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MARVEL
──── ❝ we're going home.❞

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

MARIA FONTANA WAS DEAD. she had been buried in a grave for nearly six months, leaving her eight year old daughter all by her lonesome. Despite it being months ago, Tony was hurting. the death of his previous lover was hitting hard. His stomach churned as he thought back on the stolen moments they shared.  There was nothing he could do now. no way to retrace their steps.

Tony stood in the door way of Carmen's recovery room, arms crossed over his chest as he stared at her stirring state. Her thick eyebrows were pinched together, her breathing becoming a little uneven. Her dark hair was sprawled into the pillow beneath her.

Carmen slowly pried her eyes open, irises sensitive to the dim lights that illuminated the small recovery room. Once she met eyes with Tony, she immediately grinned, only for it to quickly fall when she noticed Alice Fontana behind him.

Oh, no.

Carmen had begun to grow nervous. it'd been weeks since she's seen her aunt. Weeks since she lied to her. She couldn't even imagine the punishment she would be given. It wasn't the first time that Carmen had lied to Alice, but they've never been this severe. She ran away for christ sakes. Carmen was beginning to feel her chest tighten.

she never would have thought it had gotten this far. Now, she watched as Alice sat at the edge of her hospital bed, Tony beside her as Alice softly questioned the eight year old on how she had managed to track down her father.

"When we got to Boston, i put you into the car service." Alice pinched her eyebrows together. Carmen frowned and avoided her gaze.

"I sort of e-mailed and changed the drop off location. The driver took me to Tony's."

Alice took in a sharp breath, doing her best not to lose her temper at the eight year old. "Where does everybody at your ballet school think you are, sweetheart?"

"In Africa with you." She inched out. Tony couldn't help but roll his eyes and let out a deep sigh.

"The most important thing is that you're okay," Alice tucked a dark strand of Carmen's hair behind her ear, "But, we're gonna need to discuss everything else when we get home."

At that, Carmen's eyes went wide, her lips parting. Home. It had just now dawned on her that she would have to go back with her Aunt. She would be forced to leave Tony.

Maybe it was for the best. Maybe if she hadn't shown up on his doorstep in the first place, she wouldn't saved him the stress. She wouldn't have made him out to be the worlds worst father in front of the press. She would have saved him from

"Home?" Tony knitted his eyebrows together.

"Yes," Alice spared him a glance. Carmen fiddled with the fabric of her blanket, "As soon as she's strong enough, we're leaving Malibu and we're going home."

"Just like that, huh?" He narrowed his eyes, "you think you're just gonna come in and think she'll go home with you?"

Carmen sat up, words ready to fall from the tip of her tongue before Alice placed her cool hands on her shoulders, gently easing her back onto her pillow.

"You know what? We'll discuss the travel plans later. Right now, what Carmen needs is rest." Alice leaned forward to press a kiss on Carmen's forehead. Carmen watched as the two adults stood up, seemingly communicating with their eyes while they slowly shuffled out of the recovery room, leaving the eight year old all by her lonesome. She killed her head to the side, a small sigh falling from her lips as exhaustion began too haunt her.

This was all her fault. She could only get rid of her overwhelming guilt by allowing the sleep to take over.

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

CARMEN HAD BEEN LAYING IN her uncomfortable mattress, eyes still closed as she tried to steal any ounce of sleep she could get. She could hear the low mumbles of her father and her aunt coming from the hallways, and she strained her ears in order to pick up their conversation. Alice had been going on and on about how this was not about Tony, and that instead it was about Carmen. Still, Tony fought back, spitting that he missed eight years of her life, and he refused to miss anymore.

Carmen leaned a bit closer to hear their words, "Oh, and that would be a great thing to put her through! Do you have any idea how to take care of a child?"

Alice narrowed her eyes at the billionaire.

"Uh, I've been doing it for a month now, how hard could it be?" He shrugged off, face void of expression.

"Look where we're standing, Tony." Alice finished, pursing her lips as the two fell silent. Carmen watched as the two backed away from each other before entering the recovery room once again.

Alice smiled and sat at the edge of the bed, but Tony opted to stand.

"You're awake," He noted, "Feeling any better?"

"I'm okay." Carmen croaked out, fiddling with the blanket that was draped over her legs.

"I wanna go home." At that, Tony nodded, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Alright. Doctor says you can come home tomorrow, but i'm sure we could arrange someth—" Tony was interrupted by Carmen, and he could spot the tears that gathered in her eyes.

"i want to go home now...with Aunt Alice." There was a beat of silence in the room, and Alice gave a curt nod at the little girls words.

Tony blinked, "Look, Kid. If it's what i said at the restaurant— I didn't mean that. I'm sorry." He tried, but the eight year old shook her head, tears now slipping down her cheeks.

"I just wanna go home with Aunt Alice. I never should've came here." She sniffled, her chest feeling tight. The two adults complied to her wishes, Tony being a bit reluctant. It was as though rain had fallen past, brushing the leaves that held memories into the distance. Once Carmen was released from the hospital, she made her way back to Tony's home in Malibu and packed away her things. She explained to Brandon why they were leaving, even though he couldn't understand her words.

Carmen said goodbye to Pepper, who held her so tightly and wiped her tears away. She also said goodbye to Happy, who gave her a curt pat on the head, even though she was tightly clinging to his leg.

She wasn't ready to leave, not yet. Not when she still had so much more to say to him. But she knew she didn't have a choice.

It isn't far. It isn't fair. It isn't fair.

Carmen bit her own tongue to hide her own tears.
Sadness covered the eight year old like a dark, heavy cloud, once again obscuring the brightness of her life.

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

FOR ONCE IN HIS LIFE, Tony Stark didn't know what to do. The billionaire sat in silence, staring blankly at the television. He didn't pay attention to the film, because all he could think about was Carmen. He knew he was wrong. He had gotten so mad.

Would she still be here if i had reacted differently? He would think to himself. No. It wasn't his fault. It's never his fault. If Carmen had told him the truth, none of this would've happened in the first place. Tony rubbed his sweaty palms along the fabric of his jeans and quickly stood up, running his fingers through his dark locks. He clicked his tongue, sighing heavily before exiting the living room and strolling down the narrowed hallway. He came to a quick halt right in front of Carmen's bed room.

Reaching out for the door handle, he scoffed.

"Alright, I don't have time for this." He itched his nose, turning over his shoulder and walking away. Only to whirl around. Without another thought, Tony pushed the door open, his breath quickly being stolen as he took in the space. Everything was how she left it. Tony pursed his lips, his eyebrows drawing together as something caught his eye. Pink. With a frown, he slowly took a step forward, reaching underneath the bed and grasping a small, pink suitcase.

She must've forgotten it.

Tony unzipped the suitcase, eyes quickly falling to a hot pink, bedazzled journal. He reached for the book, running his calloused fingers over the cover, before flipping it open.

Pinned to a page was a small picture of himself. A small grin threatened to tug on the corners of his lips. Looking past the picture, he managed to read the words scribbled on the paper.

"What's the best thing that's ever happened to you?"

No. Tony shook his head and placed the book down, rummaging through the bag a bit more. He picked up a small bundle of pictures and cropped newspapers. Carmen and her mother, Maria, smiling so wide and eyes shining bright like the sun. As he stared at the eight year old now, he could feel the bundle of nerves in his stomach clench. The sensation almost made him want to call out for help. Why did he feel this way?

He didn't like the discomfort it gave him. He didn't want to feel like this. He just couldn't help it. How do I stop, the billionaire thought to himself, a small glare forming on his features. Not only was is an unrecognizable, uncomfortable sensation. . .it hurt. So bad. Whatever he was feeling was amplifying by the minute.

His eyes flicked to the news article. It was the reports of the incident with Maria. Tony felt awful. How couldn't he have known? He set the article down, eyes now flicking to a hand written letter.

A letter.

He took in a sharp breath, curiosity etched into his features as he read the writing.

Tony was anything but angry with Maria. How could he be? She had every reason to keep Carmen's existence a secret from him. Perhaps she knew something like this would happen.

That he would turn out just like his father.

Tony dropped the papers on the bed and quickly exited the room, itching his head before digging through his pocket and retrieving his cell phone. He hesitantly dialed Carmen's number, holding the phone up to his ear until he heard the recorded voice mail.

"Hey, kid. Uh, i just wanted to let you know that, uhm, Pep misses you, and uh...Well, i mean, she really misses you. And i—" A flat beep fell from the phone, and he sighed as the message was cut off.

"Sounds like someone else misses her too." said James Rhodes.

Tony quickly turned to face him, eyes wide in shock, "How'd you get in? Security breech."

The dark skinned man chuckled at Tony's antics, and a beat of silence was shared between the two.

"Look, I don't— Tell me what i'm supposed to do." It was clear that Tony was lost.

Rhodey shrugged, "Look, man. The only thing you can do is make sure that she knows you love her, and that nothings ever gonna change that. Then, when she's ready... She'll find you again." He offered. Tony said nothing, taking in the man's words.

The Stark man cleared his throat, adjusting the hem of his sleeves, "I guess i'm supposed to thank you now, or something."

Rhodey drew his eyebrows together, "For what?"

"For trying to catch everything i've thrown at you over all these years." At Tony's words, Rhodey allowed a warm smile to grace his lips, patting the billionaire on the shoulder.

"That's what friends are for."

AUTHORS NOTE — i'll DEFINITELY come back to edit this, as i feel it's a bit rushed. sorry for the wait! i've been sooo busy since i've started school, and then i had a family emergency with an immediate relative so i wasn't active for a bit, but i'm back! pls don't be a silent reader <3