"Hey kid, catch," Tony tossed a small, metal… something at Thomas, who was caught off guard and dropped it. As soon as the trinket hit the tile floor it broke into many pieces. "What was that for, why'd you break my thing? Look at me. Look at it. I invite into my home and break my stuff."
"I, uhh… Sorry?"
"I'm messing with you, that's the inside of a broken clock that I was going to throw away."
"You have got to be kidding me," Peter whispered to Ned.
"So, I assume you want to hear about all about my Ironman suit and how I fight crime and all that jazz, am I right?" They all grinned and nodded, excluding Peter who glared. "Too bad. I'm going to educate you on something else because all of you can become scientists but none of you can become me. So, science. Be sure to listen, this is good. Peter, I'm talking to you."
"Kill me. Ned, I'm dead serious," Peter whispered.
"There are many different fields within science, such as engineering, genetics, mechanics, and thermonuclear astrophysics. Anyone can find something scientific that intrigues them. But I don't care about everyone so I'm going to talk about me. I am primarily an electrical engineer and physicist. I attended MIT at 15 and have a masters in both fields, but I'm sure you already know that. If you google me, which I'm willing to bet most of you have done, it shows up on my Wiki page. What you might not know, is what I do as a mechanical engineer and physicist. And basically, I do whatever I want whenever I want because I'm Tony Stark."
"Uh, Mr. Stark, I don't think this is the presentation Ms. Potts was expecting," Amanda interjected.
"... Okay. So, science."
"I seriously don't think this could go much worse," Peter told Ned.
"At least he's not embarrassing you," Ned replied.
"Yet." Peter glared accusingly at Tony.
"Science is a very important part of everything in the world," Tony continued. "There is a scientific reason for everything that happens. Even Neanderthals used science and technology. Now, back to me. As an electrical engineer, I-"
"Uh, hey Tony?" Bruce asked from the door. All of the students tuned towards him in shock and awe.
"Hey Bruce, I'm in the middle of a presentation so-"
"Yeah that's what I'm here for. Pepper had Friday listen in and she asked me to tell you that you're doing a horrible job and that if you don't start doing a decent job she's going to fire you. Her words, not mine."
"She can't fire me from my own company."
"She says it's her company, she can."
"Well then why don't you come talk to them?"
"I don't really think that that's necessary…"
"No, no, it is. Just say a few words. Come on."
"Tony, I really don't think that I- I mean, they came to hear you speak. I'm not giving a presentation on this floor."
"I insist."
"Tony-I mean Mr. Stark, there's no reason to force Bruce to give a presentation-" Amanda started.
"I-I guess I don't mind," Bruce said.
"See? He's fine with it," Bruce told Amanda who sighed, defeated. "Alright Bruce, what do you have to say?"
"So, ah, let's start off with questions. Uh yeah, anyone?" Bruce questioned.
"Usually you end with questions, but whatever works," Tony told him.
"Not when you don't have a topic," Bruce growled. "Yes, you, what's your question?"
"So the drones, how are they different from the drones you can buy off Amazon?" Talia asked.
"Excellent question. Has Dr. Smith told you a bit about these drones?" Talia nodded. "Okay, so you know their purpose, right?" She nodded again. "Wonderful. So your average Amazon drone weighs a very small amount and that's because of the size of the propellers. Small propellers can't carry much weight. What we at Stark Industries are aiming to do is invent a drone that isn't as big as, say, a bogey, but can still carry a rather large load. The way the load, which is water, is carried is in a large container with straps that attach to the drone. The problem is the weight of the water. In order to fix this problem, we're working with a scientist in Wakanda under the instruction of Shuri to make propellers strong enough. Anyone else?" Bruce kept eye contact with Peter the whole time, since he was the only student he knew. Ned noticed and was aggravated.
"Yeah, I have a question," Flash said. Peter and Ned exchanged worried glances. "Is Wakanda doing all of your science work? Because at the last floor Wakanda was helping with freak DNA and now they're making your propellers." Bruce was visibly frustrated by Flash's question. Flash was visibly enjoying pissing off one of the smartest people to ever walk the earth.
"No, Wakanda is helping with two of our biggest and most life-changing projects which also happen to be our two hardest projects. The scientists of Wakanda are very busy helping countries around the world, including the U.S. It is no secret that they are the most advanced nation on the planet, but they don't have the answer to everything, nor are they going to give away their own products if they can help someone else make it for themselves. As for 'freak DNA,' -" Tony put an arm around Bruce and turned him slightly away from the students.
"Heyheyhey, it's alright. Calm down Bruce. The kid's an asshole, no need to get worked up," Tony said quietly to him.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Bruce agreed. Then he turned to Amanda. "What time is it? I need to get to my presentation in time."
"It's, uuh, 10:46," she answered.
"I should get going, then. Thanks for uh, you know." He nodded quickly to Tony and rushed passed everyone. "See you soon, Peter," he added as he passed him.
"Yep," Peter acknowledged, not being able to ignore the impulse to look right at Flash, whose brows were furrowed in frustration. Ned tried to hide a laugh with a few forced coughs.
"Thank you, Dr. Banner," Talia called after him. He waved with one hand while closing the door behind him with the other, never looking back.
"You," Tony said, turning on Flash. "I don't like you. Friday!"
"Yes, sir?" Friday's voice filled the room.
"Put this kid on the list of people never allowed in here ever again under any circumstances."
"Putting Eugene Thompson on your 'Asshats List'"
"Okay, where was I before Bruce came in?" Tony wondered aloud.
"You were talking about yourself," Flash said, rolling his eyes.
"New rule, you're not allowed to talk. At all. It's just me." Flash snarled and crossed his arms aggressively. "So, I'm an engineer and physicist. My job in Stark Industry is currently as the guy who makes all of the cool stuff for the Avengers and is the one of the head workers on the drone project. I was supposed to talk strictly about my SI work- Pepper's rule, not mine- but I can see that I'm losing some of you already, so I'll cut right to the cool stuff. For the Avengers I use nothing but cutting-edge technology. Once something becomes outdated I update everything. New technology comes out pretty often, be it coding, systems, wiring, or material. Shuri of Wakanda has been kind enough to give the Avengers enough vibranium and knowledge to update every piece of armor, weapon, or technology we use so I've been very busy. Even before Wakandan help, I was in the middle of updating everything so I've fallen behind the times at this point.
"Have you met Steve Rogers yet?" The students nodded. "His new nanotech expanding shield was going to be the most advanced of technology a shield could be, but now it is far from it. His next shield will be even more lightweight, durable, and extend into a forcefield. It'll also be made with nanotech. My suit has always been the absolute pinnacle of science, but the Black Panther suit is 10 times more advanced. The next Ironman will be made of vibranium and nanotech. It will come out of the arc reactor." He tapped his chest for emphasis.
"The team's comms will reach farther with better quality and be smaller and easier to use. Sam's bird suit will be easier to control and lighter weight. His goggles will be more advanced. Clint won't let anyone make his bow high tech, he claims it'll mess him up and he doesn't need and and he doesn't want any new tech arrows because he says his work just fine and he won't let me make him some Wakanda style hearing implants because a certain Spider-Man got him to watch Alien. Natasha is getting some new tech as well, not that she needs any. Have any of you seen that YouTube video of Nakia and Okoye in the car chase and Okoye's feet stick to the roof of the car?" Talia and Carmen nodded.
"She's getting that. Have you seen the video of that car chase where a car is driving itself with King T'Challa riding on it?" Carmen and Thomas nodded. "Yeah, she's getting a few of those, too. Do you know how they work? No? Well, when you put one on a car, it takes over the car's controls and it can be driven by someone not on site. In the case of that specific car chase, it was Shuri driving the car back in Wakanda, make sense?" More nodding. "Oh! And Bruce is getting some nanotech clothes so that he's not naked when he de-Hulks."
"Hey, Mr. Stark, I think that's a good place to end it. It's time for us to move on to our next lab," Dr. Smith told him.
"Oh, alright. Goodbye everyone. It was nice seeing… most of you." He raised his hand in salutation and headed out. "Hey, Pete, should I keep an eye out for this kid? He seems like trouble?" he whispered as he passed Peter.
"He's always like this, I just deal with it."
"Okay, I'm going to tell Friday to look out."
"You don't need to do that."
"Already did. See you later, kid." He patted Peter on the shoulder and left.
I feel like I always start with sorry for taking so long but I am sorry it's been taking so long. My hockey season is over so hopefully I'll be able to get these chapters out faster. I'm also going to start doing what I've seen other authors doing and replying to your comments so here:
FluffyKatFan I hope I'm embarrassing Flash enough for you!
Fanatic2018 I'm glad you liked it and can relate!
LoonyLovegood1981 I hope you loved the next one just as much!
Aslan's Daughter I will try to get as much Steve and Bucky in it as naturally as possible but I don't want it to be Bucky and Steve centric, you know? I'm trying to think of the best way to incorporate Nat and Pepper being together (to roast Flash) which is something I've been thinking of for sooo long. Thanks!
Teresa Thank you!
FluffyKatFan Haha I'm glad you liked it.
SummerWulfe and thank you for reading it!
i-am-the-ultimate-dark-lord I hope my Black Widow scene was good enough, but there will be more.
Malina Anika ...maybe ok yes I ship Blitz and Hearth so hard
Princess Naina thanks!
FluffyKatFan thank you so much you are such a great fan i love that you've been reading from the beginning:)
rach2322 thanks!
lady foxzy thank you!
AD well… i wasn't planning on incorporating her in this story. Sorry!
i-am-the-ultimate-dark-lord thanks for following!
Marvelcrazed Thanks! I definitely need luck with my schedule, it's crazy lol. I'll try to update as often as possible.