Avenging Speedster part 6.
I don't own anything. OC belongs to sketchywolf, rest belongs to Marvel.
Max got up early to find his father down in the shop, testing mixtures of various elements.
'Sir, I'm afraid that we shall not find a replacement for the palladium core at this rate,' JARVIS said and Max's eyes widened.
"Ohh... come on," Tony said to himself.
"'Oh come on' what?," Max asked, surprising his father. "...Does mom know that you're dying?"
"...No... no. I was gonna tell her on the plane..."
"But you wussed out. I understand why you didn't tell me as I've been in a coma but that was a week ago now. Why didn't you ever tell me?!!"
"Same reason why I haven't told your mother," Tony answered.
"You were trying to fix it yourself. And do it alone. Fine. I'll get you the help you need."
Max then stormed off upstairs, barely missing his mom coming in.
"...Natalie, could you go check on him while I go have a talk with Tony?," Pepper asked, slightly reading the situation.
Natalie nodded and walked upstairs to see Max was waiting for her.
"You okay?," she asked.
"You might want to close the door behind you," Max suggested and she did so. "My dad is dying of prolonged palladium poisoning."
"We knew something was wrong, now we know what. I'm guessing you figured it out in your own."
"Again!! God, my Dad's got such a large ego!! He thinks he spares us pain by keeping my mom and I in the dark. He's just so frustrating at times."
He sat down on his bed and Natasha sat next to him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I know how that can be. Truly. I'll let Fury know, he'll know what to do."
"...Thanks, Nat. Can I call you Nat?"
"Haha...yeah, that's fine with me," she said before hugging him, which he gladly returned.
"There is something else," Max said and they let go. "Anton Vanko. I heard my Dad say that name before, does it mean anything to you?"
"No. But maybe there's something in the SHIELD records. I'll take a look."
She got up and opened the door to leave but stopped for a moment to look back at the teen.
"You're a good kid, Max. Don't you ever change. We need people like you in this world."
He gave her a little smile before walking out and Max went to talk to Shuri.
'Hey, I was right,' he messaged. ''My Dad's dying of palladium poisoning.'
'I'm sorry, Max. I really am,' she messaged back. 'Are you going to help?'
'Yeah, I've got SHIELD to help. But Nat was the one to really help me just now, especially since my dad was gonna keep it from me.'
'Who's Nat?'
'My mom's new assistant. She's been like an older sister to me this past week since my mom became CEO.'
'...Well... I'm glad you've got someone like that now as well, like I've got T'Challa.'
'Yeah, especially since I'm also way smarter than she is,' he agreed, missing the hidden time in her response. 'Though something tells me only by a little.'
'Yeah. Hey, I have to go now, so talk to you later.'
'Okay. Bye.'
He then put his phone away and some time later, he began to hear loud music being played and cane out to see his dad in an Iron Man suit, clearly drunk and causing a big scene, making a fool of himself.
He quickly found his mom and Natalie.
"Mom, what's going on with Dad?," he asked. "He never gets this drunk on his birthday."
"I wish I knew. I don't know what's gotten into him," she said, and Max and Natalie looked between each other.
'He's given up hope of curing himself,' he thought to himself.
As they watched, Rhodey arrived, talking to one of his superiors, as he had been trying to stop the military to barging in and taking the suits from Tony.
"Yes, sir, I understand," he said as he got out of his car. "No. No, sir, that will not be necessary. I'll handle it. Sir, I personally guarantee that within 24 hours, Iron Man will be back on watch."
He hung up and walked inside to see Pepper walking out.
"Hey Pepper."
"I'm gonna go get some air."
"What's wrong?"
"It's Dad," Max said showing his uncle what Tony was doing. "And we're not exactly sure what to do."
"You've gotta be kidding me," Rhodey said as Tony fell over in the suit. "That's it. I'm making..."
"No, no, no. Don't call anyone."
"Pepper, this is ridiculous. I just stuck my neck out for this guy."
"I know, I know. Just let me handle it," she said and walked over to Tony.
"Handle it. Or I'm gonna have to."
"You know, the question I get asked most often is, 'Tony, how do you go to the bathroom in the suit?,'" Tony said then he stood still for a moment and his eye twitched. "...Just like that."
This caused some cheering and then Pepper came up.
"Does this guy know how to throw a party or what?," she said through the microphone and they continued cheering.
"I love you."
"Oh, unbelievable!! Thank you so much. Tony, we all thank you so much for such a wonderful night. And we're gonna say good night, and thank you all for coming."
The crowd soon began booing at her and Tony began complaining as well. Max could see what was gonna happen next though.
"I think I'm gonna go down to the shop," he said and did so. Soon he heard his father on the microphone again, saying the party was indeed over. And then said the after party was gonna start and pretty much kicked Pepper out.
Soon, Uncle Rhodey cane down and got out the Mark II suit out. Max was shocked at him being able as he thought they were all only coded for his dad.
He began to watch over security footage of Rhodey and his dad wrestling all around the house, eventually scaring everyone away and Natalie came down.
"I need you to come with me," she said and he immediately obeyed. "Agent Coulson will call your mother and tell her that you're with him."
"Okay," he said getting in her car and then there was an explosion. "So that's what happens when you fire repulsors at each other."
As they drove off, Max saw Rhodey fly off with the Mark II.
"Dad... why didn't you ask for help? Now look what's happened."
"Sorry your Dad has screwed up your life," Nat said, trying to comfort him.
"Eh... not the first time. Won't be the last. This time was just worse than usual."
They drive off to her place where Fury and Coulson were waiting.
"Nice to see you again, Mr. Stark."
"You as well... Director... Fury...," Max said slowly before losing consciousness out of nowhere.
"Max!!," Nat exclaimed as she caught him and put him on the couch. "He's just unconscious."
"Let's get a doctor in here," Coulson ordered a guard.
Soon as doctor arrived and examine the boy, ran some tests before walking over to Fury.
"The exposure and supposed super speed seems to have increased how many calories he burns every day," he said.
"He's burning calories faster than normal?," Fury asked and the doctor nodded.
"His metabolism must've been increased even more than we suspected. He should wake up soon, but have something for him to eat when he does."
They nodded and the doctor left. Like he said, Max awoke a few hours later.
"Oh... what happened?," he asked.
"You just fainted out of nowhere," Nat said. "Doctor said it was because of a very low calorie intake. Which reminds me..."
She grabs a box of donuts and hands them to him.
"Oh, thanks. Cause I'm starved."
This got a chuckle out of the SHIELD agents.
"So, what'd I miss?," he asked.
"Colonel Rhodes took the Mark II suit to the military where Justin Hammer will weaponize it," Coulson said.
"That's not possible. I personally placed redundancies in the security base to prevent unauthorized usage of any of the Iron Man suits. That's what I don't understand. How my uncle could've even put that suit on."
"Sounds to me like your father has indeed given up hope of saving himself," Fury said as Max continued to eat. "We also lost track of him after Rhodes left. Any idea where he might be?"
Max thought for moment before speaking after looking down at the box of donuts.
"...There's one place he goes to when he's trying to get over a extreme hangover," he said and pointed at the logo on the box. "He ought to be there by now."
They then headed to the donut shop where the staff was soon sent home and they found Iron Man in the donut sign as the sun rose.
"Sir!!!," Fury exclaimed. "I'm gonna have to ask you to exit the donut!!!"
He looked down to see the one-eyed director there as well as his son, with a very angry look on his face.
"I told you, I don't want to join your super secret boy band," Tony said as he sat across from Fury at a booth inside as Max walked outside as he couldn't be in the same room as his father at the moment.
"I'm this close to speeding over and punching my father in the face," Max said to Coulson.
"Might not be the best idea right now. Especially if you wish to keep these abilities from your parents," he said. "Out of curiosity, why do you want to keep it from them?"
"They have their secrets. Now I have my own. But that's not the real reason. It's because I think the less they know, the less likely they'll be in danger. Cause if anyone were to learn about my abilities..."
"...Sounds like a good reason. But I wouldn't keep it secret for too long."
"Maybe," Max said.
Soon enough, they all packed up and brought him and Tony home, where he was just how damaged it all was.
"I'm getting more and more pissed off at you, Dad."
Tony didn't say anything and walked over to where Fury was and they sat down at the destroyed balcony.
"That thing in your chest is based on unfinished technology," Fury said.
"No, it was finished," Tony argued. "It has been particularly effective until I miniaturized it and put it in my..."
"No, Dad. Grandpa said that the arc reactor was the stepping stone towards something greater," Max countered, with Fury backing him up with a nod.
"And just how do you know that?"
"Well, since you wouldn't tell me anything about him, I looked into him on my own."
"And I recently confirmed everything he'd learned over that time he looked into Howard. He was about to kick off an energy race that was gonna dwarf the arms race. He was onto something so big that I was gonna make the nuclear reactor look like a AAA battery."
"Just him, or Anton Vanko in on this too?"
"Anton Vanko is the other of the coin. He saw it as a way to get rich. When your father found out, he had him deported. When the Russians found out he couldn't deliver, they sent him off to Siberia where he spent the next few decades in a vodka-fueled rage. Not an environment you want to raise a kid in. A son you had the misfortune of crossing paths with in Monaco."
"You told me I hadn't tried everything. What do you mean I haven't tried everything?," Tony asked. "What haven't I tried?"
"Howard said that you were the only person with the means and knowledge to finish what he started," Fury said.
"He said that?"
"Are you that guy? ...Are you? Cause if you are, then you can solve the riddle of your heart? And with Max here to help you, you just might find it in time."
"...I don't know where you get your information, but he wasn't my biggest fan."
"What do you remember about your dad?"
"He was cold, he was calculating. He never told me, he loved me. He never even told me he liked me, so it's a little tough for me to digest when you're both telling me he said the whole future was riding on me and he's passing it down. I don't get that. You're talking about a man who's happiest day was when he shipped me off to boarding school."
"That's not true," Fury stated as he drank his drink.
"Well, then clearly you knew my dad better than I did," Tony said.
"Actually, Dad, he did," Max said and Tony looked at his thirteen year old son. "Grandpa was one of the founding members of SHIELD. Next to Peggy Carter and Colonel Philips."
"That's right."
"Wait, what?"
"I got a two o'clock," Fury said getting up. "You're good right?"
"Yeah we're good," Max said.
"No, I'm not good," Tony stated.
"You got this, right?"
"Got what? I don't even know what I'm supposed to do."
"That's why I'm here, Dad."
"Natasha will remain a floater at Stark with her cover intact. You remember Agent Coulson, right?"
"Yeah, he's the one who brought max home after he woke up."
"Yup. And Tony," Fury said, and Iron man looked at him. "Remember... I've got my eye on you. See ya, Max."
"See ya, Nick."
"We've disabled all communications," Natasha informed. "Only Max can leave freely and can have contact with the outside world. Good luck."
"See ya later, Nat," Max said
"See ya, Max," she said as she left and then Tony turned towards Coulson.
"Hey. First thing, I need a little bodywork. I'll put in a little time at the lab. If we could send one if your goon squad down to the Coffee Bean, Cross Creek, a Starbucks or something like that, that'd be nice."
"I'm not here for that," Coulson said. "Max and I have been authorized by Director Fury to use any means necessary to keep you on the premises. If you attempt to leave or play any games, I will tase and watch Supernanny while you drool on the floor."
"Can I be the one to tase him?," Max asked, earning a frightened look from his father.
"Who's side are you on?"
"Theirs," Max answered coldly, and walked down to the shop.
"I know it's really none of my business, but should've at least told your son. Max has made it clear to me, Agent Romanoff and Director Fury that he is furious with you. He feels like you betrayed him. You might want to apologize."
He left to check everything and Tony thought on what he said. He knew Coulson was right, and he knew what he had to do and he walked downstairs and found his son already looking over Howard's notes.
"Max...," he said and he looked up with a frown on his face. "...I know this probably doesn't mean much anymore, but... I'm sorry. I really am. For everything. For not telling you I'm dying, for not telling your mother. And I'm sorry for treating her the way I did last night."
"...I don't necessarily care what happened last night. You were drunk as hell," he said walking over. "What I do care and what I'm angry with you about is that you were willing to keep this secret again. You were willing to go through it alone... and I would've lost my father and I wouldn't know why."
He then hugged his father tightly and he returned it, tears forming in both of their eyes slightly.
"You can be such an egotistical jerk sometimes. Meaning you usually truly mean it when you apologize. So, I'm will to forgive you. But I will never forget it."
"...Yeah, I think I deserve that. Shall we get to work?"
He nodded and they began to look through the things.
"Out of curiosity, how long did you know that Natalie was a spy?"
"Since day one."
"W-What?!," Tony exclaimed and Max just smirked and nodded in confirmation. "How?"
"She seemed pretty calm to be the new assistant of the new CEO of Stark Industries. Which by the way, Mom is even more pissed off at you than I am."
"Yeah, I figured. You didn't tell her right?"
"As far as she knows, I'm with Coulson, a man she trusts, which is kind of right. But no I haven't told her, not my place to. Hey check these out."
Tony comes over and sees his son has film rolls.
"Must be rehearsals of that one film of Grandpa you showed on the first day of the Expo. Do you have player?"
He nodded and they began watching the films. More of Max than Tony.
"Would Grandpa have liked me, do you think?," Max asked his dad.
"I'm not sure about him," Tony answered. "Your grandmother however... would've loved you. Sweetest woman you would've ever met."
"You know I think Grandpa loved you a lot. He just didn't know how to show it."
"...Maybe."
"...Tony," Howard said on the film and they both looked. "You're too young to understand this right now, so I thought I'd put it on film for you. I built this for you. And someday you'll realize that it represents a whole lot more than people's inventions. It represents my life's work. This is the key to the future. I'm limited by the technology of my time, but one day, you'll figure this out. And when you do... you will change the world. And then, perhaps... your own children... will change everything. What is and always will be... my greatest creation... is you."
The film then stopped and Tony and Max just continued to stare at the wall.
Max's phone then went off and he saw that Shuri was messaging him and Tony nodded to him that he'll be fine alone.
'Hey, how's your dad?,' she asked.
'We might be one step closer to finding a way to save him. And it's all thanks to SHIELD and my grandfather, Howard,' he said.
'I'm glad to hear it. So you've forgiven him then?'
'Oh no. Far from it. It may be a while before I forgive him. I will eventually, but I'm not gonna forget it.'
'Understandable,' she said. 'What will you do once you find the way to save your father?'
'I think I'm gonna try to get away from it all for a little bit,' he messaged back. 'So much has happened in only a week. Too much. When I got home, my dad was acting like he was getting everything ready for his death. Practically gave the Mark II suit to my Uncle Rhodey, who has given it to the military. Made my mom CEO of his company, then begins to push them both and me away. I need a vacation. Maybe this can be the way for me to come by and visit you.'
'That'd be great!! I can't wait, but how are you gonna get your parents to let you come? I doubt they'd let come to Africa alone.'
'I think my friends at SHIELD can me with that, first to get away from Malibu, then eventually Wakanda I'm sure.'
'Okay,' she said. 'Then I guess I should expect you at any time, right?'
'That sounds like a logical plan,' he said then he heard a car take off and saw that his dad had broken the perimeter. 'Oh boy. My dad just left. He wasn't supposed to do that.'
'Poor him. How are you doing? With your powers and such?'
'Recently found out that I need to increase my calorie intake by a lot as my increased metabolism causes me to burn calories a lot faster than normal. Small price to pay I suppose. Great thing is that I can come up with new inventions so much faster now. Like those repulsors I made when I fought that Whiplash guy in Monaco, I made those the day before.'
'That...sounds very handy. I must go now. Talk to you later.'
'Bye,' Max said and then got off his phone and messaged Coulson to meet with him.
"Hey, Max. What's up?," Coulson said when he arrived.
"Well, first, my dad broke the perimeter," he said making them both roll their eyes in annoyance. "Also, there was something I was hoping you could help me with."
"If I can, I'll help."
"Well, I know I'm just a kid, and I don't work for SHIELD, but I was hoping if you were reassigned at anytime that you could take me with you."
"...I think I could talk to Director Fury about it if I were to be reassigned," Coulson said. "But why would you want to come with me?"
"Well first, because I consider you a friend. And also, I just... need to get away from all of this. Need time to think things through. Besides I've been meaning to leave visit a friend of mine in Africa anyway. Going with you might give me the chance to get there."
"What if I don't go to Africa?"
"You'd be surprised by what I can get away with," Max said.
"...Alright," he said. "If anything comes up, I'll think of an excuse to tell your parents that I'll need your help on something."
"Thanks... you know I never got your first name."
"Phil. Phil Coulson."
"Well thank you, Phil."
"No problem. I've gotta get going so I'll talk to you later."
Max nodded and Phil soon left as Tony came back, with a very large model of the 1974 Stark Expo.
"What're you doing Dad?," Max questioned.
"Well...," he explained as JARVIS began scanning the model. "I went to go and try to apologize to your mother and try to tell her I'm dying. But none of the right words came out. Replaced by a lot of I's. Why can't I talk straight with her like I do with you?"
"Because you're so in love with Mom, that you can never find the right words to say to her. But that's just a guess."
"...Yeah that sound about right."
'1974 Stark Expo model complete, sir,' JARVIS informed them and Tony lifted up the blue projection of the model.
"How many buildings are there?"
"Same as the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair," Max said. "140 pavilions, 110 restaurants and then that unisphere."
"Where do you store all that information and how do you get it?"
"Same place you do, Dad. So what is it exactly that you're looking for?"
Tony lifts the model upright, and sees something.
"What does that look like to you, JARVIS?," he asked. "Not unlike an atom. In which case the nucleus would be... here."
He pointed to the unisphere and soon Max began to see what he was doing.
"Highlight the unisphere, lose the footpaths, get rid of them."
'What is it you are trying to achieve, sir?,' JARVIS asked as he did this.
"I'm discovering... correction. I'm rediscovering a... new element, I believe."
"I see it too," Max said. "Lose the landscaping, the shrubbery, the trees."
This was done and Tony continued as well as he flicks the holographs of them away.
"Also get rid of the parking lots, exits and entrances. Structure the protons and neutrons using the pavilions as a framework."
JARVIS did this and the holograph looked like an atom and Tony expanded it and to surrounded him and his son. They both stared in awe at the scene, very impressed.
"...Dead for almost 20 years... and still taking me to school."
He then snapped and it was now in handheld.
'The proposed element should serve as a viable replacement for palladium.'
"Thanks, Dad," Tony said.
'Unfortunately, it is impossible to synthesize.'
"Well then... it's back to hardware mode," Max said and Tony nodded as he got up.
"Yup. Get ready for a major remodel, fellas!!," he said to the robot arms.
They both got to work immediately. Smashing the walls and floor to get to the major breaker boxes. But then Tony noticed something about Max that really surprised him.
"What the hell?! Since when are you so muscular that you've got abs?"
"Doctors said that it might be a side effect to the exposure to the arc reactor energy. Why? Jealous?"
"Not really, just surprised. Weird side effect."
"Yeah, well, I'm not complaining."
They got back to work and Tony soon got out large pipes to funnel power through and help create the new element.
A week or so later, Max has just finished fiddling with the wiring as Tony was trying to level out the piping when Coulson entered.
"Hey, Coulson."
"Hey, Max," he said then turned to Iron Man. "I heard you broke the perimeter."
"Yeah that was like three years. Where have you been?"
"I was doing some stuff."
"Yeah, well, me too and it worked. Hey, I'm playing for the home team Coulson, you and all of your... Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. Now, are you gonna let me work or break my balls?"
He didn't answer as something had caught his eye.
"What's this doing here?," he asked showing what looked like a large red, white and blue frisbee. This made Tony stop for a moment.
"...That's it. Bring that to me."
"You know what this is?"
"It's a replica of Captain America's shield," Max answered. "It had been in my Dad's office for the longest time for some reason."
"And it's exactly what I need to make this work," Tony said, taking the shield from him. "Lift the coil. Go, go. Put your knees into it."
Max and Coulson did as he said and he placed the shield under it.
"There you go. And drop it!!"
They obliged and he placed level on the wire.
"Perfectly level. We're busy, what to you want?"
"Nothing. Goodbye. I've been reassigned. Director Fury wants me and Max in New Mexico."
"Fantastic. Land of Enchan- wait, what?" he said.
"Whatever is going on, it's in one of your son's areas of expertise. I've already spoken to Miss Potts about it and she agreed to let him go so long as he's safe."
"And what does Max say about this?"
"I'm going," Max said.
"I'll be waiting in the car," Coulson said. "A couple of agents have already packed for you. Good luck, Mr. Stark."
"Bye, thanks," he said shaking his hand, and the SHIELD agent left them. "I know that you're only going so that I'm out of your sight. I really am-."
"I know, Dad. And it's not just you," Max explained. "It's a lot of things. Ever since I woke up, I've been having things just plopped right into my lap. Nat turning out to be a SHIELD agent. The events in Monaco. You dying... it's all too much to take in right now. I will forgive you eventually as I've said before, but... I need time to think things through. Besides, I made a promise to a friend of mine a long time ago, and I'm gonna keep it."
Tony stood there for a moment before hugging his son once more.
"...Say hi to Shuri for me," he said and they both chuckled. "Goodbye, son."
"Goodbye... Iron Man."
Max then went upstairs, got dressed into fresh clothes, and drove off with Phil.
"...So you watch Supernanny?"
"Yeah... doesn't everybody?" he asked.
"I certainly don't."
They then just sat in silence for the most part. They were about an hour or two from where they were heading to, when Coulson stopped at a gas station.
"Gonna get us some breakfast. Need anything?"
"I'll have whatever you're getting, thanks," Max answered, then closed his eyes as he had fallen asleep at one point.
He was soon awoken by the sound of gunshots and he quickly got out and ran towards the building.
"What the hell's going on?!!," he yelled and saw two robbers were unconscious, the place a mess and Coulson buying a few packages of two different types of mini donuts.
"Everything's fine, Max," Phil assured him and placed some money on the table. "Keep the change."
"Wait!," the frightened cashier said. "What should I tell the police?"
"Tell them all those Tae Bo tapes really paid off."
He and Max then walked out and drove off.
"You're a strange guy, Phil."
"Thank you."
"So what is it exactly that we're going to New Mexico for?" he asked as he opened up one of the chocolate mini donut packages.
"There were some mysterious energy fluctuations out in the desert, and some crashed into the ground. They both originate from space."
"A meteorite?"
"We're not sure," he answered.
They continued to talk, getting to know each other better. Until they reached the crash site, where they saw a lot of people had already found it.
"Sir," Phil said to Fury on the phone. "We found it."
Max just continued to look and saw that the object that crashed was no meteorite.
It was a hammer.
Now we're into the first Thor movie. Hope you like this, and I hope you're glad that it's longer than usual. I know it might've seemed a bit fast paced, but I wanted to get to this part. Until the next chapter is up, see ya later.