A Favor For Tony Stark
“So how does this thing work exactly?” Ward asked, holding the Framework headset in his hands. “Fitz told me it was a training program?” Radcliffe and Fitz had approached Ward to get his assistance on testing out the Framework as a tool to train.
“Well that’s one of the uses we had in mind but that’s really only scratching the surface.” Radcliffe said “It’s essentially a virtual reality. Fitz, Simmons, Donnie, and I designed it for a number of uses, training being one of them. With Aida and Lucy’s help I was able to create a realistic simulation of our real world. But what I want you to do is evaluate the digital recreations we’ve made of the team.”
“So I’ll be fighting fake versions of them.” Ward nodded, understanding what Radcliffe wanted from him.
“Exactly.” Fitz confirmed. “So will you help us test it?”
“Sure.” Ward replied. “It seems like a useful tool and iIt’ll certainly help with training and minimizing injuries.”
“I knew you’d be on board!” Radcliffe grinned. But before Ward could put it on, Coulson arrived in the lab.
“Ward, Fitz we’re headed out for the weapons deal.” Coulson stated. Ward handed the headset back to Radcliffe and promised to do it when he got back. “You know I haven’t been back to New York since I died.” Coulson said as they walked down the hall.
“Well this should be an easy enough mission.” Ward shrugged. “Afterall it is just a weapons deal.”
“Maybe afterwards we can do a little sightseeing.” Fitz suggested. “Jemma and I always talked about going to the top of the Empire State Building. Shame she’s not coming with us.”
“I’ve been to the top.” Coulson said. “Nice place for a date.”
---
Mace watched as Agent Mahone and Kellerman looked over the evidence against Nadeer. He watched as both their faces went wide with surprise.
“Well Kellerman.” Mahone chuckled. “You just won the election.”
“So how should we go about this?” Mace asked.
“I think it’ll look good if this is a joint take down by my office and SHIELD.” Mahone stated. “Tells people SHIELD and the government are working together closely. Unfortunately we don’t actually know where Nadeer is.”
“We know where she’s gonna be though right?” Mace said.
“Next week’s debate?” Kellerman frowned.
“It’s likely she knows there’s a chance we find out about her involvement.” Mace explained.
“True.” Mahone nodded. “And if we start kicking down doors looking for her she’ll catch wind of it and run. Our best chance is to grab her at the debate and then have Mace make a statement.”
“Make sure you do this quietly.” Kellerman ordered. “Alex make sure the only people aware of this are people you trust. I don’t want Nadeer making a run for it.”
---
Simmons went down to the lab to check up on Radcliffe, Aida, and Lucy. As Special Advisor of Science and Technology one of her duties included taking reports of the new technology the science teams were working on.
“Ah Agent Simmons!” Radcliffe grinned. “I trust you’re here to check on our research.”
“Yes I am.” Simmons nodded. “So to start, what have you been working on?”
“We have been hard at work on the Framework.” Radcliffe said, gesturing his hands. “It has become an actual virtual reality thanks to Aida’s use of the Darkhold. I really am grateful to Director Mace for allowing me to have Aida use it in order to further our research. I have absolute faith that it’s going to save lives.”
“And not to worry Doctor Simmons.” Lucy interjected. “We are taking every precaution, running system checks on Aida constantly, and allowing no one to be alone with the book.”
“Very good.” Simmons said. “Could we run a system check on Aida now just so I have it for my report?” Lucy nodded and plugged Aida into her laptop. She preformed the check and as far as Simmons was aware everything seemed to be running smoothly.
“As you can see, Aida is in perfect working order.” Radcliffe beamed. “Now would you like to test out the Framework?”
“Absolutely!” Simmons grinned. As Simmons and Radcliffe got set up, Lucy pulled up the real diagnostic for Aida, which noted several discrepancies in her programing, and erased it. She and Aida shared a knowing look but neither of them said a word.
---
“Alright. This is a relatively simple op.” Coulson stated as the team gathered in Zephyr command. “It’s a weapons deal involving high tech weapons that we don’t want in the wrong hands. We’re looking to find the guy in charge who’s selling these weapons.”
“The buyer is a man named Mac Gargan.” Daisy stated. “Career criminal with an extensive criminal record. Killer, drug dealer, you name it he’s probably done it. We know he’s meeting with a man named Herman Shultz. But according to Stark there’s a guy in a Vulture suit flying around. Whoever he is he seems to be the guy charge of the whole thing.”
“Once the sale is complete, May and Coulson’ll tail Shultz back to Vulture.” Ward stated. “Fitz’ll run surveillance to see who Shultz talks to so May and Coulson can arrest them both.”
“Strike Team, you’ll be following Agents Palamas, Ward, Campbell, and Johnson.” May said. “Apprehend Gargan and his associates and capture the weapons. But do not go until Agent Coulson gives the signal that we have eyes on Vulture.”
“And to the inhumans present, this is a relatively small boat and there will be a number of civilians present.” Coulson stated. “So no powers unless it is absolutely necessary.”
“Yes sir.” Ward answered for all of them. They all went down to the cargo hold to get geared up. Since they needed to blend in they put on bulletproof vests under casual clothes.
“You know I’m still not really used to wearing this.” Lincoln chuckled to Kara as he strapped the vest on and zipped up his jacket.
“You never really do.” Kara shrugged. “It’s not your style anyway.”
“And what’s my style?” Lincoln raised an eyebrow.
“Lab coat.” Kara smirked. She shoved her gun into her holster and before she could think better of it said, “After this op, you wanna get dinner with me?”
“Like a date?” Lincoln asked.
“Yeah.” Kara nodded. “Like a date.”
“Sure I’m down.” Lincoln shrugged. “Been uh… working up the courage to ask you myself.” This Lincoln said sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck.
“Well. You snooze you lose Sparkplug.” Kara grinned.
“I think I’m still winning here.” Lincoln replied wryly.
---
Mack and Elena sat on the bride’s side as they watched Maria and her partner placing the rings on each other’s fingers. As Maria kissed her new husband, Mack couldn’t help but enjoy the simplicity of all of this. Holding Elena’s hand at a wedding, not having to worry about a fight breaking out somewhere. It had been nice to be away from SHIELD with his brother and spending time with Elena without worrying about who might be trying to kill them this week was a nice change of pace.
“Something on your mind?” ELena asked as they took to the dance floor.
“Just thinking about how much simpler life is.” Mack shrugged. “I mean without all the fighting and the supervillains. Just sitting at a wedding with a beautiful woman.”
“You know you don’t have to stay at SHIELD.” Elena reminded him. “You could always leave.”
“Trust me I’ve considered it.” Mack admitted. “Moreso since Ghost Rider. I just don’t wanna let everyone there down.”
“Mack they care about you.” Elena said. “If you wanted to move on from SHIELD, I think they would support you in your decision. And besides it’s not like you couldn’t come back to help if they needed it.”
---
“You wanted to see me sir?” Mace looked up from his desk to see Simmons standing in his office. “I have the reports from Radcliffe.
“Thank you.” Mace smiled. “I was hoping you could help me with something. Nothing science or inhuman related I just wanted someone I can trust to offer some insight.”
“I’ll do whatever I can to help.” Simmons assured.
“I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors about me and my heroics in Vienna.” Mace said.
“They’re true.” Simmons interrupted. Mace raised an eyebrow and she added, “May said she had a feeling it was true. And Daisy told me Ward said something similar.”
“Yes Agent Simmons the allegations are true.” Mace admitted. “It’s not that I wouldn’t’ve saved her but I didn’t know she was there. I just went with the assumption the press made.”
“I’m not really sure what you want me to say sir.” Simmons said.
“I don’t know.” Mace sighed. “I guess I just needed to get it off my chest. Do you think any less of me for it?”
“Not particularly.” Simmons shrugged. “I mean it’s dishonest and morally questionable but everyone here has done far worse than accidentally shield someone from harm and tell everyone that’s what you meant to do.”
“I guess I just wish I were the hero people thought I was.” Mace admitted. “I didn’t actually put my life on the line solely to knowingly protect someone. It wasn’t brave. It wasn’t heroic.”
“Well I think you can be a hero.” Simmons encouraged. “Everything you’re doing with SHIELD, it’s pretty heroic. You’re doing good.”
“Thank you Agent Simmons.” Mace smiled. “It means a lot.”
---
The Strike Team led by Ward, Kara, Daisy, and Lincoln stayed out of sight while keeping an eye on Gargan and his men. One of Fitz’s Dwarfs circled the area to give them an ariel view.
“Okay Gargan’s got half a dozen men with him.” Fitz stated over comms.
“We got eyes on Shultz yet?” Ward asked.
“Not yet.” Fitz answered. “Wait yes he just arrived.” Shultz came down with a few men of his own. The team watched as the deal went down. But just as Shultz was handing Gargan keys to a vehicle, a web shot out from the the air and snagged them.
“I’ll take those!” they heard what could only be the voice of a teenager call out. They watched as a guy in a red and blue costume dropped down in front of the arms dealers. “Hey guys.” he greeted. “The illegal weapons deal ferry was at ten thirty. You missed it!”
“Is that Spiderman?” Fitz asked as Spiderman began incapacitating the arms dealers.
“That guy on YouTube who’s been stopping crime in New York lately?” Daisy raised an eyebrow. Shultz swung an electric fist at Spiderman. Spiderman dodged and the weapon slammed into the fence, causing it to get stuck. He used his webs to fling a motorcycle at another group of thugs.
“You know the other guy was way better with that thing.” Spiderman quipped to Shultz as he reloaded his webs. “Honestly I’m… I’m ‘shocked’.”
“How old is this guy?” Ward frowned. “He sounds like a teenager.”
“However old he is at least he’s not terrible at this even if he did screw up our op.” Kara shrugged. “Coulson a powered vigilante just interfered with the mission what should we do?”
“Bring him and the dealers in and secure the weapons.” Coulson answered. “We can sort the rest out later.”
“Copy that.” Kara nodded. “Ward, on my signal. Go!” Ward and Daisy’s group burst out from one side of the ferry while Kara and Lincoln’s burst out from the other.
“Freeze this is SHIELD put your hands on the ground!” the Strike Team agents shouted.
“Wait what do you mean SHIELD?” Spiderman demanded. “What are they doing here?” Suddenly without warning they heard the sound of metal ripping apart. The team turned around to see Vulture clawing out from the back of a white van with some kind of weapon in his hands.
“Get down!” Ward shouted as SHIELD opened fire on Vulture. He flew out over the water, firing off his energy weapon while Spiderman did what he could to protect the agents.
“Get to the top deck!” Vulture shouted to Shultz. “We’re gettin’ outta here!”
“Coulson, May, Shultz is headed to the top deck!” Daisy shouted into comms.
“I’m on it.” May replied. She bolted up to the top deck to intercept Shultz while the Strike Team and Sipiderman faced off against Vulture.
“Get inside and protect the civilians!” Kara ordered the Strike Team. Everyone except the inhumans rushed inside.
“It’s absolutely necessary.” Ward stated. “You can use powers.” Daisy raised her hand and fired off a seismic blast. Kara and Lincoln shot off twin lightning bolts while Ward threw a fireball at Vulture. He managed to weave between their attacks and shot his weapon near Daisy and Ward, forcing them to dive out of the way. Spiderman tried to web him up but it proved ineffective so instead he grabbed the weapon with his web.
“Activate taser web!” Spiderman exclaimed and his web became electrified.
“Bad call kid.” Kara murmured as Vulture was electrocuted and dropped the weapon which slammed on the ground and began firing off randomly. Spiderman shot webs at it to get it to stop but it only caused it to become more unstable. Beams of purple energy shot out and carved the ferry in half. Meanwhile May met Shultz on the walkway on top of the ferry. She lunged and the two of them traded blows until Shultz landed an electric fist on May’s shoulder which suddenly filled her body and she short circuited. The team did what they could to protect the civilians while Spiderman attempted to keep the ferry from splitting apart to no avail. Luckily, Iron Man arrived in time and was able to prevent the ferry from breaking apart and using his lasers sealed it back together. Once the ferry was saved, the team was able to secure the arms dealers Spiderman had incapacitated.
“That was not how I expected that to go.” Kara chuckled as she and Ward slapped the cuffs on Gargan.
“Least we secured the weapons.” Ward shrugged. “As well as this guy.” He lifted up Gargan and he and Kara took him into custody. Meanwhile Spiderman was being escorted onto the containment module by Daisy and Coulson. The rest of the team joined them after handing off the criminals to the local authorities.
“Alright kid.” Coulson said once the team was on the Zephyr. “Start talking.”
“I’m not a kid.” Spiderman protested.
“Yeah you are.” May replied as Lincoln checked her out. “Now start talking.”
“I was just there to stop the weapons deal.” Spiderman sighed. Just then the cargo ramp opened up and Iron Man flew in.
“Previously on Peter screws the pooch I tell you to stay away from this and instead you hack a mulit-million dollar suit so you can sneak around behind my back and do the one thing I told you not to do.” While his face was hidden behind the mask, Coulson could tell he was pissed.
“Is everyone okay?” Spiderman asked.
“No thanks to you.” Tony stated.
“No thanks to me?!” Spiderman exclaimed, ripping off his mask, seemingly forgetting or not caring that he wasn’t alone with Tony. “Those weapons were out there and I tried to tell you about it but you didn’t listen! None of this would've happened if you’d just LISTEN to me! If you even cared you’d actually be here.” Tony chose this moment to emerge from the suit, causing Peter to back up a few steps.
“I did listen kid.” Tony stated. “Who do you think asked SHIELD to look into this? Do you know I was the only one who believed in you? Everyone else said I was crazy to recruit a fourteen year old kid.”
“I’m fifteen.” Peter said meekly.
“No this is where you ZIP IT!” Tony shouted, gesturing for Peter to shut up. “Alright the adult is talking!” The SHIELD agents watched uncertainly as Tony reprimanded Peter. “These people? They’re good people, people who looked into this because I asked them to do me a solid. They’re trained for this kind of thing and they do missions like this all the time so luckily they all made it out alive and they were able to protect the people. But what if someone died tonight? Different story right cause that’s on you! And if you died? I feel like that’s on me. I don’t need that on my conscience.”
“Yes sir I-I… I’m sorry-” Peter stammered.
“Sorry doesn’t cut it.” Tony stated softly.
“I understand.” Peter nodded nervously. “I just wanted to be like you.”
“And I wanted you to be better.” Tony sighed. Peter just looked away, not able to meet Tony’s eye. “Okay it’s not working out I’m gonna need to suit back.”
“For how long?” Peter asked softly.
“Forever.” Tony answered gravely. Peter attempted to protest but Tony was unmoved.
“Please this is all I have I’m nothing without this suit.” Peter pleaded with tears in his eyes. Tony looked up and met Peter’s eyes.
“If you’re nothing without that suit then you shouldn’t have it.” Tony stated. He then added more to himself then Peter, “God I sound like my dad.” Peter looked down at his feet and murmured that he didn’t have any other clothes. Tony nodded in response and assured they’d get that sorted out.
“Is there somewhere I can change?” Peter asked, directing his question to the SHIELD agents.
“Yeah we’ve got a bathroom.” Coulson nodded. “Agent Fitz’ll show you where it is. He can give you something to wear. Peter nodded and followed Fitz to the bathroom. Tony rubbed his hand over his face and sighed. “Wanna talk about it?” Coulson asked.
“Yeah.” Tony nodded. “Got anything to drink on this plane?” Coulson led Tony to the common area that had a full bar with different drinks.
“I’ll have a couple agents drop the kid off.” Coulson said.
“Thanks.” Tony nodded.
“For what it’s worth, he seems like a good kid.” Coulson assured. “But I also think you did the right thing.”
“I know.” Tony nodded. “It just sucks you know.”
---
“So how was the mission?” Simmons asked as she and Fitz got ready for bed.
“Mixed bag.” Fitz answered. “We met Spiderman and he messed the mission up. We got Gargan and his men but Vulture and Shultz got away. How was everything on the base?”
“Ward and May were right.” Simmons said. “Mace isn’t the hero he claimed to be. He told me.”
“Huh.” Fitz responded. “Well that doesn’t surprise me.”
“He’s a good man Fitz.” Simmons sighed.
“I know but he’s still a politician.” Fitz shrugged. “So I’m not particularly shocked that a politician told a lie. Anyway, aside from our mixed bag of a mission, there was some good that came out of this little trip to New York.”
“Oh what is it?” Simmons asked.
“Close your eyes.” Fitz smiled. Simmons did as Fitz instructed. When he told her to open them, he was holding a small box.
“What’s this?” Simmons asked.
“Well we’re coming up on the anniversary of your return from Maveth so I decided to get you something.” Fitz smiled. Simmons opened the box and found two tickets to the Empire State Building. “We always talked about going and I figured now was as good a time as any.” Simmons beamed gleefully and kissed Fitz deeply.
---
Mace was getting ready to leave for the evening when he heard a knock on his door. It was Mack having just flown in.
“Agent Mackenzie.” Mace greeted. “How was the wedding?”
“Good.” Mack answered. “I actually had something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Alright.” Mace nodded.
“It’s just… since Ghost Rider… working here’s been kinda taking it’s toll on me.” Mack admitted. “It’s probably part of why I’ve taken so much time off. I guess what I’m trying to say is that being a SHIELD agent has been wearing me down. I just don’t feel like I can really do this anymore.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Mace asked.
“I am.” Mack nodded. Mace rubbed a hand over his forehead and examined Mack’s eyes. From his expression, Mace could tell Mack was resolute in his decision.
“Well Agent Mackenzie, we’re gonna miss you.” Mace said, extending a hand out for Mack to shake.
“Thank you sir.” Mack said, shaking his hand. “I’ll stick around for a little while to get everything settled and to say my goodbyes.”
---
Ward let the water of the shower fall on him as he scrubbed his whole body. The mission had been a bit of a train wreck but at least they’d gotten the weapons and Gargan. He figured Coulson would have them keep an eye out for Vulture. As he showered, a cloud of black smoke rushed in through the vents. Ward noticed and it went careening towards him him. Ward’s eyes went wide as the smoke flew into his mouth and he fell to the floor. The tail end of the smoke entered Ward’s mouth and his eyes turned black. There was a knock on the door and Daisy called in, asking if Ward was okay.
“Oh yeah.” Ward grinned wickedly as he climbed out of the shower and looked in the mirror, examining his face. “I’m good.”