A lil mini series that’s been stuck in my head for a while. I miss the classic avengers tower antics sooo much post endgame.
Tony’s estranged half sister comes to work with the Avengers. There she forges one unwanted connection and one…unexpected connection.
Tony strutted into the meeting room, full of curious avengers. He had a spring in his step, which wasn’t unusual but this seemed different to his normal swagger.
“Alright.” He cleared his throat. “We’ve got a new member joining the team today.” He clapped his hands together as he addressed the room.
“What? We haven’t had any new files from SHIELD though?” Natasha eyed him suspiciously.
“Sorry Nat, it’s not another recruit for you to beat up in training.” Tony smirked. “She’s coming on to fix up our suits after missions. She’s a skilled seamstress and has extensive mechanical knowledge…” He paused. “She’s also…my sister…and I’ve been trying to convince her to join us since we started, so play nice kids. Don’t give her a reason to quit because trust me, she will be looking for one.” He stared down the team waiting for the inevitable questioning.
“Hold on, since when did you have a sister?” Steve was baffled, as usual when it was Tony speaking.
“Since she was born in 1983 from an affair.” Natasha began. “Sofia Stark. Her mother died in childbirth and Howard Stark raised her in secret for 8 years until he died.” The widow glanced at Bucky’s tense form before continuing. “Tony had custody of her for a while but she was removed from his care in 1993. They’ve been estranged ever since. She was adopted immediately after entering the system and moved to the UK a year later with her adopted mother.” She spoke as if reading an information packet.
“Yeah, yeah. Of course you knew.” Tony rolled his eyes.
“I know everything.” Natasha smirked.
“Well lemme stop you there before you go on to tell us the name of her first boyfriend or something.” Tony waved her off. He definitely did not want to know that. Steve tentatively looked at Bucky, taking in his downward gaze and clenched fists before turning his attention back to Tony.
“Is she aware of…” He trailed off, eyes flicking back to his silent and stiff best friend.
“Yep. She knows everything I know.” Tony replied nonchalantly. “At least I hope so. I left her voicemails a lot, god knows if she actually opened them.” Tony said with a sigh. “It doesn’t matter though. Sofia’s mad at the world, it won’t make a difference if she’s mad at you too Cyborg.” He lightly addressed Bucky, though it did not make the guilty man feel any better.
“Tony.” Sofia greeted her brother blankly as they stood in the entrance to the tower. She was clearly unhappy about being face to face with her brother after all their years apart.
“I’m glad you finally came. I think you’re gunna love it here.” Tony grinned. She scowled and rolled her eyes at him.
“Don’t get sappy or I’m turning right back around.” She spoke coldly.
“Ew. God, who do you think I am? Captain America?” Tony physically recoiled at the accusation.
“I wouldn’t know. Would I?” Sofia snapped and folded her arms. “Show me where I’ll be working.”
They stood uncomfortably in the elevator. Her foot tapped impatiently as she wondered how many floors were in this damned building for it to take this long. The thrum of the elevator was all that could be heard between them. Tony kept glancing over at her, while her eyes remained trained coldly on the doors. He took in her features, She looked so different to the last time he saw her. The freckles had faded and her honey eyes had darkened to match his own. She looked more like him now. Only her hair had a tinge of red to it, just like her mother had. Sofia could feel his gaze each time it flicked to her. It only made her scowl deepen. Finally the elevator pinged and the doors began to open. She glared at them, internally cursing how slow they parted.
Once they were finally free of the elevator Tony guided her down the hall, stopping at a set of double doors near the end of the corridor. He gestured for her to open the doors. She walked in slowly, taking in the spacious room. There was a computer and desk against one of the walls. The opposite held the materials needed for suit repairs. Fabrics, metals, tools and such. The far wall was entirely consistent of windows, with a large workbench along the entire thing. Good lighting for work. Sofia thought.
“Your living space is through that door.” Tony pointed at a door she hadn’t yet noticed in the corner. “Figured you’d be like me and want your workshop as close to you as possible.” He said. He was right of course, but she would hate to admit they have something in common. So instead she said nothing, opting for a hum of quiet approval. Tony shifted awkwardly. Before handing her a card.
“Here’s your access card. It’ll let you get around the tower. Nowhere is off limits for you…I’ll uh let you get settled in.” He started to walk away, then spun around quickly as he remembered something. “The kitchen’s on floor 6. Clint, Hawkeye, is cooking tonight at 5ish. You should come down and eat with us, meet the team.” He offered.
“I’ll think about it.” Sofia was hungry after her long flight from the UK. But the last thing she wanted to do was eat with her brother. Thankfully her answer seemed enough for him and he finally exited her new workshop. She let out a sigh. Alone at last. She thought. She wandered towards the door to her room, fiddling with her key card. When she stepped in, she was pleasantly surprised by how spacious it was. There was a cozy looking sofa and a large tv in the centre of the room. Also a small kitchenette behind it all. She noticed her suitcase sat next to a door to the right, which she assumed was the bedroom. She wheeled it in and set it by the bed. Her dark eyes ran across the wardrobe and drawers. The idea of unpacking made her even hungrier. She regretting not picking up some food on her way over. Looks like I’ll have to go eat with them. She grimaced at the thought. Sofia was sure the team were fine…but Tony? Just because she agreed to come, didn’t mean she wanted to be around him. She just needed the pay. Business had been slow. She never gained the entrepreneurial skills Tony and her dad held. This job was an easy fix to her situation. But it still felt like selling her soul.
Sofia reluctantly headed to the common area. Most of the team were already seated at the long dining table. She recognised most of them from the news and such. Natasha spotted her as soon as she walked in, sending her a small wave. Next to her sat Clint, who offered her a warm smile and gestured to an empty seat with a plate of food in front of it.
“We saved you a plate, it’s chicken noodles.” He kindly spoke before shoving a large forkful into his mouth. Sofia gave a quiet thanks as she sat and hungrily began to tuck in. She glanced at Tony, rolling her eyes when she noticed he was at the head of the table. So much ego. She thought.
“I’m Steve. Glad to meet you.” The blonde man next to her greeted.
“Sofia.” She smiled awkwardly.
“This is Nat, Clint, Wanda, Sam and of course, you know Tony.” Steve pointed as he listed them off, each of them sending her a wave or a smile. “Bruce is up in the lab still, Thor’s off world and Bucky’s…training.” He explained, pausing weirdly when he mentioned Bucky. Sofia figured he was nervous to bring him up to her, since he was responsible for her father’s death. She guessed that was also why he didn’t show for dinner. Steve continued on. “Peter joins us sometimes but he still lives with his Aunt. There’s Vision too but he doesn’t require food and keeps mostly to himself.” Sofia took in the information and nodded.
“So, was Stark always annoying growing up or did that come with age?” Sam spoke up, earning a glare from Tony.
“Sadly my brother has always been an ass.” Sofia said without sparing a glance to the man in question. The team chuckled at her words.
“I knew it! I bet he came out of the womb with a head as big as it is now.” Clint teased.
“His poor mother.” Natasha mumbled. Tony cleared his throat.
“Im right here.” He waved his arms, reminding the team of his presence.
“Shame.” Sofia muttered. The dinner table became quiet and awkward. The only sound being the scraping of forks on plates.
“So…uh…how did you get into sewing?” Wanda quietly spoke up for the first time, searching for a way to break the tension.
“My mother taught me when I was a teenager.” Sofia smiled fondly. “She passed away not long after. I liked how it made me feel like she was still here, so I kept at it and made it my life.” Her smile had turned bittersweet, but she didn’t mind talking about it. She didn’t want to forget her. She was so lost and angry when she was taken from Tony’s care. But her mother was so patient and loving. It didn’t take long for her to break through her walls. She filled her heart in a way her biological father never had. In the end, her years with her adopted mother were the best of her life. She was an amazing woman.
“I was young when I lost my mother too.” Wanda spoke comfortingly. Sofia smiled softly at her before noticing the sad stares of the team and becoming a little uncomfortable.
“Anyway!” Wanda clapped her hands together. “How are you settling in? This place is kinda huge and weird right?” She asked.
“I know right! Too much white and windows. But at least the living quarters aren’t so clinical.” Sofia critiqued. Snickers spread across the table. She didn’t really think it was so bad, it was a workspace after all. But she also knew her brother designed it, so naturally she couldn’t be too forgiving towards it.
“How’s unpacking going?” Natasha asked. Sofia grimaced.
“I haven’t even opened my suitcase yet.” She groaned.
“I can help out after dinner.” The widow shrugged.
“Yeah, me too.” Wanda offered.
“That…would be a huge help actually. Thanks.” Sofia reluctantly agreed. She never enjoyed accepting help, must be the Stark in her. But the idea of unpacking made her want to collapse on her bed for the foreseeable future, so she agreed. Just this once.
“You should have come years ago.” Nat, as she had told you to call her, spoke with a smirk. “You have no idea how funny it is to see Tony trying to act on best behaviour.” She said while tucking a folded shirt into a drawer.
“I’ve never seen him as quiet as he was at dinner. I could feel his mind struggling like he was going to explode.” Wanda giggled.
“Good.” Sofia laughed slightly. “If I’m to be in his presence, I’m definitely not gunna make it easy for him.” She said resolutely. Nat eyed her suspiciously before finally asking the question she’d been unable to figure out through observation alone.
“Why’d you come if you hate him so much?” It came out a little blunter than she had intended.
“Jeez.” Sofia laughed awkwardly. “You don’t skirt around do you?”
“Nope” Natasha shrugged. Wanda shook her head with a smile. Both women stared at Sofia, waiting to hear her response.
“I guess I just needed the money and this was an easy opportunity.” Sofia sighed. Natasha scoffed, surprising her.
“Please.” She was completely unconvinced. “With your skills, you could work almost anywhere in the sewing or mechanics field.” Sofia stayed silent. What she told Nat was true. At least that’s what she tells herself.
“Alright.” Natasha resigned. “Then why now? Tony’s been asking you for years and you don’t seem the type to cave.”
“I’m not.” Sofia smiled. “I suppose…it got lonely. I’ve spent my whole adult life doing commission work. Working alone, late and long hours. I think a part of me just got tired over the years and just wanted to be a part of a team for once.” The two ladies smiled, sharing a look.
“We know that feeling.” Wanda said softly. The room was quiet for a moment, the three of them sitting in the feeling of connection and relation. Sofia was the first to break the silence.
“So Widow, was that interrogation sufficient enough for you?” She said teasingly.
“For now.” Nat smirked. Sofia was not looking forward to the next one. But she did have a surprisingly nice evening with the ladies. By the time she was all unpacked, she headed to her new bed with a smile on her face. As she lay staring at the unfamiliar ceiling, her mind drifted to Nat’s first question. Why did I come here? She thought. She was lonely, yes. But not for want of family. Right?
