Chapter 13 Iron Man 2

Tony's point of view

Vince and Linda were glaring furiously at each other.

"Oh wonderful" I said very sarcastically "Now the entire team is going to see what a moron I am."

In Russia, the national media is televising the news conference in which Tony Stark revealed his identity as Iron Man to the world. During this, a sick Anton Vanko dies in the arms of his son, Ivan Vanko, telling him that the only thing he has left to leave him is his knowledge, which turn out to be blueprints for the Arc Reactor. He also tells his son that he has every right to the success that Tony Stark and his family has gained, which motivates Ivan to seek revenge on Stark.

"Anton Vanko stole the information on the arc reactor he did help build it but the original idea was mine." said Dad

Six months later, Stark continues to use the Iron Man suit to protect people and his fame has increased. He reopens the Stark Expo to fulfill his father's dream of endorsing inventors and inventions that will one day benefit the world. As Stark leaves the stage, he notices that his blood toxicity is rising, accompanied by noticeable, damaged veins around his chest, expanding outward. He keeps this secret from everyone.

"You didn't trust anyone?" Harry asked

"It is not particularly that, I didn't trust, I just didn't want anyone getting hurt or worse because of me"

"You sound like Harry," said Severus and Hermione together.

Harry turned to Pepper and said "Does Tony ever say 'I don't go looking for trouble, it usually finds me' because if he does… we are more alike than I first realised"

"I have never heard him say that but…" said Pepper

"I have thought that a number of times" I admitted

After being summoned to attend a Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing on the existence and threat of the Iron Man armour, and similar suits being developed in retaliation, Senator Stern demands that he hands his armour technology over for military application. Stark, however, refuses as he says that the Iron Man suit and Tony Stark is the same concept and to give it over would be to turn over himself. To servitude or prostitution when the Senator says he wouldn't do that Tony replies that he would hope not and that the Senator is a Senator. This raises a lot of laughs from the assembled viewers.

"That was not funny Tony"

"Yes it was" Vince guffawed "It was pure comedy gold!"

He then proves that other attempts by foreign powers to duplicate the Iron Man suit have failed miserably and also embarrasses corporate rival Justin Hammer, who had testified against him, by showing he had also made a bungled attempted at creating a prototype. Stark then returns home, where J.A.R.V.I.S. confirms that the toxic levels of his blood have risen; the palladium that is powering the Arc Reactor keeping the shrapnel from reaching his heart is slowly killing him and there are no other suitable replacements.

"You should have told me Tony." Pepper said angrily

"Why? Why should I have told you Pepper?" I replied and then added "How could you expect me to trust you if you didn't trust me?"

"I didn't know how you felt about me so I was being extra cautious." she explained "I didn't want this situation to turn into a repeat of what happened between Aldrich Killian and I"

Later, Stark, thinking he will die, makes Pepper Potts CEO of Stark Industries and makes Natalie Rushman his new assistant.

"You made her CEO? HER? The CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER of your company THAT STUPID LITTLE GIRL?" Pepper's soon to be ex aunt crowed

"Shut the fuck up you egomaniacal whore!' Vince yelled. "Ginny is a lot better at being a CEO than you ever were."

"And one day she will make a better wife and mother than you ever were" Stephanie added and Shane nodded in agreement.

"I cannot believe I busted my ass keeping our marriage afloat for 63 years." Vince said angrily

"Your actions ended it Vincent" Linda snarled

"No they didn't. You drove Dad to this Mom" said Shane.

"Exactly! I could do nothing right in your eyes… still can't as a matter of fact"

"It is like I said earlier. None of us who weren't capable talented students could do anything right…" said Constance. She was shaking with anger.

"Vince, Linda, in the next meal break I think we need to talk"

"I don't think we can save it. I have tried to but…"

"We will discuss this in the next meal break, OK?"

"Sure, and thank you for trying to fix it."

"My pleasure."

At the Monaco Grand Prix, Stark takes out the Formula One driver who is representing Stark Industries and drives it himself, seeking some enjoyment before he dies, despite putting himself in immediate danger.

"It wasn't like playing Mario Kart." Constance observed

"Well no it wouldn't be, there were no weapons for a start…"

I laughed

"Can you imagine a real life game with blue spiny shells and banana skins etc?" Constance asked

"That would be awesome but SUPER dangerous and scary! I find the blue spiny shells scary enough in the game!" said Pepper

Unbeknownst to anyone else, Vanko, or Whiplash has gained a pass to the Monaco Grand Prix through the means of his associate, plotting an attack on Stark, using his modified harness with electric whips. Vanko soon appears on the racetrack and attacks the racing cars, knowing Stark would come. Stark puts on the portable Mark V suit and, with the aid of Happy Hogan, defeats Vanko.

"Did I give you whiplash Pep?"

"Yes…. Is that why Nat insisted on booking me a massage?"

"Yes. I felt guilty that you were caught in the crossfire."

Stark discovers that Ivan is the son of disgraced Russian physicist Anton Vanko, who collaborated on the first Arc Reactor with Stark's father Howard Stark. Vanko is later broken out of jail by Justin Hammer who recruits him to help make his own Iron Man suits and gain revenge on Stark by tarnishing his name and image. Stark throws what he believes will be his last birthday party and promptly proceeds to get drunk while wearing the Mark IV armour.

"That did not happen, if it did, I would be dead. I have anaphylaxis and one of my MAJOR triggers is alcohol. My 40th birthday was a memorable night though…"

When Stark begins to endanger his party guests by blasting objects out of the air in their vicinity, his friend Lt. Colonel James Rhodes dons the Mark II armour to subdue him. The next day Stark, disgraced and hungover, is approached by Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Rushman - who in reality is Natasha Romanoff, who provides him with a box of his father's old research that can hopefully be used to find a cure for his palladium poisoning.

"Like I said… that couldn't have happened"

Tony goes to the Stark Industries Headquarters to talk to Pepper. He tries to apologise, and he has brought an olive branch: A box of strawberries. Unfortunately, he forgot that Pepper is allergic to strawberries

"Oops"

"You almost poison me and all you can say is oops?"

"Sorry Pepper"

Using his father's research, Stark discovers a message from his father that leads him to examine the original 1974 diorama of the Stark Expo: in reality, a disguised diagram for the molecular structure of a new element. Stark hand-builds a Particle Accelerator with the aid of his computer AI J.A.R.V.I.S. and synthesizes this new element, creating a new, perfected Arc Reactor that cures his palladium poisoning.

"Yay, you fixed it"

"Yeah I did but then I did something — which you will probably see— which made the arc reactor unnecessary.

Realizing Hammer's involvement with Vanko, Stark races to the Stark Expo.

At the Stark Expo, Justin Hammer unveils his new military drones, captained by Rhodes in a heavily weaponized version of the confiscated Mark II armour. Unfortunately, it is soon discovered that Vanko has complete control of both the drones and Rhodes's new armour, and Stark arrives just as they go on the attack.

"I am glad you still have my back"

"Always"

Hammer's attempts to regain control of the drones get him placed into NYPD custody. As Stark battles against these remote-controlled enemies, Happy Hogan and Romanoff race to Hammer's Hammer Industries Headquarters to stop Vanko. By the time they arrive, Vanko has already departed for the Expo in a new, more powerful suit of armour, but Romanoff is able to give Rhodes control of his armour again so that he and Stark can fight Vanko together.

"Thank you Natasha"

"My pleasure Tony"

The two armored allies combine their powers and successfully take Vanko down, but Vanko's armour and the Hammer Drones are revealed to have been equipped to self-destruct. As they begin to detonate, Stark races to save Potts, flying her to a rooftop where they reconcile and kiss.

I reeled Pepper in and we kissed.

"Get a room"

"Get a roof!"

"You two look like a pair of seals fighting over a grape"

At a debriefing, Fury informs Stark that while Stark is "unsuitable" for the Avengers Initiative, S.H.I.E.L.D. wants him as a consultant. Stark agrees on the condition that Senator Stern present him and Rhodes with their medals for bravery. Meanwhile, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson is seen driving to a remote impact crater in the New Mexico desert. Over a phone, he informs Fury that they've found "it", which is revealed to be a mysterious hammer.

"Oh Merlin!"

"OK 10 minute break to stretch and use the restroom. The next film is Thor"