Chapter 2:

As the movie continued, they could see a stage with two screens on either side of a stand. People were seated at tables, applaud ringing through the hall.

Las Vegas, 36 hours earlier, flashed up on the screen.

Tony Stark," said a narrator. „Visionary. Genius. American patriot."

Everyone raised their Eyebrows. (Well, Eyebrow in Fury´s case. Just saying.)

Even from an early age, the son of legendary weapons developer Howard Stark quickly stole the spotlight with his brilliant and unique mind. At age four he built his first circuit board."

„What? Four?" said Darcy.

„Tony just shook his head and said, „What can I say," tapping his head,

„Genius, remember?"

At age six, his first engine. At age seventeen, he graduated Summa Cum Laude from MIT."

„Seventeen?" said everyone who didn´t already know this. Tony just said,

„Would you stop repeating everything I´m saying, ok, I´m a genius, we get it, now on with the story."

The Women just rolled their eyes at him, because of his snarky behavior.

Then the passing of a titan. Howard Stark´s lifelong friend and ally Obediah Stane steps in to help fill the gap left by the legendary founder. Until at age 21, the prodigal son returns and is anointed the new CEO of Stark Industries. With the keys to the kingdom, Tony ushers in a new era for his father´s legacy, creating smarter weapons, advanced robotics, satellite targeting. Today, Tony Stark has changed the face of the weapons industry, by ensuring freedom and protecting America and her interests around the globe."

As the narrator spoke, images flashed up on the screen.

Tony as a kid, Howard pointing at a chalkboard, Howard, and Tony on a magazine as Tony was six, a picture of Tony beside a robot which was obviously Dummy.

„Wait Wait Wait," said Clint, laughing. „Stark without a beard, would you look at that, I never thought I would ever see this sight, haha."

Natasha who sat beside him just slapped him on the head.

And a newspaper article about Tony´s parent's death.

´Howard and Maria Stark die in a Car accident´, it was titled.

The slideshow finished with another round of applause.

As liaison to Stark Industries," began Rhodey.

Tony grinned and said, „Hey, I never got to hear you give that speech."

I´ve had the unique privilege of serving with a real patriot. He is my friend and he is my great mentor. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present this year´s Apogee Award to Mr. Tony Stark!"

„Wow, an Apogee Award, That is pretty great isn´t it?" asked Darcy. Tony just said, „Wait for it."

There was another round of applause from the audience, this time Rhodey joined them. He looked around and held the Trophy up.

Tony?" He sounded kind of desperate.

Natasha who began to laugh said, „You weren´t there were you?."

Tony just answered with a grin and said, „Nope."

Rhodey looked at the audience with a strained smile. The camera focused on a bearded man shaking his head in the audience, who someone from the Avengers recognized as Obediah Stane.

Tony gritted his teeth at the sight of the man, and Steve noticed it and frowned.

Rhodey looked embraced and licked his lips. Obediah sighed and stood up from his seat and made his way over to Rhodey, and smiled, taking over the award from him.

Thank you, Colonel, this is beautiful, thank you. Thank you all very much, this is wonderful." Obediah held out the award as he spoke.

"Well, I´m not Tony Stark."

Everyone in the audience chuckled.

"Uh, But if I were Tony, I would tell you how honored I feel, to receive this very... prestigious Award," he hesitated briefly,

"Tony, the best thing about Tony is also the worst thing, he´s always working."

„Well, he´s right about that one, isn´t he?" asked Thor. This time Rhodey answered with, "Wait for it," holding up his hand.

The shot changed to show Tony in a casino, rolling a dice from his hand.

Tony groaned and took his hand in his hands.

The others just began laughing, and Thor said, "Or not."

Rhodey answered by saying, "There you go."

Ok," throwing his head on Happy´s shoulder.

C´mon." Turning to two Ladies, and flirting with one.

Rhodey came up from behind.

You are unbelievable," he said, glaring at Tony.

Oh no, did they rope you into this?" asked Tony.

Rhodey shook his head.

"Nobody roped me into anything. But they told me, that if I presented you with an Award, that you´d be deeply honored."

Of course I´d be deeply honored. And it´s you, so...when do we do it?" asked Tony.

„You had no idea when you would get it, did you? Didn´t you look at the clock?" asked Clint.

„No, Why would I?" answered Tony nonchalantly.

„Because it´s an Apogee Award?" asked Maria.

„No, I have tons of those."

Fury´s eye began twitching, but he let it go.

It´s right here," said Rhodey showing Tony the award.

"One more round. Oh, there it is. That was easy. I´m so sorry," said Tony.

Yeah it´s ok," said Rhodey not meaning it in the least.

Wow. Would you look at that? That´s...somethin´ else," said Tony handing it over to a woman, standing beside him, to hold.

„You are really unbelievable," said Natasha to Tony.

Alright, ride!"

Tony took a dice and held it out to the woman holding the trophy.

Give me a hand, will you?"

The girl blew on the dice and stared up at Tony seductively.

Ok, you too," said Tony, holding the dice up to Rhodey´s mouth to blow on it.

I don´t blow on a man's dice," protested Rhodey.

Tony raised his eyebrows and didn´t let up.

I don´t blow on a man's dice," said Rhodey throwing Tony´s hand away.

The dice flew out of his hand, and onto the table.

And it´s Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes throw, and ..."

The dice stopped.

That´s what happens," said Rhodey, shrugging.

Worst thing´s happened, I think we´re gonna be fine. Colour me up, will you?"

Suddenly the view changed, where Tony and Rhodey were walking out of the casino, followed by multiple guards.

This is where I exit," said Tony.

Tomorrow. Don´t be late," Rhodey reminded Tony.

Tony grinned.

"Yeah, You can count on it."

I´m serious."

I know, I know."

„You are so going to be late," said Darcy, rolling her eyes at the genius.

„Oh, who do you think I am?" said Tony, sounding indifferent.

Everyone just looked at him.

„Yeah ok, you´re right I was a little late," said Tony grinning at everyone.

They just rolled their eyes.

Render unto Ceasar, that which is Ceasar´s, there you go," said Tony handing the award to someone who was dressed up as Ceasar.

„Are you serious? You can´t just do that," said Steve.

„I can and I did."

The view changed to show Tony and his Bodyguards walking up to a black Rolls Royces. Tony was about to get into the car when there was a woman crying out, „Mr. Stark, excuse me, Mr. Stark." The attractive young lady smiled

"Christine Everheart, Vanity fair Magazine. Can I ask you a couple of questions?"

„Isn´t she the one...?" asked Natasha.

„Yes," Tony answered curtly.

Tony looked at Happy.

She´s cute."

She´s alright?" Tony mumbles back.

He turned around and said, „Hi."

Hi," she responded.

Yeah, okay, go," said Tony.

„Just like that, Really?" asked Steve.

You´ve been called the Da Vinci of our time, what do you say to that?" she asked him.

Absolutely ridiculous. I don´t paint." Tony responded.

And what do you say to your other nickname? The merchant of death."

That´s not bad. Let me guess, Berkely?" he asked.

Brown actually," she corrected.

Well, Ms. Brown, it´s an imperfect world, but it´s the only one we´ve got. I guarantee you, the day weapons are no longer needed to keep the peace, I´ll start making bricks and beams for baby hospitals."

You rehearse that much?" she asked him.

Every night in front of the mirror before bedtime."

„Really?" asked Jane. „No, he doesn´t," answered Pepper for him.

I can see that."

I´d like to show you first hand," Tony answered

All I want is a serious answer," she said.

Tony looked at her.

Ok, here is serious, my old man had a philosophy

´Peace means having a bigger stick than the other guy´."

Steve thought to himself, ´Why would Howard say such things, he´s not at all how I remembered him, he must have really changed´.

That´s a great line coming from the guy selling the sticks."

My father helped defeat the Nazis. He worked on the Manhatten project. A lot of people, including your professors at Brown, would call that being a hero."

And a lot of people would also call that war profiteering."

Tony ripped the sunglasses off his face and said, „Tell me, do you plan to report on millions we´ve saved by advancing medical technology? Or kept from starvation with our Intelli-crops? All those breakthroughs: military funding, honey."

You ever lose an hour of sleep your whole life?" she asked him.

I´d be prepared to lose a few with you."

„You don´t honestly think this is gonna work, do you?" asked Clint.

Tony just stared at him, with his eyebrows raised.

The view changed to show Christine and Tony on his bed, heavily making out. Christine is only wearing her shirt and her panties.

Tony flipped them around and they rolled off the bed, Tony laughing along the way.

„Ok, it worked," said Clint staring at the TV with wide eyes, while the others laughed their heads off.

„But what about Lady Pepper?" asked Thor. Pepper answered it.

„Relax, this was before we were together," she said, trying to reassure him.

The scene changed to show Christine on the bed, with only a sheet covering her naked body.

Good morning."

„HELLO JARVIS!" said everyone except Tony and Fury.

„It´s nice to know they love me, Sir."

„Of course they do," answered Tony.

It´s 7 AM, the weather in Malibu is 72 degrees with scattered clouds, surf conditions are fair with waist to shoulder highlights, high tide will be at 10:52 AM," continued Jarvis.

Christine stood up with the sheet wrapped around her body and walked to the window. The camera zoomed out to show a beautiful white mansion on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean, with the words Malibu, California.

„That´s your house...I... that is...WHY DON´T WE LIVE THERE?" stuttered Clint.

„It doesn´t exactly exist anymore," said Tony hesitantly.

„What do you mean?" asked Bruce.

„I´m sure these movies will explain," answered Tony.

The shot changed to show Christine walking into the living room.

Tony? Hey Tony."

She walked into a corridor and touched a button on the wall.

„She shouldn´t have done that," said Natasha.

You are not authorized to access this area," said Jarvis suddenly.

„Because of that," continued Natasha.

Jesus," said Christine, shocked.

Suddenly Pepper appeared behind her.

That´s Jarvis, he runs the house."

„HELLO PEPPER!" cried everyone. The real Pepper just blushed.

I´ve got your clothes here, they´ve been dry cleaned and pressed. And there´s a car waiting for you outside that will take you anywhere you´d like to go."

You must be the famous Pepper Potts," said Christine walking towards Pepper.

„Damn right she is," said Tony proudly. Pepper just blushed again.

Indeed I am," said Pepper smiling smugly.

After all these years Tony still has you pick up the dry cleaning,"

Christine said smugly, rubbing it in Pepper´s face that she slept with Tony.

„Oh that was bad..." said Steve.

This time Natasha answered it with, „Wait for it..."

Pepper smiled at her and said, „I do anything and everything that Mr. Stark requires, including occasionally taking out the trash," nodding at the door.

Will that be all?"

„OH BURN!" said Clint laughing.

The others just began clapping for Pepper, who once again blushed.

The scene changed to show Tony in his workshop, working at an oldtimer, blasting music.

„What is that?" asked Clint.

„I don´t know myself, I never finished it," answered Tony.

Tony turned to a screen and said, „Give me an exploded view,"

The compression in cylinder 3 seems to be low," commented Jarvis.

Note that."

Pepper walked down the stairs talking on her phone, and punched a code into the door and the music stops.

I´m going to try again right now. Okay, I´ll keep you posted."

Please don´t turn down my music," said Tony.

You are supposed to be halfway around the world right now."

How´d she take it?"

Like a champ."

„That sounds like you have that conversation a lot," said Steve.

„We did," answered Tony and Pepper simultaneously.

"Wow not creepy at all," Clint said sounding sarcastic.

Why are you trying to hustle me out of here?" asked Tony.

Your flight was scheduled to leave an hour and a half ago."

That´s funny. I thought with it being my plane and all, that it would just wait for me to get there."

Pepper brushed her hair out of her face.

Tony, I need to speak to about a couple of things, before I get you out of here."

But Tony didn´t listen. „Doesn´t it just kind of defeat the whole purpose of having your own plane, if it departs before your arrival?"

„You do have a point there, Stark," said Fury.

„Yeah, I know isn´t that right?" answered Tony.

Larry called, he´s got another buyer for the Jackson Pollock in the wings. Do you want it, yes or no?"

Is it a good representation of his spring period?" Tony asked her, while wiping his oily hands on a rag.

Um, No the „Springs" is actually the neighborhood in East Hampton where he lived and worked, not spring like the season," she answered.

So?" Tony asked.

I think it´s a fair example. Um...I think it´s incredibly overpriced."

Tony just stared at her and said, „I need it. Buy it, store it."

Pepper smiled at Tony.

Ok. The MIT commencement speech..."

Is in June, please harangue me about this stuff that´s way, way..."

Well, they´re haranguing me, so I´m gonna say yes," she said walking behind Tony.

Everyone just laughed.

Well, deflect and absorb it, don´t transmit it back to me."

I just need you to sign this before you get on the plane."

What are you trying to get rid of me for? What do you have any plans?"

As a matter of fact I do," said Pepper

I don´t like it when you have plans."

I´m allowed to have plans on my birthday."

It´s your Birthday."

Yes."

„You seriously forgot her birthday?" asked Bruce.

I knew that, already?" He said frowning.

Yeah isn´t that strange, it´s the same day as last year," she said rolling her eyes.

Well, get yourself something nice from me."

I already did."

And?"

Oh, it´s very nice."

Yeah?"

Very tasteful, Thank you Mr. Stark"

You´re welcome, Ms. Potts," said Tony handing her an espresso cup.

Ok."

"Awww, isn´t that cute," said Clint.

Tony answered, "Shut up, bird-brain."

The scene changed to show a street where two cars were driving very fast. One car was a silver Audi R8 and the other was a sleek black Rolls Royce.

Tony was obviously the fast on in the sports car.

They parked their cars in front of a private jet, with the letters Stark Industries on the side of it.

You´re good. I thought I lost you back there," Tony complimented Happily.

You did, Sir," said Happy. „I had to cut across Mojave."

Ah, I gotcha, I gotcha," Tony said grinning.

„Why are you racing him to the plane?" asked Jane.

„Because it´s fun," said Tony.

The others just rolled their eyes.

What´s wrong with you?" cried Rhodey.

What?" asked Tony.

Three hours," Rhodey said.

„WHAT? THREE HOURS?" said Fury. He turned to Rhodey.

„I feel for you brother, I really do."

„Thank you, Sir," answered Rhodey.

I got caught doing a piece for Vanity Fair," said Tony.

For three hours, for three hours you had me standing here," Rhodey said, getting mad.

Waiting on you now, Let´s go, C´mon. Wheels up, Rock´n´Roll,"

Tony cried, walking inside the plane.

Rhodey followed him ripping off his hat.

„You really do love getting me worked up, do you?" Rhodey asked Tony.

„Of course I do, that´s what friends are for," answered Tony.

The view changed to see the jet in the air.

Inside were Tony and Rhodey sitting at a table, with a flight attendant setting their table.

What are you reading, platypus? C´mon Sourpatch don´t be mad?"

I told you I´m not mad. I´m indifferent, Ok?" said Rhodey.

I said I was sorry."

"Yeah right, you´re sorry," said Maria speaking to the Tony in the movie.

I don´t need you to apologize," said Rhodey

Tony turned to one of the flight attendants who stood beside him and said, „I told him I was sorry."

I´m just indifferent right now. You don´t respect yourself, so I know you don´t respect me," said Rhodey

I respect you."

„Yeah right, Stark," Fury said, rolling his eye.

I´m just your babysitter, and so when you need your diaper changed, let me know and I´ll get you a bottle, Ok?"

Tony turned to a flight attendant.

Hey, heat up the sake, would you?"

And to Rhodey he said, „Thanks for reminding me."

„You are really unbelievable," said Pepper.

Everyone nodded their heads.

We´re not drinking were working right now."

You can´t have sashimi without sake."

You are institutionally incapable of being responsible."

It would be irresponsible not to drink, I´m just talking about a nightcap."

Hot sake?" asked a flight attendant.

Yes, two please."

We´re just I´m not drinking, I don´t want any."

The shot changed to show Rhodey and Tony on a couch drinking, with music in the background.

See that´s what I´m talking about, when I get up in the morning and I look in the mirror, and I´m putting on my uniform, You know what I recognize?"

„Do tell what do you recognize?" Clint said laughing his ass off.

„Ha-Ha-Ha," responded Rhodey.

Everyone burst out laughing

I see in that mirror that every person that´s got this uniform will have my back!" slurred Rhodey at Tony who didn´t care.

Oh, here we go again," said Tony, the camera zooming out. „I´m not like you."

No, you don´t have to be like me. But you´re more than what you are, you just don´t know it yet."

„You don´t know how right you are," said Pepper to herself.

Excuse me if I´m a little distracted here," said Tony, holding a hand to the flight attendants who were dancing with their stomachs exposed. A pole slid out of the ground and one began to dance on it.

No, you can´t be distracted right now. LISTEN TO ME!" demanded Rhodey.

„Oh, I´ve tried that, he doesn´t listen to anyone," said Pepper, turning her head, smiling at Tony.

He answered her, „Oh you wound me, honey."

„You know I love you anyway, don´t you?" answered Pepper, leaning over and kissing Tony.

Steve resisted the urge to ´Aww` at them because they were honestly made to be together.


So, I just wanted to add the Pepper and Tony scene at the end there, because I think we all deserve them right now. And I wanted to ask you a question: Should I add Thor Ragnarok and Avengers Infinity War to the story? Leave a comment if I should.