┌─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───┐
Sweat rolled off Ava's forehead, glistening in the dimly lit training room. Her fists connected with the punching bag in front of her, the impact sending vibrations through her arms. Each strike was fuelled by a mixture of determination, frustration, and the need to release the pent-up energy that came with her secret life. With each punch, Ava felt a temporary escape from the complexities of her world. The rhythmic sound of her gloves meeting the bag echoed in the room, drowning out the noise of her thoughts.
As she continued to pound the bag, her breath quickened, and her muscles burned. The physical intensity matched the emotional weight she carried, the challenges of her hidden life pressing down on her shoulders. But for now, in the solitude of the training room, she could let it all out.
"Who are you pretending that punch bag is, Little Stark?" A thick accent rang out, breaking her from her thoughts.
Ava's breath hitched as the voice cut through the rhythm of her punches. She turned to find Wanda standing by the doorway, her presence unexpected.
Ava's chest rose and fell with each heavy breath as she met Wanda's gaze. The weight of her dual life was etched in her features, a testament to the internal struggles she faced. "I'm not... pretending it's anyone," she finally replied, her voice carrying a mixture of honesty and guardedness.
Wanda's expression softened, and she stepped further into the room, her gaze unwavering on Ava. "Then what's bothering you, Little Stark?"
Ava's voice wavered slightly as she spoke, a mix of vulnerability and honesty lacing her words. "It's just... It's hard, you know? Juggling these two lives, the constant pressure, the fear of letting someone down."
Wanda took a step closer, her presence reassuring in its empathy. "You're not alone in feeling that way, Ava. It's natural to doubt yourself, to question whether you can keep up with the demands. But remember, you have the strength within you."
Ava's gaze locked onto Wanda's, her vulnerability met with a steady, understanding gaze. "How do you do it? How do you manage to be both a hero and a person?"
Wanda's smile was gentle, the wisdom of experience evident in her expression. "It's a journey, Ava. There are days when it feels impossible, but you learn to find balance. You find people who support you, who remind you of your worth. And you never forget the reason you took on this role in the first place."
Ava's shoulders sagged, the weight of her emotions finding a temporary release in the presence of someone who understood.
The room fell into a comfortable silence, the air heavy with unspoken understanding. "Do you want to go get something to eat?" She questioned.
Wanda's question broke the silence, a gentle invitation that carried warmth. Ava met Wanda's gaze, her lips curling into a grateful smile. "Yeah, that sounds good."
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
Ava and Wanda found themselves in the spacious kitchen of the tower, bathed in the soft glow of overhead lights. Seated comfortably across from each other, Ava and Wanda shared a large pizza that had been expertly crafted by one of the tower's chefs. The aroma of melted cheese and freshly baked crust wafted through the air, tantalizing their senses.
Ava's fingers lightly tapped the edge of her slice, her gaze shifting between the inviting food and her companion. With a faint smile, she ventured into the conversation. "You know, apparently homecoming is right around the corner."
Wanda's eyebrow raised in curiosity, her interest piqued. "Homecoming?" Wanda's voice held a hint of intrigue, like she was genuinely curious about this teenage concept.
Ava took a casual bite of her pizza, trying to sound nonchalant. "Yeah, it's like this school dance thing. People get all dressed up, find dates, and dance the night away."
Wanda's eyes were fixed on Ava, and she nodded, absorbing the information. "Are you thinking of going?"
Ava shrugged, her cheeks slightly pink. "I don't know yet. Sounds fun and all, but with everything else on my plate... it's a tough call."
Wanda took a sip of her drink, her expression thoughtful. "Being a teenager is tough, isn't it? Balancing school, social life, and... your unique responsibilities."
Ava nodded, taking another bite of her pizza. "Yeah, it's like I'm being pulled in a gazillion directions at once. And it's not like I can just tell my teachers, 'Sorry, I was out saving the world last night.'"
Wanda chuckled softly, a hint of sympathy in her smile. "Yeah, that excuse might not fly." She leaned in, her voice lowered conspiratorially. "You want to know a secret?"
Ava's eyes widened, intrigued. "Sure, spill."
"Nobody really has it all figured out," Wanda said with a smirk. "We're all kinda just winging it, even the adults."
Ava burst into laughter, almost choking on her pizza. "Wait, seriously?"
Wanda laughed too, her eyes sparkling. "Dead serious. Life's messy for everyone. We just learn to embrace the chaos."
Ava wiped a tear from her eye, still giggling. "Wow, that's... weirdly comforting."
"Trust me, it's the truth," Wanda said, her smile warm and genuine. "You just do the best you can and make time for the things that matter."
Ava took a moment to process that, her pizza momentarily forgotten. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. But it's still tough."
Wanda leaned back, her expression more serious now. "Absolutely. But remember, it's okay to want a taste of normalcy. Just don't lose sight of who you are and what you love."
Ava sighed, her shoulders relaxing. "Thanks, Wanda. I needed to hear that."
Wanda nudged her playfully. "Anytime, little Stark."
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
Seated at her desk, Ava focused on the intricate task of editing lines of code for their robot EcoHelper. The soft glow of the monitor cast a gentle illumination on her intent expression. However, her concentration was momentarily interrupted as FRIDAY's voice interjected into the quiet space. "Miss Stark, Mr. Stark is en route to your current floor."
Ava's fingers paused their dance across the keyboard, her attention shifting to the AI's announcement. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she responded, "Appreciate the heads-up, FRIDAY."
Tony entered the room, his trademark confidence evident in his stride. His eyes, however, held a softened glint as they settled on Ava.
"Hey, kiddo," he greeted with a genuine smile, his voice tinged with warmth.
Ava returned the smile, her affection for her father shining in her eyes. "Hey, Dad. What brings you here?"
Tony leaned against the doorway, his hands in his pockets. "Just checking in on my favourite tech genius. How's the coding coming along?"
Ava's expression brightened at the inquiry. "Making progress with EcoHelper's AI. It's been a bit of a puzzle, but I think I've cracked a major part of it."
Tony's eyebrows arched in genuine intrigue, his admiration evident in his expression. "Impressive. But listen, I've got a little trip planned. Going to spend a few days with Pepper. She's been tucked away in our cabin upstate."
Ava's gaze brightened at the news, a mixture of curiosity and happiness dancing in her eyes. "That sounds like a nice getaway. You both deserve some relaxation."
Tony's grin was boyish as he nodded in agreement. "You bet. Plus, I think the change of scenery will do us good. And hey, it's not all leisure. I've got a few prototypes to work on, too."
Ava chuckled softly, a fond smile tugging at her lips. "Of course, knowing you, there's always some tinkering involved."
Tony feigned offense, placing a hand over his heart dramatically. "Tinkering? I prefer to call it 'innovation in progress.'"
Their interaction was filled with laughter, a melody of familiarity that played between them. Ava seized a moment to bring up another topic, her voice carrying a touch of excitement. "Oh, by the way, there's this thing called homecoming coming up in a couple of weeks."
Tony's eyebrow arched in intrigue. "Homecoming, huh? Is that something you're considering attending?"
Ava's response was contemplative, her words carrying a touch of uncertainty. "I'm not entirely sure yet. I've never been to a homecoming before, so it's a bit of uncharted territory for me."
Tony's expression softened with a mixture of understanding and curiosity. "Well, they're a rite of passage in high school. Could be a good opportunity to have some fun."
Ava nodded, considering his words. "Yeah, maybe I should give it a shot. Could be an interesting experience."
Tony's grin was both encouraging and mischievous. "Just remember, no Stark-level partying without my approval."
Ava chuckled, a playful glint in her eyes. "Don't worry, Dad. I promise I won't throw any Stark-style parties without your go-ahead. Wouldn't want to tarnish the family reputation."
Tony feigned a relieved sigh, his hand resting over his heart in mock relief. "Ah, you have no idea how much that puts my mind at ease. The last thing I need is a headline about 'Stark Heiress' breaking all the rules."
Ava laughed, her smile warm and genuine. "I'll do my best to keep things low-key, I promise."
Tony's tone turned more serious, his eyes meeting hers with a hint of fatherly pride. "I know you will, sweetheart. Just be yourself and enjoy the experience. You've got a good head on your shoulders."
Her cheeks tinged with a light blush, touched by his words. "Thanks, Dad. I appreciate that."
Just as their conversation settled into a comfortable rhythm, Ava's phone interrupted with a familiar ringtone. She glanced down at the device, ready to dismiss the call, but a quick glance at the caller ID revealed it was Peter.
Ava's phone call interrupted their conversation, and she quickly excused herself, her tone apologetic. "Er, I've got to take this, Dad. Have a great trip, okay?"
Tony nodded with a warm smile, his understanding evident. "Of course, sweetheart. Take care and enjoy whatever you're up to."
Ava rose from her seat, a soft smile curving her lips as she walked over to give her dad a brief but affectionate hug. "I will. See you later, Dad."
As Tony made his exit, Ava's attention shifted to the incoming video call on her phone. She answered with a bright smile, her eyes lighting up as Peter's face appeared on the screen. "Hey, Pete," she greeted warmly, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of him.
"Hey, Ava!" Peter's grin was infectious, his excitement matching hers. "How's it going?"
Ava's smile grew even wider at the sound of Peter's voice. "It's going great, especially now that I'm talking to you."
Peter's cheeks turned a light shade of pink, his own smile shy but genuine. "Oh, you're just saying that."
Peter's modesty only made Ava's smile widen. "No, really. It's been a long day of coding, and seeing your face is like a breath of fresh air."
Peter's eyes sparkled with playful delight. "Well, I'm glad I can be your source of fresh air."
Their conversation flowed effortlessly, a blend of shared stories, laughter, and moments of comfortable silence. It was a connection that transcended the distance between them.
As the conversation naturally wound down, Ava's gaze drifted to the window. The sky outside had shifted from vibrant blue to dusky orange and pink hues, signalling the approach of evening.
"Hey, Pete," she began, a wistful note in her voice, "I can't believe how quickly time has flown by."
Peter's smile turned a touch nostalgic. "Yeah, it feels like just yesterday we were navigating the halls of Midtown High."
Ava's eyes sparkled with memories. "Remember the time we got locked in the supply closet during that crazy scavenger hunt?"
Peter chuckled, his own recollection surfacing. "Oh, how could I forget? We almost ended up building a robot to get us out of there."
Ava's laughter chimed in, their shared reminiscences a testament to their bond. "Good times, Pete. But you know what? It's getting late, and I've got an early morning ahead."
Peter nodded in understanding. "Right, we're both keeping busy. Well, I hope you have a fantastic day tomorrow."
"Thanks, you too. And, Pete, thanks for making this evening awesome."
Peter's grin was warm. "Anytime, Ava. Sleep well."
With a final wave and a sense of contentment in her heart, Ava ended the call. She stretched her arms overhead, her gaze lingering on the city lights twinkling beyond her window.
As the night settled in, Ava wrapped up her work, shutting down her computer and tidying up her workspace. She glanced at the digital clock on her desk; the time had come for her to call it a night.