Prologue:
"Once upon a time, in a faraway land, Toni Stark was having the time of her life."
"God dammit, Toni."
"Hush, this is my story and I'll tell it how I want to… and for gosh sakes watch your language, Rogers!"
(Author's Note: Helllllloooo people of Earth and beyond. This is the story of how I, Toni Stark, died. Now, I know what you're thinking, but this actually a very fun story and it's all about the life of the amazing, powerful, and slightly insane Antonia Stark. I hope you enjoy!)
(Real Author's Note: I don't own shit, but I do hope you enjoy my friend and I's strange new version of the Avengers. I'm adding in new aspects to the story and I really, really, really hope that you might give it a try! Please! Thank you and enjoy.)
Toni choked on her drink as they hit a bump in the road. And another. And another. If anyone else had tried to drink a glass of amber Scotch in the middle of a war zone, they might've been stopped, but this was Antonia Stark. She glanced out the window and took in the rocky terrain. Rocks. Just rocks. Everywhere. The view from her place back home was better than this. She wished she was back in Malibu. She took another sip as the vehicle dipped down and shook everyone inside.
"Hey, watch it with the steering. If I spill, then it's your fault," Toni glanced around through her sunglasses at the inside of the Humvee. It wasn't the best, not by a landslide, but it was functional and apparently that was all the army cared about, even for their most esteemed guests. Toni couldn't stretch out her legs and was stuck in here with Silent Soldiers 1, 2, and 3. She tilted her head back, feeling the Scotch run down her throat, "Maybe my Scotch could make an improvement… but, I don't your superiors would appreciate it very much, huh?"
"I should design you guys some new trucks. I'd make them so they practically glide against the rocks. Really convenient for important speakers and people unused to this rough and tumble life you guys got here. You guys definitely need an upgrade."
No answer.
"Damn, this is boring. At least with Rhodey I can talk about shit like how stupid his 'top secret' meetings are with your higher ups. Just so you know, all they talk about is how they all wear toupees and sing Disney songs in their freetime," Toni noticed how the soldier next to her tried to hold in a grin, "I hear the head of this division is obsessed with Taylor Swift, I didn't learn his name though-"
"General Alex Jameson."
"Dear god, you're a woman. I thought it was just me. Well, there go my plans for asking you out when we get back. I'm a sucker for the strong and silent type." The woman cracked a grin and Toni heard the soldier next to her let out a chuckle.
"You aren't what I expected either, honestly," the woman called back to her as a voice called out of their radio.
"How's the Funvee, Toni?"
The other soldier tossed her the radio, "It's everything I expected it to be. The male strippers were a nice touch. They really know how to treat a special guest around here. Why don't you ever get me male strippers, Rhodey?"
The radio static shook Jamie Rhodes' voice from the other end, "Because, Toni, you always get your own entertainment. I hope you aren't making anyone uncomfortable back there."
"When do I ever do that?"
"We should be getting back soon. Don't mess around." The line cut out.
Toni handed the radio back to the soldier up front, "Rhodey has a problem with male strippers. Says they aren't worth it. I think she just had a bad experience with one awhile back and doesn't have the guts to tell me." Toni shrugged and pulled her hair up into a ponytail, "I'll get her to confess one of these days."
The entire vehicle stayed silent for a few minutes. Toni had another glass of Scotch. As she tossed back the remainder of her drink, the soldier in the front seat turned around to her, "Is it true you went 12 for 12 with the models for that new He! calendar?"
"A girl shouldn't kiss and tell, but I didn't just kiss them. Technically yes. I had some scheduling issues with March, but lucky for me that December had a twin." She winked at the soldier, "You didn't hear it from me."
He grinned, "Well, Ms. Stark, I hear your missile demonstration went over well. Do you expect to come visit us again?"
"Absolutely." She said.
"Ms. Stark?" The soldier sitting next to Toni raised his hand, "Would it be alright if I got a picture with you?"
"What's with the hand? This isn't first grade, dude. Sure, I can take a picture while I'm trapped in a moving vehicle with you in the middle of nowhere. Not like I can say no without it being awkward. C'mere dude."
The soldier tossed his buddy a camera.
"Alright, ready. One…" The soldier leaned his face closer to the camera, readying himself to take the picture. The other lifted up two of his fingers to form a peace sign with his hand.
"Please, no gang signs," The soldier tensed and put it down, "Nah, just kidding. Throw it up there." They both smiled.
"Two…"
"This better not get put on your MySpace page."
"Thr-"
A loud shot rang out and the humvee in front of them blew up in flames. Their driver slammed into the brakes and they all slammed forward in their seats. The two in front immediately jumped out of the vehicle with their guns, shooting at something Toni couldn't see. She could hear gunshots and screams. Her heart rate sped up and her fingers twitched in response to the chaos happening around her.
The guy next to her gripped his gun tighter, "Shit!" He kicked his door open.
"Wait! Don't leave me," she gasped out.
He gave her a hard look, "Stay here!" As he turned, a round of shots hit the side of the humvee and Toni heard his body hit the ground. Holes now partially exposing that side. She screamed.
Everything slowed around her. The shouting turned into background noise. A garbled echo in her ear. Pain. Her head pounded. Her ears rang. Where was Rhodey? Was she dead too? Lying in the sand? Was she like the poor soldier who lost his life instantly? The thought of her friend lying dead in the dirt prompted her to open her own door on the other side.
"Rhodey…" Toni whispered, her voice drowned out by the chaos going on around her, "Rhodey… Help me."
Outside was unbearably hot. She broke out into a sweat and moved down into the rocks below. She needed to call for help. Help. They needed help.
She dove behind a large rock, whipping out her phone.
"Service. Service. Service," she chanted. A loud bang sounded out and a high pitched whine shot through the air to where she was crouching. Something landed right by her feet and she looked up from her phone to see a Stark Industries missile staring her right in the face.
"Whoa!" She scrambled to her feet just as the missile exploded. She slammed down on the ground, stunned. She felt numb. Her mind was spinning. All other sound cut off and it was only her. She opened her dress shirt as best she could to see the damage, but all she could see was red. Her bulletproof vest was soaking in her blood.
"Damn, they definitely needed an upgrade…"
And everything went dark.
…
A sharp pain brought Toni back to consciousness. There was something covering her eyes. Yelling all around her, not English. Pain shot through her chest. It smelled like sulfur. If she wasn't in so much pain, she would have gagged.
A voice rang out above the others and she heard her name being said as the cloth was wrenched off her head. She was in a cave.
Surrounded.
Alone.
(Author's Note: There you have it. The first of my Iron Man fanfics. Next chapter you guys get to see my favorite character of my story so far… He's amazing. So please comment and leave me with your thoughts on how you liked/disliked it. AS LONG AS IT'S CONSTRUCTIVE! Thank you! Hope you enjoyed it! -Toni)