Hey Guys, sorry I have been MIA. I re-released Chapter 6 and did some editing. Please read that before you check out this short chapter. Updates to come!
Rowan sat in the house, alone. The ice in his whiskey glass clinks together loudly in the empty living room. He glances about the blue walls, all of the family photos, Meara's childhood drawings crooked in their hanging spots. The once warm room feels colder without her constant presence. The sound of the rain lightly tickling the living room window is now the sounds consuming the home. The outdated but comfortable furniture already collecting dust without the urge from him to clean since Meara left. He can't even muster up the drive to study his research now that the home lay vacant aside from him. He sighs, looks down at his watch and frowns. Why is Tony always late? He gets up to fill his glass, floor groaning below his feet. He stops when he hears the creek of the fridge door open. Puzzled, he quickly shuffles to the kitchen and furrows his brows. How did he get in?
"Make yourself at home why don't ya," he loudly places his glass on the counter, the sound seems to echo.
"Your taste in beer worries me, it's terrible!" A confidently dressed Tony Stark says into the fridge. "But I guess some of us never change, I on the other hand," he spins around to face Rowan, "will take your apology for not having the proper drink ready for me during my visit." He smiles, closes the fridge and waltzes over to the living room couch, stolen peperette hanging from his mouth. He puts his feet on the worn coffee table.
Rowan huffs and follows, sitting in the chair across from a loudly chewing Tony. "You promised me, if I gave you all of my research and worked for you, I would stay hidden. Meara would stay hidden," Rowan's face was dark with fury. "You lied to me Tony,"
"Well I really should have paid you more, your furnishing is very outdated," Tony jokes. The jovial tone in his voice aggravating Rowan.
"Cut the shit Stark." Rowan's eye piercing through Tony's jester mood.
"Okay, relax IRA. S.H.I.E.L.D was compromised, remember we saved the day, what happened with your files was just fallout." Tony quickly retorts, finishing his pepperette.
Rowan claps his hands together roughly and rubs them. "My FAMILY ain't fallout Tony," he says through gritted teeth. "You swore to me if I gave you ev'rythin' you would protect my daughter!" He slowly stands, fists clenched tightly. He's so angry his body is moving for him.
"Okay, I get it. Your mad. I'd be too!" Tony tries to reason, hands up in silent surrender. "You gotta listen to my side though. To Ross you were a ghost. He thought you died and your research with you. I held up my side but S.H.I-,"
"I don't give a FUCK about SHIELD Tony!" Rowan grabs him by the collar of his perfectly ironed white shirt and picks him up out of his lazy sitting position. Throw pillows tumble to the floor.
Tony pats Rowans fists. "Okay, hands of the merchandise there McGregor." Tony raises one if his hands, tiny nano particles comes together to create a red robotic glove. Light flickers in his palm and something whirls awake with a sharp, wind like sound.
"You're gunna use your suit on me in me own home." Rowan hisses.
"Not if you," he points his finger to Rowan's face, "let go," Tony smirks.
Rowan huffs and throws Tony back into the couch, somehow he falls right back to his previous position. Rowan drags his feet into the kitchen to fill his empty whiskey glass. The copper liquid glugs with every passing drop. He bangs the now empty bottle on the counter and silently chugs it back, he smacks his lips, keeping his back facing Tony. "How are you going to keep her safe." He more or less states instead of asking.
Tony gets up and straightens out his now wrinkled shirt. He walks passed Rowan towards the door. "I'll keep an eye on Ross and update you with her progress. She's going to the raft, to train. I believe Ross will try and make her his own 'wannabe' Avenger, I'll put a stop to it." With that, Tony closed the door behind him. He jogs down the steps to his sleek black self driving Mercedes. The door opens for him and he gracefully slides in. "Hey FRIDAY, let's put a bug in Ross' system, give ourselves some updates on 'Little Mermaid' shall we?"
A voice rings out through the car, "On it sir,". The car jolts down the cobblestone back street into the distance. Rowan watches from the rain soaked window.