Iron Wolf

Chapter 9~ The Best Things

Melody's POV

"She's not going to like the bunny, dad," I said, sitting on the couch next to him. "And she's definitely not going to like that you're wearing a suit in the house."

"What are you, my mother?"

"No. I'm your mentally advanced daughter, and I know how woman work. And women like Pepper do not like giant stuffed bunnies. And no woman wants her man wearing a literal war machine in their living room."

"It's Iron Patriot now," He shot back and I rolled my eyes.

"This is going to be a shitshow.:

"I'm sorry I'm late. I was... What the...? What is that?!" Pepper asked, walking in the door.

"And let the shitshow commence!" I said, flopping back on the couch.

"You're wearing this in the house now? What is that, like Mark 15?" Pepper asked, ignoring my swearing. She didn't like it, but she and my dad had both stopped trying to correct it, at least in private. They and my mother agreed that I should be allowed one thing considering all the shit I'd already been through.

"Uh...yeah. Something like that. You know everybody needs a hobby."

"Oh, and you have to wear your hobby in the living room?

"Pepper, don't let him lie to you. I know for a fact that is Mark 42," I scoffed. "And I told you she wouldn't like it," I told dad.

"Just breakin' it in. You know, it's always a little pinchy in the gooey bag at first, so," Dad said, wiggling his butt and Pepper laughed.

"You guys are so goddamn gross," I groaned.

"Oh hey, did you see your Christmas present?" Dad asked, both of them ignoring me at this point. But I would not be ignored.

"Yes, I did. I...I don't know how I could have missed that Christmas present. Is it gonna fit through the door?"

"Yeah, dad. Is it gonna fit through the door? I told him you wouldn't like it, Pep. He ignored me, like always."

"Well actually, uh...it's a good question. I got a team of guys comin' tomorrow, they're gonna blow out that wall."

"Okay," She said, and I could see how annoyed she was getting with dad. I knew this was going to be a shitshow.

"So, uh...tense? Good day?" Dad asked, walking behind her and massaging her shoulders. At least he's got that part right.

"Ooh shoulders, a little naughty. Naughty girl. I don't wanna harp on this, but did you like the custom rabbit? Because Melody is insisting that you wouldn't like it."

"That shit is custom?" I laughed so hard, my jaw started to hurt, but at this point, everything was so ridiculous that I couldn't stop.

"Did I like it?" Pepper asked.

"Nailed it, right?" Dad asked.

"Wow. I appreciate the thought very much," Pepper said, tiptoeing around reality. She did not like it. I fuckin' knew it.

"So why don't you lift up that face mask and give me a kiss?" She asked. God, dad was not on his game today. Giant bunnies and no welcome home kisses. I thought I raised him better than this.

"Huh. Yup, dammit. No can do. You wanna just kiss it on the..." Dad trailed off.

"Uh-huh."

"The facial slit?" Dad asked and I lost it.

"The facial slit?! Dad, just give the woman a fucking kiss. She deserves it, taking over your whole damn company. Jesus fuckin' christ!"

"Well, why don't I run down to the garage and see if I can't find a crowbar to shimmy that thing open?" Pepper asked.

"Crowbar. Yeah." Dad was so far gone at this point. I feared him being lost to male stupidity forever. I snickered when Pepper actually started walking to the lab.

"Oh, except there's been a...uh...a radiation leak," Dad said.

"I'll take my chances. Besides, Melody would heal me."

"I gotchu," I said, giving her a two-finger salute.

"That's risky," Dad said and I had half a mind to blast him across the entire state of New York. But Pepper ignored him, truly this woman was the fucking best, and dad continued to try and stop her.

"At least let me get you like a Hazmat suit or a Geiger counter or something like that." Pepper and I entered the lab to find that dad wasn't in the suit but controlling it remotely.

"Busted," Dad said, admitting defeat.

"This is a new level of lame. And you, why didn't you tell me?" She asked me.

"Pep, you gotta believe me, if I had known, I would have warned you. But I've been in my room for the last hour and a half. I saw the bunny and the suit and I just started harping him."

"Sorry," He said sheepishly.

"You ate without me, already? On date night?" Pepper asked.

"He was just...," Dad trailed off, pointing to Mark 42.

"You mean you?" She asked and I had to admit, she wasn't wrong.

"Well, yeah. I just mean we were just...just hosting you while I finished up a little work."

"Uh-huh."

"And yes, I had a quick bite. I didn't know if you were comin' home or if you were having drinks with Aldrich Killian."

"What?" Pepper asked.

"What?" Dad asked, trying to get out fo the hole he had dug.

"Aldrich Killian? What are you checking up on me?"

"Happy was concerned."

"No, you're spying on me," Pepper said.

"Well, that one I can see. Happy has been... overzealous since his promotion."

"I wasn't..." Dad started but couldn't finish his sentence.

"I'm going to bed," Pepper said walking off, and I felt bad for her.

"Hold on. Come on. Pep. Hey, I admit it! My fault. Sorry," He said before she would even look at him. "I'm a piping hot mess. It's been going on for a while, I haven't said anything. Nothing's been the same since New York."

"Oh really? Well, I didn't notice that, at all," Pepper said and I had to hold in the laugh. She wasn't wrong.

"You experience things and then they're over and you still can't explain 'em. Gods, aliens, other dimensions. I...I'm just a man in a can. The only reason I haven't cracked up is probably because you and Melody moved in. Which is great. I love you, I'm lucky. But, honey, I can't sleep. You go to bed, I come down here. I do what I know, I tinker." He paused and I felt bad. I had been harping on him relentlessly for the past twenty minutes. "But threat is imminent, and I have to protect the only two things that I can't live without. That's you two. My suits, they're uh..."

"Machines," Pepper finished.

"They're part of me."

"A distraction," She continued.

"Maybe," He admitted.

"I'm gonna take a shower," Pepper said after a minute of silence.

"Okay," Dad said.

"And you're gonna join me," She said after walking away.

"Better," Dad smirked.

"You two are disgusting. I'm going hunting; I don't wanna be anywhere near you two disgusting Humans," I said making my way to a very large window.

"Be back by midnight!" Dad called and Pepper snickered. I rolled my eyes and jumped. I wanted to be anywhere but here.