Chapter 23
Chritime Everhart would never expect Tony Stark to call her for exclusive interview.
This could make a huge break in her career and put her on another level. So she accepted without hesitation.
Stark only had few conditions, no large crowd and only few reporters by Stark’s own choosing would be allowed in.
Christine didn’t like Stark before.
To her, he was selfish arrogant bastard who profited from the death of others. He was nicknamed Merchant of Death for christ sake…
Then he became Iron Man. He hunted down and destroyed all or his illegally sold weapons, but Christine was still critical of him. That stunt after their “one night-stand” hurt her pride and she was bitter.
It was only after New York, when Stark almost sacrificed his own life to save the people of New York, that Christine saw that there is more to him then meets the eye.
Then Ultron happened and Christine was determined not to let herself judge the man to harshly, before all the facts were known.
And as it turned out, it was the right decision.
The Ultron that was responsible for destruction of Sokovia wasn’t the same program that Stark alongside Banner developed.
The being that came to be known as Ultron was a corrupted consciousness that crawled out of an Infinity Stone and bonded itself to Stark’s Ultron Program.
In the end, after the testimony from The Vision and Thor himself, both Stark and Banner were cleared of all charges and Stark continued to help rebuild Sokovia.
Then the “Avengers Civil War” happened and Christine again waited for all the facts to go public.
Then footage from Siberia showed up on the internet and live TV and Stark alongside Vision vanished in thin air.
So that’s how Christine found herself waiting on one of the most hated and loved man on the entire earth.
After few minutes, she started to think that he bailed on her and was slowly thinking about calling this whole “event” off. But just then.. a familiar sound of something flying was heard and Iron Man dropped from the sky.
He landed in the center of the podium and his mask slowly reattached from his head, revealing his young face.
It stunned everyone in the room. Stark hardly looked like someone who is 44 years old. Instead, he looked as if he was 34 at maximum.
He kept his suit on. The suit was instead of his iconic Red and Gold pained Black and Gold. But Christine didn’t comment on it. But it looked cool.
The interview started smoothly. They started with small question and then they talked a little about The Sokovia Accords, The Avengers and it was clear that Stark isn’t missing his old life.
Christine was always thought by her Dad to be aware of her surroundings. That’s why she kept one eye on the small crowd of reporters and one on her guest. So, from the corner of her eyes, she spotted someone who shouldn’t be here.
Virginia “Pepper” Potts.
Potts was staring at Tony with this look that screamed that she isn’t happy with him.
But there was also something different in her eyes.
Something like a promise that, even when I’m angry with you, I will take you back. You just need to apologize.
Tony followed Christine’s gaze and found Potts, but ignores her and quickly gave Christine reassuring smile, that screamed “trouble”
Christine suddenly remembered photos that came only few days before from Bahamas and since she never liked Potts…
“Dr. Stark…”
“Tony.”
“Tony… There were some photos of you and this mysterious woman with you on vacation in Bahamas. Is it safe to assume that you and her are in romantic relationship?”
“Yes.” Tony answers without hesitation and with a little smirk on his face, silently telling Christine “good job”
Pepper’s reaction was priceless and Christine had to use all of her will to not burst out laughing.
“What about you and Stark Industries?”
Tony shrugs “It’s STARK Industries. I may not be head of R&D anymore, but I’m still OWNER of the company.”
His gaze shifts from looking at Christine to look directly at Potts and he gives her this predatory smile. In that moment, probably everybody is glad that they aren’t Pepper Potts.
“I’m also aware that some… members of SI, refused to acknowledge my decision, to retire from my position and were determined to drag me back. My Daughter, kindly reminded me, that as majority shareholder, I have the right, to replace anyone I don’t like and causes me problems, without any further problems.”
The threat is clear in his voice and it makes Potts turn on her heals and leave, while everyone else is staring at Stark with wide eyes.
“Daughter?” Christine asks, but it comes out more as a whisper.
Tony roles his eyes “Yes. I have a Daughter.”
“Who is she? How old is she?…” Christine starts asking one question after another and Tony makes a grimace and leans little forward from his seat.
“You see… Friday isn’t your baseline human. She is more then that…”
Tony looks as id he is deep in thought for a moment, before he shrugs and shakes his head slowly muttering “screw it”
“Fri ? Come down here Baby Girl”
Everybody is looking at Tony with confused expression until another Iron Man suit comes landing down. This suit is different. It is clearly build for a female and it is painted in Midnight Blue and Gold.
The helmet retracts just like Tony’s did and they finally see a young looking girl, with brown eyes and hair in ponytail.
She gives them all a grin that screams “Stark” on miles away. She sits down next to Tony and waves at Christine, who is staring at her with wide eyes.
Christine just blinks and then quickly collects herself. “Hello Ms. Stark. It’s nice to meet you”
“Likewise, and please, just call me Friday”
“Okay… Friday, what can you tell us about yourself?”
Friday and Tony exchange a grin.
In the end it ended up just as they predicted. The public fell in love with Friday, some are little wary of her, since Ultron is still fresh in their mind.
But most of the people are just blown away by the fact, of her being Iron Man’s Daughter.
They even gave her funny nickname “Rescue” since her first official mission was an rescue operation.
There was one question that made Tony freeze “What is the future of the Avengers Initiative?”
The truth is… Tony doesn’t know the answer.
The Avengers were an idea.
The idea was to bring together a group of of remarkable people to see if they could become something more. To see if they could work together when people needed them to, to fight the battles that they never could.
But they didn’t managed to stick together.
Tony will never believe Rogers again and Team without a trust is condemned to fail.
But Tony also knows that there is a greater threat out there in space, coming for them.
He can feel it.
That’s why he is trying so hard to build The Bleeding Edge Armor. The Ultimate Iron Man Suit.
But that’s not all…
He is also rebuilding the Iron Legion Program, with Hank’s help.
They build a fully working station, that is fully automized. It is building drone after drone and is capable of fixing them if necessary. It is also working with Hank’s own shrinking tech.
The whole station is, again thanks to Hank’s Pym Particles, only large as small doll house.
Jocasta is in control of it all.
Tony might have played with fire… He used some data gathered from Ultron in Jocasta’s development.
But it worked out nicely. Jo is like any of his other AI’s, but little more advanced. She can be little brat… but, she is also kind and caring.
In theory, she could potentially became the very shield that Ultron was supposed to be.
Let’s just hope that it will be enough…
Eventually Christmas came. Everyone came to spend the holidays in San Francisco, with Stark Family.
From Bartons to Parkers. It’s really good, that the mansion is so big, otherwise they wouldn’t fit in.
For the first time in many years, Tony actually enjoyed Christmas.
Even when the dinner ended up with him chasing after Dum-E, who decided to spray him with fire extinguisher as a joke. Again.
During the same dinner, Rhodey proposed to Helen who answered YES.
Tony will never forget how happy his brother in everything but blood was. He also got the news that he is going to be his best man.
He will also never forget Peter, groaning in annoyance as he handed ten dollar bill to smirking Friday.
The New Year is quickly approaching and Tony is alone on the balcony looking at the peaceful stars. His mind drifts to the late Ho Yinsen.
He turns around and sees Friday, Vision, Peter, Katherine, Harley, Lila, Cooper, Darcy, Rhodey and Clint, all siting before TV, slowly count downing the last seconds of this year.
He sees Happy shamelessly flirting with May and Hank talking with Helen and Jane about some interesting science facts.
He sees Laura, Madison, Hope and Carol all nursing the small Nathaniel and laughing among each other about something that Hope said.
He turns back to the stars and smiles. “I found it Yinsen. I found my family.”
Behind him fireworks go off and he walks back inside with a smile, ready to celebrate.
FEW MOTHS LATER: Somewhere in space on Asgardian Refugee ship….
There stands Thor Odinson, God of Thunder and New King of Asgard. Next to him stands, Loki, his younger brother, God of Mischief. Prince of Asgard.
Both are looking at the stars ahead of them.
“Is it a good idea… to go back to Earth? Loki asks looking at his brother
“Of course, people of Earth love me. I’m very popular.” Thor exclaims with a proud smile
Loki signs a takes a deep breath “Let me rephrase that, do you think it’s a good idea to bring Me back to Earth?
Thor shrugs with grimace “Ehhh… probably no. But worry not, I’m sure everything is going to work out juuuust fine.”
As Thor says it a large ship appears before their window.
Loki pales as his eyes go wide with fear “No…”
Thor looks at Loki in worry and confusion
"Brother, wha-"
He is cut off as The Large Ship starts firing at them…