XXVIII.

Tony hovered as people were running and smoke was filling the air. A man stood in the middle of a crushed fountain and a panicked group of people who weren't sure if they wanted to run or linger now that Iron Man arrived.

"There you are," the man said with a thick accent. His hair was ragged and covering half his face that looked up at him with emotion Tony couldn't name confidently. His HUD pinged with information on the person before him's gear. He was equipped with a half-assed harness with a glowing center made to resemble his arc reactor that hung in his chest with two weapons that sizzled with energy. JARVIS implied that the whips might hold enough energy to cause his armor damage if Tony wasn't careful. JARVIS also came up empty with the facial recognition. Great. How to tackle this strange circumstance? Far away Bruce's past words came forth, something along the lines of Villains once thought non-existent would arise to combat Iron Man. It was starting to annoy him how often Bruce was right.

Draw him away from the crowd.

Tony gathered his focus, he didn't have time for a wandering mind. First, he should get the guy's complete attention.

"Here I am," Tony circled the man as his twin whips hummed ominously. "It seemed you wanted some attention."

Unless he is a skilled practitioner, using two whips means he has a lower range of motion and movement.

Bruce tells him as Tony held up his hand to blast him,

What does it matter when I can freaking fly?

The man went tumbling from the hit, somehow managing to evade hurting himself on his own weapons.

Again, quickly.

Before Tony could do that his opponent jumped up, dropped a whip and grabbed a straggler. Why the hell were they still hanging around? Why dart out at that moment in time of all things? Tony tossed him that way for a reason.

Fuck.

Bruce's grim pulse more or less said the same thing. The woman whimpered as the bastard motioned him to come forward. Begrudgingly Tony lands, watching as the man instantly knocks the woman out letting her crumple lifelessly as he flicks his wrist, the weapon crackled as it damaged Tony.

Ow, this actually hurts!

Tony yelps inwardly as he dodges the next hit. He couldn't fly or use any of his long-range attacks, not with the man practically stepping on the lady. JARVIS lets him know that at least no one else was nearby, Tony grunts at the attempt to look on the bright side.

Next time he hits, pull him towards you.

I know, I was thinking the same thing.

Sure it would hurt but he needed to separate the enemy from the hostage, Tony's suit would hold up. One needed a lot more than a little light show to put Iron Man down. The man snatched up his other whip, it dangled precariously close to the unconscious woman.

"Well? Are you just going to stand there, coward?" Some good ol' fashion taunting was bound to give results. The man's face warped into a snarl as he flung out his whip entangling Tony's arm whilst he struck with the other hand making the HUD fizzle slightly. Whips really weren't the best choice to face Tony, hostage or no hostage. Ignoring the one whip slashing at him he wrapped his arm further on the first whip and, yanked. The man stumbled forward a few paces, the woman was in the clear. Tony's enemy was quick to realize what was going on and released his weapon, lunging to grab the woman once more.

Not this time. Before the bastard could make this a stalemate Tony quickly blasted the man with a short concentrated beam. He was sent flying, Tony right behind him. With Tony's foot on his opponent's hand that was still holding the whip, Tony promptly reached down and tore free the energy source. It looked eerily like his own Arc Reactor more so than previously imagined. Looks like someone had more wits than first thought. Unless the guy had someone else make it for him.

The man wore a smile of blood, spitting it out he gargled out, "Tell Stark. I win."

Bruce, if you would?

Tony asked not trusting his ability to knock the man out without outright killing him. It was satisfying to see the bastard go limp. Now to make sure the lady was still alive.

A cheer rang out as people saw things were wrapped up. The police who had lingered till now quickly dragged the man away as Tony waited for the medics to rush in. Turns out, the woman would live. Feeling guilty he couldn't stop it before it happened he told the medics to bill all medical expenses to 'Mr. Stark.' Having JARVIS take care of the technicalities, it was the least Tony could do.

I guess it's a good thing I didn't go after all.

Tony half quipped half moped.

At least now you know you don't need me to be Iron Man.

No doubt Bruce was trying in his own way to cheer Tony but it only ticked him off.

Shut up, Bruce.

One day Tony will drive it into that surly head of his that they made the perfect team.

Bruce harrumphed, Tony tacked on an imagined arm fold. Tony stared at the alternate Arc Reactor, he'd destroy it when he got home.

You should analyze it, note its differences.

Tony didn't want to. It was a glaring offense to his before confidence that only he could create such a thing. A swarm of news people came to get a word with Iron Man.

Great, just what I needed. Hey, can you talk to them, I might say something Tony-ish and someone will figure it out.

Tony says partly sarcastic part beseechingly he just wanted Bruce to have a more proactive role in their shared identity,

Not need him eh? Tony'll show him.

He had a feeling Bruce knew about his goal but humored him regardless.

"Iron Man! Can we have a comment about what just happened?"

Bruce spoke with a gravely and mechanized voice,

"What occurred here today proved that so long as Stark is the one creating my suit, I can terminate any threat that comes forth."

That's right sing my praises, Tony thought with a giggle. A compliment from Bruce no matter how put on was still a compliment.

"That will be all."

Tony pouted,

You don't know how to work the press, do you?

Bruce lifted into the sky relinquishing control to Tony,

I let others handle the populace, Batman wasn't one for the spotlight.

Yeah? And what about 'Brucie'?

A smirk flickered into existence before leaving,

Tony wasn't sure how to interpret that but assumed Bruce dealt with the press on a higher level as his normal self.


Notes: If I learned one thing while writing this chapter, it was that I suck at action scenes.