𝐢'𝐦 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐝

༻ ❁ ༺

Stark Industries HQ

Underground tunnels

          CHARLOTTE STRUGGLED against the larger man's grip. Obadiah was struggling to maintain control over the girl as he dragged her by her arm down the winding underground tunnels at Stark Industries. 

She used her freed hand to throw a blindsided punch in his direction, it limply connected with his side and back, but he remained unfazed. Only stopping momentarily to turn abruptly and grip Charlotte by her upper arms. He leaned close and hissed through clenched teeth, "Would you stop squirming? I'm not going to kill you!"

Halting her movements, Charlotte raised a brow and threw Obadiah an apprehensive look. "I'm seven, not stupid."

He took a second to ponder her response before standing up straight. "Fair enough." He continued to lead her down the runways until they reached an underground laboratory. Charlotte noted that they had walked past several alternative renditions of her father's arc reactors, each one seemed as elaborate and expansive as the last.

Pulling open a metal door, Obadiah did not hesitate to shove Charlotte into the cramped and dimly lit room, before following her in. She flinched as the door slammed behind them with a thud that seemed to vibrate through her bones. The chill remained with her as one by one, fluorescent lights began to turn on, revealing the laboratory they were standing in. However, Charlotte's eyes were only fixed on one thing, and one thing only. In the center of the room, surrounded by wiring and circuit boards, was a colossal grey metal suit. Its body was bulky and imposing; it hung from thick, rusting chains, elevated in mid-air. The slightly off-cut, oval headpiece was basic looking with two rectangles for eye holes and a long horizontal slit for a mouthpiece. In the center of the creation, was an empty crevice; wires protruded from five different points.

Charlotte gasped inwardly as she began to piece together the events of that night. Obadiah had attacked her father and left him to die - all for the arc reactor.

"Isn't it beautiful?" He marveled at his creation.

"No." Obadiah folded his arms across his chest and stared down at the girl. She shrugged and glanced at him, not seeming to understand why he was confused by her response. "What? Mom said that it's wrong to lie."

She was too much like her father; he smirked knowing that inevitably, it would be her downfall. "Yeah, well what do you know?" Stalking across the room, he brushed past her, not seeming to notice the shaky breath Charlotte released.

"You're not going to get away with this." He turned abruptly and glared at her. "My dad will come to me. And when he gets here he'll destroy your crappy tin suit." At that moment, any sense of confidence and adrenaline she had, instantly drained from her body. She was scared of Obadiah Stane - he was a dangerously unstable individual, and she knew that he would not think twice about killing her if she stood in his way. If he would not hesitate to harm a child, then what damage could he cause to others, and with a suit of armor?

"Sweetie. No one is coming for you." He crouched down and looked the girl straight in the eyes, "Your dad is dead. And after I kill you, I think I'll pay your mom a visit." His hand whipped out and grabbed her arm, tugging her harshly towards a storage locker at the side of the room.

In an attempt to escape his grasp, Charlotte raised her prosthetic leg high and connected it swiftly with Obadiah, dragging the appendage down his shin. He hissed and recoiled backward slightly, shaking his leg in pain and frustration as the metal dug into his skin and pulled. Charlotte grabbed her window of opportunity and began to run towards the nearest door. She knew that she had approximately ten seconds before Obadiah would compose himself and then he would be coming for her - hunting her down.

The door on the far side of the room seemed to be getting further away, the harder she ran. She couldn't have been more than four feet from the door, with her hand held out. With a yelp, a vice-like grasp on her upper arm pulled Charlotte backward. The hard, calloused fingertips of Obadiah pinched her skin as he closely clenched her upper arm, she could feel his hands shake with rage and frustration.

Without a word, he did not hesitate for a moment before he marched Charlotte back over to the storage locker, and brutishly threw her inside. Her small body crumpled to the floor, having hit the wall, knocking the wind out of her lungs. After regaining her balance, she pounded on the door with closed fists.

"Let me out! Help!" She never heard an answer, only the creak and swing of the laboratory door as it slammed closed, seemingly sealing her fate. Still, she continued to pound on her door, her breath becoming ragged until she was heaving deeply, struggling to take a full breath. She collapsed on the floor and pressed her fists into her eyes as she cried, shaky breaths racked through her small frame. She was all alone.

Her dad was gone, possibly dead. She did not know if Obadiah would be true to his word, but more than likely her mom was in unimaginable danger. Wrapping her arms around her shaking knees, she hugged herself tightly, the coolness of the compressed space leaving a chill on her bones. She bit her quivering lip, wanting someone to hug. But she was alone. No one was coming for her.

༻ ❁ ༺

She did not know how much time passed before an explosion suddenly shook the laboratory. Perking up at the sound, Charlotte her gaze towards the door as an array of voices spilled into the room.

"Hey," She choked on her own voice, her throat was dry from crying. "Help me, please!" She scrambled to her feet, stumbling as she pushed herself off the ground. Pressing her hands against the door, she pressed her ear against the door and listened carefully, trying to determine who the voices belonged to. "I'm in here! Help, someone?!"

The door flew open and she staggered out, a pair of hands holding her upright, catching her by the shoulders. "Miss Stark?", a familiar voice spoke.

"Agent Coulson!" She gave an exhale of relief as she looked up through her lashes, tears brimming. Charlotte did not know why, but she felt such a wave of relief wash over her, and she lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Coulson's middle. Taken aback, Coulson did not know how to respond to the sudden interaction - the small child was trembling against him, her hands grasped onto his jacket, clinging on fearfully.

"What are you doing here? Where is Stane?" He asked seriously, kneeling to her height and placing a hand on her back, consciously rubbing soothing circles on her back. It was a small gesture, but a one that Charlotte seemed to respond to as her breathing evened and she began to compose herself.

"Obadiah, he-", she was interrupted by the door opening, the sound of metal creaking and then slamming against the concrete wall vibrated around the room. Turning, Charlotte cast her eyes on who had entered the room. Her entire body felt weak as if she would fall over if it were not for Coulson's hand on her shoulder. "Mom!"

Pepper ran into the room, an audible gasp of relief escaped when she saw her daughter. When Rhodey had first called Pepper to inform her of Tony's condition, her heart leaped into her throat as he told her that Obadiah had taken Charlotte. It was every parent's worst nightmare - and hers was coming true. She did not know if when she saw her daughter again, would she be harmed or worse.

"Charlie! Oh my god, honey!" Pepper did not hesitate to pull Charlotte into her arms and hold her in a bone-crushing embrace. The girl wrapped her arms around her mother's middle, pushing her face into her blouse, inhaling the familiar and comforting scent. Pepper crouched down and held Charlotte's face in her hands, brushing her loose hair from her face and drying her dampened cheeks. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

Charlotte smiled through tears at her mom, relieved that she was unharmed, despite Obadiah's explicit threats. "I'm okay, Mom! But we have to go, Obadiah he-" She was cut off when suddenly an almighty crash pulled their attention to the far side of the room. Obadiah's monstrosity burst from behind a veiled wall of chains.

Pepper grabbed Charlotte's hand and wrapped an arm across her chest, keeping her pulled close to herself. Numerous agents spilled into the room, guns were drawn and aimed at the iron suit. Coulson too drew his own gun and moved to position himself in front of the Stark's. "You need to get out of here. There's an exit door behind us, take that and just keep running," he ordered, not taking his eyes from the suit.

"But, Phil -" Charlotte tried to interject her concern for the agent. This was only the second time she had met the man, but she felt at ease with him, he had a kind face and a friendly demeanor. She could trust him.

"Don't worry about me," he glanced over his shoulder, giving her a small smile, "I'll catch up."

Suddenly, the suit exploded to life, running at them through the room; the agents started to open fire on the suit. Pepper did not pause to tighten her grip on Charlotte's wrist, pulling her toward the doorway. The pair raced as hard as they could, but Pepper had to keep dragging her upright as she fell on her own feet. She did not look behind her, but Charlotte flinched at the pounding thuds advancing on them as they raced through the main lobby area, towards the entrance of the building. They pushed through the doors, narrowly avoiding the giant metallic arm as Obadiah reached for them.

They both stood in the parking lot, watching as Obadiah's arm became wedged in the doorway to the building. He struggled for several minutes before giving in a retreating back into the building. Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief, her hand tightening in her mom's as she felt her legs give way and she sunk to the ground, shivering in the bitter winter wind. Pepper kneeled by her daughter, as she breathed deeply, hugging her close. "You're okay, sweetie. We're safe now."

I hope.

"Dad?" Her voice was barely a whisper as she looked up at her mom through sodden lashes.

"Your dad is okay. Uncle Rhodey saved him."

Nodding, she did not feel the need to respond as her body once again felt as if she was floating. All her fear and anxiety seemed to flow from her body when she realized that Obadiah had failed - her dad was alive; her mom was alive, and she was alive. As she sat in her mom's arms on the tarmac, Pepper gently rocked her back and forth, while smoothing a hand over her head, occasionally tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. Tiredness began to wash over Charlotte, her eyes began to feel tired and hot, more than likely from crying.

"Pepper?"

She must have been dreaming when she heard her dad's voice faintly. But the voice spoke again and Pepper raised a hand to her ear, causing Charlotte to sit upright. Looking around, she could not see her dad, but she could hear his voice.

"Pep, are you there?"

"Tony? Tony, are you okay?" Pepper asked frantically, pressing the hands-free device further into her ear, the connection was somewhat weak.

"I'm fine. Did you find Charlie? Are you safe?" Tony's voice was frantic through the earpiece.

"I found her, she's okay." Pepper lay a cheek atop Charlotte's head, placing a soft kiss on her crown. "A little shaken up, but she's safe."

Charlotte leaned forward so she could hear his voice clearly. "Dad?" She still sounded apprehensive, as if she did not believe it was truly him.

"Hey, kiddo," She could hear the relief emitting in his voice as he spoke.

"Dad, I'm so sorry."

"What? What are you sorry for?"

"You almost died. I couldn't help you, I was too scared." Hot tears spilled down her cheeks once more.

"No, sweetie. You were so brave. I -" Tony continued to talk, however, Charlotte and Pepper were unable to hear him over the sound of the ground suddenly crumbling and caving behind them. The two turned to see the monstrous metal suit , clawing at the tarmac, climbing from the ground. Its bright eyes were trained on the pair, emitting a white glow on their shivering skin. As he lifted his weapon, Obadiah's voice was low, the muzzle of the gun fixed on the mother and daughter as they cowered on the floor.

"Your services are no longer required."