Proof

Note: spoilers for Iron Man 2. This is a take on the "you're my greatest creation," scene. I didn't include the actual speech from Tony's father because it would have meant having to watch the movie again, and I'm not ready to do that yet. I loved RDJ in it and the final battle too, but there was other stuff that I really hated. My blu ray copy's still sealed.

Anyway… This is what happened just before Nick Fury brought Tony a box of stuff that originally belonged to Howard Stark. (And why Fury didn't make it available before is one of the things that keep bugging me).

Technically, this is not an Avengers story but it's got people from SHIELD, so...

There were three people in the darkened laboratory. Nick Fury, Director of SHIELD; Natalia Romanova, one of his best agents, and, sitting at a console, Agent Peterson, his best analyst.

"The tapes have aged well," Peterson said. "There was very little to restore. As to their content… I believe this is the one tape you might get something useful from."

Fury and Romanova moved behind Peterson.

"Look." Peterson punched a button, and an image appeared on a screen. In crisp black and white, it showed a dark-haired man in the throes of alcoholism, pacing and mumbling incoherently

Nick Fury muttered, "Ladies and gentlemen, meet Howard Stark, National Hero."

Agent Romanova leant over to take a closer look. "Like father, like son." She watched with growing impatience. "The man was an alcoholic; how is that supposed to help us now?"

"Give it a minute," Peterson said calmly.

Suddenly, Stark turned and looked directly into the camera. He didn't look or sound drunk anymore.

"Stranger. It's my hope that this message will reach you in the not-too-distant future."

"This might be it, people," Fury said.

They silently watched Howard Stark speak of possibilities and dreams, and of his hope that some day someone might realize what he could only dream of.

"He's only hinting at something," Natalie said, "We still don't have an answer to Stark's problem."

"Well, this is all we got," Fury said. "Stark might find something in it. He's the genius, after all. Peterson? I'm gonna need a few changes in that tape. It's gotta be seamless –otherwise Tony Stark will notice."

"What do you want me to do?"

Fury was silent for a moment. "For starters, I want you to make it sound like Howard's addressing his son."

Peterson worked silently for a couple of minutes, then rolled the tape again.

Fury nodded in approval.

Peterson looked back at the screen. "I could move this part of the tape to the beginning -"

"No. That would be suspicious. Leave it at the end, just like Howard intended."

Natalie looked up. "What if Stark doesn't watch through to the end?"

"He will," Fury said. "These tapes are his only connection to his father." He was silent for a moment, then, "Peterson, do me a favor. Construct a scene for me. Have Howard say, at the very end, 'You're my greatest creation'."

Natalie's eyebrows shot up. "Is that wise? Tony Stark already thinks he's God's greatest creation."

Fury shook his head. "That's bravado, Natalia."

"Even so, his father never said -"

"No, that cold son of a bitch never did. But I have a feeling this is exactly what Stark needs to hear." He looked at her, "It's just another little lie, Natalia; and it might save a soul, for a change." To Peterson. "Bring the tapes to my office as soon as they're ready. I'm leaving in two." And with that, he turned and left.

As soon as the doors were closed, Peterson ventured a comment.

"Well, well," he said. "If that doesn't prove Nick Fury's got a heart, I don't know what will." Then he sheepishly went back to work because Natalie had shot him a look that said no one made personal comments about their boss while she was around.

The end