𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓
𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆'𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇

❛ even after thousands
of years, he still grieves. ❜

𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐅, 𝕬urora was screwed—that much she knew. When she wakes up, she knew her father would be scolding her for life probably grounding her for her reckless impulsivity. You see, despite what people might consider her actions as heroic by jumping in front of a man that held one of the deadliest weapons she'd ever encountered just to protect her father—he would see it as foolish . . . especially given the fact that she was his daughter. Daughter.

But he wouldn't be the only one angry, she could already imagine Pepper's rants about how unbelievably idiotic her actions were by delving head first into a heated battle ( I don't think they realize this is aurora stark we're talking about. the same girl that'd jump into any battle due to her fatal flaw )

Happy would be much more controlled, he'd pat her head three times telling her, "I'm glad you're okay, kid." And go on about his day being a bit more tentative.

And Nate . . . Well . . .

"Aurora Stark!"

He used her full name, he hardly ever used her full name.

Aurora pursed her lips feeling more like a child as she stood in their usual cliffside spot. The stars seemed to be responding to Nate's anger with the way they brightened with ferocity with every word he spoke and step he took towards her.

"You could have gotten yourself killed, young lady!"

Aurora cringed if this was how Nate was acting she could only imagine her father, "But I'm okay! I'm alive . . . Right?"

The only reason she was second guessing her life was due to the weapon she was hit with. The voltage was incredibly high—so high it sliced a car in half like it was nothing . . . imagine what it could do to a fifteen year old girl.

Nathaniel seemed to sigh like he had to remind himself of something, "You're alive, dove. Foolish, yes. But not dead."

Aurora ran both hands through her hair as she blew out a breath, "Is my dad okay?"

Nathaniel blinked, "Your father is alright, little dove," he paused. "But he is very worried."

Aurora looked at Nate and took notice of his human form for the first time in their designated cliffside spot. His black leather jacket on top of a black shirt she last saw him in were familiar, along with the woodsy smell of his as he walked closer to her.

Thinking he was going to scold her some more Aurora opened her mouth to argue, "Listen, I didn't think—Oof!"

She was cut off when she slammed into something hard. Out of pure relief at seeing her okay, Nate had embraced her—tightly, like he was afraid of letting her go out into the world.

She wrapped her arms around him, "Sorry . . . for making you worry."

       She felt him place his chin on her head, but what she didn't see was him looking at the stars she so admired with what looked like tears in his eyes, "I know, sweetheart. I know."

       "Nate—" she abruptly separated herself from him taking a closer look at his body. "How are you here? Human form that is? And how am I alive?"

       Nate sighed and tried not to look at her. That was all she needed.

       "Is that why you're here? Like this? What about your other form?" Aurora pressed as she glanced at the cave she'd see him residing in.

       "My sole purpose is to protect you, dove. Thats what I did."

"But your other form—"

"—Is fine," he said as he placed his hands on her shoulders. "I used up a bit more every this time around to heal you, I just need to regain my strength for my . . . " he glanced at the night sky. "other form."

       "The same form you still haven't let me see?" Aurora sassily crossed her arms.

       Nate sighed as he watched her pout, "Listen, there's only so much I can tell you but know that I am destined to—"

"To protect me, yeah I get that, Nate. You don't have to keep repeating it like it's a riddle," her eyes held so much frustration. She hated not being in the know, as a Stark she felt she had to know—no matter what walls she had to destroy to figure anything out. Nonetheless, it didn't mean she'd stop digging on his past, "When we first met you were talking about Iris's and what they symbolize depending on the color," she sat down at the edge of the cliffside, the ominous pit not too scary for her anymore. "You were so focused on their color: Purple. Something about Royalty, Wisdom, and Admiration," Aurora furrowed her eyebrows as she plucked one of the flowers from the grass around her and twirled it in her fingers trying to focus her thoughts, until a thought struck her "You were a human. That I know. I mean—" she gestured to his very human body. "Look at you."

      Nathaniel didn't blink, merely staring at the girl, "Yes, Aurora."

"Royalty? Wisdom? Admiration?" She questioned as she looked up at him. "You were someone with everything, right?" The iris' gleamed. "And you got turned into whatever it is you are or . . . well were now?"

      Nate continued to sight through his nose, "Aurora, I can't—"

      But Aurora was not listening, "You're anchored to this cave by your lonesome likely the gods doing—" BOOM! "With reminders of what you had," she gestured to the beautiful flowers in bloom—always in bloom. She sat back ignoring the uncharacteristic rumble in the sky at her prying. "But . . . What exactly did you have? And how do I play into it?"

Nate looked at the sky in frustration, like he wanted to just spill anything and everything to her knowing how frustrated she was becoming, but his hands were tied quite literally, "Yes, my life before was enjoyable, but I craved a title more than the ones I had already obtained."

He had more than one title, she mentally write that down.

      Aurora swallowed and nodded, "Which was?"

"Father."

Aurora's eyes turned wide and her shoulders raised just a bit at the news, "You—" she took a deep breath. "You wanted to be a dad?"

      Nathaniel didn't say anything for a bit, just watching the young girl piece everything together. His blue eyes full of melancholy and nostalgia as if the memories of the past were now at the forefront of his pupils.

      Aurora frowned and pursed her lips. If she had titles and admiration . . . Why couldn't he just have a child? . . . Unless . . .

"You were infertile?"

      Nate's eyes flashed with pain as he too frowned that alone would've been her answer, "Yes. I tried countless of times with different wome—" he stopped at the look of disgust on Aurora's face. "Anyway, my dove. I prayed and prayed for the gods to give me what I wanted most in the world," he shook his head as he looked up at the moon. "They didn't listen or if they did they couldn't care less and back where I'm from we don't pray to the gods, but I was desperate . . . " he furrowed his light brown eyebrows, it was then that Aurora noticed the growing stubble on his face again. "The gods might've liked seeing a man with everything, go out of his way to beg and pray to them because I did every night for years," he tried to send her a smile but it was rather forced. "They granted wishes for others but not me, and I should've stopped . . . should've just accepted it but I couldn't. I don't think I'll ever accept it. They must've noticed that and pitied me," Aurora saw his chin quiver but didn't say anything. "One of the woman I'd been seeing, gave birth to the most beautiful girl in the world with a smile so bright she'd put Apollo to shame," his eyes looked clouded. "But, my beautiful girl was sick," Aurora took a deep breath. "And I begged and pleaded the gods to save her, my life for hers because that's what fathers are supposed to do," his voice cracked. "But they didn't listen . . . until your mother."

      Aurora nodded, "Aphrodite"

"She made a proposition, that I immediately accepted. I was foolishly blind at the thought of saving my beautiful girl," he scoffed at the thought of the gods. "She explained to me she'd give me what I most desire, but I have to do one thing for her first. Protect her future child."

      Aurora gaped, "Me."

      Nathaniel nodded. His eyes seemed to change in a split second lighting up with rage.

Aurora pondered the new information given to her. She was incredibly surprised that Nathaniel actually decided to inform her of something so deep. Especially when she could tell it was still hard for him to talk about, even if it had been a thousand years.

"Your daughter," Aurora asked timidly. "Did she li—"

"No," Nate frowned. "She died months after her birth."

"Even after you accepted her deal?"

      "My dove, it's much deeper than that."

"That's still not okay!"

"Aurora—"

"You accepted her deal why did—"

"Do—"

"Why didn't she keep her si—"

"She did, Aurora!"

Aurora still outraged at the thought scoffed, "How?" But it wasn't until she saw the look cross his face that she realized. ". . . She had to die."

"I would rather my child—kid live a full life than a miserable one and that's what your mother promised. My daughter was sick and that couldn't be healed not in my family, she would've lived in agony, her body was too weak," he took the purple iris from Aurora's hand. "She promised that my daughter would pass away with a smile on her face, in my arms and be reborn in a body much better suited for her but I had to protect Aphrodites child first."

      Aurora frowned, she too close to tears at the thought of Nate's baby passing in his arms, "Nate, I'm so sorry."

He forced a smile but she could guess loss doesn't get easier . . . even in thousands of years.

"I'm fifteen now, Nate!" She tried to say cheerfully. "I don't need your protecting anymore, you can live your life!"

      Nathaniel smiled, it seemed it did cheer him up a bit, "There could never be enough protecting for you, little dove. I know it far better than you ever will."

They both smiled and looked off into the horizon. They observed how close it felt to the stars despite the large gaping hole below them but even then it didn't seem to matter. It was the stars they were focusing on, and the closer Aurora looked the more she realized a collection of stars was added, one she hadn't noticed before . . . a girl with a bow.

      That alone made her smile deepen, but it also struck a chord in her.

"Nate," she said despite their abrupt silence. "Why me?" He looked at her. "What's so special about me that needs protecting?"

      However, before she got an answer her vision grew hazy, as it normally does when it's time for her to wake up.

"Don't make another rash decision, Aurora. But if you do, let me know beforehand so I can be ready to protect yo—"

      Aurora woke up before she could respond to him. She shot up with sweat on her forehead and looked around the room she was in. The pasty white walls and distinct smell indicated to her that she was in a hospital room, and if she didn't need anymore clues: the uncomfortable bed she was on was likely the cause of the pain from the bottom of her spine. As she sat up to adjust her position, she noticed her father who looked both dazed and frightened. She might have woke him up by accident when she shot up from the bed ( not the first time and definitely not the last ) like the times she was smaller and accustomed to sleeping with him as his presence helped ease the nightmares she had.

      Tony looked at her with wide eyes as he realized she was awake, "Thank god, you're awake. I was beginning to think you were in a self-induced coma."

      Aurora rose her eyebrows and completely ignored his statement, "Did you get him?"

She was referring to the said man that almost put her in a self induced coma

      Tony rolled his eyes and placed a kiss on her temple, "Yes. With the two days you've been asleep he's probably had two entire meals."

      Aurora nodded but after a moment of thought and processing what he said she jumped up, "Did you just say I've been out two days!?"

      Tony sighed and nodded. "I don't know how but I'm going out on a limb here guessing a certain phantom had something to do about it but you didn't burn or scar, hell you didn't even—"

      Aurora interrupted by abruptly clapping her hands together and shouting in glee, "It's your birthday!"

      Tony tilted his head to the side, "Did you just not hear what I said?"

      Aurora nodded and shrugged, "Yes, but I'm clearly fine and it's your birthday so I ignored it."

      Tony looked at his daughter with a sad smile and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Aurora, you could have died, scratch that, you should have died the minute he hit you. If it weren't for Nate you'd be dead. I need you to understand that, what you did was not okay."

      Aurora nodded and placed her small hand over her dad's, "I know, dad. But I'm fine, I'm here, and I'm okay. You should be happy that I'm here," she shrugged. "Maybe even send Nate some flowers or by him a box of chocolate as a thank you."

      Tony scoffed and nodded, "Yeah no on that last bit he'll think I'm his personal bank," he stopped and looked at her before putting a hand to her cheek. "Princess, of course, I'm happy. I'm just worried you'll do it again, and the next time, gods forbid, I won't get you back."

Aurora furrowed her eyebrows and frowned, "Would you do it?"

"Would I do what?"

"Would you do what I did for me, dad?"

Without hesitation her father said, "Of course, sweetheart. Without thought."

Seeming satisfied, Aurora grinned, a smile so pure it reminded Tony of when she was a mere baby, "That's why I did it for you"

"But you are my kid, my kid," he emphasized, "I'm supposed to be taking care of you, not the other way around."

      Aurora kindly smiled at her father and placed her head on his shoulder. "We take care of each other, deal?" Aurora stuck out her pinky she watched as a smile adorned her father's face. He tried to play out as a begrudged smile but she knew he was happy. Nonetheless, he gave her a little nod and wrapped his pinky around his daughters. But there was something in his eyes. Something pained.

"Deal."

As he went to sit back he winced causing Aurora to sit up, "Are you okay? Did they check you?"

Her father waved her off trying to give her a smile, "Just a couple of bruises making me look like a badass."

      Before Aurora could open her mouth to ask more a knock was heard.

      Christine Palmer was Aurora's designated doctor since she was young. They met after Aurora narrowly escaped a fury with scratches littered over her body, it seemed fury attacks were unique but Christine healed her up perfectly. It wasn't until years later that Aurora found out why . . . Christine was a Daughter of Apollo. Not only did it help in figuring out how to heal Aurora, but legality wise it helped as well—especially with how current Aurora was injuring herself in battles with monsters.

"Aurora, it's good to see you awake."

      Aurora grinned at the older woman and pulled her into a hug, "Hey, Christine. It's good to see you."

      Christine gave her a patronizing look but didn't hesitate to squeeze the girl, "It's good to see you too, but not here. You promised you'd take better care of yourself, and last I checked you were all over the news fighting whiplash or whatever his name is," She frowned. "I really need to talk to Chiron."

"I was on the news?" Aurora froze.

Christine glanced at Tony who sighed and facepalmed wondering why Aurora was so worried.

Did that mean camp saw? What about Percy? Annabeth? How would they react to her almost dying? She's supposed to be at school why was she fighting a man with an electrical whip?

      Aurora shook her head trying to shake off the worry, "Regardless, I'm fine. Not a single scratch or burn on me."

      Christine pursed her lips, "Yeah about that, Aurora, that's not normal," she glanced at the clipboard in her hands. "Your blood pressure is perfect. No broken bones. Your hand that was holding your sword should have first-degree burns but look," Christine pulled up Aurora's hand to show the young girl. "Nothing. No burns or marks anywhere. It's like nothing happened."

"Seems like she has a guardian angel, huh?" Tony said sarcastically to which Aurora rolled her eyes.

"I would say," Christine said still confused. "This is a miracle . . . even for a demigod."

"Well, can we go home now?" She turned to her father. "I want to see the party you have planned."

      Tony softened, "Yeah speaking about that. How about we just do a movie night? Rocky? I just want it to be me and you, kid."

Aurora gaped, something was wrong. Her father always threw his one of a kind birthday parties with dancers, fireworks, and dj's he brought out a bang for this once every year party it was practically tradition—so it was incredibly odd that that he was changing it.

"Dad," she stated in all seriousness. "Is something going on? Is this about pepper being CEO?" She placed her hands on her father's shoulders. "Pepper will do a great job! Nothing to worry—"

"I just want to spend time with you, princess. Nothing else to it."

      Aurora shook her head thinking he was just worried about her, "Dad, seriously, I'm fine! Have your party! I'll stay in my room so you can have fun! Iron man needs a break too!"

      Tony seemed to think about it as he looked from Aurora's encouraging face and Christine's furrowed brows.

"Fine," he said. "But I'm checking on you every fifteen minutes, do you understand?"

Aurora rolled her eyes, "Yes sir."

"Movie night tomorrow?"

"Yes!"

"Rocky?"

"Yes, Aurora."

— NAT TALKS !

We're so backkkk

NATE LORE DROP?? MAYBE?
WHAT DO WE THINK?!

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