Event of the Year
Anyone who was asked (and quite a few who weren't but put their two cents in anyway) agreed: The Stark Expo was going to be THE event of the year.
Which left Tony both, well, flattered... But also trying not to laugh hysterically, as he'd sort of worked the time frame and found out that his Expo, the Culver U Hulk rampage courtesy of Ross AND Thor et al first touchdown on Earth for centuries were going to happen the SAME WEEK.
Sometimes Tony wondered if the Universe had it for him personally, or what?
Unfortunately, Tony had no way to intercept the Trickster during the very short trip he'd done at the time, and even if he could, the billionaire was pretty sure the God of mischief was not in a frame of mind to listen.
Thor would, maybe, have been more possible, but Tony was not having fond memories of the God of jocks, and showing up in a small desert town where he had no reason to be was a sure way to raise Fury's suspicions higher than they already were.
Tony had offered a grant to Dr Foster for her research, but had left it at that.
The Culver U debacle was a bit easier to manage, at least in part: Tony had set a series of tours of the Stark Expo at bargain prices for the main universities, all-inclusive, and slotted Culver U/MIT for that same week.
Nerds being nerds, the tours were already booked solid, so labs and all would quite deserted... Or at least not as bustling as they would normally be for when Ross and his goons would charge with guns blazing. The rest was on the Hulk, but Green Bean had shown remarkable restrain the last time around, and Tony saw no reasons for things to have changed on that front.
That left the Expo.
The question was with or without Vanko?
Since there had been no Monte Carlo race shenanigans, Tony has not met with his Russian wannabee Nemesis yet. So, on the plus side, while Justin Hammer was still a little rat, he was not aware of Vanko's technical expertise, which was good news for the Expo crowd (Hopefully. Hammer had requested a demo slot time, so things could still explode).
But...
But Tony didn't know were the enraged madman was, this time around. And even without boosting Hammer tech to a point of proficiency, those energy whips had been lethal and Tony didn't like the idea of that kind of firepower let loose in the Expo crowds.
JARVIS was scouring the net in search on the Russian, but so far, no cookies.
Tony was almost ready to call the whole thing off when...
"Meow"
Tony looked at Goose, as the Flerken had disappeared on him for the past few days "Goose! Where have you..."
And stopped short as the feline was looking like she'd jammed her tail in a socket, fur standing on ends and small bolts of lightning coursing on it. Blue was not her color.
"Merkoff koff"
Tony watched as some quite familiar whips landed at his feet and short circuited with a last blue discharge as the cat shook herself to put her fur back in a semblance of order.
"No Vanko?"
Goose looked straight at Tony and burped delicately.
Oh, well... At least that was a permanent solution to the problem. Tony scooped the non-cat, and Goose immediately made herself comfortable in his arms, purring as her pet dutifully provided ear scritches.
This human was vastly superior to the one Carol had left her with. She would have to make that clear if her friend ever came back on Earth.
The food of course, and the accommodations (yes, Goose had noticed the very soft and comfy pillows that had appeared all over the place... And her very own bathroom for when she wasn't feeling up to find Fury's boots to do her business. Some magic machine with soft and always fresh sand), but also the fact that he didn't treat her like an employee of sorts.
Or worse, like a pet.
Let's be real, if there was a pet in this relationship, it was NOT Goose.
At least this one seemed intelligent enough to have cottoned up on that. Vast improvement. Goose stretched a bit and marked her new pet again, so that no one, especially the tabby two doors down, would get any ideas. He was cute, and maybe Goose wouldn't be adverse to further Intergalactic relations... But she wasn't sharing her stuff.
But she hadn't had Flerkins for a while now... Maybe, if the local feline population proved itself compatible?
In the meantime, Goose hoped her pet had no urgent need to move as she settled on his lap. The other human had tasted like sour cabbage, which was not Goose preferred taste, even if the blue lightning had provided a pleasant aftertaste. Almost minty. The bird had been a bit of a let down for dessert: certainly didn't taste as good as it looked. Another one which was all show and no substance.
Still, on top of the first course... Goose needed a digestive nap.
As predicted, the Stark Expo was THE event of the year.
Of course, there was a brief moment of panic when the Hammer suits short circuited and started a small blaze as they toppled over, but it was short-lived as strategically placed hoses inundated the stage with carbolic foam (DUM-E was almost unbearably excited as he watched events unfold, and then kept the scene in his internal memory to repeat at leisure. Tony wondered briefly if he'd unknowingly invented robotic porn, then shrugged. To each their own.). The picture of Hammer emerging from the foam glasses first made the news and everyone had a good laugh, which is always nice.
Culver U had its Hulk moment, with no casualties (Amongst staff and students... Ross' men, Tony was less curious), and then Banner went on the run as he was wont to do. Tony used a bit of his current standing with the Pentagon to express his surprise at Ross' behavior and wondering aloud about consequences. As it turned out, the General was not very popular amidst his equals.
Of course, the last thing the military would do was officially denounce Ross... Not to the public, at any rate. But some internal politicking was certainly at play.
The only thing that had happened exactly as last time, as far as Tony could tell was the Thor/Loki/Assholes 3 clusterfuck in New Mexico. Fun times ahead for everyone, especially the Trickster. Tony was feeling a bit sorry for him, to be honest. Compared to Odin, Howard was father of the year.
But... Well, Thanos WOULD come for the infinity stones for his little depopulation project, and Tony didn't dare touch that timeline too much. Last time, they'd won the New York invasion by an incredible combination of luck... And someone botched his own invasion left, right, and center.
Tony had to ensure it would go as well this time around, possibly better if he could.
Work to do.