Sudden Changes

Chapter Two

I woke up in an unfamiliar room. I must have fallen asleep while Tony was holding me. That's totally not embarrassing. I look around and get up. It's a pretty big room. I went to the door and opened it. I don't know which way is the kitchen, whatever I'll find it. I started walking around and, finally, after fifteen minutes of looking, I found the kitchen!

"Morning, kiddo," I saw Tony. I looked away in embarrassment. I can't believe I fell asleep on him yesterday and he carried me to my room. "You okay?" He asked. I nodded and went to the fridge. "What do you wanna do today?" I heard Tony ask. I just shrugged. "Well, I was thinking we could go around the city," he suggested. I just shrugged again. He sighed.

"Max, can you talk to me, please?" He asked. "No," I replied. "No, you won't talk to me or no, you don't wanna walk around the city?" He asked. "I don't wanna walk around the city," I answered. I saw him nod from the corner of my eye as I closed the fridge. I started to feel my pockets for my phone but, frowned when I couldn't find it. "Looking for this?" He asked. I looked at him and he was holding my phone up. I reached for it and he pulled it out of my reach.

"Give me my phone!" I said and reached for it. "I'm resetting it so, you don't have any of the bad influencers in your phone," He told me. "Fuck you!" I shouted and reached for it again. He easily moved it for my reach and grabbed my arm, turning me sideways and slapped my butt four time, really hard. "Ow! Tony!" I wined and tried to move away from him. "Watch your mouth!" He warned and I just glared at him. "You understand?" He asked. I used my free hand and gave him the bird. He glared at me and land more swats to my rear. "Ow, stop!" I whimpered as he peppered my bottom. "Maxwell Julian Stark, I don't care how upset you are, that never gives you a reason to curse or flip me or anyone off!" He lectured as he swatted my rear four more time. "You understand me mister!?" He asked. "Yes!" I cried out and tried to avoid anymore swats. "Good boy," he said and let go of my arm. Tears wear streaming down my face and I rubbed my butt to try and rid my butt of any stinging.

"You can have it back later," He told me and put my phone in his pocket. I stayed quiet so I wouldn't say anything I would regret. I just frowned and turned and stomped away. "Max, get back here!" I heard Tony. "Leave me alone, asshole!" I yelled. I heard him start to walk towards me. I turned and I say him stomping over to me with an angered expression. I turned and ran. I run up the stairs and to my room. I closed the door and locked it. I slid under my bed and made sure I was 100% hidden.

"Max! Open this door!" I heard Tony bang on my door. I stayed silent and I heard him walk away. I stayed hidden just in case. Sure enough, less than three minutes later the door opened and Tony walked in. "Maxwell Julian, come out this instant!" I heard him become angry. I don't wanna make him more mad but, then again, I don't wanna face him and receive any punishment.

"1," I heard him start to count. "2," He said. "I swear to God if I get to three, you're gonna regret it!" I heard him. "Thr-" "I'm sorry, Tony! I'm sorry!" I cried and slid out from under the bed. I couldn't even look at him. I pulled my knees to my chest and hugged my legs while hiding my face in my knees as I sobbed. I've become such a baby! I hate this. "Look at me, Max," I heard Tony. "I can't!" I cried. "And, why not?" He asked. "Cause you hate me!" I cried. "What? Why would you think that?" He asked and heard him walk over to me. "Cause I'm a brat! I'm a waste of your time!" I cried.

He sighed. "Didn't we talk about this last night?" He asked. "Look at me," he said. I slowly looked up at him through my eyelashes. He crouched in front of me. "Didn't we talk about this last night?" He asked again. I nodded slowly. "Okay, then what's wrong?" He asked me. I looked back down. "Hm? Max?" He asked. "I don't know," I mumbled.

"You gotta calm down dude," Tony said before putting his hand on my shoulder and rubbing it gently. I sniffled and calmed myself down. "Alright, I'm dissappoined that you cursed at me, not two minutes, after you got in trouble for cursing and flipping me off," Tony said and looked at me with disappointed eyes, causing me to look down.

"Come on," he said and stood up. "Noooo!" I whined as tears fell. "Yes, Max, come on!" He said and grabbed my arms, pulling me off the ground. "No, Tony!" I whined as he led me to the bathroom. "You curse twice young man, you're getting your mouth washed out," he told me as we got to the bathroom.

"No! Tony! Let me go!" I screamed and kicked, like a toddler, as he lifted me up. "Knock it off!" Tony warned as he sat me on the counter. I tried to hop off the counter but Tony held me there. "Let me go!" I yelled at him and kicked at him. He grabbed my leg before I could kick him and he slapped my thigh. "Ouch!" I yelped. "Knock it off!" He warned. I sat there with tears in my eyes as he got out a new bar of soap. He ran it under the water until with was all bubbly.

"Open," He said and held it in front of my face. I shook my head no and kept my mouth closed. He popped my thigh again. "Open!" He said as tears made their was down my face. I slowly opened my mouth and be put the soap in my mouth. Out of instinct I tried to take it out. "No, leave it!" I said and put his hand over the soap to keep it there while his other hand held both of my wrist. Tears started to fall faster as the bad taste took over my mouth. He brought his hand to my face and wiped the tears off with his thumb.

"Five minutes," he told me. My head dropped and I cried silently. I wanted a hug but, I'm not gonna tell him, of course! He ran his hand through my bleach blonde hair. I closed my eyes and sat there while waiting for my sentence to be over.

"Okay, babe," He said and I lifted my head. "Are you gonna curse at me again?" He asked. I quickly shook my head no. "Are you gonna do what I tell when I tell you?" He asked. I nodded. "Good boy," he said and took the soap out. "Rinse," he said as he helped me off the counter top. I gratefully washed my mouth to rid of the terrible taste. I got as much out as is could and I stood back up. I turned to where I was facing Tony. I looked down, feeling bad. Why? What is happening to me?! I'm a bad kid! Not a baby!

"I'm sorry," I muttered. He ran his figures through my hair and pulled me into a hug. I accepted the hug cause I kinda needed it. I buried my face in his shoulder and he rubbed my back. "You're okay," he cooed and kissed my head. "Why?" I asked him. "Why what?" He asked me back. "Why did you care?" I asked. He sighed. "Well, a few reasons actually," he said and picked me up, causing me to cling onto him while he carried me to my room.

"One, you're a good kid who's just had a bad life," he said as he sat me on the bed and sat across from me. "Two, I want you to become the best you can," He said and moved a piece of hair from my face. "And three," He said and looked at me. "I finally wanna be there for you," He said. "What- what does that mean?" I asked. "Max, I'm you're real dad,"