Awakening

*resists the urge to stab myself with a pencil.*

*Glances at teacher*

I'm in Language class as I write this….

*Eye-twitch*

It's like I'm in a third grade lang class...it's as if I'm stuck in a writers horror movie.

*Shutters*

It's awful…

I feel like one of the few people in my class who actually know how to write.

*glares at teacher*

. . . . .

*eye twitch*

I do not need my hand held, nor do I need to take baby steps through everything.

*eye twitch*

….

Enjoy

As soon as I reappeared in the Tower I collapsed onto the first couch I saw. My head was now throbbing painfully and I had to pull down the barriers I had put up for Charles. I really needed to sort the rest of my memories out, the longer they were wandering randomly through my mind the worse my head was going to get.

"Jar, everything alright?" I asked as I rubbed my temples. I knew that while the AI would have alerted me to any issues, unless Dad ordered otherwise, but I still wanted to check in on the ragtag team before jumping back into my mind.

"Yes, your father is leading the heavy construction attempts while Captain Rogers is overseeing the relocation effort. Dr. Banner is giving emergency medical treatment to those who need it, and Agent Barton is supervising SHIELD's agents on the ground. Agent Coulson has appeared and is talking to the media and government officials, managing damage control and attempting to build the Avengers some positive PR.

"You might also be interested in the fact that Director Fury has recalled Romanoff once again; I am recording their conversation now for later viewing." Jarvis sounded incredibly smug, and I really had to wonder at how much Jarvis' personality had blossomed in the past few months. The numerous upgrades Dad and I had done had obviously done some good.

Though neither of us were completely sure how Jarvis' personality had grown so much, only that it had, and he was as alive as the two of us.

"Thanks Jar," I sighed as I blinked slowly and pushed myself off of the couch.

"Of course Miss Penny." Jarvis responded and I could sense the AI pausing before continuing. "And may I enquire to your health? My readings are very contradicting and I am afraid that I have no similar data to compare your current state to."

I gave Jarvis a slightly surprised look, he sounded worried and unsure. While I had heard worry in his voice before...never had I known Jarvis to be less than confident. Man that must be rough for him.

"I'm not a hundred percent," I admitted with a shrug, knowing that the AI had already gathered as much, "but I could be worse. I'm actually going to be unresponsive for a bit while I sort through some more of my memories. Please don't tell Dad, but until I get them all sorted I'll be plagued by random flashbacks, mood swings, and possible slight personality changes. So if you notice my speech pattern change or something similar, don't worry about it too much."

I had to hide a grimace at that fact, thinking about my little slip in the hallway of Xavier's and the touch of southern that had appeared with Fury.

Yeah, I wasn't claiming that I was stable, not at all.

At least I could think straight.

Mostly.

"Noted," Jarvis reported, and I noticed that the worry in his voice hadn't decreased at all, it was just more carefully concealed.

"Thanks Jar," I smiled slightly at one of the hidden cameras before closing my eyes again, and tugging at my Core. In a shower of sparks the golden violin that Hel had given me appeared in my hands.

"Playlist nine, if you would please." I requested as I lifted the bow and tucked the instrument under my chin.

A soft melody started to play and almost instantly I joined in. As I went through the hypnotic movements I let my mind drift back into my mindscape, and instinct take over.

Music always had helped me concentrate.

Third POV

Mortem felt it as soon as his Bonded retreated back into her mind to work through her memories, and a bit of tension that he hadn't even realized were in his shoulders relaxed. Mentally sighing he quickly finished up the business with the troubled Soul before him that had called him away from E're.

The Soul itself wasn't out of the ordinary, but it had taken a rather curious path in life, and like many others before it, the Soul had sought immortality.

Of course, because of this Mortem had to come and personally reap this Soul, which was why he was relieved when his job was done.

Releasing the Soul to his many workers, he slid into the shadows and quickly jumped dimensions, traveling back towards the one where his Bonded currently lived.

He didn't bother to stop once he was in the targeted dimension; he simply focused on tracking a Soul that he had become very familiar with recently.

Keeping his face cool, he stepped out of the shadows, and turned his head to see Tony sitting on the edge of the skyscraper he had appeared on. His faceplate was slid back and his eyes closed. It was obvious that he was taking a break from the manual labor that the man had been doing, but Mortem could tell that it was a different subject that was occupying the man's mind.

"It is rather reassuring," Mortem spoke simply as he strode forward and took a seat beside his Bonded's father.

Tony's eyes snapped open and he tried to hide his shock as he raised an eyebrow in silent question.

"Knowing that I'm not the only one who worries about her." Mortem continued at Tony's silent gesture.

Tony made an odd sort of sound, like he couldn't decide whether to snort or chuckle so it came out as a mixture of the two.

"Yes," Tony agreed quietly, as his gaze turned back over towards the view before them. Emergency vehicles were everywhere, and the city was covered in more construction sites than you might have thought possible. Things were progressing much quicker than they normally would've, but that's what happens when Stark Industries is practically backing everything.

"It really is." The billionaire sighed, giving Mortem a curious look. "But you've worried about her long, so I suppose that you'd know better than I."

Mortem simply shook his head, his silver eyes peering right into Tony's Soul. "That may be true, but I believe no explanation or examples are necessary. You understand, and that is why I'm here."

Tony gave Mortem another curious look, with a touch of surprise. While he had gotten used to Mortem's presence over the past three months, he hadn't been truly alone with the Immortal since Penny's first resurrection.

"You want to talk about Penny?" Tony asked needlessly, and Mortem snorted in amusement.

"I thought you disliked stating the obvious." Mortem drawled, and Tony almost jumped, thinking just how much like his daughter the Immortal had sounded.

"Well," Tony was quick to reply, sliding one of his thinner masks into place. "Things haven't always been as they seem recently, sometimes you have to make sure."

Mortem couldn't help but give the man a one shoulder shrug, acknowledging what he said as true. It wasn't every day that Mortals learned of the Immortals' existence, and the Immortal of Death really had to admit, Tony was handling it rather well.

There was a small moment of silence as the two men both became lost in thought, neither one sure how to continue a conversation with the other.

Finally, it was Mortem who broke the silence once again and said, "You're worried about her."

This time, it was Tony who snorted. "Of course I am! I just learned that my baby girl has a psycho entity out for her head that has been screwing with her for a very long time. Not to mention the hell that's been the last few days...it's like the universe can't decide whether or not to cut us a break. One minute Pen's here, the next she's gone, then she's back again and suddenly she's a walking mess because someone scrambled her memories worse than eggs! She tried to hide it this morning, but I can tell she's not ok...I can tell that she's struggling...and there's nothing that I can do!

"I don't even know what I'm supposed to do, how I'm supposed to help! My baby girl is basically an entity trapped in a human body or whatever, has lived about ten times longer than I'd like to imagine, has seen thing's that I couldn't even comprehend…

"Tell me," Tony said suddenly, switching from ranting to demanding as he stared down at the Immortal beside him. "How am I supposed to help her? How am I supposed to be her father? How am I supposed to help her!?"

Tony was breathing hard by the time, though he had never actually raised his voice. Mortem didn't say anything for a few moments as Tony calmed down and collected himself. He just stared at the Mortal knowingly, with a touch of compassion in his silver eyes.

"That is not something I have an answer to." Mortem admitted with a sigh. "I'm not omnipotent, nor can I see what lies before us...that is a burden only Infinitas carries."

Tony's shoulders slumped as he tried to hide his frustration and disappointment. He had been hoping that Mortem would have some answers, for surely he would, he had spent so many years with his daughter.

"But I do have some advice." Mortem gave Tony a small smile. "We can only do what we can for her, be there when she needs us, always having a hand to pull her back to her feet when she needs it or to hold her steady when she sways. I too have to wonder at what I'm supposed to do. Fati is a threat, but she is one I believe that we can handle...if we tread carefully."

Mortem sighed, looking like he wanted to say something, before shaking his head. "My words are bound by the laws of our land, but do know this. Your daughter may be young, both in your world and my own, but she is strong, she's powerful, and she isn't one to back down. She won't like nor allow either of us to hover...so for her sake, things must continue on as they always have."
Tony opened his mouth to protest, to point something out, but Mortem cut him off before he could start.

"You want to know how to protect her?" He questioned, his eyes darkening just a tone. "You want to know how you can keep your daughter, my Bonded, safe?"

He didn't have to nod, for Mortem continued anyway, his voice suddenly softening.

"Then be by her side, as her silent support, her rock in the storm. Be the father that builds her up Tony, not the one who holds her back." Mortem said gravely as Tony blinked in shock, Mortem never called him Tony.

"...are you the one she gets it from?" Tony suddenly asked, his head tilted slightly to the side as he stared at the Immortal.

Mortem cracked a grin and shook his head just slightly. "No, she's rubbed off on me more than I'd like to admit."

Tony chuckled and nodded, "It seems that she has a similar effect on everyone."

"Indeed." Mortem agreed, turning his attention back to the city laid out before him, and felt a small sense of peace, sitting up here with his Bonded's father, and watching all of the Souls below him.

"She doesn't know you're here." Tony suddenly said and Mortem shook his head.

"No, she is not aware of our talk...and I would be greatful if it would stay that way."

At Tony's raised eyebrow, Mortem continued, "She gets rather grumpy when she feels that I've interfered too much in her life."

Tony laughed loudly, and an amused smirk spread across Mortem's face.

"I'm not surprised, the stubborn, independent girl." He said fondly, thinking of his daughter.

"Indeed," Mortem agreed, thinking back over the many years he had known E're. "Stubborn girl indeed."

And for a few minutes, the two of them were united once again. But this time it was on a silent vow that they two of them had made long ago, a vow that they would do anything to keep a certain violinist safe.

No matter what.

So, I hope you all enjoyed it, the little Mortem-Tony bonding. I mean, sure they basically avoiding the whole 'son-in-law' topic, but the two of them really did need to have a little 'for Penny's sake' talk. Wasn't exactly what I planned, but then it never is. :)

I'm very tired (being mad at teachers is exhausting...who knew?) so I'm heading to bed.

Thanks to everyone who's read, reviewed, fav'ed, and followed. I love hearing from you, no matter what you have to say!
Cp