Reed Richards sat hunched over the workbench, pencil scratching across blueprints as his mind ran faster than his hand could keep up. Equations, angles, measurements—they all poured onto the page. But behind him, a much smaller sound persisted.

“Da-da… Daaa…”

Tiny footsteps padded unevenly across the lab floor. Reed glanced down briefly, catching sight of his 18-month-old daughter toddling after him, her little cheeks streaked with tears.

“Sweetheart, Daddy’s working,” he murmured, moving a few steps toward another set of notes. But wherever he went, she followed, sniffling and wailing softly, her arms reaching upward.

Reed sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. The calculations weren’t half as loud as her cries echoing through the room. He crouched down at last, his tired eyes softening as he looked at her quivering lip.

“Do you want Daddy?” he asked gently.