Chapter Twenty-Five
All I've Got To Do
Tony paced as his daughter disappeared into hair and makeup. Yes, Kagome was most definitely his daughter. Money buys a lot, including expedited DNA results. But he barely knew her, and she'd shown that she had no trouble omitting huge details. Of course, being honest with himself, he'd not have believed her without that spectacular display she put on.
He didn't trust easily, but he was a consummate actor. Both came with his position. He'd been able to act nonchalant ever since she'd taken down Thor, but inside his stomach was tearing itself up. How could a child of his, with no genetic tinkering, have the power to take out an alien demi-god that Iron Man could only fight to a draw? He pulled a flask from his jacket and took a swig.
He'd always sworn he'd be a better dad than his father was, but he was coming to realize how damn hard it was, especially since they'd known each other all of a day. To be a dad meant you had to have trust in your kids, didn't it?
He blew out a long breath, and went over things logically. He had a kid. He knew very little of this child, other than she was crazy powerful and lied. Well, omitted. Thinking back, nothing she'd ever said was a lie... Well, great. There was no doubt she was a Stark; being able to lie your ass off and have your words be nothing but truth was a family talent.
He had helped make her, so he was responsible for her. He knew he needed the whole story, but how the hell to get her to trust him? Without making her cry, crushing her like he did his business rivals, or causing her to resent or hate him? She seemed really sweet, and, damn if he didn't think of his own mother when Kagome's little mannerisms echoed his memories. Plus, Aiko was an honorable woman. She wouldn't let her daughter become a lying, manipulative bitch.
So, patience. She barely knew him, probably worried about his trustworthiness like he did hers. In addition, everything she'd gone through would be considered fantasy by most people. She had to be worried about being declared a mental case. So he'd extend the olive branch first, no matter how ill it made him to offer so much trust to a stranger.
He'd protect her, find out more about this crazy power she had and where it came from. And if she became a threat, well, he'd deal with that if it ever came to it. Meanwhile, he'd keep his calm, collected demeanor and do his best to accept her and believe what she told him without going ballistic or asking her if she'd been medicated recently.
He took another swig from the flask and put on his public face. Time to play media games. Warn off the smart, make life damn difficult for the stupid, and throw in a little test of his own.
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A little insight into Tony's seemingly unconcerned reactions.
Clarification: As the summary states, this is the next chapter in everyone's adventures. Just as the different movies- Iron Man 1&2, Captain America, Thor, Avengers- are linked but tell a different part of the whole story, I'm linking in Inuyasha. That means keeping to canon as I much as I can.
Yes, Kagome is sad right now. Wouldn't you be, after Naraku and the Jewel's cruelty? She's resilient though.