CHAPTER 12

When the meeting was dismissed, there was no way I could get out of there fast enough. I would've shadow-travelled if I hadn't felt so nauseated by the sickening reality that either Loki or I, myself had something to do with my father's condition.

I bolted out of there, into my room. Knocking over a stand where the webcam was sitting. Could've sworn I'd left it at one of the Stark Mansions. I thought to myself but decided it was a good as time as any. I asked SIS to deny access to anyone for the next half an hour as I sat in front of my webcam.

"I'm not good with selflessness but recently my world has changed... Today I planned on..."

It took me forty-two minutes to catch the vlog up with everything. I talked about the Gala, about Tomas, about my mother and my mission and most importantly, my suspicions for the poisonings. Why would they choose that particular chemical or whatever it was? Why not something quick and extremely deadly. I understand that no one ever knew about this before it was in our systems but why not spend some time to engineer it before administering it?

It was a riddle I needed to solve. For some time I wondered if the asylum dreams were an effect of the serum. But the dreams were too vivid, too real. I legitimately felt as if I were there. I felt the plush bounce and the springs of the mattress under my feet as I tried to run.

After finishing my daily vlog, I decided to go down to the labs. I found Tony and Bruce working away. Tony seemed heathy enough, however, his eyes were worn and his movements were sagging. At the sight of me Tony came to the door. I sucked in a cry and wrapped him in a hug, not caring about the visions that might fill my head.

He held me tightly back. I buried my face into his chest, trying not to cry. "Come on." He whispered, he closed the door behind him and we sat against it. After a long silence, I spoke. My voice wobbly.

"Are you gonna die?" My lip trembled and I clenched my eyes shut. Tony didn't answer for some time. Perhaps he was debating whether to lie to comfort or tell the truth to prepare me.

"We don't know." He whispered. "But I'm not going to go for some time. Bruce and I have found a set of antibiotics that the chemical doesn't actually like so right now, that's sustaining mere mortals like Clint and Natasha and I. Cap, Bruce and Thor have a better resistance to it, they actually might live. I'm not sure about me though. I seem to be the weakest against it."

"But how long do you think?" I asked, my voice cracking slightly. I was a piece of church-stained glass, with each hit, a small crack made its way across my surface.

"A few months probably?" Tony tried to sound hopeful, for my sake. I nodded, tears brimming in my eyes. "We should have a cure by then. Don't worry Lana."

"Don't worry." I whispered, words of defeat, seeing the irony. "I have every reason to."

"I'm worrying about you and Pepper aren't I? Whe- If I go, can you look after her? She's had a hard and long life. With her childhood, then dealing with me, finding out that you'd be our only kid..."

"Pepper's infertile?" I asked, my voice hoarse and raspy from the tears that's been leaking out of my eyes.

"Yeah, it's got things to do with the embryo stages, her body can't fully support it. I think it's somewhat optimistic. I'd be a terrible father." He joked.

"You're an awesome dad." I smiled. "I think you'd be a lil' protective of your boy or girl though."

"I think, not having that fatherly role kind of threw me off." Tony admitted. I nodded in agreement.

"But we can't be exact replicas of our parents can we? Otherwise the world just gets boring."

"Tell that to the Offspring." Tony grumbled and I laughed. He seems happier after my laugh, his eyes were more alight than they were before.

Bruce knocked on the glass above our heads and made a gesturing motion to whatever they were working on, I sighed. "Seems like you're needed back in the lab." I muttered. Tony hissed in pain as he stood then he wrapped me up in a bear hug.

"I love you." He whispered kissing my forehead. I nodded.

"I do too. But what's the sudden rise in lovey doveyness?" I asked curiously.

"A brush with death always reminds you of the things that you should be grateful for." Tony said before going back into the lab.

"I don't think that happened to me." I whispered before going back up to my room. Wishing to be alone.

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