Twelve

October 23, 2016 – Back in the Game!

"Hello everyone and welcome back to my channel!" Tony rubbed his hands together. "I am Tony Stark and above all else, I am an engineer." He clapped his hands together. "Today is an exciting day becauseeeee…" He dragged the word out. "I get to get back to being a superhero again! I am still on light duty but I am allowed to get in the Iron Man suit today, which let's be real…It's one of my favorite places to be!"

Tony stepped to the side and the camera followed to a new Iron Man suit.

"This is the latest version of my suit. No, I won't show you the schematics, you cheeky things! But it does have an increased protection for my chest and I have equipped it with a selfie camera and exterior cameras for tours, like we are going to do today. So let's switch to the selfie cam. FRIDAY?"

"Selfie cam initiated."

"And…."

FRIDAY sighed. "Say cheese."

"That's my girl."

FRIDAY sighed louder.

Tony frowned.

"Did something happen, Fri?"

"Lancaster lost…" She sounded so sad. Tony didn't know how to respond.

"I am sorry to hear that, maybe they'll shoot a home run in the next game?"

"It's FOOTBALL, soccer! Black and white ball. Honestly, Boss, don't try and make me feel better, you wouldn't understand anything that doesn't have a circuit board. Happy will understand."

"I am an understanding parent."

FRIDAY sniffed.

"Anyways…." Tony changed the subject, feeling offended. "Let's get in the Suit." Tony raised his wrist and clenched it in a fist and the suit surrounded his body, encasing it in gold alloy with red accents. The selfie cam turned on when Tony got settled. "Let's fly."

Tony stepped on a circle on the floor that opened a spot in the roof.

"Thrusters engage."

"Engaged, Boss." FRIDAY responded. Then Tony looked giddily at the camera.

"Blastoff." The thrusters responded to his jump and then he was airborne. "Woohoo!" He shouted as he made his way through the sky and spun around a couple times. He paused in his journey, remaining airborne. "FRI, switch to exterior camera." The camera switched. Below him was a beautiful view of Manhattan. "This is my favorite thing in the world. This view. It makes all the broken bones, all the failed attempts at making an Iron Suit…it was all worth it. Because I get to see this. Anyways, to the Avengers compound!" He shot off in the sky, avoiding birds, small planes and the like, landing successfully at the Avengers compound. "This is the recently renovated Avengers Compound. I am not in charge of the Avengers anymore, that is Rhodey and Carol Danvers, who you will meet in a little while. Any decisions that are made, are made without me. I have enough going on."

Tony walked through the Compound, pointing out various training rooms, residential spaces and ending up at the door of Avengers Initiative Co-Leader – Captain Carol Danvers.

He knocked on the door. It opened and a young woman was on the other side.

"Tony." She said warmly.

"Hi, Carol. Ready to meet my loyal fans?" He teased.

She laughed. "Of course." She opened the door and went to the other side of her desk and sat down.

"Full name?"

"Carol Danvers."

"Superhero name?"

"Captain Marvel."

"Education?"

"I joined the Air Force right out of high school."

"Why the Air Force?"

Carol laughed to herself. "It sounds kind of silly now but I wanted to be like Amelia Earhart."

"I don't think that's silly. I'm sure Amelia would be honored."

"I'd like to think so."

"Do you like being an Avenger?"

"It is challenging but I like helping people, so yes."

"Is it hard working with Rhodey?"

"No, he's very respectful, which is something I don't usually deal with, being a woman."

"Rhodey's good like that. Pets?"

"Yes, one. Goose."

"Cat? Dog?"

"I would say she's most like a cat. Looks like an Earth feline but she's actually a Flerken."

Tony paused.

"A Flerken." He repeated.

"Yes, looks like a domestic cat but actually can open its mouth and turn into the most vicious protector you've ever met. It's how Nick Fury lost his eye in the 90's."

"Goose. Right."

"He's the best."

"Right… Anyways! That's all the questions I have for Carol. Thank you Carol!"

"Anytime, Tony. Hope to see you in the field soon."

"Working on it."

"Stay safe."

The video blanked out and then opened back up. They were outside in an outdoor training arena, Captain Marvel and War-Machine were training. Rhodey fought her back, the Captain was stronger than she looked and then when she got irritated, her eyes glowed orange and she floated in the air and pulsed photon energy at War Machine and he went flying.

Tony clapped his hands and Carol returned to the ground and her eyes returned to their natural color.

"Good show!"

Peter walked into school and heard all sorts of whispers.

"Did you see the video Tony uploaded? About the Avengers? Crazy stuff, I never knew they had so many problems. I wonder what happened?" One said to their friend.

"Like did Captain America really almost kill him? Sounds like super overreaction much?"

"Totally. And if he does blame Tony, isn't that like victim blaming?"

"Totally is. Not cool at all."

Peter walked closer to his locker.

"Did you hear what Captain Marvel said about Goose? Any cat could be like that! Man, I'm being nicer to cats from now on."

"Shouldn't you always be nice?" A girl responded, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, I mean, I am but extra nice."

"Hm. You should be extra nice to every creature, not just ones that could maim you."

"Well, I mean…"

"Hmph." She flipped her hair and walked away and the boy hung his head.

"Sorry bro."

"It's alright. I just wanted her to talk to me and now I look like an asshole. I love cats, you know that!"

"I know dude. Forget her, there's plenty others."

He sighed. "You're right." He closed his locker with a click.

Peter held no reaction in his face to the hilarious conversations and opened his locked and was about to reach in when his spider sense tingled and he yanked his hand back, his locker door slamming shut, everyone becoming silent to watch Flash stalk up into Peter's personal space.

"You are a LIAR!" He punched the locker. The girls around him jumped and backed away as Peter didn't even flinch.

"Why is that, Flash?" He asked, annoyed.

"Because your internship is a fake!"

"It isn't."

"IT IS!" Flash sneered. "I asked Tony himself and he responded to me on his video! He said he doesn't take high school kids."

"Um, actually he said he had a personal intern that was a high schooler." Peter pointed out.

"And you expect me to believe that that person is you?" Flash asked with disgust.

Which unfair. He wasn't that bad.

"I am his personal intern!" Peter repeated.

"You expect me to believe, you, Penis Parker, who has no parents, an orphan, taken in by your aunt for PITY, has gotten the attention of Tony Stark?" He laughed viciously. "You're a joke. Joke! Joke! Joke!" He chanted. Peter watched as his jock friends joined in on the chant. Most girls hiding a smile at Flash and avoiding eye contact with Peter.

"Fuck off, Flash." He spat and walked away.

He hated high school.

He'd show them.

He'd show them all.

He opened his phone. I want on the show. Get me on the next one.

You sure? You said you wanted to be anonymous.

I'm sure.

Alright, kid. Come over tomorrow.

I'll be there.