The World Is A Big Place
“I hate you.” Happy says, glaring at Tony, who stands up from his bed, grinning from ear to ear.
“Come on, it was a fair bet!” Tony exclaims, amusingly bouncing on his feet. “You should’ve known better then bet against my charm, Hap.”
“I was thinking that you were just joking about this.” Happy says, sighing and running his hand through his new goatee. “Besides, she hates your guts. I would never expect her to agree to “come over” to you.”
“I’m Tony Stark. Of course that no woman can resist my charm.” Tony says, smugly looking at his bare chest and closing his eyes in deep concentration. “Not even Wanda Maximoff…”
“I look like an idiot.” Happy mumbles, still glaring at Tony, who is already being enveloped in his new liquid armor.
“Nonsense!” Tony says as his Suit finishes forming. “You look like me!”
“Exactly.” Happy resorts, his lips twitching upwards, before he points at Tony’s new armor. “Are you going to wear that thing everywhere now?”
“Technically, I am always wearing it now.” Tony responds, checking himself out. “It’s surprisingly comfy. It also gives me funny tingles all around my naked skin and don’t even get me starting on my di-“
“Okay!” Happy quickly and loudly interjects. “I get it! You like your new toy… When is that Maximoff chick coming over?”
“In a few hours.” Tony says, looking outside the window at the New York Skyline. “I’m curious about this night. I’m curious about her.”
“Why?” Happy questions in honest and pure curiosity. “She tried to kill you.”
“Many people tried to kill me Happy.” Tony says, still looking outside. “And yet, here I am.”
“But those people aren’t here anymore. They are all dead.” Happy points out. “What is so different about her?”
“I don’t know…” Tony quietly answers. “That’s what I want to find out tonight.”
“You know, I missed this.” Happy says, looking down and nostalgically smiling. “I missed this version of you, because in reality, even if you came back from Afghanistan-“
“A part of me never came back.” Tony finishes for him. “I tried to be a good guy, I really did. But It doesn’t matter how many times I save this World I will always be seen as nothing more then the Merchant of Death.”
“This plan of yours.” Happy starts, looking hesitant. “Are you sure you really want to do this?”
“Yes.” Tony answers without hesitation. “But first, I need to know who I can trust. Rhodey and Vision are with me, Friday and The Bots are with me. You, Pepper and Stark Industries are with me… and I have a good feeling, that Maximoff will soon be with me too.”
“This sounds like we are planning to take over the world.” Happy laughs, shaking his head in amusement.
“That will be our second assignment.” Tony jokes, picking up two glasses and a bottle and pouring them a drink. “To better future Happy.”
“To better future.” Happy nods, clipping their drinks and taking a sip.
****
When Happy leaves, Tony has finally time to think in silence. He managed to convince Happy into becoming his driver and personal guard, again.
Not because that he needed protection, but because Happy brings back happy memories from easier times.
No pun intended.
Tony can also keep an protective eye on him.
Rhodey has his War Machine Suit, Friday and The Bots are always with Tony, and Pepper has her own security team. Only Happy had no real protection and Tony isn’t going to lose anyone close to his heart. Not again.
There is one thing that has been bugging him ever since Sokovia and he can’t stop thinking about it, or the possibilities, but if anybody found about about what Tony did…
Well… It wouldn’t be pretty.
Tony is really confident in his abilities. He doesn’t have a real reason to have doubts about himself. The Endo-Sym Armor proves that he can create practically anything he wants.
But now isn’t really a time to question his life choices.
Before Thor left, he talked about some powerful artifacts, called the Infinity Stones, and one of those Stones, is in The Vision’s possession.
Tony isn’t sure what to think about the Android. He was supposed to be Jarvis, not some mixed entity of multiple beings. So, Tony did some tests, with The Vision’s permission of course and found out that Jarvis is still inside of the Android.
That made Tony happy because that means that he didn’t kill his Son and create something entirely different. That’s why Tony knows, that while he isn’t sure how to feel about The Vision, he can still trust him.
But unfortunately, Vision doesn’t want to learn more about the alien entity on his forehead and instead wants to learn about Human society.
Ugh….
Tony learned many thing about The Mind Stone from… questionable, but kinda trustworthy source. Vision could be a God among men, if he wasn’t so determined to live like an human being.
That’s why Tony is already creating a plan for how to solve this… situation. The Avengers might be bitching about it, but Tony doesn’t care.
“Interesting…” A female voice says from behind Tony, making him sharply turn and point his arm at the intruder.
“Who the fuck are you and why shouldn’t I simply shoot you where you stand.” Tony threatens, his eyes glowing.
“Calm down Tony Stark.” The Woman says softly, looking amused by his reaction, making his eye twitch in anoyence. “You will only hurt yourself if you attack me.”
Tony blinks. “I will literally make a giant hole in you-“
“I’m here to talk about Wanda Maximoff.” The Woman interrupts, completely ignoring his threat. “I know what you are planning and I have no intention of stopping you, but you need to know, what Wanda Maximoff really is.”
“And what is she?” Tony asks, looking curious and suspicion, but not letting his guard down.
“She is The Scarlet Witch.” The Women says, looking concerned. “My name is The Ancient One and I’m current Sorcerer Supreme as well as the leader of the Masters of the Mystical Arts.”
Tony simply blinks at this revelation.
****
So, apparently Wizards exist, because why wouldn’t they? It’s not like Magic isn’t completely absurd concept, but then again…
So were Aliens…
So were Mutants…
Tony didn’t at first believe the Ancient One, but after she made his spirit latterly leave his body, he was kinda convinced. Surprisingly, that Woman is kinda entertaining, considering she is a couple centuries old.
They discussed many things. The Ancient One gave him a quick bio behind the Infinity Stones, and it made Tony even more convinced about his plan for The Vision.
She also told him the Legends of Scarlet Witch and Tony seriously thought about calling the date off, but his self preservation skills never were so good. As it turns out, Wanda isn’t so little witch, as Tony jokingly called her. The Ancient One told him that Wanda could literally reshape the reality itself.
Now, that should be a big red flag and you should keep your distance from her, but again Tony’s self preservation levels… It kinda made her even more attractive in his eyes.
Tony suggested that The Ancient One took Wanda under her wing herself, but the Older Woman immediately refused. She won’t risk the safety of her students and she has her hands already full with training her successor, what ever the fuck that means…
Luckily, Tony has all sort of connections. One of those connections is a powerful Mutant, called The Ice Queen, or as Tony knows her Emma Frost.
Emma and Tony used to fuck, there is no point of going around it. Emma was part of some group called Hell Fire Club, but quit a few years back.
If anyone can help “not-little witch” Wanda, it will be Emma, and luckily for Tony, Emma and He broke up on good terms, so Emma agreed to help him out.
Now, he just needs to convince Wanda to agree with this “training” and join Team Iron Man.
“Boss?” Friday calls out. “Ms. Maximoff is waiting outside.”
Speak of the devil…
“Let her in Fri.” Tony says, taking one final sip of his drink and deep calming breath.
Game on…