Post by thejellyfish on Feb 24, 2015 0:55:56 GMT -5
Iron Man #1
Well Dressed
By thejellyfish
Present DayLower East Side, Manhattan
After a few days of snowfall, Manhattan was covered in snow and the sun was shining, reflecting onto two flying figures in suits of armor.
“C’mon Titanium Man, I know your suit can go faster than that!” yelled Iron Man, otherwise known as Tony Stark, at his opponent.
“Tony, I do hope that you’ll refrain from causing any undue property damage again,” said Edwin Jarvis, Stark’s butler and oldest friend, through the comm system. “I don’t think we can afford the bad press from another lawsuit.”
Tony began flying higher and higher, ascending towards the clouds and away from the people on the ground. “Don’t worry Eddy, ol’ pal; they always sue only because they wanna meet me and once they do, they call the whole thing off.”
“No, they settle out of court because you promise to do some odd request for them. By the way, I’ve gotten you a reservation at that fancy restaurant you hate for that date you owe to that oil baron’s daughter tonight,” replied Pepper Potts, Stark’s secretary. “Now, hurry up and deal with Titanium Man so you can get ready!”
Tony groaned in response. ‘Okay then, let’s test the limits of Titanium Man’s hunk of junk,” thought Tony as he flew higher and higher.
Tony stopped and turned to face Titanium Man, who was a few yards below him. “Oh c’mon, is that really as far as your suit can go, Boris?!” asked Tony, yelling down at the other armored man before continuing to fly further up.
“This suit was built by the most intelligent scientists the USSR has to offer. The suit’s power comes not from the motors and servos within, but from the glory of communism!” replied Boris back up to Tony, before flying upwards to meet him.
Tony began laughing and moved out of Boris’ way at the last minute. “Oh man, did you just –“ said Tony before breaking into another fit of laughter. He looked up at Titanium Man flying past him and then watched as his armor stalled out and failed before falling to the ground at high speeds. Tony then began flying back downwards to catch him.
“You’re welcome, Boris,” said Tony as he caught him and began ripping pieces of his armor off before handing him to the authorities.
Later
Stark Tower, Manhattan
“Stupid oil baron,” muttered Tony, as he buttoned a white dress shirt up to chest and tucked it into his blue, suit pants. “Stupid oil baron’s single daughter,” he muttered again as he checked himself out in the mirror and smiling, once again impressed with how good he looked.
He turned around to see his bodyguard, Happy Hogan, and Stark Resilient’s Head of Security, Scott Lang. One of Happy’s large hands covered his mouth as he tapped his foot in anticipation. “Something wrong, Happy?” asked Tony.
“Yeah, you look like my daughter when her mother comes to pick her up,” added Scott.
“Nothing, it’s just Ryan and I’s anniversary. I forgot and he’s gonna freak when he realizes I have nothing planned,” replied Happy, putting his hands behind his head in a stressed manner. “Any advice, Scott?”
“How do you think I got divorced?” asked Scott in a snarky manner. Scott walked over towards Happy and patted him on the back. “You’ll figure something out.”
“Tell you what, Happy. You head home and start getting ready-,“ started Tony.
“For what?” asked Happy.
“I don’t know. Cook dinner? I’ll figure something out, don’t worry.”
“Well, okay. Thanks Tony, you’re the best!” exclaimed Happy as he jogged out of the closet.
“Hey now, what did Pepper say about stroking my ego – and he’s gone.” Scott began to chuckle.
“You get out of here too, Scott,” ordered Tony, as he pointed to the door Happy just walked out of.
“What? Why?”
“It’s your weekend with Cassie and it’s just the two of you this time.” Scott faced Tony with a surprise looked on his face.
“How did you-“
“I know because I am a good friend that cares about his friends; especially when said friends are also his employees. Now go,” ordered Tony once more.
And with that, Scott walked out of the closet as Tony began searching for a blue jacket to match his pants. “Now, where did I put that-“
“Looking for something?” asked a female voice from the doorway. Tony turned around and saw Pepper holding his jacket. She walked over towards him and tossed him the jacket. Tony began putting it on while looking at her, looking at her while doing so. His eyes moved from her red hair, which was tied neatly in a loose bun, all the way down to her feet, adorned in red high heels, taking in as much of her beauty as possible. And not hearing a word she said.
“Earth to Stark? Hello, you there?” asked Pepper, snapping her fingers.
“Hmm? Sorry, what did you say?”
“So, you ready for your big date - because remember - this goes bad, and that oil baron sues us. Hard.”
“I know, I know,” said Tony scratching the back of his head. “Look, I need you to call me at approximately ten o’clock, so I can end the date and get home early.”
“Oh, and Scott can’t call you?”
“Weekend with Cassie.”
“Happy?”
“Him and Ryan’s anniversary.”
“Damn it, what about Jarvis?”
“Please, Ed’s gonna make me suffer through that date. It has to be you.”
“Ugh, fine. I’ll do it, but you owe me, Tony,” said Pepper, with a hint of sarcasm.
“This is why you’re the best,” said Tony as the pair walked out of the closet together.
Noon
Stark Mansion, Los Angeles
James Rhodes walked into the kitchen of Tony Stark’s West Coast mansion and poured himself a bowl of cereal, despite it being a little too late for breakfast. The mansion wasn’t so much a “mansion” in the traditional sense as the architecture was modern, right down to the way everything was automated. James simply needed to walk up to the refrigerator and the doors opened, and lights highlighted where the milk was located. ‘Damn you, Tony,’ he thought with a chuckle.
He grabbed the milk and walked back over to the cereal bowl when he heard the sound of a vase being caught close by. He could then hear footsteps inching closer and closer to him and one person speaking Chinese to another in a hushed tone of voice. He walked over to the corner wall and hid himself to ambush the intruders.
James waited until they rounded the corner and elbowed the first man in the face then continued by pushing him into his fellow intruder. The first intruder rose up and kicked James in the chest, pushing him backwards and making him lose his footing. He followed with a punch to the face, but James put his hands up and blocked it. James retaliated with a swift punch to the gut, taking him out of the fight, and reached for the man’s holster, pulling his gun out and aiming in the direction of the second intruder.
The second intruder raised his own gun in response. “Where’s Tony Stark? We have a message for him!” yelled the man.
“Aww, you hurt my feelings. I thought you were here for little ol’ me. Nobody ever attacks a black man in the privacy of another man’s house,” replied James, snark dripping from his words, the last bit coming out as a whisper.
“We did not come here to harm anyone. Truth be told, our boss does not care who receives the message, as long as Tony Stark finds out.” A momentary pause was shared between the two men before the second intruder spoke up. “You lower your gun. I’ll lower mine.”
“Fine,” replied James as he and the other man lowered his gun. “Give me the message; I’ll make sure Tony gets it.”
“I will take my partner, give you the message, and then leave; will you promise to let us go free if I do so?”
“Of course. I honor my promises.”
The other man walked over to his partner and hoisted him up in a fireman’s carry. “The Mandarin requests a meeting with Mr. Stark,” he said walking over to the door. “They have much to discuss.”
Meanwhile
Elevator, Stark Tower
“Such a pretty night, isn’t it Ms. Kashmir?” asked Andrew Forson, a man dressed in a yellowed suit of powered armor, to his companion.
“That’s Dr. Kashmir Vennema. And no, it is not a pretty night. It is a beautiful night. For AIM, at least,” she replied in a light Eastern European accent, while fuddling with her own powered glove. Behind them stood a group of armed men dressed in what seemed to be scientifically advanced beekeeper suits, while holding strange looking and futuristic guns.
The elevator they stood in stopped in its destination and the doors opened, revealing the entrance to Tony Stark’s penthouse. The door then opened to reveal Tony Stark, dressed in an expensive blue suit, looking away from the door. “All right Pepper, Ed. I’m heading out,” he said, trailing off towards the end as he realized who was in front of him.
“Greetings, Mr. Stark. May we come in? We have something to discuss,” said Andrew, pointing to the inside of the penthouse.
Tony sighed. “Pepper! Call Happy. I’m not going out.”
Next Time: Advent of Adaptation