Chapter 1
They say that the first five seconds when you wake up you don't know who you are, your mind is blank, there are no worries, no memories... but in my case... I always know who I am
Wake up at 5:40 am
Brush teeth and change to yoga pants
Do at least 30 minutes at the treadmill
Shower in less than 12 minutes and change
I started applying some light makeup when the tablet my dad gave me started beeping and flashing blue lights, I touched it and a hologram appeared with a photo I took of my dad eating Doritos.
"Dad?"
"No Miss Stark, it's me, Friday" her calm voice emerges
"oh! good morning Friday... why you have that photo of my dad?"
"good morning Tannie, your father asked me to remind you of today"
"today? what's today?"
"he wants to watch a movie with you while eating dinner"
"Great! yes, thanks for the reminder... wait... what movie?", I said while putting my earrings and some bracelets
"he told me to tell you that it's one of the best movies in the history of cinema"
"I hope he's not talking about The Hangover or The Hangover 2" I took my small purse ready to leave and have some breakfast
"If it helps he never told me the name of the movie Miss Stark"
I stopped in front of the tablet "Friday, don't be so formal with me please I told you to call me T, Jarvis used to call me like that too"
"I'm sorry, formality is integrated into my system, I'll change it"
"Thanks, oh and mom is still asleep?"
"let me check" I waited some seconds "yes, I detect a thermal figure in the bed"
"Thank you Friday" I exited my room and went to the kitchen
I prepared some scrambled eggs with toast, I took the overnight oatmeal I prepared and chopped some fruit, the complex seemed incredibly quiet without the cavemen and with cavemen, I'm referring to Thor, Steve, usually Sam, Clint, and even my own dad. I heard one of the doors open and my mom came with a sleepy face.
"Mom, hey!" I speak quietly "I prepared coffee for you"
She gratefully smiled and grabbed it and walked close to me "thank you honey" she yawns and gave me a kiss on my temple "you even prepare breakfast?"
I just smile in response and offered her a plate for her to start eating, I started eating too.
"so... what are you doing today?" she grabbed the newspaper, flickering her eyes and started reading the headlights
"not much actually, in an hour I need to go to Midtown to bring in some papers for my file and I need to speak to Morita as well"
"why? is everything okay?" her drowsy voice stops and she lifts her eyes to me with a concerned expression
"yes, it's because I want to join a club and I need more info about it"
"club? dance? drama?" she smiles showing her subtle dimples
"mom... no, I mean yes... I do love dancing and drama but that's not my path. It's robotics lab's club" I proudly smile at her
"wow, honey, you'll do amazing I mean it!" she smiles and holds my hand "actually I'm not surprised, I mean since you were this tall you spent hours beside your dad just looking how he built all of his stuff"
"yeah he is partially responsible for me liking robotics and I believe that I can build something that helps society" I felt my exciting going up just thinking about it
"oh dear, your eyes just lit up just saying that...just like your dad" she stared at me and then went back eating
"by the way mom, where is everyone? is seldom quiet?" I quickly started eating
"ha! I know right? I believe they're at the gym? or maybe saving the world?"
"well wish them luck...mmm now I have to go but I'll be here in less than two hours max" I kissed her cheek and place the dish in the sink, with a final wave I walk to the lift
"bye baby!" she yells
I patiently waited to be downstairs, when I got to the street I saw Happy already waiting... probably my mom texted him I was going out, I saw my bike, that I never use, just on the other corner and tiptoed to it...
"Tannieeeee" Happy says with a warning tone, I stop in my track and spin to look at him
"hey, Happy! how are you today you seem happy" I winked at him and he chuckles but quickly his lips are a fine line
"what are you doing? huh?"
"I'm going to Midtown and taking my bike" I innocently smile at him fluttering my lashes
"good try Tannie but you can't do that" he points a finger at me and I roll my eyes
"please geez, Happy, it's just going there and returning here I can even send you a text when I get there"
"what's your name?" he suddenly asks
"what? Tannie..."
"your whole name..." he now rolls his eyes at me
"Tannie Maria Stark," I chant without a clue of what he's talking about
"oh! yes! Stark! the daughter of a billionaire man who happens to be Iron Man and best friends with other Avengers, right?" he exclaims and I sigh in defeat
"a'right got your point Happy, happy?" I step into the car feeling the leathered seats and Happy closes the door behind me
"very much so, yes" he says when he climbs inside the driver's seat
The drive was fast given how the traffic is on New York, Happy left me in front of the school and he made me swear for my whole family that I'll be careful returning to my home and that I need to send him a selfie proving it's me who's texting him. I waved goodbye and looked around, the school without the hormonal teenagers is better, I mean, I'm a teenager, yes, but given the context I was raised in, and probably my mother's genes (not my dad's) I'm more mature than most of the students in Midtown. I entered and walked to the administration office, I quickly gave my documents and walked towards Morita's Office.
"Principal Morita? may I come in?" I knock twice
"please, yes!" he excitedly says and I opened the door seeing him with a tropical shirt and two bags by his side "And Miss Stark, so punctual as always, have a sit please and forgive this dress code but I just returned from THE MOST relaxing place and I still keeping the vibe but I know the vibe will vanish the first day of school, therefore... tomorrow" I kindly smile at him
"so! you wanted to talk about registration to a club?"
"yes, I... want to enter to the Robotics Lab's club and I just wanted to see if I need to submit any previous work or any mmm letter of recommendation?"
"well, Miss Stark let me say I was hoping for the day of you joining and yes a submission of previous work is required but let me tell you that the projects students submit are like machines who feed automatically their pets or back scratchers and I know you are in another level... and letter of recommendation? your own name is the green pass"
That's what I thought...
"well I know but, with all due respect Principal, put yourself in my shoes... I don't want to enter just because of my name..." I confess
"very well, no favoritism I see, tomorrow at the auditorium there are going to be tables each one for each club and you can talk there to the president of the club and put your name on the list" he smiles, the corner of his eyes wrinkled
"perfect, thank you very much that was all I needed" I shake his hand and leave, I see the hallways and sigh, tomorrow will be chaos.
When I left school I breathe the fresh-ish air and started walking to my house, I closely watched everything street life has to offer and suddenly in front of me a man inside a building crashed into the glass window, it seemed like someone pushed him quite hard, I jump back and froze, he quickly grabs his gun and I immediately hide between a car and a parking machine.
"come here, spidey boy!" I se how he's holding a backpack and suddenly he's kicked again by a flying... no, swinging figure... Spider-Man, I saw one of his videos last week
From where I am, I can only see his back and how he's confining the other man into a tiny corner
"please!- " he punches the man "be nicer " he punches him again "and never steal something!" he finally knocks the man down "Police is coming! they'll deal with you" quickly he throws a web and literally as a modern Tarzan swings away, I closely watch him... who the hell is that guy?
I quickly stride away from the place and strictly went home, I knew Happy was right, my name is double-edged, I can be easily a target but I do need freedom once in a while. I arrive at the tower and see Happy waiting outside so I checked with him I was alive, of course, without mentioning the incident with the spider-ling thing, he sighs of relief and walks to his car to leave.
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Until 6 pm I binge-watched series and prepared some outfits for tomorrow, no sign of the Avengers nor my mom yet, so I grabbed a book and started reading when a smell of food being cooked woke my stomach, I entered the kitchen and smile when I saw Steve's broad back, every single time dressed as an old man... Jesus, help him.
"Hey Tannie! how was your day?" he smiles at me and I walk beside him peering inside the pan
"to ordinary actually, what about you? you left to early and you came so late?" I question him
"yes, some meetings with everyone, nothing else" I sense he was hiding something, these years with him and the others actually helped me to read their body language... well, I'm still trying with Nat... but probably it's for my own sake not to know about it
"well... glad you're here know, my dad is...?"
"at the living room," he points with the spatula
"Thank you and let me say that whatever you are cooking smells wonderful" I playfully grabbed his arm and he laughs and blushes "Oh my god your arm is so fat, I mean, so fit!" I leave the kitchen and walk to the living room where my dad is talking through the phone
"yes, I know... I'm gonna talk to him okay? yes, bye-bye" he hangs up "My kid! my genes or half of them! How are you?" he loudly exclaims and I giggle throwing my arms to the air
"My dad! the provider of half my genes! I'm fine!" I continue with his joke and he chuckles
"oh, Tannie" he sits on the couch "the fact you share my sense of humor and my sarcasm makes me happy" he touches his arc reactor dramatically
"so... you wanted to watch a movie?"
"yes! yes, I want to!" he cheerfully claps and grabs the remote control to turn the TV on
"please tell me it's not The Hangover... or the second one.." I plea with puppy eyes
He rapidly turns to me with an over-exaggerated sad expression "what is with your hate for those movies? they're a Masterpiece of comedy and total drama!"
"I hope you are joking dad," I settle on the couch and his silence ends the little debate, I watch the screen and see how he's searching for something
"let's enjoy it, shall we?" he settles comfortably on the couch and my eyes dart again to the screen
the black background soon fades to a fast motion of a city"Welcome," a woman's voice says
"you're about to step into a wonderful journey of knowledge that will give you the best advice for having a healthy and harmonious life"
What hell is this?
I turn to look at my dad expecting some answer or saying he chose the wrong movie and with the corner of my eye I see Steve walking towards the TV to check what we're watching and his face changes, he winces. On the other side of the open room I see the big figure of Thor, then Sam, and Clint approaching too.
"Hello, kids! I'm Captain America and I'm so happy to talk to you face to face about some things you need to know about life"
Images of a woman and a man holding hands and kissing appear, my cheeks start to feel hot
"Human relationships are normal and at your age, you start generating hormones that can provoke you some changes, physically and mentally and you need to be prepared! just like I was when I drank the serum!"
Holy shit... it's a sex ed video...
"seriously dad?" I spin my head to him with a red face of embarrassment
"what? shhh, the next part is important" he ignores me so I stand up and walk in front of the TV, avoiding Steve's face
"that? seriously dad? c' mon really? I... I don't need this video!"
"Okay, we can look for another one but let me tell you... this is the most liberal one" he points out and Steve gently slaps his shoulder
"no! I seriously don't need any kind of video. I totally know everything" I bring my hands to my hips
"oh, really missy? everything? how? huh?" he questions and the eyes of everyone falls on me
I sighed and roll my eyes "mom talked to me during this summer break and she never showed me a video by the way"
"oh ok! that is checked on the list on how to raise a daughter, your mom's the best" his face changes to the 'everything's good in this world and that includes me' look
"but seriously dad, you really needed to put the video of Steve talking about sex?" I point to the paused video and see how Steve scratches his jaw
"well, I thought it will make you feel comfortable, right? like you are always seeing him and you sometimes play scrabble with him..."
"no, Tony, I don't think that's how it works" Steve steps in "but come on Tannie, your dad has a point"
"yeah he does kid," Clint says "I'm rehearsing for when I need to talk to my kids as well... especially Lila"
"I don't know what to say, I never had this on Asgard and look how I turned out!" Thor happily smiles at me and I just shake my head
"well, this is awkward," Sam whispers
"listen T, tomorrow you are starting Sophomore year, parties are wilder, boys are in need of girlfriends and like Cap said! hormones are everywhere, I'm a little concerned here, I'm a very devoted father you know?"
"Okay devoted father... now let me relax you... I have a curfew for parties, I don't drink, I don't have time for boyfriends and I don't need one right now, I have better things to do"
"like?" Sam quickly asks
"I'm joining the robotics lab's club"
"ha! nerd!" Thor starts laughing and Clint slaps his bicep
"yes! there you go, Tony! no need to worry about your daughter... now I'm going to eat because I'm starving" Cliny raises his hands in victory
"see ya! hey Steve save me some" Sam exits the living room and Thor and Steve too, I sit beside my dad
"robotics?" he huffs and smiles "pffff, I'm very proud of you T, seriously, you are like the perfect adolescent"
"thanks?...." I hug him "now please dad just burn that movie, pleaseeeee"
"yes! immediately! on it!"
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I finished my day eating cereal in the living room and playing charades with the teaming with Clint and Sam, and beating the sh... and beating Steve and Thor, who are new to pop culture, Finally, I went to sleep or tried to because I'm excited to learn new things... geez, Thor is right I'm a nerd.