And Found
The rear door of a recently landed USAF C-17 opens, revealing a blinded Tony, who was sitting in a wheelchair, and Rhodey. Once the ramp is fully down, Tony begins to stand up with Rhodey’s help. As they walk slowly down the ramp, Tony can see Pepper and Happy standing by the Rolls but no Peter.
“He’s still at school Tone.” Rhodey said, sensing his friend's confusion.
Tony nodded just as two medics came towards him with a stretcher. “Are you kidding me with this? Get rid of them.”
Rhodey waved them away while Tony continued toward the car. “Your eyes are red. A few tears for your long-lost boss?” Tony said to Pepper as he reached the car.
Pepper just smiled at her long lost boss. “Tears of joy. I hate job hunting.”
“Yeah, vacation's over.” Tony said as he moved to get into the car.
“Where to, sir?” Happy asked as he closed his door
Pepper responded before Tony could talk. “Take us to the hospital, please, Happy.
“No.” Tony said with a shake of his head.
Pepper's head snapped to her boss. “No? Tony, you have to go to the hospital.”
Tony talked over her. “No is a complete answer.”
And Pepper talked right back over him. “The doctor has to look at you.”
Tony had enough. “I don't have to do anything. I've been in captivity for three months. There are two things I want to do. I want an American cheeseburger, and the other…”
Pepper interrupted him. “Peter is still in school, Tony. We will pick him up when school gets out at 3 like usual”
…is not that. Okay so maybe there are 3 things that I want. I want you to call for a press conference now.” Tony finished talking.
Pepper looked at her boss skeptically. “Call for a press conference?”
“Yeah.” He confirmed.
“What on earth for?” She questioned.
“Hogan, drive. Cheeseburger first.” Tony ordered.
After Pepper had called for an immediate press conference, they were sitting in the drive thru line at Burger King.
“You know my usual Hap, just double it.” Tony called to the front.
“Yes sir.” Happy dutifully complied.
Turning his attention to Pepper, “Okay fill me in. How’s Peter, Maria?”
Pepper filled him in on the events of the past three months. How Peter hadn’t been himself for the past three months. He had been moping around the house, sitting on the deck staring at the pool and never going in it, and how he had stopped working on any of the projects he and Tony were doing prior to his disappearance. Tony’s heart broke to hear how much his capture had affected Peter.
Maria on the other hand had taken charge. She had bolstered the security around all of the Stark family properties, she’d been the one telling Rhodey where to search based on intelligence reports that she’d borrowed from various intelligence agencies, and she had made weekly trips back to Malibu for the sole purpose of being there for Peter.
As they pulled up to the main building of Stark Industries, Tony could see Obidiah standing in front of a crowd of employees.
“Look at this!” Obidiah exclaims happily as he opens the car door for Tony to get out. “We were going to meet at the hospital.” He said as he hugged Tony.
“No, I'm fine.” Tony said, brushing off any worry Obidiah had for him.
Obidiah pulled back to get a better look at him. “Look at you!” Happy came around the front of the car and handed his boss a burger. “You had to have a burger, yeah?”
“Well, come on.” Tony said as if it were obvious.
“You get me one of those?” Obidiah asked as the two made their way inside the building
“There's only one left. I need it.” Tony said as he took a bite.
The two walked into the atrium that the press conference was going to take place in. “Hey, look who's here! Yeah!” Obidiah yelled to the gathered reporters.
Pepper just watched happily as her boss walked through the room to cheers.
“Miss Potts?” Came a voice to her left.
“Yes.” She said, turning to look at the man.
“Can I speak to you for a moment?” The mystery man asked.
“I'm not part of the press conference, but it's about to begin right now.” She said as she pointed to her boss and the gathered reporters.
“I'm not a reporter. I'm agent Phil Coulson, with the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.” The agent said as he held out a card.
Pepper had to fight to keep her eyes from widening and a shocked look from appearing on her face at the mention of Shield. Maria had told her that Shield never revealed themselves to anyone unless there was a reason . “That's quite a mouthful.” She said as she took the card from him
“I know. We're working on it.” The agent said
“You know, we've been approached already by the DOD, the FBI, the CIA…” She rattled off the names of some of those that had already talked to them before he interrupted her.
“We're a separate division with a more specific focus. We need to debrief Mr. Stark about the circumstances of his escape.”He said with a friendly smile.
“I'll put something in the book, shall I?” She said trying to end the conversation just as the press conference was starting.
“Thank you.” The agent said before he walked away to watch from a different spot in the room.
Pepper quickly pulled out her phone and sent a text to Maria, Just approached by agent Coulson of Shield. Want to question Tony about his escape. She sent it off Just as Tony started speaking from his spot on the floor in front of the podium.
“Hey, would it be all right if everyone sat down?” He asked as he motioned every one to sit down with his hand. “Why don't you just sit down? That way you can see me, and I can…” He paused as he took another bite of his burger. “A little less formal and…” He stopped to take another bite.
“What's up with the love-in?” Rhodey whispered as he came up and crouched down with Pepper
Pepper was just as confused as he was. “Don't look at me. I don't know what he's up to.”
“Good to see you.” Tony said Obidiah with his mouth full.
Obidiah smiled at him, “Good to see you.” He said as he patted Tony on the shoulder.
“I never got to say goodbye to Dad.” He said quietly to Obidiah before he turned to the sea of reporters, he said more loudly and clearly, “ I never got to say goodbye to my father. There's questions that I would have asked him. I would have asked him how he felt about what this company did. If he was conflicted, if he ever had doubts. Or maybe he was every inch the man we all remember from the newsreels. I saw young Americans killed by the very weapons I create to defend them and protect them. And I saw that I had become part of a system that is comfortable with zero accountability. I don’t want that as my legacy. I don’t want my son to look at me like that.”
There were murmurs throughout the crowd. Tony had never willingly brought his son up. Some of the reporters raised their hands and clamored for the chance to question the billionaire. “Mr. Stark!” One reporter in the front row yelled.
“Hey, Ben.” Tony greeted him
“What happened over there?” The reporter asked.
“I had my eyes opened.” Tony said as he stood up and walked around so he was standing behind the podium. “I came to realize that the Stark name has more to offer this world than just making things that blow up. And that is why, effective immediately, I am shutting down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark International until such a time as I can decide what the future of the company will be.”
Pandemonium erupted immediately. All of the reporters scrambled to ask Tony a question as Obidiah ushered him off the stage and addressed the reporters. Pepper and Rhodey exchanged shocked glances at the scene that was playing out before them.
Pepper’s attention was drawn from the stage when she felt her phone vibrate in her hand. Glancing at it her blood ran cold when she read it. She nudged Rhodey with her elbow and showed him the message.
From: Maria
DO NOT SPEAK TO HIM. Shield suspects Tony cooperated with his captors.