You Could Make a Case for That

Tony may not have been Hydra, but he did match Hydra's predictions of people who would "trade freedom for security." Of course, Tony's willing to trade OTHER PEOPLE's "precious freedoms," not his own, for his "suit of armor around the world." The funny thing is, it probably wouldn't have worked. As people online have pointed out, even the unenhanced Avengers were able to take out Tony's Iron Legion robots. Ultron was destroyed by Vision using the Mind Stone, and Vision was almost destroyed by Corvus Glaive's spear. Thanos wouldn't have even been inconvenienced by Tony's robots. Plus Tony's systems are pretty easily hacked.

Note: This is a variation of the mansion scene. In this one, the others don't learn about the phone until after Ebony Maw shows up.

Bruce finished his story about Thanos. Tony didn't even consider taking the phone out of his pocket and calling Cap. Instead, he leaned back on the sofa and said, "We've got it covered, Brucie-Bear."

He waved a hand and continued, "Friday is already surrounding this structure with the latest defenses. While you were off sulking somewhere across the galaxy, I was putting a suit of armor around the world. We have nothing to worry about."

Dr. Strange's cape rustled uneasily as Strange said, "If the news reports were correct, Ultron's army was utterly destroyed--by Earthlings, some without enhancements. It is foolish and arrogant to assume your mechanical defenses will hold up against a force capable of destroying the Asgardians, who sound far more technologically advanced."

Bruce nodded and said, "They were. And now their ships are in ruins. We have to protect the Time Stone and the Mind Stone. Where's Vision?"

Tony was debating how to answer when suddenly weapons were being fired outside. They all ran out and looked up. Tony said, "Here we go."

He expected his robots to wipe out the invaders. Instead, he watched a single, strangely pale being ripping them apart with ease. The being said, "Such pitiful defenses seem appropriate to this backwater planet."

Tony swallowed and fumbled for the flip phone. There was a good chance his "suit of armor around the world" would be nothing but scraps. He said, "Shit. Time to call the cavalry."

The being focused on Strange and said, "You have something I want."

Wong grabbed the phone, glanced at the single contact listed, and handed the phone to Strange. He said, "Get out of here. Call Rogers, warn the others, and go wherever Rogers tells you. We'll try to keep this guy busy as long as we can."

Strange frowned but nodded. He dashed around a corner, probably so the alien wouldn't see Strange open up a portal to escape.

More and more of Tony's robots were firing on the alien, who batted the beams away. As Tony activated his own armor, he saw Spider-Man swinging into the battle.

Tony thought maybe if they were lucky, they could end this right here. But then the eyes of the robots turned from white to red and lined up BEHIND the alien like they were HIS suits of armor.

Wong said, "I do not like the look of this."

Bruce said, "Tony, tell me you improved your security after Ultron hacked your Internet."

Tony didn't say anything. Instead, he started blasting his own creations. And winced at how easy they were to destroy.

Maybe a suit of armor around the world wasn't as useful as he'd thought.

As he watched the Spider-Kid get blasted into a building, Tony could only hope that Cap and the others did better than his own defenses did.

Tony sulked in a corner as Spider-Kid, Rhodey, Bruce, Strange, Wong, a bunch of Wakandans, Thor, a raccoon, a tree, and Team Crap raised their glasses. Cap said, "I truly think that our ability to work together was the key to our victory over Thanos. Wong, you sent Dr. Strange to us, who warned us in time to save Vision and keep both the Time Stone and the Mind Stone safe from Thanos. T'Challa, you offered Wakanda as Earth's best line of defense. Thor, Rocket, and Groot, you came in time to distract Thanos from using the stones he already had. And Wanda, you showed you are the strongest Avenger by blasting Thanos to atoms."

Everyone clapped and drank. Then Cap looked around and said, "It was definitely a team effort. We made some hard choices and took some big risks."

Cap looked at Thor and the royals as he continued more quietly, "And we took some heavy losses."

Then Cap gave a small smile and looked at everyone and said, "But we saved the universe, together. Thank you for everything you did to keep us all safe."

Tony started to slink off to try and get a look at the Wakandan tech. Suddenly a fierce Wakandan woman with a spear got in his face and said, "Don't even THINK about it."