CHAPTER 14: IT'S GETTING COLD IN HERRE

Remnant, System Unknown

Kingdom of Atlas

Private Residence

March 12th, 57 AGW

Whenever Tony was consumed with work, time passed with remarkable speed. By the time he realized how much time had passed, even he had to put down his tools and think about it very carefully.

It had been one year, a month, and some change since he had come to the world of Remnant, a place teeming with human life as well as the unusual faunus. This place mirrored much of Earth's cultures and mannerisms and other small things. It started out as uncanny, but eventually, he found it convenient for him. It made his work easier when there were so many things in the world that mirrored what he was familiar with back home, so he stopped worrying and did more working.

And the inventor's work had been paying off quite handsomely. It had been exactly a year since the Yaeger Mark I was displayed to the Council of Vale. Now, the first shipments of the missile were beginning to be sent out to the council. Considering the unusually large amount of time necessary for missiles to be designed, tested and field, a year and some change was a record-breaking time to completion. Then again, the knowledge was already there and tested. Everything else that followed would no doubt take much longer.

The profits being raked in were very nice and most of it would be reinvested into Stark Industries to expand its main base of operations in Vale. New production facilities, office spaces, and experimental test sites needed to be procured, which would be made easier now that the company was in the good graces of the government. It was just a matter of some haggling and careful negotiations with the right people. Equipment for building not to mention materials were in need as well, not that it was hard to find suppliers who were willing to do business. Success had a way of enticing people to offer deals. It was now a matter of selecting the most beneficial ones out of the many that came forward.

Talks in Atlas had evolved and already preliminary work was being done to provide them with a product. However, unlike Vale, the most technologically-advanced kingdom on Remnant chose instead to focus not on physical weaponry but all things related to technology. More specifically, they were banking on Stark Industries providing cutting-edge software technology that would be used for updating some old systems as well as providing a more fluid experience for some weapon systems that relied more heavily upon software.

Understandably, Atlas didn't want to be seen as copying Vale directly. It would arouse suspicion and tensions would begin to rise. It might even be possible for a cold war to begin unwittingly. In order to preserve the perceived status quo, Atlas politicians and military general officers made great efforts to keep the dealings with Stark Industries on the down-low. It would come out later, but now was not an opportune time.

Tony was also having some success in Mistral as well. Despite his relationship with the kingdom of many cultures being more subdued, he still had some gains. He just had to be extremely selective about who he chose to associate with. Huntsmen and huntresses were his greatest customers and already he had begun making plans for a subdivision of Stark Industries designated specifically for weaponry, protective wear, ammunition, and combative tools specifically for Grimm hunters. The provings grounds would be in Mistral because it contained the most diverse pool of customers out of all the four kingdoms. After a year of testing, consideration would be put into the remaining kingdoms.

As Stark Industries continued to grow in all ways, so too did his workload, but that didn't stop him from devoting some free time into keeping an eye and ear on Ozpin and his goons. Despite being an official member of this secretive brotherhood sword to shield the Maidens from the public eye, he didn't fully trust anyone who was part of the group, least of all the man heading it. Meeting the Winter Maiden had really hammered into the genius's mind just what he had gotten himself into and the more he thought about it, the more he realized that his relationship with them was critical.

The reason that it mattered so much was because depending upon his actions, they might choose to either aid or impede his work with Stark Industries. Tony's best advantage was that Ozpin was in need of men who could provide for him in his shadow war against whoever or whatever. The fact that Tony was capable of fielding weapons that were capable of destruction on a large scale meant his value as an ally depended solely on his ability to continually provide that controlled chaos, at least for now. That would have to change in the future if he hoped to gain as much information from the brotherhood as possible.

The CEO didn't like any of it and whenever there was a mandatory meeting, he made a habit of never showing up personally, instead attending via voice call on scroll. Ozpin had initially attempted to get the young Stark to be physically present, but after the third time, the headmaster all but conceded. However small the victory seemed, its implication was what mattered. That decision cemented that the lead of Beacon Academy was willing to bend to the weapons developer. Further exploitation would be done in order to ascertain the exact limit of this willingness to compromise.

But disregarding the unpleasantness of the whole thing, every meeting had been uneventful. No attacks were made on any of the maidens nor had any of the current maidens displayed any signs of passing on. It was so anticlimactic that it seemed pointless to conduct these meetings in the first place.

The only silver lining was that he got to speak with Fria. As much as Tony wouldn't admit it, he chose to stay in contact with her on a consistent basis because once he'd established that the Winter Maiden possessed so many similarities with his mother, he just had to keep an eye on her. It sounded arrogant of him to think that he was protecting her seeing as she could probably kick his ass a thousand times over, but the feeling was there. His mom had died and he couldn't do a thing to help her.

He could do something now. He could make sure that she didn't meet an untimely death. He could assist her covertly.

Anything was better than nothing.

The young man could only sigh into his hand. Normally, he could keep these wandering thoughts under control, but every time he was in Atlas, he couldn't help but think about her. His dealings with the Council of Atlas had him visiting often. His trips were frequent enough that he decided to purchase his own place here. It had cost him a pretty lien, but the bells and whistles attached were considerable. Plus, prime real estate wasn't exactly plentiful up in the clouds and in the grand scheme of things, he had gotten a bargain.

Tony got up from his desk and stretched himself out. His business in Atlas this time around was concluded more or less. The only thing left on his docket was to attend this ball being thrown by none other than Jack Frost. The SDC head really did love to throw these gatherings just to remind everyone who was in charge in Atlas. His ego was so inflated that it was annoying.

Nobody has a bigger ego than me. The Stark CEO wasn't about to be one-upped. You want to play ball, Jacque? Bring it.

There were plenty of ways to show off without being so blatant. Although the weapons developer had a multitude of ways to show off his own arrogance, his usual method was to be direct with a suave spin. That way, he could make clear to everyone that he was above them all while also getting them to accept that fact.

And who knew? There could be a chance for him to get lucky. Atlas had a very prominent high society. These were men and women who flaunted their wealth and their assets and their beauty trying to outdo each other. There were plenty of trophy wives out on display and quite a few of them were no doubt not being satisfied in all the right ways.

Tony also would admit that making another man's wife scream his name was a massive ego booster, especially when it came to the men that were insanely massive pricks. Taking them down a peg was awesome, even if he couldn't always publicly announce his conquests. The knowledge of his deed was oftentimes satisfying enough.

But before he could congratulate himself, he needed to know who was to be attending. Then he would need to do research concerning each individual and whom they were connected to and what was most relevant to them. These people prided themselves as superior in all ways, even if many of them were mediocre paper pushers at best and incompetent morons at worst.

Ah, the life of the wealthy and famous.

Iron Man - - - RWBY

Schnee Family Manor

March 12th, 57 AGW

Willow usually never found herself in a sour mood much less an angry mood. She was a lady and all proper ladies never displayed such raw emotions unbefitting of their status, not in the public eye. It just was not becoming.

But tonight, an exception was being made.

Jacque was a busy man, that was to be expected. The Schnee Dust Company was arguably the biggest name in dust refinement and distribution in the world. It took a certain type of individual to run a business of such a scale. In that vein, there was no denying that he didn't have much time to spend elsewhere.

Yet it seemed that ever since they had gotten married, her husband had done nothing but work constantly. The time he spent with her had lessened as time went on and she now could only see him maybe once a day very briefly. Perhaps on the weekend, she would be able to see him for a longer period of time. Then it was right back to work for him.

More often than not, Willow could count on sleeping alone at night due to Jacque being either in his office at home or at the company headquarter. That was the new routine and she absolutely did not like it.

Gods above, it felt like she spent more time with Mister Stark than she did her husband, even though the Stark Industries CEO visited once a week at most. How was that okay, her spending more time with a man that wasn't her husband?

To make things even more complicated, the daughter of Nicholas Schnee couldn't deny the fact that with every visit, her interest in the weapons dealer was growing. Regardless of whether he asked questions about her or talked more about other worldly topics, he always had a way of getting her involved in a conversation and retaining her attention. She was so engrossed that the hands on a clocked moved faster than she realized.

Why was it that Tony Stark was able to find time to invest in her and not Jacque Schnee? Was was it that a man who was arguably just as busy as her husband was capable of seeing her often when her husband wasn't.

It didn't make sense.

So today, the former heiress had decided to make a trip to see Jacque. Despite her internal emotions being something of a storm, she kept that out of her face. He would not be as receptive to her if she approached him with a look that denoted displeasure, but her aura at this time was felt by the servants and staff that she happened to cross paths with on the way. They bowed as was expected, but were quick to move out of her way. She only spared them a look before resuming her well-mannered walk.

It was a short few minutes of winding hallways and turns before she reached the room that she needed to go to. She took a moment to formulate what she wished to speak of. He might be on a break at this time and if he was, now was a good time.

With a small sigh, she carefully knocked on the door three times before waiting.

"Come in." Jacque's voice said.

With her cue, Willow carefully opened the door, entered the room, then closed it gently, then turned to face the far end of the office.

"Ah, Willow." Jacque sat at his desk, his eyes on her. "What brings you here at this time?"

"Jacque, I have something I wish to speak with you about." Willow walked forward, her eyes on him. "Have you a moment to spare?"

"I do." Jacque gestured to a nearby chair. "Sit."

So far, he appeared able and willing to listen. That was the most that she could hope for at this time. What she said next would confirm what kind of mood he was truly in.

"Ever since our marriage, our time together has been waning." Willow began. "The amount of time I see you in any given week is limited as well. I am well aware that the Schnee Dust Company occupies most of your time, but is there no way you can divert more time for us?"

His silence lasted only for a few seconds, but his expression did not shift. He appeared as even and cool as he did when speaking to his clients and other people within their social status. Externally, she showed no signs of reaction, but what she felt inside was far from happiness, quite the opposite.

Jacque cleared his throat before speaking. "I understand what you are saying, truly I do, but I'm afraid I cannot devote any more than I already am. You have to understand that with the continuous growth that the SDC is showing, the amount of work that needs to be done has increased exponentially. Even with all of the new hires that have been taken on, my responsibilities have multiplied considerably."

To his credit, Willow could willingly agree that the company that her father had founded was very much evolving into something far more grand in scale. Her husband was making things happen, of that there was no doubt, but again, Mister Stark had plenty on his plate, yet he still had some degree of freedom to do as he pleased.

She stowed away her disagreement and merely continued to listen.

"Consider this." Jacque pointed to a nearby wall map. "The Long Peace that we have been experiencing has allowed the kingdoms of the world to become something much greater than they were before the Great War. Even after over half a century since the war ended, we are still rising to greater heights."

This was hardly news to Willow. Ever since the Great War had ended, people were eager to forget the horrors of the conflict and live out their lives in peace for the sake of themselves and their families. All the cultural changes, all the technological advantages, all of the mindsets, all of it was changed, altered, or evolved in order to ensure that a war of global proportions would never happen again. These were subjects that were relevant to Mister Stark due to the nature of his business.

Again, she kept her disagreement in check. It would not serve her well.

"The Schnee Dust Company could become the premiere dust supplier of the entire world." Jacque continued on, regarding the map with a twinkle in his eye. "We could power the world if we play our cards right. The Schnee name would be etched into history permanently. Our family would never be forgotten."

Despite his wording being inclusive, Willow didn't register this. She had no involvement in any part of the SDC and they both knew it. What exactly was he getting at by being this fluid with his words?

"You wish to ensure our legacy."

"Yes, exactly. What is more important than that?"

It was an ambitious goal and it would be a massive undertaking to be sure and she couldn't help but be impressed by his conviction. Anyone could see that he was serious about this ultimate goal.

But that wasn't what she wanted to hear.

"So what you're telling me is that what we have now is all we can have." Willow regarded him. "Is that correct."

"I'm afraid so." Jacque nodded in agreement. "And you should expect to see me far less as time goes on. My work will never truly be done."

That was the end of the conversation. It all felt moot seeing as there was no dilemma nor any second-thoughts. What she had now was all she was ever going to get and she would get even less as time went on. One look at his face and it was clear that he wasn't planning on going back on his answer.

"I see." Willow threw all of her willpower into her manners. "Then I apologize for disturbing you, Jacque. I will let you get back to work."

He gave her a single nod before turning his attention back to his holographic screen, already finding something to occupy his attention with. She walked to the door, gracefully exiting. Once she did, she looked to her left and to her right.

The hallway was quiet.

She made her way to the bedroom. She just walked through the hallways quietly and kept her head straight and her chin up. Instinct made sure of that. She preserved that posture until she reached her destination, opening the door, closing it and engaging the lock.

She was alone now.

It was only then that Willow leaned against the door and began to cry.

Jacque didn't want to see her.

That's what she interpreted. Whether or not that was his intended meaning was irrelevant. That's what she picked up.

Wasn't marriage supposed to be something wonderful?

But if it was, then why was it she was suffering?

Did she do something wrong?

Was it Jacque's fault?

Would it be different if they weren't married?

What if she were married to someone else?

Like Tony Stark.

Her momentary thought of that man made her shake her head.

What was she thinking?

RWBY - - - Iron Man

When it came to balls and formal affairs like this one, it was important to get a feel for the overall atmosphere. Knowing the general mood of the guests would help him better converse with the people he planned to meet. An observation didn't have to take long. Even just a minute of looking around was enough to read the room.

And tonight, it felt like everyone here was in good spirits. It was clear that Jacque was putting out all the stops to make sure that everyone was properly cared for. Drinks, food, and other various amenities were being made available so freely. Servants were rushing around to attend the needs of the guests as was required of them. It was an ideal atmosphere for accommodation.

Tony wasn't fooled by any of it. Despite the good vibes going around, he could tell from the start that this was merely an ego-boosting affair, something that Jack Frost did in order to remind everyone that the SDC was THE name in dust mining and refinement. He wanted to make sure people were reminded of his wealth and influence. Between the money necessary for this party and the various guests that hailed from wealthy and prestigious backgrounds, it was all a show that would reinforce his dominance over all of them.

This was the exact sort of thing that the genius didn't care much to participate in. While he could concede to himself that Jacque was indeed in a much better position than he was, the Stark CEO's own ego told him that he needed to fight back in some way and show the bastard that two could play at this game, but one one could come out on top as the most egotistical man in the business world on Remnant.

So the thing to do was to get down to business with the other guests. Tony would start by introducing himself to the various men and women occupying the room. He would then play the game, complimenting Jacque in superficial ways before launching off into his forays. Every time he did so, he made sure to custom-tailor his conversation to suit the preferences of each individual present. He knew who everyone here was and he knew enough about them with prior research to know what made them tick.

For example, he was well aware that the Marigold family were a bunch of ignorant morons who were only here due to their sheer wealth that they possessed, a holdover from their predecessors. They presented themselves as wealthy, but there was doubt as to their true financial situation, but of course, graciating them was useful in its own way. Another ally, however dubious, was always good to have.

But there were other people here who were plenty competent. Politicians, real estate owners, stock traders, CEO's and executives, old legacy families, anyone who could be considered important in any capacity were here. There were even a couple of rival military contractors; talking to them would be pointless, so no effort was made.

Tony did this for a time until his mind began to grow tired of it all and he began retreating to a more secluded location. As he moved, he suddenly had a thought; of all the people he had seen and met, he hadn't spotted Willow. That struck him as somewhat odd. Surely, Jacque would want to reinforce where he was in life by proudly displaying his beautiful wife to the world to let them know what he had.

So where was she?

His eyes discreetly, but swiftly scanned the entire ballroom, but he found no trace of the woman in question. He widened his search parameter and that's when he got lucky. There was a large open balcony sizable enough to allow a large group to stand on, yet the daughter of Nicholas Schnee was there, all alone with no one for company.

With as much skill and grace as was needed, the weapons developer carefully exited the scene, making sure that he was as discreet as possible. With a cautious movement, he slipped onto the balcony, opening and closing the door with a sigh.

"You don't like parties, Snow White?" Tony approached her with a smirk. "Actually, that's a stupid question. Of course you don't. You'd be inside if that were the case, not freezing out here."

"Hello, Mister Stark." Willow's voice sounded so distant. "I take it the company is to your liking?"

"For a bunch of stuck-up pricks, they draw blood pretty well." Tony leaned slightly on the stone rail. "And here you are, pure as the snow that falls every day here."

"There you go again." Willow laughed softly, yet it sounded alien. "Flattering me like this. If I didn't know better, I would say that you were trying to court me."

"Court you." Tony repeated her words and considered them for a few moments. "You know what? That actually sounds like something I would do."

"Is it?" Willow didn't face him completely, although looked at him from the corner of her eyes. "Are you not wary of the consequences of such an action?"

"I know what could happen, but then I remember that I'm the Merchant of Death." Tony persisted, his head turning to look out into the night sky. "So everyone else by comparison seems far less intimidating."

Although his eyes were not directly trained on her, he could sense that she was still not quite fully engaged with him. Someone was weighing on her mind. It didn't look serious from the way that she conversed with him, but it was enough to hamper her usual demeanor. He could also sense her mood softening.

"How nice it would be to think like that more often." Willow lamented. "But if you plan to rival the Schnee Dust Company, you will not be afforded that luxury."

"Like I'm gonna let some old geezers tell me what's proper." Tony replied flippantly. "I got enough of that from my old man. I know exactly what I'm doing and if people don't like it, well… that's too bad. I've got a big stick and they don't."

"Truly, your recklessness knows no bounds." Willow was probably praising him.

Tony leaned in a little closer. "You know, you could be a little happier in life if you were reckless too. Live on the edge a bit, go crazy. You've only got one life and you only stay young for so long."

"And what would you propose that I do?" Willow gave him a more direct look.

"That little back and forth that's going through your head?" Tony couldn't discern the finer details, but he knew an internal conflict when he saw one. "Why don't you just shut your brain off. Come on, I know you want to."

For a moment, her expression made it seem as if he had grown another head. Despite this, he kept up his best smirk possible. When it came to women, confidence and persistence was the key. Even if he said the most stupid thing in existence, as long as he said it with his head held high, it would be hard for anyone to turn him down.

Willow then appeared to have made a decision of her own. She slid up next to him fully, her body making contact with his own. His mind only relapsed for a split second before it regained control and quickly assessed the situation. Both her hands were on his chest and she looked up at him with a pair of eyes that searched his own.

For the Stark head, he would be lying if he said that this didn't get his blood pumping, but this was the make or break moment. He needed to keep this up until he knew for sure that he had sealed the deal.

"Not that I'm complaining, but you're already hitched." Tony reminded her. "Are you sure the cold hasn't dulled your senses? Or maybe the drinks served tonight are stronger?"

"The cold is my home." Willow had a very sad look on her face. "But the warmth you're providing is not unwelcome. Also, I have a high tolerance for alcoholic beverages."

Okay, she was receptive, but he still wanted to test her.

"We're not exactly hidden, you know." Tony pointed out. "If anyone sees this, well, let's just say things will get interesting."

"Perhaps." Willow said. "But Jacque seems to be keeping the guests entertained plenty."

Both of them looked back to see that indeed, all of the invitees were looking in the direction of Jacque as he looked to be giving a rousing speech. Basically, their eyes were not on the balcony at all.

Tony turned back to her, gently but firmly grasping her chin. "What would Jacque say about this?"

The only thing she did in response was stare at him with that same forlorn expression. Just from that alone, there was enough evidence to deduce that something had gone on between the two of them, maybe an argument or a disagreement. Whatever the case, her features made one thing clear: she was hurting on the inside.

"Is there something you want?" Tony wanted to see just how far he could go.

As he did so, he made direct eye contact with her, still keeping her chin within his hand. Her grip on his front tightened. She met his intense gaze with one of her own.

When it came to women, they all had their own way of offering permission. Some used their bodies. Others gave a very enticing verbal command. A few used a combination of both. Willow was using all of these, but it was her eyes that gave the most clear and resolute grant of permission.

For a moment, Tony thought about all of the ramifications of his actions. Sleeping with any other woman was easy. The consequences were miniscule and the benefits were many, but this time, he was about to get involved with Willow Schnee and she was married already. If any of them were caught, there would be fallout no matter how much he downplayed.

Why do I even care in the first place? He second-guessed himself. Nobody tells me how I live. I do.

His ego began to take hold of him. He took what he wanted, when he wanted and there wasn't a single person in the world who could tell him off.

As a final test, Tony moved his head closer to hers and her eyes closed, indicating the trust she had put in him. His lips gently met her own and he applied pressure that he felt appropriate. She in turn met him with equal force as her hands held him in a way that ensured he wouldn't escape her easily.

There was no backing out from this now.

Iron Man - - - RWBY

March 13th, 57 AGW

Willow felt her eyes open and she took a moment to get her mind oriented. As she rose from the bed, she felt a shiver and she quickly realized why.

She wasn't wearing anything, not even a nightgown.

As she recalled the reason why, she felt her blood freeze.

She had just slept with Tony Stark.

Her head reeled a bit as she tried to calm herself. What she had just done was more than a little wrong. She had crossed a line that she thought she would never even dare to think about. Marriage was a sacred vow that she promised at the altar to never break no matter what. This entire ordeal called into question how much her word was worth.

Why did she even do this in the first place?

She asked herself that question and then answered it within a few moments. She was angry at Jacques. She was lonely. She was in a bad place and Tony just happened to be there when she was looking for some company.

Willow's attempt to rationalize her behavior didn't bring her much comfort. The fact of the matter was that she gave into temptation and latched onto the weapons dealer and in all honesty, it wasn't as if he was a poor choice.

He was intelligent, perhaps the most intelligent man that the former heiress had ever met. He walked with a swagger and confidence that both made him arrogant and intriguing. He was self-centered, egotistical, and looked down on everyone else. Really, there was no limit to how this man could elevate his own image. However, in a way, all of sheer confidence and charm and intelligence were not without merit.

And it didn't hurt that he certainly had very good looks. She was well aware that he drew the eyes of more than a few women, even amongst the women in the high society of Atlas. Even worse, Mister Stark knew exactly how he looked to others.

As for how he was last night… well, frankly, the woman honestly had no idea that she was capable of screaming that loudly. It was fortunate that almost the entire staff had been diverted to tasks related to the party. It was also fortunate that she knew ways of getting around the Schnee mansion discreetly without being seen otherwise her little rendezvous with Tony would have been much more difficult to pull off.

Willow shook her head to try and swear off these thoughts about him. This was precisely the reason that she had gotten herself into this situation. It was a miracle that nobody seemed to know about them here.

Where was he, by the way?

Looking around, she saw not a sign of him. From where she was on the bed, it appeared that she was the only one here. Not a trace of another person existed here. This was her old bedroom, the one she slept in from the moment she was born until she was married. Sometimes, she still used this place as her own private sanctuary to get away from it all.

Willow then noticed a small note on the table next to the bed. With a delicate hand, she reached over and retrieved it to read the single sentence on the note.

If you ever get lonely, you know where to find me.

"The nerve of that man." Willow muttered to herself. "He presumes to know what will happen."

She held the note close to her.

Before I get into anything else, a quick reminder. I went to MEPS two weeks ago for processing into the military. I can now say with much anticipation that I got through without any issues. I've signed my contract and sworn in as a United States Army Soldier, going in as a Combat Engineer (12B), starting off as an E4, Specialist, and I will be leaving for Basic Combat Training on August 4th at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri.

So you guys can look forward to at least one more chapter following this one before I leave. For more details regarding the future of my stories, please see my profile.

Now back to the story.

Oh boy. Now the fun starts and things start to ramp up. Some of you might be wondering if there will ever be any explicit sexual scenes in this story and my answer to that is no. I think that you all understand perfectly well what went down.

And man did Willow score big. Keep in mind that Tony Stark is currently twenty-two years of age according to my timeline, soon to be twenty-three. If you've seen Robert Downey Jr. when he was younger, you will know that he was good-looking back then too, but back then, he had the pretty boy look to him. These are the kind of looks you find in boy bands. You get the point.

I may not have mentioned this, but my primary motivation for making Tony have so many biological children is my way giving myself a challenge in terms of character interactions and making the plot somewhat unpredictable. By allowing you, the readers to select who will be biologically related to Iron Man, I am essentially forcing myself to adapt to an element that is out of my control. I like to think of this as a test of my ability to work with a card that I didn't choose.

And speaking of voting, today conludes the pole regarding the fifth and final child of Tony Stark. This time around, the lucky winner is Velvet Scarlatina. She has more or less dominated the polls for most of the past month. I think the reason for her popularity is because I didn't include her in the previous poll, but there's probably others reason you guys wanted to see her. For more information about the poll see my profile. The results should be public

That's all I have to say. Thoughts about this chapter? About the poll? Please review and give me your honest opinions about anything and everything.

Thanks for reading and I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

"There's a way to do it better - find it."

Thomas A. Edison