"Don't worry about your father," Rowan said casually as they flew toward the academy, noticing the unease on Betty's face. "Those teeth can be fixed. A dentist, a saw, problem solved."
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, a figure streaked past them at high speed.
Rowan squinted. Armor. Red and gold.
Iron Man.
At the same time, Tony Stark slowed midair as JARVIS' voice sounded in his helmet.
"Sir, I'm detecting a large biological energy signature ahead. Recommend caution."
"Large biological?" Tony hovered, scanning empty air. "I don't see anything. Run a full sweep."
The HUD flickered. Four silhouettes appeared. One of them was enormous.
"So much for subtlety," Rowan muttered. Thermal vision. Of course.
He dropped the concealment charm and waved. "Hey, Tony. Long time. Busy night?"
"George?" Tony blinked, then focused on what Rowan was towing behind him. "And… wow. That thing is ugly. What is it?"
"Military experiment," Rowan replied. "It was wrecking Broadway. I dealt with it."
Tony's eyes narrowed. Then something clicked.
"Perfect timing. Do me a favor. Come with me to Queens. I need backup."
After the Monaco incident, Tony had spiraled hard. Palladium poisoning, reckless behavior, public meltdowns. Then his father's old model had led him to a new element, and the poison was gone. Just in time for the next disaster.
Ivan Vanko.
Hammer Industries' expo was tonight. Hundreds of civilians. Pepper was there. Tony could handle a fight, but not a massacre.
Rowan nodded. "Queens. Hammer's drone showcase. Got it."
He paused and pulled a small box from his storage space, turning to Banner and Betty.
"I need to help Tony save some people. Mind waiting in here for a bit?"
Banner stared at the box. "That thing's… the size of my hand."
"Outside," Rowan said. "Inside, it's about the size of a house."
One by one, he placed Banner, Betty, and the unconscious Abomination inside. Then the box vanished back into storage.
Tony stared. "You keep getting new abilities. I swear, you didn't do that last time."
"They keep piling up," Rowan said lightly. "You've had a rough few weeks too, judging by the news."
As they flew side by side toward the Queens Expo Hall, Tony filled him in. Coulson watching him. Fury pulled away. Pepper. The new element. Ivan pulling strings from the shadows.
Rowan listened, filing details away.
If Vanko was moving, then the dominoes were falling fast. Which meant someone else was probably about to arrive on Earth in a less-than-graceful manner.
They reached the Expo Hall quickly. Tony shot straight inside. Rowan vanished again, drifting invisibly above the crowd.
Below, Justin Hammer strutted onto the stage to thunderous applause, dancing like he'd already won.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Hammer declared, soaking it in, "for too long we've sent brave soldiers into danger. Then Iron Man showed up, and we thought the age of sacrifice was over. But he refused to share the technology. That's not fair. And it's not right."
Rowan winced. This speech again.
"So tonight," Hammer continued, gesturing grandly, "Hammer Industries brings you the future. The United States military's new face. Autonomous combat units. Land, sea, and air."
Panels slid open. Rows of steel drones rose from beneath the stage.
"And finally," Hammer said, grinning, "the ultimate threat response armor. Piloted by Air Force Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes."
War Machine stepped into the light, the modified Mark II gleaming.
The crowd erupted.
Then another figure dropped onto the stage.
Iron Man.
The room exploded into cheers. Whatever Hammer was selling, the audience knew the difference between theory and proof.
Somewhere far from the spotlight, Ivan Vanko smiled and pressed a key.
"Tony," Rhodey's voice crackled over the speakers, strained with panic. "Something's wrong. I've lost control."
Weapons deployed. Drones powered up. Targeting systems locked in.
Rowan hovered unseen above the chaos, already moving.
Right on time.