Darkness swarmed the garage in shadows as Rhodey skipped down the stairs, tapping the passcode into the keypad and pulling open the door, spotting Tony scouring old files on the man responsible for the attack in Monaco. Ivan Vanko, according to the newspaper headline. From behind, it almost looked normal. Just Tony at work on another project, propped up in one of his old cars. How many times had Rhodey walked in on him like this? All the way back to college, a dozen or so memories popped into his mind, except there was nothing ordinary about this time.
"Tony, you gotta get upstairs and get on top of this situation right now." Rhodey instructed, "Listen, Amelia has been busting her ass on Capitol Hill for you, I've been on the phone with the National Guard all day trying to talk them out of rolling tanks up the PCH, knocking down your front door and taking these." Rhodey thrust a finger at the line of suits illuminated in alcoves on the far wall, walking over to his friend. "They're gonna take your suits, Tony, they're sick of the games, you said nobody else would possess this technology for twenty years." Rhodey stressed, "Well, guess what? Somebody else had it yesterday, it's not theoretical anymore." Rhodey pressed a hand to Tony's shoulder, "Are you listening to me?"
Tony rolled his head to look at Rhodey, unable to mask the distress and suddenly everything Rhodey wanted to say to him disappeared on his tongue. Worry spiked in Rhodey at the pale sheen of sweat lining Tony's forehead, the ugly bruise decorating his eye. All of it giving him a ghostly appearance. "Are you okay?"
Tony grunted softly, masking the distress in the blink of an eye. "Let's go." He said, grabbing the door handle and sliding along the seat to get out.
Rhodey stepped around the car, grabbing Tony as he stumbled. "You all right?"
"Yeah, I should get to my desk." Tony replied weakly, wrapping an arm around Rhodey's shoulder, breathing heavily as he walked, "You see that cigar box, it's palladium."
Tony groaned as Rhodey released him into the wheely chair by his desk, retrieving the long cigar box from the shelf under the desk as Tony reached under his shirt to pull out the reactor. "Is that supposed to be smoking?" Rhodey asked worriedly, frowning at the core, at the tiny fizz as the smoke curled off the metal.
"If you must know, it's neutron damage, it's from the reactor wall." Tony told him and handed the reactor to Rhodey.
Rhodey gingerly picked out the core, gripping it between thumb and forefinger, trying to mask the buckets of concern swelling in his eyes as the burnt core continued to dribble smoke. "You had this in your body?" he replaced the core with a fresh one, handing it back and catching a nasty rash peeking out of his collar as Tony turned to fit the reactor back into his chest. "And how about the high-tech crossword puzzle on your neck?"
"Road rash." Tony answered hollowly, catching Rhodey's gaze.
A look passed between them, Rhodey couldn't know for sure, but they reached some level of understanding. Rhodey leaned back against the desk, unable to mask the concern any longer as he watched his friend reach for a plastic bottle filled with a dark liquid. "What are you looking at?" Tony quipped, taking off the lid and taking a swig.
"I'm looking at you." Rhodey replied, arms crossed over his uniform. "You wanna do this whole lone gunslinger act and it's unnecessary, you don't have to do this alone."
"You know, I wish I could believe that." Tony set down the bottle, his back to Rhodey. "I really do, but you gotta trust me." Tony turned to look accusingly at his friend. "Contrary to popular belief, I know exactly what I'm doing."
Rhodey snorted softly, unconvinced. "And does anyone else know about this…" he gestured toward the lined rash up Tony's neck, choosing to use Tony's own words. "Road rash? Does Amelia know?"
Tony nodded weakly, "Can't keep anything from that kid, apparently."
"She's smarter than you realize, you must've seen the hearing today."
Tony glanced up at the TV over by the kitchenette, the screen paused on Amelia as she stood to leave after finishing her testimony. "Smarts like that don't go unnoticed by people." Rhodey added, following Tony's line of sight.
Tony allowed a frown to crease his forehead, "People, what do you mean people?"
"Hammer's been sniffing around."
Tony's frown disappeared and he scoffed. "Amelia would never work for Hammer."
"Well, she's certainly not working for you." Rhodey commented, "You made sure of that."
"She's not ready, she's still just a kid."
"You were only twenty-one."
"And I didn't have a choice." Tony reminded him with a weighty look. "She does."
"And everything Amelia has chosen till now has been for you, Tony, to fill your boots."
"My boots are too big for her, too big for anyone really, and they smell." Tony wrinkled his nose, "It's awful, seriously."
Rhodey nodded unenthusiastically, leaving Tony to whatever occupied his evenings and paused by the door. "Oh, and that agent, the one from SHIELD, he's been poking around too." Rhodey told him and caught the dark look pass across Tony's exhausted features as he left the garage.
Staring at a computer screen all day took its toll and Amelia sat back in her chair, rubbing at heavy eyes, the magnetic draw of the screen pulling her back after a moment. She shut it down before another thought could pop into her head, swivelling around and shutting the door on her research only to find the living room a similar mess. Files spread on the coffee table, across the couch, and Amelia scooped the business card with Coulson's number off the sideboard.
Rhys might have been fooling around, or he might have been genuine, Amelia had no clue, but he did have a point. She had skills to use, she wasn't going to let them go to waste.
Coulson left her the file, the beginnings of a project delving into clean energy, spread on the couch cushions and a number to call should she want the rest. A clear bait and trap if she ever saw it. Fury wanted her, in fact if she didn't know any better she'd say he needed her. The way he kept pressing, kept asking. Even she had to admit it felt nice to be appreciated. For once.
Except… Amelia discarded the card on the pile with all the rest. Did she really want to do this? What kind of message did it send? Were Fury's intentions genuine? If all the spy movies she watched told her anything you never trust the spook who says he needs help. Tony's efforts to keep her from the company chased her straight into the arms of a spy, it wasn't exactly a tale with a happy ending.
Nor was the alternative. A dozen companies just like Stark Industries existed, a dozen competitors who'd leap at the chance to hire her. What a message that would send. Tony Stark's very own daughter defecting to a competitors company. Suddenly all of Obadiah's old teachings, his precious lessons, flooded her thoughts. All the times he told her to think of the company, think of your families reputation and most of all think of your father. What would Tony think, what would he say? Would it harm or hurt, as if her families legacy rested on her shoulders alone. Before this week, Amelia believed that. The Stark heiress, the next in line.
So much of her life spent considering her father's reputation, his legacy, the Stark legacy. Worrying about what he would think, what everyone would think, well what about her? Had Tony thought about all the time she spent preparing to take over the company? All the years spent studying, spent filling her mind with the skills she needed, everything there was to know about running a company. Did he even think about how much it would hurt, taking away Amelia's dream, her life's work. What did he think was going to happen if she took over?
Did Tony think someone might betray her, like they had him? Like Obadiah? Did he worry what happened, the attack… Virginia… would happen again? Corporate sabotage was rife in the industry, but that kind of malice, that kind of betrayal, it came from more than just stock market numbers. Obadiah sought to oust Tony, saw him as a burden, a weakness. With Obadiah, things were personal, a one off. It wouldn't happen again, Amelia didn't have enemies like that. At least, she hoped not.
None of that changed the fact Amelia had been the heir apparent since the day she was born, people expected it, as far as she knew they wanted it. Another Stark at the helm, continuing the legacy, it's what the world expected. Who was she to deny them?
"I have to get out of here." Amelia sighed, unsure whether she meant the apartment of her own thoughts, and started gathering her things.
She only had a couple hours till her flight and Amelia couldn't help herself, taking out her phone and calling the one person in New York she knew would answer.
"What excuse did you use to get out this time?" Amelia smiled as she heard the rattle of his cane drawing closer, standing from the bench she waited on.
"I told my boss Amelia Stark was looking to retain a new lawyer." Matt replied and Amelia wrapped her hands around his offered arm, falling into a slow step.
"Very funny." Amelia chuckled, "What you really tell them?" Amelia poked him when he wouldn't answer, a mischievous smile slowly crawling across his lightly stubbled cheeks and she couldn't help but let it infect her.
"How are you getting on at MIT?" Matt chatted, "I haven't seen you for a while."
The reason why popped into her head and Amelia took a breath to mask the hitch in her voice. "It stinks of robots, computers and chemicals." Amelia told him honestly, "And if I had a nickel for every time they called me Starks daughter I wouldn't need Dad's money."
"So what I'm hearing is you love it and hate it."
"It serves a purpose." Amelia seceded, "Or, it did."
Matt's head twitched, sensing the drop in her smile. "You wanna talk about it?"
His hand found hers over his arm and Amelia sighed. "Do you have any idea what it's like, to work your whole life towards something only to have it taken from you?" A rueful smile slipped onto her lips. "Not only that, but to have it handed to someone you love, someone who always supported you?"
"If your dad wants to keep the company from you he must have a reason." Matt responded and Amelia knew he did. "Sounds like he's just trying to look out for you."
"Doing the wrong thing for the right reasons doesn't change the fact it's wrong." Amelia argued, "You should know that better than anyone."
"Yes." He nodded, "But I also know father's will do what it takes to see the best for their children."
"You saying I should give him a second chance?"
"I'm saying…" Matt stopped to take both her hands, peering into her eyes through his tinted glasses even if he couldn't see. "When life gives you lemons…"
Amelia's laugh cut him off and the two of them continued down the path, the trees of Central Park covering them in the afternoon sun.
"I think you need to ask yourself what it is you really want."
There it is. That loaded question Amelia had been trying to avoid. They knew what she wanted, more than anything, and he gave it to someone else. If Amelia couldn't have the company, despite all the options open to her, she wasn't quite sure where she stood and that frightened her.
"I'm sure there have been easier questions answered." Amelia mused to hide her sudden uncertainty.
"Okay, forget all of that for a moment." Matt suggested, smiling lightly. "What is it that you want right now?"
Amelia raised an eyebrow, "Right now?"
He nodded, "Yep, right this second."
Amelia's chest fluttered, lighting a similar smile on her lips, and she was sure he felt the rush of her heartbeat in her wrist as he chuckled deeply. "I think there's something we can do about that."
"You think?" Amelia teased as they turned on their heels up the path towards the gate.
"Well, based on past experience." Matt's hand snaked around her waist. "I know."
They made it all the way to the lift of her apartment building before his lips were on hers, drawing her from herself, from her thoughts. This certainly hadn't been her intention when she set out, fingers brushing her hair aside to trace kisses down her neck as she unlocked the door, but it never disappointed. Amelia had become quite skilful at breaking this little promise, dumping her bag, his cane, in the hall without a care, a squeak slipping her lips as he lifted her and carried her to the bedroom on memory alone. Blind or not, he'd done it enough times to know, and for a while, for as long as Amelia stayed in his arms she could forget everything on her mind.
Tucked up on the couch, fresh coffee in the pot and Matt's crisp shirt draped around her shoulders, Amelia could pretend nothing had changed.
"Amelia?" Matt's sleepy voice called from the bedroom and she glanced up from the thick bound book on her lap.
"I'm here." She replied, holding her hand over the back of the couch and Matt found it, following the sound of her voice.
He leant over the cushions, nuzzling into her neck and she smiled, closing her eyes.
"Is that my shirt?" He murmured, fingers fiddling with the collar.
"It looks good on me."
Matt planted a kiss on her cheek. "I'll take your word on it."
Amelia giggled and opened her eyes as he straightened, finding his way over to the counter and the freshly brewed coffee. "Do you really have to go to California?"
"I don't really have a choice." Amelia explained despondently, flipping the filmy page of her photo album. "It's Dad's birthday."
"So what?" Matt poured out a cup for himself. "He'll have another one next year."
"I have to be there." Amelia told him, that's all she'd be telling him. Because what if he didn't have another?
Amelia swallowed, shuffling on the couch, pausing on a page containing dozens of newspaper clippings from the last Stark Expo during the war. Everything from the opening ceremony to the numerous exhibitions and the extraordinary talent entertaining the masses. A few of them were less than kind, listing the Expo as a garish display of wealth in a time of bloodshed, others describing it as a break from the bleak wartime reality. The flashing red skirts and lilting tones of the Opportunity Killer charm away any bleak reality, lulling you into a magical dream that leaves you coming back for more.
He said the expo was about legacy, his legacy, and the things we leave for tomorrow. Amelia had thought it arrogant, a needless waste just like those articles from decades ago, now she wished she'd paid more attention.
"You okay?" Matt returned to her at the couch and she cleared a space for him, nestling against him as he slung an arm around her shoulders. "What are you looking at?"
"It's an old photo album." Amelia flipped the page, only a single entry stuck on the other side. "Dad sent it to me a few weeks ago."
Amelia hadn't thought anything of it then, tucking it away in her office for later. Strange, the things you do when you think you have all the time left in the world. Now, these memories seemed so much more important and she picked the classy invitation out from the wedges keeping it secured on the page.
"You are cordially invited to the wedding of Howard Anthony Walter Stark and Maria Collins Carbonell." Amelia read aloud, running her fingers over the delicate writing.
Tony never liked to talk about his parents, especially his father. Everything Amelia knew about them came from places like this. A dozen old fashioned photographs of her grandparents on their wedding day, all in black and white. Pages of letters sent by Howard, some to Maria, others to business partners or friends. One from a woman sharing Amelia's name, asking him to be the godfather of her eldest son. The letters, the newspapers clippings, the photographs, they all grew newer the further Amelia got. They spanned entire decades until they just stopped, ending with a headline that said it all. Howard and Maria Stark Die in Car Accident. The next page lay blank and Amelia thought that the end, until she turned the page again. A single photo, one that sent shivers through Amelia's heart. Tony's youthful face stared at her with familiar eyes, her own eyes, his baby cheeks free of stubble, his arm slung casually around another woman's shoulders, her dark hair framing bright features as she smiled into the camera.
Amelia's breath hitched as she finally recognized the woman and Matt nudged her gently, his voice soft, worried almost. "Amelia?"
"My mother." She replied faintly, afraid of even touching the photo.
Nobody talked about her. Not even once. Her whole life and no one thought to tell Amelia anything. It was as if the woman never even existed yet here she was, a living breathing woman wearing a smile that made Amelia ache inside.
Amelia sniffed, shutting the book, and edged free of Matt's embrace, setting it on the coffee table so she could stand. "I should be getting to the airport." Amelia excused, desperate to shake the hitch in her throat as she spoke and disappeared into the dishevelled bedroom to finish packing.
If Tony meant to keep her from the company to protect her he'd already failed. Keeping Amelia from Stark Industries didn't keep her from living up to a legacy of tragedy, of a broken family. Maybe he thought excluding her would break the curse, so she wouldn't have to suffer as he did. Starks don't cry. That's what he always told her, since she was a child, yet he never told her why. Now she knew.
Matt didn't seem bothered by her hasty exit, god he must be so used to it by now, and waited with her until a taxicab pulled up on the sidewalk to take her to the airport.
Rhodey picked her up as soon as she touched down in California, leaning against his car in a dapper grey suit, his phone pressed to his ear as he spoke in hurried tones to one of his superiors. "The events in Monaco were a one off, sir." He explained as Amelia gave him a little wave, clicking open the boot.
She stuck her bag inside, slamming it after her and slipped into the passenger seat as Rhodey hit the ignition. "Rough day?" Amelia whispered as Rhodey made a series of agreeable sounds.
"You have no idea." He whispered back, moving the receiver from his phone, finally giving her outfit a once over.
Amelia had changed on the plane, the long flight giving her hair time to dry in a braid, the shiny locks flowing in black waves down her back, and Rhodey gave her a single eyebrow at the emerald satin dress. "I know, I know." Amelia waved her hand dismissively, glancing at the tiny buttons trailing down from the low neckline to the hem. "Green isn't usually my colour, but I thought I'd give it a try for once."
"That's not…" Rhodey shook his head as Amelia thrust her bag into his arms, "That's not what I was gonna say."
Amelia knew very well what Rhodey was going to say, he was the only one brave enough to do it, and returned to his call before he got the chance. Flipping down the passenger side visor, Amelia applied her makeup in the mirror as Rhodey drove away, heading out onto the highway, the phone now propped on the dashboard on speaker.
"I have some very influential people asking some very pertinent questions, Colonel." The man on the other end told them in a deep American accent.
"And they have every right." Rhodey nodded, the lights of California passing them by in a blur, ignoring Amelia's shooting glare.
"We need to be sure Tony Stark cannot jeopardize this country's standing any more than he already has."
"Yes, sir, I understand."
"I don't." Amelia whispered to herself, closing her eyes as the wind streamed through the open window.
"Do you need assistance in dealing with this?"
"No, no, sir, that will not be necessary, I'll handle it." Rhodey promised, "Sir, I personally guarantee that within twenty-four hours, Iron Man will be back on watch." Rhodey took the exit towards Malibu.
"See to it, Colonel."
"Yes, sir."
The line went dead and Amelia snapped his phone closed, setting it down in the cup holder. "That sounded like a fun phone call." She joked and Rhodey blew out a long breath.
"I've had a lot of them." Rhodey sighed and Amelia could see the reluctant exhaustion in the bags under his eyes.
At least she could mask hers with a little makeup. No matter how much grovelling, how much she advocated for her father, to the Senate, things still weren't any better. Monaco had seriously rocked the boat and sometimes it seemed everyone but Tony was desperately trying to scoop water out before it filled up and sunk. After all, they'd be the ones left behind when he…
"How's he doing?" Amelia queried, clearing her throat to distract from the despairing thought.
"I'm hoping tonight will cheer him up." Rhodey replied honestly, "Things don't seem to be getting better."
"Dad loves a party."
"It's what he gets up to during the party that has me worried."
"You think he'll lose it?"
"I don't think he ever quite found it." Rhodey answered, "Your dad's always been a loose cannon but never like this."
"That bad?"
"I don't think either of us can stop what's coming anymore."
"That's a positive thought."
"The only person who can stop Tony is Tony."
"And that's a terrifying thought." Amelia stopped applying her lipstick to frown, "Like asking a Republican to support gay rights."
"Speaking of Republicans." Rhodey prompted, giving her a concerned look, "Do you have something against Senator Stern, or whatever, because I'm beginning to think you like pissing him off."
"He's sensitive, for a politician." Amelia smacked her lips, her lipstick snapping closed. "He makes it too easy."
The party was in full swing as they pulled up to the mansion, rock music spilling from the open doors and people milled about all over the place. Amelia shook out her glossy black curls, checking herself once in the tiny rear mirror as Rhodey skipped round to grab the door for her, her white heels clicking on the concrete drive as she stepped out.
A few cameras flashed to the side, capturing the glamorous arrivals, the security guards keeping them strictly in that little roped off corner of the porch. Amelia frowned when she spotted Pepper in a shadowed corner, head in hands, and skipped over. "Hey, Pepper." Amelia gave a small wave to the redhead as she walked up, a wobbly blue light illuminating a stressed look on her face. "What's wrong?"
She tried to hide it for a second, to put on a smile for Amelia, but then Rhodey stepped over and she just deflated, leading them inside and the music grew louder, the hallway lined with decorative flowers and artistic lights casting aquatic waves along the walls as if they were inside an aquarium.
A few small groups of people lingered away from the main room where a huge crowd had gathered in front of the DJ, filled with cheering army officers and businessmen, their flushed dates and a few bikini clad blondes in bath towels. "I don't know what to do." Pepper admitted, finally at her wits end.
Shit. Tony stumbled about on the little stage, the clunky suit banging against everything in Tony's drunken state, the helmet balanced on the DJ's set so he could wear his red tinted sunglasses instead.
"You gotta be kidding me." Rhodey blurted disbelievingly as Tony tripped on the step and crashed into the glass shelf, smashing several bottles and scattering the glass everywhere, the tiny shards twinkling in the golden light.
Tony stuck two fingers in the air as he righted himself, the crowd clapping, and took another sip from the champagne bottle in his other. "That's it." Rhodey shook his head, the final straw snapping in his eyes, and turned to walk away.
"No, no, no." Pepper fretted, panicking and catching his arm, "Don't call anyone."
"This is ridiculous." Rhodey exclaimed, barely restraining his frustration, "I just stuck my neck out for this guy, he let Amelia stick her neck out."
Amelia ran a hand through her hair, spotting a certain redhead amongst them all, her green eyes watching closely, shrugging at the desperate question in Amelia's brown eyes. "Yeah, and I got throat punched." She muttered, dropping her hand.
"Handle it." Rhodey demanded, "Or I'm gonna have to."
Pepper nodded, dashing away, and Rhodey looked at Amelia, jaw set. "Whatever you're thinking, don't." Rhodey warned the second Amelia opened her mouth, "I'm finished letting you make excuses for him."
Amelia just blinked, shutting her mouth again. She had no argument for that, nothing other than the truth, and the truth wasn't hers to tell.
Tony hobbled over to the DJ, gesturing for him to cut the music, and hushed the crowd, lifting the microphone to his lips. "You know the question I get asked most often is, 'Tony, how do you go to the bathroom in the suit?'" Oh, god. Tony wobbled on the spot for a moment, taking a deep breath and paused for a moment, a weird looking crossing his face. "Just like that."
Amelia closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose, cringing as Tony bent over in a fit of manic giggles. Pepper took to the stage, plastering on a smile broader than any genuine smile had a right to be, laughing along as she took the microphone. "Does this guy know how to throw a party or what?" she mused and Amelia almost believed it.
Tony stood straight, giving a wonky salute as the guests all cheered. "I love you." Tony slurred, bending to speak into the microphone, practically nuzzling into Pepper's shoulder.
"Unbelievable, thank you so much." Pepper smiled, one arm around him and Amelia wasn't sure who was holding who up. "Tony, we all thank you so much for such a wonderful night and we're gonna say goodnight now and thank you all for coming."
The crowd suddenly deflated and Amelia heard more than one boo as Pepper tried to draw it to a close, Tony's drunk ears perking up and he lifted childishly sad eyes. "No, no, no, we can't…" Tony stuttered and Pepper lowered the microphone, a serious look passing onto her features as they spoke with each other.
Pepper slowly took the bottle from his hand, exchanging it for the microphone, and gave him a commanding nod, her ponytail bobbing. "Pepper Potts." Tony announced to scattered applause, returning to his guests. "She's right, party's over." He agreed in a flat tone but Amelia didn't hold her breath. Tony had his own ideas. "Then again, the party was over for me, like, an hour and a half ago." he stepped away from the DJ booth. "The after-party starts in fifteen minutes!"
"And if anybody, Pepper, doesn't like it, there's the door." He lifted his hand and pointed to the door, the crowd ducking as a blast shot from his palm and smashed the glass wall lining the stairs.
"Rhodey." Amelia muttered urgently as the crowd erupted in wild cheers, catching the alarmed look Pepper shot her, giving an equally alarmed one to Natasha over by the buffet.
"That's it." Rhodey stated darkly, already turning.
The cheers and claps continued as a woman with a blonde bob grabbed a bottle of champagne, weighing it up in her hands with an inviting smile. The woman threw the bottle into the air and Tony hit it with a blast, tiny shards raining down amongst the bubbles and Amelia shielded her head with her arms.
"Rhodey." Amelia called anxiously, unsure what her plan was right now but she couldn't let this happen. "Rhodey, wait." She chased him down into the garage, slipping through the door as it swung shut after him. "Don't do this." Amelia begged, "I can talk him down."
Rhodey stormed over to the suits lining the far wall, overriding Jarvis' security protocols to start up the silver one on the end, the metal wrapping itself around Rhodey. "You don't want to see this." Rhodey warned her as he stepped out, "I'd stay down here if I were you."
Amelia was already dashing back through the glass door, praying she didn't trip running in her needlepoint heels and snap her neck on the way up. "Romanoff." She hissed as the redhead darted past, catching her by the arm, "You better be on your way to tell Fury cause this is about to get a whole lot worse."
Amelia's head whipped around as Rhodey stamped his metal boot to grasp the room's attention, sucking the noise from the room in a heartbeat. "I'm only gonna say this once." Rhodey slammed shut over his dark features. "Get out."
People didn't waste any time, darting towards the exits, giving Rhodey a wide berth as he rounded on Tony. "You don't deserve to wear one of these, shut it down!" he ordered against Tony's less than pleased expression.
"Goldstein." Tony turned to the booth and the DJ poked his head up.
"Yes, Mister Stark?"
"Give me a phat beat to beat my buddy's ass to." He giggled and a deep bass line spilled from the speakers.
Rhodey wrapped his arms around Tony from behind, "I told you to shut it down." he repeated.
Tony chucked the microphone away, his own mask snapping shut, and blasted them both backwards into the far wall, the force knocking them through the wall like a wrecking ball, blasting right through the sauna and into the gym next door.
Romanoff grasped Amelia since she could only stand there, urging her out through the kitchen, treading carefully amongst the scattered shards of the broken bottles lying everywhere. "Natalie!" Pepper called as the two appeared, crashes echoing behind them from the gym.
"Miss Potts." Natasha stopped them, as if putting herself between Amelia and Pepper.
"Don't you 'Miss Potts' me!" Pepper yelled, "I'm on to you."
"Guys." Amelia tilted her head back, hearing a thud from above, her eyes following the cracks as they snaked across the ceiling.
"You know what?" Pepper continued ripping into Natasha anyway, "Ever since you came here…"
Pepper cut off with a shriek as the ceiling caved in above them, dust and plaster flying everywhere in a huge cloud, and Happy pulled her back, away from the wreckage as Natasha scooped Amelia aside. A shriek escaped her lips as Tony threw Rhodey against the counter, crushing the marble top, slicing through the sink and snapping the pipes, spraying water all over the littered floor and the music cut out in a high pitched whine. Frozen to the spot, Natasha's hand at her elbow, she watched Tony slowly turn to his guests gathered on the balcony, their phone cameras flashing, eyes aghast, to let out a menacing roar that sent them scattering like frightened beetles escaping a heavy boot.
The crash from the fight, the shattered glass, it all set Amelia's nerves on edge, the roar reverberating through her body, stopping her breath cold until Tony's gaze reached her. "You promised." She mouthed and Tony reached for her pleadingly.
Rhodey tore away part of the counter, the cracked stone crumbling away, and swung it like a baseball bat, throwing Tony back into the steel fireplace in a burst of smoke and cinders, the automatic fire exploding around him.
"Say something." Natasha urged in a forced whisper.
"What?" Amelia breathed as Tony yanked himself free of the fireplace, not a single smudge of soot marring the red and gold.
"They're your family, they'll listen to you."
Tony set himself straight with a shake of his head, raising a single hand, palm flat in the air and Rhodey copied the stance. "Put your hand down." Rhodey warned calmly.
"You think you got what it takes to wear that suit?" Tony spat.
"We don't have to do this, Tony."
"You wanna be the War Machine, take your shot."
"Put it down!"
"You gonna take a shot?" Tony dared and Amelia heard the distinct sound of the thrusters charging.
"Amelia!" Natasha cried and she finally tore her brown eyes from the scene, catching Natasha's frantic look, her panic.
It sparked Amelia to move, the two of them ducking behind what remained of the countertop, arms wrapped over their heads as the blast knocked out the lighting, bulbs popping all around them, each shock sending a buzz of fear through Amelia. She squeezed her eyes shut as it blew out the glass walls, shards raining all around them, one catching Amelia's bare knee, drawing a thin line of blood.
The destruction lasted barely a second, over before it even begun, and short gasps tore from Amelia's lips as she shook glass from her dark curls, opening her eyes to an eerie silence. Natasha had already disappeared by the time she lifted her head, using the gnarled marble island to pull herself onto shaky legs, one sole light spilling blue across the ruined kitchen and leaving shadows caking the rest. Tony lay sprawled across the blackened fireplace, god knows where Rhodey had gotten too, and glass crunched underfoot as she picked her way out from behind the island, joining the sound of tinkling water from the burst pipe and Tony's mask snapped up.
Whatever excuse, whatever plea or pithy remark he was about to make died on his tongue as Amelia shook her head, tears shining in her brown eyes, a single drop of blood trailing down her leg. This wasn't her father, not the one she knew, she barely even recognized him. Whoever this was, Amelia didn't like it at all. Whoever he'd become, they were the actions of a desperate man.
A dying man.