Authoress Note: Welcome to Chapter 3 of As the World Falls Down. Thank you to those who have left reviews for this story. It really does mean a lot to me that you guys are enjoying it and keeping up with it. There is a bit of a time skip in this chapter, which hopefully you won't mind too much. I'll try my best to make it up with my writing of this chapter. I hope that you guys enjoy this chapter. Without further ado Chapter 3. Enjoy!
Chapter 3
Time had passed and there was no sign of finding Tony alive and it was beginning to tear everyone apart, from Pepper, to Obadiah, to Rhodey, and finally to Tony's little sister. It had made the tensions run high.
They ended up having a talk about the search for Tony was now coming to a close. But it caused turmoil for everyone in the room.
Pepper and Alexia watched Obadiah and Rhodey in the deep conversation.
Obadiah, grave, looked over and caught Pepper's and Alexia's eyes before walking off shaking his head.
Rhodey walked slowly to leave the room, when Pepper stepped into his path.
"So that's it? Everyone's pulling the plug and moving on…" Pepper said, trying her best to remain calm. She wasn't about to lose it in front of Alexia who needed her the most at the moment.
"There's nothing left we can do. If there was any indication Tony was still alive-" Rhodey said before being cut off by a choked sob from Alexia and Pepper cutting him off with some fiery words.
"Spare me. I read the official email. Thought maybe you'd have something different to say." She said as she wrapped her arms around Alexia to lead her into her office. "If anyone could figure out how to beat the odds, it's Tony. If it was you over there, he'd be finding a way to get you back. Or inventing a new one."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Be a better friend to him." She snapped before storming out of the room with Alexia trying her best to get the young 21 year old out of there. She needed to get the girl home before anything else could happen and cause more torment for the girl. She felt terrible that she was now finding out everything that was happening wasn't going to stop.
"Do… do you really think that Rhodey would give up on Tony?" Alexia asked softly sniffling as Pepper got her to the garage
"No, I don't think he will. He'll find Tony. I promise you, he will find Tony."
Alexia sniffled softly hoping that Pepper was right that they would find Tony and bring him home soon.
IMIMIM
Alexia stood with Pepper at the airbase waiting patiently for her brother to finally be reunited with her.
The rear ramp of the C-17 came down causing the light to blind Rhodey and Tony who was in a chair.
Pepper looked relieved, patting Alexia's hand lightly.
Rhodey wheeled Tony down the ramp. Rhodey stopped when Tony began to speak to him.
"Help me out of this thing-" Tony said struggling to his feet, before faltering.
Rhodey steadied him on his feet. "I got you, pal."
They walked together as Pepper and Alexia came forward. Pepper's eyes met up with Rhodey's, and he nodded to her.
"Thank you." Pepper said softly before turning to Tony, who was a ghost of his former self, but she put a brave face on.
Tony managed to smile looking at the two most important women in his life. He noticed that both their eyes were red. "Your eyes are red. A few tears for your long-lost boss?" Tony mused as he looked at Pepper.
"Tears of joy. I hate job hunting." Pepper said softly.
Happy came around and held the limo door open for Tony. "Good to see you again, Sir."
"You do something new with your hair?" Tony questioned as he looked at Happy, his brows slightly furrowing.
"Wouldn't dream of it, Sir."
Pepper and Alexia helped Tony into the limo before they both joined Tony in the back.
Pepper's eyes met with Happy's in the mirror.
"Where to, Mr. Stark?" Happy questioned looking back at his boss through the mirror.
"We're due at the hospital." Pepper pointed out to Happy.
"No - to the office. I've been in captivity for three months. There's only two things I want to
do. I want to eat a cheeseburger. And I want to hold a press conference."
Pepper looked stunned at what Tony was thinking.
"Tony." Alexia said softly.
Tony's eyes slid to his little sister and a small smile came to his lips. "I missed you Lexi…"
Alexia bit her lip softly knowing that he had missed her as much as she missed him. "I'm glad your back, big brother." She said softly as a few tears slid down her cheeks.
IMIMIM
Tony's limo pulled up outside of the building and Happy got Tony out of the car.
Tony finished a cheeseburger and Happy took the wrappers.
Obadiah was waiting there with a group of gathered employees. They started to applaud. Obadiah with his arms outstretched welcoming Tony back. "See this. Huh. Huh." He hugged Tony warmly. "Tony, thought we were meeting at the hospital. You know there's a lot of reporters in there. What's going on?"
"You'll see. C'mon -"
They walked inside of the building. They walked right into the room that was filled with reporters waiting for the headline of what they would be soon reporting on.
Alexia bit her lip softly as she walked with her brother before slowly falling into pace with Pepper instead of joining her brother towards the front of the room with Obadiah who would be coming in soon.
A man approached Pepper and Alexia.
Pepper turned her head seeing him there.
Alexia's brow raised as she realized who he was.
"You'll have to take a seat, Sir." Pepper told him softly.
"Oh, I'm not a reporter. I'm Agent Phil Coulson with the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division-"
"That's a mouthful."
"I know. Here." Phil said as he handed her a card.
Pepper squinted as she looked at the tiny font. "Look, Mr. Coulson, we've already spoken with the D.O.D., the FBI, the CIA-"
"We're a separate division with a more...specific focus. We need to debrief Tony about the circumstances of his escape. More importantly-"
"Well, great, I'll let him know-"
"We're here to help. We're here to listen. I assure you Mr. Stark will want to talk to us."
Alexia pursed her lips together giving Phil a look.
Phil nodded his head to her letting her know that he wanted to speak with her.
"I'm sure he will. Now if you could just take your seat."
Alexia pursed her lips together as Tony walked up towards the podium struggling followed by Obadiah.
Tony gazed out over the reporters. Suddenly he seemed vulnerable, scattered.
The silence growed awkward.
Obadiah is mercifully going over to him to save him when Tony finally speaks.
"I...can't do this anymore. "
There was a long pregnant silence, everyone was waiting for the Stark punch line.
"You mean you're retiring?" A reporter questioned looking up at Tony.
"No, I don't want to retire. I want to do something else."
Alexia's eyes went wide. What on earth did her brother see to change his tune?
"Something besides weapons?"
"Yes. That's right."
The room was suddenly buzzing with overlapping questions.
"The official report was sketchy. What happened to you over there, Mr. Stark?" Another reporter asked.
Tony was pensive and then he finally opened up. "What happened over there? I had my eyes opened, that's what happened. I saw my weapons, with my name on them, in the hands of thugs. I thought we were doing good here...I can't say that anymore."
Rhodey finally arrived and appeared behind Pepper and Alexia. "Uhh, weren't we taking him to the hospital?"
Pepper was transfixed of what was going on.
Agent Coulson was watching on stoically.
"What do you intend to do about it, Mr. Stark?" The second reporter questioned.
"The system is broken - there's no accountability whatsoever. Right now, as of this second, we are freezing the sale of all Stark weaponry worldwide."
Now the room was in utter chaos.
Obadiah was ready to wrap everything up, moving towards Tony.
"We've lost our way. I need to reevaluate things. And my heart's telling me I have more to offer the planet than things that blow up."
"So you're saying...what are you saying?" The third reporter questioned.
Tony's arm was wrapped around Stane trying to keep standing. "In the coming months, Mr. Stane here and I will set a new course for Stark Industries. "Tomorrow Today" has always been our slogan. It's time we try to live up to it."
Now there were more questions fired off in cacophony.
Obadiah took the podium. "Okay, I think we're going to be selling a lot of newspapers here. What we should take away from this is that Tony's back, he's healthier than ever, and as soon as he heals up and takes some time off, we're going to have a little internal discussion and get back to you. Thank you for coming by."
Tony stepped down exhilarated. He worked his way through the swarming reporters, approaching Rhodey, Pepper, and Alexia who had stunned looks on their faces.
"You mean that? Or is this some clever stock-maneuver?" Pepper questioned looking at Tony.
"Wait and see."
Alexia looked at her brother with wide eyes. She never thought that she would see the day that Tony would take a different path and change everything that Stark Industries was known for. "Tony… are…" She bit her lip softly. "Are you sure that you want to take this path? This is something that I would have done."
Tony gripped his sister's shoulder lightly knowing that she was telling the truth. He knew that she would have changed the path of the company to try and make it better, something more worthwhile than what he or their father had done.
Alexia looked up at her brother with a concerned gaze knowing that he was making a choice that was much different than what he had planned on. She looked over her shoulder seeing Agent Coulson waiting patiently for her.
"Meet me in the other room soon?"
Alexia nodded her head slowly. "You got it Tony." She said softly. "I will be there." She slowly moved following Agent Coulson out of the room. She narrowed her eyes on the older man. "You have some nerve showing up here Phil." She crossed her arms letting out a huff.
"You hadn't been in touch with us in a while, Agent Stark."
Alexia groaned, shaking her head lightly. "I was running the company for 3 damn months. So forgive me if it slipped my mind in helping Shield out. Which by the way giving Miss Potts that long ass name won't do you any favors." She snapped as she looked at Agent Coulson huffing again in agitation.
"Director Fury would like to see you."
"Well he's going to have to wait." Alexia said scoffing as she went to continue on walking. "I'm currently an off time Agent, Phil or did you forget that?"
"No, I haven't forgotten Agent Stark."
"No, you listen Phil. I need time. I can't come back to Shield when my brother has just come back." Alexia said as she stopped to face him. "I need time with my brother. I need to unwind from running a company since he disappeared. And you and Director Fury can't give me that?"
Agent Coulson let out a breath knowing that she needed time. "You have it." He looked at her letting out a soft breath. "But he will want to hear from you soon."
"And I will call him once I have Tony all settled in."
Agent Couslon nodded his head.
"I'll see you around Phil." She said as she headed towards the door to go and meet up with her brother.
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This is the end of Chapter 3. Yes we have some Agent Coulson in here and some interaction between him and Alexia. And some interaction between Tony and Alexia. I can't wait to show you guys what happens in the next chapter. I'm trying my best to keep up with these stories and trying to update as much as I can. I know that it is a lot for me to get through since I have so many stories going on on my page. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Reviews keep me going. Until next time.