Song- 1950 by Talia

Days passed, and it became a full week. Nothing happened, Pepper went to work, Tony created new things. While Anastasia was kept locked and key inside of the large glass tower, Ana truly felt like a modern-day Rapunzel.

Tony was inside his lab, programming software it was all he ever seemed to do. Anastasia wandered the hall, walking silently to the beat of Fleetwood Mac through her new phone Tony had given her.

In her sight was the billionaire man, he was bobbing his head up and down to the surround sound music. She pulled out her earpieces, Anastasia had to admit he had good tastes. He was a terrible singer, this made her giggle. Tony was trying so hard to hit the notes on time and on the pitch, which made this harder to control the laughter.

Anastasia was also frustrated, she also wanted to know what was wrong with her. It seemed to her that everyone had forgotten.

"Tony." She called out, the sliding doors to his workspace opened, he just hummed in reply.

"Jarvis can you please turn off the music." As Jarvis did so Tony turned sharply to her.

"Why did you-"

"We gotta talk, Tony." He seemed relaxed along with her, but not entirely. Tony felt her presence was intimidating but still she was a child, a scared one at best.

"What about?" Tony cocked his head, Anastasia rolled her eyes.

"Don't play dumb, you know what I mean." Tony grumbled something, but now suddenly she was aware she had a gift she could hear the faintest sounds, including some mumbo jumbo he spat.

"I'm not a child, Tony I can handle it. Besides I can hear everything you've been saying. And sometimes I wish I didn't." Anastasia huffed sitting down on a stool.

"I don't think we should talk without Pepper here." Tony firmly stated.

"She's hardly here-" Anastasia retorted, "- and honestly when she is, she hardly speaks to me.  She's a busy person Tony. We can't always wait around, it's been a week! I don't know what is going on, I've been cooped in a four-walled room. I can't do this."

"You have freedom, you can roam the tower." Tony snapped as if it was to justify his intentions to keep her hidden.

"Look, Tony. I'm going to have to learn somehow, I thought you were going to help." Anastasia hummed annoyed with the man who paid no attention to her wellbeing.

"I understand. But until I can figure it out, what you are, there is no leaving." Tony argued, he felt like he was someone he used to know. Someone he didn't admire, his father.

Anastasia planned to talk to Pepper and try to get her to understand where she was coming from. "I don't want to argue, we just became comfortable with each other. I don't want to ruin that." She confessed.

"Guys, I am home!" A female voice called, more so bellowed through the halls of the penthouse. 

Anastasia rushed down to her, "Pepper! He's being a child!" Anastasia whined, it was like she was a ten-year-old complaining to her mother.

"Woah, calm down, what is going on?" Pepper popped a grape into her mouth, Tony now insight.

"He keeps me up here. I wanna talk about what happened, I want answers but he won't give me them. Pepper I can't be cooped up like this!" Pepper nodded her head, glaring at the man in question.

"She's right, it's been a week. We should discuss the issue, but why don't you decorate. This place could also use another female touch. Get things for your room!" Pepper announced giddily inside.

"I mean it would allow me to go out-" but Tony just had to open his mouth.

 "But not by herself." 

"Well, Happy could go with her." Anastasia groaned at Peppers's proposal. And meanwhile, Anastasia was comfortable and happy with well, Happy. She needed friends, more her age.

"I'm not saying no, but I need friends my own age." Anastasia pleaded impatiently,

"That's true. There are discussions to be discussed, later though I have a meeting. Just passed by for some papers and to check up on the two of you, just making sure you guys don't kill each other." Pepper reassured as she left a little wink.

"Fine, Happy can go but you're asking!" Tony laughed sticking out his tongue like a child.

"But he'll just say no!" Anastasia whined chasing the billionaire down the hallway and back to his lab.

Pepper chuckled, and suddenly she thought to herself. Maybe it'll be okay, and having her around will help them.

Later throughout the day, Happy after many pleas gave into the girl. "So where to first, kid?"

"I don't know, IKEA?" Happy nodded, turning on the ignition and driving down the road. Pepper had given her a company card that had no financial limitations, "Go wild!" She remembered Pepper suggesting with a big wide smile.

This much power, Ana couldn't understand. Inside she searched high and low wondering what theme or aesthetic to go with. Light or dark? she found some drawers that were white with a marble top. She grabbed two, bedsheets and blankets. She just grabbed a floral set and a couple of plants.

"Is that all?" Happy asked, pushing her cart. But Anastasia spotted some wall decor and immediately squealed. She pointed at a couple asking Happy for his thoughts.

One was of just a plant, with a white background. She heard plantation could uplift the mood, and energize one's wellbeing.

Another was of a landscape, a dreamy utopian city.

"Neither." Happy pouted, staring off at the cafe inside the store.

Anastasia poked out her tongue. "You're no fun, Hap."

"Don't call me that." He snickered.

"And why not? Wanna go get food." Anastasia's stomach growled, " I didn't eat breakfast."

"Sure, I'm down for some donuts." Anastasia nodded as they paid and went to go eat.

"So tell me Kid, where are you from?" This made her tense up, she thought Tony would have informed him by now. "If you don't wanna that's fine. So what do you like to do for fun? Besides, be an introvert." This she was happy to answer.

"Anything, listen to music. Draw, write, paint, read. Whatever I could afford." Happy nodded, taking small sips of his coffee.

"I tried coffee once, it tasted like dirt. What's the point in it anyway?" Anastasia grumbled taking large bites of her glazed donut.

"It's what one has to do in order to deal with chaos every day. And handling a man with great wealth and fame, it's not as easy as they make it in the movies." Happy replied.

"You know I see you going to the rooftop every night. I won't tell anyone but why?" Anastasia sighed,

"It's nice up there, I get alone time from my chaos. The night is a new feeling, a new level of comfort for me. I'm sure Tony has told you of how much of a freakazoid I am." She rolled her eyes sipping at her coca-cola drink.

"Oh, he told me. But don't worry, he is trying to figure it out. Don't be too hard on him." But this was hard to understand, she didn't believe him.

"I find that hard to understand. Besides he hardly talks to me, I thought we were making progress. Tony hides in his four-walled lab for hours, going entire days without a word."

"He told me not to tell you this but-" Happy whispered closing in.

"But what?" Anastasia cut off in a hushed and hurried tone.

"The day after you arrived he did a background check. It is natural considering the circumstances." This made Anastasia grumble and his eyebrows furrowed.

"He just found out what he already knew, dead mother, deadbeat father." Anastasia scoffed,

"Thanks for the blunt reminder."

"Look, I'm not trying to be insincere." But Anastasia wasn't comfortable with the talk anymore.

"Whatever, is there a grocery store? I saw Pepper and Tony haven't done their shopping in over a week. I'd like to help them around the house." Happy sighed, he decided not to push any further.

"There is one not far from the Tower, how about we go do that and then go back to the tower. I'll help you with your room."

"Deal." Anastasia smiled.

~

The shopping went well, smoothly no more depressive talk about dead parents. They were building her drawers when Tony walked in with a mug full of hot steaming coffee in hand.

"I see you've had a good day." His words were tired and strained.

"Caffeine isn't good for you." Anastasia replied giving him a look.

"Woah really?" Anastasia nodded falling for the sarcasm, "well I don't care. Anyway, I wanted to know what you wanted for dinner?" Happy was screwing in a piece of the drawer.

"Me and Hap-" Happy looked at her and scoffed, "I said don't call me that."

"Ignore him, anyway. We went grocery shopping and I think I wanna make dinner for you guys." Anastasia asked, with puppy eyes.

"You're fourteen, do you even know how to work a stove?" Tony snickered,

"You underestimate me, Stark. I've been cooking all my life. So yes I do." Anastasia replied.

"Whatever then, but if you burn it. You're eating it- all!" Tony concluded walking back to his lab.

"Do you actually know how to cook?" Happy asked.

"Noodles and pre-cooked meals but how hard could it be." Anastasia optimistically smiled.

Dinner came, and so did it's discussion. And Anastasia was excited, Pepper arrived just as dinner was being served.

"What's that smell?" Pepper called from the elevator,

"Chicken dumplings in noodle soup with bok choy." She blurted out from the kitchen. Anastasia did get premade dumplings and noodles but handcrafted the meal.

"Never tried that before. It certainly smells divine." Pepper smiled at the food in awe.

"Hah, I didn't even burn it!" Anastasia snapped in Tony's face. He rolled his eyes and waved her off.

"Did you get to do anything today?" Pepper asked.

"Shopped for furniture and other things with Happy, then ate Donut's talked about how Tony did a background check on me-"

"You did what?" Pepper asked fumed, she glared at tony.

"Anyway, we went food shopping. And then built the stuff and then here we are." Anastasia babbled like a child, she completed the service.

"Well, that's good despite Tony doing the background check. But I've been thinking about what you said Ana, about having friends your age." She sat across from Anastasia, Anastasia nodded. "So what do you say about going to school?"

Immediately Anastasia agreed but Tony didn't. To this Anastasia couldn't understand why. "nope." he said so sure with his answer.

"But why?" Anastasia grumbled.

"Because we still haven't figured out your powers yet. It's unstable." Tony spat as though it was obvious.

"That's not my problem! Tony, you haven't even attempted to find out anything." Pepper watched the two argue.

"I mean I kind of agree with both of you. I think you should test what she can do. And maybe help her." Pepper suggested.

"You know, you're never on my side." Tony looked at pepper.

"It's not that I don't argue with you but she could be getting unstable by the second." She whispered. "Help her." Underneath her cloth.

"Guys you do know I could hear you right." The couple looked at her.

So that's what Tony did, and if she complied she would be able to go to school. It was a win-win situation for all.

"Maybe tomorrow, I'll wash up and then head to my room for a bit." Not finishing her meal, she left the couple to fix their own argument.

She entered the Kitchen, she rinsed and loaded the dishwasher, but as Pepper watched and channel surfed on the large flatscreen, huddled with Tea and biscuits Tony headed to his room. "Well, I'm done." Pepper thanked her and Anastasia couldn't wait to bounce on up to see her crime boy.

But as Anastasia was in the elevator she thought, 'Should I tell him? Maybe we're alike' but the doors started to slide open revealing her favorite crime boy sitting on the ledge with a gleeful and warm smile. Anastasia sat next to him, "This has become an unhealthy habit." She smiled.

"It has- Ana Banana." The boy replied, and which the days since she had known of him she learned some things. He was from Queens, he was the same age which meant he was still in school. But he of course, never said his real name, never showed his face behind that red mask.

  "So tell me, how did you come to live in the famous Stark Tower?" His voice was excited and eager, recently expressing how much he loved Tony Stark.

"Ah well, that is a long story." Anastasia stared out, her eyes trained on passerby cars.  

"Well, I got all the time in the world!" He praised and begged for a story, he waved his hands in his arms in the air.

"No you don't, you have to be home in-" She unlocked her phone to reveal the time, "- ten minutes. If you get caught, well don't blame me!" She poked her tongue at him which cause him to huff in defeat. 

"Fine, but what about school?" They sat close, their hand's inches apart from each other as they leaned back to gaze at the view.

"What about it?" She asked as she had a questionable look on her face.

"Do you go to school?" 

"I'm hoping to start soon, I'm not entirely sure which one." Anastasia replied looking at him, she wanted to reach for his mask and peel it back revealing who actually was. But she decided that she didn't wanna lose her only friend.

"Do you have a lot of friends?" She asked.

"I got one-" he hesitated as he was thinking hard on something, "-Ted, anyway. He's been my best mate for a very long time and I owe him a lot, anyway I'm sure you're popular." 

Anastasia couldn't help but laugh, "Funny, but no. And Pepper, Tony, and Happy don't count; they are literally twice my age. You're probably the only person that's talked to me and is my friend." She shot back with a joyful smile.

He was taken back, "I am your friend?" He held the biggest and brightest smile. 

"Of course, I hope I'm yours." Anastasia smirked.

He just nodded vigorously. Anastasia looked her time on her cellphone a frown now present. "Why the frown?" Crime boy asked.

"Your time is up." This made the masked boy silent and sad,

"Don't worry we can see each other tomorrow, same time, same place." Anastasia stood up dusting off her pants and jumper followed by the boy. "I guess so-" He stood opposite from her, and his hands held her shoulders down.

"I'll see you later?" Anastasia asked,

"See you later, Ana Banana!" He saluted walking to the tower's edge, "See you later, Crime boy!" Ana saluted watching him fall and then swing back to his home. She never ceased to be amazed by the boy's gift, forgetting she had one of her own.

Truly that boy washed her anxieties and bad thoughts away. And she only just realized, and as the said girl went back to the penthouse where Pepper was sound asleep. Draping a blanket she found and a cushion under her head. Anastasia took the plate of crumbs and empty mug and put them in the loaded Dishwasher and turned it on, fortunately it was quiet.

Anastasia's room was past Tony's lab and room, she tiptoed past hoping to not get caught out of her bed. Luckily she was successful, undressing and going to shower she thought about how she'd be able to go to school, and how nervous she was to use these powers. But as she thought about this she wondered if this was actually a gift, and not actually a curse.

~

Author's note: Oh Dear, Odeya is a fan fiction novel and has been removed, because I hadn't had the time to write two books. Meanwhile, it'll be written slowly offline and at my own pace, and will be uploaded once the storyline has been reassessed and clarified.

Oh Dear, Odeya is a Harry Potter AU ( Alternative Universe) story.

Thanks! Ting ❤️