Masks

Tony slumped down onto the pillows, watching Bruce sleep. He pressed a kiss to his mate's lips, but Bruce didn't stir.
The last two days had left them both exhausted, blissed out...an Omega in heat was nearly insatiable. Apparently some things didn't change
all that much when one got older.
He stroked a hand along Bruce's rock-hard abdomen, before settling back.
Lovemaking in a heat was always more intense, the senses dialed up to eleven for both Alpha and Omega.
He pushed sweat-soaked hair out of his eyes, a tender smile crossing his face.
A baby. Maybe a little boy? Not that he had any real preference, but it was fun to imagine different possibilities.
Bruce cracked an eye open. He slid an arm around Tony's shoulders, but didn't draw him in. The last of the haze had begun to dissipate.

"What're you thinking about?" the Omega asked curiously.

"Baby names. Think 'Alfred' would be too old-fashioned?"

"No, and Alfred Senior would be over the moon. If it's a boy," Bruce corrected himself.

"Could be 'Frieda' if it's a girl."

Bruce propped himself up on one elbow. "Or Alexandra. Always liked that name. " His eyes were a bit unfocused, his attention wandering as he played with Tony's hair.

"Going to let me spoil you for the next nine months?" Tony asked hopefully. "We could stay at Malibu. Or maybe even somewhere out of the country. Italy."

Whatever Bruce's answer was, they were interrupted by a sudden noise; the sound of the front door's alarm beeping, Alfred's voice being raised.

"Stay here," the Alpha said tightly, and was up before waiting for an answer. He grabbed his pants and shoved them on, then snatched up the wristband that held his suit's remote control.

He still remembered Wayne Manor's layout. He hurried down the hall and descended the staircase to the first floor.

The door had been opened. It was late at night, hard to see, but he could make out the shape of a man in the doorway.

Alfred lay on the floor, a crimson spot on his shirtfront...blood...Catrin was hovering over him, pressing her hands to his shoulder.

"Cay, get down!" Tony yelled.

The stranger held a gun. He could see that much. God, no, please--

He hit the button to call his suit as the attacker took aim, firing. The gun made an odd whistling noise...

Then there was a loud clang as a second, female shape moved between Catrin and the shooter, arm upraised. A glint of metal as the projectile hit Diana's bracelet and bounced off.

"Thanks for the assist...bitch," Rumlow snarled.

The dart fell to the floor.

Tony's suit came flying down and enveloped him.

The 'failed' projectile burst, sending out a blinding flash. He heard Catrin yell in shock, and pain.

He couldn't see--"Catrin! Diana, don't let him--"

When his vision cleared, Diana was facing off with Rumlow. How the hell was that bastard still alive?!!

Catrin lay crumpled by his feet, unconscious. The ex-Hydra agent grabbed the front of her jacket, yanking her up... and put a gun against the back of her neck.

"Let's not be too heroic, shall we?" Rumlow gloated. "My employers want this young lady alive, but 'crippled' wasn't ruled out."

"What do you want?" Iron Man asked, his voice deadly.

"Oh, this is a good start. Your kid, isn't she? I'm sure my boss will have some ideas on what you can do in exchange for keeping her safe. For now, sit tight. If you or your whore try to stop me from leaving...."

Diana was seething, but remained carefully still, waiting for a chance to act.

Rumlow backed out of the Manor.

There was another bluish flash of light, and he and Catrin disappeared.

"Teleportation," Diana said tightly. "Oh gods--" She gave him an anguished look. "Tony, I'm sorry--I wasn't fast enough--"

"I don't need apologies," he bit off.

"Neither do I." Bruce--no, the Bat--snarled from behind them. " Who was that?"

Tony turned to him--and smiled ferally at the look on Bruce's face. He knew his own expression must be identical. Rumlow was a dead man walking. He just didn't know it yet.