The Runaway Distance Life Of A Little Stark chapter 25: All The things Lost
Pairing: Tony Stark & daughter!Reader, Ben Parker x May Parker, Ben Parker, may Parker & Peter Parker, Ned Leeds, M.J and Peter, Erik Selvig, Jane Foster, and Darcy Lewis, Skye. Fitz, and Simmons, Phil Coulson & agent may, Harley Keener, Adrian Toomes & Liz Toomes, Nick Fury & Maria Hill, Maria Hill & Reader
Summary: The reaction from people that reader met
Warning: Mentioning of child abuse (look up maria's hill dad from marvel comics) , flashback
Co author with: callikc Tag: @venomsvl @geeksareunique
In their Queens apartment, Ben Parker was trying to explain your story to May.
Since the two had come home, it was all they could talk about. Ben had to reveal he had known the truth all along and that Fury organized everything between you and them. It was a lot for May to process, and more than once she found herself taking a break just to comprehend the stories.
"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked tearfully.
Ben sighed, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry."
"But you told me about your brother and Mary being with SHIELD right after we got engaged. What was so different with Ellen? O-Or... (Y/n)? I would've understood."
"I'm so sorry. It was a sensitive topic and we were all worried for her."
"And I'll never forget it. That day, our vows, how beautiful you looked in that dress..." He closed his eyes. "It was the hardest thing I had to do, keeping this from you."
"We vowed that we wouldn't lie to each other." She reminded him. "Do you remember that bit?"
"Of course I do, sweetheart. If it was my choice, I wouldn't hesitate to tell you everything. It was Fury who made the call to keep it quiet. (Y/n) wasn't comfortable with people back then either."
"She didn't want to be known as the Stark Runaway or some rich guy's rebellious kid. She wanted a clean slate, to just be a person, a friendly neighbor. And she was going to tell you herself eventually. She just didn't want you to see her differently."
"I wouldn't." May looked away. "I love that girl so much. She's still going to be Ellen Campbell to me. She's not a runaway. She's her own person."
She found herself gazing at the apartment door. It was right on the other side of it where they first 'bumped' into you.
"She's always there when we need her, Peter loves her like a sister... And now that I mention it, she's practically a daughter to us too." She felt the tears sliding down her cheeks. "Is she going to be in danger?"
Ben wished more than anything that he could give a definite answer but the truth was that he simply didn't know. His silence gave that away too.
"Oh, my God." May whispered, hiding her face in her hands. "She told everyone who she was, said people would be after her... What's going to happen? Are we in danger too? The SHIELD leak-"
"Hey, hey, hey." He quickly wrapped her up in a comforting embrace. "You don't have to worry about that. Fury took precautions. He destroyed the files about Pete's parents and us when they died so he wouldn't ever be a target."
"I... I don't know. But you know what she's like."
She managed a little nod, looking up at him. "She's strong."
He nodded, kissing the top of her head. "That's right. She's like a superhero."
"She'll be okay. She has to be."
"Before I left the station, the guys were showing off these videos of some car chase in Battery Tunnel. This car was driving up the walls and there were guys on bikes shooting at it. It had to be her."
"The other nurses showed me that too!" May gasped. "I thought it was, but there wasn't a clear line. I don't know if I'm more proud or terrified."
"At least we're on the same page about that."
As they continued to discuss the matter, Peter was sitting in the living room. He was busy with homework and completely oblivious to the conversation happening a few feet away.
However, it wasn't the homework that had him distracted. Coincidentally, it was also you.
Just because he'd spent the entire day stuck in middle school, it didn't mean he didn't know what was going on in the city. The teachers talked, but the kids talked even more. He'd heard all about what was happening in the capital and how you were being chased by what sounded like evil agents.
In his head he kept envisioning that you made it out okay and that you finally got to reunite with your dad. He hadn't forgotten about the day when you told him who you really were, so for you to get a hug from your dad was all he wanted for you at that moment.
He almost jumped a foot in the air when the laptop screen on the table started flashing to signal an incoming video call. He recognized Ned's username and quickly accepted, hoping his friend could distract him.
If the call wasn't surprising enough, it was even more of a shock to see Ned with a girl from their class. She was extremely quiet and they hadn't really talked before, but he was pretty sure her name was Michelle Jones-Watson. She seemed to avoid all forms of human contact unless absolutely necessary.
"I'm telling you, he probably already knows!" She was saying.
"Well, I'm telling you, I'm telling him anyway!" Ned argued back, the pair unaware that he had accepted the call already.
"Fine! But don't be shocked when he remains emotionless."
"Yeah, you'd know all about that."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Uh, guys?" Peter spoke up, startling them both. "Yeah. Hi. What's going on?"
"'Sup, nerd." Michelle greeted.
"Peter!" Ned exclaimed, grinning. "I need you to look at the news!"
"It's Ellen! You'll never guess who she is!"
"Ellen?" He frowned. "(Y/n)!"
While he launched himself out of the seat to find the TV remote, Ned and Michelle resumed their argument. Ned was pondering how Peter already knew the truth and Michelle was all too happily gloating with several 'I told you so's.
Peter scrambled to find the right channel, eventually settling with CNN, where a blurred image of you in a fancy car was stuck on the screen.
He had a huge grin on his face, glad that you were okay. Maybe the news was reporting on you finally returning to the world. It certainly seemed so with the way the reporter was talking about everything.
But then the headline changed.
Peter felt sick as a sudden wave of disbelief, shock, and sadness overwhelmed him all at once. Despite the wailing of alarms outside, the rain battering the windows, all he could hear was the reporter's voice.
"The missing daughter of famed billionaire and Avenger Tony Stark has been reported dead this afternoon after a failed surgery in an attempt to save her life. (Y/n) Stark shocked the country when she revealed her identity to the world several years after apparently running away from home. There are several eye-witness accounts who claim she was shot at long-range just feet away from the entrance of Avengers Tower. They also report that Tony Stark himself witnessed the act and was last seen carrying her inside the building."
May and Ben had returned to the living room at this point and had heard every word. They watched in horror as a picture of you at sixteen showed up with the words '(Y/n) Stark - Daughter of Tony Stark - dead at 21'.
"Uncle Ben? Aunt May?" Peter looked up at them with tears streaming down his face. "Ellen... (Y/n)... She-"
(I couldn't find kid! peter hugging aunt may, so this will do!)
He started to sob and May rushed to hug him, trying to quieten her own cries so she could comfort him. Ben slowly dragged himself towards them, putting his arms around them both as he closed his eyes tightly.
It didn't make sense. It didn't seem real. You were so precious to them all, and now you were just... Gone.
Coulson had been sitting in his room in the dark for a while now.
Maybe a few hours had passed but he couldn't be sure. He didn't really care about it. He was just tired after all the chaos that had unleashed during the HYDRA-SHIELD reveal. He had his team in one piece - save for Ward who turned out to be a traitor - and they were all safely on the Bus. It was a good time to take a break.
The silence was only interrupted when Agent May opened the door, letting in a stream of light from the other room.
"I see the notion of knocking has become old fashioned." Coulson commented.
"You need to see this." She said, getting right to the point.
She held out a touchpad, her expression holding an emotion that even Coulson couldn't quite figure out. Curiosity got the better of him as he accepted the pad and looked at the reels playing.
He felt cold as the news of your death reached his ears. The whole room seemed dark again.
Elsewhere, in the rec room, Skye and FitzSimmons were also unfortunate enough to find the news channel.
They couldn't believe it either.
"Oh, my God." Simmons gasped, a hand over her mouth.
"(Y/n) Stark?" Skye questioned, eyes wide. "How did we not know that?"
Fitz didn't say a word, his arm around Simmons as she continued to stare at the TV with a saddened gaze.
Their time with you may have been short but it didn't mean it wasn't meaningful. After all, you were the one who brought laughter and jokes to the room, bettering a bad day. You got a smile out of everyone, even Agent May. No one could ever forget that.
You really were the rich girl in the end.
Erik Selvig, Jane Foster, and Darcy Lewis stood in their rented London apartment, watching the news report in stunned silence.
It had taken them a while to remember why you looked so familiar, and it had been Jane who pointed out that they saw you way back in New Mexico after Thor got his powers back.
How could they have known back then just how important you were?
The next person to discover your death was Harley Keener.
He was in the garage working on the latest version of the potato gun when he heard your name on the news and almost dropped the weapon in his hands.
He didn't understand half of what the reporter was saying when the man talked about organizations named HYDRA and SHIELD and then a leak exposing secrets about both of them. Of course, in contrast, the news about you dying was as clear as day.
He knew you looked familiar.
You weren't just the Mechanic's friend, you were family.
The latest update didn't mean much to the people that hadn't encountered you before, but to those that had, it was indescribably shocking.
There was now a video of you being carried into the Tower up on the Internet. It was posted anonymously but naturally people ate it up.
It was the people of New York who took the grief the hardest. The Parkers, Ned and his family, and even Mr. Delmar. For them, it wasn't just (Y/n) who had been killed, it was Ellen Campbell. They loved her, and now she was gone.
People searched through all the different channels and websites to find a version of the story where you survived. They needed to believe it was a hoax, that you were going to show up the next day with your usual smiles and jokes.
Even a spokesperson from Stark Industries was forced to armor up in the end and confirm the news. They requested time to grieve the loss of the company's heir, refused to let anyone question Tony, and promised to answer any questions in due time.
Another New Yorker had discovered the news as well now.
It was the girl you had saved two years ago during the Battle of New York.
Liz was in the car with her father and watching the news on the small screen between the seats. She hadn't been paying much attention until she caught sight of your picture and gasped so loud the car almost swerved.
"Dad!" She yelled, pointing at your picture. "That's her!"
He looked between her and the screen in confusion. "What's that, honey?"
"She said her name was Ellen but that's the girl who helped me when the aliens came!" Liz insisted. "It says she was shot!"
Now, Adrian Toomes held a deep hatred for Tony Stark, but unfortunately he couldn't help but be grateful to the woman who had saved his little girl's life.
He may have vowed vengeance on the father, but he wouldn't be able to forget the daughter.
Surprisingly enough, the last people to hear about your death were the real SHIELD agents.
Fury, Hill, and the very few people they trusted enough with the truth were gathered in a base while they waited for the Triskelion incident to calm down.
Fury stood by the window, a somber look in his eyes as he watched the rain slide down the glass. The sky was dark and the clouds gray, but he could also make out the several plumes of smoke wafting into the air from the crash sites of the helicarriers. It was hard to believe that a day hadn't even passed yet.
There was a buzz from inside his coat then. He cautiously took a phone from the pocket and saw a notification light up the screen. It was an unknown number, but he knew who - or what - had sent it. Fury always knew.
I am sorry, sir. I have failed my mission.
Fury, who was never one to show his feelings, let out a barely audible sigh. No tears fell, he didn't say a word, but he did feel a pang of remorse.
He was proud of you in a way. Not many would have the guts and strength to reveal themselves as you did, certainly not after so many years of hiding and paranoia. You had done a lot for SHIELD, and he respected you for it. You saved good agents, built valuable weapons, and even if you thought a plan was ridiculous you still listened.
After being informed of all the details, he was extremely wary of the fact that HYDRA had repossessed the scepter. It was a dangerous weapon anyway, but now it was guaranteed to be used for bad.
Agent Hill entered the room then, her feelings vexed and torn.
"Sir?" She asked hesitantly. "Is it true?"
Fury kept his gaze on the phone in his hands and didn't even look up. "Agent Campbell is dead."
Hill immediately looked away, quite astounded by how much emotion she felt by the confirmation. It felt like just yesterday that you had awkwardly approached her for the first time and asked if she could train you to fight.
She had spent more time with you than she realized due to all the training, making projects, and even getting coffee during breaks. Not many saw it, but she could have considered you a genuine friend.
It was about a month after Thor had returned from Asgard in 2012.
Loki would be awaiting trial and for now the world was at peace once more. Well, the outside world anyway. You had just finished yet another practice round with Hill in which she had completely destroyed you.
Hill watched with an amused glint in her eyes as you dropped to the ground with a huff.
"Too much cardio." You grumbled in response.
She raised a brow, having heard that phrase at least three times during every session.
"You need to work out more." She said.
"I do!" You whined, picking at the mat aggressively. "I walk to the fridge and I run to the coffee machine and... And other stuff."
She crossed her arms, waiting for a better answer, and you rolled your eyes.
"I'm sorry, but me plus effort equals no go."
"You'll need to get used to it if you want to defend yourself." Hill shrugged, sitting beside you. "If you have any ambitions of becoming better, it'll take years of focus and hard work. How do you think I got here?"
She passed over a bottle of water which you eagerly took a long swig of before twisting the cap closed again.
"I'm not you." You eventually said.
"I know." Hill shrugged. "But we're more alike than you think."
You scoffed, clearly not believing the claim. "Oh, yeah? What's your poison? Did your dad also pretend you didn't exist for your entire life too?"
You blinked. "What? Really?"
You waited for her to elaborate, but she remained silent. "Well, come on! Don't leave me hanging, Hill. Spill the gory deets."
Maria Hill didn't trust a lot of people, that much was true, but she'd known you a long time now. She'd spent hours giving you advice on how to survive as an agent and knew pretty much all there was to know about you. Perhaps you were one of the few who deserved the favor returned.
"I never really knew my mom either." She confessed. "My dad didn't care. He was a drunk. Said I was responsible for all his problems. I got into the bad stuff, ended up with the marine corps, and then SHIELD. Haven't spoken to him since."
There was a silence after the short yet oddly detailed summary and you just stared at her for a moment before letting out a low whistle.
"Damn, girl." You mused. "I guess dads really can't do their jobs right."
While Hill smiled, she didn't encourage the mindset. "At least yours wants you home."
"Okay." You sat there for a moment, considering it. "But what if I don't want to go home?"
Another silence followed your question and for a moment you thought the subject was being dropped. With that thought in mind, you raised your hand expectantly.
"Gimme five?" You offered. "Shitty fathers club? You can be the treasurer."
Hill cracked a smile, shaking her head as she reluctantly accepted the high-five.
"Yay!" You exaggerated a grin. "We're, like, totally besties now."
"Even so, I still gotta train you. Up you get, Campbell."
You whined again but she only laughed, easily hoisting you back to your feet.
Back in the present, Hill's mind had been running wild with possibilities and solutions.
"Project TAHITI." She finally suggested.
Fury looked up at last, an array of feelings settling inside. Of course he wanted you back, but he also knew exactly how you felt about that particular project.
You had said 'If I die, don't ever do that to me.'
He respected you too much to go against your wishes like that. Even if it worked for Coulson, he couldn't do the same for you.
"She wouldn't want that."
