Thank you for the comments for the first chapter. I wasn't expecting such a response!

In this chapter, they start to watch the first Iron Man. Parts of the film are just described. Other parts of it are fully written out. I want a balance between the two. Things that I feel the characters will react to are fully written out. I hope this technique isn't too jarring.

Bucky is in the room as well. I didn't mention everyone in the room in the previous chapter but just to clarify:

From Team Iron Man: Tony, Rhodey, Vision, Natasha*
From Team Cap: Steve, Bucky, Clint, Wanda, Sam
From Team Thor: Thor and Bruce

*Natasha is counted as Team Iron Man here even though she did help Steve in the end. She is sitting more towards the middle-ground.

Understanding the Real Hero: Iron Man

Two

They all positioned themselves on separate sofas.

Tony sat on the far end of the left sofa in front of the screen. Rhodey sat next to him with Bruce and Thor joining them, leaving the rest of the sofa for Vision and Natasha. Steve sat on the right sofa, sat next to Natasha with Bucky and Sam next to him, with Wanda and Clint taking up the rest.

Rhodey took the controls and pressed play.

There was a convoy of Humvees speeding down a road in the middle of know where.

"Fuck," Tony swore. It had to start here, didn't it?

"Language," retorted Steve.

"Shut up, Rogers! This is my life you're seeing; I can swear as much as I want because I did not want you to ever know about this time of my life!" Tony said back, a little bit of anger boiling through him. If he had to sit through nine movies of Rogers constantly criticizing him, Tony wasn't sure Steve would make it out of this room completely intact.

Then AC/DC's "Back in Black" began to play over the sound of the Humvee's trailing through the desert.

"You always liked your music," commented Natasha.

A hand holding a small glass of alcohol appeared on the screen.

"Here we go," muttered Tony. Knowing what was coming next was not something he was looking forward to reliving.

Two soldiers were looking at the drinker. The camera shows a younger-looking Tony Stark, sitting in the back of the Humvee, taking a sip from the drink. Tony glances around uneasily at the soldiers. "I feel like you are driving me to a court-martial. What did I do? I feel like you're going to pull over and snuff me. What? Are you not allowed to talk?"

Steve frowned. "You shouldn't be so disrespectful of soldiers. They put their lives on the line every day."

Wanda sneered. "Something Stark would never do."

"The day Stark puts his life on the line is the day I'll bow in honour of him, which will never happen," scoffed Clint.

Tony wanted to retort but he figured there would be no point. Had Clint forgotten the sacrifice Tony had nearly made when they had first formed the team? Was he so hated by his former team-mates that they had forgotten what Tony had already done for them?

Tony on-screen looks at the soldier next to him. "Hey, Forrest!"

"We can talk sir," the young man replied.

Tony looks away. "Oh, so it's personal."

Steve rolled his eyes."Is it so hard for you to believe you are not that likable?"

Rhodey moved to retort but Tony laid a hand on his friend's arm. "It's not worth it," he urged quietly.

The woman sitting in the front of the Humvee replied that Tony intimidated them. Tony seemed surprised and commented he was surprised she was a woman and he wouldn't have been able to call that. He said he'd apologise but it wasn't what they were going for. He had thought of her as a soldier first.

The woman responded that she was an airman.

Tony was stunned by the revelation. "You have actually excellent bone structure there. I'm kinda having a hard time not looking at you now. Is that weird?"

Everyone muttered yes.

"Always a playboy… How Pepper Potts puts up with you, who knows," slighted Clint.

The soldiers laughed.

Tony urged them to laugh, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Sir, I have a question to ask." The soldier sitting next to the woman turned to face Tony.

Tony held up his drink. "Yes, please."

"Is it true you went twelve for twelve with last year's Maxim cover models?"

Tony removed his sunglasses. "That is an excellent question."

"Really?" Steve condemned.

"Seems like a rubbish one to me," sneered Wanda. "This movie is showing us what we already know. Stark is selfish and cares for nothing other than himself!"

Bruce shifted in his seat. "All this hatred of Tony is unnerving."

"It's not our fault Stark is easy to criticise!" hissed Wanda.

Tony sighed. They were only at the beginning and already he was feeling ganged up on.

Tony explained that March and he had a scheduling conflict but it was fortunate the Xmas cover was twins. He went onto ask if there was anything else.

Forrest raised a hand tentatively.

"You're kidding me with the hand up, right?"

The soldier blushed and put his hand down. The soldier wanted to know if it was cool to take a picture with Tony.

Wanda nearly gagged. "Who'd want a photo with Stark?"

Tony had to bite his tongue from retorting.

Tony said it was very cool. Forest smiled and got out his camera and passed it to the soldier in front. Forrest leaned in closer to Tony and then he raised his hand and made the peace sign. Tony commented he didn't want the photo on his MySpace page and to not use any gang signs. Forrest lowered his hand.

"No, throw it up! I'm kidding!"

"Doesn't sound like you were joking," observed Bruce.

Tony was sitting with his head in his hands. "I was a bit of an idiot back then… Completely focused on myself and not others."

"You still focus on yourself," whispered Wanda but loud enough to still be heard by everyone in the room.

"Wanda," said Vision quietly, "can you please not make such hurtful comments without knowing the full truth?"

Wanda frowned but relented from commenting further.

Tony said he loved peace, but he'd be out of a job with peace.

"That's not true," said Tony, hardly daring to believe how much of a conceited git he had been. He'd changed for the better.

Forrest began to get impatient, urging the soldier in the front seat to take the photo. "Come on! Hurry up! Just click it! Don't change any settings. Just click it!"

Then the Humvee in front exploded, scattering debris and rained down dust around them.

"What was that?" roared Thor as everyone jumped in their seats.

"A shell or mine," said Tony. "They are implanted in the road and undetectable unless you are making a point of searching for them. We lost quite a few soldiers through stealth attacks like that. We'd used that road earlier in the day… the insurgents must have planted a mine whilst I was carrying out the demonstration I was there for."

Every soldier screamed as the dust and fire fell around them. The woman in the front yelled: "Contact left!"

Tony was trying to keep it cool, though it was clear he was anxious. He wanted to know what was going on and glanced at the soldier next to him.

"His name was Jimmy," said Tony quietly. He'd made a point of finding out the names of all the soldiers who had died defending him. He would never forget them.

On-screen they could hear guns firing all around the Humvee. The airwoman opened the door and was instantly killed by a hail of bullets. The man in front turned around, yelling at his subordinate, Jimmy, to stay with Stark.

As the soldier exited the Humvee, Tony was pushed down by Jimmy in an effort to protect him. Jimmy ordered him to stay down, just as the other soldier set up a defensive position on the bonnet of the Humvee.

But it was no use. He, too, died within seconds, his blood splattering against the windscreen Tony could see out of.

Steve winced. "This is… this…"

"Bloodthirsty," swallowed Natasha.

Tony turned his head away from the screen. He knew what was coming. He couldn't watch.

"Tony?" Bruce asked quietly. "Are you okay?"

Gritting his teeth, Tony glanced at Bruce. "I'm fine!"

Jimmy was readying his gun, fiddling with the settings. "Son of a bitch!" He continued to fiddle harder with his gun.

Not even Steve made a comment on the language.

Tony cast his eyes around, trying not to give away how desperate he was feeling. He saw movement out of the corner of his eye as Jimmy opened the door, preparing to get out.

Tony reached across, demanding a gun but Jimmy had already left the Humvee and yelled through the window for him to stay there.

Tony once again closed his eyes and then heard the horror of his companion's shouts as they witnessed a surge of bullets rocket through the Humvee, narrowly missing Tony in his seat and killing Jimmy instantly.

"NO!" Steve yelled, aghast at the bloodthirstiness of the situation, aware that this was the reality of war.

"I should have been there," said Rhodey quietly.

Tony risked opening his eyes. "I'm glad you weren't. They killed everyone there."

"I should have protected you," muttered Rhodey glumly.

"You were there?" asked Thor.

Rhodey nodded. "Tony had left me behind… We were about six minutes behind Tony's convoy. By the time we reached it…" He closed his eyes and shuddered. "We were too late…"

Tony moved to the right in his seat, opened the door, and tumbled out into the desert.

"Why'd you get out for?" yelled Steve. "He told you to stay!"

Tony felt anger rip through him. "If I'd stayed it wouldn't have changed the outcome of this." Though a part of him realised if he had stayed, it would have been unlikely of him to have had the chest injury… He hadn't known it at the time. And Tony did know the terrorists had started the attack with the intention to kill him… until they had learned who he was.

Tony ducked as a missile exploded close by him. Tony ran for it, heading to an outcropping of rocks and dived behind them as explosions rocked all around him. Scrambling in his pocket, he pulled out his phone –

"Really, Stark? Phoning someone?" scoffed Wanda.

Tony wanted to respond but there was no point. He remembered thinking of wanting to talk to Pepper one last time. He'd been about to call her…

He was trying to keep composed but to the right of him landed a small missile in the sand with the logo of Stark Industries plastered across the side of it.

"Uh, oh…" muttered Sam. "Get out of there, Stark!"

Tony saw the missile, his mind working furiously as he realised what weapon it was. He tried to scramble back but it exploded, sending him flying backward. He flung up an arm to protect his face and landed heavily on his back.

Rhodey paled, looking shocked.

"This is it, isn't it?" asked Bruce.

Clint glanced at him. "What do you mean?"

"How Tony got the Arc Reactor," confirmed Bruce.

Tony lay on his back, groaning, and struggling to maintain consciousness. He glanced down and saw blood seeping through his white shirt.

"Shit," breathed Steve.

The blood coated his shirt.

His head hit back in the sand again and his whole body went limp as he fell unconscious.

"So, that's what happened?" whispered Rhodey, head bowed.

Tony nodded. "Yeah. They must have grabbed me quickly. Next thing I knew…" He didn't want to think about it.

A strange material was covering the screen, a bright light shining through it and they could hear a strange language being spoken.

The material was pulled off and it was revealed to be Tony. He blinked and turned his head slowly inspecting his surroundings. There were cuts all over his face. He swallowed and saw a camera aimed at him and he was surrounded by men holding guns. The camera panned out and they saw Tony's chest wrapped with heavy bandages, some still stained with blood. Tony's hands were bound behind him as the men holding him continued to speak in another language.

"Well, shit," dropped Clint.

Tony winced. They were finally seeing what he had suffered.

"They were filming you… We never received any communication from them…" frowned Rhodey.

Tony lowered his gaze. "It wasn't for you."

The screen went dark and the words 'IRON MAN' appeared.

Wanda curled up. She glanced at Tony. "I didn't know…"

Tony threw her a look. "What? That I was hit by my own weapon and held captive? Hardly anyone knew what happened here," he sighed. He was surprised she was showing a small amount of sympathy for him. He didn't think it would last long either. He turned his attention back to the screen.

"Tony Stark."

The scene reformed into a large banquet hall with pictures of Tony scattered all over. The words 'Las Vegas' captioned over the screen, followed by '36 Hours earlier'.

Tony groaned. "Great…" They had to show this, didn't they?

The voice continued as the lights darkened in the banquet hall.

"Visionary. Genius. American Patriot."

Steve snorted. Tony scowled.

Images of Tony flashed up on a large screen projected above the audience. There were magazines and posters of him as the voice-over continued to talk about him.

"Even from an early age –" There was a shot of a young Tony. "The son of legendary weapons developer, Howard Stark," they showed a picture of Howard, "quickly stole the spotlight with his brilliant and unique mind. At age four he built his first circuit board, at age six his first engine."

"Wow," whistled Sam impressed. "You really did all of that?"

Tony nodded. "Sure did. Not that it impressed my father much… He was always pushing for more."

Steve frowned. "You must have got it wrong, Tony. Howard wasn't like that."

"And you knew him for how long, Rogers?" Tony rolled his eyes. Steve's belief he knew Howard better than his own son… "People change, Rogers. I was born nearly thirty years after the Second World War. I think I knew him better than you ever did."

"And at seventeen he graduated summa cum laude from MIT." There was a shot of Tony kneeling next to Dummy. "Then, the passing of a Titan." There was a photo of Howard shown on screen, confirming his death in a tragic car accident, (Bucky winced at seeing the misleading headlines.) followed by one of Howard and his business partner, Obadiah Stane. "Howard Stark's lifelong friend and ally, Obadiah Stane, steps in to help fill the gap left by the legendary founder, until at the age of twenty-one, the prodigal son returns and is anointed the new CEO of Stark Industries."

A cover of Forbes flashed up on the screen of Tony and Stane.

The screen focused on Stane, sitting in the audience, clapping.

Tony felt anger and hurt rush through him. Obadiah's betrayal still stung all these years later.

"With the keys to the kingdom, Tony ushers in a new era for his father's legacy, creating smarter weapons, advanced robotics, satellite targeting –" Schematics of missiles flitted across the screen. The Rolling Stones cover dominated the screen showing a photo of Tony with the words 'Tony Stark wants to save the world'.

"I still want to save the world," muttered Tony. He knew something big was coming. They weren't alone in the universe. He'd supported the Accords because he knew he needed to be on the world's side when the inevitable happened. The fact they were sitting here having to watch these movies only proved his belief right.

Something was coming.

And they were already unprepared for it because Rogers had refused to compromise.

"Today Tony Stark has changed the face of the weapons industry, ensuring freedom and protecting America and her interests around the globe."

Wanda glared at the screen. "If that was true, Sokovia…" She stopped. Her own country had been in turmoil for years.

The presentation ended with a photo of Tony standing in the middle of the screen, flanked by Air Force ships. Everyone in the room clapped as the presentation video ended.

A man now stood at the podium in the centre of the stage.

"Hey, Platypus!" grinned Tony.

Rhodey groaned. "Not my best look…"

Rhodey was wearing his Air Force suit. A spotlight beamed down on him as he leaned down to the mic. He explained he was the liaison to Stark Industries and that he'd had the unique privilege of serving with a real patriot. He continued explaining he was a friend and a great mentor, and it was his honour to present the Apogee Award to Tony Stark.

"And you weren't even there…" grumbled Rhodey.

Tony winced. The start of this film wasn't showing him in a good light at all. He tried to ignore the looks Team Cap was giving him. He didn't need to see the condemnation on their faces.

People clapped around the room as a spotlight shone on an empty chair at a table set in the middle of the room where Stane sat. Rhodey, holding the trophy, looks around. He asked for Tony and Obadiah shook his head in disappointment. Rhodey seemed uncomfortable, loss of words due to Tony's non-appearance. Obadiah rose from his chair and proceeded through the crowd to the podium where he takes the award from Rhodey, thanking the Colonel.

Rhodey mutters quietly: "Thanks for the save."

Obadiah turns to the audience as they continue to clap. He pointed out he wasn't Tony Stark, but if he was Tony, he would feel honoured and what a joy it would be to receive such a prestigious award. He said the best thing about Tony was also his worst thing, as he was always working.

Tony winced again. He was certain the criticism was about to come again as soon as they saw what he was up to instead of being at the award ceremony.

"I'll take a guess. Stark isn't working. He'll be slacking," interjected Clint nastily.

He was proven right seconds later as the scene changed to Tony gambling, surrounded by beautiful women as he threw dice across a table. He head-butted his bodyguard, Happy Hogan's, shoulder softly before turning round to flirt with the women surrounding him, declaring they should stay till morning.

Rhodey appeared from behind him, commenting that he was unbelievable.

"I don't want to hear it, Rogers!" Tony said.

"I wasn't going to say anything!" Steve replied.

"Sure you weren't…" Tony rolled his eyes.

Tony asked Rhodey if he had been roped into this. Rhodey replied no one had and Tony apologised.

"No, you're not," interjected Wanda. "You don't care about anyone but yourself."

That may have been true then, but it does not apply now, Tony had to remind himself.

Rhodey started to explain that he had been told Tony would be deeply honoured if Rhodey was the one to present him with the award, but Tony interrupted that he would be deeply honoured that it was him and asked when would he do it.

Rhodey held up the trophy. "It's right here. There you go."

Tony turned to face Rhodey. "I really am sorry about that…"

A slight smile tugged at Rhodey's face. "I know. But, back then, you didn't really care. Who you are now is someone who would care."

"Thanks," whispered Tony quietly.

Tony is slightly distracted by the game but noticed the award. "There it is. That was easy." Tony looked Rhodey in the eye. "I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, it's okay."

"Not at the time it wasn't," said Rhodey.

Tony returned his concentration back to the game. He handed the award to one of the girls, picks up the dice, and throws in a few chips.

Rhodey is looking at the girl now holding the award, and Tony holds out his hand with the dice in towards her, asking her to give him a hand. The girl blew air on Tony's fingers and he turned to Rhodey, telling him to do so as well.

"I don't blow on a man's dice."

Tony was very persuasive.

Rhodey swatted Tony's hand away forcing him to throw the dice into play.

"There it is! Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes rolls in!"

"Bad roll," commented Sam as the dealer on-screen revealed the result of the disastrous throw-in.

Rhodey shrugged. "That's what happens."

"Worse things have happened," said Tony. "I think we're gonna be fine. Colour me up, will you?"

Tony was now walking out of the casino. Rhodey shakes his hand, telling Tony he would have to leave and warning his friend not to be late tomorrow.

"I can be such a dick," murmured Tony. He'd been late, left Rhodey standing there waiting for him for three hours. He was sure Rogers and co. would give him flack for that too.

"Yeah, you can count on it."

"I'm serious!" Rhodey said.

Tony walks away. "I know. I know."

"You're going to be late, aren't you," accused Steve.

"Of course, he will," hissed Wanda. "Stark only cares about himself."

Tony decided not to react. Let them stay in their bubble. He knew who he was.

Tony walked through a couple having their photo taken, interrupting the shot.

Steve tutted.

"Did you not see them?" asked Bruce quietly, aware of the hate simmering in the room for Tony.

Tony shook his head. "I did. I just didn't care at the time…" He hated admitting it. If these movies were supposed to show the others who he really was, it was doing a damn good job of not doing it.

Bruce frowned but didn't make any further comment.

Tony handed the Apogee Award to one of the people in the photo as he passed them.

Outside, Tony walks to his car, escorted by a plethora of bodyguards. A woman's voice called out his name. She was a blonde woman, holding up her hands as a security agent barred her way. "Christine Everhart, Vanity Fair Magazine. Can I ask you a couple of questions?"

Tony paused at the car door. He asked Happy if she was alright and Happy replied that she was cute. Tony turned to face her, putting a broad smile on his face. "Hi!"

Christine queried if it was okay to ask him questions.

Tony stepped towards her, verifying he was good for questions.

Christine pulled a recorder out. She asked him that he had been called the Da Vinci of our time and what does he say to that?

"There is no way you are the Da Vinci of our time," said Steve. "He was a great artist. You're…"

"The best at everything he does," defended Rhodey. "Whether you like it or not, Steve, Tony is lauded for being one of the best inventors in the world. It's thanks to him the world has advanced so much in the last decade."

"It's also thanks to him that my parents are dead!" retorted Wanda angrily.

Tony rolled his eyes. When was she going to realise that the designer/manufacturer of the weapons was not responsible for how they were used? If it hadn't of been his weapons, it would have been someone else's! She wouldn't even attempt to listen if he tried to explain it to her.

"Absolutely ridiculous. I don't paint," replied onscreen Tony.

Christine asked him about his other nickname, the Merchant of Death.

"That's not bad."

"No, it's bad," said Tony. "When you have your eyes opened to the reality of what your product has been doing, you realise why that particular moniker was applied to me in the first place."

Steve glanced at him curiously.

Tony studied her, guessing the university she went to had been Berkley. She corrected him that it was Brown. Tony called her 'Ms Brown' and explained the world was imperfect but it was the only one they had. He guaranteed the day weapons were no longer needed to keep the peace, was the day he would start making bricks and beams for baby hospitals. Christine wasn't impressed and queried whether he had rehearsed that much.

Tony eyed her. "Every day in front of the mirror before bedtime."

"I can see that."

"I'd like to show you first hand."

Rhodey put his face in his hands. "You were just looking for the next squeeze."

Tony shifted uncomfortably in the sofa. "I was."

"Disgusting," sniffed Steve, the ooze of displeasure dripping out of his voice.

The looks of the others only made Tony feel worse.

Christine wanted a serious answer.

Tony obliged. "Okay, here's serious. My old man had a philosophy. 'Peace means having a bigger stick than the other guy'."

"That's a great line coming from the guy selling the sticks," accused Christine.

Tony explained his father had helped to defeat the Nazi's, had worked on the Manhattan Project, and that a lot of people, including her Professors at Brown would call that being a hero.

"And a lot of people would also call that war profiteering," countered back Christine.

"I can't believe Howard would really say that," said Steve. "You must have heard him wrong." He was so sure of himself.

"You hardly knew my father. I had him for nearly two decades. I think I'm better placed to know what my father once said," retorted Tony. How could Rogers believe Howard Stark had not changed? Experiences changed people, sometimes for the worse, but mostly for the best. Tony's own experiences had shown him how small his own bubble had been. Now it had widened to encompass the whole world.

Tony removed his glasses. "Tell me, do you plan to report on the millions we've saved by advancing medical technology or kept from starvation with our Intelli-crops? All those breakthroughs, military funding honey." Tony slightly smiled.

Christine asked him if he had ever lost an hour of sleep his whole life.

As Tony said "Yes,", Steve said "No", prompting the two to glare at one another.

"I'm prepared to lose a few with you."

Christine looked shocked and the next scene showed Tony and Christine kissing passionately on the bed, half-naked with Christine on top, straddling Tony. He rolled them off the bed. She exclaimed as they hit the floor with Tony laughing out loud.

"Did we have to see that?" asked Sam. "I hope these movies are not filled with your conquests."

"Urgh, who'd want to sleep with him?" Wanda shot Tony a hateful look.

Clint shuddered. "No one. He's delusional. No one is capable of loving him. I'm not convinced Potts really does. I mean, he promoted her to CEO, probably because she wouldn't sleep with him whilst he was her boss."

Rhodey had to lay a hand on Tony's arm. "They know nothing, Tony," he whispered quietly. "Pepper loves you. Don't forget that." Rhodey glared at Clint who stubbornly ignored him, not caring how his words had hurt Tony deeply.

Tony bit his lower lip, resisting the temptation to fight back. If he did, things would only get worse. The movie had only been on for a few minutes and he was already being accosted and insulted. He wasn't sure he'd be able to cope with a further eight movies.

This sucks.

To be continued...

Please let me know what you think!

Wanda and Clint are going to be quite against Tony. Steve is conflicted.

Not every character will say something every chapter. I am trying to work out which characters would react to what and how they would. Vision is probably the character who will say the least.

Clint's line where he says: "The day Stark puts his life on the line is the day I'll bow in honour of him, which will never happen." is in reference to the deleted scene from Avengers: Endgame where the Avengers bow to Tony after he's sacrificed himself. This is instigated by Clint. I probably will not be including deleted scenes however I do intend to include this bowing scene when they watch Endgame.

Next chapter will be posted next Sunday...

Until then,
the-writer1988