Oh boy! Book Two!

The Magical and the Mechanical: Chapter One

November 9, 2014

"Good morning, Mr. Lupin," Agent Coulson said.

He was by far the friendliest face on the Tricarrier, but Lyall couldn't help but loath the man. Every damn day, he'd try to talk to Lyall about something Remus had done at school, or talk about how bright or wonderful Remus was, as though Lyall wasn't acutely aware of that fact that his son had thrived despite his own misguided efforts to keep him beaten down, where he should have been safe.

"Morning," Lyall grunted.

"I've just been reading over your latest evaluation," he smiled. "It's looking very good. You've made a lot of progress."

Lyall wondered how Agent Coulson would react if he knew half of Lyall's recovery was fueled by the thought that, if he was cleared, he would have the opportunity to hex the infuriatingly friendly man on the other side of the impenetrable magic proof glass. Yes, he would probably get wrestled back into even higher security lock down, but it just might be worth it.

"We didn't think you'd get this far along until a year from now, and it's only been four months," Agent Coulson continued.

"I'm resilient."

"I see where Remus gets it."

"He gets it from his mother," Lyall snapped.

It was his fault she was dead. Lyall did that to her. Not directly, of course, but for all he'd done to protect her and their son, he may as well have cast the curse. Or pull the trigger, as it was muggles who got her and they did so enjoy their firearms. He was a fool and a failure. He never deserved her and she had deserved so much better.

"I'm sure she was a wonderful woman."

"She was."

"Again, Mr. Lupin, I'm very sorry for your loss."

"Thank you," Lyall muttered out of common courtesy.

"Well, I do have some good news."

If it was about Remus again, Lyall would try and strangle the man. He didn't care about the glass in the way. He may just be angry enough to overpower the magic block and 'accidentally' turn the man bright orange or maybe a nice neon green. He would look terrible in polka-dots, as well.

"If you'd like, you can be cleared for SHIELD training."

For a moment, Lyall was frozen in place. That was the last thing he expected Agent Coulson to say, so he nearly hadn't heard it. "And why would I want to work for SHIELD?"

"Well, I've read your files, as you know," Agent Coulson shuffled through the black folder in his hands. "If what you claim is true – and I have no reason to doubt you – you're a very qualified man, Mr. Lupin. You're an expert in dark creatures, spiritus apparitions, and combat. Plus, you've worked in the field for your government."

"My government refused to listen to my warnings and my son paid the price," on what his wife called a good day, Lyall even believed these words.

"I assure you that will never happen with SHIELD. We take the safety of our agents and their families very seriously. And we always investigate all angles before coming to a decision, especially angles recommended by our specialists."

"I highly doubt my research in the dark creatures of my world can apply to this one."

"That might be so, but there are strange things out there," Agent Coulson said. "And there are no doubt ways to translate that knowledge to things in our world. For example, enhanced or otherwise powered criminals and terrorists can sometimes behave in ways that look like magic. You could have the knowledge we need to spot the difference between magic and mutant. Not to mention your formidable dueling capabilities. Both you and Remus corroborate several victories, including Greyback."

"That night wasn't a victory," Lyall snarled.

"No, no, of course not," Agent Coulson finally let his infuriating smile drop. "But that leads us into the next reason for why you should work with SHIELD. Greyback is still at large."

Lyall growled, he couldn't help it. He hated that monster so much it made his blood boil. Every time Remus so much as got a little tetchy, all Lyall could think of was that it was Greyback's foul influence, stealing his son from him. He knew, logically, that any anger in Remus originated form himself and not some monster hiding under his son's bed, but when Lyall got angry, logic was often the least of his worries. When he got tired of blaming himself for everything, it was Greyback he imagined ripping apart, bone by bone.

"We can't promise we'll find him," Agent Coulson said. "If we work together, we'd both stand a better chance at bringing him to justice before he can harm anyone else."

"When do I start?"

"I was hoping you'd say that. We've got a few introductory lectures in a few hours. Agent Hill will accompany you to them."

Agent Coulson wasn't that bad after all, Lyall decided. He could hardly blame the man for realizing what a wonderful boy Remus was. And Agent Lupin did have a nice ring to it.

November 16, 2014

Tony's lab wasn't a real mess. It was an organized mess. There was a method to his madness, really. And if there was one thing he couldn't stand, it was people messing with his madness. How was he supposed to be the world's coolest mad scientist if his lab wasn't a mess when looked upon by the eyes of plebeians? That said, someone had to have messed with his perfect disorganization because he couldn't find a single one of his soldering irons. He had five of them he should be able to find one at all times. He'd have to have JARVIS order five more, just to be safe.

He was just about to get up and find someone to yell at – in frustration, not anger, of course – when James burst into the room with a tray of food.

"Cap said you didn't show up for dinner," James said.

Oh, so that's why he felt like he was forgetting something. He thought it was where he'd placed all five of his soldering irons.

"What you got there?"

"I made you dinner!" James said. "I… used to cook with Mum all the time and… you've got a really big kitchen in the common area and… here," he put the tray down next to Tony's project. "I made a lot. Have you seen how much Hulk and Thor put away? It's ridiculous! And everyone still teases me about being a bottomless pit."

"I've seen you eat an alarming amount of food."

"I'm a growing boy, what's their excuse?"

"Gamma Monster and Alien," Tony said.

"Yeah, that's fair. Anyway, I hope you like it. Okay, bye!"

James placed the tray down on Tony's work table and left as quickly as he arrived. It was a very fancy looking steak with a heaping salad. Tony usually only ate steak on special occasions – he loved red meat but it wasn't healthy for him to eat all the time, much like cake – and he was fairly positive that James knew this. He cautiously lifted the plate, aware of James' reputation as an incorrigible prankster that could make Loki blush. He pursed his lips in disappointment when he saw what had been crammed under the plate; an envelope with the Midtown High insignia on it.

"Let's see what we have here," Tony sighed, picking up the letter.

Dear Mr. Stark, Legal Guardian of one James Potter,

This letter is to notify you of your child's recent suspension due to his failing grades. Please schedule an appointment with the Academic Department to discuss the disciplinary measures to be taken until such time that James achieves and maintains grades acceptable to this establishment.

Acting Principal Phillip J. Coulson

"Dammit, Jimbo," Tony was exhausted.

James and Sirius, two peas in a pod, were a nightmare to handle. Remus was quiet and reserved. He never asked for anything unless pestered and he never started fights or even once dropped below a 4.5 GPA, due to all his AP and honors courses and the fact that his lowest grade, Chemistry, was still a B+. Sirius was doing well, hovering around a 3.2 and he was cautiously aloof around Tony unless he wanted to work on Steve's motorcycle.

However, between the James and Sirius, he'd been called in to talk to Principal Agent Coulson fifteen times. They were guilty of defacing school property, shooting gum wads at both students and faculty, causing disturbances in class, plagiarizing each other's or Remus' essays, and they'd managed to get into six fights with various members of the football team and showed no signs of slowing down, even though both of them had been severely outmatched in all six fights, as they weren't used to fighting 'the muggle way', as Meriam described it. Tony didn't like the think about the damage they could do if he allowed them to take their wands to school or they realized that they didn't technically need their wands to do damage in the first place.

By the looks of this letter, James had finally managed to tank his grades below the 2.0 threshold. They were already bad, hovering around a 2.3, but ever since Steve caught him and Sirius bullying Remus and Meriam into doing their homework for them. Sirius' grades had actually gone up, since he was learning the material and doing better on tests. But James' had started inching ever downwards. Tony was starting to suspect that James had cheated on the entrance exam as well, only James was getting perfect grades on his tests. He hadn't turned an assignment in since he was caught strongarming Remus into writing an essay for him.

"Trouble? Only, I saw James running out of here like his butt was on fire…" Steve wandered in. "You missed our date."

"I know, I'm sorry," Tony sighed. "I got carried away in here."

"That's alright," Steve wrapped his arms around Tony's shoulders and leaned his chin on the top of Tony's head while Tony went back to tinkering. "Meriam and Lily kept me company. They're wonderful girls. Incredibly intelligent. Lily is hilarious."

"Did Meriam's pacemaker look like it was working?"

"She wasn't complaining," Steve assured him. "And it was glowing about as brightly as yours. She was very concerned with the color modulator working so that she could coordinate it with her existing wardrobe. Arc Reactor Blue is not her color, apparently."

"Did you check her hands? They weren't blue anymore?"

"She looked warm," Steve laughed. "You worry too much, Tony. She's fine."

"I know what it's like to have my heart give up on me," Tony whispered. "I don't want her to go through that."

"You're a good man, Tony. We're all lucky to have you at our backs," Steve kissed him. It eased a little of his worry, just knowing he had someone as amazing as Steve Rogers to share the burden and care for him like Tony cared for others. "What are you working on?"

"Just something to protect the kids if we're ever away and something happens," Tony said. "You heard about the attacks near Latveria."

"The ones a few weeks ago?"

"Four children missing, two dead, nearly twenty people injured, mauled by what they described as a giant bear or a wolf."

"You think that was Greyback?"

"It sure as hell looks like a werewolf attack. It happened on the full moon and… he targeted children, Steve," Tony's voice was tight.

"Both Remus and Lyall said that Greyback prefers a younger…" Steve's voice trailed off. "You think he's building up strength to make another attempt at taking Remus?"

"He's deranged and he thinks Remus belongs to him," Tony said. "I can't let him hurt Remus anymore. This will help," he patted his newest protect. "I was looking for a soldering iron but I can't find one."

"I think I saw Hawkeye with one in the training room earlier," Steve offered.

"What was he doing with that?" Tony sighed.

"Looked like he wanted to teach Lily how to make some of his trick arrows. He's really warmed up to her. He appreciates having another archer around. It doesn't hurt that she laughs at his jokes and he laughs at hers."

"Someone finding his jokes funny was bound to happen eventually."

"It's nice to see him soften up around the kids," Steve said. "We're all… I don't know… closer to why we're doing this with them around. It's nice. Makes it feel more like a family than it already did."

"You've been enjoying teaching James."

"I have but it's difficult," Steve sighed. "He can't focus on anything he considers boring, but as soon as we talk about anything he likes I can't get a word in edgewise. Sharp as a tack when he puts in the effort. He just needs a bit more self-discipline and he'll be a fine young man."

"Yeah, about discipline," Tony sighed, handing Steve the letter.

Steve pursed his lips in frustration when he read it, "What are you going to do about it?"

"Well, legally he's my kid, but for all intents and purposes, he's your sidekick," Tony joked. Personally he hated the idea of sidekicks, having a kid running around in the middle of an actual fight would give him a heart attack. Falcon had given him a few already and he didn't need any more. "I figured you should deal with James."

"Trying to shirk your responsibilities?" Steve teased.

"No! If you think I'm capable of being a single father to five wizards, then you've got another thing coming, old timer. I'm sharing the load. Besides, I figured the best punishment for bad grades is…"

"Banning him from extra circulars," Steve sighed. "He's really a bright kid, Tony. He just needs some motivation."

"How about… he's not allowed to train until after he's done his homework?"

"I'll have to be more strict with him. I know I'm a military man, but I can't stand the idea of being a drill sergeant. Bootcamp sucked. Everyone picked on me for being small."

"You sure showed them."

"That's not why I did it," Steve sighed, only mildly offended.

"How about this," Tony said. "We're… sort of a thing, so… that means we share parental responsibilities. I mean… you can't have me without my kids, right?" He managed to laugh. He really didn't want to be the 'bad guy'. If he was anything like Howard… that look would be terrible on him. "This is a lot harder than I thought it would be."

"I'll talk to James, you schedule the meeting with Phil."

"Who's Phil?" Tony frowned.

Steve just laughed and kissed him on the forehead, "I'll see you later, Tony." He left.

He looked down at the letter from the school and was surprised to find the name Acting Principal Phillip J. Coulson on the signature section, "I could have sworn his name was Agent." He had honestly thought Fury grew the man in a lab, he was such a perfect SHIELD Agent.

He found a soldering iron underneath a pile of scrap metal – he could swear it wasn't there last time he looked – and finished up a few circuits. James knew Tony well and had managed to get a warming charm to keep the food fresh. He'd start eating dinner as soon as he was done. He hadn't seen the aftermath of Greyback's moonlit hunt first hand, not even pictures, but it still scared the crap out of him. Six children, dead or worse, and their friends and family ripped to shreds.

Tony knew it was only a matter of time before Greyback came for Remus. And they still had Hydra to look out for. Red Skull was MIA, hopefully dead, but all that achieved was splintering Hydra into smaller factions that could spring out from nowhere, led by someone Tony couldn't predict. He didn't know which Hydra factions knew about Remus or if any of them would try and restart the Red Wolf project or try and turn Remus into the next Winter Soldier. No matter who or what tried to hurt his kids, they'd have another thing coming. No one messed with a Stark.

He gently placed the circuit board into the voice modulator. He triple checked that everything in the head was functional, microphones, cameras, and facial expressions were a go. The AI core and router were connected to the outlet in the neck and would be nestled together in the robot's chest, where there was more room. There were also a few other sensory processors, chemical and temperature, but he hadn't finished those yet. They weren't necessary for this first test.

"Testing, one two," Tony said into the speaker. "Ultron, can you hear me?"

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