NOTE* Just a warning, things won't be going according to the movie/comics plot. I will be adjusting the storyline for my own purposes, so don't freak out on me, Kay? Thanks and Enjoy!
Chapter Two:
The Avengers
Toni shifted nervously in the back of her limo as Happy drove towards the Shield Helicarrier that she had personally designed. As per their agreement, Toni would design for them specific tech (at her own discression of course) and provide them a descent amount of funding if they in turn gave her complete access to shield databases and allowed her to design things according to her own standards, no matter what they wanted (though with the promise of taking their requests into consideration.)
Shield happily accepted.
Then again, it helped that she also happened to be the daughter of the founder of shield (Howard's pet project) and the lead holder of their stock, making her one of the owners of shield, along with a few other wealthy and powerful individuals. This information though was undisclosed even to Fury, who seemed to be under the impression that the council were the ones pulling the strings. She was quite happy to let him continue thinking such a thing. It only meant she had something to use should Fury ever try to pull the wool over her eyes.
She wasn't exactly happy with Fury right now. He had, after all, gone behind her back and spied on her. He also had cured her without her permission (though she was actually okay with this one), and he had made her a "consultant" to the Avengers initiative team he was constantly droning on about day after day.
She disliked the word consultant, but then again, she found it oddly amusing that she, one of the owners and biggest supporters of shield, had been considered "not recommended" for a positon on the team, though her counterpart had. She decided to let this go though, in order to face things with a more…neutral attitude.
That being said, it didn't stop her from being absolutely nervous about meeting the Avengers for the first time. Sure, she had met Natasha and heard everything there was to know about Steve Rogers, but she hadn't really met the team. She couldn't wait to speak to Bruce Banner about all his scientific theories (So sue her, she is a fangirl of his) and to see the one and only Hawkeye up close and in person. She had heard of his ace shot and truly wanted to see if it was as dead-on as the legends claimed it to be.
Then of course there was Thor, the asgardian prince and his brother Loki. The two of them had apparently had some rough patches, but the two were now Avengers through and through.
Then there was Captain America. God how she hated him growing up, but now…well, she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He was the sole reason her father had hated her, but she couldn't exactly lay the blame on Steve. He had, after all, been technically dead while frozen beneath the ocean, through no fault of his own.
"Toni", Happy stated, interrupting her thoughts, "we have arrived boss."
Toni smiled thankfully at him before turning once again to the helicarrier before her. The thing was massive and it made her proud to know she had been the one who built it. It was truly a work of art.
"Ms. Stark", a man said, approaching her from the craft. The man looked to be in his mid-thirties with black well-groomed hair and tanned skin. His eyes were hidden behind sunglasses as he peered at her, his mouth set in a grim line.
He stuck his hand out and she grasped it, shaking it firmly before letting go.
"You must be agent Coulson?" she asked curiously.
"I am. Director Fury sent me to meet and guide you through the ship to the conference room."
Toni smirked.
"You know I built this thing right?" she asked waving to indicate the craft around them, "I think I know my way around."
The man seemed unfazed by her declaration and merely shrugged, before starting up the ramp. Toni just huffed a laugh and followed behind.
When the two reached the third floor, he stopped outside the elevator.
"Here is your pass Ms. Stark", he said handing her a badge, "The director has requested you join him on his left side when you walk in. Also Ms. Stark, he wanted me to warn you and I quote, "not to make a show-horse of yourself".
Toni just smirked and took the badge, pinning it to her blouse before moving towards the double doors at the end of the hall.
"You should know of me already Agent Coulson", she called smiling, "I am always up for a show."
Coulson watched her vanish down the hall before a small smile crossed his features.
"Don't I know it", he whispered before turning to leave.
AVNGRS
Toni burst through the doors of the meeting room, ignoring the surprised, confused, and somewhat irritated looks being shot her way by those in attendance before sauntering up to Fury and collapsing into the chair at his left, hiking her boots up onto the table in front of her. With her legs outstretched and her hands behind her head, she grinned.
"What did I miss?" she asked.
Everyone stared at her. She glanced at Fury and smirked when she saw him shaking his head and squeezing the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
"Ms. Stark…", he started.
"Toni, please", she interrupted.
Fury sent her a glare before sighing and looking to the other members of the team.
"Avengers, this is Antoinette Stark, daughter of Howard and Marie Stark."
Toni grinned and waved, opting to stay silent. She was curious of their reactions and didn't want to spoil hearing what they said.
"That, is the Ironman I have heard so much about?" Loki spat, his eyebrow cocked in something close to curiosity and disbelief, "A woman?"
Toni glared at him before a snicker escaped another member. She watched curiously as Bruce Banner stood up and rounded the table to greet her. She smiled and eagerly shook his hand.
"Bruce Banner", he replied as an introduction, "Toni Stark?"
"The one and only", she replied with a wide grin, "I am a huge fan of yours, Dr. Banner. You and the big green guy."
Banner blinked, his face reddening in embarrassment.
"Err…thanks?" he whispered.
Toni just smiled as they both returned to their seats. She noticed Natasha smirking at her. The two of them had gotten rather close since the whole "I spy on you, you spy on me" thing. She knew Nat wasn't the least bit surprised by her showy entrance.
Turning her attention to Steve Rogers, she noted his critical and disapproving look. No doubt, they would go around and around. He just looked like the ultimate kill-joy in human form.
A throat being cleared drew her attention back to the two gods.
"Nice to meet you point-break", she said smiling.
Thor looked utterly confused by the nickname but nodded back to her. Loki however smirked and then caught her eye.
"You too Rudolph", she stated with an innocent smile.
The younger god did not look amused.
"Now that we have introductions out of the way", Fury started, sending a pointed glare at Toni who held her hands up in surrender, "we should get this meeting started."
Toni tried to listen, she really did, but she couldn't help the yawns that came with every word the director said. She could tell he was getting frustrated with her, but she ignored it as she usually did, taking instead the opportunity to study her new companions more closely.
Thor and Loki Odinson, two princes of Asgard, as well as two magical beings with an incredible amount of power, strength, and will. While Thor she would describe as an overeager puppy, someone wanting nothing more than to make everyone on the planet happy; Loki she would describe more as a laid-back cat. A cat that stayed well-groomed, liked to be alone, and loved causing mischief. Then again, his name was Loki, god of mischief and lies. It made perfect sense.
Beside them sat Natasha in her usual black leather getup and gorgeous red hair (No, Toni was not jealous…much).
Next to Natasha was an empty chair. Hmm… obviously Clint Barton aka Hawkeye hadn't been able to get away for the day. She wondered what he was doing at this very moment.
Shaking herself from that line of thinking, as she knew she could contemplate his current status for ages because of her natural curiosity, she instead turned to look at Bruce Banner and Steve Rogers. Both were listening intently to the Director, though Bruce looked more bored then Steve who sat ramrod straight. That had to kill his back, she thought to herself with a frown.
"Stark, did you hear me?" the director asked.
Toni blinked and realized everyone was now staring at her. Uh…what had he said?
Fury must have noticed her blank expression because he sighed for what had to be the millionth time today and repeated his question.
"Based on what we know about the enchantress and this man, Thanos, what do you think would be the probability of our stopping him as a team?"
Toni blinked and looked around at the others, all curiously waiting for her opinion.
"Err… I think," she hesitated. She had read all about Thanos and the enchantress last night, but could she give a probability such as that? There weren't enough speculated or even proven facts for such a hypothetical conclusion. As if sensing her thoughts, Bruce came to her aid.
"I doubt she could do that Director. We don't know enough about the two to really have any idea what we will be up against. Only thing we can go off of is the information Thor and Loki have provided, which I apologize, but it isn't much."
"I agree", Toni immediately answered.
Fury looked deep in thought.
"I suppose not", he admitted, "Well then I need more information people. I don't care how you do it, but find out what you can. This meeting is dismissed. Rogers, hang back."
Steve gave a quick nod. The rest of the avengers began picking up their stuff when Fury grabbed Toni's arm. She glanced up at him curiously.
"We need to talk Stark", he stated calmly, though his good eye peered at her seriously.
Toni nodded and smiled. "Whatever you say, Me Hearty".
He glared at her for the pirate reference as she snickered and turned away, watching the others file out of the room until only she, Fury, and Steve Rogers remained.
"Steve", Fury stated, "I wanted to personally introduce you to your new second in command."
Both Steve and Toni blinked before their mouths fell open simultaneously.
"My what!" "His what!"
They both shouted at the exact same time. Fury just grinned.
"Your second in command", he repeated, "Steve has been made the official leader of the Avengers. I discussed with the council, as well as Natasha, and several other higher ranking members of shield about who would make a good second, in case Steve here got injured or killed in battle. Surprisingly, they chose you Stark."
"But I…" Toni started, not even knowing what to say, "I am just a consultant!"
"Not anymore you're not", Fury barked, "Full Avenger starting now."
Steve and Toni continued to gape at the director who looked infuriatingly smug.
"I don't understand, I would have though Natasha would have been chosen as second", Toni stated in a whisper.
"I would have chosen her to be, yes", Fury stated with a nod, "but it does make sense for you to be the second. Without a doubt, Steve here has the best skills to be a commander on the battlefield, but your ironman with an eye in the sky, able to see everything going on. You run a company and you have Jarvis to assist you. You are also a proven genius. All of these added up to us considering you to be the second best choice for leader."
Fury wasn't about to tell her that he also thought she would make a good second. In fact, if Steve wasn't here, he would have chosen her to be leader. She may not realize it personally, but he and most others who spent enough time around the real Toni Stark could see her amazing ability to draw people together. It was this hidden personality that made her exactly what they needed. The problem often times, was getting past the thick mask she wore for the public and those she didn't know or trust in order to get to the real Toni deep inside.
"Also, starting next week the Avengers will be living with you in your tower."
Toni and Steve again, gaped at the director like he was crazy.
"You have got to be kidding me", she screamed, "You can't just…"
"This is not a request", he stated firmly, though they both knew she could turn it down if she truly wanted to.
Toni just glared at him before sighing. Toni Stark didn't do anything she didn't want to do, but she honestly felt maybe their coming would be for the best. Maybe then, she wouldn't be so alone…
"Alright, they can come", she stated, still glaring at the director, but they both knew the glare was hardly hateful, "just remind them who owns it, yeah?"
"Of course", he replied with a smug grin, much to her annoyance.
Steve just continued to gape.
"See you in a week spangles", she called, patting him gently on the shoulder as she strolled past.
Fury and Steve watched her walk out before Steve turned back to the director.
"You have got to be kidding me!" he yelled, "she doesn't take anything seriously and she…!"
"Enough Rogers", Fury barked, "It has already been decided. Toni Stark is your second in command, your lieutenant in other words. I suggest you make an effort to get to know and understand her. For both of your sakes."
Steve turned stone face as he gave a sharp nod and headed out the door.
"And Steve…" the director called.
Captain America turned with a glare.
"Word to the wise. Do not bring up Howard more than you absolutely have to", he stated and then turned and walked away.
Don't bring up Howard? Steve wondered to himself, but why? Whatever the reason, he was certain to find out soon.
AVNGRS
Toni hadn't wasted any time in setting up a place for the Avengers in her tower. She had immediately began designing the floors to meet their needs and she had done so while taking everything they might require into consideration.
The tower consisted of thirty floors. The first fifteen were for SI offices, but the top fifteen were for the Avengers and herself, as well as Pepper Potts, her personal assistant and newly made CEO of SI who often lived with her while in New York, which wasn't often as Pepper traveled a lot for business reasons to and from, all over the world. Toni's personal living quarters is on the fifteenth floor. Her personal lab is in the basement, along with another lab she had built just for Bruce Banner.
The sixteenth floor is Pepper's personal floor for when she does stay in New York and the seventeenth floor is Bruce Banners with his own personal hulk out room.
The eighteenth floor is Steve Roger's, the nineteenth floor is Loki's, the twentieth floor is Thor's, the twenty-first floor is actually a gymnasium for all of them to use. The twenty-second floor is a firing range and weapons testing area.
The twenty-third floor is another lab specifically for medical emergencies and whatnot. The twenty-fourth floor was Natasha's and the twenty fifth floor with a personal fire escape up to the roof, was Clint Barton's who she knew needed a lot of freedom and loved high places.
The twenty-sixth floor was purely a guest floor in case of visitors, the twenty-seventh floor was an interrogation unit for any "guests" they had that were not of the friendly sort, and then the twenty-eighth floor was a storage unit of sorts. Honestly, Toni just threw random things into that floor when she wanted to keep stuff but didn't know what to do with it. It wasn't often she went in there and she honestly couldn't remember what it had in it now.
Then there were the last two floors of the tower. The twenty-ninth and thirtieth floors. The twenty-ninth floor was under lock and key. She knew what was in there, but she didn't want anyone else seeing what was inside. The thirtieth floor however was purely for the Avengers and definitely not for herself. It was a common room floor where everyone could have breakfast, lunch, or dinner together if they wished (though they all have their own kitchens) and it also contained a mass media area and a staircase that led to the roof.
The roof itself was rather grand. At the top was a patio filled with chairs and tables and then a large pool with a mini bar. Definitely more for them than her, but she made sure to place plenty of cover up there in the form of both umbrellas and a glass convertible roof should it rain. Yeah…she didn't spare any expenses.
"I can tell you're excited", laughed Pepper from the table where she was going over paperwork, "I don't think I have ever seen you put so much time and effort into a project in a long time."
Toni shrugged.
"I just want them to like it here."
Pepper nodded, a sympathetic smile on her face. Toni hated pity and sympathy more than most things, so she pointedly ignored the look. She wanted people to like her, not feel bad for her.
"I am sure they will love it Toni", she stated with a smile.
Toni sighed and smiled back. "Thanks Pep."
Pepper nodded as she stood up and stretched.
"Well, I better get going. I have a meeting in a few minutes downstairs and you have to go pick the Avengers up in about twenty, right?"
"Yeah, Happy just went to get the car."
Pepper nodded as she started towards the elevator.
"Toni…"
"Yeah Pep?" she asked glancing at her friend.
"Just…be yourself, okay?"
Toni stared at her a moment before a small smile graced her face.
"I will try", she promised.
"That's all I ask", Pepper whispered and vanished into the elevator.
"J", Toni said as she grabbed her suit jacket from the kitchen chair, "what do you think about the Avengers coming to live here?"
"I think it might be a change Ma'am", he replied evenly.
Toni sighed and sent him a weak glare. "Gee, you are such a help", she stated sarcastically, "Then again, maybe your right. Maybe a change is exactly what is needed around here."
"Maybe so, Ma'am", her AI agreed.
Toni only hoped she was doing the right thing, as she started down the elevator to where Happy waited with the car.
AUTHORS NOTE:
You know, I was going to write more for this chapter, but time didn't work out, so here is what I have so far. Look for the new chapter to come some time in the next couple days or so. Enjoy and let me know your thoughts!