"How long will it take?" Rowan's eyes lit up. He had come prepared for disappointment, not optimism.
"Two minutes," Tony replied casually. "What size and color do you want?"
With the machinery in his lab, even a full Iron Man suit took only hours. A precision alloy focus was trivial by comparison.
Rowan thought for a moment. "If possible… something like this."
Tony listened, brows lifting slightly. "That's doable. It'll just take a bit longer."
Rowan's idea was simple. Since an alloy substitute couldn't amplify magic the way a traditional wand could, there was no reason to force it into the classic wooden-stick shape. A ring would be easier to carry and discreet. A blade-shaped focus could double as a weapon under magnetic control. And for times when he used giant magic and outgrew subtle tools, a heavy, oversized focus that could function as both casting medium and melee weapon made sense.
It wasn't ideal. Centuries of magical practice had refined the wand into its current form for good reason. But without proper materials, compromise was unavoidable.
While the machines worked, Rowan asked, "What are you planning to do about Obadiah?"
"First, I need proof," Tony said calmly. "He's already convinced the board to suspend me, so I can't access Stark Tower directly. I've had my assistant head to my office instead. She'll pull the shipping logs from the system. If he's been supplying weapons to terrorists, that evidence will bury him."
Rowan nodded, then glanced at Logan. "Logan, have you ever done bodyguard work?"
Logan snorted. "More times than I can count. Once protected a rich girl. Ended up in her bed. Her father chased me for a year."
Tony stiffened. He turned slowly to Rowan. "On second thought… maybe you should handle security."
"I'm fine with that," Rowan said after a brief pause.
It wasn't that he distrusted Logan. But Logan stood out. And when things escalated, Logan tended to escalate harder. Rowan was quieter, cleaner.
Not long after, Pepper Potts arrived at the mansion. By then, the alloy ring was finished. Rowan embedded a strand of Professor Xavier's hair as the core, fusing it with a spell to complete the modified focus.
"Vera Verto."
He slipped the ring on and pointed at a nearby wastebasket. It transformed instantly into a small gray cat, meowing indignantly.
"No increase in power," Rowan said thoughtfully. "But casting speed matches a standard wand. That's good enough."
Pepper froze in the doorway. "Tony… are you sure your friend is a magician?"
Tony blinked, then forced a smile. "Sure. You know magicians. Very convincing tricks. Some pull doves out of hats. He prefers cats. If anything goes wrong, he'll help you escape with his… magic."
Pepper clearly wasn't convinced, but she sighed. "Alright, magician. I'm counting on you."
"My pleasure," Rowan replied lightly.
He instructed Logan to stay behind and followed Pepper into the car bound for Stark Tower. Once inside, Rowan closed his eyes, dividing his focus between his other selves in different worlds. Long drives were ideal for study.
Pepper considered questioning him, but seeing his calm, meditative posture, decided against it.
By midday, they reached Stark Tower. As they entered the lobby, a balding middle-aged man stepped forward.
"Miss Potts, do you have a moment? I'd like to speak with Mr. Stark."
Pepper frowned slightly. "Agent Coulson, right? I'm in a hurry. Wait here."
Rowan glanced at the man and immediately recognized him. Phil Coulson. S.H.I.E.L.D.
He looked away just as quickly.
This wasn't the time. S.H.I.E.L.D. was compromised far deeper than it appeared, and Nick Fury's curiosity came with consequences.
Coulson smiled politely and returned to his seat, but his eyes lingered on Rowan as they walked away.
Quiet. Measuring. Curious.