Willed Engagements

Steven,

I am worried about my son. He is unruly and his behavior, I fear, only attracts the wrong attention to him. It feels wrong to do this to him, and it is wrong, I admit that. But I fear it is the last option I have left to protect him.

I am sorry to ask this of you. I know how you felt about this archaic practice. I had wished it was abolished long ago too, but I will never be sorry to the chance it gives me to protect him. You are laying somewhere at the bottom on the Atlantic, dead. But officially you are only decried MIA. You are still eligible for promotions, and of course, bondings.

By taking this action I am defiling your memory, using you. I am sorry. But I am also protecting an innocent boy by being used by people in a more heinous way.

Anthony is my greatest joy and achievement. Nothing has ever made me prouder in life, no one have I loved more. I have much I regret in regards to Anthony, I wish I could've be around more and that we could've communicate well enough when I was around. I spent so much of my time helping Peggy and the others build S.H.I.E.L.D up from the ground that should have been his. I hoped that by aiding in S.H.I.E.L.D's creation I was helping create a safer, freer would for my son. Let me take this finale act to protect him.

Forgive me,
Howard.

Steve sat stiffly in the back of the car, the letter in his hands. He was thankful that the driver that had come to collect him put the privacy screen up. He didn't know if he could actually manage a conversation right now. He was being taken to meet his-... his mate.

He had awoken to this world only two weeks ago to find everything and everyone he ever knew was gone. But by far the biggest shock was waking up to find his friend, old friend he reminds himself, had willed him his only son. It was barbaric, horrifying, even in his time people were iffy about it.

When Fury had informed him, no amount of ranting and complaining could change anything about this situation. Trust Howard to find some old forgotten bit of legislation that allowed him to actually do this, and have as legally binding. So old it talked about clans and elders.

Apparently the Carbonell's had a long extensive history that could be traced back to those times. Steve put his head in his hands and groans.

This was wrong, Steve didn't believe in any of this. Regardless of your designation, you had the right to choice who you mated too. You just don't go leaving away your children to friends in your will like some old bit of furniture.

SHIELD and Howard's son had been talking back and forth about the situation, working with lawyers and historians. But he hadn't been called in on any of it just yet. He supposes that was fair, if he was in Anthony's position, he'd properly wouldn't want to deal with him either. That and he probably would be next to no help with the legal dealings. But he was being called in now, to meet him, his supposed mate willed to him by his late friend.

The car pulls to a stop in front of a large white building almost entirely soft curves and circles. It was beautiful and had an amazing view of the sea. Steve steps out of the car and takes a moment to just look at the builds.

The driver steps out of the car and strides over to him. "This way, please"

"Oh... uhhh... of course" he says. "Mr...?"

The man stops and stares at him silently for a few seconds, assessing him. He could tell this man took his job seriously.

"Harold Hogan" the man says, extending his hand and Steve shakes it. "You will be issued a security badge later. No one gets in without a badge, not on my watch. This is your free pass, got it."