Avengers Ask Norman For Help
"We could go talk to Mr. Oscorp directly."
"Mr. Oscorp?"
"No, I'm sorry. I mean Mr. Osborn. He's CEO and founder and majority shareholder. Plus, I hear he loves to micromanage."
"Do we trust Norman?"
"No. He's a ruthless corporate type that makes a hobby out of ruining lives and he has been known to work with some very shady people, but that means he might have the connections to help us. At the very least, he could help us figure out what Harry was doing at Oscorp."
"And why would he help us?"
"He... maybe he can relate. His, um, his kid was kidnapped and they never found him."
Tony was the most shaken out of everyone.
"We can't rule out the possibility that he might be involved."
"Why? What's his motive? If he was going to use Harry against you, then shouldn't he or one of his shady business associates have sent some sort of ransom demand by now?"
"Stark."
"Norman."
"My schedule is full. Talk quickly."
"You need to make an opening, ASAP. We need to talk."
"About?"
"It's personal."
"I don't have time for personal matters right now."
"You need to make time. This is important and time is of the essence. I'll owe you one."
"A favor from Tony Stark?"
"Depends on how helpful you can be, but I know I have projects in the works that you would kill to see and I might be willing to collaborate if you can help me with this personal matter first."
"Hm..." Norman looked over his schedule. It was never as busy as he claimed, but he had been planning to devote most of his free time to Harry, at least until the boy could get settled in properly. Of course, dealing with Stark was also high on his priority list, and Norman only needed one guess to figure out what the 'personal matter' was. "How urgent did you say this is?"
"Life or death."
Norman arrived at Avengers Tower and was immediately escorted to the elevator. It opened onto a floor with an open layout. A handful of heroes and close friends. Various computer screens and holograms being utilized.
Tony's tone was uncharacteristically serious as he got out of his seat to approach him.
"Norman."
"Tony."
Natasha's eyes were the sharpest. She was the most dangerously observant.
"What personal matter is so important?"
Tony's was in so much anguish that he struggled to say it. Pepper Potts stepped in. "It's... it's our son, H–he," she stopped herself from saying Harry or Harrison. "He's missing. We have reason to believe he may have been taken."
"We're still trying to piece together the who and why, but what we do know is that he was at Oscorp recently and that he may have reached out to you."
"Your son... what was his name?"
"Steve."
"I don't recall ever meeting him. Does he go by any other names?"
Tony wished that he could've convinced Harry to completely abandon his first name, but he couldn't and withholding Harry's preferred name could ruin any potential Norman had to be helpful.
"His middle name. Harrison."
"Harry." Norman visibly flinched.
"I'm sorry," Tony said, "I definitely wouldn't have given him that name if I'd known this was going to happen."
"It's pure coincidence," Norman said, "or it's a cursed name." The words were caustic and left a bitter taste in his mouth. He shouldn't be drawing connections or comparisons, but it was hard not to.
"If you have any information. Even just to tell us what he was doing at Oscorp or help us figure out who we need to talk to."
"I'm surprised you even have to ask me. Don't you already have spies in my company?" He glanced at Natasha. As far as he was aware, she hadn't personally infiltrated Oscorp, but he couldn't be sure that his security could keep out her or her covert associates.
Tony hesitated to confirm, anything, but seeing as Norman was looking at her—Natasha took over.
"No one that can tell us anything except to confirm when he arrived. No one knows what he was doing there, who he was meeting with, when or if he ever left."
"You think he's still there?"
Pepper stepped back in. "No. Or at least, the tracking data doesn't suggest... but—"
"Our working theory is that someone inside your company grabbed him."
"If you had anything to do with this—"
"Did you call me here to accuse me or to ask for help?" Norman let his anger be known.
Pepper tried to placate him. "No one is accusing you of anything."
Norman didn't believe her.
"I'm sorry, I can't help."
"You definitely can."
"Then I choose not to."
"Please, Norman, you know what it's like to lose a child."
Norman's anger flared. "And I don't like to be reminded." He turned his sights on Tony, "and from what I remember, you weren't of any help when my child disappeared."