instinctively lifting her hands to cover her ears. the eight year old flinched as new voice called out from behind her. she quickly whipped around, eyes wide with terror as she searched for the person.

she couldn't recognize him as he approached worriedly, "Tony!" he stepped through the shattered glass and knelt down beside the two. Carmen took in his features. short shaved hair, dark brown eyes, soft brown skin. James Rhodes was his name. sweat glistened along his flesh, indicating that he probably rushed to come to their aid. he must've been her fathers friend.

Tony curled his fingers around the man's leather jacket, "where's Pepper?" he whispered.

"she's fine," he huffed out, "she's with five agents. they're about to arrest Obadiah."

James Rhodes shifted his gaze to Carmen, her cheeks flushing pink as she sniffled. he had heard of Tony's daughter, but he had never had the opportunity to meet her in person. he just wished it was under different circumstances.

Tony shook his head at James' words and grumbled, "that's not gonna be enough."

"i need you to call Happy. make sure Carmen is safe." Tony ordered, she quickly began to shake her head in protest.

"what? no! i wanna stay and help." her little voice shrieked.

"no. you won't. we're gonna call Happy, and you're gonna stay with him until it's safe." his words broke as they fell from his mouth. Carmen frowned, more tears welling in her eyes before James Rhodes spoke.

"he's right. it's not safe for you out there." his hand felt for his phone in his pocket as he began to dial Happy Hogan's phone number.

Carmen's thick eyebrows pinched together and she stood on her two feet, watching as her father stumbled to stand on his own. it wasn't fair. having to watch someone writhe in pain and not be able to do anything about it.

"what're you gonna do?" She followed him as he inched toward his most recent project. Carmen had only seen it on the News Channel, as hadn't been in the lab for quite a few days. Tony tinkered with the metal suit he had created, stepping on a small platform and allowing the suit to envelop his figure.

"i'm gonna stop him."

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

CARMEN TAPPED HER FINGER against the fabric of her denim jeans ran her tongue along her ice cream cone, the taste of vanilla cooling her taste buds. a pout was worn on her lips, and she swung her knees back and forth while staring at the cars that zipped by.

beside her sat Happy Hogan, his face void of expression as they sat in complete silence. the girl had fought long and hard against him insisting that she come with him. after her father had taken off in his metal suit, James Rhodes was forced to watch after Carmen until Happy showed up. the man didn't know what to do upon seeing her in her state. dried tears staining her flushed cheeks, upper lip curled as she stared up at him with sad eyes. unable to handle the stress of the situation, he settled on buying her ice cream.

kids liked ice cream, right?

Carmen denied his offer at first, but he insisted on buying her the treat. once he did, the two had found a nearby bench and hadn't moved or uttered a word since.

her father. she couldn't stop thinking about him. she had never seen a human in such a state like that. what was the device that he used against him? she had too many questions. she could hear Happy release a heavy sigh, and she turned to look at him, slightly shocked to see him already staring at her.

"he's gonna be alright, kid." he eased.

Carmen tried to believe him. she wanted to believe him.

"how do you know?"

Happy pressed his lips together at her question, "i don't. but what i do know, is that he's smart. i know he'll do what's right."

Carmen's tongue darted out to lick her lips, gaze trailing away from Happy as she fell into deep thought. she just found her father. she didn't wanna lose him again. not like she lost her mother.

"i just don't wanna be left alone again." she mumbled.

Happy frowned at her words. shit, "i know,"

he watched as she finished what was left of her ice cream cone, wiping her crumby palms along the fabric of her jeans before a yawn escaped her lips.

"what do you say we head back, yeah?" he tried to lighten the mood, nudging the eight year old with his elbow. she only nodded, standing on her two feet and following him to their vehicle. it was silent the whole way there. once they approached the car, Happy opened the back seat for her, allowing her to slide in and buckle up before striding to the drivers side.

Carmen toyed with her earring, her voice coming out timid from the back seat.

"Thank you."

Happy said nothing in return, simply glancing at her through the rear view mirror before continuing their journey along the road to the Stark home, in hopes to find her father waiting for them.

AUTHORS NOTE—
do i smell a friendship forming?? 🤔💭 here's another update loll i cant wait to go back and edit this. we're almost done with act 1 !! i think there's only one more chapter left lol 🫶 enjoy and feel free to check out my other books