Chapter One- The Media's Field Day.
When billionaire and media-candy Tony Stark went missing, the press had no idea how to react. At first, there were mixed feelings: Possible death, he ran, went missing, POW, KIA, MIA, kidnapped, they all came up with different ways of saying the same exact thing. For the public, this was immense monotony and a waste of front page space for three weeks straight. Sure, they were shocked too when the front page read that the playboy had went missing, but for three weeks straight? That got a tad bit boring. The casinos had no idea what to do when they heard about that— Tony had been a good friend and customer. Pepper called Rhodes, yelling at him through her own tears that Tony was his priority, his charge to look after. It was, after all, the entire purpose of the inhumanly heavy security measures. To keep watch against terrorists for Tony's sake.
As we all know now, that didn't work out too well.
Imagine the look on the faces of the press when they had gotten a call from Pepper Potts, asking for a press conference. Now imagine the look on Lynn Madison's face when her boss called her at seven in the morning to wake her up and get her going to the conference.
"What? Tommy, you have GOT to be kidding me! Have you even taken a look at the clock? My shift begins in two hours! A press conference!? For what?" Lynn shouted into the receiver of her phone. Lynn Madison was an average reporter for a local newspaper in Malibu, California. Now that she thinks about it, becoming a reporter was more work that she bargained for when she signed up for the classes in high school, but it was her niche so she rather liked it.
Tommy's voice could barely be heard on the other line through the rushing jabber of other workers working to get the front line prepared for the morning edition of the paper. "What!? Tony Stark came back? Alive? Are you just pulling my leg, Tom?" She knew about Tony and his current situation. They had met only once since she was a good friend of Rhodes'. At the time, he was more drunk than a lightweight with a twelve pack of beer in him, and surrounded by two blondes, one on each arm. She had sighed heavily because she knew that she wasn't going to get a good story from a drunken man. She then proceeded to turn away from Rhodes and talk with another guest, a doctor, about the meeting. It made her uncomfortable to be around such a playboy, even though he had more public influence than a president and she was supposed to be covering that story.
The man she had talked to was nice enough— she had gotten enough information to make a small side-story on the side margins of the paper, but still make the front page. He admitted to trying to talk to Tony, but not getting much of a response. "Yeah, how could you? He's four sheets to the wind with a fifth coming fast," Was Lynn's reply.
So now here she was, brushing her dark hair and her teeth quickly so that she could make it on time. Changing into a nice, black shirt and white skirt with leggings and black shoes, the newswoman booked it to her car, uttering quiet obscenities to her boss all the way. She was not in the mood to see this drunken, billionaire playboy be surrounded by press, talking about his valiant conquest against an impromptu and dangerous three-month stay in Afghanistan. It was seven-thirty in the morning, and she was just too tired, but it was her job, so she'd sit through the damn press conference.
On the way to Stark Industries, where the meeting was to be held, Lynn devoted some time to think. The fact that Tony was back meant that business parters could take a huge breath of relief. It meant that the person who had been left in charge, Obadiah Stane, could hand the reins back over to where they belonged. Pepper must have been so thrilled when she found out. It also meant that the military... The soldiers fighting and dying by the hundreds despite Tony's best efforts, could take an even larger sigh of relief as there will be more weapons available to them in the future. Lynn thought this was a good thing. Some of her co-workers and colleagues, however, thought otherwise.
Because Tony Stark was a playboy, it couldn't be put past him to have one-night stands with reporters. One such reporter would be Christine Everhart. She worked for Vanity Fair magazine. Some reporters, including Lynn, had heard or knew about her little stand with Stark, despite the fact that she pummeled him with hateful lines and rumor-inspiring questions. Lynn had a feeling that she was going to be front-seat today with her "merciless questions" turning the whole shebang into a remake of the Spanish Inquisition. Lynn's compassionate side told her to feel sorry for Stark. He was, after all, coming back from three months in Afghanistan. Coming back to that was the probably the last thing he wanted. Then again, this was Tony Stark she was thinking about.
After parking her car, she grabbed her notebook, clearance pass, et cetera, and got out. She was one of the first ones there, but after she got out the rest of them started showing up. Now, she thought, let's see what he has to say about this excursion. As the Rolls Royce pulled up to the crowd who were now clapping, Obadiah Stane was saying something along the lines of "Look at this!" but Lynn couldn't really hear anything over the racket.
Now, being a reporter who works on the field, Lynn had seen her share of disgusting things, but she wasn't expecting this.
Two scratches, maybe more, on his face, and an arm in a sling. Oh, with a slight limp. For spending three months in a terrorist-and-gang-infested country, this was the very last thing Lynn expected. God knows where he was— not even F-22s could find him, nor the military's copters –And that was all the wounds he had? Besides the mental trauma, of course. That was surprising. He was pulling a cheeseburger from his coat as he walked up the carpet, ignoring the press' questions and the snapping of the cameras. This man is a walking contradiction. He's incomprehensible. She thought with a slight growl.
And to add to the mystery, the press conference was a total wreck. When everyone was inside and Stane gave his introduction, he handed the conference to Tony. He was sitting in front of the podium, gnawing away at the cheeseburger. "Why don't you all just sit down? It'd be more comfortable." He said. Sit down where there were no chairs? At a press conference? Did the sun turn his brain into an egg!? Nevertheless, everyone, reluctant at first, sat cross-legged on the floor. Tony concentrated on finishing the last bite of the cheeseburger, having downed the poor thing in under a minute. After finishing the bite, he said, "I never got to say goodbye to my father." Sure, it was sad, but this was supposed to be about what was going to happen now that he was back from Afghanistan... Right? Throughly confused, Lynn simply did her job and wrote quotes and side-notes along the paper.
"I believe..." Tony began, standing up and moving to the podium, "That Stark Industries has more services to offer. I believe that we can do more for the people," His blue eyes were definite and sure of what he was saying as he surveyed the crowd, measuring their expressions. Obviously pleased, he continued, "Which is why, it is for the sake of the people and this new idea that I have for my company that I am shutting down the weapons distribution sect. of Stark Industries." At this point, no one could say anything. Not that they were passive, oh hell no, but they were too shocked to speak.
Once people got a hold of themselves, the questions came flying left and right and Tony had to speak over their voices and strain to reach the microphone as Obadiah pushed him away, "I will take no questions and the new project will be for the betterment o—" Stark had been pushed out of the conference room by Obadiah and Rhodes at that point. The press reporters talked amongst themselves, trying to make heads or tails of what was just said.
Lynn watched Tony as he was partially dragged out the door. He was... stopping with the mass-production of weapons? That was what pooled in the most money for the company. Wasn't he worried about his stocks? Was he sacrificing the company over something that happened on the other side of the world? Outside the room, she watched Stane give Tony the "what-for" via quiet, albeit harsh, whispers. Tony simply shook his head and headed for the other side of the building. As she watched him leave, her pencil having ceased its dance on the paper, Lynn Madison tilted her head and thought, Just what happened over there, Tony Stark?
(A/N: I hope you like my new chapter for Fear Monger. I'd like to give lots of thanks to my reviewers, your kind reviews made me very happy. Thank you very much! Please, again, if you spot any problems, please let me know.)