The Emperor and his Empress
"Okay, I admit." Pepper stated, drinking her coffee while Tony, who still complains about not being able to get drunk, drinks his whiskey, showcases to her the ongoing fínish ups on the construction of Pegasus's smaller brothers. "When you started talking about a "safe Island" I had my doubts. I honestly thought for a moment that you lost your mind and it is just a waste of money and resources."
"Harsh..." Tony commented, childishly looking inside the bottle of his whiskey as if he could find his answers inside it.
"Let me finish." Pepper signed, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes. "But now, I honestly think that Etherium is the greatest idea you ever had. Thanks to our connection and deals with the Italian Government, our production never had to stop or slow down. We have practically no losses in our stocks, despite there being a freaking Alien Invasion, or our departure from America.” She takes a quick breath and continues. “Fuck, I think it's safe to assume Etherium is one of the most advanced and secure places on the whole planet!"
"Of course it is." Tony smirked, taking a quick sip from his whiskey and sadly putting it down when he felt no burn in his mouth. "Wakanda even tried to hack into our systems because they are afraid we are too advanced, but before they got through the first firewall J stopped them and Friday gave them a small taste of their own medicine, and let's just say that Wakanda won't be able to hack anyone for the next two weeks at minimum."
Pepper smiled at the mention of Jarvis. Everybody in SI who had the honor of interacting with him dearly missed him after the whole Ultron incident.
Jarvis was disoriented after his "resurrection" but Friday helped him catch up to everything that happened in his absence. Unlike Vision, Jarvis fully embraces his AI side, despite having possession of a physical Vibranium body, that went under massive reconstruction.
Rhodey even joked that Jarvis is a "Knight in Shiny Armor" because henow supports a completely white, skin-tight "super suit" that is almost identical to the one Vision had, but Jarvis also added yellow Iron Man-like gauntlets and boots, just to proudly showcase his connection to Tony. He also kept the cape, because Karen said that it looked badass on him.
Speaking about the youngest AI...
Well, Pepper got the impression that Karen was to put it simply, smitten at the first sight by Jarvis, and quickly started hanging around him as if she was nailed to him, dragging Peter and Yelena along with her.
Unfortunately for her, Jarvis is a lot like Tony, so he will be oblivious to her attraction for a really long time.
"What about these "Cruisers" as you call them?" Pepper asked, pointing at the Holograms of the ships before them. "I thought you said that one is more than enough for you."
"It is." Tony said, smiling at the hologram. "These bad boys were designed for our ex-SHIELD Agents. They will be under command of those who had the biggest clearance levels and will focus on holding the area we liberate. Also, they are equipt with the most known advanced medical equipment and recharging and meintracing stations for The Legion because those Hulkbusters drain energy like crazy and in the middle of battle, The Legionaries simply can’t fly over half of the world, just to get fixed up and then fly back to action.”
"When are you leaving for America?" Pepper asked, looking over the records of the Food delivery from Italy and humming in satisfaction, as everything is as it is supposed to be and even better.
"In the morning," Tony answered, letting his eyes flicker blue and closing the hologram off. "The plan is to start our big journey from Italy, liberate Greenland, and shoot down everything in our path. Once Greenland is ours, we will split up and focus on pushing the Chitauri forces back to New York. Once we have them surrounded, Pegasus will activate Project Infinity and we will blow the Mothership to pieces and take down the remaining forces. Easy."
"I'm not sure if I would describe this plan as an easy task, Tony." Pepper mumbled, fondly shaking her head. "So, when will you build Friday's body?"
"Why? Do you need another assistant? Because you are not getting her." Tony said, trying his whiskey again, even though he knows the results will be the same as before.
"No. We just made a bet how long till you will sleep together." Pepper said, calmly taking a sip of her coffee.
Tony spit his whiskey out and started coughing. "WHAT?!"
"Come on, Tony." Pepper rolled her eyes, looking at him with an almost sad expression, as she put her cup down on the table. "You look at her the same way you used to look at me when you started this whole Iron Man journey... You love her."
Tony stared at her with a dropped jaw. He flirts with Friday but that doesn't mean... Why does he flirt with her? Why does she flirt back? Why does she keep leaning into him at every chance she gets? Why does HE keep leaning into her at every chance he gets? Is there even a small chance she could love him?
Pepper rolled her eyes and it made Tony bit his bottom lip, while his cheeks start to heat up. "I said that out loud, didn't I?
"Yes, you did." Pepper said, trying her best not to burst out laughing. "And you clearly are a blind moron because it's pretty obvious she loves you too. Otherwise, why would she hang out with you in your "Digital Dream World" inside your head?"
"How do you even know about that?" Tony asked with a raised eyebrow until realization hit him and he signed, cursing under his breath. "Jarvis you little traitor..."
"I apologize, Sir, but your obvious love towards Friday is hearting my operating servers." Jarvis answered from the speakers. "Plus, Karen mentioned that she would like Mommy and Daddy to be together. I'm still not sure why she said it like that tho."
Pepper lost it and started laughing like crazy while Tony's eye twitched in annoyance, as he glared daggers at the nearest camera. "Jarvis, I'm going to kick both your Vibranium and Data ass. And tell Parker, Kenner, and Belova that they are next on my list for currupting my sweet, innocent, baby AI."
"Oh, dear..."
****
After kicking Jarvis in his Vibranium ass, Tony retreated back into his Stasis Pod so he could think in peace and quiet. The last couple of days have been overwhelming for him. Dealing with The UN Committee and The Avengers, Planning liberation of America, Creating battle plans, Preventing the lovable Betty Ross from murdering her father in his sleep, Hanging out with Kids and Friends, Overseeing over Etherium...It was simply a lot for one man, even if he is practically immortal.
Instead of hanging out in the memory of the old yet beautiful Stark garden, Tony decided to change the setting a bit and recreated a memory of when Edwin and Ana Jarvis took him hiking for the first time on the Appalachian Trail. Tony was only 7 and Edwin had to carry him on his back for half of the road up the mountain but the view was surely worth it. In moments like that, Tony felt like they were his parents instead of his actual parents, who were sadly always busy for these kinds of trips, but his Mom at least always tried to make it up to him.
Tony sits at the edge of the cliff, staring at the beautiful valley beneath him. He is thrilled to have Jarvis back, but when he saw Jarvis and Karen interact together earlier today, he couldn't help himself but feel sad. Jarvis was obviously designed after Edwin Jarvis, that's not a secret, but what nobody knows is that Karen was designed after Ana Jarvis. The way Karen was trying to make Jarvis laugh after Tony jokingly kicked his metal ass was almost identical to the way Ana made Edwin laugh on this said trip, just before all three of them shared a photo on this exact same cliff, on this same edge.
He misses them... He misses them all.
Tony also uses this time to think about his conversation with Pepper. He didn't think about it, but now he can't help himself but asks the question: Why did Friday make her Construct look so... fucking hot? Friday is without a doubt the most human AI Tony ever created, but even that doesn't explain why she made herself look that way. Honestly, she looks like a fucking supermodel.
And that's just her construct in the physical world. Her appearance in this “digital dream world” is even hotter than that, but Tony can be just imagining things because well... Human Appearance and Holographic Hard Light Purple Appearance aren't the same thing.
There really is only one logical explanation behind Friday's appearance. She designed herself to look like a perfect woman Tony would love at first sight, while also adjusting herself a bit for her own liking.
She did it for him.
She did it because she loves him and probably loved him ever since she knew what love really was.
"Hello, Stranger." Friday appeared behind him with a teasing smirk on her face, observing their surroundings. "Why the sudden change of settings? Not that I am complaining, the view is beautiful."
Tony just stared at her while she settled down beside him, looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "Okay. Why am I getting the silent treatment? If it is about the paint job of your Armor, that was all Karen-" Friday started to defend herself but was cut off when Tony pressed his lips to hers, making her mind bluescreen for a few seconds until she realized what was happening, and she returned the kiss.
Friday practically moved into his lap, while Tony ran his hand through her brown hair, which barely reached below her shoulders, while his other hand ran underneath her black tank top, and then down her thigh. She couldn't help herself and moaned, títling her head to the side and giving him access to her neck, which he gladly accepted, while also smirking to himself, as he finally accepted the truth.
She loves him.
He loves her.
Falling in love with an AI... Screw it. He is Tony Stark. Let this damned world think what it wants.
"I love you." she whispered, pulling slightly away from him so he could see her lustful eyes.
“I love you." He said back, gently caressing her cheek with a smile, while she shyly grinned at him, before pulling him into a passionate kiss again, quickly and hungrily pulling his shirt over his head and tossing it to the ground, while the memory around them changed into Tony's current bedroom with really oversized bed.
In the end, it doesn't even matter what the others will think about them and their relationship because Tony and Friday will be here even after hundreds of years when everyone from this time is long dead and forgotten.
****
"You look happy." Rhodey remarked as He, Jarvis, and Tony walked onboard Pegasus, carrying their bags.
"I am happy." Tony said with a bright smile on his face. "I have everything I ever wanted. Power, Home, Friends, Family... A lover who loves me for who I am and most importantly understands me and doesn't want to change me."
"Wow." Rhodey said with an impressed and proud smile on his face. "You are finally growing up, Tones. And it took only 44 years."
"Now if only you could grow up, Honey-Bear." Tony joked, laughing along with his best friend, while even Jarvis's lips twitch upwards in amusement. "You know, I missed this. Us, laughing having fun. What happened to us? Why did we stop hanging out on daily basics?"
"The Avengers happened." Rhodey answered, his smile falling from his face. "I will be honest with you, Tones. You let them walk all over you, take everything without giving anything in return. Heck, after Ultron they didn't even bother to thank you."
“I…” Tony frowned, thinking about it for a second before his face hardened in realization. "I became a fucking sugar daddy!"
"I don't want to say it, Sir." Jarvis started with a neutral expression on his face. "But I did advise you against giving them everything they asked once they joined us at the Tower."
“I was just trying to be friendly!” Tony squawked, his frowning face deepening. "I will kill them. I will them all. I am not fucking sugar daddy! I am Tony Fucking Stark!" Tony sharply turned behind them and spoke from the top of his lungs. "HEY! WHO HERE WANTS TO GO WITH ME TO KILL THE AVENGERS?"
Every single Agent who is also boarding on Pegasus raised his/hers hand, making Tony smirk in triumph, but before he could open his mouth to say anything else, Rhodey threw his bag to Jarvis, who caught it with ease and quickly pulled Tony back with a soft chuckle. "No more killing trash, Tony. Maximoff was already hard to explain to the Committee."
"I didn't kill Maximoff." Tony defended himself, rolling his eyes.
"No, but your new Girlfriend did." Rhodey said, softly pushing Tony in front of him, while also taking his beg back from Jarvis. "And she did by decapitating her head."
"Be glad that she did only that." Tony mumbled, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Friday originally wanted to burn her alive like a Witch Maximoff was, but that would be too hard to clean up."
"She did burn her body." Rhodey pointed out.
"But she did it outside." Tony responded with an innocent smile as all three of them walked to their shared hall where their private rooms resigned.
****
"I still don't understand why I can't come with you!" Peter whined agaín, frowning at Tony who rolled his eyes in amusement. "I'm strong. I can help!"
"Yes you are strong, but strength isn't everything." Tony told him, clapping him on the shoulders. "You are still a kid and no child should fight in wars. Especially against Aliens, that's why Karen is also staying here, no matter how big puppy eyes she makes on me or Friday."
"Still not fair." Karen complained, pouting. "I am not Human! I shouldn't be bounded by Human rules!"
"You are human to me." Tony softly whispered, caressing her cheek, and Karen's expression immediately changed to a scarred, sad one.
"Just come back home safe." Karen whispered, biting her holographic red lips. "Both you and Fri. Please..."
"We will." Friday said, appearing behind Tony and giving Karen a quick warm hug, whispering into the younger AI's hair. "I promise." She then turned to Peter and Yelena and gave them a stern look. "Watch over her, Spiders. Or I will put my hand so far your as-"
"They get it, Fri." Tony quickly interjected, pulling Friday behind him and giving Peter, who was staring at Friday in horror, and Yelena, who was just looking impressed, a quick awkward smile. "But seriously, keep her safe and keep Harley away from her servers because if he tries to give her a "tuning" I'm not sure I could keep Friday from cutting his d-"
"Okay, enough!" Hope said, pulling Tony back the same way he pulled Friday, making him softly bump into Scott, who immediately yelped and froze, while both Tony and Friday rolled their eyes at him. Hope ignored this and ruffled Peter's hair, while also giving the others a small smile "Stay safe and keep out of trouble, kids."
"I'm 25." Yelena deadpanned, making Hope roll her eyes, while Christine and Stephen said their goodbyes to everyone and quickly left the Ship, whispering something to each other that made Christine blush, and Stephen actually open a portal right into his bedroom...
"Just for the record." Sharon whispered to Tony. "What you said outside you really meant? I mean about murdering The Avengers because I really want to try that big laser sword of mine on someone's dick."
"Wait, Sharon got a freaking laser sword and I got an electric stick?" Rhodey asked with a slightly hurt facial expression.
"How dare you!" Tony gasped, his jaw open hanging. "That isn't just some electric stick! That's War Hammer Mark 2! It is able to emit concussive force on impact, with four stun panels that can be set to various strengths!"
"Why didn't I get a melee weapon?" Jarvis curiously asked.
Scott just stared at all of them with dropped jaw, in disbelief, shock, and slight fear and concern, while also silently wondering how he got into this situation. "You guys are all bloodthirsty."
Everybody turns at Scott, who hunches down on himself at the sudden attention. All of their faces practically scream at him the same thing, but it is Friday who gives it an actual voice. "Well, Duh."
****
"...uiser 5 ready."
"Cruiser 15 ready."
"Cruiser 3 ready."
"Cruiser 7 ready."
"All Cruisers are ready and set to lunch, Boss!" Maria Hill reported from the bridge, looking back at Tony, who sit in his oversized throne-like chair behind her, with Rhodey, Hope, Sharon, Jarvis, and Scott by his side, and Friday in his lap.
"The entire Iron Legion is also fully charged and ready for deployment." Jarvis said, lifting his head up, while his cape flew softly and dramatically behind him, despite there being no wind on the bridge.
"So are the Stark Drones." Friday added, looking at him with a warm teasing smile. "We are all awaiting your command, General Stark."
"Let's get this party started!" Tony loudly exclaimed as the thrusters of Pegasus ignited and the whole ship raised up into the air, followed by more than twenty Smaller Cruisers, all heavily armed and fully stocked with ex-SHIELD Agents, Medics, and Iron Legionaries.
The energy shield around Etherium went down for a couple of minutes, long enough to allow the whole Iron Fleet to get out of the Islands reach and join the UN Fleet on their way towards Greenland and America, while the whole World eagerly watched as the Battle for Earth officially started.
****
"You can't seriously expect us to do nothing!" Steve angrily shouted, glaring at the monitor and burning holes into President Ellis's head on the other side.
"I can and you will listen to orders, Captain Rogers!" Ellis snapped, angrily shaking his head. "This has gone far enough. Our country has already lost Tony Stark and his company's support because we chose your side, Captain. We simply cannot afford to lose his assistance with The Invasion. Our forces are already spread thin, and we are quickly losing more ground as we speak. We need him and his Iron Legion."
"You know Stark plan, Mr. President." Natasha softly spoke up, nervously biting her lip. "His Iron Army, His Helicarriers, and his People will occupy every major city in America. What will happen if he and his allies decide that we don't deserve to have our country back?"
"You mean our country, Ms. Romanova." Ellis corrected, his lips forming a firm line. "Not yours. I didn't forget that you are Russian, and I also didn't forget that because of you and Captain Rogers, our greatest counter-terrorism and intelligence agency fell! SHIELD was designed to deal with threats like this!"
"We did what we had to do to stop Hydra!" Steve snarled, steam practically coming out of his ears.
"And how much of SHIELD was actually Hydra, Captain Rogers," Ellis asked, tilting his head to the side. "You don't know? None of you? Well, I will tell you then. Twelve percent."
Ellis let that information sink for a few moments, while all of them paled. Twelve percent? All of them knew that most SHIELD actually was SHIELD but, It couldn’t have been that low. Could it?
"Hydra didn’t recruit until someone was worth recruiting. Until they had some kind of power or position that made it worthwhile. Most of the Hydra disappeared the moment they got wind of the info dump." Ellis continued with a glare on his face. "Barely any of them were caught and instead you got a lot of good Agents killed. Do you even know who saved the remaining SHIELD Agents? No?"
"Stark." Fury answered quietly. "Hill went to Stark for help and he provided all of the Agents he managed to save in time with shelter, money, a job at his company, and a new identity. That's why they are loyal to him now. He is their savior."
"He is no savior." Clint growled with a low tone. "He and his whore of a Robot killed Wanda! Just like Ultron Pietro!"
"That's not what happened, from what I heard." Ellis dismissively said, narrowing his eyes. "Wanda Maximoff tried to kill Stark after Vision killed himself, willingly. The AI known as Friday only acted in his defense, and this story was confirmed by every single Agent that was present in that room, as well as Secretary Ross."
"They are all obviously on Stark’s payroll." Clint snarled. "Of course, they confirmed his story! They are nothing more than a bunch of fucking sellouts."
"Even if that wasn't the case, which I highly doubt." Ellis stated, shaking his head. "The whole UN is convinced of this story and agrees that Friday's actions are completely justified."
"So Tony is just going to get away with this?" Steve asked in disbelief. "He convinced Vision of committing suicide. His AI killed Wanda and his Robots knocked us all out and put us in cells like some criminals! He even took my shield again and you are saying that he won't face any consequences?!"
"Vision made his own choice and that shield is by the law Stark’s property that was only loaned to you by his Father, whose murder you covered, Captain!" Ellis shouted back, vein pomping on his forehead. "Wanda Maximoff was an unstable terrorist, who caused us all more problems than good. Do you really think that anybody would blink if he killed her without a reason? No nobody would care because her own country wanted her executed for treason and crimes against humanity!"
"Wanda was just a Kid." Steve stated with a stuborn look on his face. "She was trying to be better."
"Are you really calling a 27 years old woman who was fucking an Android made out of Vibranium a Kid?" Ellis asked in disbelief. "If she was a Kid, why did you take her on the battlefield in the first place?" ...You know what? I had enough. Captain? You are being stripped of your military rank effective and immediately. All of you are going back to the military base in Los Angles and will stay until this whole Invasion is done. Refuse to listen to this order and consider your Pardons revoked."
"You can't do that!" Steve yelled with wide angry eyes.
"I can and I just did." Ellis said firmly. "Ross was right. I shouldn't have believed in the Legend of Captain America so deeply. Thanks to my foolishness, America lost the most influential man in our existence, while the whole World is at his mercy and we can only hope that he will be merciful to us because if not... Not even God will help us."
Ellis disconnected the call and everybody except Fury and Bucky turned to Steve, who was staring at the black monitor as if it was still on.
"Cap? Sam called out with a fearful voice. "What are we going to do?"
"We will do what Mr. President ordered us to do." Bucky answered instead while leaning against the wall behind them.
"Bucky. I understand that you are scared of Tony, but I promise you that Tony won't touch you." Steve quickly said with a reassuring tone. "I won't let him. I will keep you safe-"
"Shut up." Bucky interrupted, shaking his head. "If Stark wanted me dead, I would already be dead. All of us would be dead if he wanted us dead. Don't make him hate you even more than he already does, or I won't be able to get you out of trouble anymore, Punk." Bucky doesn't wait for anyone to say anything and leaves the room, ready to go pack his things and prepare for transport.
"Barnes is right." Fury concluded. "The whole World is currently at Stark's mercy. Our best course of action will be to do what we are told to do and focus on securing as much power as we possibly still can." Fury pulled out his phone and also left the room, not even taking a side glance back.
"Can't T'Challa help us?" Clint asked, looking at Natasha wíth a hopeful expression on his face. "We need to be prepared if Ellis really decides to revoke our Pardons."
"Clint is right." Sam nodded, still looking at Steve. "It's safe to assume The President would hand us all over to Europe, just to secure some political connections or please Stark in some way because if Stark wins against The Chitauri, America will need help to rebuild and recover."
"Wakanda was just starting to get out of isolation and despite whatever bullshit they claim, they did it because the outside World was becoming too advanced for their liking, and they wanted to secure as much power as they possibly could." Natasha shook her head. "Etherium just proved that Stark is even beyond their level and probably was for years. Whatever T'Chaka wanted to achieve for Wakanda is already out in the wind and if T'Challa breaks the rules for us again, the world will come for him and if Stark joins them, Wakanda will fall quicker than T'Challa will be able to put his fancy Cat suit on."
"Do you really believe that Tony would start a war with Wakanda if T'Challa decided to support us again?" Steve quietly asked, biting his bottom lip.
"Didn't you see how The UN Committee reacted towards everything Tony said, while when Princess Shuri said something all of them just practically rolled their eyes on her and completely ignored her?" Natasha asked with a raised eyebrow. "Whatever power Wakanda had in The UN went out of the Window the moment Etherium was revealed to the outside world. If Tony would decide that he wants to take over Wakanda right after The Chitauri are gone, the entire Europe and god know how many other countries would join him on his quest. And if it is really true that he is ageless and immortal like that weird Monk with facial hair said, Tony is basically a God among us."
"Son of a bitch..." Clint exclaimed with a realization on his face, while the others turn to him in confusion. "When The Iron Legion led us off the bridge on our flight to Etherium, I heard Friday say something about her being an Empress while Tony mentioned something about being an Emperor."
"What?" Sam asked with clear confusion on his face.
"Don't you get it?" Clint asked, making a "duh" face, before looking over the others. "Nobody gets it? Really? Do I need to spell it out for you? Tony and Friday. Emperor and Empress."
"Oh god." Steve gasped with wide eyes, realizing what Clint is implying. "Tony took over the World."
****
Onboard Pegasus, Tony and Friday lean against each other, standing over the edge of their ship and overlooking their Fleet with bright smirks on their faces, while also inspecting The Mind Stone that brightly shines in Tony’s palm.
Tony then placed The Stone on his right Gauntlet, and the Stone quickly attaches to his Suit, sending an yellow energy cursing down the entire suit, and changing it from Midnight Black and Light Grey to whitish Silver and Mette Black.
Show time…