17 years later

2008

Kunar province, Afghanistan.

Rock music can be heard as Tony stark and his daughter Sofia Stark are seen travelling from one of their – as usual – very successful business meetings.

One might wonder why a teenager is allowed in such a dangerous war torn country? Simple. I'm a doctor, with 2 PhDs in my name already. I was getting bored, sitting there at home everyday with nothing to do but get another degree. So I forced dad to let me come in this one, as a sort of emergency doctor if needed.

Plus I had black mail for what he did, bailing on uncle Rhodey like that at the award show.

So reluctantly, –and very secretively from pepper – I boarded the plane which would take us to Afghanistan.

Which forwards me to where we are sitting now, me in between my dad and a gross ( but slightly cute ) looking guy. The music was so loud that the fifth car behind us could hear it. I had earphones in, trying to listen to some songs which were not the same as dad, but ultimately failed as I ripped them out and stuffed them in my bag.

Quietly I tuned in to their conversation.

My dad was juggling a glass of whiskey ( ew) , and turned to look at the cute guy who was stealing glances at him.

"I feel like you are driving me in a court Marshall , this is crazy . What did I do? I feel like you're gonna pull over and snub me, what you're not allowed to talk?"

He pointedly looked at the cute guy, probably noticing my glances at him . He's such a overprotective dad sometimes, but it's okay.

"Hey Forest!"

"We - we can talk sir."

"Huh, so I see its personal?"

"No you intimidate them." A woman in front said.

"Good god you are woman. I honestly uh I honestly couldn't recall that. "

I groaned as I smacked my forehead with my hand.

"Is it possible to feel second hand embarassment? Because that's what I'm feeling. " I said, to no one in particular.

The guy in front chuckled slightly, but Dad paid no attention to it. He gave me a look and continued.

"I mean I would apologize, but isn't that what you're going for here isn't it? "

"I will cry Dad, stop it."

"I'm an airman."

Then , my amazing dad started awkwardly flirting with her, and to tune it out , I again pulled my earphones out, reached to the stereo playing his music, plugged it down – much to my Dad's protest – and started playing loud music in my ears.

"La la la "

The cute guy must have said something as suddenly I was thrown in between a picture with dad and the cute guy . Trying to smile while awkwardly listening to music is actually very common for me.

Suddenly the car in front of us blew up. We all ducked down, as dad put his arm in front of my , pushing me down as he did the same with himself. I was still crouched down as dad saw what was happening. It must be bad as he had a shocked , slightly terrified look on his face.

The woman was screaming to the others as they prepared their weapons.

"What's happening dad?" I shakily asked him.

"Whats going on? Tell me !" He screamed at the others.

"Call base! Call base NOW!"

The woman got out, but was immediately shot as she went down.

"Jimmy! Stay with the Starks!" Another said as he got out and started firing his gun.

"Stay down! " He said.

Too late , as I saw the chuckling guy get blown up right in front of my face. Jimmy got up and started going out as dad screamed for him to get a gun.

Guns started to rain down on us, and I again saw Jimmy go down, multiple bullets through his body. Ringing was heard in my head and my dad got out and pulled me out fast. It was timely as as soon as we got out, our truck was blown to bits.

Taking cover behind a boulder , he started doing something in his phone, probably calling Uncle Rhodey who was waiting for us at base.

But suddenly a missile was shot beside us, and my eyes widened in horror at the words written on it.

Stark industries.

How the hell do they have our weapons?

I didn't have time to think as dad put me behind him as we starting going back, trying to reach as far from it as possible.

But soon it exploded and me and my dad were flung in different directions. I wasn't hurt that bad, only my chest had gotten numb. Maybe due to the fact that dad had taken the brunt of the impact.

I crawled in dad's direction as my head started going dizzy, I reached him and saw a large patch of blood on his chest. Fearing the worst I started crying..

"Dad! Dad! Wake up ! Don't leave me here! Wake up!"

Dad suddenly gasped in pain as he started tearing his shirt. Underneath the bullet proof vest , blood was sprouting out. My eyes , if they could , widened even more in horror. That wasn't supposed to happen!

Suddenly his eyes rolled back and he stumbled back to the ground.

"Dad! Dad!"

A group of people heavily armed , came up to us and started tearing me from him. I thrashed and kicked as much as I could, but a bald man came up to me, and slapped me so hard, I fell down on a piece of rock , and blacked out.

****