Chapter Text
When I was twenty something, I asked my father, “When did you start feeling like a grownup?”
His response: “Never.”
-Shannon Celebi
Maria stared out at the destruction around her. Bodies were everywhere. Every street. Every corner. People just- they’re just gone.
They all let themselves die.
“Oh God...” She looked up at the sickly green clouds heading straight for her and then scrambled towards Avengers Tower. “Daddy! Papa! Unc-”
---
*19 years earlier*
*10-8-80 Malibu Point, 90265, Malibu, California*
“What the hell?”
Tony blinked at the small bundle at the door. Curious, blue eyes stared up at him. Tiny hands reached out to him, it’s babble filling the air. Tony looked around and crouched to the child as it began to cry.
“Hey, hey...no- no. Shh...It’s okay. I gotcha. I gotcha.” Carefully scooping the child up from the basket, Tony cradled the child in his arms.
The child immediately stopped crying, tiny sniffles the only sign it had been crying.
“Now, where did you come from?” A cold gust of wind made the child scrunch it’s nose. “Let’s get you inside, huh. How does that sound?”
Shifting the child to one arm Tony picked up the basket and closed the door behind him.
“There, nice and warm. Can’t have you getting sick, can I?”
“Da!” The child reached out and patted Tony’s face, he blinked in surprise.
Setting the basket onto the table, he settled himself onto the couch. He shifted the baby so it was cradled to his chest, both arms holding her.
His mind began to race as he ran through scenarios. After everything they’d been through, Pepper had finally had enough and broke things off with him. He couldn’t blame her and he certainly couldn't hold it against her. She’d been through enough.
He gently ran a finger down the babies face, grinning as the babes tiny fingers clutched it in return.
“I should probably find out where you came from huh?”
“Da!” The baby only giggled and yawned.
“There is no need to find her home, Iron Man.”
Tony jumped, arms tightening around the child just a fraction. He looked around for the source of the voice. Eyes focusing on the basket, a projection of a man coming from it.
The man looked familiar.
“Who are you?” Tony cradled the baby close, his free hand curling around the babies head.
“Do you not remember me? You did save my people.”
Tony’s eyes squinted in though. The man did seem familiar, he spoke like one of the people fr-
“You’re from Novus. Felinus, wasn’t it?”
“Indeed I am, Anthony Stark of Earth.”
“Where are the kids’ parents?”
“She is with her parent, Anthony. My people swore that we would repay you. And repay you we have.”
Anger surged through Tony as he glared at Felinus. This had to be some kind of joke. Right?
“With a kid?! I told you I didn’t need repayment. How is this repayment? Who had to give up their kid?”
“Peace, Anthony. None of my people had to give up their child. She is yours.”
“What do you mean she’s mine? That’s not possible. What about her mother?”
“She has no mother. We created her using your blood and another’s blood. She is your daughter in all rights.”
Tony tried to calm his racing heart. Swallowing down a panic attack, he forced his breathing to even out.
“Who’s blood did you use?” He tried to keep his voice even.
“The other blood sample we used was the Captain’s. Do you have any other questions?”
“N-No. Not really.”
“If you have any need of us, please contact us. We are in your debt.”
The projection shut off and silence settled through the room.
‘Sir..?’
“Jarvis. Get me all the catalogues from all the baby stores that you can get. I want to buy the best for her.”
‘Yes sir...’
“Call Cap while you’re at it.”
‘Certainly Sir.’
Switching arms Tony stared at his daughter. He should be freaking out. He knew that. He’ll freak out later, yeah, much later.
“Guess it’s you and me kid. Oh my God...I’m a father!”
“Tony?”
“Steve? Where are you? We need to talk. Preferably in person. Like now.”
“What’s going on?”
“It’s better if you see this in person. Otherwise you’re not gonna believe it. At all. Seriously.”
“Are you alright? You sound really freaked out.”
Tony could hear Steve shuffling things around, another voice in the background.
“Yeah...Yeah. I’m good. Just get to Malibu, like yesterday.”
“Alright... I better get a full explanation.”
“Yeah...Sure, yeah. Just get here.”
---
“...”
“What?! Don’t look at me like it’s my fault!”
Nicholas Fury tried to remain calm. Out of all the idiotic, stupid, reckless- What the hell kind of insanity was he dragged into this time?
“I want a blood test. Now! How do we know that the kid is really yours?”
Tony took a few steps away from Fury cradling his daughter to his chest. Two of his armors moving to flank him from both sides.
“What?! Hell no! I’m not letting some S.H.I.E.L.D flunkie take a needle to my kid!”
“Mr. Stark. Now is not the time to argue. And for the love of- Call off your armors!”
“No...Back off Fury.” He took another step back, another armor joining it’s brothers.
“Stark!”
The baby startled from her light doze and began to cry at the sharp voice.
“You’re scaring her! Keep your voice down Fury.” Tony rocked back and forth trying to calm the baby.”There, there Maria. Everything’s gonna be okay.”
“You named it after your mother.” Fury stilled and sent a blank look in Tony’s direction.
“Her. I named her after my mother, asshat.”
“...What’s going on here?”
The room fell silent as Steve walked in.
“Fury’s trying to hurt my kid, that’s what!”
Maria whimpered and wiggled closer to Tony. Cradling her close, he kept his eyes on Fury.
“It needs to be examined, Stark.”
“It-She needs to be examined. She!” Tony hissed.
Steve moved in between the arguing men and held his hands out in a placating manner.
“Alright, calm down. The both of you.”
He glanced over at Tony, who was cradling the baby in his arms like his life depended on it. It most likely did.
“Uh...Stark? Since when have you had a kid?”
“Since this morning.”
Steve frowned at the clipped response. He looked at Fury and then back to Tony. Taking in the situation Steve nodded to himself. Tony looked close to blasting Fury through the window and into the ocean.
“Fury. Leave, you can come back in a few hours. Stark and I need to speak. Alone.”
“Rogers-”
“This isn’t up for debate, Director. Leave, please.”
“I’ll be back in three hours. That’s all I’m giving you.”
Steve looked at Tony, seeing him relax he gave a curt nod towards Fury. He watched Tony slowly sit down on the couch, murmuring softly to the child in his arms.
“Okay, Tony. What’s going on?”
---
“...”
Tony shuffled at the blank stare Steve was sending him, arms automatically bringing Maria closer to his body. The babies soft cooing filled the room.
“Please say something. I don’t like silences and the staring is starting to get really creepy.”
“...This isn’t a joke?”
“Nope.” Tony shook his head furiously.
Tony shifted, Steve looked ready to bolt. He looked like a deer in headlights if Tony were being honest. He swallowed the hysterical laugh that was bubbling in his throat.
“I have to go.”
“Wai- What?!” Maria whined at the distress in Tony’s voice.
“I- I just need some time to think this over Tony. Please.” Before Tony could say anything, Steve was out the door, his shield glinting in the afternoon sunlight.