Steel Meets Iron

Chapter 19

She came in without warning, heels clicking angrily with each step but her face a neutral mold and her eyes a silvery blaze. The minute Tony saw her he wanted to disappear, the other Avengers had no idea who she was and the agents escorting her seemed stupefied as well. Unlike last time she wore a smart, fashionable deep green dress that she no doubt bough in those chic boutiques she loved to frequent. The weather had no call on how she dressed.

Upon seeing Tony she wasted no time and delivered a backhanded slap that echoed through the hall.

"How dare you," Lara seethed.

Tony circulated his jaw, "Nice to see you too Miss Orson."

"Where is she?" She demanded. She turned and spied Raven lying on a bed sleeping. "How dare you have the audacity not to tell me she was sick."

"I lost your number," he replied calmly. "Yeah, Raven gave it to me but I just lost it."

Her eyes flashed, but then the glow simmered. "Well," her voice became a purr, "since you've been so careless then you have no cause to object to this little get together."

Pepper's sense of chaos stung and more agents came in escorting two more people, one made him wish he had his suit on, he had on a somewhat casual suit, hair slicked back a thin ghost of a beard on his face. Beside him was a man what most people would figure the Hulk would be as a person, he was tall with notable muscles, fierce faced, an animal like beard that crept up the side of his face giving him the appearance of a bear.

"Mr. Stark," the smaller man greeted, "Marshall Helms, how's it going?" He then gestured to his friend, "This is my associate Mr. Rourke."

"Morning," he grunted in a thick Irish accent. He was more casually dressed, loose top, jeans and smart shoes. He had a drawstring bag slung over his shoulder.

"Raven's sleeping," Pepper announced like a word of protection.

The present Avengers, Steve and Bruce were very alert to the danger. Steve had risen from his seat sizing up Rourke who did likewise while Bruce surveyed everyone from his chair trying to be an invisible as possible. He could feel the temper beating off Rourke and knew right away that this visit would be tense or a train wreck.

"Is she?" Marshall said. "Well," he glanced at his watch. "it's quite late."

"It's ten o' clock," stated Steve.

"That late for Raven," he strut to the room peeping inside. "Do excuse me," and he entered.

"Hey!" Exclaimed Pepper.

Before any of them could get to the door Rourke was there to intercept them and everyone stood in their tracks. No one wanted to cause a scene but no one wanted to let him near Raven despite how much she loved him.

Tony could only watch as Marshall went by the bed and ran his fingers through her hair, the motion roused her immediately and she looked up from where the sensation had come from. Her eyes popped and she gave a girlish squeal.

"Daddy!" She threw she arms around him and he in turn did the same.

He kept running his fingers through her hair and murmured things no one heard. He pulled away from the hug when her grip loosened and her knelt down cupping her face lovingly, he kissed the bridge of her nose and she hugged him again. Raven's face was pure bliss, she clung to him, she called him daddy, it was gutting him over and over. She saw Marshall Helms as more of a father than him. But he did have more years on him with Raven.

"Look, look," Marshall whispered pointing at Rourke.

Raven gave another squeak. "Uncle Shane! Uncle Shane!"