Chapter 46 - I am Iron Man

The morning following the chaos, Stark Industries was a media hotspot. A sea of reporters and cameramen surrounded the entrance, all pushing to get closer, their flashes lighting up the scene. Microphones were raised in anticipation as they awaited a statement from Tony Stark. The footage from the night before had spread quickly: a massive, mechanized battle at Stark Tower. Two towering figures had fought — one clearly identifiable as flaming armor guy, the other, a giant, bulky figure with a resemblance to ancient battle armor.

Rumors had been swirling all night, and the press was hungry for details.

Especially when the Rumor is about the new tech of Stark.

Outside Stark Tower…

The sleek doors of Stark Tower slid open, and out stepped Tony Stark, his face composed despite the weight of the questions about to come his way. Dressed sharply in a black suit, sunglasses covering his eyes, he walked up to the podium that had been hastily set up in front of the building. Pepper Potts followed closely behind, looking both composed and concerned.

And there one other guy accompanying them, our always smiling baldy, Phil Coulson. 

"Make sure to go according to script" Phil said to Tony who just nodded, 'will he even act according to it?' he thought, as he stood there calmly.

"Mr. Stark! Mr. Stark!" reporters called out, their questions blending into a cacophony of demands for answers.

Tony raised his hand to calm the noise, waiting for the crowd to settle. Once it was quiet enough, he cleared his throat and adjusted the microphone. "Good morning, everyone. I'm sure you've all got a lot of questions, so let's get right to it."

A reporter at the front thrust her microphone forward, shouting her question, "Can you explain what happened last night? Was Stark Industries attacked?"

Tony paused, choosing his words carefully. "Last night, an incident occurred involving a rogue suit of armor. It was... a prototype, part of an older project that went off the rails. I'm sure you've all seen the footage, and I won't deny that things got a bit out of hand."

The crowd erupted with more questions, but Tony continued before they could overwhelm him. "However, I handled it. The situation is under control, and the damage is being addressed."

Another reporter managed to push his way to the front, "Mr. Stark, was this an act of corporate sabotage? Is Stark Industries in danger?"

Tony smirked, his usual confident demeanor returning. "Stark Industries is fine. No sabotage, no hostile takeover. Just a... wrong programing that got a little heated."

Phil behind him nodded seeing he is going according to script, last night the whole incident was captured and released on net, though the SHIELD had removed it but by that time, most influential people have now know it.

The reporters buzzed at the vagueness of his response, and someone shouted, "And what about the humanoid figure that was seen fighting alongside Iron Man? Was that another piece of Stark tech?"

Tony hesitated for a brief moment, memories of Dave's transformation from last night flashing through his mind. "No, that's not something you need to worry about," he said, brushing the question off with a casual tone. "Just a friend lending a hand in a tight spot."

The reporters weren't satisfied, but Tony knew better than to let them push any further. "Look," he said, addressing the crowd more directly now, "Stark Industries is safe. I'm safe. The city is safe. This was an isolated incident. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a company to run."

Tony stepped away from the podium, and though the reporters continued to shout questions, he turned on his heel, making his way back inside with Pepper by his side.

"Are you Iron Man?" someone suddenly shouted, causing everyone to freeze and turn their attention back to Tony, remembering the footage of Iron Man's attack on Afghanistan.

Tony paused, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he heard the question. Phil Coulson, standing nearby, felt a sinking feeling, sensing what was about to happen. Before he could intervene, Tony turned around, that iconic, confident smirk plastered on his face. He raised an eyebrow, surveyed the crowd, and then, with an almost casual shrug, said:

"Yes, I am Iron Man."

The crowd erupted in chaos.

The entire press crowd fell into stunned silence. Cameras clicked furiously as reporters scrambled to process Tony Stark's bombshell revelation. Pepper froze, her eyes widening in shock, while Phil Coulson, standing nearby, visibly winced, knowing that Tony's words had just unleashed a storm.

The silence didn't last long. It shattered almost immediately as the reporters exploded into a frenzy.

"Mr. Stark, what does this mean for the future of Stark Industries?"

"How long have you been Iron Man?"

"Is this a government-sanctioned project?"

"Are you responsible for the attack in Afghanistan?"

Questions came from every direction, the volume rising to a deafening level. Despite the onslaught, Tony Stark stood there with a satisfied smirk, as if he had been waiting for this moment all along. His confident posture, his tone—it was all a part of his showmanship.

Pepper moved closer to Tony, trying to pull him back before the situation spiraled even further, but Tony just raised a hand and spoke again.

"I know you all have a lot of questions," he said smoothly. "But that's all I'm saying for now."

Coulson stepped forward, attempting to regain control of the situation. "That's enough for today, everyone. Please direct further questions to the official channels," he said firmly, motioning for Tony and Pepper to head back inside.

Tony, clearly enjoying the spectacle, threw a final wink at the crowd before turning and walking back into Stark Tower with Pepper and Coulson trailing behind him.

'this bastard really did it' Fury who was watching the live news broke the remote in his hand as he heard him say that.

"what should we do about him?" Marie Hills asked looing at Fury.

"send, Natasha after him, " Fury said and Marie nodded and began to relay orders to Black Widow.

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'My Charity System Made me Too OP'

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