Hello everyone! Thanks for reading! Gonna slide in a disclaimer now since I forgot. I don't own anything Marvel unfortunately. :/
Also another slide in. I love reviews. They make me ridiculously happy... so you should. You know review.
Chapter 3: Work it!
"Tony Stark," a deep rolling voice said and the screen faded in from black to what looked to be a party.
There was a round of clapping as two large portraits of Tony Stark appeared on either side of what had to be a stage. The words 'Las Vegas, 36 Hours Earlier' also appeared at the bottom of the screen.
"Visionary. Genius. American Patriot," the voice started again as a slid show started on the screens.
Steve didn't hold in the snort or conceal the eye-roll. "American patriot," he scoffed. "Stark doesn't fight for his country. He fights for his own gain. Howard on the other hand…"
"Tony was raised in this business Steve," Bruce interrupted, looking far less green then he had earlier. Bruce moved on as Steve gave him a hard glance for interrupting. "What do you think Howard Stark did after the war? Build hospitals?" Bruce gave a laugh. "At this point in time," he said pointing to the screen, "Tony was doing exactly what Howard was doing only probably twenty times better."
Bruce looked up from his glasses, which he had taken off at some point to fiddle with, to look at the Captain. "And I'll speak on Tony's behalf when I say please pull that stick out of you ass. You won't learn anything, nothing will change, if you keep looking for flaws."
Clint gave a low whistle and the team looked away from the normally mild mannered doctor.
A black and white picture of Tony as a child appeared on the screen. His long hair was shaggy and windblown as he gave a small crooked grin over his shoulder toward the camera.
"Friend Stark was tiny," Thor said, voice still surprisingly at an inside level. "I would say he is… What would the Midguardian equivalent be? Not but 6?"
"From what we do know," Fury started, "Stark was always small for his age as a child. I know that that particular picture was taken when he was 8."
Steve frowned but to the surprise of some of the team, he didn't say anything.
"Even from an early age, the son of legendary weapons developer Howard Stark," an image of Howard appeared on the screen, his hand on the wall behind him covered in blueprints and sketches.
Steve stared at the screen trying to take in all he could of what the man he had been friends with back at war had become. He could tell that the man kept his charismatic air and while he had grown older he certainly kept his… Peggy called it 'charming' appearance.
"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. And at 17, he graduated summa cum laude from MIT." There were various pictures that passed as the man spoke. Each one had a picture of a younger Tony Stark in them, posing with his accomplishments.
"That young?" Steve asked, though he managed to keep the shock mostly out of his voice.
"Damn," Clint said as he gazed at the screen. "I knew the man was smart but this? I don't know how I didn't know this. I mean, his whole life was on broadcast."
"They are forgettable facts with everything else he's done," Natasha said. "It's not what he build then, it's what he is building now. It masks history."
"Then, the passing of a titan."
A newspaper clip was shown on the screen with a picture of Howard and an article next to it titled, 'Nation Mourns Passing of Husband and Wife'.
Steve sucked in a sharp breath. "He… Howard and his wife died in a car accident?" he asked. It came out as a whisper and his eyes drifted off for a moment as he thought about Howard's flying car, but a gruff "yes" pulled him back. He lowered his head, still mourning for the loss of his friends who had become his family back in the 40s.
Bruce, while he was upset with Steve, reached out to place a gentle, calming hand on the mans shoulder for a moment of comfort before pulling it back.
"Howard Stark's lifelong friend and ally, Obadiah Stane, steps in to help fill the gap,"
"Who?" Steve asked curiously, looking up just as a new picture appeared on the screen.
A slightly younger looking man stood next to Howard with an arm around his shoulder. He had a large smile on his face as he looked to the camera. It was followed by another picture which was more recent. It showed a bald man with a neatly trimmed, greying beard and in a sharp suit looking down at a globe which was at his feet. His hands where on his hips and he had a serious look on his face. A bold 'What's Next' typed out next to him.
"It will probably go into more detail in the movie," Natasha said smoothly. "But to answer your question Cap, Stane was Howard's, then later Stark's business partner."
"Was?" Steve asked, looking toward her for more.
"Spoiler Alert!" Clint said again loudly. "Don't you dare spoil anything!"
Natasha glared at him before sending a sharp slap to the back of his head. He yelped when it connected and rubbed the tender spot, grumbling, as he turned his attention to the movie.
"left by the legendary founder, until, at age 21, the prodigal son returns and is anointed the new CEO of Stark industries."
A new picture of Tony appeared. Young and on the cover of an issue of Forbes titled 'The New Kid'. Stane was behind him, body facing away from young Stark, but he was glancing over his shoulder toward him.
The screen cuts to the applauding crowd, zooming in on Stane as he clapped at that.
"With the keys to the kingdom, Tony ushers in a new era for his father's legacy."
A more familiar looking Tony appeared on the screen. His styled facial hair in place and a serious look on his face as he looked straight at the camera.
Computer blue prints of a missile came to life on the screen, moving around and showing some of its features.
"Creating smarter weapons, advanced robotics, satellite targeting. Today, Tony Stark has changed the face of the weapons industry by ensuring freedom and protecting America and her interests around the globe."
A Rolling Stones magazine cover with Tony on it was the focus as a small picture tile collage came together before it all added into the american flag and then in turn tiled out to show Tony, staring away from the camera with jets behind him.
There was applause as the screen faded to black and the Stark Industries logo appeared.
"That was a lot," Clint muttered. "If we ever have to give speeches, sorry mine won't be that long."
Natasha snorted, making him huff.
Steve blinked a couple of times, obviously still trying to catch up on everything that was said.
"Pretty big stuff Stark was doing back then," Fury laughed, startling the others.
"Not that what he's working on now isn't," Bruce said. "I'd say he's doing greater things now."
"Yeah," Steve said slowly. Even if he hated (or just strongly disliked because hate was a bit strong) Stark, his accomplishments were nothing to sniff at.
"As liaison to Stark Industries," a man in a military uniform said from behind the podium, "I've had the unique privilege of serving with a real patriot. He is my friend and he is my great mentor."
"He's not going to be there," Clint said. "Call it! He's not going to show up,"
Steve frowned, Bruce cracked a grin, and Natasha even let out a small laugh, but no one dared point that out for fear of their life.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present this year's Apogee Award to Mr. Tony Stark."
"A very prestigious award," Bruce said with a nod. But really if Tony was anything like he was now, and if Bruce knew the man as much as he thought he did in the couple of days they spiked up a friendship, he doubted Tony wanted the award. He would probably hand it off to someone.
Clapping and upbeat music played, but Tony Stark didn't appear on the stage. The man shifted awkwardly and gave a tiny breathy laugh like noise.
"Tony?" he called out again, now holding the Apogee in his hands. His smile become more fixed with every moment that passed.
Stane was shown shaking his head to the man, before he got up from his seat. The man on stage pressed his lips together a bit but as Stane stepped up on the stage his smile was back. He handed the man the award with the shake of a hand.
"Thank you, Colonel." Stane said.
"Thanks for the save." the man, now Colonel to most of the team, said.
Stane turned to the crowd, holding up the award to look it over. "Ah," he said. "This is beautiful. Thank you. Thank you all very much. This is wonderful..." After a moment he looked back out over the crowd and his arms spread a bit. "Well, I'm not Tony Stark," he said getting a laugh from the crowd. "But if I were Tony, I would tell you how honored I feel and what a joy it is to receive this very... prestigious award." His eyes had gone back to said award.
Bruce got a nagging feeling. He didn't like this man. Something about him was off.
"I almost feel bad for him," came Steve's voice.
"You won't," Natasha mumbled, slapping Clint again as he opened his mouth.
"Tony, you know…" he started. "The best thing about Tony, is also the worst thing. He's always working."
There was a collective snort as everyone in the room, bar Bruce and Thor, rolled their eyes at that. "No he's not."
"Hup!" the screen changed, showing Tony leaning over a poker table as he rolled. Pepper was standing next to him.
Natasha's eyebrow rose. "Pepper is with him and they aren't at the ceremony?"
"Work it! Come on!" he exclaimed. Pepper was cheering beside him holding am empty glass.
"I see now." Natasha said more to herself, but Bruce could see the wheels turning and thought that maybe he knew that in her mind she was twisting this to what she already knew.
Tony turned and wrapped and arm around her waist before he pulled he close. She placed her empty glass on the table before wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Are you de-stressed now Mrs. Stark?" he asked, voice playful as he grinned down at her.
"I am perfectly fine Mr. Stark, and before you ask no we can't just stay. We have an award ceremony to get to and you have to leave for Afghanistan tomorrow,"
Tony pouted, but leaned in for a kiss anyway.
"You are unbelievable," a voice interrupted.
They both looked over at the man who spoke and found the Colonel.
"Oh no," Tony said/groaned. "Did they rope you into this?"
Pepper pulled away from Tony sharply with a gasp as she quickly pulled up Tony's sleeve to see his watch.
"Crap!" she squeaked at the same time the Colonel said, "Nobody roped me into anything."
"Oh, God," Pepper said, with a look of guilt on her face. "I'm so sorry Rhodey. I was supposed to be watching the time!"
"Rhodey," said Clint slowly. "Does she mean James Rhodes from the weapons development sector in the military? War Machine that guy?"
"Yes," Natasha said with a nod. "That's him."
Clint nodded. "I can see why he stole a suit now."
"I'm so sorry," Tony said even though it didn't sound the most sincere.
Rhodey rolled his eyes before turning to Pepper. "It's not your fault for him not being there Pepper," he said. Pepper gave a nod and a smile but still had a guilty look on her face.
"Poor, Pepper," Natasha said.
"I don't understand," said Steve. "She seems like a wonderful da… woman. Why is she with him?"
Natasha shock her head.
"They told me that if I presented you with an award you would be deeply honored." Rhode said.
"Of course I would be deeply honored," Tony said honestly. "Because it's you. Great! So when do we do it?"
Pepper dug an elbow into Tony's side, making him flinch and pull away from her. "It's already over, Tony!" she hissed at him.
Rhodey handed Tony the award, "It's right here."
Tony had turned back to the table, ordering for another round.
"Here you go."
Tony looked at the award in his friends' hand. "There it is," he confirmed. "That was easy." Tony took the award before looking back to Rhodey. "I'm so sorry," He said sincerely.
"Yeah," Rhodey conceded. "It's okay."
"Wow. He said sorry," someone said.
Bruce didn't pay attention who. He wasn't sure what the others were learning because they weren't paying real attention to detail which was hilarious in his opinion seeing as three were spies.
"Wow!" said Tony, looking at the award in his hand. "Would you look at that? That's something else." He handed it to Pepper with a slight snort before he turned back to the game. "Like I don't have any of those floating around."
He pushed a small portion of his chips onto the bidding table. "We're gonna let it ride!" he exclaimed before clearing his throat and turning to Pepper.
"Give me a hand, will you darling?" he asked with a silly grin, hand almost touching her lips. "Give me a little something-something."
Pepper smiled, rolling her eyes before she exaggeratedly and seductively blew a breath across his fingers. He ducked in for a quick kiss before putting his hand in Rhodey's face.
"Okay," Tony said, "you, too."
"I don't blow on a man's dice," Rhodey said, shaking his head.
"Come on, honey bear!" Tony teased.
Rhodey groaned before slapping his friends hand away from his face and toward the table.
"There it is!" Tony exclaimed. "Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes roll! And…"
"Two craps. Line away," the dealer said.
"That's what happens," Rhodey said uncaringly with a shrug.
"Worse things have happened. I think we're gonna be fine," Tony stated matter-of-fact. He turned back to the table and said quickly, "Color me up, William."
The three were shown walking out of the casino through an entrance hall with some of Tony's bodyguards.
"This is my stop," Rhodey said, shaking hands with Tony.
"Alright," Tony said with a grin, his other arm still around Pepper.
"Tomorrow," Rhodey said sternly, pointing at Tony. "And don't be late. Don't let him be late." he finished looking at Pepper.
"Yeah, you can count on it," said Tony at the same time Pepper said, "Of course, Rhodey."
"I'm serious!"
"We know, we know," groaned Tony as Rhodey walked away in another direction. He gave a last wave as they continued on.
As they passed a man dressed in fake roman armor, Tony pressed the award into his hands. "Render unto Caesar, that which is Caesar's… There you go."
Someone made a loud scoff noise as Bruce congratulated himself for being right.
Pepper swatted him on the chest but didn't make a move to get the award back. A smile was on her face as they continued on her way to the car.
"This certainly isn't the stern Pepper Stark I heard about," Clint said, glancing sideways at Natasha, who was staring at the screen.