A Distinguished Honor
Tony sighed as he sat alone in a warehouse. Looking down, he saw a file labeled ‘Avengers Initiative.’ He was about to open it when a hand came down on top of it and pulled it away.
“I don’t think I want you looking at that. I’m not sure it pertains to you anymore.”
Tony looked at Fury. “What?”
“Now, this, on the other hand, is Agent Romanoff’s assessment of you.” Fury continued, ignoring Tony’s comment. “Read it.”
“Uh…‘Personality review: Mr. Stark displays compulsive behavior.’ In my own defense, that was last week. ‘Prone to self-destructive tendencies.’ I was dying! And I mean, please, aren’t we all? ‘Textbook narcissism.’” Tony paused. “Agreed.”
Then he pointed to it. “Okay, here it is. Uh…recruitment assessment for Avenger Initiative. Iron Man, yes.’ I gotta think about it.”
“Read on.” Fury told him.
Looking back at the file, Tony was shocked. “‘Tony Stark not…not recommended.’ That doesn’t make any sense. How can you approve me but not approve me?
“I got a new ticker; I’m trying to do right by, uh, Pepper and my family. I’m in a stable-ish relationship.”
Fury got up and walked around the table. “Which leads us to believe at this juncture, we’d only like to use you as a consultant.”
“And Kara?”
“We will be contacting her as well. Her skill set is different. We might just need that.” Fury told him.
Standing, Tony shook Fury’s hand. “You can’t afford us. Then again, I will waive my customary retainer in exchange for…a small favor. Kara, Rhodey, and I are being honored in Washington, and we need a presenter.”
Fury nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”
…
Kara tried not to laugh as she stood next to Tony onstage in her suit. Glancing at her brother, she knew he and Rhodey were in the same boat.
At the microphone, Senator Stern spoke to the crowd. “It is my honor to be here today to present these distinguished awards to Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes, Supergirl, and Mr. Tony Stark. Who is, of course, a national treasure.”
Kara bit her lip as Stern walked over with pins to award them. “Thank you, lieutenant colonel, for such an exceptionally distinguished performance. You deserve this.”
“Thank you, sir.”
After he put the pin on Rhodey, he moved to Kara. “Thank you, Supergirl, for such an exceptionally distinguished performance. You deserve this.”
“Thank you, Senator.” She smiled at him. “I’ll just hold it. Bulletproof and all that.”
He gave her a look and then moved to Tony. “Mr. Stark, thank you for such an exceptionally distinguished performance. You deserve this.”
“Ow!”
Kara turned her head to look at her brother and saw Stern pat his chest. “Oh, I’m sorry. Funny how annoying a little prick can be, isn’t it?”
As he moved to take a picture with them, Kara smirked. Holding up her medal, she waited while the picture was being taken before the event ended. Once they were clear to leave, she muttered under her breath that she would meet them back at the hotel. Then she took off towards the sky.
…
“So…what are your powers anyway?”
Kara laughed as she sipped her drink.
Rhodey had come to their hotel suite for a drink and couldn’t help but blurt out the question. “No, seriously. I want a list.”
“Anybody need another drink?” She stood and walked to their in-room bar.
“Hey, don’t just walk away from me,” Rhodey told her. “Tony!”
“Children, behave,” Tony told them as he walked to his sister.
As he approached, her phone rang. He watched as her features darkened before answering the call. “What?”
“I want to see my daughter.”
“Yeah, that’s not happening.”
“You can’t keep her from me!” The man yelled.
Hearing the aggravated tone, Tony pulled the phone away from her. “Hey dickwad, long time. First of all, you do not have the right to see her. You signed those away after you left, remember?”
“This isn’t your-”
“No, no. I’m talking. You’re listening. First, remember that. Second, stay away from my sister and my niece. If you try to get in contact with them again, I’ll have my entire legal team after you. Now, we’re celebrating, so goodbye!”
He hung up, and both men looked at her. Rhodey stood. “How many times has he called?”
Kara paused. “Like five? Since right before Monaco.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Tony asked her.
She shrugged. “I didn’t exactly have a chance. Vanko attacked right after he called the first time, and then you were dying, and then Vanko attacked the Expo…”
“Okay, point taken.” He said. “Let me know if he calls again, though, okay?”
“Tony…”
He put his hands on her shoulders. “He signed away his rights. That is ironclad, no pun intended. You know our lawyers are the best there are. He’s not getting to Layna.”
She nodded and blew out a breath. “Okay. Thank you.”
It was silent for a moment.
“So really, what other powers do you have?”