Betty smiled at the pair, knowing full well there was a story, and judging from the look on Pepper's face, more history than either man was letting on. That was for another day though. Right now the Expo's main event, Tony's big reveal was coming up and she had been tasked by JJ to get the inside scoop.
What she wasn't telling them was that she was also there to make sure that there were no 'insidious' influences as JJ put them. While Iron Man was one of the most popular heroes, Tony was a mess, and several unofficial news outlets had reports of him causing trouble at a US military base in Africa. It was her job to find out if they were true and to uncover the truth.
Tony pulled down the tails of his jacket, "well, while it's always nice to beat you, Peter, I have a grand opening to present. Oh, Gwen, as you're no longer a Stark employee, your speech has been cancelled. We've got someone else to give the presentation, someone more" and he looked her up and down "reliable."
Gwen moved to say something but Peter put a hand on her shoulder and shook his head.
Not in front of a reporter he told her
Fine, but I am really starting to hate him.
Peter laughed, "Maya? Maya Hanson? And Tony nodded, "can't fix her own formula, stealing Gwens work Maya Hansen? Yeah good luck with that." It was unfair, Maya never did anything to Peter, but if Stark was going to wield their relationship like a weapon, then Peter would happily return the favour. "Yeah, Miss Brant, that's a story right there. Extremis, dangerous formula, fatal even, fixed by Gwen and then taken by Tony. Nice job, just like everything else you stole."
Yes, Betty thought to herself, now the real story. "So, Mr Parker, are you accusing Tony Stark of stealing your work?" and Tony laughed
"Yeah Peter, want to explain?" and with a smug look he folded his arms, waiting for Peter to speak,
"My work? No-" but Betty interrupted him again,
"So, you are just slandering Tony Stark?" Professional rivals were great, and someone stupid enough to target Tony was ripe for the picking, "Is there more going on? It seems more personal than just patent acquisition, or are you going to refuse to comment once more?" she questioned.
Liv stepped forwards, "Miss Brant, fishing for a headline is unbecoming, and JJ's rhetoric these days leaves a lot to be desired. Is it personal? Well, why don't you do some actual work, rather than throwing muck and seeing what sticks." Liv stepped forwards and stood in front of Tony, "and as for you Mister Stark. Grow up."
Tony snorted, "Talking down to this level gives me a headache, and I have a presentation to prepare for. Miss Brant, you won't get anything here, just nobodies. If you want that headline you should follow me to the V.I.P lounge." and Tony tutted at Liv and walked off.
Once Peter had calmed down, and the trio busied themselves in their own green room, it was soon time for Tony's presentation to begin.
As the centre stage lit up in a blast of fireworks, scantily clad dancers, wearing gold and red bikinis and briefs, danced. Their headgear, mimicking the Iron man visor showed off perfectly painted red and gold lips. One each of their hands, slim-fitting gauntlets with glowing discs on the palms. The crowd oooed and ahhed as the show went on, and as the lights dimmed the familiar red and gold armour flew down from the sky.
The latest Iron Man armour was sleeker, with the same red and gold. It was sculpted to look more like Grecian body armour, with metal pecs and a six-pack. As Iron Man waved at the crowd, rather than the armour opening, it slowly melted in a ripple of blue light. The outline spreading across Tony as the armour vanished and became his usual grey business suit.
In the auditorium, Peter clenched his fist, he had warned Pepper that using the symbcell nanosuit was supposed to be kept secret, and this was exactly the opposite.
As Tony waved at the crowd, his microphone clicked on,
"I know I know, cool right, but no, that's not the event. That's something special I came up with." and as he clicked an image appeared behind him.
"See, I get a lot of press about, well being me. Famous, handsome, rich, intelligent. But where the praise falls flat is this picture right here."
It was the same one Tony had been shown, a soldier, showing a peace sign with Tony sat next to him.
"See, A while ago I was reminded about this young man. Private Wilson, and I was asked, do you remember him?"
Tony waved his hand and it changed to a video. Tony was lying in bed, and as the video played, it showed him sleeping. Tossing and turning, and as the video played damp patches appeared down his front and under his armpits.
"As you can see, I think about him all the time. That's me, having an episode." and he clicked again, to another video, Tony sat, trying to tie his shoes with shaking hands, "and another."
As he clicked on last time, the video changed to a small neckband, with a square sensor in the middle.
"Iron Halo. We forget, forget that anyone, even me, can suffer from a debilitating illness. Invisible, but scorned, Crippling, but ignored. PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder. Any number of mental health issues plague our lives, and we simply brush them off. Well, until now."
The video changed to a soldier, sitting crying, his hands clenched into fists as he fights off a panic attack. The scene changes and the same soldier is sitting calmly, around his neck one of Tony's neckbands,
"It's a small drive that allows us to control, not just a person's heart rate but the chemicals in their brain that cause panic attacks, seizures, rage episodes. Slip it on, program it, and it sends your demons back to hell. The Iron Halo."
Peter stared at Liv "the CLS?" and she nodded,
"If he modified it, to respond to a set program, then yes, it could be used instead of medication." and Peter clenched his teeth and pulled out his phone. Before he could even start it vibrated and it was Pepper,
Ultron attached a neural bridge to Tony, it's based on that, no patent infringement, we checked.
Peter cursed under his breath and resided the urge to smash his phone, "He used the Hydra tech to build it, we can't do anything," but Liv laughed and smiled,
"Oh, yes we can Peter dear. Brilliant, but inconsequential." and she ran a hand over his shoulder. "It's fine, the CLS is similar but all he got was the first swing. Calm down, dear." and he patted her hand,
"Just sick of this. I mean-" and she moved into his embrace,
"I know, I know. If you would just get along we could be working together, not. No, it doesn't matter Peter, take it on the chin and then we'll give him back just as good."
They watched the rest of the presentation, about how Tony was a brave hero suffering from PTSD after the attack, and that a new Iron Foundation for the rehabilitation of veterans suffering from mental health issues was being set up.
Peter could only shake his head. It was just feeding more into Tony's ego. As he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, he knew that Park Industries would be second, with Hammers big announcement being the show's finale before the booths opened.
He was nervous, as the harness was fitted and the act was about to begin. Liv, dressed in a smart tan dress, with a pale cream blouse, kissed him on the side of the cheek, "You'll be fine Peter." and the stage lit up.
"Thank you Ladies and Gentlemen," she announced. The crowd was smaller than Starks, but that was to be expected. "My name is Olivia Octavious, and my infamy aside, the presentation of Parker Industries may not be as mind-blowing as Tony Starks, but I can assure you, it will be even more spectacular."
With that Peter vaulted down from the spots, landed on two arms and tumbled across the stage, twirling on the four arms of the harness.
"Once upon a time, the Octo-X was derided as a simple fad. Too expensive, too difficult to control, but as you can see. We now have not just the ability, but the means to produce them for a fraction of the cost."
Stagehands brought out a table and a pot and as arms extended from Livs back, she used the arms to make, mix and then pour herself a cup of coffee.
"The arms are flexible enough to be used during surgery, allowing hospitals to free up staff and resources. Each arm can be given a variety of tools. Allowing them to be used from the medical field to engineering, even the catering industry."
Behind her, Peter was vaulting on the arms, moving from one to another, juggling, and showing off the dexterity having an extra four arms can afford.
"But, there is a more appropriate use for the technology. Once, that Mr Stark has overlooked. "I present to you. Mr Clint Barton."
Clint walked onto the stage, dressed in black and purple body armour, with two thick black gloves, covering both hands. He waved at the crowd, and there was a hushed silence as they waited.
Taking the bow and quiver from his back, Clint fired off several arrows at the target, and after handing the bow to a stagehand, collected several small knives, juggling them before throwing them at the target. Taking a bow, Liv moved and lifted the target up and the arrows and knives were arranged in a heart shape.
"Thank you Mr Barton. But you are asking yourselves, why is that so impressive? Please, Clint," and he took off the first glove, showing his perfect hand, and the other, showing the prototype CLS, a stark contrast. Its shiny metal rods could be seen, clicking and sliding back and forth as Clint showed the hand off. It magnified on the large monitor behind them.
"Mr Barton lost his hand in a tragic, and avoidable case of neglect. After seeking out several avenues, he was rebuffed by everyone until he met Mr Parker and myself." as Clint held up the hand, he grasped the wrist, which clicked, swivelled and undid, removing the hand completely.
"Peter Parker's Cybernetic Limb System uses proprietary technology to bridge damaged and severed nerves. Allowing a veteran to not replace but actually control an artificial limb properly."
Clint turned and the camera showed a smaller and sleeker design to Tonys on Clint's neck.
"The CLS system not only allows the wearer to move and control the limb but also to treat it as their own. A small demonstration, and for that, I do require, Ah, freedom of the press. Miss Brant, can you come here please?" and as Betty made her way to the stage, A curtain and several dishes were brought out.
The screen curtain was placed between Curt and the table of dishes.
"Here we have several things, of varying temperature," and as each lid was lifted, the video showed some giving off steam, while others had ice cubes floating in them.
"Randomly Miss Brant, please," Liv asked and Betty frowned as he picked up the disconnected hand, slightly weirded out by what she was being asked to do.
As she dipped the finger in each dish, Clint would call out "hot" or "cold" and once the demonstration was over, Betty hurriedly dropped the hand on the table and moved to one side.
"As you can see. The CLS not only allows control but actual feedback from the limb. A true sense of touch, temperature, as if it was the person's own."
Handing the hand back to Clint, he clipped it back onto the wrist mount and flexed his fingers,
"How does it feel Mr Barton?" She asked him,
"I dunno Doc, some kind of neural connector I guess, but uh, good, it feels good." and he got a laugh from the crowd, like Peter he was more used to skulking in the dark, taking shots from an advantageous position, standing being the centre of attention was not Clint's thing.
While the cameras were focused on Clint and Liv, Peter had taken his phone out and sent Pepper a text,
Tell Tony to suck it. Some of us don't have to steal our tech to make ourselves look good.