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Previously: Pepper was promoted to CEO of Stark Industries a few days before the group was to head to Monaco for the Grand Prix Historique.
May 23nd, 2010 - Monaco
I took a deep breath of the sea air, smiling slightly at how… beautiful this historic city was. The old buildings crowded each side of the narrow streets, giving off an atmosphere completely different than what I was getting used to back in the United States.
I hadn't been in Europe in a very long time… Not in this century actually.
Surprisingly, I had actually missed it.
Only thing I could have lived without was –
I skid to a halt as I turned the corner, allowing a large group of overly loud and excited tourists to pass before they plowed into me.
Yeah… The amount of people around the racetrack could have been left out of the equation…
There always was the possibility of NOT going towards that 'Grand Prix' – for whatever reason they called it that way in the first place… – and visiting the quieter parts of the city instead but…
I was curious about what the race would be like.
And I had that VIP pass that Tony had promised me, which gave me access to closer seating than what was available for others.
It wouldn't be as good as the seats that Tony and Pepper would apparently have in that fancy hotel but it was better than nothing.
I hadn't regretted coming on this trip just yet.
I had even managed to keep busy for the most part on the airplane ride here – the STUPIDLY LONG airplane ride. I had spent a good part of it going over my research on palladium, for the replacement and… everything else about it. There must have been another reason for Tony to ask for help finding a replacement and I was going to figure out why.
The problem was… I wasn't anywhere closer to finding a replacement and I was running out of avenues to pursue… Maybe this was why Tony had asked for help: even he had had difficulties with coming up with an answer.
But…
That almost made me want to find it even more, just to rub it in his face and prove that he didn't know everything like he gloated about often.
Almost.
As for the other part of the flight, it was a mixture of sleeping, talking with the others, reading that Shakespeare play that was written… bizarrely and trying to not panic about being in an airplane for so fucking long!
Why did we always need to go somewhere that required us to take an airplane…?
Glancing around once more, I took in the colorful buildings, thinking that maybe it had been worth it. If only a little. I then noticed the time. Damn, the start of the race was soon. I should probably find a seat or something.
Somewhere…
From what I had gathered, there were MANY different areas to watch the race from, as much in person like the stands they had set up across the city, to some ridiculously large screens that broadcasted the events.
I had even seen some of those screens near the water, facing the boats docked there that were filled with people.
This 'Grand Prix' truly was an entire event! The excitement in the entire city was almost palpable.
I walked closer to the street that was blocked off as part of the racetrack, showing my VIP pass to the security guard who let me through without fuss.
Oh! It was pure luck I had chosen this area but the stands were facing the water. It would give me something to admire if ever I got bored of watching the race.
Or I could just leave. I would just have to wait and see what my next course of action would be.
Looking for a place to sit, I also pulled out my cell phone in case I –
Damn…
Missed text message from Pepper. I kept missing them!
Pepper
I can't believe him!
Well, that was clearly about Tony… What the fuck did he do this time? I thought they were supposed to be at the hotel. What trouble did he get into there?
Ed
What happened?
Pepper
He's driving! He's driving the racecar!
What. The. Fuck?!
He was going to be RACING? What had gotten into him? What experience does he even have racing amongst professional drivers?
Ed
He can't be serious…
Pepper
He's going to be the death of me…
Scarily enough, it could be a possibility considering the way Tony acted and the decision he made.
Hopefully he knew what the hell he was doing…
I had my doubts though.
Finally finding a seat, I flopped into it with a huff, wondering how this would go. The race itself was an enigma but now the fact that Tony was going to be one of the drivers was added into the mix.
It never was a dull moment with him apparently…
And that meant, for Pepper, that she would now be worrying about Tony for the entire race.
If I remembered correctly, it was a LONG race.
The crowd began cheering suddenly and I heard a roar of engines from far away. I guess the race had started then. It didn't take long for that noise from the engines to grow louder until it was almost deafening. I almost –
I blinked, jerking in shock as the first race car zoomed passed us, almost a blur.
That was FUCKING fast!
All the other ones were following closely behind and I thought I caught sight – very briefly – of the Stark Industries car.
Tony would be in that one most likely and he surprisingly wasn't doing horribly.
Would he really be able to keep up with the other drivers?
A couple of minutes later, the race cars sped passed us once again, just as quickly as the first time but… they seemed to be slightly more spread out.
But Tony's car was still pretty close to the front.
Damn, he may actually be good at this.
Shockingly.
The race cars sped past us several more times and, if I was counting and guessing correctly, Tony was now second in the standings.
I hated to admit it but… It was pretty impressive considering the other drivers were professionals who did this for a living.
That had been something I had found out on the airplane ride here. It still amazed me what type of careers they came up with on this side of the Gate.
I would never be able to do this though, especially considering the fact that I barely knew how to drive. I would start with just that and then… then…
I frowned, hearing a murmur go through the crowd, growing louder just as the sound of engines seemed to be getting closer again. And then I saw someone pointing at the racetrack.
My eyes widened as I finally spotted the man casually walking in the middle of the fucking track!
How the FUCK did he even get there?!
Why had no one stopped him?!
He seemed to have something in his hands and…
Not good.
I stood, noticing how those large… wires the man had in his hands sparked with electricity, the source coming from… somewhere on him apparently.
Oh… Yeah, definitely on him. The electric current was strong enough to burn off the top of his orange jumpsuit, revealing a whole mechanism that –
"Fucking shit!" I gasped out, spotting a damn good replica of Tony's arc reactor on that man's chest.
An arc reactor that seemed to be powering those… whips of electricity.
And he just used one to… SLICE a RACE CAR nearly in half!
I had to do something!
People around me were almost shoving each other to get to the exits but I needed to push past them, to head in the opposite direction, towards those fences that separated the stands from the racetrack.
I tried to keep that man in my line of sight but it was hard with all these people around me and as I tried to avoid getting elbowed in the chest and head.
"Move!" I growled out, squeezing past several tourists to get –
Another car went flying ahead of me, in pieces and…
I froze.
That – that was the Stark Industries car.
FUCK!
With renewed force, I finally made it to the first fence and, with a running jump, hauled myself over, using my concealed automail hand to push the barbed wire down and avoid getting it caught on my clothes.
Landing on the other side, I watched as the man was making his way towards the Stark Industries car, his focus solely on that one.
Of course, he was after Tony!
Just as I ran towards the second fence, I saw from the corner of my eye, another race car speed around the corner.
And I heard the screeching of brakes.
He was trying to avoid that man in the middle of the track!
My focus went to the race car and –
"SHIT!"
I dropped to the ground, behind the concrete dividers and covered my head as explosions resounded on the other side.
At least one other race car had hit the one that had been trying to stop. I didn't know how many more were in the accident…
Not good. Not good at all.
Taking a deep breath, I ignored the ringing in my ears and pushed myself up, grasping onto the second fence.
Just in time to see that man slice in the Stark Industries car once more.
"No!" I yelled out, hauling myself up.
I then spotted Tony. He came up behind the man and swung a piece of broken car at his head.
It barely fazed that asshole though!
Finally making it over the fence, I landed in a crouch as the man blocked one of Tony's punches and shoved him back with enough force that Tony stumbled to the ground.
My turn.
I ran up behind the man and jumped, giving him a swift round house kick to the head.
The problem was... He barely sidestepped from the impact.
And it had been with my automail leg!
Who the fuck was this guy?!
"How'd you even get here?" yelled out Tony as he got to his feet.
"Why were you RACING?" I yelled back as the man glanced behind him, at me, with a confused look on his face. "And who the FUCK are you?"
"My business is not with you," said the man with a heavy accent, already raising one of his whips.
"Too bad!" I replied, dodging to the side as he swung said whip around him.
Thankfully Tony moved away as well to avoid that attack.
Keeping low, I charged at the man, aiming to grab one of the parts of his… mechanism, his weapon that was attached to his body, but he was faster than I expected and side stepped out of the way, swinging a whip again.
I rolled out of the way and tried to use my momentum to kick him. It did make contact but I barely heard a grunt from him.
"Short Stuff, move!"
I didn't even look back at Tony, just doing as I was told and… something flew past me, towards the man.
Who just used his whip to slice it – a piece of a car – in half and the remains fell harmlessly to the ground.
"Who the hell did you piss of this time?" I grumbled, getting to my feet and into my fighting stance, hearing Tony move around behind me.
"Should I start carrying a list?" he replied sarcastically. "No idea who he is."
"But he somehow knows how to make an arc reactor?" I asked just as the man swung his whip down, aiming for Tony. Thankfully he jumped back when he did. "Just go!" I called out, trying to move between Tony and the man. "He's obviously after you!"
The man moved as well and swung again, faster this time, ignoring me and aiming for Tony who fell back with a grunt. I stepped between them again, running forward.
This man couldn't keep swinging those whips of his: they were way too dangerous. I needed to find a way to either rip them off or get the power source off.
Both meant I needed to get close. And this man wasn't making it easy!
He swung a whip horizontally and I ducked under it but he followed closely with the other whip, lower than the first one.
Fuck!
I used my momentum to flip forward, jumping over the second whip, landing unsteadily as I maneuvered just in time to avoid the first one again.
"Leave now, ребенок," growled out the man, aiming a kick in my direction to try and push me back.
He managed to clip me on the side and I stumbled back, cursing that I had lost a chunk of the distance I had managed to gain.
This man was definitely a fighter!
I tried again to get closer but he swung both whips now at a faster speed, one high, another vertically, duck horizontally and –
FUCK!
I flew back, hitting the ground hard and rolling several times, coming to painful stop against… something solid.
It had HURT!
Taking a deep breath, I managed to push myself up, my arms shaking slightly from the aftermath of that hit. I looked up just in time to see Tony roll aside, the whip that had been aimed at him striking the ground instead and –
A burst of flames erupted from that spot.
Shit! There was gasoline on the racetrack! This just got worse apparently!
With a growl, I stood and dashed back towards the man as he swung once again. Tony barely managed to avoid the attack, the end of the whip striking him near his feet and sending him sprawling back.
Shit!
With a running leap, I almost managed to land on the man's back but he sidestepped at the last moment. To avoid falling face first onto the asphalt, I forced my body to flip forward, using my hand to attempt to finish my summersault.
I just managed to land on my two feet as the man swung his whip.
At me.
With Tony sprawled BEHIND me.
I didn't think.
I grabbed the whip.
The electric whip.
With my holographically disguised automail arm.
Even the man had a flash of shock when I had reached for the whip.
I didn't blame him: I kind of was as well.
My hand curled around a part of the whip, while the end of it wrapped around my automail arm. Electric sparks were already dancing around and made quick work of my jacket sleeve, burning it off just like the top of the man's jumpsuit.
Then I started feeling the jolts at my port as my entire arm starting shaking.
And the holographic projectors started malfunctioning.
But…
FOCUS!
I may not have use of my arm for long!
Ignoring the bouts of pain at my shoulder, I yanked at the whip and managed to get the man off-balance. Still holding the whip, I charged forward and kneed him in the stomach before punching him with my left fist in the face.
He staggered to the side and I saw the whip fall from my automail hand – my spasming automail hand.
Shit…
I aimed a kick at him but he staggered away, raising the whips once more –
What was that noise?
He lifted one of them –
It was getting closer…
"MOVE!"
From the corner of my eye as I turned, I saw a black car speeding towards us.
Oh, fucking great!
I backflipped, landing on the hood of the car before it slammed into the man, pining him to the fence and concrete barrier and he lay motionless, sprawled across the hood.
I dented said hood and cracked the windshield…
"Who were you aiming for?!" yelled out Tony, rushing to the driver's side. "'Cause I couldn't tell!"
Groaning, I glanced to the side to see…
HAPPY!
"For him! I thought Ed heard us coming!" replied Happy in a fit.
And then I heard Pepper. "Are you out of your mind?! Both of you!" She almost sounded hysterical…
"Better security!" replied Tony in almost the same tone as her, leaning close to the back window. "And we're fine, by the way, thanks for asking!"
Pepper didn't seem to be having any of it as she continued to yell, "Get in the car!"
"We were attacked!" yelled back Tony and I groaned, leaning my head back against the car, trying to tune out their argument about security and… and…
What were those mechanical sounds?
Looking up, I spotted whatever was on the man's body begin to readjust itself and –
He was actually GETTING UP?!
FUCK! HOW?!
I didn't stop to ponder that very important question as I scrambled to my feet just as the man snapped his whip on the passenger side of the car. I faintly heard something break before I slammed into him, grabbing one forearm and pining it against the fence while…
Not now!
My automail was barely responding and the man quickly swung his whip again before I maneuvered my body to pin his other arm.
"You can't win this fight!" I growled out, trying to keep my feet from slipping on the hood of the car, to not give this asshole free reign to continue to use his whips. "Just give up already!"
The man laughed – he LAUGHED! – spitting blood at me before –
I cursed, groaning as I slid down slightly, my grip on his right arm slacking as I tried to ignore the throbbing in my head.
That asshole had the nerve to head butt me!
I heard a whip crack to my left and I regained my footing, grabbing his arm once again.
All the while, the three adults behind me would not stop yelling! Mainly at each other on top of that!
"Somebody do something!" I yelled back at them and I faintly saw something red get tossed out of the car and onto the ground.
Finally!
When Tony had mentioned creating a portable version of his suit back when we had been attacked in New York City, he hadn't wasted much time getting it started.
Thankfully he had finished it the day before we flew here!
The new Iron Man suit was being assembled from the suitcase as I struggled to keep the man pinned against the fence. The problem was, he probably noticed that Tony had gotten his suit and was thrashing even more, trying to get free.
"Get off the car!" called out Tony and it took me a moment to realize he was actually talking to me.
Readjusting my footing, I managed to give a swift knee kick to the man's stomach before diving off the hood, rolling away as I did.
I turned around in time to see Tony actually KICK the car away and raise an arm, charging one of his repulsors, aiming it at the man.
Apparently, all that beating wasn't too much for the man as he was quick to swipe at Tony with a whip, knocking the raised arm away.
Damn it. He just wouldn't give up!
Well… Neither would I.
Even with my automail now hanging uselessly at my side, I still got to my feet and shifted into a fighting stance, looking for an opening to –
There!
Just as the man knocked Tony aside, I sprinted closer, actually managing this time to jump onto his back. I could feel the heat and some shocks from the device he was wearing but I focused on keeping a hold of him, my good arm wrapped tightly around his neck as my legs tried to stay anchored.
I managed to stay on for a bit longer before he raised his arms and grabbed me quickly and tightly.
Even if I tried to hold on –
It was too quick for me to do anything about it.
And he flung me over his shoulders.
Hard.
I was airborne, heading in I didn't know which direction. I tried to turn my body to –
I slammed hard into something.
Crumpling to the ground.
Automail pinned awkwardly underneath me.
And… pain.
It just hurt…
Blearily opening my eyes… I could somewhat make out… That was Tony.
Electric sparks around him.
Those whips…
I shifted slightly, trying to get my functioning arm under me.
Tony was getting closer to the man. Still sparks. More…
Deep breath. Another.
Get up.
The man was tossed to the floor, the whips falling to the ground.
My arm was shaking as I slowly pushed myself up, watching as Tony bent down and tore…
The arc reactor.
It was over.
I flopped into a sitting position, my breathing heavy as I tried to ignore the throbbing emitting from… everywhere it seemed.
What I could only assume were the police crowded onto the racetrack, beelining directly towards the man. Several of them grabbed him, lifting him and…
Was he LAUGHING?!
That motherfucker was actually laughing!
"You lose!" he cackled, spitting out blood towards Tony, the biggest of smiles on his face. "You lose!"
He just continued to repeat that over and over as the police officers dragged him away.
What a psychopath…
"Are you okay?"
I glanced to the side where Pepper was kneeling next to me, looking shaken and worried.
"Fine," I grumbled, shifting slightly and trying to ignore some bits of pain from several different areas of my body. "No hospital before you even suggest it," I added as an afterthought.
Pepper sighed beside me and I caught her massaging her face in exasperation.
"How about you?" I asked before she could start on a long tirade of why I should go to a hospital or just see a doctor.
"The two of you may be the death of me," she sighed. "But Happy and I are fine."
I nodded, breathing deeply as I raised my gaze to… to…
Oh. Fuck.
Not. Good.
Absolutely. Horrible.
This was what I got for NOT thinking things through.
People.
CAMERAS.
Staring directly in our direction.
They witnessed everything.
The race was broadcasted across the world.
The WORLD saw everything.
I –
"Why didn't you grab his arc reactor?" asked Tony and I jerked in surprise, biting back a groan as pain shot up my body before I pulled my gaze away from the crowd and looked up at him, processing the question.
I… I honestly didn't have an answer to that. "Only functioning arm was busy," I managed to come up with as an excuse but… it would have made more sense to just take away his power source when I had had the chance.
Stupid…
Even with the helmet on, I could feel his gaze on me before he finally nodded. "Last arc reactor you yanked out had been with that prosthetic of yours."
I slowly nodded before my gaze fell behind him once again, at the crowd that was almost openly gaping at us. "Can – can we leave?" I wondered softly, shifting slightly to try to hide my automail but I knew the damage had been done.
Tony and Pepper followed my gaze and I saw Pepper take a deep breath. "We'll have some explaining to do," she remarked.
"Welcome to celebrity status, Short Stuff."
Fuck…
And the proverbial cat is now out of the bag! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Let me know what you thought! :D
