Jax:

Next Day

Morning - Senate Hearing

Tony and Jax were sitting at a table in the courtroom.

Pepper Potts was among the crowd behind them.

Jax was looking around the room, obviously not paying attention.

The main speaker was Senator Stern. "Tony, could we pick up now where we left off?" Jax was still not paying attention. "Jackson, please."

Jax looked at him. "Yes, dear?"

There was some stifled laughter.

"Can I have your attention?" Stern asked.

"Absolutely," Jax answered.

"Do the two of you or do you not possess specialized weapons?" Stern asked.

"We do not," Tony told them.

Jax nodded in agreement. "We do not."

"You do not?" Stern repeated skeptically. 

"Well, it depends on how you define the word 'weapon'," Tony told him.

"The Iron Man and Gold Strike weapons," Stern told them.

"Our devices do not fit that description," Tony told them.

"Well, how would you describe them?" Stern asked.

"I would describe them by defining them as what they are, Senator," Tony answered. 

"As?" Stern asked.

"High-tech prostheses," Tony answered. There was laughter. "That is... that is... That's actually the most apt description I can make of them."

"They're weapons," Stern told them. "They're weapons, Mr. and Mr. Stark."

"Please," Tony told them. "If your priority was actually the well-being of the American citizen..."

"My priority is to get the Iron Man and Gold Strike weapons turned over to the people of the United States of America," Stern told them.

"Well, you can forget it," Jax told them. "I am Gold Strike. My father is Iron Man. The suits belong to us. They are us. To turn over the suits would be to turn over ourselves, which is tantamount to indentured servitude or prostitution, depending on what state you're in." There was laughter. "You can't have them."

"Look, I'm no expert," Stern told them.

"In prostitution?" Jax asked. "Of course not. You're a Senator. Come on."

There was louder laughter.

Tony turned to look at Pepper, shaking his head.

Pepper shook her head.

Tony turned forward.

"I'm no expert in weapons," Stern told them. "We have somebody here who is an expert on weapons. I'd now like to call Justin Hammer, our current primary weapons contractor." 

Justin walked up to the other table next to Jax and Tony, sitting down.

"Let the record reflect that I observed Mr. Hammer entering the chamber, and I am wondering if and when any actual expert will also be in attendance," Tony told them

There was laughter.

Stern tapped his gavel to calm the crowd down.

Justin laughed sarcastically. "Absolutely. I'm no expert. I defer to you, Anthony. You're the one with the big mansion and the wonder boy." He stood, walking toward the TV screen. "Senator, if I may. I may well not be an expert, but you know who was the expert?" He pointed at Tony. "Your dad." He pointed at Jax. "Your grandfather. Howard Stark. Really like a father to us all, and to the military-industrial age. Let's just be clear. He was no flower child. He was a lion. We all know why we're here. In the last six months, Anthony and Jackson Stark have created swords with untold possibilities. And yet they both insist they're shields. They ask us to trust them as we cower behind them. I wish I were comforted. I really do. I'd like to leave my door unlocked when I leave the house, but this ain't Canada. You know, we live in a world of grave threats, threats that the Starks will not always be able to foresee. Thank you. God bless Iron Man and Gold Strike. God bless America."

"That is well said, Mr. Hammer," Stern told him. "The committee would now like to invite Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes to the chamber."

"Rhodey?" Jax asked. "What?"

Jax and Tony looked toward the back of the room.

Rhodey walked in.

Tony stood, walking toward him. "Hey, buddy. I didn't expect to see you here."

They stood hands.

"Look, it's me," Rhodey told him. "I'm here. Deal with it. Let's move on."

Rhodey and Tony walked toward Justin and Jax.

Jax stood. "I just..."

"Drop it," Rhodey told him.

"All right, I'll drop it," Jax told him.

Rhodey and Jax shook hands.

Tony and Jax sat down at their table.

Rhodey walked toward the stand, sitting down.

"I have before me a complete report on the Iron Man and Gold Strike weapons, compiled by Colonel Rhodes," Stern told them. "And, Colonel, for the record, can you please read page 57, paragraph four?"

"You're requesting that I read specific selections from my report, Senator?" Rhodey asked.

"Yes, sir," Stern answered.

"It was my understanding that I was going to be testifying in a much more comprehensive and detailed manner," Rhodey told him.

"I understand," Stern told him. "A lot of things have changed today. So if you could just read..."

Rhodey picked up the report. "You do understand that reading a single paragraph out of context does not reflect the summary of my final..."

"Just read it, Colonel," Stern told him. "I do. Thank you."

Rhodey sighed. "Very well. 'As they do not operate within any definable branch of government, Iron Man and Gold Strike present a potential threat to the security of both the nation and to her interests'. I did, however, go on to summarize that the benefits of Gold Strike and Iron Man far outweigh the liabilities. And that it would be in our interest--"

"That's enough, Colonel," Stern told him.

Rhodey tried to go on. "To fold the Starks--"

"That's enough," Stern told him.

Rhodey went on anyway. "Into the existing chain of command, Senator."

"I'm not a joiner, but I'll consider Secretary of Defense, if you ask nice," Tony told them. There was laughter. "We can amend the hours a little bit."

Stern looked at Rhodey. "I'd like to go on and show, if I may, the imagery that's connected to your report."

"I believe it is somewhat premature to reveal these images to the general public at this time," Rhodey told him.

"With all due respect, Colonel, I understand," Stern told him. "And if you could just narrate those for us, we'd be very grateful."

"Let's have the images," Rhodey told them. The first image of a layout appeared on the screen. "Intelligence suggests that the devices seen in these photos are, in fact, attempts at making manned copies or the suits. This has been corroborated by our allies and local intelligence on the ground." Jax took out his phone, starting to bring something up. "Indicating that these suits are quite possibly, at this moment, operational."

"Hold on one second, buddy," Jax told him. "Let me see something here." He lifted his phone, tapping a few keys. A black box appeared on the TV screen. "Boy, I'm good. I commandeered your screens." He held his phone toward another TV screen. "I need them. Time for a little transparency. Now, let's see what's really going on."

Stern looked at Tony. "What is he doing?"

Tony shrugged.

"If you will direct your attention to said screens, I believe that's North Korea," Jax told them.

There was a video on the screen of a oversized, underbuilt suit trying to walk. It fell over.

"Can you turn that off?" Stern asked. "Take it off."

Justin stood.

Jax went on. "Iran." A suit that tried to fly fell to the ground. "No grave immediate threat here." He brought up another video. "Is that Justin Hammer? How did Hammer get in the game?" Justin was hurriedly trying to turn off the TV. "Justin, you're on TV. Focus up." Tony looked at Jax, smirking. Jax smiled. The suit that Justin had tried to build had failed, also. "Wow. Yeah, I'd say most countries are five, ten years away. Hammer Industries, 20."

"I'd like to point out that the test pilot survived," Justin told them

"I think we're done, is the point that he's making," Tony told them.

Stern stood. "I don't think there's any reason..."

Jax smiled smugly. "The point is, you're welcome, I guess."

"For what?" Stern asked.

"Because I'm the one that came up with the idea for these suits," Jax answered. "And me and my father built them. Now, we're nuclear deterrent."

"It's working," Tony told them. "We're safe. America is secure. You want our property? You can't have them. But we did you a big favor." He stood, looking around the courtroom. "We've successfully privatized world peace." Jax stood, throwing two peace signs up. Everyone in the crowd stood, applauding. "What more do you want? For now?"

Stern sat down.

"I tried to play ball with these ass-clowns," Jax told them. 

"Fuck you, Tony," Stern told him. "Fuck you, Jax." Jax smiled. "We're adjourned. We're adjourned for today."

Jax put on his sunglasses. "Okay."

"You've been a delight," a committee member told them.

Jax blew two sarcastic kisses.

Tony and Jax walked toward the camera.

"Our bond is with the people," Tony told them. "And we will serve this nation at the pleasure of ourselves. If there's one thing we've both proven is that you can count on us to pleasure ourselves."

Tony and Jax walked out, leaving.

The crowd was still applauding

  🚀  

Jax:

Stark Mansion - Boxing Ring

Tony, Jax and Pepper were at the Stark mansion in Malibu, California, in a room that allowed the view of the ocean outside.

Tony and Jax were in a boxing ring, having a go.

Pepper walked in. "The notary's here. Can you please come sign the transfer paperwork?"

"I'm on happy time," Tony told her.

Tony and Jax continued to box. 

"All right, put them up," Jax told him. "Come on."

Natasha Romanoff walked in with the notary.

Tony and Jax stopped boxing, looking at her.

Natasha looked at Tony and Jax curiously for a moment before turning away.

Pepper looked at Tony. "I promise you this is the only time I will ask you to sign over your company."

Natasha walked toward Pepper, telling her where to sign. "I need you to initial each box."

Tony got Jax's attention back. "Lesson one. Never take your eye off--" Jax kicked Tony back into the corner of the ring without looking. "All right, I'm done." Tony pointed at Natasha. "What's your name, lady?"

"Rushman," Natasha told them. "Natalie Rushman."

"Front and center," Tony told her. "Come into the church."

"No," Pepper told him. "You're seriously not gonna ask..."

"If it pleases the court," Tony answered.

"Which it does," Jax told them.

Natasha looked at Pepper. "It's no problem."

"I'm sorry," Pepper told her. "They're very eccentric."

Natasha walked toward the ring, getting in.

Tony and Jax looked at Natasha, each taking a drink of water.

Natasha continued to look at Tony.

"What?" Tony asked. He didn't wait for an answer, looking at Jax. "Can you give her a lesson?"

"No problem," Jax told him.

Tony got out of the ring, walking toward a chair to sit. "Pepper."

Pepper sat next to him. "What?"

"Who is she?" Tony asked.

"She is from legal," Pepper told him. "And she is potentially a very expensive sexual harassment lawsuit if you keep ogling her like that."

"I need a new assistant, boss," Tony told her. 

"Yes, and I've got three excellent potential candidates," Pepper told him. "They're line up and ready to meet you."

"I don't have time to meet," Tony told her. "I need someone now. I feel like it's her."

"No, it's not," Pepper told him.

Jax looked at Natasha. "You ever boxed before?"

"I have, yes," Natasha answered. "My sisters and I were raised with it by our father."

Jax raised his eyebrows in surprise, interested. "You have sisters?"

"Two of them," Natasha replied. "Twins. They would love to meet you."

"And I would love to meet them," Jax told her. "What do you guys know? Like, the Tae Bo? Booty Boot Camp? Crunch? Something like that?" 

"A little bit of everything," Natasha answered.

"How do I spell your name, Natalie?" Tony asked.

"R-U-S-H-M-A-N," Natasha told him.

Tony picked up his phone, typing in her name.

"What, are you gonna Google her now?" Pepper asked.

"I thought I was ogling her," Tony told her. He swiped through the information he found. "Wow. Very, very impressive individual."

"You're so predictable," Pepper told him. "You know that?"

"She's fluent in French, Italian, Russian, Latin," Tony told her. "Who speaks Latin?"

"No one speaks Latin," Pepper told him. "It's a dead language. You can read Latin or you can write Latin, but you can't speak Latin."

Tony pulled up a picture of Natasha and two twin girls. "Oh, so these must be her sisters she was talking about. Oh, Jax is gonna love them. I need Natalie. She's got everything that I need and Jax needs, apparently, too."

Natasha was wearing a set of boxer gloves like Jax was now, acting like she was trying to punch him. Jax ducked, trying to punch her. Natasha caught his arm, flipping up to wrap her legs around his neck, flipping them to the mat of the ring. 

Pepper gasped. "Oh, my God! Jax!" Natasha and Jax stood. Pepper and Tony stood, walking closer. "Jax!" 

Jax waved them off. "I'm good."

"That's what I'm talking about," Tony told them.

Natasha climbed out of the ring, looking at Tony. "Just... I need your impression."

"You have a quiet reserve," Tony told her. "I don't know. You have an old soul."

"I meant your fingerprint," Natasha told him.

Tony nodded awkwardly. "Right."

Tony put his thumb in ink, putting it on paper.

"So, how are we doing?" Pepper asked.

"Great," Tony answered. "Jut wrapping up." He smiled. "Hey. You're the boss."

Pepper smiled.

"Will that be all, Mr. Stark?" Natasha asked.

"No," Tony answered.

"Yes, that will be all, Ms. Rushman," Pepper told her. "Thank you very much."

Natasha walked out, leaving.

Pepper, Tony and Jax watched her go.

Tony looked at Jax. "You, come here." He led Jax toward the laptop, showing him the picture of the twins. "Those are Natalie's sisters."

Pepper walked closer.

Jax looked at the picture of the twins in appreciative awe. "I want one."

Pepper gave Jax a look, shaking her head. "No."

Jax smiled sarcastically.