Disclaimer: I do not own Iron Man or the Avengers and unfortunately never will.
AN: I'm not going to apologize for how short this chapter is, because I'll probably post again later today, but I will apologize for how long it has been since I've posted. I sort of lost interest in this story, but I think I have it back. This ought to be over by the end of the summer, and I'll hopefully have the "Avenger Bee" (working title, suggestions are welcome) up before IM3 comes out.
Fury and Tony sat in the middle of the destroyed living room. "You are so lucky that my bedroom is still in one piece," Biela informed Tony as she sat down. "Otherwise, you'd be dead meat." "That thing in your chest is based on unfinished technology," Fury told Tony. "No, it was finished," Tony argued. "It's never been particularly effective until I miniaturized it and put it in my…" "No," Fury interrupted. "Howard said the arc reactor was a stepping stone to something greater. He was about to kick off an energy race that was going to dwarf the arms race. He was on to something big, something so big that it was going to make the nuclear reactor look like a triple-A battery." "Just him, or was Anton Vanko in on this too?" Tony asked as he poured himself another drink.
"Anton Vanko is the other side of that coin," Fury explained. "Anton 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 shipped his ass off to Siberia and he spent the next twenty years in a vodka-fuelled rage. Not quite the environment you want to raise a kid in, the 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, taking another drink.
"He said that," Tony said in disbelief. "Mm-hmm," Fury replied. "Are you that guy?" he asked. "Hm? Are you? 'Cause if you are, then you can solve the riddle of your heart." "That sounds like a line from the romance movies that Pepper likes," Biela commented. Tony was still staring at Fury and shaking his head. "I don't know where you're getting this information, but, uh, he wasn't my biggest fan." "What do you remember about your dad, huh?" Fury asked. "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 telling me he said the whole future was riding on me, and he's passing down…I don't get that. You're talking about a guy whose happiest day was when he shipped me off to boarding school."
"That's not true," Fury said. "Well, then clearly you know my dad better than I did," Tony said, leaning back and putting his feet up. "As a matter of fact, I did," Fury said. "He was one of the founding members of SHIELD." Tony sat up quickly. "What?" he asked. "I knew that," Biela said smugly. Two agents carried in a large chest. "I've got a two o'clock," Fury said, standing up. "Wa-wa-wa-wa-wait," Tony said. "What's this?" he asked, also standing. "Okay, you're good, right?" Fury said, checking his watch. "No, I'm not alright," Tony said. "You-you got this," Fury said turning to leave. "Got what?" Tony asked as Fury left. "I don't even know what I'm supposed to get!" "Natasha will remain a floater at Stark with her cover intact and you remember Agent Coulson, right?" "Yeah," Tony said. "And Miss Stark has already been briefed on some of the answers to your questions," Fury added as he left.
Tony turned to look at Biela in amazement. She stuck her tongue out. "That's what you get for leaving me to my own devices while you try to hide the fact that you're dying from me." "Oh, and Tony," Fury said, turning back. "Remember: I got my eye on you." Tony only stared as Fury turned and walked away. "We've disabled all communications, no contact with the outside world," Natasha informed him. "Good luck!" she said with a smirk as she also left.
Tony looked at Coulson. "Please," he said with a small shake of his head. "First thing, I need a little body work, I'll put in a little time in the lab, if you could send one of your goon squad down to the Coffee Bean cross the street for a Starbucks run or something like that?" he asked as he walked towards Coulson. "I'm not here for that," Coulson said cheerily. "I've been authorized by Director Fury to use any means necessary to keep you on premises. If you attempt to leave…" "Right," Tony said. "Play any games," Coulson continued. "I will taze you and watch Supernanny while you drool into the carpet. 'Kay?" "Bee, you're really going to let him do that?" Tony pleaded, looking back at her. "I could taze you instead, if you'd rather," she offered. "Still mad at you." Tony turned back to Coulson. "I got it." "Enjoy your evening's entertainment," Coulson said, turning and walking away. Tony and Biela both looked at the box. It read, "Property of H. Stark."