Summary: Loki loves making life difficult for Tony Stark and the rest of the Avengers. While debriefing with Director Fury after their most recent mission, the lights go out, but when they turn back on, the group is surprised to see a box with a DVD labeled 'IRON MAN.' The team comes to realize they can't leave until they watch the movie. Tony is not happy.
A/N: Hello! Here is a sneak peak at new story #1. I tried posting this once already but the format was incorrect, so I apologize. I will start regularly posting for this story once I'm further along in the writing process, but I couldn't help myself. Please enjoy and comment what you think.
The mission wasn't difficult.
Get in, destroy the weapons, stop the operation, wrangle up the bad guys, and get out. It was easy, and it had gone smoothly. No one was hurt, barely even a scratch. They left the scene once SHIELD arrived, leaving the prisoners in their mostly capable hands. They boarded the Quinjet, and this time, Tony tagged along, even though he usually flies off on his own. Clint was flying, and since no one was seriously injured, they all agreed to go back to the helicarrier and debrief with Director Fury before returning to the tower.
The rest of the team took their seats, still in their uniforms, or in Tony's case, his armor. When he sat down and removed his helmet, it was obvious to Steve that he hadn't slept or eaten much. Everyone knew it; he was always in his lab, working on improving his suits or upgrading their weapons. As much as Steve was grateful for all Stark did for them, he wished the man took better care of himself. He never nagged him about it too much, though. Although they were much better friends than before the Battle of New York, they still argued every now and then. Tony Stark is a very difficult person to get along with, and he can be quite rude without even realizing it. So Steve avoids quarrels with him as much as possible, and if that means giving him space and letting him lock himself in his lab, then so be it.
He still hates it though.
He hates that he doesn't know anything about Howard Stark's son, and he also hates how different Tony is than his father. Howard was a good man, not that Tony isn't. I mean, he flew a nuke into a wormhole and saved all of New York, but he was just irritating. He always has to be right, and even though he is most of the time, it still gets on Steve's nerves. He's unbelievably stubborn, and has zero self preservation skills. He seems to know everything about everyone, yet no one knows a damn thing about him. Steve knows Stark doesn't read the more personal parts of the team's files, just the basic knowledge. In fact, everyone on the team has read each other's SHIELD file, but there is absolutely nothing revealing how Tony became Iron Man, or how he got the arc reactor. He knows better than to ask, after seeing the man's reaction when he asked him about Howard, he wouldn't even dream of it.
"JARVIS, baby, tell the Cyclops we'll be in the conference room in about 10 minutes."
Steve is shaken from his thoughts when he hears Tony's voice in the Quinjet. He's surprised to see that they've already arrived on the Helicarrier, and stands with the rest of his team as they exit the jet.
10 Minutes Later:
"The weapons not brought in for examination were destroyed, Director. There were no casualties, either. SHIELD agents came and cleaned up once the objective was completed. I'd say it went very smoothl-"
"Are we boring you, Mr. Stark?" Fury cut off Steve just before he finished giving his verbal report, eyeing the billionaire who was seated at the end of the conference table, tapping away at his phone.
"Nope; weapons destroyed, no casualties. I was there, you know." He says without even looking up from his phone, completely ignoring the gazes of his team mates.
Steve's had enough. He does this after every mission; it wouldn't kill him to be responsible for one god damn hour.
"We know you were there. Which is why you need to be paying attention, Stark. Just because you think you can do whatever you want, doesn't mean you have the right to be downright rude and se-"
Steve is cut off yet again when the lights flicker once, then completely fade out, leaving the group in darkness. Steve can hear Natasha, Clint, and Fury drawing their weapons. Banner is most likely still sitting quietly, but he can't tell in the dark. The only light in the room is the glow of Tony's arc reactor through his T-Shirt, having removed the armor a few minutes ago.
"Really Stark?! What the hell did you do?"
"What?!" The billionaire's voice sprang through the darkness, obviously on the defensive, "This wasn't me!"
This time, it's Director Fury who speaks, but he's speaking into his com, not to the Avengers.
"Hill? Do you copy?"
No answer.
He's about to try again when the lights flicker back on, revealing the group of heroes, tense and ready for an attack at any second. They're almost surprised when there is none.
"Hill?" When there is still no response, Nick grunts and turns to face the rest of the group, "Powers back, but the coms aren't working. Something is going on, so if this was you, Stark, you better speak up now."
"It wasn't me, I already told you. Don't get your panties in a twi-"
"Hey, when did that get there?" All eyes turn to Clint, following his gaze to a brown cardboard box sitting in the middle of the table. "That wasn't there before, right?"
"No, it wasn't." Natasha responds and raises her gun again, aiming it at the box in question. The group exchanges a few glances, silently debating who's going to open it. When everyone turns to look at Clint, he sighs and throws his hands up.
"Fine, I'll open it." He turns to Natasha as he steps closer to the box, "If something jumps out at me, please shoot it, and if you can, try to avoid shooting me."
She smirks and raises an eyebrow, but gives an assuring nod as the archer reaches towards the flaps, slowly and cautiously opening them up.
"The fuck?" Everyone in the room tenses as Clint reaches into the box.
"What is it?" Steve sounds a little weary, but quickly hides it with his Captain America tone.
Clint raises the object out of the box, revealing what appeared to be a DVD case.
"Apparently, Iron Man." This raises a few eyebrows as everyone leans in to inspect the case. There are four recognizable faces on the cover; Tony, the Iron Man armor, Pepper, and Rhodey. There's another man in the center, but no one seems to recognize him except Tony, Natasha, and Fury.
All eyes fall off the case and to Tony, who has just become the purple elephant in the room. He's slightly paler, but he still has that snarky look on his face, even if it is sprinkled with layers on confusion.
"Why do you all keep looking at me!"
"There's more," They look back at Barton who has pulled a note out of the bottom of the box.
"Oh no."
"Read it." Steve orders, and Barton hesitantly complies.
"Dear Avengers,
I do hope you'll enjoy your gift. I made it special for you, so you can all see the man you think you know, for who he truly is. You might be asking why? It's a very good question, and the answer is simple: It will break him. This is not a trick, I guarantee you that, but you will not be allowed to leave this room until the movie has been completed. Should you feel the need to talk and converse amongst yourselves about the events in said film, the disk will automatically pause. This is to ensure no one misses a single detail. Pay good attention, Avengers. Watch him break.
Loki."
When Clint finishes reading, no one says anything for at least a full minute.
"…How is that possible?" Natasha looks to Thor, who is now standing and clutching Mjolnir with white knuckles. "I thought you said Loki was in Asgardian prison?"
"He is. Or he was, perhaps. I do not know, I have not been home in a long while. It is possible my brother has managed to escape. I… apologize."
"Rogers, try the door." Fury barks, obviously fed up with Loki and his games.
"No! Do not touch-"
Thor is cut off as Steve is thrown back by a blast of green magic. He lands with an "oomf," on the floor, but is completely unharmed.
"What the hell was that?" Clint turned to Thor this time, while Natasha helped the super soldier stand.
"Loki's instructions; we cannot leave until we view the film." He turns to face Tony, who has been unusually quiet, "I am sorry, Man of Iron, but it seems we have no choice."
"I hate magic," He grumbles, rolling his eyes and sinking back into his chair.
The next thing they know, they've all pulled their chairs around the monitor in the conference room. Everyone is a bit anxious to watch the film, except Tony, who is sitting with his arms crossed over his chest. He looks completely annoyed, which he is, but on the inside there's nothing but panic. Judging by the cover, he has somewhat of an idea of what this movie might be about, and he is not happy about it at all.
"Everyone ready?" Clint asks as he slips the DVD in. When everyone nods, except Tony who is still sulking, he presses play. "Dirt on Stark," he smirks, "This is going to be so good."
"Just shut up and let's get this over with, Barton." Tony is definitely not looking forward to this.