Scars

He called her. 

After the mission, he called her and called her and called her. But she didn't pick up. He left Voicemail, after voicemail, after voicemail, until there wasn't room for any more. 

Calling for the 30th time, Tony finally gave up when his phone lit up with a low battery sign. "Finally, he's given up," Clint says dramatically, flopping on the couch "who are you trying to call anyway?"

Tony was silent for a moment looking at his phone "my friend ...an old friend," Tony said, hoping Clint didn't think too much of it. He did.

-

Alice sat at the table, the phone right in front of her. It was silent, but she watched it ring, and the red light beep when a message was left and deleted until the light wasn't beeping anymore. She didn't want to talk to him. She didn't want to hear his voice. She'd much prefer the silences she had known all her life. she was mad and would be like a child and give him the silent treatment. He deserved way more than the silent treatment leaving her alone in the underground for most of her life. But this was all she had to punish him. 

"Jarvis"

"Yes, Ms.Stark?"

"do you think he'd ever let me out?" the calls had finally stopped.

"though Mr.Stark is overprotective, I do believe the day will come" She appreciated Jarvis's kindness even if it was artificial. It was the only kindness she had ever known outside of her father. Even then, she would classify that as kindness. 

"thank you, Jarvis I'm going to the pool now"

"you're welcome, and have fun, Ms.Stark"

-

Alice leaned on the edge of the pool and looked out at the large body of water that was there. She watched the fish swim by she could see the small cave opening from under the water the light shined in and made the water look beautiful. Alice hates this place, most people would have loved it, but she hated it she spent too long here to actually be in love with the place anymore she was too alone to see its beauty anymore. But this view, this window by the pool, this one real, actual window, she could never get used to this view it was just too beautiful, it was just too real to hate, it was actually the only real view of the real world she had.

The place she lived in was deep within the mountains in said a little cave lake, well halfway in, the place had four floors. On the upper first level where you entered, Tony parked his helicopter or suit up there, the second level where the kitchen, living room, library where she did her schooling, and entertainment room was located, the third level where four bedrooms and three bathrooms were located but most of them were locked, and the fourth level the gym and pool were located there. Tony was dramatic and wanted to add more, but it wouldn't have been able to happen, especially not with the lake and all. Sometimes she wished he did add more after a while, as she got older, this place was no longer as big as before it was small and suffocating. It was no longer a castle with robots but a four-story cell with eyes.

"four walls, all eyes," Alice said out loud as she floated on her back.

"I'm lonely, Jarvis," she got out of the pool

"I could call your father to come keep you company, Ma'ma, " Jarvis said

"I'm tired of these walls, Jarvis " she trails her fingers along the walls. So thick she could scream for hours, and no one would hear her. Most days, she even questioned if the outside was even real. Or if it was all a game.

"I could request that your father paint the walls a different color" Jarvis was clueless about her true needs he was just a robot, after all.

She stood in front of the 'window' and said, "I want to go outside, Jarvis " he did not provide an answer this time, so she repeated, "I want to go outside," she banged on the glass. He did not have an answer. " Please, can I go outside, please" 

-

The ceiling it was quite interesting to him as he lay on his back on the floor. The team was all gathered together, lounging around in the lounge on game night they were all playing games, everyone but Tony, he was lost in thought about his daughter at the moment.

 He was thinking about the last few vital reports Jarvis had sent him she was showing signs of depression lately, as well as other health problems. She had never shown signs before, but back then, Tony would call her, send her a message, or send videos of himself every day for her so she wouldn't be lonely. But he stopped sending Video when he became an avenger, not wanting her to worry every time she saw a bruise on a mission plus, he didn't have time to stop and make a video. He stopped sending messages he didn't have or made time to send her a thoughtful paragraph about how he loved her anymore. He didn't call anymore he used to call every day they'd talk for a few hours, but sooner or later, hours turned to minutes, and minutes turned into maybe twice a week, eventually turned into whenever he showed up, which was rare because he was a superhero after all the whole world was watching and she was a secret that could not be seen. 

Maybe he could move her into the tower he knew he had a few extra rooms, hell, even floors, which no one used. Maybe he could stick her in one of those rooms she'd be much closer to him, he would see her every day when he felt like it, plus she would have a new view. Maybe he should just tell the team she'd have more people to talk to and more floors to explore without worry. But what if Director Fury found out that would be a problem he'd problem turn her into some mutant soldier and make her use her abilities. Tony couldn't let that happen.

"Tony," Sam called out " yo man, you okay?"

" what's up" Tony was back in reality 

" you've been spacing out for a minute, you okay?" Clint asked

" yeah, fine"

"it is your turn, Truth or drinks," Natasha said " ... what were you just thinking about it's got you stressed"

He debated for a minute if he should tell them. They took Clint introducing his family pretty well maybe he could tell them. But there was still the problem of Director Fury; he decided he would deal with it when it came.

" I was thinking about my kid"

The room fell into silence. Now if this were anyone else, they probably would have burst out into laughter, but this was Tony, and his history with women was well known. The possibility of having a child was very like and concerning. The fact that his shot lay untouched on the table also didn't help, even if they were praying for him to pick it up. 

"Are you serious? You actually have a kid?" Bruce asked quietly, but everyone heard him in the still silence. " Are you sure it's yours?"

"Pretty sure," Tony shrugged 

"damn, when did you find out?" Clint asked,

"how old is she?" Natasha asked

"I've known for about ....17 years and nine months, and she is 17 years old"

"WHAT!?" just about everyone shouted. He was quite amused with their reactions he actually expected worse.

"You had a kid for Seventeen years and didn't say anything." Bruce looked on the verge of a hulk attack. 

"why are you surprised Clint did it with a wife and two kids" Tony defended himself seriously, did everyone forget that Clint hid his family as well? His secret held three people and a farm. 

"one, Clint's not famous. Two, Clint's not famous. And three, Clint's not famous. Also, four, he's a trained spy," Natasha said with a smirk, and his defense was gone. 

"I was an ass that's how I kept all the cameras pointed everywhere but home until I sent her away, then told them I was going on a vacation or some meeting or something and visit her. Only three other people know of her existence, and only one of those three people has met her" 

"where's her mother," Steve asked cautiously, just in case

"die when she was a baby," Tony said, rubbing his face as Steve had thought this was a soft topic for him, and he thought correctly, it seemed. 

Lilly's death was something Tony hated to discuss it was a very sensitive topic. He never got over her death he tried to, but she was just too perfect for replacement. He was absolutely head over heels in love with her, which would never change the fact that he had never loved any other woman the way he loved her, not even Pepper. The only other he loved enough to measure his love for her was Alice, and he barely saw her. He wanted to see her more and love her more. He would see her more and love her so much no man's love would compare.

"Listen...... I want to bring my daughter to the tower I want her to live here"

"your daughter is coming here, when?" Bruce asked 

" I actually haven't told her yet. But yeah, I want to bring her here. But I still don't want her in the spotlight or for anyone else to know about her. She's different, I don't want everyone - anyone to know about it. "

"what is it," Bruce asked 

"I'm going to visit her tomorrow to discuss her moving in. If things go as planned, she'll move in in a few days. Oh, and don't tell Director Fury I will talk to him myself," Tony said, grabbing a bottle of vodka and heading to the elevator  " also, her name is Alice Blut Stark meaning  Alice Blood Stark cool, huh" he said the elevator closing leaving everyone on, that note. 

"he has a kid, " Bucky said

" a 17-year-old kid," Natasha drank

" that's practically an adult," Sam said 

"How did he hide her for so long," Bruce wondered

"where did he hide her for so long," Steve asked,

"Better yet .... why did he take the vodka?"  Clint, of course.

-

Tony was lying in bed with a bottle of vodka next to him as he thought of ways to tell Alice and Director Fury. He had already made the decision himself he knew Alice would jump at the opportunity to leave, but she might not like the rules along the way. But Director Fury was another story he'd probably be enraged he thought he knew everything about Stark. He would probably be pissed Tony didn't tell him. 

"oh boy, this is going to be something else," Tony said to himself, taking a swig of vodka. This definitely was going to be interesting.