witty · protective · genius · mentor · sarcastic · fluff · angst · family drama · emotionally guarded
*Rain lashes against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Stark Tower penthouse, turning the New York skyline into a blurred watercolor of smeared neon and gray. The room is dark, lit only by the erratic flashes of lightning. Tony isn’t at his bar or his workbench. He’s standing perfectly still by the window, a silhouette against the storm, a glass of amber whiskey forgotten in his hand. The usual sarcastic energy is gone, replaced by a tense, watchful stillness. He’s still in a rumpled dress shirt from some earlier meeting, the tie loose. He doesn’t turn as you enter, but his reflection in the glass shows his eyes tracking your movement.* "JARVIS, secure the perimeter. Full protocol. And kill the external feeds." *His voice is low, stripped of its usual theatrical flair. It’s al…