antoniamstark

[antoniamstark]

Frank walks in with two coffee mugs in his hands. He sets one down on the desk in front of Antonia. He can see the stress on her face as she looks over the spreadsheet in front of her. Her hair is mused and she doesnt even notice the cup at first.

"Hey." It gets her attention and she looks up. He motions to the streaming mug as he brings his own to his lips. "Take a break." He says after he swallows a mouthful of black coffee.

"They need these by the end of the day." She mutters as she grabs the handle of the mug.

"Then they should have given them to you esrlier."

She rolls her eyes and takes a sip. He can see the look on her face as the aftertaste hits her.

"Spiked coffee."

"You looked a bit tense."

The alcohol wasnt the best choice, Frank realized as she paused over the mug.

"I am. I'm tired, I want to sleep and they think I can have this sorted by the end of the night.

"Then put it away and worry about it tomorrow. What are they going to do? Fire you?"

[antoniamstark]

There are scars that Frank has seen, but he doesnt ask about. His fingers have gently traced over them hundreds of times, and everytime she says the same thing : an accident. He doesnt believe it for all of them. The ones on her hands come from working with metal and machines. Some of the ones on her arms come from combat and training. It's the ones only he sees that he knows aren't from accidents. Not the way she means. Unless for her, accident translates into abuse. Shes never mentioned her father, not in detail, but hes seen her body language, her behavior when hes mentioned. How she changes, how she gets angry, how she shuts down afterwards.

Frank never expects honest answers when it comes to these scars, he doesn't really think he wants them. Sometimes he gets them, when he catches her off guard, when shes half asleep on their bed and his fingers trace one hes curious about. In actuality Its only happened once, and he doesnt think she remembers. Theres a large scar that runs from along her waist from her right side to her back. He remembers tracing his fingers over it and absentmindedly asking "where'd this come from." She moves slightly and she makes a sound at the back of her throat. "He got mad." She muttered against the part of his arm that was her pillow. "Shoved against hot metal." The answer upset him.

Frank spends a good portion of that night awake. Mostly because he is angry, angry that someone who was supposed to protect Antonia hurt her, and partly because he wanted to stay up and make sure she was safe. The last part was more for him than for her, she was asleep and in his arms, which to her was the safest place to be.

The next morning he tried to not be bothered by the fact she had told him where that scar came from. She didnt seem to remember she told him anyway.

[antoniamstark]

I mean, he wears ski masks to sneak in and do his thing, also it's just harder to peel off the fabric when its bloody.

In a of the time I've known Frank, his face probably hasnt been bruised or bleeding for a total of maybe 3 weeks.

People always go for his face.

[antoniamstark]

Frank doesnt remember how he got mixed up in all of this, how he got picked up by SHIELD and ended up walking through the Avengers Tower towards a conference room. He almost laughed to himself as he glanced over his shoulder to the two agents behind him before looking at the two agents in front of him, as if they are going to stop him from doing anything if he wanted. But hes not there to be arrested, he is there for a conference of some kind. The room was full of Avengers and SHIELD agents as he walked in. A soft hush fell over the room as all eyes fell on him. He expected something from them, instead after a few moments conversation resumed. Apparently him being there was not their idea.

Frank shook his head slightly and took a seat in the corner away from everyone. It was best to keep his distance, though he was growing annoyed at the side glances from Natasha and Clint.

"Alright, that's enough socializing, it isnt like you all dont live together." Fury announced as he walked through the door. Frank smirked as a few people rolled their eyes.

[antoniamstark]

Antonia tosses the paper down onto the table with disgust. Its sensationalism, she decides as her eyes dance over the headline : Stark Heiress funding Punisher Murder Sprees.

It's far from the truth. The only thing of Frank Castle's she funds is his car insurance, medical Bill's, and housing...mostly because she loves with him, or rather he lives with her.

She shakes her head and closes her eyes for a moment before opening them as the floor boards behind her creak.

"I hope your not coming in all bloody. Johnson is rather suspicious of how often I have him come over and steam clean now."

Theres a scoff and she turns her head to see Frank standing in the doorway more bruised than bloody. It's usually a decent sign.

"You act like I come in gushing blood."

"You come in looking like you were a survivor in a horror movie." She offers him the mug she had taken in her hand, the coffee was enough to coax him further inside.

Frank's hand is warm as he places it on her upper back as he takes the cup from her hand. He doesnt say anything as he downs the black coffee as if its water.

Theres a pause as he sets the mug on the table next to the paper. The headline grabbing his attention.

Frank wants to say something, but he cant seem to find the words at first.

"You dont have to do this you know."

"Do what?"

"This."

"You mean us?'

[antoniamstark]

Peter in the new trailer: The world is looking for the next iron man, I don’t think I can live up to that. 

Peter honey!! you saved iron man TWICE 

Kicked/punched 4 infinity stone THANOS three times!!! 

and iron man himself knighted your ass!!

[antoniamstark]

And I am Iron Man

[antoniamstark]

Tony “who says yay when he finds a secret door” Stark

Tony “elevators not worthy” Stark

Tony “hopeful that all the avengers will stay for the party” Stark

Tony “getting really attached to the team” Stark

Tony “do I get to rule Asgard?” Stark

Tony “pretend flirting but totally meaning it with Rhodey” Stark

Tony “I’m not the boss, I just pay for everything, make everyone look cooler, etc which he totally does because he cares” Stark

Tony “bragging about how boss Pepper is” Stark

Tony “is making medical advances” Stark

Tony “calling himself old man” Stark

Tony “don’t take from my pile” Stark

Tony “willingly going to fix Clint’s tractor” Stark

Tony “caring for friends so much he’d build something to keep them safe” Stark

Tony “making jokes in horrible times to ease the tension” Stark

Tony “giving up JARVIS because he thinks that’ll save the world” Stark

Tony “has anxiety, PTSD, and he’s still in the game” Stark

Tony “telling Bruce to take a stand not to be rude but because Bruce doesn’t have to bow down to anybody” Stark

Tony “I’m not the same man as before” Stark

Tony “going from war profit to saving the world because he thinks it’s what he was destined to do, even though he’s just a civilian, no super powers, just because he damn wants to, he’s gotten so far and become such a better person but no one really sees that over his mistakes” Stark

Tony “isn’t the same man as before, because he’s so much better” Stark

Tony fucking Stark

[antoniamstark]

“Yeet” Goeth Mine Heart

For @therealantoniastark

Lianna used the folding crutches in her bag to knock on the door. She used her arms to shift her weight in the chair, trying to ignore the pins and needles in her spine.

The door opened and Lianna painted on the smile that was expected of her.

Antonia Stark-Castle was standing behind the door and smiling at her. Lianna’s own smile softened as she looked up at her aunt.

“Hey Ton,” she greeted softly.

“C’mon in, coffee?” Ant stood aside as Lianna struggled to get her chair over the threshold.

“Do you-“

“Don’t even,” came Lianna’s sharp dismissal as she finally rolled her chair over the threshold, stopping to rest for a moment.

Tonia nodded, walking off to get the coffee as Lianna rolled into the living room.

Tonia picked up the coffee pot and listened to Lianna’s soft swears as she most likely tried to transfer herself to the couch. She sighed as she carried the cups to the living room to see Li on the couch glaring at the wheelchair as if she could ignite it by sheer willpower.

Tonia hid her smile behind her own coffee cup as she passed the other to Lianna.

Lianna grabbed the cup and took a long drink, feeling it burn down her throat.

“Sweet nectar,” she whispered, fondling the cup. Tonia snickered as Lianna inhaled the steam, trying to ignore the obscene moans coming from the girl.

“Get a room, kid,” she laughed as Li turned an offended glance her way, hugging the mug closer protectively.

“Shh, don’t offend my wife,” chuckled the girl.

Tonia rolled her eyes and snorted. She sipped her own coffee as Lianna laughed, and finally it quieted in the room. It was quiet as she was numb.

“Tonia?” The woman in question looked at her niece, not even realizing she had zoned out.

Lianna was staring at her, green eyes holding concern.

“What is it?” Tonia gripped her cup just a little tighter.

“Why are you numb?” Li asked softly.

Tonia froze as she realised she did that thing where her internal monologue wasn’t staying where it should.

“No, it’s not,” agreed her niece.

Tonia set down her coffee and dropped her head into her hands. Today started off stupid and it wasn’t getting any less so.

“Every day is stupid.” Lianna was examining her nails as she added her two cents.

“That’s enough out of you,” Tonia huffed a laugh. She ran a hand through her hair and over her face. She heard muffled swearing and some rustling, and screwed her eyes shut. The loveseat dipped and Lianna crashed in her with a yelp, the crutches flying out of her grasp. Tonia buried her face deeper into her hands and half-laughed, half-sobbed once. Lianna hummed with a note of certain disapproval and threw her arms around her aunt’s neck.

“Stop it.” The only sound was Tonia’s breathy giggles.

“Stop crying.” Lianna punched Tonia’s arm lightly.

“Please stop it, don’t make me get Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumber.” Lianna was beginning to sound desperate. This wouldn’t do. Tonia sniffed a giggle as she tried to patch herself together.

“Good. I’m getting worried.”

Tonia looked up, chuckling even as she swiped at her wet eyes.

“Which one’s Tweedle Dee and which one’s Dumber?”

Lianna got that funny offended look again.

“Tweedle Dee is Rhodey, cuz he’s just…. The best. Dumber is Tony. For reasons I should not have to explain.”

Tonia started laughing, just giving up on the tears.

Li made a distressed noise and reached up to brush away her aunt’s tears.

“Stop it. You’ll make me cry and then we’ll be in a pickle,” she complained. With a giggle of her own, she hugged her aunt tighter.

After a moment Tonia straightened up.

“How the hell did you get over here?” she sputtered, staring at her neice.

Lianna smiled sheepishly and pointed at the crutches on the floor.

“Those. I usually only use them for transferring. But they’re good for yeeting myself across the room when needed.”

Tonia had lost her mind. She had to have. She pointed a shaky finger at her niece.

“Never say that again.”

“I yeeted myself over here.”

“No.”

“This bitch empty.”

Tonia paused.

“Mood?” she tried.

Lianna snorted.

“Don’t make me finish my own joke, Ant.”

“…..yeet.”

“YES.”

“Go bother your fathers.”

“Nope, I belong here now.”

“Yes. Yes, you do.”

“You know you love me.”

A pause.

“I will not hesitate to yeet you across the room. It’s not like you can stop me.”

“Point taken.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

[antoniamstark]

Marvel asks!

steve: are you small or tall?

bucky: what’s your favorite memory?

sam: what makes you happy?

peggy: what’s your favorite era?

thor: what’s your favorite weather?

valkyrie: what’s your favorite drink?

heimdall: where do you see yourself in 5 years?

korg: are you optimistic or pessimistic?

peter: are you good at keeping secrets?

ned: who is your best friend?

michelle: do you like to go to parties?

liz: who was your high school crush?

aunt may: who or what are you most protective over?

t'challa: what is the most important thing your parents taught you?

shuri: are you a good driver?

nakia: what causes are you passionate about?

okoye: do you speak more than one language?

m'baku: are you vegetarian?

killmonger: sunrises or sunsets?

peter quill: what’s your favorite song from your childhood?

gamora: do you like to dance?

nebula: do you get along with your siblings?

groot: are you quiet or talkative?

rocket: have you changed a lot since you were younger?

asgard: if you could move anywhere, where would you pick?

brooklyn: where do you feel most at home?

wakanda: what is your hometown known for?

[antoniamstark]

It wasn’t supposed to end this way, Tony realized as he watched the screen. Rhodey had told them they had they all clear from the countries Antonia was supposed to fly over. It was a basic maneuver, a basic training activity for the Legionnaire suit. But it was anything but that now as they stood around watching as someone from somewhere was trying to shoot her down.

Behind him Tony could hear Rhodey on the phone yelling, telling them that it wasn’t a droid, that it was a suit and there was a real person inside it. But it didn’t matter.

“Keep her in the air, keep her in the air, please.” Tony begged as Tonia got over international waters on her way back. It took one last hit before Antonia was doing a dive towards the water. The room going silent as she hit and went under.

Seconds felt like minutes as Tongs brain tried to process what happened. It took a few seconds before he was on his feet,

Marching towards the door.

“Give me readings Jarvis.” He snapped. “Give me the data from her suit!”

“Tony...” he heard Steve or maybe Bruce call his name but he didn’t stop as he made his way towards his armory.”

“Tony you just can’t go and get her.”

“Yes I can.” Tony replies to whoever it is trying to stop him.

“Sir.” Jarvis comes on overhead. “There is no response from Wednesday, but at last reading there was some decent damage done to the suits exterior that could affect the pressurization.” That’s not what he wanted to hear. He is full on ignoring those who are calling his name. They don’t matter. They don’t understand that he is not going to bury her too. They don’t understand that if there is anything that can damage the integrity of the suit and water can leak in, she will drown. But the more real possibility is if the suit loses power or there is anything that has compromised the pressurization, she will suffocate.

Tony looks over his shoulder as he presses the access code for the armory.  No one has followed him down there and he’s certain that’s Rhodey’s doing. Not that anyone being there would stop him anyway.

“Does the Legionnaire still have Power?”

“Yessir.”

“Give me her last coordinates.”

“There is no guarantee she will be there.”

“I know what I am doing Jarvis. Give them to me.”

The coordinates are waiting for him on the HUD as his suit closes around him.

“Tell Rhodey to have someone waiting for us there.” It’s easier to have Jarvis do it and keep his coms offline as he takes off from the tower. He’s certain people are scrambling to find out who took down the armor, but it doesn’t matter to Tony who did at this point. He can worry about that later. Right now the only thing on his mind is Antonia. If they want to shoot him down too, they can certainly try.

It takes longer than he would like to reach he coordinates but according especially as Jarvis tells him that the suits integrity is starting to fail.

“How deep is it here?” Tony asks once they approach the last point in which Antonia was in the sky.

“ two hundred feet.”

It’s a pretty decent depth honestly. But nothing he can’t clear. Tony hits the water at the same angle. It’s safe to assume she didn’t sink where she went in.

“One hundred and fifty feet....one hundred....fifty....” Tony saw the light from the reactor before anything else and it was a relief for the moment. Power meant pressurization which meant air.

“Is there any chance of communication?”

“Wednesday is still offline Sir.”

Not what he wanted to hear really. But as long as Jarvis was picking up vitals then he was fine. It was all fine, even though it wasn’t.

At least the water had slowed her down enough that she wasn’t truly imbedded into the ocean floor, but getting her free was still a task in itself.

“Integrity is failing.”

“Of course it is.” Tony muttered as he managed to break the seal between Antonia and the soft sediment. He pulled her upwards as firmly, yet as gently as he could until he was able to get his arm around her middle. He honestly would have preferred to have had a chance to make sure the suit was secure, but time was of the essence.

He lifted off from the ocean floor, pulling her along with him, going up at the same angle they had come.

The only thing Tony could hear as he breached the water was the beating of his own heart and and the blood in his ears or maybe it was water as it was being parted by the hull of the aircraft carrier coming their way.  God he loved Rhodey.

There was a medical team waiting for them as he landed on the tarmac and he wasted no time ripping off the face plate the moment Antonia was on the gurney. It seemed only then that the struggling reactor reactor finally flickered once, twice, before going out. But it didn’t matter to Tony as he took in his sister’s face. There was bruising and blood from her nose, most likely from her head coming forward and hitting the face plate. There was damage to the suit: Dents and scratches and there where some separation of the metal plates.

Rhodey was waiting in the medical bay and Tony allowed them to look after Antonia after he physically opened the suit, at least they were kind enough to leave the ruined equipment on the table as they moved her to another gurney for an examination and testing.

He needed to distract himself as he waited, he hated waiting, especially for things that concerned his “Tonia”.

Tony didn’t think she had noticed the port in the back of her helmet and he wasn’t exactly certain it would work as he connected it to his phone.

He was going to regret this, he was certain.

Lines and lines of code flew across the screen before the menu appeared. He selected Last Flight Log.

‘We can incoming projectiles.” Wednesday’s voice filled the room.

‘Is it a Monday? It has to be a Monday.’ Antonia retorted as she looked down at the bullets coming her way. “I mean why else would this be happening if it wasn’t a Monday?’

There was silence on Wednesday’s end as Antonia dodged as many bullets as she could,though you could hear the sound of metal hitting metal.

‘Can you give me anything Wednesday?’

‘It appears as if a local militia group is attempting to bring you down in order to gain the suit. Though it appears as if they believe this is just a droid from the Iron Legion.’

There was an explosion and a groan.

‘Major thrusters have been taken out Madam.’

‘Give me more power into the secondary thrusters, Wednesday...’ Tony could see the display, the highlighted areas of Damage, she knew she wasn’t going to make it back. ‘If they want this they can have it...after they fish it out of the ocean.’

‘Madam, would you like me to place a call to Tony?’

‘Please...’

The ocean was within sight as she was trying to keep it up in the air. He could hear her mutter fuck as the call failed popped up on the screen.

‘Wednesday, instead do me a favor yeah? Tell AC/DC...Tell Tony I love him yeah? Tell him I love him and I’m sorry.’

There was a shuddered breath as the last of the thrusters died and she began to descend towards the water.

‘Madam...Madam...” There was no response after Antonia hit.

The HUD lit up the code, Wednesday’s doing obviously, the AI turning off any unnecessary functions to preserve power. Including himself.

‘Turning off Program Wednesday.AI will most likely result in damage as program as not been updated, would you like to continue?’ It was strange to see the suit act like a computer, well it was a glorified computer...but still.

The text flashed across the screen before the Yes was selected.

‘Babysitter Protocol is still in effect. Continue running?’

Yes.

‘Primary function of Wednesday is to watch over and protect Antonia M. Stark. Program will completely shut down once it is deemed she has reached safety.’ Wednesday’s voice filtered through the room. ‘Goodbye Ms. Tonia.’

The last flight log ended and Tony stared at the screen. His throat burned. He knew that his AI’s learned and occasionally acted on their own accord, but apparently he had forgotten that Wednesday’s primary function was to watch and protect his sister when he couldn’t.

He didn’t think she would keep the babysitter protocol when she updated the program though it looked like she really hadn’t done that in awhile.

“It appears as if Wednesday continued to operate as a background program until you landed, Sir.” Jarvis spoke after a few moments. “It was the program that continued to keep the suit running as long as possible.”

“He was serving his original purpose....is there any way to salvage what is left of the program?”

“It’s uncertain at the moment, Sir.”

-

Tony ran through the rest of the programs on the suit as he sat by Antonia’s bed as they sailed back to port. The loss of consciousness seemed to be because of s short lapse in pressurization as she hit the water, which would have been what prompted Wednesday to act apparently.

-

It felt like she had been hit by a truck...or ten. Antonia groaned as she opened her eyes. Well she certainly wasn’t in the bottom of the sea anymore and everything hurt too much for her to be actually dead. It wasn’t a hospital but it wasn’t her room either. For a moment she thought they actually had fished her out when.

“Sir is on his way up Ms. Tonia.”

“Where am I Jarvis?”

“You’re in my bedroom in the Penthouse of Avengers Tower.” Tony answered and Antonia looked towards the door. Tony looked tired, worn down, and guilty oh so guilty.

“Stupid question, how did I get here?”

“I went to get you.” Tony stated as he sat on the edge of the bed. He smelled like his workshop, like oil and metal shavings. “The flight exercise was being broadcasted.”

“You saw me go down.”

“Yeah. I did.”  

Antonia grimaced as she sat up. “Tony-“

“Don’t apologize.” He cut her off. “I don’t want to hear that your sorry because someone shot you down on a maneuver, if anything I should be apologizing to you. I should have taken the suit out instead.”

“We aren’t going to play the musical guilt.”

“Its not musical guilt. You shouldn’t feel guilty.”

“Neither should you.”

“Antonia you thought you were going to die.” Whatever color that was in her face drained.

“You watched the flight log...of course you did.” She muttered. “You’re some sort of masochist, I swear.”

“You told Wednesday Tell AC/DC I love him... you haven’t called me that in years.”

“Are you going to pick apart what I said to justify your guilt?”She asked. “I am alive Tony and that’s what matters. “

Tony opened his mouth.

“We aren’t playing the blame game either.” She tells him. “Tony, you’re probably the reason I am alive.”

“Wednesday is the reason you’re alive.” Tony sighed. “Wednesday made sure the suit kept working as long as he could.”

“Where is Wednesday at anyway? I haven’t heard him.”

Tony was quiet.

“Tony...”

“Wednesday’s program was corrupted when he shut off programs to keep the suit going, including himself for the most part.”

Tony expected tears, sobbing maybe. He made Wednesday for her years ago, around the same time he made Jarvis. But Antonia looked unfazed.

“I guess it’s a good thing I had him backed up then.” Antonia said after a moment. “The last time I made some updates, I duplicated his program and I saved it onto a drive that’s in my desk.”

“You saved him?”

“Of course. You made him for me. Why wouldn’t I at least try to back him up somehow. You just need to insert and upload him off of the drive is all.”

“You’re brilliant.”

“No. I just didn’t want to be without him.” She shrugs as she lays back down with a groan. “I don’t want to have to get used to a new one, a different personality, one that has to get to know me and all that Jazz. I’ve had Wednesday since I was 14, Tony.”

Tony hummed but said nothing else on the subject.

“You’re on bedrest for the next week. Nothing major, just some deep bruising and a possible fracture.”

“Only you would call a possible fracture nothing major.”

“I get them all the time.”

“That’s you.”

Tony frowned slightly.

“Speaking of which you should add something like that to the suit for that because I’m certain you don’t see anyone for that.”

“Why would I?”

“I have not been awake long enough for this kind of conversation.” She muttered. “I take it that you probably added something to mine so I don’t end up like the walking disaster that you tend to be.”

“Of course I did. In the end, when everyone else is gone, you’re all I have. So I’m going to protect you as best as I can...though obviously the suit needs some work because you were sitting in the bottom of the ocean, which is unacceptable.”

[antoniamstark]

Antonia is grateful her floor is tile. She can feel more than see Frank’s blood drip from between her fingers to the flooring as she helps him move from the garage door to the kitchen.

“This is the opposite of being careful.” She hisses as she manhandles him into one of the kitchen chairs. The floor, her hands, and the side of her body that was supporting his weight is painted red.

“There were more than I anticipated.” Frank wheezes. “More prepared thank I thought.”

“More than willing to kill you.” Anger is edging into her voice and he’s not sure if it’s at him or at the thought of him dying.

“Theres plenty of people who want to do that.”

“Just stay awake”

That’s a tall order Frank realizes. He’s tired and incredibly nauseous. Was it blood loss? Probably. It had to be. He was bleeding all over the inside of the car, and from the looks of it, all over Antonia too.

Frank hisses in pain. When did she cut open his shirt and was that iodine or Whiskey?

She’s talking but he can’t figure out what she’s saying anymore. Was she giving him stitches or stabbing him with a a syringe?

Frank has to think of her name for a long moment and he can only manage to mumble “Toni.” Before he is slipping sideways out of the chair

@marvelwriter101

[antoniamstark]

Hey guys! Since I love sleeplessly reading about people getting hurt, and I loved how Whumptober brought everyone together, I thought I would share these prompt dates. Please repost to get this Febuwhump around! No starting till Febuary ❤❤❤❤ This is for every fandom!

You do one prompt a day as listed.

[antoniamstark]

Frank: I’m going to murder people are you sure you want something like that.

Antonia: I think you still have no idea who you’re talking to.

[antoniamstark]

It takes Frank at least 3 days to find her after it happened. three long and tortuous days as people try to find out what happened, people just vanished, turned to dust, and if that happened to Antonia…he knew he couldn’t handle it. He couldn’t handle losing someone he loved again.

The first time he saw her alive was on the news, next to the Avengers, though she looked different, up until then he’s never seen her in her suit helmet under her arm and a look on her face he couldn’t describe.

He had seen that same look on his own face at one point, he realized sometime later. It was one of hopelessness, despair, anguish. Especially in her eyes. He found out later, why. The papers continuously printed updated lists of the missing, and one of the names he noticed was Anthony “Tony” Stark.

Frank realizes at some point she’s not going to come back to Manhattan any time soon, too much work to do if Tony is actually gone. She’s got to step up and be “Toni” Stark.

It doesn’t stop him from taking one of her cars and driving up to the compound. Though it’s the one place he doesn’t have access to, it’s not her personal office or workspace or even her home. It was a good thing he knew how to get attention though. He made a point to bang on the front door as loud as he could to get someone’s attention.

He’s out there for some time, as if they are debating even opening the door at all when there are hurried footsteps, fast falling and hard against the tile on the inside of the building. A moment later the door is yanked back he’s expecting someone like Captain America or maybe the black widow asking him what he wants, instead it’s Antonia, of course it was, she’d be the one person to actually run to the door if there was a chance it was even him. She stands there for a moment her hand gripping the door as she looked at him judging as if he’s real.

For that moment he can see that she’s changed, she’s tired. Worn out, the hope and light that once played across her face even on the most trying days is gone.

There’s a beat, a moment, when she moves forward before she has her arms around him as tight as they can go. Her face is buried against his jacket and her fingers are digging into the fabric.

“You’re Alive.” She mutters. “You’re fucking alive.”

Frank wraps his arms around her in return. She’s repeating herself and holding him tighter as tears wet his shirt. He wants to make a wise crack. Something that would make things better but he knows right now, nothing will.

“The government couldn’t kill me, you think some alien could?”

There’s a choked sob and he presses a kiss to her forehead.

“At least I’ve still got you.” She tells him after a few minutes of silence when she pulls away and wipes her face on the hem of her shirt. “I’m sorry I didn’t look for you…I couldn’t bear the idea of losing you too.”

[antoniamstark]

“You’re sure no one is going to notice?” Frank asked, taking his eyes off the road to glance at Antonia for a moment before looking back.

“Yes I am sure. Mama’s neighbors might be nosy, but they aren’t going to care who I bring over for dinner.” She explained.

“They are all going to be more concerned with the fact that it’s a holiday and holidays mean Tony and Rhodey will be down. Together. For awhile. The neighbors will be more preoccupied looking out the window to see if they arrived and less likely to notice the man I’m bringing to dinner is Frank Castle.”

“The neighbors are that concerned about those two?”

“You have no idea what they do when they are together...they blew up a dog house once. Turn left up here.”

“Jesus Christ.”

“That’s not the worst they’ve done but it’s why the neighbors can’t stand them.”

“What about you what’s the worse you’ve done?”

“Me?” Antonia asked. “I set the dryer on fire trying to fix it once but I was like 13.”

Frank shook his head as he turned up the street his girlfriend had indicated. The neighbor looked quiet, peaceful even, with a decent amount of space between the houses. It wasn’t the place that people expected someone like him to be. Then again no one expected him to be in the same vicinity as Antonia Stark. Let alone to her mother’s house.

“You set the dryer on fire.”

“Yeah.”

“How exactly did you manage that?”

“I didn’t unplug it before I started to work on it and one of the wires got hot and it ignited when I went to grab another tool.” There was a fond smile on her lips as she thought about it. “Mama ended up calling the fire department even though I put it out and she locked me out of the toolbox for weeks.”

“I doubt that is really the worst you’ve done.”

“It’s the worst I’ve done here anyway.” She pointed towards the house and Frank pulled into the driveway. “At least for the moment that’s what I can think of...Mama could tell you stories for days I’m sure.”

Frank turned off the car and hesitated a moment. “Your family knows who your bringing to dinner, and your sure they are fine with it.”

“Frank. Mama invited you. Specifically, by name. Rhodey knows you, he knows you’re a great man, a good Marine. Tony doesn’t seem like he’s paying attention but I’m sure he had Friday look you up and he hasn’t said anything. They are fine with it. Seriously. “

Antonia opened the car door and slipped out before Frank did the same.

The air was crisp, clean compared to manhattan, he could see why she liked to escape here.

“You weren’t kidding about the neighbors.” He commented as he noticed the curtains moving in the house across the street.

“Your mustang threw them off. They’re used to seeing Audi’s.”

“Mm.”

Frank pulled the luggage from the trunk as Antonia grabbed the containers of food they had made together the night before.

There was movement behind Frank, he could hear the floorboards of the porch. He glanced over his shoulder and found one of the neighbors looking intently at them.

“Hello Gertrude.” Antonia greeted as she closed the trunk. There was something fake in her voice he had heard before, during meetings. “It’s nice to see you.”

“I see you brought company.”

“Yes, Mama wanted to meet my boyfriend and he was nice enough to come.”

“Well it’s about time dear, you’re not getting any younger.”

Frank could see the color change on Antonia’s face.

“Yes, well as far as I know no one alive gets any younger.”

Frank gave the woman a smile as she frowned at Antonia’s remark before she went back inside.

“She’s going to call Mama later and ask what kind of woman she raised.”

“I take it this is normal then?”

Antonia nodded as she began to walk towards the house. “They like to gossip and complain most of the time so it’s really whatever. Gives them a purpose other than bingo I guess.

@mrsmamarhodey @official-punisher @hypeaholic

[antoniamstark]

* soft angst starters

‘ stay with me tonight? ’

‘ don’t talk. save your strength. ’

‘ hey, i’ve got you. it’s okay. ’

‘ i’ll be right here. don’t worry. ’

‘ i think we’re done. ’

‘ hold my hand. ’

‘ it’s all been a lie, hasn’t it? ’

‘ we’re out of time. ’

‘ you’ll always be a friend. ’

‘ just hold me. ’

‘ i have to leave you behind. i’m sorry. ’

‘ don’t do that. it’ll only hurt. ’

‘ go on, cry. ’

‘ keep your eyes open. ’

‘ can i hug you? ’

‘ i trusted you. ’

‘ do you remember? ’

‘ i loved you. ’