IRON MAN 2
Chapter 1
"Let's begin…" Vision stated as he inserted the disk in. All of them settled back down and Tony said,
"Fair warning, I think I know what this one is, just remember I was dying-"
He's interrupted by Steve and some others exclaiming, "Dying!?"
Tony rolled his eyes, "I've done that plenty of times, don't look so surprised. Anyways as I was saying, during this time I was dying and was acting even more of an asshole than usual, so please don't judge me on that."
There was a short silence following the speech and finally Wanda said quietly, "I'm not going to judge you again. Seeing this told me enough that you're very different than what people say."
Tony looked taken aback and after a moment said, "Thank you. I appreciate it."
Natasha nodded in approval and looked at Clint, who sighed and said, "I'll try not to comment much but I can't say that I won't judge you."
Tony nodded, at least he'd be spared the harsh comments. Steve said nothing, just like Tony expected and he didn't ask further.
The movie started on its own,
A city was shown the text reading Moscow, Tony's voice said, "Been a while since I was up here in front of you. Maybe I'll do us all a favour and just stick to the cards. There's been some speculation that I was somehow involved in the events that occurred on the freeway and on the rooftop…"
He was the same way again interrupted by Christine Everhart who asked, "Sorry, Mr Stark, do you honestly expect us to believe that that was a bodyguard in a suit that conveniently appeared despite the fact that you sorely despise bodyguards?"
Tony's voice replied, "Yes."Christine's voice continued, "And this mysterious bodyguard was somehow equipped with an undisclosed Stark high-tech powered battle…"
The two talked back and forth as Tony dug the hole deeper, "I know that it's confusing. It is one thing to question the official story and another thing entirely to make wild accusations, or insinuate that I'm a superhero."
The camera then moved onto the inside of a building and showed the press conference on TV.
The camera then pans to an old man lying on a bed. The man calls out in a shaky voice, "Ivan."
The camera moves ahead into a darkened room and Ivan is revealed, he is a middle age man with long hair and a moustache and beard.
"Who's that?" Bruce asked Tony.
Tony answered, "That's Ivan Vanko, son of Anton Vanko. You'll see soon."
He comes towards his father crouching in front of him. Anton continues, "Vanya. That should be you."
"Wait, I've seen him or read about him somewhere," Clint frowned trying to remember.
Natasha solved his confusion, "He was there in SHIELD files until Tony deleted it."
Tony smirked, "You'll only see what I want you to see. I don't need people prying into my life."
Steve interrupted, "So that's why there was practically nothing in your file except Nat's report and something about the Arc Reactor."
Tony nodded.
Natasha winced at the mention of the report and said to the room, "The report was wrong, I'll admit it I assessed him when he was dying and it wasn't accurate at all. I'm sorry for that Tony."
Tony shakes his head, "It's too late for that."
Natasha lowered her head.
Ivan simply replies in Russian, "Don't listen to that crap."
Anton still struggling to breathe replies, "I'm sorry. All I can give you is my knowledge."
"He's going to die," Thor says, his voice slightly rough.
Anton gives another cough and his eyes close. Ivan looks distraught, there are tears shimmering in his eyes. He cradles his father's head for a moment before taking a swig from a bottle of Vodka.
"Bad move," Steve said.
Tony shook his head, "Alcohol isn't the answer but I understand, it helps you forget the grief. It isn't the best and you shouldn't do it but sometimes you can't help it."
Steve frowned in disapproval.
Tony said, "I'm not going to explain myself to you. My parents died in a car crash when I was teen. I couldn't cope."
Steve looked down ashamed at the mention of car crash, "I almost drank myself to death, Peggy was the one who stopped me."
Steve finally asked, "How did you know Peggy?"
Tony is silent for a moment before answering, "She was my godmother."
Steve, and the people in the room who knew her, are shocked, "Why-why didn't you-"
Tony interrupts knowing what Steve is going to ask, "I don't want to talk about her." He turns away showing the conversation is over leaving the rest of them with questions, but the subject is dropped.
He cries out in grief and the scene cuts to him rolling out blueprints of the arc reactor which bear the name Anton Vanko and Howard Stark.
"Hold up, hold up, I thought the Arc Reactor was only created by you." Sam asked confused.
Tony explained, "No the original Arc Reactor was designed by Howard, he didn't have the tech to advance it further so he saved everything for me. Anton Vanko and Howard created it together, they were good friends but it was found that Anton Vanko was selling weapons to Russia and was removed. Howard did give him where his credit was due but over time Anton Vanko was erased from people's minds."
James then asked, "Let me guess, now he will take revenge on you?"
Tony bitterly said, "Yeah, my father's past coming to haunt me. Nothing new in that."
Nobody knew how to react. Steve especially kept quiet though he wanted to say something he knew it wouldn't be appreciated by anyone.
As Vanko works on something wearing thick goggles and sparks fly, the camera pans to reveal a wall covered with articles of Tony's life starting from his years at MIT to the announcement of Iron Man.
"That's creepy." Bruce remarks.
Vision added, "Ivan Vanko was obsessed with getting his revenge. He studied all of Tony's life so that he could predict what Tony did next and his weaknesses."
Tony agreed, "Yeah, he was willing to do anything to get his revenge and he almost did succeed." He glanced at Rhodey and both of them remembered the fight and winced slightly.
Vanko can be seen diligently working on something with occasional shots of news articles related to Iron Man. After a few moments and snapshots of the blueprint for arc reactor his face can be seen in the glow lit up from the arc reactor he has successfully created.
"So he managed to make it," Clint observes.
"Yeah, it created some problems with the Senate but he managed to create it only because he had the original blue prints, people were trying for ages. I'm sure it will be shown anyways." Tony said.
There is a flash of white light and the scene cuts to black with a man's voice saying, "270 at 30 knots. Holding steady at 15000 feet. You are clear for exfiltration over the drop zone."
ACDC's Shoot to Thrill starts playing and 6 months later flashes across the screen.
The scene opens to reveal Iron Man standing with his back to the camera in a jet, the door opens and Tony jumps out.
He flies around in the air for a while before landing on a huge stage, with girls in skimpy clothing dancing behind him and fireworks shooting off. The crowd cheers loudly as Tony raises his arms, the camera zooms out to reveal the buildings and Stark Expo-Flushing, New York flashes on the screen.
"Oh God, that Expo was a mess," Tony groaned.
Rhodey added, "You were completely out of your mind that year. It was crazy."
Wanda curiously asked, "What happened?"
Rhodey and Tony replied in unison, "You'll see."
The camera once again focuses on Iron Man whose suit begins dismantling around him, it leaves Tony in a tuxedo facing the crowd with a smile fixed on his face. He waves and bows down, saluting them as the girls continue to dance. The crowd continues to chant Tony's name. Finally the girls finish their dance ending with a semicircle behind Tony.
"Why don't you respect women a little?" Steve asked, frowning deeply at Tony.
Tony challenged, "As I recall from older footage even Captain America had girls dancing behind him. Besides the crowd didn't care about that. Most of them were there to see the suit."
Steve opened his mouth to say something but Tony interrupted, "And for the record I do respect women, maybe not that much when I was a playboy, but I always did. That was something my mother and Peggy had ingrained in my brain."
Steve shut his mouth.
Who then loudly says, "It's good to be back. You missed me?"
A man in the crows yells, "Blow something up!"
To which Tony replies, "I missed you too. Blow something up? I already did that." He takes a pause before continuing,
"I'm not saying that the world is enjoying its longest period of uninterrupted peace in years because of me. I'm not saying that from the ashes of captivity, never has a greater phoenix metaphor been personified in human history."
"That's your ego speaking Tony. God you were a mess." Rhodey reprimanded.
Tony grimaced, "I know, it was bad."
He bowed his head, arms out. "I'm not saying that Uncle Sam can kick back on a lawn chair, sipping on an iced tea because I haven't come across anyone who's man enough to go toe-to-toe with me on my best day!"
Tony smirks but turns away as a woman in the crowd yells, "I love you Tony!"
"I can kick your ass anytime I want." Rhodey raised an eyebrow at him.
"I know that, but that time nobody had the suit. I'm not saying that nobody could even then." Tony hastily added.
He was well aware of the judging glances on him, especially those of Steve and Clint. Wanda, Sam and James weren't judging him (hopefully) and he was grateful for that.
The cheering continues. "It's not about you. It's not even about us.
"Highly unlikely," Clint comments, "Since you only care for yourself."
Tony defended, "I know that I was showing off and whatnot but my main point here, which people missed, was that everyone together could pool their resources and create a better world for the future. I was thinking about the future, because the way we were continuing then and still are now is very harmful. Bruce will understand my point here. Yes, I was showing off but my intention was also to do something for the future."
Bruce agrees, "Tony has a point. If we continue going at the rate we are, there are going to be huge problems to face later on. But Tony your ego was shining through."
Tony winced, "I know."
"It's about legacy. It's about what we choose to leave behind for future generations. And that's why for the next year and for the first time since 1974, the best and brightest men and women of nations and corporations the world over will pool their resources, share their collective vision, to leave behind a brighter future. It's not about us. Therefore, what I'm saying, if I'm saying anything, is welcome back to the Stark Expo." Another big cheer from the crowd.
"And now, making a special guest appearance from the great beyond to tell you what it's all about, please welcome my father, Howard."
Tony walks away from the stage as a video featuring Howard Stark begins playing on the screen, "Everything is achievable through technology. Better living, robust health, and for the first time in human history, the possibility of world peace. So, from all of us here at Stark Industries, I would like to personally introduce you to the City of the Future. Technology holds infinite possibilities for mankind,
Howard seemed a lot different to what Tony said, he was obviously quite older and more mature, not all the genius playboy he'd seen in the military. If Steve could say one thing about Howard, it would be that the man was willing to sacrifice and wasn't selfish.
In that respect Tony too was willing to sacrifice but it was one thing that the Accords had shown him was that Tony was selfish, caring about his own interest over what would happen to his team mates and friends. That would not change.
We can see Tony offstage doing something, a closer look reveals a blood toxicity test, the result 19%.
"Why were you-oh the Reactor had a palladium core, didn't it?" Bruce realized.
Tony nodded, "I'd tried everything but nothing worked and I had resigned myself by then."
Tony clearly is not pleased with the results but looks back at the screen where is father is almost done, "and will one day rid society of all its ills. Soon technology will affect the way you live your life every day. No more tedious work, leaving more time for leisure activities and enjoying the sweet life. The Stark Expo. Welcome."
The video ends and huge cheers erupt once again.
The scene cuts to a reporter standing outside saying, "We are coming to you live from the kickoff at the Stark Expo, where Tony Stark has just walked offstage. Don't worry if you can't make it down here tonight because this Expo goes on all year long."
"All year long?" Thor questioned.
"Yeah, but it didn't last that long." Tony shrugged.
"What happened?" James questioned.
"It went boom." Rhodey answered.
"It's an oversimplification of events, but, yes." Tony agreed.
I'm gonna be here checking out all the attractions and the pavilions and inventions from all around the world."
A/N AHH! The second story is finally here! I hope you guys enjoy this one! Do tell me what you thought and thank you for all the love and support for the previous story! The next chapter will be up on 28th May, 2021.
Until then stay safe!