(1) Bloodline

Prologue

A phone ringing disturbs the quiet of the room where Diana Stark is sleeping in a bed in some dump motel in some backwater town on the eastern coast. Her current stop on her search for others who are like her. A search that has been overwhelmingly lacking in results. Diana shifts in her sleep, aware of the ringing. She groans and slaps her hand around to find her phone on the bedside table. She curls her fingers around the device and pulls it to her. She answers the phone, setting it against her ear.

"This better be really important" She grumbles as the figure in her bed shifts with the noise, his head shifting to reveal scratch marks in his neck. Diana pulls a face at the injuries and then shakes her head, so she got a little rough, he'll live.

"It is" The caller answers and Diana sits up sharply, and lets out a long yawn as she fully wakes up.

"Uncle Bobby?" She asks as she rubs at her eyes. He doesn't call very often, even though they are family, Bobby keeps to himself. She gets a soft text assuring her that he's okay every now and then. And she has seen him more in the last couple of years than all the years preceding it. Dropping by to spend a night or two with him whilst she's travelling. Now, he's seeking out conversation with her now, so she instantly knows that something is wrong.

"How soon can you reach the salvage yard?"

"Depends how desperate you are" She counters. "Minutes if needed"

"Not that desperate" He assures her. "I just need your help with some research" She hums a little and then runs her fingers through her hair.

"Hmm, then a couple of days" She corrects. Whilst she could literally be there in mere moments, if there is no rush, then there is no need for her to push herself that much. Plus this way, she can take her car with her instead of leaving it behind.

"Thanks, kiddo" He sounds so relieved that she's said yes, as if he was worried she would actually say no to his call for help. "I know it's far and you've been busy...."

"Nonsense" She stops him softly. "You're family..." She assures him fondly. She would drop everything if her family needed her. She thought they knew that. Clearly she was wrong. She might have to put in a bit more effort to make sure Bobby knows that she's here if he needs her. "I'll set out at first light" She adds as she pulls her knees up to her chest. "Do you need me to pick up anything? Is the fridge full?"

"I still have a few bags from the last time you visited" He answers her.

"I meant your fridge" She argues with a soft smile.

"Oh, I'm sure it's fine" He counters and she hums a little knowing that he's deflecting because he doesn't like asking for help or money. She knows that the Stark family funds make him a little uncomfortable. Because he doesn't want them to think that it is all he cares about with them. But what is the point in having money if she can't look after the people that she cares about. "I'll see you in a few days" He is now fleeing that conversation, which means that he is perhaps struggling. Diana purses her lips at his stubbornness and hangs up when he does. Perhaps stubbornness runs in both sides of her family, because Tony can be just as bad with aspects of his life. Maybe she's the only level-headed one of them all. Well, someone has to look after them.