Masks

They arrived at the O'Keefe house a few hours later, via rental car after landing at a small private airport belonging to Wayne Enterprises. The drive was peacefully quiet; Bruce savored the moments like this.
So few people even knew Catrin existed; Alfred, Pepper Potts, James Rhodes, and all sworn to secrecy.

He found himself remembering the day he and Tony had decided to confide in Rhodes, not long after Catrin's first birthday. Tony had been unhappy concealing something so important from his "Rhodeybear", but they'd both been slightly uneasy about his reaction to a "secret" marriage.
Rhodes had been wary, a little concerned, and disappointed that he hadn't had the chance to stand up with Tony at his wedding, but he'd understood their reasons. He'd melted when Tony showed him a baby picture of Cay with her full name scrawled across the bottom.

Rhodes' face softened. "She looks a little like your mom--" trailing off. "...you named her 'Rhoda'? Aww, Tones."

Catrin was hurrying down the stairs as Bruce tapped on the door. She opened it quickly, grinning; launched herself at them.

Bruce caught her up in a hug. "Happy birthday, darling."

Tony was pulled into the hug as well, not that he was all that resistant. He did have a slight double-take when he realized he was looking up at Catrin. Barely, but still!

She ushered them inside, closing the door. The smells of a cake being baked, and fresh flowers, filled the living room. A nearby table held a few giftwrapped presents from Catrin's friends or schoolmates, who'd stopped by earlier in the day. A thought seemed to occur to her.

"You came openly? I thought, not yet?" There was a mix of surprise and hope in her eyes.

Tony jolted to a stop, as he realized that Bruce's disguise was no longer in place. He'd been so preoccupied/distracted, it hadn't registered... Shit. "Jarvis, how long has that veil been inactive?" he asked sharply.

There was a pause. " I have the security camera footage from the Tower, and the heliport. They still show Bruce as disguised. The device reads as inactive; something must have caused it to switch off, or the veil was damaged at some point during your drive here." JARVIS did not sound pleased, either.

Catrin drew away, going to close the curtains.

"No reporters or anyone outside...Maybe no one got a close enough look to recognize you. Especially if Pa was driving," she joked.

"What are you supposed to look like, Bruce?" Alexandra asked.

Bruce took a photo out of his pocket to show them.

" No, nobody would've thought you were Bruce Wayne," she agreed. "But we have some of Jim's stage makeup, and hair dye or a hat would take care of the rest."

"I'm not wearing antennae," Bruce said firmly. "Or kitty ears."

"...earmuffs? We did get a forecast of some cold weather. "

Tony was looking back and forth between them like a spectator at a tennis match.

"I'm not letting this ruin Catrin's day, or yours," Alexandra told him firmly. "We stick to the plan. You've all been looking forward to this for months."

"Don't argue, " Catrin warned her fathers. "You won't win."

Down the street, a man with a scarred face lowered a pair of binoculars, and slipped away, unseen.

Brock Rumlow hadn't lasted as long as he had in STRIKE--or HYDRA--without knowing how to stay out of sight.