Balcony
"so, what did you do while I was gone?"
The Avengers returned without a problem this mission going well. And no one suspected a thing. Alice went back to her room sulking by herself all alone and Loki his silent, sarcastic, rude self. Making everyone hate him a little more everyday. The only one who knew anything was Bruce. And man was he good at keeping secrets ....as long as you didn't directly ask him anything.
“books, movies, room."
“Did you read or watch anything interesting,” Tony asked trying to get to talk to him more. It seemed like in recent times she had been speaking to him less and less. They were sitting in silence more often than not.
Alice was off and he noticed it, more so now than before he left. Something was different and he didn’t know what it was.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine dad” Alice said as she continued to flip through the Tv channels.
“are you sure?” he asked as he ran a hand through her haid forcing her to give him her full attention.
“I want to go outside” Tony sighed, this wasn’t her first time asking to go outside nor would be her last. Every once and a while she’d ask to go outside or to go somewhere else the answer will always be no. It seemed that her asking had become less frequent she had learned not to waste her breath with him.
But today was different. Tony stood up and took his daughter’s hand and lead her to the elevator, she was confused but followed. The elevator stopped on his floor and he pulled her along until they made it to the balcony.
He opened the door and turned to her. She looked at him but didn’t step forward instead waiting for it, waiting for the ‘but’ for the other foot to drop. The thorn to this rose, the blood in this jewel, the bad in this good.
But it never came.
Instead he offered his hand she was hesitant but she took it.
Maybe it would come afterwards if that was the case she’d have to wait and take what little freedom she had.
Stepping out on to the Balcony she closed her eyes as she felt the high winds against her skin and in her hair. It whipped wildly all over the place. The air didn’t smell nice like the beach not cold or salty or fresh. But she wasn’t going to tell her dad that. In the books she read this was expected of the city.
“One day ... you could go further-maybe. But today this is all I can give, Please be patient with me,” Tony said as he stood next to her looking up at the sky while she looked down at the city. Both looking where they wanted to be.
“You’re a mutant” Tony say suddenly she looks at him confused “ mutants are people with the x gene, a mutated gene in their DNA. They can have or gain abilities due to this genetic mutation which they are born with.” he continues “They’re different...You are a mutant, born the way you are. And that is why you’re up here instead of down there. Down there is dangerous for you. up here is safe.”
“Up here is dangerous too” Alice whispered.
“what?”
“Safety is guaranteed no where. Down there is dangerous robbers, killer, diseases. Up here is dangerous too. A lab full of dangerous weapons and chemicals, A building with literal glowing target for your many enemies both human and super. If anything being up here is more dangerous than being down there.” Alice looked to his father and found him look at her with an unknowing expression one she could not name.
Turning away from him she looked back down at the city. They stayed like that in silence for a little longer both lost in their own thoughts yet unable to voice them in any way. Tony thinking of the many dangerous she spoke of and how he could and couldn’t protect her from them. Wondering how he was supposed to save her. And Alice wondering if this was the life she was meant to live, if this tower was all she would know, dreading, would she be stuck here forever? with no one but her father. What of Loki? would he wait for her?
Such thought came to a halt as Alice started coughing first small and short then heavily and deep and nonstop she eventually left the balcony. Tony followed offering her water and patting her on the back to help.
“You can come up here. You can come up here whenever you want some fresh air. You don’t even have to ask just tell Jarvis.” He didn’t know what else to say nor did Alice instead she gave a nod and excused herself to her room.
Tony didn't know what else to say to say. He wasn't that good at giving stuff or advice like this. He just now getting the hang of parenting and she was 17 years old. He should have gotten a manual.