Chapter Twenty-Four: Conversations
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Tony's expression was a mask of calm indifference. He knew this was the case because even though there was apparently a lot he couldn't recall about his training and upbringing, he absolutely did remember his lessons in concealing and feigning emotions. The look he gave Fury now was unreadable.
Internally, his mind was a whirl of calculations.
Probability that Fury meant his hacker identity when referencing the Mechanic: 82%.
Time it would take to close the remaining distance between him and his uninvited guest: 3.1 seconds.
If he took the additional 1.7 seconds to detour to the nearest loveseat, he could potentially use a throw pillow to create a diversion. Said pillow would cause little damage and was unlikely to cause a sufficient diversion to aid him against a man as highly trained as the current director of SHIELD. Tony ruled it out as an option.
No, his best course of action would be to close in on the man directly, making the use of any firearm or ranged weapon less effective. Probability that the man had a concealed weapon at the small of his back, judging by his profession and the manner in which he carried himself: 97.3%. Equally high probability of other weapons concealed in shoulder and thigh harnesses and within the boots.
The trench coat, while obviously reinforced to double as lightweight body armor, could also be used––
"If you don't mind taking a short breather from cataloging ways to kill me," Fury drawled, "I'm sure we'd both prefer to keep things civil."
Which was… probably less expected than it should have been. After all, the man was a spy, surrounded by spies, assassins, and others well-versed in such arts. Tony was confident his expression had remained inscrutable. That very fact was probably what had given him away, actually.
Damn.
"Go ahead. I can multitask," Tony replied easily. He had no intention of killing the man, of course, but figured that was a matter of semantics.
The corner of Fury's mouth turned up briefly. "I'm sure you can," he agreed before finally moving the conversation along. "Straight to the point, then. It turns out that two of my best agents are part of a set. I came to see what I need to do to complete my collection."
Tony shook his head. "That's really how you want to put it? Like you're collecting a bunch of knickknacks?"
"I was thinking more along the line of action figures."
"Right. Either way, I'm not interested," Tony informed him. "Thanks for dropping by. Feel free to let yourself out."
"Just like that?" Fury asked, sounding unsurprised. "You haven't even heard my offer."
For a long moment, Tony just stared at the man, deliberating how best to respond. There were only two options, really. He could be honest or he could tell Fury it was none of his business.
Then again, two of his friends worked for the man. Which left him only one true option.
"I have no interest getting in bed with someone who doesn't know what's happening under his own roof."
It was the director's turn to give a long stare. "Is that so?" It wasn't a question. "Why don't you enlighten me. Is this in any way related to whatever Barton and Romanoff have been looking into with you?"
"You noticed," said Tony, moving forward enough to lean against the corner of the loveseat. "I must be slipping or something."
Fury scoffed. "'Or something.' You don't strike me as the sort that's prone to slipping."
"I don't think you know enough about me to make that assessment, do you?"
"It's the fact that we don't know much about you that I make it," the spy asserted. "Enough word games. You just implied that you know something about my organization that I don't know. If you're even half the hacker genius Coulson seems to think you are, I'm inclined to believe you. So, out with it."
"SHIELD has an infestation. Or more of a cancer, really. It's been growing for decades, probably from the start," Tony declared.
"And does this cancer have a name?" Fury asked, starting to sound at the end of his patience.
"Hydra."
"You expect me to believe that SHIELD has been secretly infiltrated by an organization that was taken down in World War II."
"Believe what you want," Tony shrugged. "Doesn't change the fact that it's true."
"And how exactly did you come by this information?" Fury asked.
"I'm not obligated to share that with you," replied the brunet. "In fact, I think I've shared more than enough."
"Yet you expect me to take your word on it."
"Absolutely not. I expect you to take it with great skepticism and suspicion until you've had the chance to look into it and discover I'm right," Tony said.
The director inclined his head, even as he gave Tony an appraising look. "Who are you?" he asked.
"Who else knows about me?" Tony countered.
"That you exist? Quite a few, many of them in our cyber security department," the other man responded. "That you and Stark look like identical twins? That I'm aware, myself, Agents Coulson and Hill, and your two pals. And whoever else you might have informed."
"You expect me to believe that's all?"
"Believe what you like," Fury threw back at him. "Now, are you going to tell me who you are or not?"
"It's as you said, Director: I'm the Mechanic," Tony replied. "Now, get out of my house before I decide to remove you." (Probability that he could follow through with minimal difficulty and property damage: 68%.)
Either Fury was actually done with the conversation or he hadn't wanted to test Tony, the result was the same. Fury left. Tony went downstairs to bring JARVIS back online, exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
He wasn't sure which 'Mechanic' he'd been referring to with his answer.
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Tony brought JARVIS back online then worked on improving his security until he fell asleep where he sat. He woke some hours later buried beneath every blanket and moderately soft object the workshop had to offer with a fire extinguisher tucked next to his face and a rather impressive collection of partially full mugs and power bars within reach. Across from him sat Arno, an amused expression on his face as he took in the scene.
The other man's amusement quickly fell away when Tony filled him in on his encounter with Director Fury. "JARVIS' security should be a lot tighter now," Tony said, tearing open a power bar, "but it would probably be good if you took a look, as well."
"I'll get right on that," Arno agreed seriously, raising a brow as Tony practically inhaled two power bars without really pausing between them. "I'll get Jarv to order in some food while you grab a shower and a change of clothes."
"Rude," Tony accused, knocking over several couch cushions as he turned his chair and proceeded to dig his way out of the blankets. "I'll have you know I smell fresh as a daisy."
"T, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you clearly need to have your nose checked."
Laughing as he went, Tony went off to shower and find a change of clothes. By the time he came back down, Arno had relocated the cushions and blankets to the couch frame and pizza had arrived. Tony grabbed himself a piece before plopping down in a vacant seat near the desk.
"You think that Fury guy will be a problem?" Arno asked, glancing up from the code on the monitor.
Tony shrugged. "I have no idea. Most likely, he'll take his time looking into my claim, see if he can track down any proof," he opined. "Probably'll try to locate more info on me, as well. At that point, he might try to recruit me again. Depends what he manages to find."
"You don't think he'll reveal that you've been body doubling for me?" the billionaire questioned.
"I honestly can't see how that would benefit him. He's a spy, they like to play things close to the vest," pointed out Tony. "It doesn't matter as far as my security goes. Hydra already knows where I am. Could make things difficult for you if it came out, though."
"I'm not worried about me," said Arno.
"Yeah, you never are," Tony replied, finishing off his slice of pizza.
"Categorically untrue," his friend contradicted. "I'm basically in love with myself. It's been documented."
"By gossip rags, maybe," he scoffed. "As someone who is actually acquainted with you, I happen to know that not only are you far too trusting, but you care a lot more about other people than you do yourself."
"I'm an arrogant, self-serving bastard and you know it," Arno jokingly declared.
"Well, you're right about the arrogance, at least," Tony teased.
The billionaire threw back his head and laughed. "Now, who's rude?" he shook his head as he finished up going over Tony's latest update to JARVIS' code. "I don't think you've missed anything I wouldn't have thought of, here. What do you think, Jarv? Feeling secure?"
"As secure as I have ever been, sir," JARVIS replied.
"I dunno, J, I'm still thinking we ought to give you a taser or something."
"Considering one of you or Mr. Barton would be the ones most likely to trigger such a measure, that seems somewhat inadvisable."
Arno gave an amused snort.
"You've got a point there," Tony conceded, though he privately thought Clint would be the only one truly likely to get accidentally tasered by their AI. Instead, he turned his attention back to Arno to ask, "So, you ready to see what I've been working on these last few weeks?"
"Yes," Arno answered without hesitation, making Tony grin. "Finally."
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To be continued...