You Could Make a Case for That

This is a very interesting theory with some real parallels. Apparently Lex Luthor 1) wanted to control a device to keep aliens out, regardless of what the rest of the world wanted, 2) wanted the UN in control of superheroes, 3) tried to justify murder and murder attempts by blaming people who weren't actually responsible for events, 4) built wearable weapons with no failsafes, 5) used people to fight his battles for him (not sure if they were children or adults), and 6) created an equivalent of Ultron. Tony's behavior sounds A LOT more like Lex Luthor's than it ever did Bruce Wayne's. As for motive, apparently Lex doesn't see himself as evil. Sometimes he's desperate and fearful, sometimes he's just being a self-centered, arrogant jackass. Which also sounds A LOT like Tony.

Tony was halfway into his lab when he saw a stranger standing there. He was white, bald, around Tony's age, and looking supremely unimpressed by his surroundings.

Tony asked, "Who are you? And Friday, who is this man and how did he get in?"

Friday answered, "I don't know and I don't know, Boss. Facial rec has no results. He just appeared in your lab 15 seconds ago."

The man turned and said, "Tony Stark, I presume?"

Tony answered, "Yes. And you are?"

The man said, "Lex Luthor."

Luthor lifted a hand with a tablet in it and said, "I've been reading up on you. I'm glad to see that whoever arranged this cosmic crossover got our connection right."

Tony said, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Luthor shrugged and said, "I'm not clear on the details, either. But persons from my universe were supposed to meet up with their counterparts in this one. So you and I must be the most closely aligned."

Tony said, "Meet up to do what?"

Luthor replied, "Get to know each other? Perhaps there's something I can help you with here, and if you ever get blipped to my universe you can return the favor. It does seem as though we've both had very similar experiences."

Tony sat down on a stool and asked, "Like what?"

Luthor leaned against a worktable and said, "U.N. involvement with superheroes, for one thing. You became a cheerleader for the Sokovia Accords, while I had my own version. You're right that those people need to be doing what they're told, not what they want. And we're both ready to use whatever means necessary--including WHOEVER we need--to get the job done. And we've both made weaponized armors, though I've never been so dependent on mine as you are."

Tony frowned as Luthor continued, "And how about our global anti-alien weapons systems. Who cares what the people of the world want, right? They'll take what we give them and like it. Of course our sentient AIs didn't turn out exactly as planned, but that doesn't mean we weren't absolutely right to switch them on without testing or failsafes."

Luthor walked close and said, "Then there's the way everyone is against us. You tried to murder a man who was brainwashed into killing your parents, and you shot multiple people who were unarmed. And to this day you haven't actually apologized to a single person."

Luthor smiled and finished, "And to top it off, we're both sitting atop a pile of blood money that buys us out of facing the consequences of our actions. I think we're going to get along perfectly."

Before Tony could say anything--or even decide WHAT to say--a man in a blue suit with a red cape burst into the room. He looked at Luthor and said, "I should have known you'd turn up here."

Luthor sneered and said, "Ah, Caped Crusader Number 1. I should have known you'd try to spoil my fun."

Another man, this time in a cowl and dark superhero suit with a black cape, strode in and said, "Looks like Luthor hasn't been here long enough to do any damage."

The first caped guy nodded and said, "Let's guarantee it." Then the guy fired a green ray at Luthor and Luthor disappeared.

Tony said, "Somebody better start explaining--now."

The two men looked at him. The man in the red cape said, "Lex Luthor is one of the most diabolical villains on our Earth. He's caused years of chaos and death because he refuses to believe the laws apply to him."

Tony felt a chill when he heard that a VILLAIN matched with him across universes. He asked, "How did you know you'd find him here?"

The man in black shrugged and said, "My counterpart--Hank Pym--heard Luthor's profile and suggested I check here."

The man with the red cape said, "My counterpart thought it would be wise for me to fly ahead to contain Luthor. Apparently Steve Rogers gave you a means of contact but didn't think you'd use it."

Tony looked down. He couldn't say Cap was wrong.

When he looked back up the two men were staring at him. The man in blue and red said, "What I don't understand is how one of our greatest villains got paired up with one of this universe's heroes."

The man in black shrugged and said, "Apparently if you look at damage, deaths, and motives, Tony Stark and Lex Luthor are a lot alike."

Both men stared at Tony for a few more moments before they disappeared.

Tony could only hope no one in THIS universe revealed the truth about Lex Luthor--and him.