Anagapesis(Tony Stark's Daughter)

16. It's her

Afghanistan,2008

"Do you have kids?" Yinsen asked as they played a board game

Tony stiffened slightly

Yinsen took a note of this and was about to apologize but he was interrupted

"I do" Tony spoke out, his fist clenching on his lap

Yinsen debated internally if he should as further questions

"Whats their name" he finally asked

Tony sniffed slightly as he rubbed his eyes, his eyes darting around the room

"Amara, she's 16" he answered his eyes glossy as he thought about her

Yinsen smiled softly

"Teenager eh, must be eventful for you during these years" he said smiling

Silence surrounded them

"I dont know" he finally spoke out

Yinsen frowned

"I-" he stuttered "I dont know a thing about her, God I don't even know her birthday" he said his hands coming to cover his face

Yinsen frowned again, worry and confusion latching on his face

"What do you mean" he asked

Tony uncovered his face, tears brimming his eyes taking Yinsen aback

"I didn't want a kid, heck I never even knew she existed until she was dropped off on the doorstep of my company and my assistant found her...and when I did....I neglected her...I refused to aknowledge her" he explained

Yinsen glanced down apologetically at the board game they were playing

"I refused to think she was mine, even though she's a mini me, her eyes, her smile, everything about her reminds me of myself" he said shakingly as he allowed himself to break

"All I cared about was the company, the money, my work, the women. But the most important thing was there, wanting me to put carry her to bed, to even glance in her direction. But all I did was pretend she didn't exist. And now all I can do is regret it. All I can think about is how I can die without ever seeing her again, without having the chance to fix it" he confessed as tears dropped down his cheeks

Yinsen's eyes were glossy as he saw the pain he was in, after all he he was a father too

"Then fight, fight to keep alive. And get back to her and fix it" he encouraged

Tony gulped as he wiped his tears

"But how can I? Everything I've done, the words I said, I can't simply take them back, I can't just simply-" he choked up unable to continue

"Theres things we can't always fix but we have to try, no matter how hard it may seem, we all make mistakes Tony" yinsen reassured

Tony inhaled sharply as he tried to hold back tears

"But that's the thing" he said his voice hoarse

His bloodshot eyes meeting those of the man he came to consider a friend

"I made her belive she was mine"

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"Time to go" Pierce called out as the realization of his failure reached him "you're gonna fly me out of here"