Chapter 2
Running for Senate wasn’t something Tony had ever seen himself doing. Everyone knew he had a brain hardwired for science, mathematics, and engineering - not for hand-shaking, baby-kissing, and politicking.
But desperate times called for desperate measures.
The board of investors for Stark Industries were nervous about him taking over. With his behavior as a bit of a playboy, they saw him as flighty. Irresponsible. A risk. The promise to deny him the position of CEO was fresh in Tony’s mind.
It wasn’t that he felt particularly strongly about the position. On the contrary, he felt like he could do much better work in the labs in a grease-stained shirt and with dirty hands than he could in an office parallel with the clouds, in a perfectly-tailored suit and making executive decisions.
What Tony did feel strongly about was the good he could do within that position.
Instead of being known for making the missiles that missed suicide bombers and hit civilian areas, they could be known for developing the first arc reactor. Instead of negotiating multi-billion dollar projects that brought about death and destruction, they could work on bringing sustainable energy to millions of people. Stark Industries had so much potential to do good, and to be a major player in bringing the world into the twenty-first century.
None of that would matter if Tony couldn’t get into a position to effect change, though.
In retrospect, there were probably ways to prove he was serious that didn’t involve running for public office, personally funding a campaign, and giving his two best friends a heart attack. Tony was desperate, though. The only people the board respected more than themselves were the politicians that kept getting contracts for SI to sign.
Tony figured if he could become one of those politicians, do some good for the company, and take a break from hiding in the lab long enough to get in the public’s good graces, he might be able to prove himself.
He hated having to do that - prove himself to a team of people older than him, that profited from his inventions and didn’t actually have to bother with doing much. That was the situation he found himself in, though, and he had to make the most of it.
“You ready?” Pepper’s voice broke Tony out of his thoughts, the man startling slightly before standing up from his chair.
“Course I am,” he said, straightening out his suit. He’d picked a gray suit with a simple purple tie and white pocket square, forgoing his usual pair of sunglasses. He wanted to appear open and honest, something that wouldn’t be achieved if the voters couldn’t look into his eyes.
Tony had done his research. He knew what to do.
“Okay, well there’s a whole room full of press out there waiting for some big announcement, and I’m sure as hell not going to be the one to make it,” Pepper prodded gently. “Are you having second thoughts? We can call it all off, play it off like some product isn’t going quite right.”
“No,” Tony said, looking at her and finally away from the suit he’d been almost obsessively running his hands over. As though smoothing out those fabric wrinkles would fix the ones threatening to rip apart his life. “No, we’re not calling it off. Let’s do this.”
Taking a deep breath, he strode out of the office he’d commandeered from some poor, frightened executive, and down to the room Pepper pointed out. The second he entered, the flashes of multiple cameras nearly blinded him and the small murmurs among the crowd died down to nothing. Tony stood at the podium, smiling out at the crowd gathered.
“Alright, you all know who I am so I’m going to skip the pleasantries and get straight down to business,” Tony said, addressing the room confidently. He tried to reach the right balance of authoritative but approachable, confident yet congenial. A few laughs sounded around the room, reporters shaking their heads fondly. Tony might spend most of his time in a lab, but his attitude was well-known. They hadn’t really expected anything less from him.
“There’s been a lot of speculation around when I’ll be taking over as CEO of Stark Industries,” he said, glancing down at the podium as though there were notes there for him to reference. There were none. He was Tony Stark - he didn’t stick to the cards. “As of now, those plans have been suspended indefinitely.”
There were a few shocked gasps and mumbles to colleagues, more flashing of cameras. He wasn’t surprised - the news was likely coming as a massive shock to most of these people.
“Mr. Stark-” A journalist rose, raising her hand.
“Ah, I’ve got more to get through here. So if you can wait, I promise you’ll be the first person I call on, okay?” Tony shot her a charming smile, the woman blushing fiercely before nodding and sinking back down into her seat.
“Great. What was I saying?” Tony paused for a second to make the funny line believable, like he really had forgotten what he was about to say next before getting interrupted. It made him look funny, casual, like one of the millions of people whose votes he’d have to get. “Right. Suspended indefinitely. And we’re not talking about my high school career.” There were a few chuckles, but the joke fell flat for others. Tony had been a genius child and hadn’t had the chance to get in trouble, a fact some journalists in the room seemed keenly aware of as he tried to appear relatable.
“Anyway, the point is,” Tony paused again, for dramatic effect this time. “I’m officially announcing my candidacy for the United States Senate.”
It was like he had announced the dissolution of Stark Industries, or maybe a plan to take over the government entirely. The room exploded, journalists jumping to their feet and shouting questions. The sound of camera shutters almost drowned them out, the frequency of the flashes in Tony’s face rapidly increasing.
“I understand you all have a lot of questions,” he practically yelled into the microphone, trying to regain control of the room. The frenzy died down slightly, but everyone in the room remained on their feet. “I know it’s unexpected, and I know it’s a lot to process.” Understanding but not condescending, Tony thought to himself. “I’m happy to answer questions, but let’s go one at a time. I might have graduated MIT at 20 but I can’t hear every question you’re asking at once.” More laughter, and thankfully the press gathered stayed calm and didn’t start screaming at him again. “Alright, let’s begin with the lovely woman who tried to speak earlier.”
The same woman rose, straightening her skirt and tossing her hair over one shoulder as a Stark Industries employee ran over with a microphone. With such a large room and so many people shuffling and whispering, not to mention the camera noise, Tony had wanted to be sure everyone was easily heard.
“Thank you, Mr. Stark,” the woman began once the microphone was held firmly in hand. “Penelope Fitzgerald, ABC News.” She took a deep breath, seemingly to compose herself. “It’s September 24th. The deadline to file for a Senate run in New York was back in April. Are you saying you’re running as a write-in candidate?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Tony said with a nod. “I know I missed the deadline to file and appear on the ballot, by a lot.” Penelope’s amused smile was encouraging. “But I also think I could do some real good for the people of New York, and I wasn’t going to wait years for the chance. Especially when, if I were to take over as CEO of Stark Industries, it would make things a lot more difficult down the line if I wanted to run.”
Tony pointed to another reporter, an older man who eyed him with what looked like a mix of admiration and trepidation. “Yes, what’s your question?”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Stark. I’m Glenn Young, with NBC News. To clarify, are there no current plans to make you CEO?”
“As a result of my running, those have been suspended. Had I decided to run in a later year, I would have faced a lot more difficulty. Thanks for the chance to clarify, Glenn.” Tony nodded respectfully in the man’s direction.
“Another quick question then,” Glenn continued, not quite phrasing it as a question but clearly hesitating to give Tony a chance to shut it down.
Tony had to hand it to himself - he had a way of charming people, disarming them and making them forget why they were there. It was literally this guy’s job to ask questions, and it seemed like he was asking permission to do so.
“Sure, Glenn. Go ahead,” Tony said, waving a hand in a gesture inviting the man to continue.
“Why are you running? You mentioned making a difference for voters, but there’s got to be more to it, right?”
“Absolutely,” Tony said immediately. He didn’t want to look like he had no idea why he was running - a haphazard, directionless candidate meant the campaign would come crashing to the ground before it even took off. Looking directly into the cameras, he straightened a bit more and addressed the room confidently. “New York is an incredible state, one I’ve been proud to call home all my life. We’re home to the greatest city in the world. We lead the country, and I’d go so far as to say the world, by our example. Our incredible citizens deserve nothing better than stellar representation in Congress, and I think I’m the best man for the job. We’ll see what the voters think in the end, but I’m committed to proving to them I’m worthy of their trust, their confidence, and their vote.”
There was a small smattering of applause. From a room full of people who were supposed to remain impartial, Tony considered that a win.
The press conference continued like that, with reporters who were known hard-hitters throwing him soft, easy questions that he knocked out of the park with ease.
A question about his campaign platform - what were the issues he cared about most?
“I’m so glad you asked, because I’m so passionate about my platform. I care deeply about making sure we have the best funding for research labs across the country. American scientists are doing ground-breaking work, from artificial intelligence to cancer research. If I can’t be in the lab alongside every single one of them, I feel the least I can do is make sure they have the funding they need to succeed.”
A follow-up question. Why not just donate privately?
“I would answer your question with a question: why make these labs dependent on benevolent private citizens? Our government should be proud to make investments in the future, in the betterment of life for all Americans. That kind of work shouldn’t rely on me, or anyone for that matter.”
One woman started to ask which political party he was going to run under, and Tony held up a hand in the middle of her question.
“I’m gonna stop you right there. I’m not really into the whole, two-parties-fighting-each-other-all-the-time-but-claim-to-work-together-for-the-spirit-of-bipartisanship-or-whatever thing.” Tony squinted, tilting his head to the side slightly and allowing one side of his mouth to quirk up in a facial expression conveying his distaste for the matter. “I’m running as an Independent. If you’ve got another question, I’ll be happy to answer. I promise I won’t interrupt this time.” An easygoing smile and a wink, and the woman was practically melting under the attention.
This was going well. Almost too well. A glance over at Pepper told Tony that even she was impressed. He knew he sounded like a natural, had studied old press conferences and speeches of successful candidates, the intonations and certain phrases drilled into his mind.
The control, the careful ease Tony had cast over the room shattered when he gestured for a younger man to ask a question. All fluffy brown hair and wide doe eyes, he looked like he belonged in a palace, being fed the finest food from around the world and having his every need or want attended to. He looked like he was just out of college, barely more than an intern and certainly not experienced enough to be holding his own at a Stark Industries press conference. Especially not one of such magnitude. Tony was smitten at first sight, something he hoped to whoever might be up there that it didn’t show for the cameras. He didn’t need his image as America’s most eligible bachelor being destroyed before they’d even had a chance to let it help his campaign.
“Peter Parker, New York Times,” the reporter said when he took the microphone. His voice was like music to Tony’s ears, sweet and lilting slightly. He didn’t stammer, flush, or trip over his words like the other reporters. Despite being visibly much younger than the rest, he exuded a sort of easy self-confidence that had Tony dying to get to know him better.
“Hi Peter, how are you?” Tony asked, smiling at the man and tilting his head to the side slightly. He could hear Pepper’s frustrated muttering about was he seriously flirting right now, but he ignored it.
Peter, for his part, just gave Tony a little half-smile. “I’m doing alright. I’d like to get to my question though.”
“Go ahead. Ask all the questions you like,” Tony said. “I’m an open book.”
“Great,” Peter said, smile growing slightly before it dropped from his face. “Mr. Stark, what would you say to constituents who are concerned about someone with direct ties to one of the world’s largest weapons manufacturers sitting in our nation’s government?”
His voice, previously sweet and gentle, was commanding and strong in the same way Tony’s had been when gaining control over the room earlier. His wide Bambi eyes, disarming and cute, were gone. The reporter was squinting at him slightly, like if he stared hard enough he’d see right through the careful armor Tony had built around himself and straight to his truth.
Tony had a feeling he’d be successful if that’s really what he wanted.
He couldn’t dwell on that now, though. He had a question - and one he had no idea how to answer. Everyone had loved him so far, giving him those easy questions. He hadn’t expected Peter to be any different. So, in classic Tony Stark fashion, he deflected and flirted.
“I’d tell them not to send such a pretty reporter next time so that I can actually focus on the question. Do you like Italian? I know a great place a couple blocks up.”
Wrong thing to say, Tony thought to himself as he watched Peter raise an eyebrow and heard him let out a derisive scoff. He raised the microphone to his mouth again.
“Unlike most things in your life, I’d imagine, you can’t buy me. So if you don’t mind, Mr. Stark, would you answer the damn question?”
Ouch.
That stung, but even in his shocked stupor Tony knew he kind of deserved it. He’d blatantly hit on a guy just trying to do his job. That was grade-A asshole behavior. He could practically hear the lecture from Pepper already.
Speaking of Pepper, she was striding up to the podium, gently shouldering Tony out of the way.
“That’s going to conclude things for today, everyone. We’ll share updates with you, as well as a campaign schedule shortly.”
Peter Parker let out a laugh as Pepper tried to nudge Tony out of the room, glancing around as if to confirm everyone else saw what he just had. “Seriously? Alright.” He shook his head, bending down to grab his bag and slinging it over his shoulder. Tony just caught the words “easiest assignment ever” being muttered under his breath as the journalist swept out of the room, all eyes on him. Tony’s eyes were not on his ass, thanks.
“Who was that?” He asked Pepper as they exited.
“He’s an investigative journalist for the Times. He won a Pulitzer last year,” Pepper debriefed him while they headed for the penthouse. "Parker's intense, and damn good at his job. Everyone in the business knows it. We'll prep you so that doesn't happen again. I can take him off the list if you want."
"No, don't." Tony smirked a little, glancing back towards the room like Peter might still be there. "I like him. In fact, let's give him a one-on-one interview."
"I'm not setting up an opportunity for you to flirt." Pepper sighed as Tony fixed her with a look, somehow simultaneously demanding and pleading. "Your funeral," she relented with a shrug. "Or rather, your failed Senate campaign." She strode off in the direction of the elevator, Tony taking out his phone and pulling up a profile on the young Pulitzer winner. The soft, easygoing smile that Peter wore in the attached photo was misleading, making him look like an innocent boy rather than a clever journalist who knew how to get a story. Tony knew better now.
If Tony had finally met his match, he was confident it was in one Peter Parker.