So, um...Dad. (open to Stark-ish family and Remi)

[soulstealingstark]

The test results weren't changing. The little parasitical organism growing inside Alexa wasn't going away. The hormones were getting worse, as evidenced by Alexa's keen strategy of kicking Remi in the nuts to rescue him from a really bad situation. She had also noticed a slight...bump going on where her stomach was and guessing by Remi's near inability to look up from her chest these days she was pretty sure that her stomach wasn't the only thing that had swollen.

There was no denying it now. Alexa was with Atlantean spawn. Do they make booties for wingy feet?

"Remi?" she peeked in at him. He'd been having a lot of Tank Time since the whole ball-kicking incident.

Comments

[aqua_gambit]

Tank time gave Remi a lot of reflection time. He had to think of something other than his balls hurting. His life had veered off in a direction that made him feel powerless, and he needed to figure a way out of it. Except when Alexa peeked in.

The Atlantean surfaced, feeling his gills flatten down once they were out of the water. "Yes?"

[soulstealingstark]

Alexa closed the door behind her.

"Sorry to bother you during Tank Time, but, uh...I needed to talk a little. Is that okay?"

She thought, briefly, about getting him some ice for his man parts, but she was pretty sure that he would prefer her stay far, far away for a good long time.

[aqua_gambit]

He quirked one of those angular eyebrows he was known for. Then he grabbed the edge of his tank and hoisted himself out.

"That's fine, gorgeous. What you need to talk about?" He asked as bare, wet feet touched down on the floor.

[soulstealingstark]

"Well." She thought about how to phrase things. "I've had to give up wearing underwear because they don't fit anymore and I started having that unpleasant sea-sick feeling most of the time. I'm thinking we need to either, um, deal with the situation or tell my dad we're sticking the landing on this one."

[aqua_gambit]

Remi caught himself starting to look at Alexa's chest. He blinked and dragged his eyes back up.

"Oh." He paused a beat. That was one of the big things he had to think of in the tank. "Well, do you want to carry my heir? Or get rid of the... sea-sickness?"

[soulstealingstark]

"It's okay, those are bigger, too. Stare if you must."

She scratched her head a little.

"I think that depends on if you want an heir or not. I really don't want to do something that you aren't ready for, Remi. Despite my trying to prevent other heirs with that whole kick thing I really do respect you even beyond anything else that is going on with us. If this isn't something you want that matters to me."

[aqua_gambit]

"I want to do more than stare, but that does not help with the talking you requested," he pointed out with a lopsided grin. He scratched his chin as he got more serious.

"I don't think I'll ever be ready for one until I have one. I've not exactly been emotionally stable since... since Valeria insulted me and I lost a sister again." He crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I would like you to be the mother of my child, but if any of this ruins your life in any way, I don't want you to go through it."

[soulstealingstark]

She smiled.

"This doesn't ruin my life in any way. Might ruin the lives of some other people while I'm crabby, but not mine. I think a little ginger with wingy feet might be kind of neat to have around. Then you guys can have some daddy and me tank time at some point. That might be cute."

Alexa offers him a hand.

"Siblings are difficult in any situation or circumstance sometimes. You haven't lost anyone, just temporarily disconnected. And you're gaining a new person. You know, the one that's slowly taking over my midsection."

[aqua_gambit]

"Well, can I deflect the crabbiness at other people? You'll have to let me know the frequency for my shields."

He took her offered hands and tugged a little for her to come closer.

"So, is it too early to ask for a water birth?" He was teasing. Slightly.

[soulstealingstark]

She gladly moved closer to him.

"I was actually thinking that a water birth would make sense, just in case our kid is more Atlantean than not."

[aqua_gambit]

Once she was close enough, he wrapped his arms around her. "Well, that's decided on. Do I get in the bunker before you tell your family?"

[soulstealingstark]

"No, you tell them with me. I need you." She hugged tightly to him. "I love the way you smell when you're right out of the tank, you know."

[aqua_gambit]

"All right. I'll go with you. When I'm in something other than a Speedo." He was not going to make Tony Stark jealous of his daughter landing such a catch. He placed a soft kiss on her temple.

"Then I built my tank right. Without added stink."

[avengeriniron]

An invitation from his daughter to meet for lunch wasn't any cause for alarm. They hadn't seen much of each other lately, but he chalked that up to her settling in with the Future Foundation. They probably had a lot to keep them occupied with Reed and Susan returning home.

Tony arrived at Pier 4 a little ahead of schedule and identified himself at the front desk, asking for Alexa.

[soulstealingstark]

The front called Remi's room (okay, so it was in practice Remi and Alexa's room) to let them know that her guest was there. Excellent.

"Come. Let's get this over with," she said as she took Remi's hand. She paused, though, and stopped to adjust her shirt a bit in an attempt to make herself look...more normal.

[aqua_gambit]

Remi had gotten into a pair of pants and a light linen shirt that was only buttoned up to his navel. Thankfully, he had shaved this morning, so he did not completely look like a beach bum in the middle of winter. More clothing was a concession to not give flashbacks of war being called on the surface.

He gave Alexa's hand a small squeeze. "Let's just get past it. I don't want anything over at the moment."

[soulstealingstark]

She nodded and took a deep breath then went down to greet her dad, holding Remi's hand tightly.

"Hey Dad!"

[avengeriniron]

Tony was waiting patiently in the lobby, dressed down at his most casual. No suit today, just a button down shirt and a pair of dress slacks. He looked up when he noticed Alexa approaching with Remi in tow.

"Hey, sweetheart," he greeted her and gave a nod to Remi, getting to his feet and reaching to hug Alexa. Something about her seemed... different.

[soulstealingstark]

"Glad you came. And you're early. How does that happen?" She hugs him and then steps back, going immediately to Remi's hand. "You hungry? Either of you?"

[aqua_gambit]

Remi gave Alexa's father a nod back and let the Starks handle the pleasantries. Though he was a little surprised how briefly his hand was without Alexa.

"Yes, I could go for something to eat." In public. Where he was less likely to get set on fire.

[avengeriniron]

"I could eat," he answered, watching the two of them curiously. He slipped his hands into his pockets and nodded for them to lead the way. He'd been given a tour of the new facility once upon a time, but he preferred to let the residents lead the way. "My appointment canceled earlier in the day, so I decided to head over a little before our scheduled date. Hope I didn't throw off your day too much."

[soulstealingstark]

"Not at all. My days have been sort of weird lately anyhow. I'm thinking we should go to that little Italian place just down the block. The one you like, Remi." She smiled at her father. "My treat. Well. Sorta, considering your accountant still handles my bills."

[aqua_gambit]

Remi put on a congenial smile. "Good choice, gorgeous."

He gestured for them to start toward the door. "Starks before Atlanteans."

[avengeriniron]

"How generous of you," he answered Alexa with a wry smile. It didn't bother him much, really. If she'd been running around blowing his money like, well like he had at her age, then he'd be less amused. She was a good kid, though. Shocking, considering half her genes came from him.

He flashed Remi a slight smile and headed for the door with Alexa. "Italian, huh? What's their specialty?"

[soulstealingstark]

"I've never paid much mind to their specialty. Remi usually orders something that looks great and then I get that but today I'm going to murder some carbs. I could eat a boat of noodles."