Tony is still thwarted
To say that he was excited that his new friend had put a down payment on a property in Malibu was potentially the understatement of the year, because that meant his new friend was going to stop staying in terrible, terrible places and live near by…except…
Maybe not live.
This was more of a business.
Maybe with living quarters upstairs?
A bakery?
He and Cooper had eaten many things together, but none had been overly bakery related…barely even bakery adjacent, except for the in season donuts.
He’d made a joke about greenhouse grown donuts and how these fresh seasonal probably even organic or free range donuts were better for him…but Cooper hadn’t seemed to catch the joke, just nodded sagely, like Tony wasn’t spouting nonsense.
They had been damn good donuts, actually.
They’d talked about dreams and plans and hobbies, but never had his new friend said “I would like to open a bakery in Malibu.”
Because if he had, it would have even easy, Tony would have probably even bought this building for him and gotten him started.
But…well, he appreciated baked foods. Quite a lot actually, so he would be a good friend and support this new venture.
Except…that wasn’t Cooper.
Family member?
Identity theft?
“Welcome to….oh my God you’re Tony stark.”
“Interesting name for a bakery, especially since the guy who put the down payment on the place had no idea who I was before we became friends…”
Madison blinked. “You know the Boss?”
“Springsteen? Of course.” Tony wondered why they were talking music.
Madison shook her head. “No…Agent William Cooper was my training agent in fugitive recovery before I left the bureau…”
Maybe not identity theft.
Not family.
Helping out former partner who left the bureau to start a bakery?
That seemed…actually that seemed exactly like something Cooper would do.
Damn it. Thwarted again.
Well, he could at least support the former partner of his friend. That was what friends did. Right?
“So, right, that makes a lot more sense that him deciding to leave the bureau, start a bakery and not tell me. Also makes more sense than identity theft. So, since this is a bakery with baked goods, half a dozen of those fruit tarts with the blueberries and a loaf of that bread…and all of the cookies, R&D is working hard, they should have cookies.”
“Of course, right away.” Madison hurried to fill the order.
Tony poked around, looking at the decor, the other offerings. Nice place.
He’d have to send a text to Cooper. He should do that now.
‘Found your former partner’s bakery. Trying out the offerings. When you visit you should stay at my place, it’s not far.’
‘If absolutely necessary I’ll rent some strange animals to wander through the guest room so you don’t feel too out of place.’
‘Something high class and exotic, though, since it’s me.’
‘How do you feel about marmosets?’
He put his phone back in his pocket. He’d get responses when Cooper received the messages. He made a note to himself, needed to secretly upgrade Cooper’s network package so he always got Tony’s messages. The rest didn’t matter, but his were important.