Here it is, the sequel to Through My Eyes! Thank you so much to everyone who supported my first story and I hope you enjoy the sequel just as much, if not more, than the original. Please leave some feedback at the end of this chapter. It only takes a few seconds of your time and I really appreciate every response I receive.
Disclaimer: I do not own Iron Man. Only Morgan.
Blind Eyes
I wished I was at home in my PJ's.
Instead I was squished between two very loud and skimpy dressed girls. Not the way I wanted to spend my night.
I groaned and put my fingers in my ears, trying to block out the thousands of voices around me chanting one thing.
"Iron Man! Iron Man! Iron Man!"
I was in Flushing, New York in the newly reopened Stark Expo for the opening ceremony. And I was regretting my decision to stand in the throng of people instead of backstage. I had wanted to see my father the way everyone else in this crowd did and to see how the man with the 'Iron' suit had taken the world by storm. I was amazed at how many people had crammed themselves into this arena to see Iron Man. People had come from across the country, just to get a glimpse of Tony Stark and his extraordinary suit. Some people were holding up signs that said things like 'Iron Man Rules!' and 'I Love you Tony!' while others had bought the plastic masks that looked like Iron Man's mask and hand gloves with a light in them to resemble the suits repulsors. The world was in love with Iron Man.
Six months had passed since dad had announced at that press conference that he was in fact Iron Man. I had been furious at first. The minute he had entered my hospital room I yelled at him until the nurses had to send him away. Pepper and Rhodey gave him the same lecture, though not as loudly as I had done. I had been concerned about people wanting the suit bad enough to do anything to get it but dad had had no such worries. He thought that since he had the suit to defend us, people would be stupid to try and steal it. And it seems like he was right because in the six months since his public reveal, no one had made any attempt to steal it. I was happy but still wary and waiting for it to happen. I hoped it wouldn't.
People had been cautious of the suit at first and thought that it hadn't safe to use in our country but dad had soon changed their minds. In just a few months he had stabilised the east-west relations, saved thousands of lives and become a national hero. Now Iron Man comics were in stores along with little action figures, each month he graced covers of numerous magazines and he even had an 'Iron Man' cartoon series for kids on TV. Life was great for Iron Man.
Dad's public image had never been better. All his good work was in the news without the words "playboy" or "drunk" being used. Stark Industries was back on top after the drop we had after shutting down the weapons division. And the Stark image was getting another boost tonight when Dad officially reopened the Stark Expo. Until Dad starting talking about plans to reopen it, I had never heard of Stark Expo.
I bet no one in this crowd had heard of it either until a few weeks ago but they weren't here for the expo, they were here for Dad. The people around me were getting restless, jostling each other as they waited. Of course Dad couldn't simply walk out on stage. No, he had to make a grand entrance.
Suddenly fireworks boomed above us, an explosion of colour in the dark sky. Dad's cue. I was the only person in the crowd who knew how Dad was going to make his entrance, so while most of the crowd's eyes flew back to the stage, mine stayed glue on the sky. My eyes, now adept at spotting the soaring suit, quickly zoomed in on it.
Hand suddenly pushed at my back, causing me to stumble. Cheers erupted around me. I looked up to see Iron Man standing centre stage, arms in the air. Damn it.
The "Ironette Dancers" began prancing around the stage in their ridiculously skanky outfits. They had been Dad's idea. Everyone around me was going crazy, jumping up and down, dying to get a glimpse of Iron Man. My eardrums were beginning to throb in pain. The stage around Iron Man began to disassemble. The familiar machines rose out of it and began to take apart the suit.
Within seconds Dad was standing before the still roaring crowd in a plain old suit. His eyes scanned the people in front of him and I wondered if he was looking for me. Even though I was only 10 feet away from him, the crowd was so dense I doubted that he would spot me. The Ironettes ended their dance circled around Dad and promptly left the stage.
"Oh it's good to be back! You miss me? I missed you too."
I rolled my eyes. How could they miss him when he had never left?
"Blow something up!" someone yelled from the crowd.
"Blow something up? I already did that," Dad replied, his voice booming across the giant room.
The audience chuckled. Dad smoothed out his jacket and gazed out upon the throngs of people. He was so calm. His face didn't show any hints of fear and nervousness. I could never be like that. More than 5 people and I choked up.
"I'm not saying that the world is enjoying its longest period of interrupted peace in years because of me." The crowd cheered and clapped, deafening me even more. "I'm not saying from the ashes of captivity never has a greater phoenix metaphor been personified in human history. I'm not saying that Uncle Sam can kick back on a lawn chair, sipping on a ice tea because I haven't come across anyone who's man enough to go toe-to-toe with me on my best day!"
I shook my head slightly as I gazed up at my father. He certainly wasn't humble. The crowd didn't care as they went crazy for him around me, jumping up and down and screaming random things to him, including "I love you!"
And of course this speech was nothing like the one he had been rehearsing in the jet. I swear half the shit coming out of his mouth he made up on the spot.
"Please, it's not about me. It's not about you. It's not even about us. It's about legacy. It's about what we choose to leave behind for future generations." His eyes swept the audience where I was standing. "And that's why for the next year and for the first time since 1974, the best and brightest men and women of nations and corporations the world over will pool their resources, share their collective vision to leave behind a brighter future. It's not about us. Therefore what I am saying, if I'm saying anything, is welcome back to the Stark Expo."
The cheers went up again. I too clapped as I watched Dad up on stage. I began to see him as the people around me saw him; awe-inspiring, a genius, unafraid. But I also saw a side of him the people around me never saw.
"And now, making a special guest appearance from the great beyond to tell you what it is all about, please welcome my father, Howard."
Dad walked off stage as the mammoth screen as wide as the stage changed from the Stark Expo logo to the video of my grandfather.
"Everything is achievable through technology," he began saying onscreen.
I smiled up at my grandfather for a moment. I had watched this video so many times that I could recite every word he said. Of course I felt some sadness over never meeting my grandfather. From what I had heard, he had been a great man, a brilliant inventor and a cunning business man. But what he hadn't been was a great father. Dad rarely ever spoke about him and I have never seen any photos of them together. Part of me thought he was the reason why Dad had never hired a nanny for me when I had been young. I gathered that Dad and his father never really bonded when he was young and he had been determined not to repeat that cycle with me.
The people around me had stopped their jumping and cheering to watch the video. I started to push my way through the people, some of them muttering angrily as I did. I resisted the urge to flip them off and kept walking. As I reached the side of the stage, I pulled out a pass and showed it to the burly security man who eyed it for a full minute before letting me pass.
I walked up the ramp that let backstage and easily spotted my father standing in the wings.
"Dad," I called out.
He spun around the face me, tucking something into the inner pocket of his jacket.
"Hey Morgs." He grinned. "How'd I do?"
"Great," I said as I came to stand in front of him. "But you already know that."
"Yes but it's always nice to hear it."
"Careful or you'll get a big head," I said sarcastically.
I looked up at him, noting that his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. It had been that way for months. I was convinced something was wrong but he had been assuring me everything was fine. But I knew my Dad and I knew something was going on that he wasn't telling me about. So many thoughts had ran through my brain as I thought about what he could be keeping from me, each thought worse than the last. Was the company failing? No, I knew by the stock market that we were more than fine. Was something wrong with the suit? No, he wouldn't keep using it if there was. Was Pepper leaving? No, although the Iron Man announcement had taken its toll on her, she wouldn't leave. So what was it? Eventually I had given up wondering and just assured myself that in time he would confide in me. I hoped.
"Holy crap, there is a lot of people out there," I said as I ducked my head briefly out of the wings. The number of people in the audience had seemed to double from when I was in it to staring down at it now.
"Are you sure you don't want to say a few words?"
I spun around to face him with wide eyes. "You're kidding right? You know I can't speak in front of a crowd."
Dad laughed. "I'm kidding."
"Ha ha." I walked over to the water jug and poured myself a glass. Just talking about public speaking was enough to make my throat go dry.
"You know if you take over Stark industries, you will have to make public speeches." Dad briefly glanced at the video of his father still playing, no doubt thinking about his passing and when he took over the business.
Groaning, I clutched my water tighter. "Don't remind me."
The crowd suddenly began clapping and cheering, indicating that the video had ended. Dad tugged on the end of his suit sleeves and flashed me his winning smile. "That's my cue."
I watched my father confidently saunter back onto the stage. I felt a surge of pride as well as a tinge of jealousy.
I pull up a chair and waited in the wings for dad to finish his speech and introduce the man who would be managing the expo. I didn't know how long we would be here for so I was about to go in search of a toilet when he ran back offstage.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
"What?" I asked, "You don't have to stick around?" I was expecting to be at the expo for hours, waiting for Dad to fulfil all his commitments.
"Nah," was all he said.
"Thank God!" I wanted to go back home to California and be back in my own bed! I loved New York and had been here on many occasions but today I just didn't want to be here. I had a feeling something was going to go wrong.
For crying out loud! How long does it take to sign some autographs?
I sighed and lent against the car. I was standing outside the main building, waiting for Dad to finish speaking to the press and meeting fans so we could leave. I was too tired to even admire the newest addition to our collection of cars. It was a white Audi R8 Spyder with a V10 engine, top speed of 194 mph. We had picked it up here in New York and Dad was definitely looking forward to driving it, though we were only going to the airport. While we took the jet home, someone else would drive the car back to California.
"Are you Morgan Stark?"
I looked over to see a tall dark haired woman approaching me. She was dressed well in a high waisted skirt and purple blouse, complete with black pumps. She smiled warmly as she stopped by the car.
"What's it to you?" I asked. I barely passed for polite on a normal day and tonight I was too tired to even try to be nice.
She wasn't put off by my rudeness. She actually chuckled and nodded like my comment proved my identity.
"I'm looking for your father."
I looked her up and down, hoping she wasn't just another girl wanting to try and get in his pants. Come on, I mean it's one thing to try it in front of other people, but I was his daughter. Surely she wasn't gunna crack onto him while I was here?
I opened my mouth to tell her to get lost when I spotted a small white envelope in her hand. Uh oh. God I prayed that it wasn't a paternity test order. I had been anticipating one of those for years now. I really didn't want a sibling.
Before I could question why she was here, the doors leading into the main area opened and Dad walked out, followed by Happy.
"See, that wasn't too bad," I heard Happy say to Dad.
"No it was perfect," he replied.
Dad eyes widened as he took in the scene before him. A grin spread across his face. I didn't know if it was because of me, the car or the woman.
"Hi," he said.
Answer: The woman.
"Hi," she replied.
He approached the girl and shook her hand. "And you are?"
"Marshal."
"Irish. I like it."
I rolled my eyes and left them, walking around to the passenger side of the car.
"Please to meet you Tony."
Happy pressed the button on the keys that lowered the roof on the car and put Dad's bags in the trunk with mine. Without having to be asked, he chucked the keys to Dad.
"Where you from?" Dad asked.
"Bedford."
"What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you," she answered.
"Yeah? You found me."
I jumped into the passenger side, so glad to be finally sitting down. My feet were aching. Dad quickly slid into the driver's seat.
"What are you up to later?"
God, I hoped that was a rhetorical question.
"Serving subpoenas."
Crap. That's bad, very bad.
"Yikes," was all Dad said.
The woman held out the white envelope, waiting for Dad to take it but he made no move to grab it. Oh come on. I couldn't believe Dad was still going with his 'not taking anything handed to me' crap. It was beyond a joke! Only I, Pepper, Happy and Rhodey could ever hand him something.
Dad looked to me out of the corner of his eyes, the corner of his mouth turning up in a smile. I sighed angrily and lent across the car to snatch the envelope from her hand.
"He doesn't like to be handed things," Happy explained from where he stood behind the woman.
"Yeah, I have a peeve."
I chucked the envelope onto Dads lap then rested my head in my hands.
"You are hereby ordered to appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee tomorrow morning at 9:00 am."
No! I just wanted to go home! I almost cried. Now we had to go all the way to D.C!
"Can I see a badge?" Dad asked.
"You wanna see the badge?"
"He likes badges," I said sarcastically.
The woman smirked as she pulled out a small badge and showed it to Dad. "Still like it?"
"Yep."
She slid it back inside her skirt and backed onto the footpath as Dad started the car.
"How far away from D.C are we?"
"D.C? 250 miles," I said.
Dad revved the engine and took off before I had time to wave goodbye to Happy. He wouldn't be far away though. He and Pepper would probably trail behind us in a rental car. I leant my head back against the headrest and closed my eyes, listening to the purr of the engine. The start of a headache was beginning to pound behind my eyes. I could have just gotten a ride to the waiting jet but I had to stay with Dad and make sure he didn't do anything stupid. Sometimes, like now, I found it really annoying having to be the grown up one. And the mature one. And the responsible one.
"What's wrong?"
I opened my eyes to see Dad staring at me.
"Nothing."
Taking his eyes away from the road, he gave me a look that said he didn't believe me.
"I'm fine Dad."
"You can talk to me Morgan."
I sighed and shifted in the seat. "Okay, you wanna talk? Let's talk about what you're keeping from me."
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said with complete sincerity.
"Dad, I can tell something is wrong. If you tell me, maybe I can help?"
"Morgan, nothing is wrong that you have to worry about. I can handle it."
I rolled my eyes. He was keeping something from me and it was pissing me off. But I didn't want to press it. The more I pushed, the more he would pull away.
I turned the radio up and we settled into silence as neither of us wanted to talk about what the other wanted to. I didn't bring up the subpoena because I was scared of what it meant. Within a half hour we were out of the city streets onto the highway. With the top down, the wind was causing my hair to whip around my face. I gathered up my long blonde hair, now well past halfway down my back, and pulled it into a ponytail.
I watched the road for a little while, noting that Dad's driving was tamer than usual. No doubt it was due to my presence in the car. I was sure he was desperate to test out the new toy but I appreciated his restraint. After finding the least uncomfortable position possible while in a car seat, I drifted off.
My dream was one I had been having for six months. It always started the same. I would walk up the steps from our garage, looking through the waterfall, into our living room. There I would see a grinning Obadiah and Dad dying. The dream would then alternate. Some nights I dreamt what had happened, me falling through the waterfall. Other nights Obadiah shot Dad then me. Sometimes he paralysed me then tortured me. But it didn't matter how the middle changed, the end was always the same.
Tonight Obadiah had me paralysed, lying on the floor. I was watching Dad as he struggled to breathe. The lights above me flickered as rain pelted the windows. Obadiah was speaking but I couldn't hear what he was saying. My eyes switched from Dad to the large, glinting knife in Obadiah's hand. He took slow, deliberate steps towards me, momentarily forgetting Dad. He bent down next to me and I could see the malice in his eyes. Without a hint of hesitation or remorse, he threw back his hand and plunged the knife into my chest.
I was grateful to wake.
I wildly looked around, still groggy from sleep, half expecting to see Obadiah near. Taking a deep breath, I reassured myself he was gone.
"Bad dream?"
I couldn't look Dad in the eye, not yet. "Uh...yeah," I mumbled. I saw Dad study me from the corner of my eye. I was glad he didn't press for details. While my breathing got back to normal, my mind wandered. I was still having these dreams six months on. Did Dad? Outwardly, he showed no signs of the trauma he went through, but then, neither did I. After 6 weeks with an arm cast, 9 weeks with a leg cast and 4 weeks of physical therapy, I was almost brand new again.
It was only at night when the pain of the ordeal showed. I was pretty sure he knew what my daily nightmares were about but he never pushed me to talk about them. I didn't want to. I hoped they would go away in time.
"Where are we?" I asked after I had composed myself. The sun had risen, telling me I had been asleep for a few hours.
"Greenbelt," he answered.
I looked at my watch and saw that we had a couple of hours before we had to appear before the Senate. Good. I definitely wanted to check into a hotel and have a shower and a good meal. I rolled my neck around, cringing. Sleeping awkwardly in the car had made me sore all over.
We checked into the St Regis, even though we were, hopefully, not staying the night in Washington. I took an extremely hot and long shower, finally feeling human again. When I emerged in a huge fluffy towel, I found a pair of jeans and a black and white striped tee waiting on my bed. No doubt Pepper had left them there for me. For what seemed like the billionth time, I thanked God for Pepper and wondered what I would do without her. She had been especially amazing in the weeks following the Iron Man announcement. When people had called wanting interviews, photo shoots and exclusive knowledge about the suit, Pepper had handled them all. She decided which interview offers Dad accepted, what magazine deals were made and where Dad travelled to promote the Stark image. Without her, Dad would be lost. I think Dad was finally beginning to realize just how much Pepper meant to him. He was testing the boundaries of their relationship. I thought having Pepper as a girlfriend would be good for Dad and would have no qualms if they began dating, but for now Pepper remained entirely professional as his PA.
And she was more than just my Dad's personal assistant. She was my closest friend. She was the one that I called when I needed advice, the one that rushed over when she heard tears in my voice, the one that you would do anything for. We laughed together, cried together and loved each other. They were times when she was so busy we didn't see each other for days but we always kept in touch by texting or email.
I ducked into the bathroom again to change. I slapped on minimal make-up and left my hair to cascade in soft waves down my back. When I came out, Dad was sitting at the table beneath the huge French window. A mountain of dishes sat upon the table.
"I love you!"
"Are you talking to me or the bacon?" Dad asked as I approached the table.
I mumbled something incoherent and sat down. My mouth was literally watering, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since lunch the previous day. I piled my plate high and ate as much as I could. It wasn't until my plate was completely empty did I remember what was coming today. Butterflies filled my stomach and the food threatened to reappear. We both knew why Dad was being called to appear before the committee. Even though I knew he probably wouldn't care, I felt the need to warn him.
"Dad, today please don't..." I couldn't figure out a way to finish that sentence.
Dad looked up from across the table. "Don't what?"
I looked around for the right word but couldn't come up with any. "These people are not under you're employment so you can't yell at them, berate them or antagonise them. They are influential people so please just watch what you say."
Dad just shrugged. "I know what I'm going to say. They want the suit, I will say no. Simple."
I sighed. Nothing with Dad was ever simple.
Please leave some feedback below. Thank you.
