"Look. This is my family's company; this is his legacy. My legacy. If you think for oneminute that I'm not going to be a part of its partnering with what could become the world's worst weapons and defense company, then you have another thing coming!" Tony yelled, having risen from his seat at the glass conference table.
Fury sat, his unwavering eye locked on Tony. "Stark, this is for S.H.I. .. Not Stark Industries. You agreed to help us interact in the world while keeping our cover. You agreed to become our front man. But what you aren't is trained in is how we need you to act. Our guy is."
"Yes. I agreed to utilize Iron Man's influence to help S.H.I.E.L.D.. But I did not agree to intertwine Stark Industries with your shit!" Tony spoke sternly and took his seat. "Given that, I agree that we need to intervene with Dunn Defenses's affairs. They can become a great power, but the owner is very young and impressionable. They could just as easily become the worst thing in the world as they could become as great as Stark Industries." He had calmed significantly since Fury told him what he was planning. "Director Fury, I'm willing to utilize Stark Industries for this. But I want to do it."
Fury didn't reply to Tony's request.
"Look. This is the one time Tony is willing to help and follow you." Tony could tell that Fury required him to persuade him in other ways.
"Tony!" Fury gave Tony a look that said, I didn't want to have to say this, but I'm going to. "You aren't capable of being sent into this type of situation - you aren't stable! You've hardly been sleeping, trying to keep yourself distracted by building suits of armor, trying to make yourself invincible. You think I don't know about the panic attacks you've been having? You're suffering from PTSD from New York." Fury stated. "Now tell me why you should be sent in to negotiate. Why you're more fit than a trained agent."
Now it was Tony's turn to be quiet but in a different way. He stared at Fury in shock that he actually knew.
"Now tell me why we can trust you not to have a spasm in a key interaction? Why should we send you?" Fury questioned.
"Because I will be more relatable than some agent," Tony spat, still feeling as though his privacy was horribly violated. "Fury, I already am acquainted with Gareth Dunn. He is young and he doesn't fully understand business. He isn't going to partner with Stark Industries because we're the best. He's going to partner with us because I'm an awesome person to be around. He's going to be able to relate to me and he'll like me. Fury, this isn't just a meeting to negotiate a partnership; it's a celebration of his success in the world market: he's going to be testing us for our people skills. Sending one of your stale agents would get Stark Industries a notice of rejection."
"Fine, Stark. You want to do this?" Fury seemed exasperated and was finally budging. "Then we'll do this our way. You can go and negotiate with our objectives, but you will still have one of our own keeping you stable and under our control and keeping you from doing something you'll regret. "
"Fine, as long as she's hot," Tony agreed with a sarcastic smirk.
"Captain Rogers will escort you."
Fuck. Tony's face drooped to a neutral expression: analyzing if Fury was being serious. Anyone but that ancient soldier.
"Rogers will get briefed on the situation and the two of you will leave for a cabin nearby the locations that Mr. Dunn will hold events at." Fury opened a file in front of him and slid it across the table to Tony. "This cabin is secure and under constant surveillance from the outside. From the inside, an A.I. will be able to respond if it recognizes a person that isn't either of you entering and will alert whoever is inside of this person, and it will require you to respond." It had pictures of the cabin that he was going to be sending Tony to. "Your means of transportation will be by car; Captain Rogers can drive primarily. You aren't going to be spending a lot of time in the surrounding area."
Tony started zoning Fury out a bit as he examined the papers in front of him closer, looking at pictures of the cabin. It was a real cabin, for starters. And it was in the middle of the woods, according to the map, but it was within a twenty mile radius of all of the locations he would need to go to. And it was small. The two living there was probably going to be too many people for Tony to handle in the space. "We are going to try to draw as little attention to you and Rogers as possible, so no Iron Man suit."
Tony looked up from the papers. No suit? Tony felt panic stir intensely inside his core and he tried to calm himself and focus on breathing slowly yet fully.
"Steve will be adequate protection; it's not like you have enemies overseas in the U.K., right?"
"Right…." Tony agree reluctantly.
"And we don't need you setting off fireworks by trying to make a grand entrance." Fury stated. "Steve embodies everything you don't: politeness, warmth, care, and loyalty."
"Wait a minute-" Tony began in protest.
"He actually follows orders."
"I have loyalty!" Tony retorted. "The only difference is that I'm not a mindless soldier! I hold my freedoms highly. And I'm taking my Mark V; I can agree that I won't be using it to draw attention to myself, though. I just want it to be around if I need it."
"Good. Only if you absolutely must use it for protection." Fury replied while clarifying, looking satisfied, turning his attention to the door that had opened when Tony was ranting about who he was. Steve was standing in the doorway wearing plain blue jeans, dark boots with a matching dark canvas jacket, along with a white t-shirt. "Captain Rogers, welcome aboard."
Of course, he had this planned all along. He intentionally set my level of involvement low so that I could settle for something that he actually wanted, and he intentionally mentioned my conditions so I would get riled up and agree to things that I wouldn't normally.
