Carry On My Wayward Avenger

The Reunion

Isabella wanted to smack the vultures as soon as she arrived. Reporters swarmed her when she approached the press conference from the parking lot. Izzy managed to politely deflect most of their questions and told them that this was about Tony's welcome home. Not about her or her company. Her lips curled in a mocking smile, making her excuses. Isabella slipped in the press conference with Clint on her heels. Who wasn't helping her fend off the harpies.

Isabella was surprised at how fast they pulled this together. Clint said that Tony hadn't been stateside for a full hour before this. She straightened her blouse and slipped into a seat along the back row. "Don't want a seat upfront?" Clint asked.

"Fuck off."

The chatter died down and despite herself, Isabella strained her neck to see Tony. Her eyes narrowed as he stood on the stage. His face had more of a tan than the last time she saw him. Several cuts littered his face and his arm was in a sling, no cast. He was alive. Seeing it was different from hearing it from Clint. Tony Stark was alive. Something heavy lifted from her heart, a weight that she hadn't noticed that she was carrying.

"Don't want to get closer? He won't bite."

Isabella jumped and turned her head to see Coulson and Hecate standing a few feet behind them. Clint glanced back to Hecate and Coulson but didn't bat an eye at Fury's right hand man and the former director of SHEILD. She wanted to smack him. "What are you doing here?" She hissed.

"Our job." Hecate murmured. "Face forward, Izzy."

"We need to debrief Stark on the conditions of his escape." Coulson answered. "His secretary seemed preoccupied."

Isabella turned back in her seat with a huff. She opened her mind to Hecate. 'Where's Cass?' She demanded.

'Jasmine is watching her at your house with your ex.' Hecate answered. 'She's fine, Natasha is with them too.'

'Why did he come?' Isabella demanded.

'Here I thought that you were on good terms with him.' Hecate mused. 'Or is it that you don't want your exes to meet?'

'Go to Hell.' Isabella grumbled and shut her mind close as Hecate laughed.

Isabella sighed and tried to focus on the press conference. Tony told everyone to sit down on the floor so they could see him and he could see them. She and Clint stayed in their seats. He seated himself on the stage and leaned against the podium. Izzy watched in slight amusement as the reporters followed his order with confusion written on their faces. She listened to his speech while he ate his burger and somewhere through the meeting he spotted her. Only a matter of time with her hair color. Izzy thought she saw something flicker in the dark depths of Tony's eyes but it fled as soon as she spotted the shift of emotions. She could invade his mind and privacy but that didn't feel right to her.

"As of right now, I am shutting down the weapons division of Stark-." His voice was muffled at the vultures leapt up, crying in surprise and questions.

Isabella turned to look at Clint with a raised eyebrow and quirked lips. He rolled his eyes. "Let's go... He'll find me."

Clint led the way out of the building with little interference from the press. "I need to talk to Phil."

"Go, I've been looking after myself before SHEILD stuck their nose into my life." Izzy murmured, distractedly. She waved him off. Isabella walked to the nearby parking lot to where her pride and joy waited. A beautiful black cherry 1967 mustang sat. It was a copy of the one that her father and herself rebuilt the car when she was 15. Isabella sighed and leaned on the hood waiting. No press should bother her, most were parked in the car park. Isabella pulled out her phone and called her sister.