"I don't know, Tony. Can you handle this much responsibility?"
She teased, knowing full well how much he thrived on exactly this sort of attention.
Before he could retort, a deafening explosion shook the building, rattling the walls and sending a wave of shock through the air.
"What the—!"
Tony exclaimed, his smile instantly vanishing as he dashed toward the entrance of the workshop. Pepper and Natalie quickly followed, adrenaline coursing through them.
As they reached the entrance, the scene that unfolded before them was chaos. Drones whirred overhead, raining debris down on startled attendees as they scrambled for cover. Smoke billowed from one corner of the workshop, where a massive hole had been blasted through the wall.
Tony's eyes scanned the scene, assessing the damage in seconds. He tightened his grip on his earpiece, voice calm but urgent.
"JARVIS, initiate the evacuation process. Deploy the rescue drones and alert the authorities."
JARVIS's smooth voice crackled to life in his ear.
"Right away, sir. Evacuation protocol engaged. Rescue drones dispatched. Authorities have been notified."
Tony turned sharply toward Pepper and Natasha, who were standing behind him, watching the chaos unfold with wide eyes.
"You both need to leave this place now,"
he said, his tone firm but laced with concern.
Pepper, snapping out of her trance, opened her mouth to protest.
"Tony, I'm not just going to—"
Before she could finish, Tony gently grabbed her by the shoulders, his gaze softening for just a moment.
"Pep, I need you safe,"
he said, his voice quieter but still urgent.
"Please."
Pepper hesitated, her eyes searching his, knowing that arguing wouldn't change his mind.
"Okay,"
she finally whispered though the reluctance was clear in her voice.
He then turned to Natasha.
"Get her out of here, Natalie. I'll handle this."
Natasha, ever the professional, gave a quick nod.
"I'll keep her safe,"
she promised, her expression serious as she glanced toward the escalating chaos.
Tony watched as Natasha took Pepper's arm, leading her toward the nearest exit. Pepper cast one last worried glance over her shoulder, but Tony had already turned back toward the scene, his mind switching back into action mode.
Tony tapped his arc reactor twice, and instantly, the nanites surged from the core, forming a sleek layer of armor over his body. In a matter of seconds, the Iron Man suit enveloped him, plates snapping into place with precision, the familiar hum of the arc reactor now amplified by the energy flowing through his suit. His HUD flickered to life, providing him with real-time diagnostics of the scene.
"Suit integrity at 100%, sir. Rescue drones are operational, and evacuation is proceeding smoothly."
JARVIS's voice chimed in his ear.
Tony clenched his fists, feeling the power of the suit as it finished assembling around him. His eyes narrowed as he took in the scene—drones still whirring overhead, civilians scrambling to safety, and the gaping hole in the workshop wall, which was likely the point of entry for whoever—or whatever—had caused the destruction.
"Let's get to action I think I have an idea of who is behind this"
He shot a glance toward the smoldering hole, already making calculations in his head. He activated his thrusters, rising slightly off the ground.
"JARVIS, lock onto any hostile signals and reroute surveillance feeds. I want eyes on every corner of this place, also give Rhodey a call let's see how the War machine is coming along."
The suit's systems buzzed into action as Tony prepared to confront the threat, his mind already racing with a thousand possibilities. Whoever had crashed the Stark Expo was about to learn a very hard lesson.
Tony shot into the air, the powerful thrusters of his suit leaving a trail of energy as he rocketed toward the source of the chaos. His HUD quickly locked onto the offending drones, each one zipping through the smoke, firing off blasts and raining debris down on the fleeing crowd below.
As he analyzed their movements, something familiar tugged at his memory. These drones—sleek but sloppy in design—reminded him of the old Hammer tech from his previous timeline. He cursed under his breath, the realization settling in.
"Of course… Hammer,"
he muttered, his jaw tightening.
"I've been so caught up with the Baxter explosion and everything else that I forgot about him."
In the grand scheme of what was coming—time travel, the multiverse, and threats far beyond Hammer's petty ambitions—Justin Hammer had become a mere ant in Tony's mind. But now, that ant had crawled back out of the dirt, and Tony had neglected to stomp him out when he had the chance.
His HUD flashed as JARVIS confirmed the drone signatures.
"Sir, these drones share significant design similarities with those manufactured by Hammer Industries."
Tony clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his own oversight.
"Great, I get to relive that nightmare. JARVIS, let's take these tin cans down before anyone else gets hurt."
With a surge of power, he sped toward the nearest drone, charging his repulsor. The whine of energy built up in his hands as he closed in, firing a blast that obliterated the drone in a fiery burst of metal and sparks.
"Sorry, Hammer, but your toys just don't hold up."
He dodged another drone's attack, spinning mid-air and firing off another blast that took out two more in quick succession.
"I'll deal with you soon enough."
Tony darted through the air like a missile, his focus sharp as he blasted another drone into pieces with a precise repulsor shot. The explosion sent fragments raining down, but his rescue drones were already swooping in, shielding civilians from the debris and guiding them toward safety. Automated voices echoed through the air
"This way, please! Remain calm and follow the lights!" Stark-built tech doing what it did best—saving lives.
As Tony flew low, weaving between the panicking crowds, he targeted another drone with a quick flick of his wrist, sending a missile into its core. The impact lit up the sky, and he swerved, dodging a chunk of falling debris. His heart pounded in rhythm with the chaos, the buzz of adrenaline sharp in his mind.
Just as he decimated another two drones, a familiar voice cracked over the comms.
"Need some help here, or are you hogging all the fun?"
Rhodey's voice had its usual playful edge, though the seriousness of the situation wasn't lost.
Tony grinned despite himself.
"About time, Rhodey bear. Thought you were going to leave me hanging."
Rhodey rocketed into view, his heavier suit creating a distinct roar as he fired a barrage of bullets into the sky, taking out three drones with ruthless precision.
"Had to make a grand entrance,"
he replied, launching a missile at a cluster of drones trying to regroup in the air.
Together, the two worked in seamless coordination. Tony blasted drones with pinpoint accuracy, while Rhodey laid down heavier fire, tearing through the swarm of enemies. But as much as they were pushing back the tide, the chaos on the ground was still intense, with civilians scrambling through the debris, terrified.
One of the rescue drones hovered near Tony, beeping with urgency. His HUD flickered with an alert—there was a child trapped under a fallen beam. Tony's heart skipped a beat.
Without hesitation, he pivoted mid-air and shot toward the distress signal. In the midst of the dust and rubble, his eyes locked onto a small figure, covered in debris, their movements slow and desperate. The figure wore a mask—an Iron Man mask—almost too big for the boy's face, but it was unmistakably a replica of Tony's own.
Tony's breath caught. The child was struggling to pull free, but the beam pinned his legs.
"JARVIS, get a scan."
Tony's voice was tight, filled with urgency.
As Tony landed, he lifted the massive beam effortlessly with the suit's strength, his heart pounding harder than before. He knelt down and gently reached out, scooping the child into his arms. The small Iron Man mask tilted upward, revealing a pair of wide, frightened eyes beneath it. The kid couldn't have been older than or 9.
"You're safe now, kid. I got you."
The boy coughed, but his gaze stayed fixed on Tony, the hero he had clearly idolized. For a moment, Tony froze, something familiar tugging at his gut. That face… the messy brown hair, the slight freckles. Peter?
"JARVIS, I need confirmation."
His voice wavered, a sudden lump forming in his throat.
A moment later, JARVIS responded:
"Identity confirmed. It's Peter Parker."
The world seemed to stop for Tony. Peter, the kid he had been keeping tabs on for years, who he knew had a brilliant mind far beyond his age… was here, caught in this chaos. And Tony had almost missed him.
Tony's chest tightened. He pulled Peter closer, careful not to hurt him, his arms steady despite the flood of emotion crashing into him. For all the threats he'd prepared for, all the enemies he could handle, the sight of this kid, terrified and vulnerable, broke something inside him.
"It's okay, kid. I've got you. You're going to be fine," Tony whispered, his voice thick as he activated the suit's med protocols, scanning Peter's injuries.
Peter, still in shock, simply nodded, his small hands clutching Tony's armor. He didn't seem to understand the gravity of what had just happened, but Tony did. He had almost lost him.
"Rescue drones, focus on the civilians,"
Tony ordered, watching as the remaining drones swooped down to carry off injured and trapped people.
Rhodey flew past, taking out another batch of Hammer's drones, but Tony barely registered it. His eyes were fixed on Peter, ensuring the boy was unharmed. He held him tighter for a moment, knowing just how precious this life in his hands was, before the sound of another explosion brought him back to the present.
Tony stood up, still cradling Peter in his arms.
"I'm getting you out of here,"
he murmured, lifting into the air with renewed purpose.
As Tony ascended, holding Peter securely in his arms, he scanned the area, searching for any sign of May and Ben Parker. His HUD pinged, marking two individuals frantically pushing through the crowd, eyes wide with panic as they called out Peter's name. It was them. Tony's heart clenched as he descended toward the ground, sitting down just a few feet from them.
May Parker was the first to spot him. She froze, her eyes locking onto Peter in Tony's arms. The fear and desperation on her face shifted to immense relief, tears welling up in her eyes. Ben was right behind her, equally stricken, his face a mix of panic and hope as he rushed forward.
"Peter!"
May's voice cracked as she called out, rushing toward them.
Tony gently lowered Peter to the ground but kept a steady hand on the boy's shoulder as he swayed slightly, still dazed from the ordeal. May practically collapsed in front of them, her arms wrapping around Peter, pulling him close.
"Oh my God, Peter!"
she cried, tears streaming down her face as she checked him over.
"Are you hurt? Are you okay?"
Her voice was shaky, overwhelmed with emotion.
Peter, still in his Iron Man mask, pulled it off clumsily and looked up at his aunt, eyes wide but a little dazed.
"I'm okay, Aunt May. Mr. Stark saved me."
Ben knelt beside them, his hands resting on Peter's shoulders as he pulled him into a protective embrace.
"You gave us a scare, buddy,"
Ben said, his voice thick with emotion as he held Peter tightly.
Tony took a step back, watching the reunion, feeling a strange sense of both relief and guilt wash over him. He cleared his throat softly, drawing May and Ben's attention for a moment.
"He's a tough kid,"
Tony said, his voice quieter than usual.
"But make sure he gets checked out by a doctor. He's shaken up, but he'll be fine."
May stood up, wiping her tears quickly as she looked at Tony, her expression a mix of gratitude and lingering fear.
"Thank you. Thank you so much for finding him. I—I don't know what we would've done if…"
She trailed off, unable to finish the thought, but the weight of her words hung in the air.
Tony gave a small nod, trying to maintain his usual stoic demeanor, but it was hard. Seeing Peter in this situation had hit him harder than he expected.
"He's special,"
Tony said, his eyes briefly meeting Peter's before looking back at May and Ben.
"Make sure you keep an eye on him. This world can be... unpredictable."
Ben stood up beside May, his hand resting on Peter's shoulder as he spoke.
"We will. And we'll never be able to repay you for what you did,"
he said, his voice steady but filled with gratitude.
Tony waved it off, trying to brush aside the sentiment.
"No need for that. Just keep him safe."
His voice faltered for a second as he glanced at Peter, still clutching the Iron Man mask in his small hands.
"And, kid—maybe stick to the ground next time."
He tried for a smirk, but his heart wasn't in it.
Peter looked up at Tony with wide eyes, still in awe of the man standing before him.
"I will, Mr. Stark. I promise."
Tony nodded, swallowing the emotion rising in his chest.
"Follow the rescue drone and get to a safe area please I will make sure this ends soon"
Making them nod and turn towards one of the drones ,He turned away quickly, not trusting himself to say more. His thrusters activated with a burst of energy, and he shot into the sky, disappearing into the smoke and chaos of the ongoing battle.
As he flew, he couldn't help but feel the weight of what had just happened. Peter—this bright, fearless kid—had already been caught up in the storm of his world.
Meanwhile Pepper and Natalie(Natasha)
As Pepper and Natasha—still in her disguise as Natalie—navigated through the chaos, they ducked under a collapsed support beam, the air thick with smoke and dust. The sounds of battle raged behind them, but the two women focused on finding a secure location away from the fighting.
"We need to keep moving, Ms. Potts,"
Natasha urged, glancing around for any signs of danger.
Pepper nodded, her heart pounding as they navigated through the debris. Just as they rounded a corner, a group of Hammer's goons emerged from the shadows, armed and ready for a fight. Their eyes narrowed as they spotted Pepper and Natasha.
"We have spotter Pepper Potts"
one of the goons informs in his earpiece, stepping forward with a weapon raised.
Natasha's instincts kicked in.
"Get back, Ms. Potts!"
she shouted, stepping in front of her just as the first goon lunged forward.
Without hesitation, Natasha engaged, her training taking over as she swiftly disarmed the first attacker, her movements fluid and precise. She spun, delivering a powerful kick to another goon, sending him crashing into the wall.
"Keep moving!"
she urged over her shoulder, throwing punches and dodging blows as she fought off multiple attackers.
Pepper hesitated, her heart racing, but she didn't want to be a liability. She took a step back, ready to assist Natasha, but just then, she felt a presence behind her.
Before she could react, one of Hammer's men grabbed her arm, pulling her back roughly.
"Thought you could escape that easily?"
he taunted, raising a fist to strike.
But something inside Pepper snapped. She had undergone the super-soldier serum enhancements, and it coursed through her, igniting a newfound strength and agility she had yet to fully embrace. With a swift motion, she twisted her body, using the goon's momentum against him. She broke free and, in one fluid motion, delivered a powerful elbow to his gut, knocking the wind out of him.
"You picked the wrong woman to mess with,"
she said, her voice steady as she prepared for the next attack.
As she faced the goon, Natasha caught a glimpse of Pepper holding her own. A surge of pride filled her as she continued to battle, taking down one opponent after another. But there were too many of them, and they needed to finish this quickly.
"Ms. Potts!"
Natasha called out, landing a roundhouse kick that sent another goon sprawling.
"Stay focused! We need to get out of here!"
Just as she finished speaking, another wave of goons rushed toward them, weapons drawn. Natasha glanced at Pepper, her eyes steely with determination.
"Together, on three!"
she shouted.
"One… two… three!"
They moved as one, Natasha launching herself at one side of the group while Pepper tackled the other, her newfound strength propelling her forward.
With a series of precise punches and swift kicks, they fought back against the onslaught, their movements synchronized. Natasha took down two more goons, while Pepper, feeling emboldened, dispatched another with a powerful uppercut that sent him crashing to the ground.
But just as they seemed to gain the upper hand, more goons appeared from behind, surrounding them in a tight circle.
"Looks like we've got company,"
Natasha grunted, adrenaline pumping through her veins.
Pepper tightened her fists, her heart racing as she caught her breath.
"We can't let them pin us down!"
Just then, Natasha's eyes widened as she spotted an opening.
"Follow my lead!"
She signaled for Pepper to back her up, and they charged forward together, fighting with everything they had, determined to break through the enemy ranks.
With a powerful combination of strength and skill, they pushed their way out, fighting fiercely to reach safety. As they ducked under a swing from another goon, Natasha called out,
"Ms. Potts, keep your guard up!"
"I've got this, Natalie!"
Pepper shouted back, her confidence surging as she delivered a solid kick to another attacker. Soon they cleared out the last of the hostiles both panting as they looked around finally satisfied that they were no longer in danger and quickly moved to the safe zone.
Back to Tony's pov
As Tony soared through the sky, weaving in and out of the chaos caused by Hammer's drones, he focused on taking them down one by one. His HUD lit up with updates, the information streaming in as JARVIS kept him informed.
"All civilians have been successfully evacuated from the immediate area, sir,"
JARVIS reported, his voice steady amidst the chaos.
"Rescue drones are assisting those in distress."
"Good,"
Tony replied, relief washing over him as he fired a repulsor blast, sending another drone spiraling into a nearby building.
"Now let's clean up this mess."
But just as he lined up another shot, his sensors pinged,
"Sir, incoming from six o'clock!"
JARVIS alerted, his voice cutting through the cacophony of battle.
With a swift pivot, he turned to see Ivan Vanko emerging from the swirling smoke, his gauntlets glowing with the familiar blue energy of his arc reactor, energy whips crackling ominously at his sides.
Without hesitation, Vanko lunged forward, the whips snapping through the air like lightning. Tony dodged effortlessly, a confident smirk crossing his face as he sidestepped the first strike. He retaliated with a repulsor blast, but Vanko deflected it with a quick flick of his whip, sending sparks flying as the energy ricocheted into the distance.
"You think you can dance around me, Stark?"
Vanko shouted, swinging his energy tendrils with precision.
"Let's find out!"
Tony replied, a gleam of confidence in his eyes. He engaged his suit's enhanced agility, vaulting over Vanko's next attack. As he landed, he unleashed a barrage of repulsor blasts, targeting Vanko's whips with calculated strikes.
Vanko spun, attempting to shield himself, but the blasts connected, disrupting his balance and forcing him back. Tony advanced, every movement fluid and deliberate, as he unleashed a combination of punches and kicks that tested Vanko's defenses.
"Come on, Ivan! Is that all you've got?"
Tony taunted, landing a solid jab to Vanko's midsection, followed by a quick uppercut that sent him reeling.
Vanko recovered quickly, whipping his tendrils toward Tony in a flurry of strikes. Tony danced around them, effortlessly avoiding the attacks as he ducked, rolled, and countered with swift, powerful strikes. Each blow from Tony was methodical, his confidence radiating as he pushed Vanko back.
"You can't keep this up, Stark!"
Vanko grunted, frustration creeping into his voice as he spun his whips in an attempt to create a barrier.
"Oh, but I can!"
Tony replied, his suit thrumming with power. With a swift motion, he activated his EMP, sending a pulse of energy that surged through the air. Vanko's whips faltered, the energy flickering as he struggled to maintain control.
Seizing the moment, Tony charged forward, delivering a rapid-fire series of blows that overwhelmed Vanko. Each punch landed with authority, knocking the wind out of Vanko as he fought to keep his footing. Tony's movements were precise and powerful, his confidence unwavering as he danced around Vanko's increasingly desperate attacks.
"You should have stayed out of my way!"
Tony exclaimed, delivering a final, decisive blow that connected squarely with Vanko's jaw, sending him crashing to the ground.
Vanko lay there, panting and disoriented, the glow of his arc reactor flickering. Tony stood over him, the Mark 50 armor gleaming in the light, energy pulsing with unyielding power.
"Game over, Ivan,"
Tony said, looking down at his fallen adversary, his voice steady and confident.
"You picked the wrong fight today."
As Vanko struggled to rise, Tony activated the suit's restraining systems, pinning Vanko down with a surge of energy, ensuring there would be no escape this time. The fight had been swift, but it had served as a reminder with the right preparation and confidence, even the strongest adversaries could be brought to their knees.
As Vanko lay defeated, the last flickers of energy sputtering from his gauntlets, Tony's HUD displayed a panoramic view of the surrounding chaos. The battlefield, once a cacophony of drones and explosions, was gradually returning to order. The remnants of Hammer's forces were being systematically dismantled, each rogue drone falling from the sky, thanks to Rhodey's tactical precision and impeccable aim.
"Sir, the threat level is diminishing rapidly,"
JARVIS reported, his voice steady and informative.
"All civilian evacuations have been completed, and the remaining hostile drones are being neutralized."
Tony took a moment to breathe in the cool night air, the smell of burnt metal and singed earth lingering around him. He watched as Rhodey expertly maneuverer his War Machine armor, the suit's cannons roaring to life. With a series of well-placed shots, he took down the last of the rogue drones, their frames exploding in brilliant bursts of fire and debris that lit up the night sky.
"Nice work, Rhodey!"
Tony called out, relief evident in his voice as he gave a thumbs-up to his friend.
"Looks like we cleaned up the mess!"
"Just doing my job, Tony,"
Rhodey replied, his tone light but professional as he landed next to Tony, the ground trembling slightly from the impact of his heavy armor. He looked around at the chaos.
"But what the hell happened? Where did these drones come from"
Tony replied, his expression turning serious.
"These are Hammer's drones—he must have launched them as a distraction. Vanko is using the chaos to make his move, but this whole operation is part of a bigger scheme."
Rhodey frowned as he processed the information.
"So Vanko's just taking advantage of the situation? That makes it even worse."
"Exactly. This isn't his attack, but he's definitely capitalizing on it,"
Tony said, casting a sidelong glance at Vanko, who was still struggling against the energy restraints of Tony's suit.
"We need to get this under control before he becomes a real threat."
As the wail of sirens filled the air, the scene became a whirlwind of activity. Authorities were arriving in droves, police vehicles and SHIELD agents pouring in, their lights flashing and cutting through the smoky remnants of the chaos. Officers quickly and efficiently swept through the area, ensuring that the threat was truly neutralized. They swiftly apprehended Vanko, pulling him roughly from the ground and cuffing him with a set of reinforced restraints designed to contain any residual energy he might unleash.
Tony and Rhodey watched as the agents secured the area, moving methodically to assess the damage and confirm that no other threats remained. The streets, once a battleground, began to return to a semblance of normalcy, but the aftermath of the night's events was still palpable in the air.
"You know, Tony,"
Rhodey mused, his voice thoughtful as he scanned the horizon,
"It's moments like this that really make you appreciate how far we've come. But how many more guys like Vanko are out there?"
"That's the million-dollar question, isn't it?"
Tony replied, his brow furrowing as he considered the implications of Vanko's presence.
"With Hammer still lurking in the shadows, we can't let our guard down."
"So what's next?"
Rhodey asked, his tone shifting to one of readiness.
"We need to put a stop to Hammer and anyone else he's aligned with. I'd hate to think what he'd do with Vanko's tech."
"Agreed. We can't let that happen,"
Tony said, his voice firm.
"We'll interrogate Vanko, get every scrap of intel we can. Then we're going after Hammer. I refuse to let him turn this city into his playground."
Just as Tony was about to continue, a team of SHIELD agents approached, led by a familiar face—Agent Maria Hill.
"Stark, Rhodey. Good work out here,"
she said, her tone professional as she nodded toward Vanko.
"We'll take it from here."
"Make sure he doesn't slip through your fingers,"
Tony cautioned, his gaze locked on Vanko, who was being escorted away.
"We'll handle it,"
Maria assured him, her expression resolute.
"And we'll follow up on Hammer's leads. This isn't over yet."
With that, the SHIELD agents took Vanko into custody, leading him toward an armored vehicle. Tony and Rhodey watched as the chaos began to settle, the last remnants of the attack fading into the background.
"Let's head back,"
Tony said, activating his suit's systems.
"I need to get in touch with Fury. We need to start tracking Hammer down before he has a chance to regroup."
"I'll follow your lead,"
Rhodey replied, his voice steady.
"Let's make sure he doesn't get away this time."
As they took to the skies, the night air rushing past them, Tony couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.
"Sir, I'm detecting an unauthorized breach at the Research and Development center,"
JARVIS reported, his tone calm but urgent.