Unexpected // An MCU Story (Book One)

ix

"You've all received the official statement of what occurred at Stark Industries last night." Rhodey was saying the next day on the news, which we were watching from the other room on the TV. 

"There have been unconfirmed reports that a robotic prototype malfunctioned and caused damages to the arc reactor."

Pepper cleaned up Tony's scratches as he read the newspaper article they wrote about him.

"'Iron Man.'" He read, looking over at me and catching my attention. "That's kind of catchy. It's got a nice ring to it. I mean, it's not technically accurate."

"Oh, yeah." I nodded. "Gold-Titanium Alloy Man. Really rolls off the tongue." I said seriously.

"Here's your alibi." Agent Coulson told him, handing him a piece of paper.

"Okay."

"You were on your yacht."

"Yeah."

"We have port papers that put you in Avalon all right, and sworn statements from 50 of your guests."

"See, I was thinking maybe we should say it was just Pepper and me alone on the island." Pepper ripped off a bandage before smiling and walking away.

"That's what happened."

"Alright."

"Just read it. Word for word."

"There's nothing about Stane here." Tony noticed, looking through the cards.

"That's being handled. He's on vacation. Small aircraft have such a poor safety record."

"But what about the whole cover story that it's a bodyguard? He's my... I mean, is that... That's kind of flimsy, don't you think?"

"This isn't my first rodeo, Mr. Stark. Just stick to the official statement, and soon, this will all be behind you. You've got 90 seconds."

"So, Dad, you're a superhero now?" I asked while Pepper talked to Agent Coulson, trying to read the paper he was reading from the other side.

"Sure, you could say that." He shrugged before turning to me. "Did you just call me Dad?"

I froze, my eyes widening. I laughed awkwardly, shaking my head. "Ha! No way."

"No, I heard you. You heard that, right?" He asked Pepper.

"I did." She smiled.

"Betrayal." I said to her with a fake glare.

"Well, it would make sense, right?" He asked.

"I guess." I said suspiciously before remembering I was still mad at him. "But I thought you were getting rid of me."

"Why would I do that? We're lab partners."

"Like, actually?" I asked, not believing him.

"Well, yeah. Of course."

"Okay. Cool." I smiled, accepting the indirect apology.

"Alright, let's get this show on the road." Pepper said after a moment, making both of us look up at her.

"You know, it's actually not that bad. Even I don't think I'm Iron Man." Tony responded, getting up and walking over to her.

"You're not Iron Man." She told his as she helped him with his suit jacket while I continued to watch the news.

"Am so."

"You're not."

"All right, suit yourself. You know, if I were Iron Man, I'd have this girlfriend who knew my true identity. She'd be a wreck, 'cause she's always be worrying that I was gonna die, yet so proud of the man I'd become. She'd be wildly conflicted, which would only make her more crazy about me. Tell me you never think about that night."

"What night?"

"You know."

"Are you talking about the night we danced and went up on the roof, and then you went downstairs to get me a drink, and you left me there, by myself? Is that the night you're talking about?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Thought so." She stepped away from him, giving a small smile. "Will that be all, Mr. Stark?"

"Yes, that will be all, Miss Potts."

I stayed in the room with Pepper, bouncing my leg as we watched the TV.

"And now, Mr. Stark has prepared a statement." Rhodey announced. "He will not be taking any questions. Thank you."

"Been a while since I was in front of you." Tony said as he walked on stage. "I figure I'll stick to the cards this time."

The audience laughed and I smiled to myself, thinking about how far we'd come since the last press conference.

"There's been speculation that I was involved in the events that occurred on the freeway and the rooftop..."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Stark, but do you honestly expect us to believe that that was a bodyguard in a suit that conveniently appeared, despite the fact that you-"

"I know that it's confusing. It is one thing to question the official story, and another thing entirely to make wild accusations, or insinuate that I'm a superhero."

"I never said you were a superhero."

"Didn't?"

"Mm-mm."

"Well, good, because that would be outlandish and fantastic." He sighed, and I knew he wasn't going to stick to the cards.

"I'm just not the hero type. Clearly. With this laundry list of character defects, all the mistakes I've made, largely public."

Rhodey leaned over and whispered something in his ear, making Tony hold up the cards and sigh.

"The truth is... I am Iron Man."

The crowd stood up all at once, talking over at each other. I looked over at Pepper, who just sighed and I smiled at the TV.

My dad was Iron Man. Beat that.

Later that night, I walked inside with Tony, immediately knowing something was up.

"JARVIS." Tony greeted.

"Welcome home, sir." JARVIS replied, distorted, alerting us to know that something was off.

I stopped when I saw someone in the living room. Tony followed my gaze to see what I was seeing and stopped walking, too.

"'I am Iron Man.'" The man quoted. "You think you're the only superhero in the world? Mr. Stark, you've become part of a bigger universe. You just don't know it yet."

I scrunched up my nose, honestly impressed that he had bypassed our upgraded security.

"Who the hell are you?" Tony asked defensively.

"Nick Fury. Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Ah."

"Cool." I smiled.

"I'm here to talk to you about the Avengers Initiative." Fury said seriously.

Now that sounded cool.

Word Count- 993.