Anthony Edward Stark

"It's not Shepherd's Glen. Killing there will be hidden by the town's power." She pulled a whole array of articles, some in big newspapers and others in local papers, then fanned them all out. "It's everywhere."

Across the US, there were stories of forced entry into homes and the wholesale slaughter of the entire family living there, often with siblings, children, uncles, aunts, and parents living elsewhere being targeted as well.

"They've done this before. They're purging whole bloodlines. They only do it if a member of the family has wronged them enough. The police haven't said anything about it, but the Seal of Metatron was probably left on their door as a warning." Alessa looked up at Tony with one arched eyebrow. "How much do you want to bet that at least one member of every family belongs to HYDRA?"

They believed that HYDRA was the one to take their God. Now they were cutting off heads and burning the stumps left behind.

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Tony's face fell. He didn't feel an ounce of pity for these people, it wasn't that, but kids? Kids were innocent of the mess their parents were in. It would be like killing the kids of Nazis (and okay, that sort of was exactly that). Purging bloodlines? It put such a sour taste in his mouth.

There were some hard decisions to make, mostly on the order of operations. The checklist was going to have to be tweaked and they just didn't have a whole lot of time left here.

"We're going to have to introduce you to Extremis sooner rather than later," he decided. He probably should have consulted with Banner first but--

No. Realistically, it was Alessa that had to make the choice. "It will let you move your body again. It's going to be difficult. Maybe even impossible. It might not take. It might kill you. But we have to be able to go places and if you're tied to that body there, I'm not sure what else to do."

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Alessa's expression smoothed out. She glanced at her body, quietly breathing on the bed. "I'll never understand why you want to save everyone."

To Alessa, taking out the sins of the parents onto the children is just a part of life, and a completely reasonable response as the children are simply an extension of their parents. It was also completely reasonable to take out grievances with people on their brothers, sisters, parents, spouses, anyone related to them. How else was one to inflict the most pain on the target? Collateral damage was just a given.

But Bruce and Tony cared about collateral damage, so she would do as they wished.

"Extremis is supposed to make me stronger, right?" She began to approach her body, looking it up and down critically. "I'll already be stronger in a body. It could be dangerous if I'm stronger than even that." She could, after all, just wish people dead when she had a perfectly functional body. What about a hyped up one? "I'd have to bind some of it. Do you know any good tattoo artists?"

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Tony wouldn't deny that the strength given to a person infected by Extremis would make Alessa entirely too powerful but like any proud father, Tony was sure that she'd be able to handle it. And if not...well. Her other father was the Hulk. He felt only a passing unease about all of that, but with Cheryl and her Plus One on their way, Steve potentially in trouble, Nat and Clint's cover blown and absolutely no protective suit to speak of, he had a lot on his plate.

Prioritizing was just one of those things he'd always been pretty bad at, though. Me-first didn't work when you had a family. So, naturally, he decided Alessa-first would have to be the new and improved method of figuring out what to do.

Alessa-first meant Extremis. And...tattooing a child.

"I can find the best artist in the city," he said and immediately set JARVIS to the task.

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"Then we'll make him tattoo the Seal of Metatron on my back."

She held up her hands, creating a red symbol between her palms. "JARVIS, can you pull this up?"

He projects the image on the wall. "That's the Seal of Metatron. It's used for binding and is a symbol of Valtiel. I used it to stop Mommy last time, but she got someone to destroy my runes."

She gestures to her back. "If someone puts it on my back and I bless it, it should work as a binder. It can help keep me from hurting people unintentionally." She'd be able to work past it, sure, but it would take a little effort. "But it has to be red. Other colors won't work."

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Sometimes it all came off as just a little too religious for this atheist. He'd met one set of 'gods,' however, and his belief system hadn't changed. Alessa could be just another one of those 'gods.' That didn't mean he had to believe in her...or that her power was mystical and not scientific.

It was just too hard to sort out so Tony didn't try to. He was content working on quantum technology. That was infinitely easier to work with.

"Red ink, fine." Tony scratched at his chin. "If Banner asks...actually, let's not tell Banner I'm letting you get tattooed before your eighteenth birthday. People like him just don't understand."

Tony would be the fun dad. Bruce could be the more practical one.

And though he didn't remember their relationship, he never doubted what they were to Alessa.

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"He's going to be mad if you don't tell him." She gave Tony a crooked smile. "But he won't get mad at me."

Despite being technically older than the two of them, Bruce didn't expect her to be an adult. It had its advantages.

(The fact that he clearly had difficulties getting mad at her except on rare occasions also had advantages.)

"Speaking of Bruce, are you guys okay now?"

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"Probably. Likely. But I don't remember...any of it. I might need your help once we get you all figured out." It sounded strange to Tony, too, when he decided to be selfless. It was almost like his tongue was too big for his mouth... He shrugged just the same and sat down on the edge of the body's bed and lightly stroked a thumb over her knuckles. "If you want to help, I won't make you. But first, you're our number one priority."

It was meeting Alessa that gave him something to better himself for after the reactor was gone. He'd thought of it as a crutch but the lack of nightlight didn't make it any easier to look in the mirror.

Alessa though...

And Bruce was a big part of that too.

"But you're right. I don't need him pitching a fit while we're trying to get you to walk again. We'll--" Yes, we. He knew Alessa was a weak spot for the other man. "--tell him before we pay off a guy to tattoo a seven year old."

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"If you want help, I'll give it to you."

Alessa's image flickered when he sat next to the body. Her outline became indistinct when he touched her hand.

The body's eyes opened. Bright blue eyes, fixing on his face. Her thumb twitched, trying to touch his hand but not quite able to reach him.

Her image was indistinct, but it could still be seen and made out. "You make each other happy. I think you'll be okay, even if you didn't have me to help you."

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The healers had said that she'd be like a baby...but from all the babies Tony had seen, they were at least able to wave their arms around, put their thumbs in their mouths, grasp fingers-- Alessa could do none of that. It made him extra protective...and a little bit sad. Her entire life had been pain.

Why couldn't she catch a break?

"He made me happy the first time I ever saw him-- Before that." Tony didn't look at the projection, he just smiled down at Alessa's body. He'd need to get her a hat. Something better to wear than sheets with little pink bunnies on it.

Though she was in the sun, he wanted to take her outside--

But baby steps. Soon.

"And you make me happy too."

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The corner of her mouth twitched. Then the other.

Then it formed a smile. Small, sincere, and enough to crinkle the corners of her eyes.

Claudia was, perhaps, the only person she ever made happy. Dahlia used her for power and was glad with the results, but she wasn't made happy by them. Vincent liked to give her toothy, crooked smiles and use her as his means of rebellion, but she never made him happy. Valtiel, the executioner, all the people who went to the town: there was no happiness there.

But there was happiness in Tony. She could see it. She could see it with her eyes, not her mind.

Her hand twitched again. She was trying to reach for him, but what muscles she did have, while strong enough for an infant, were too weak to lift the arm of a seven-year-old.

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Tony caught her hand because...wow. Her eyes were beautiful but her smile was going to break hearts one day. He could imagine himself facing down likely suitors with a repulsor... Maybe he was getting too far ahead of himself.

He lifted her weak little hand to his lips and kissed her fingertips before he tucked her back in.

"Let's see about getting you tattooed. And figure out how the hell to sell all of this to Mister Over Protective. Come with me, Lessy. I need you for a shield on this one."

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It was fun to imagine: Alessa as a teenager, walking on her own, charming classmates with striking eyes and a smile, casually breaking hearts just as casually as she broke anything else. The suitors would probably need her fathers' protection more than she would.

But she didn't think about that. She thought about how soft his mouth was on her fingers. How different it felt from his hands.

Then she closed her eyes again, a trace of the smile remaining, and the projection became distinct once more.

"I'll make sure he doesn't rip your head off. Probably."

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"Yeah, about that-- My head is my best feature, inside and out. I really think it belongs on my body. If he looks like he might rip something, try to direct him towards some priceless art work instead," Tony said, smirking and good natured before he turned the corner and headed back up the hall.

He felt oddly relieved by all of this, though his mind was a buzz with the precautionary measures they'd have to take to contain Alessa and Extremis. The tattoo artist, his personal love life and all the rest were a whole lot easier than Extremis and Hulk proofing a personal island.

He'd seen footage of the Hulk jumping. He knew how Alessa worked, at least in part, too.

It was going to be bad before there was any possibility of good, that was for sure.

"J-- Send Banner to the kitchen. I have a proposition for him."

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It didn't take Bruce long to get down to the kitchen, looking more relaxed than he had been before. The kissing had reassured him that he and Tony would be okay, even if there would be difficulties while they figured things out.

"We're in the same building, Tony. You could just shout."

He didn't immediately touch him like he wanted to. He didn't want to push Tony, just in case he needed a little more time to adjust. Instead he just leaned on the counter and crossed his arms. "What do you two need?"

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"I'm glad you think my lungs are that good, but yell, Banner? Some of us are civilized." Tony might not have taken to casual touching so quickly but he didn't mind if Bruce was close. He couldn't help but grin at him anyway. "And remember that when I tell you that I'm getting Alessa a tattoo for what absolutely amounted to a brand new birthday yesterday since you supposedly wouldn't let me get her weaponry or a ship."

Sometimes it was obvious that Tony thought he could out talk anyone just by piling the heart of the matter with a whole lot of verbose speech, most of which attempted to be witty but otherwise didn't mean a whole hell of a lot. It was just distracting. No wonder he was good at business.

"Also, I need some coffee. And an apple turn over. Excuse me."

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"You're what?!"

Yeah, no, not burying the lead there. Bruce was far smarter than the average businessman.

"She's just gotten a body and you're already talking about--"

"It's not because I want one. It's a binding charm to keep me from killing everyone once you give me Extremis," Alessa cut in, sitting down on the edge of the counter. Bruce looked at her, looking cranky already. "I was powerful enough before my body was destroyed. I don't think I could control it with Extremis if I didn't bind it."

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"Plus, my dad never let me get a tat and I'm going to be a much cooler dad," Tony boasted. It might have been the first time that he had come up with that out loud, though inferring it at every chance he got certainly gave it all away just the same. "We could all shave our heads too, you know. For solidarity. I'll get a tattoo on my arm--"

Bruce's face-- oh okay. Now he understood all of the things JARVIS had shown him. He wanted to reach over and just kiss him. It almost made Tony feel giddy... And young. Very young.

What a good way to finish off the day?

"You should probably eat. We both should. And soon, Alessa can too."

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"Tony, there is a very thick line between being 'cool' and being completely irresponsible. Letting a seven-year-old get a tattoo for aesthetic reasons is irresponsible." Not even going to acknowledge Tony's solidarity comment. Alessa just rolled her eyes at Tony.

"But letting a seven-year-old get a tattoo so she doesn't kill everyone isn't." He looks at Alessa, who's mostly at eye-level when she sits on the counter. "Are you sure this will work?"

"I've used it before. I just couldn't put it on myself before."

Bruce held eye contact with her. "Put it somewhere you can hide with clothes."

He'd seen plenty of tattoos, and he knew that she'd be in for a lot of judgment from other people. As would he and Tony, actually, but they were already judged a lot. Bruce looked up at Tony, arching one eyebrow disapprovingly. "Do you feel like Bolivian? I can cook."

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Oh, Bruce's protective streak was wonderful. No wonder he'd unleashed the Hulk after Loki had forced Tony to forget him. That stung ever so slightly, like peeling off a bandage did. No one cared that much for him. No one. He'd had forty-some years to know that and the realization hit him hard.

And so, he said nothing about the admonishment. He just nodded at Bruce, his gaze intense and touched with uncertainly. "Sounds perfect. I'll make the coffee. JARVIS?"

"Right away, sir," the AI responded and Tony sat down that the breakfast nook.

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Bruce nodded, moving to the oven and setting up a cutting board next to it. "Alessa, you can help. I'll show you how to make aji de lentejas."

He gave her a laundry list of things to grab from the covers as he prepared the cooking space. He usually took control of what they stocked their cupboards with these days, so he knew exactly where everything was and what they had.

"Who taught you how to cook this?" she asked as he juiced a whole lime as easily as he would do anything else.

"A lot of people. I think I learned this one in El Alto. A woman was very grateful after I gave her granddaughter some help taking medication, so she taught me all of the family recipes. And, well, gave me enough food to feed an army."

"Why did they go to you for help?" Alessa picked up a knife and started cutting up an onion for him. "Don't they have hospitals in Bolivia?"

"Well..." Bruce cleared his throat. "Considering she was using it to give herself an illegal abortion? No. Not in that case."

Alessa arched one eyebrow. "Huh."

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Tony just watched the two interact as if it was for the first time. It seemed strange to have them both side by side in his kitchen, bustling around the space as if they knew it. And of course they did. Not remembering that, however, left such a terrible taste in his mouth. It was worse than just losing out on something wonderful...it was that his mind was failing him.

He counted to twenty silently in all six languages he knew, conjugated the verb 'to be' after that and went over all the working parts in the engines he'd design ed for the quinjet. He solved a few mathematical equations in his head too, just to be sure his mind was up to the task, and looked noticeably relieved as the smells started to hit him.

Banner, he realized, made a good wife.

He couldn't mention that because he'd get hit and having suffered a traumatic memory-loss already, he didn't need a head injury to go with it.

He nearly missed out on the whole Banner-the-Abortion-doctor, but he wasn't going to judge. Bruce saved a girl's life. And Tony was firmly pro-choice.

He kept quiet on that too.

"Did you usually swap recipes for medical know-how? Explains your clothes."

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It was a good thing he didn't say anything about Bruce being a wife, because he would have gotten hit.

As it stood, Bruce rolled his eyes. He rolled his eyes more with Tony than he ever had in his life.

"It wasn't just recipes." The food smelled like nostalgia. It had been many years since he had been in Bolivia, but he had liked it there very much. "A lot of the places I went to were very impoverished. People gave me anything in exchange for medical help. I remember one man tried to give me his daughter to marry." He smiles a little at all the memories. "Between you and me, I think he just wanted her to marry an American doctor. I told him that he could just give me a blanket and we'd call it even."

That wasn't even the only time he was proposed to. A lot of people were convinced he could get girls to America. One or two girls also were just enamored with the mystery around him, but they were almost universally way too young for him.

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It all made Tony laugh. "Only you would equate a blanket with a woman," he said, all too fondly. How easy it was for him to slip back into that sort of comfort zone, though he didn't have the last few weeks of togetherness to back it up. Bruce was still Bruce and Tony was still so very pleased to be around him. It was a spark. They had it together in a way that Tony had never sparked with anyone else before in his life. Not even Maya, who was pretty brilliant herself.

He could feel his mouth starting to water, something that even fresh ground and brewed coffee couldn't quite put the kibosh on. Tony tried to behave, but he found himself abandoning said coffee before too long to join Bruce and Alessa at the counter.

He was more interested in stealing ingredients than helping, however.

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