chapter xx.
( iron man 2 )

shoot to thrill, play to kill
too many women with too many pills
shoot to thrill, play to kill
i got my gun ready, gonna fire at will
shoot to thrill ─── ac/dc

stark expo, new york
april 22, 2011

Our plane quickly lands near the big arena and we are ushered backstage where I can see Dad among the bright lights. Pepper splits off to talk to some of the workers about something Dad wanted while I merely watch as Dad gets going. I stand with one arm crossed over my chest and the other using it for support so I can rest my chin on my knuckles. The crowd outside is beyond wild and "Shoot To Thrill" has become the sound of my heartbeat.

"Miss Stark, how is the lighting?" the lighting manager asks from behind me.

"Bring it down a little more, Florence, please. My father thinks it's more dramatic that way," I tell the plump woman with a smile before looking back to the stage.

A large screen is behind the stage with an American flag looking like it's waving in the wind. Fireworks still erupt from above us. The audience chants his name. I roll my eyes at the sight of the scantily dressed dancing girls crowd around him as the song comes to an end. The girls march off the stage and I resist the urge to scowl at them as they pass by.

Dad starts clapping his hands a little, "Oh, it's good to be back," he turns around and points at himself, "You missed me?"

Some wacko in the crowd yells, "Blow something up!"

"I missed you too," Dad points at the wacko, "Blow something up? I already did that."

Well, he's not wrong.

He grows more serious, "I'm not saying that the world is enjoying its longest period of uninterrupted peace in years because of me," the audience cheers and I roll my eyes again, "I'm not saying that from the ashes of captivity, never has a greater phoenix metaphor been personified in human history," he bows his head in recognition of himself.

"Wow," I blink.

"'Wow' is right," Pepper comes up beside me as he continues patting himself on the back, "He sures knows how to put on a show."

"Yeah," I agree quietly, "he does."

"Please, it's not about me," Dad shakes his hands by his head, "It's not about you. It's not even about us. It's about legacy,"

Legacy, huh?

"It's about what we choose to leave behind for future generations. And that's why for the next year and for the first time since 1974, the best and brightest men and women of nations and corporations the world over will pool their resources, share their collective vision, to leave behind a brighter future," his voice gets stronger throughout the speech, "It's not about us. Therefore, what I'm saying, if I'm saying anything, is welcome back to the Stark Expo," Dad motions to the screen, "And now, making a special guest appearance from the great beyond to tell you what it's all about, please welcome my father, Howard."

I watch the screen that shows my grandfather. I don't listen to much of what he's saying. It's just cool to see him alive again, even if it is on a recording. It's scary and sad to think that I am the only person on this earth to last see him and Grandma alive and yet I can't even remember it all that well. It's all hazy, but I do remember crashing and I remember screaming. But now Howard is before my eyes, moving and breathing.

"Smalls," Dad exits the stage, stepping up towards where Pepper and I stand.

"Sup," I nod at him, still watching the screen.

I don't meet his eyes and he looks away from me.

Dad clasps his hands behind his back, turning towards his PA, "Well, Miss Potts, what do you think?"

"Of all of this?" Pepper blinks towards the stage, "Uh, it's great!"

"Very convincing, yes," Dad squints at her as she sighs.

"He looks like Walt Disney," I interrupt them before they start bickering or whatever.

"What? Who?" Dad turns to see who I'm talking about.

"Howard," I motion towards the screen, "your father, my grandfather."

"Oh," Dad follows my hand, "huh. Well, he certainly wasn't all kid-friendly like good ol' Walt was, but you know that."

We don't say anything else. Dad gives me one last glance before awkwardly turning and walking away. I inwardly sigh as Pepper frowns after him and then looks at me.

"What is it with you two lately?" Pepper shakes her head, "You're usually inseparable and now, well, you guys can't even be in the same space for more than five minutes."

"Things are different, Pepper," I shrug, "It's fine. As kids grow up, they start to detach from their parents," that has nothing to do with it, "It's completely normal," I have no clue what's normal, "Really, I'm okay with it," no, I'm not.

She pretty much heard everything I didn't say. She knows the real problems. I swallow and look away from her. She sighs and doesn't say anything else. When the presentation finally ends, it is decided we can finally go home. Pepper splits off to go somewhere so I'm left with only Dad and Happy which sucks because that means I'll have to hear 'man talk' for the rest of the ride home. As we make our way to the exit, Dad suddenly turns and looks at me.

He nearly winces when he says, "Lees, maybe you should take the back way."

"What?" I ask, both my tone and expression flat.

"It's just maybe better until," he gives me this weird nod, "until we're sure of you and, uh, things."

Sure of me. Sure of things. Things?! Did he seriously just say that to me?

I scoff and push in between him and Happy, completely disregarding his 'suggestion'. I hear Dad sigh behind me as I begin to cut through the noisy crowd. They don't really bother me too much though, they all just want a piece of my father. Women hand over their numbers, men want to shake his hand, and little kids want autographs. We pass a man that Dad refers to as "Larry" and he looks eerily familiar.

When I finally stumble through, I use the side of my shoulder to push open the glass doors.

"Come on, Tony, there we go," Happy says as they follow through behind me.

All of the noise fades away and I breathe deeply, enjoying the calm.

"Very mellow," Dad looks over at Happy.

"That wasn't so bad."

"No, it was perfect," Dad replies, almost sarcastically.

My eyes find the beautiful silver car in front of us and a smile spreads across my face, "Happy, is that the new model?"

"Of course, I make it my job to only ever get the best for you," Happy jokes and unlocks the car before it beeps in acknowledgement.

"Hey, does she come with the car?" Dad asks quietly and I notice the woman leaning against my new favorite car.

I scowl back at him, but he pretends to not see me.

"I certainly hope so," Happy responds just as quietly before perking up.

"Hi," Dad smiles.

"Hi," the lady responds, lightly, flirtatiously.

"And you are?" he lingers around her as I scoff and brush by him again, making sure to bump his shoulder.

"Marshal,"

"Irish, I like it," Dad shakes her hand, walking around to the other side of the car.

They continue chatting as I drone out. Happy stands back, letting me drive in the car with Dad, which I can't decide if I'm thankful or not for. Still ignoring my father and the car-leaning lady, I plop down in the passenger seat and pull my gloved hands to my chest. They are really hurting tonight. Some nights are worse than others and I don't really understand why.

"Serving subpoenas,"

Now that catches my attention.

Ooh, U.S. Marshal; her name isn't actually 'Marshal', ha, oh, that's actually really funny.

I look over and see that the car-leaning lady is holding a folded white paper out to him as he sits in the driver's seat.

"Yikes," is all he has to say before he rolls his eyes, irritatedly.

I try to stifle a laugh, but fail miserably. Dad scowls at me before looking straight ahead. Suddenly a folded white paper is being shoved in my direction as well.

"Oh," I frown as I slowly take the paper from the smirking lady.

I scowl at the black words that line the white paper. They want us to discuss the suit. I'm not stupid. It's obvious that they would want it. But they can't have it. It's our's. Or, well, Dad's, I guess. Either way, in his hands, it does the most good. If I can admit that, then they have to as well.

Happy takes Dad's subpoena from her, "He doesn't like to be handed things."

"Yeah, I have a peeve," he sighs and rests his head back against the headrest.

Happy nods and refers to the subpoena, waving off any concern on her part, "I got it."

"You are hereby ordered to appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee tomorrow morning at nine a.m.," the car-leaning lady tells us, smugly.

He keeps trying to get out of it for a few minutes, but she just snarkily goes along and shuts him down.

Eventually, having given up, Dad looks over at Happy, "How far are we from D.C.?"

"D.C.?" Happy asks, thinking, "Two-hundred-fifty miles,"

Dad smirks and presses hard on the gas. The tires screech against the ground as we take off, leaving Happy and car-leaning lady far behind. We don't talk for a long time, both of us just staring out at the world that we pass by. It's been this way for us for about five months now. We don't talk to each other. We just pass by each other. I miss him. I really do. But it doesn't matter because he's not here anymore. My father has gone far away to somewhere I can't reach. Iron Man has replaced him. A hero, yes, but also a celebrity, one even beyond what he was before. He was a rich and genius CEO before, but now he saves lives and keeps world peace. He isn't mine anymore.

But it's more than that.

He doesn't trust me and I'm angry with him.

So much has happened.

"Um, so," Dad says over the roar of the wind blazing past us.

He doesn't say anything else after that so I simply respond with, "Mhm."

I close my eyes and feign sleeping so that we don't have to force conversation anymore. I guess I actually fall asleep though because suddenly I'm waking to the bright lights of dawn as the big city of D.C. comes into view. Before I know it, we are sitting at a long table that has microphones set up in front of each of us. There are cameras everywhere and we are on national television right now, which is, you know, just dandy. Pepper is sitting behind us, shaking her head at my father. I sit at the end of the table with Dad on my left, and two empty chairs beside him.

Sitting before us is a group of numerous senators who are rambling about something that Dad is completely ignoring. Dad is spun around in his chair, facing Pepper who is not amused with the jokes he keeps mouthing to her. My fingers tap against the desk, creating Chopin's 'March Funèbre', which means 'funeral march'. It somehow feels appropriate for the occasion.

"Mr. Stark, could we pick up now where we left off? Mr Stark. Please," an orange-skinned man, Senator Stern, tries to get Dad's attention.

Dad listens to Pepper's prompting and swings around in his chair to smile at the senator, "Yes dear?"

I smirk despite myself.

"Can I have your attention?" Senator Stern questions.

"Abso-lutely," Dad says in his usual mocking tone.

"Do you or do you not possess a specialized weapon?"

My brows raise.

"I do not," he responds simply.

"You do not?"

"I do not," Dad then adds, "Well, it depends on how you define the word 'weapon'."

"The Iron Man weapon,"

I sigh and rub my forehead with my gloved fingers, "Senator Stern, the Iron Man device is not a weapon. If it were a weapon, it might soon be used to blow up these proceedings," everyone looks at me with wide eyes, "because, quite frankly, they are completely pointless."

Dad squints at me, trying to understand what is going on inside my head.

Senator Stern forces his creepy lips into a tight smile, "And why is that?"

I can practically hear Pepper cringe behind me.

"Well," I give a small, sarcastic shrug, "Like all uninformed political thieves, your intention here today, Senators, is to twist the truth of the Iron Man's purpose into something that makes everyone in the country believe that what my father and I created is a weapon. Then it being publicly labelled as a 'weapon' will allow you to confiscate it. But it is not a weapon. And these proceedings are stupid. Are we done here?"

Dad gives a light laugh, but his face remains impassive to me.

"I'm sorry, Miss Stark, but I am not certain you are in the most fitting position to be making distinctions between what is and is not a weapon."

Dad irritatedly rolls his eyes in the senator's direction.

Anger fills my chest and my hands begin to burn. That was a low blow. My eyes fall to my trembling hands and I take a deep breath, trying to push away the pain. I swallow back the sizzling in my palms and keep that smug, Stark expression on my face.

I tilt my head to the side slightly as I spit out, "Talk about a cheat shot, Senator. Do you want to clarify for those who may not understand what you're insinuating?"

Senator Stern looks away from me to focus back on Dad, "If the Iron Man is not a weapon, then well, how would you describe it, Mr. Stark?"

"I would describe it by defining it as what it is, Senator," Dad answers sharply, leaning onto the table a little.

Senator Stern shakes his head, waiting with an attitude.

"As, uh, mhm," Dad shakes his head slightly, "It's a high-tech prosthesis," the audience laughs and Dad looks back at them, "That is, that is, that's actually the most apt description I can make of it."

"It's a weapon. It's a weapon, Mr. Stark, I hate to inform you,"

I scowl as Dad quickly cuts in, still irritated, "Please! If your priority was actually the well-being of the American citizen," Dad puts his hand to his forehead.

The senator interrupts and it looks like his creepy lips aren't even moving as he speaks, "My priority is to get the Iron Man weapon turned over to the people of the United States of America,"

Dad drops his hands onto the table, "Well, you can forget it. I am Iron Man," my mind flashes back to that night after Dad first announced it and I was teasing him about the way he said it, "The suit and I are one. To turn over the Iron Man suit would be to turn over myself which is tantamount to indentured servitude or prostitution, depending on what state you're in," the audience laughs and I roll my eyes, but Dad's voice stays serious, "You can't have it."

"Look, I'm, uh, no expert,"

"In prostitution? Of course not. You're a senator. Come on!" Dad slaps his hand against the table and the audience laughs again.

"You sure know how to put on a show," I repeat Pepper's words from last night.

His brown eyes blink away from my face to Pepper's, who isn't thrilled.

"No?" Dad mouths to her and she shakes her head.

"I'm no expert in weapons," Senator Stern fixes his tie, "We have somebody here who is an expert on weapons. I'd now like to call Justin Hammer," Dad jolts up and swivels in his chair, "our current primary weapons contractor."

I groan and jerk back in surprise when it can be heard over the mic. Another orange-skinned man, Justin Hammer, walks in and takes an empty seat at the end. Justin Hammer is pretty much the epitome of a pompous wanna-be. He's the CEO of a weapons manufacturing company called Hammer Industries, which is basically the cheap knock-off version of Stark Industries. Dad can't stand him and I have no trouble admitting neither can I.

"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," Dad speaks snarkily into the microphone.

There's something weird about him though. His face stays serious even though he's making the usual mockery of everyone else. It's almost as if he's not taking a whole lot of joy in all of this.

Justin gives a obviously fake laugh, "Absolutely. I'm no expert," he turns to my father and motions to him, "I defer to you, Anthony. You're the wonder boy."

Wonder boy. Wonder bread.

"Congratulations, now you're a loaf of white bread," I'm mumbling to Dad before I realize I am.

Even though it's an absolutely horrible joke, he stills smirks at me and then, in realization of the fact that we are actually joking with each other, our eyes almost widen.

We then turn to refocus on Justin as he's speaking, "I may well not be an expert, but you know who was the expert? Your dad," he then nods to me, "your granddad. Howard Stark. Really a father and grandfather to us all, and to the military-industrial age," Dad purses his lips and bounces in his chair, "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 Lisa Stark have created a sword with untold possibilities. And, yet, they insist it's a shield. They ask us to trust them as we cower behind it," he should be a stage actor with the way he's performing, "I wish I were comforted, Anthony, Lisa, I really do. I'd love to leave my door unlocked when I leave the house, but this ain't Canada."

I squint at him to see if he's actually serious.

"You know, we live in a world of grave threats, threats that Mr. Stark, as the wearer of the Iron Man suit, will not always be able to foresee," Dad slouches down in his chair and shakes his head, staring off into space, "Thank you. God bless Iron Man. God bless America."

"God bless your big fat mouth," I mumble with a sigh.

A weak applause is given as Justin sits back down.

"That is well said, Mr. Hammer," Senator Stern agrees before saying, "The committee would now like to invite Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes to the chamber."

I throw a look at Dad whose eyebrows shoot up in disbelief, "Rhodey? What?"

We both stand to meet my uncle as he walks down the aisle of the courtroom.

"Rhodey," I say slowly, "What're you doing?"

"Hey, buddy," Dad greets him much more casually, "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Look, it's me, I'm here. You two need to deal with it. Let's move on."

"I just," Dad starts.

"Rhodey," I try.

"Drop it," Rhodey snaps.

"All right, we'll drop it," Dad quickly surrenders, shaking his head and pushing air out of his mouth.

Senator Stern begins talking again as Dad pushes his mouth against his fist, "I have before me a complete report on the Iron Man weapon, compiled by Colonel Rhodes. And, Colonel, for the record, can you please read page fifty-seven, paragraph four?"

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

"Yes, sir,"

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

The senator nods and forces that dumb smile onto his face, "I understand. A lot of things have changed today. So if you could just read,"

Rhodey quickly interrupts, "You do understand that reading a single paragraph out of context does not reflect the summary of my final,"

"Just read it, Colonel. I do. Thank you."

I squint at the senator as Rhodey regretfully begins, "Very well. 'As he does not operate within any definable branch of government, Iron Man presents a potential threat to the security of both the nation and to her interests',"

Dad doesn't react to the words being said by his best friend.

"I did, however, go on to summarize that the benefits of Iron Man far outweigh the liabilities. And that it would be in our interest,"

"That's enough, Colonel," Senator Stern hurriedly tries to get him to shut up.

"To fold Mr. Stark,"

"That's enough!"

"Into the existing chain of command, Senator," Rhodey is clearly aggravated by everyone in the room.

Suddenly Dad leans into the microphone, "I'm not a joiner, but I'll consider Secretary of Defense," Dad shrugs a little, "if you ask nice. We can amend the hours a little bit."

The audience chuckles again and Rhodey takes a drink of water, clearly wanting to be anywhere but here. I'm in agreement.

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

Rhodey is reluctant, but he doesn't really seem to have a choice in the matter. Suddenly he is beginning to explain how some countries are attempting to make copies of the suit. There are files and pictures on the screen, but I get this funny feeling that something is definitely not right. My hacking game is nowhere as good as my father's, but I'm at least decent enough to see what's going on. I pull my phone from my pocket and begin hacking into the military's database before I glance over and see that Dad is doing the same thing. We catch each other's eye and frown before looking back at our phones, attempting to go faster the other. Somehow I reach the files before him so I nudge his arm and he glances over at me with a raised eyebrow.

We may be at odds with each other, but we'll never let the other be at odds with someone else alone. I hope it always stays that way...

I nod at my phone and then to the screens. Looking slightly bitter that he lost our race, he takes the phone that I offer to him and then easily hacks into the screens' mainframe. Then suddenly the screens are reflecting what my phone is showing.

"Hold on a second, Buddy. Let me see something here. Boy, we are good. We commandeered your screens. We need them. Time for a little transparency."

The screens begin to flash with seemingly endless failed attempts at other people attempting to make a copy of the Iron Man suit. North Korea. Iran. Even Hammer Industries gets up there; they fail pretty miserably, I must say. All the while, Justin and Senator Stern are panicking to turn the screens off as the audience watches and gasps at the horrific and gruesome failures. Dad narrates the entire time, which, admittedly, gives the added effect. Dad, Rhodey, and I share a look just before Justin finally cuts off videos.

"Wow," Dad leans an arm on the table, "Yeah, I'd say most countries, five, ten years away,"

He motions to the screen, "Hammer Industries, twenty."

"I'd like to point out that that test pilot survived," Justin quickly clamors to defend his failure.

"Yeah, he's probably paralyzed for life though," I say, forgetting that everyone can still hear me.

The audience murmurs in agreement.

"I think we're done," Senator Stern stands and fumbles with his words, "is the point that he's making. I don't think there's any reason,"

"The point is, you're welcome, I guess," Dad throws out his hand and shakes his head, nonchalantly smug.

"For what?"

"Because I'm your nuclear deterrent. It's working. We're safe. America is secure. You want my property?" Dad begins to slap the table with each word, "You can't have it. But I did you a big favor. I've successfully privatized world peace," he stands up, faces the audiences, and holds up two peace signs.

He begins yelling, throwing his hands out to the agreeing and applauding audience, "What more do you want? For now!"

I sigh and continue to rub my eyes as the situation gets more heated and Senator Stern says a few choice things that I will not be repeating. Rhodey and I glance at each other before I stand up to leave, watching my father as he puts on his sunglasses, kisses his hands, and mockingly sends the kisses over to the senator.

Rhodey shakes his head, nearly smiling in disbelief. I begin following behind my father as he moves through the aisle. He begins shaking people's hands and they pat him on the back. I shove my hands inside my jacket pockets, drilling my eyes into the back of Dad's head.

"'Cause my bond is with the people. And I will serve this great nation at the pleasure, of, myself," I roll my eyes and shake my head, "If there's one thing I've proven, it's that you can count on me," Dad gets right up into the camera lens, pulls off his sunglasses, and finishes with, "to pleasure myself."

Typical.

I sigh and jog after him as he uses both hands to push open the double doors, dramatically. About two hours later, Rhodey and Dad are sitting across from Pepper and me in the jet, and I, Lisa Stark, am about to commit murder. Dad has not calmed down since we left the courtroom and he is driving all of us batty.

"Tell him to apologize for ambushing me," Dad refers to Rhodey, looking at Pepper through his sunglasses.

Rhodey quickly responds, "I ambushed you,"

"Yeah, ya did," Dad interrupts.

"Because I sent you a report a month ago,"

"No, you did not!" Dad's voice gains a higher pitch as he spreads out his hands.

I rub my temples, getting a headache.

Rhodey keeps going, "With red letters on the top of it, saying,"

"Did not!" Dad does that 'psh' thing with his face before looking out the window.

"'Tony, please fact-check'!" Rhodey finally gets the rest of his statement out.

Pepper closes her eyes and nods, "You received it."

Dad scoffs, shakes his head, and looks at Rhodey, "I didn't get that!"

"It was on your desk," I mumble, "I saw it."

"Oh please," Dad rolls his eyes at me, "Like I remember. That's not fair because you all know I wouldn't remember even if I did!" he turns and points at Rhodey, "Have you apologized yet?"

Rhodey rests one leg on the other, "I wouldn't hold my breath."

"This would be a good time," Dad points at himself, "I'm supposed to be Iron Man!" I scowl at him before he points back at Rhodey, "And you're supposed to have my back,"

"Yes, and I do," Rhodey says slowly.

Dad keeps whining, "And I got out of the game, and that left a vacuum, and now you're with Hammer, and I'm sorry,"

Pepper interrupts before he can finish, "You know what would be great? Is if we could get through some of the stuff on the list,"

"I'm Iron Man," Dad looks at her as if this excuse can just completely make her understand why he doesn't have to do any work at all now.

I mean, who gives a crap?

"Okay?" Dad talks to Pepper, completely ignoring my facial expression.

"Okay, Iron Man," she motions from him to the files in her lap, "could we maybe get through some of this list,"

"You don't know what that means," Dad takes his armrests, "I protect the free world."

I practically gag as Rhodey groans a bit.

I zone out as they start to talk about cancelling the Monaco trip and all that, but then I'm brought back when Dad says, "Just say-say what you mean," Dad is turned to Rhodey and has a very serious look on his face, "You don't want to hang out with me anymore?"

We all look at Rhodey.

"I think," he's struggling, "hanging out with you is," that much is clear, "bad for our friendship."

Pepper and I loudly wince as Dad just stares at him.

"Ouch," I whisper, putting on my seatbelt as they appear for us.

"What do you call that?" Dad points to me before looking to Pepper, "Call the shrink. Get him on the horn. I gotta find out what just happened," he points at his best friend, "That was criminal."

"Let's move onto the birthday party," Pepper says, trying to maintain a happy tone.

"Let's," Dad agrees.

"Ugh," I groan.

"I think that, uh, keeping with the economic times we should do something small, less wear and tear on your body,"

Rhodey glances at Dad and then shakes his head. We look from each other to Pepper, knowing that this isn't about to go well.

She's still speaking calmly, "Maybe a retreat,"

"Oh yeah," Dad begins and I wince again, "let's do some ashtanga yoga and a retreat in O'hai," now he's angry and he throws out his hands, "What?!"

I sigh and now I'm the one shaking my head.

"I-I'm,"

"That's what you wanna do!" Dad accuses, pointing at her.

"I'm not suggesting that we cancel it,"

"Why cancel my," he holds up his hand, "Oh, I get it," his voice lowers, but I know he'll be just as irritating at this volume too, "Here's the message that I'm getting, and tell me if I'm wrong again," he begins motioning his hands around as Rhodey looks at him with wide eyes and raised eyebrows, "because this is really, really, really super toxic at this point," I pinch the bridge of my nose, "why celebrate my birth?"

I take off my shoe and hurl it at him.

He blinks as it hits him square in the chest, but doesn't react further.

He's even worse than before, and, the most horrible thing is, he does it on purpose!

Thanks, Iron Man.

Thanks for bringing us into this brave new world.

Well, that's the official beginning of Iron Man 2, Ladies and Gents. Whatcha think? Oh and Stan Lee made a short appearance again as "Larry"! Please comment, vote, and give me a follow!

Funny Thingamabob (in honor of Spider-Man: Homecoming because...come on):