Chapter Text
When something traumatic happens to a person, it changes them.
It happened once to weapons inventor Tony Stark.
He used to profit off of war and death, then he became a hero fighting the people who wished to do harm to the world, for any person.
He became Iron Man.
But, who were you to become?
Nick Fury had wasted his breath with his wish of good luck for your next tour.
You were gone for six months. Double the time Tony had spent, captured by the people Obadiah Stane had hired to kill him.
But unlike the genius, you were unable to escape.
It had started off great.
Your deployment was just like any other you had been on.
But that was always how they began, wasn’t it?
It was always just a normal day, alike any other, when it all suddenly went to absolute shit.
You were driving at the time, joking with your friends in the Humvee, as you patrolled the area, making sure everything was safe.
Then it happened.
A missile from a rocket launcher came out of nowhere. Blasting the sand-covered area in front of the armoured car, causing it to flip to the side, as more missiles and gunfire sounded through the air. The screams of your squadmates ringing through the car.
The last thing you heard was the sound of your own yelling voice, shouting for the profusely bleeding man sitting by your side in the passenger seat.
“Charlie!”
And then you blacked out.
Everything was kept hush-hush for them to find you.
It wasn’t like Tony Stark being on every headline when he was captured.
Only a small statement in the news, minimising the whole event, entirely.
It took them half a year to rescue you from the hell you had found yourself thrust into.
You weren’t the only one captured.
They had also taken one of the soldiers from the car.
Leaving the others to die.
You weren’t the only one they captured.
But you were the only one who survived.
They changed you.
You no longer felt like you had control of your body.
They took your life. Your past. You. And tore it apart, altered it, then put it all back together.
That’s what they did to you.
That’s what it felt like.
All thanks to a few little needles and a whole lot of torture.
Information.
That’s what they wanted.
About the military. About weapons. About Tony. About his Iron Man suit.
You said nothing.
You told them nothing.
And when they grew frustrated, the pain would come.
Then there were the occasions where they grew so angered at you that they brought out the needles. Thinking that would break you.
However, every time they tried, every time they failed.
If only they knew what it was doing to you.
Now.
You did try to save yourself.
And you would have succeeded.
It just turned out that you had chosen the same day as the military ambushed the base.
You wouldn’t talk to them when they took you back to safety.
Not about what happened there.
Never about what happened there.
And for going through all that.
You were gifted an honorary discharge from The United States Air Force, not even a couple of days later, and were sent on your way.
It was a shock to the system for you to know that you were home.
You were safe.
And yet, that was so hard for you and your body to come to terms with.
Back always feeling that slight tension in the middle of your shoulder blades, ready for danger at any moment.
You couldn’t go home.
Not now.
Not when you were like this.
So, you went to the only place you could think of- You went to the only person you could think of.
Tony.
—
People knew you.
They knew you were friends with Tony Stark.
So, when you strutted up late and uninvited to the room in which the Senate Armed Services Committee, were they were badgering Tony behind the closed wooden doors. It only took a few moments for you to be let in by the security guards.
The only thing you didn’t know was that everywhere Tony went since you were deployed -even if it were merely to dinner-, the man would make sure to let someone know that you were with him and for them to let you right in if you were to ever randomly show up.
Turns out you both had a slight flair for dramatics.
Because that is exactly what you did do.
“Mr Stark, cold we pick up now where we left off-? What is this?” You ignored the man as you walked through the wide-open doors, everyone else following in your lead, curiously turning to see who, or what, had interrupted the court.
As soon as Tony’s eyes found yours, he was up on his feet and meeting you as you walked up the centre aisle, pulling you into a gigantic hug.
“You been eating your Wheaties?”
You laughed wetly into the man’s shoulder at the first words he said to you in six months.
“Something like that.”
Pulling back with a sniffle, you let Tony cup your face with his rough hands. Evaluating you. Turning your head this way and that. Noticing all of the faint and mostly healed scratches on the sides of your face.
“What happened to you?”
“That’s a story for another time,” you replied, the man getting the hint that you didn’t want to talk about it right now, with the pats to his still outstretched arms.
“Mr Stark, please?”
At the call of his name, Tony removed one of his palms from the side of your face, turning to face the man, banging the gavel.
“Yes, dear?”
You laughed lightly with some of the members of the room.
“Can I have your attention?”
“Right. Yes. Absolutely,” he replied, moving to return to his previous seat before the committee. Leaving you to bend lower and whisper your greeting to Pepper.
“Hey, Pepper.”
“Y/N, it’s so good to see you.”
“Wait, wait, hold on just a second.”
“What now, Mr Stark?” at the Senator’s impatient tone, you looked up, only to spot Tony coming back towards you. Confusion crossed your features when he grabbed your arm and pulled you to the leather seat beside the one he had just vacated.
“Sit,” he told you quietly, gently pushing you down into the chair.
“Uh, Mr Stark. Those seats are only permitted for people called to be before the armed services committee,” the Senator proceeded to point out, glaring your way.
“Senator Stern, my dear, dear friends, over here-” He held his arm out in your direction, “-Has just gotten back from deployment and should be allowed to sit down.”
“Your friend wasn’t even invited, Mr Stark.”
“They’re my guest. And I would like for them, as an Air Force Seargent to-”
“Ex,” you corrected the man.
“What?” He peered over to you.
“An Ex-Air Force Master Seargent.”
“You got promoted? And then quit?”
“Another time, Tony.”
With that, he blinked out of his curiosity, turning back to the gathered Sennet in front of them.
“Even better. I would like to use my friend, an ex-Air Force Master Seargent, as my support and allow them to call out any inaccuracies they may see, Or are you denying me that?”
“Uh.” You moved closer to the microphone in front of you. “Even if you do deny him that. Could I still sit here anyway? I was told that I needed to rest.”
“Rest for what?”
“Well, you see, I have this condition called ‘I was tortured for six months and only just escaped that less than three days ago’,” you replied sassily. The man obviously despised the fact that there were two of you, and he would have to deal with both you and Tony.
With a deep sigh, Senator Stern relinquished, “Fine. Fine. Mr Stark.” He turned back to the man. “Do you or do you not possess a specialised weapon?”
“I do not.”
“You do not?”
“I do not.” Tony ticked his head to the side. “Well, it depends on how you define the word "weapon”.“
"The Iron Man weapon.” Stern leaned back in his seat, gesturing his hands as if he were careless to the matter at hand.
“I think it could be considered more as armour.”
“My device does not fit that description.”
“Well… how would you describe it?”
“I would describe it by defining it as what it is, Senator.”
“As?”
“Uh, it’s a high-tech prosthesis.” A laugh sounded from the majority of the residents within the room, as Tony continued, glancing over his shoulder momentarily, “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.”
Tony interrupted the greying man before anything else could leave his lips.
His… very tight lips…
As Tony spoke, you leaned into the back of your leather chair, grabbing Pepper’s attention. Pointing to the Senator, then to your face, you mouthed over to the blonde woman, 'botched work done’. Watching, as she had to stifle her laugh, and hide her smiling lips behind the palm of her hand.
“My priority is to get the Iron Man weapon turned over to the people of The United States of America.”
A singular, loud laugh escaped you then.
“What is so funny, Seargent Y/L/N?”
“Ex. Ex-Seargent.,” you started off by correcting the man, “And you just want the suit to use it for The United States Military. You don’t see something that can be a danger to people. You see something that you can use to win wars and strike fear into enemies of The United States. To you, it is nothing but a resource.”
“This weapon,” he began, almost exploding at you, “Does not belong in the hands of anyone but The United States of America.”
“Well, you can forget it,” Tony said now, “I am Iron Man. 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. You can’t have it,” he ended in a statement, as people chuckled behind him, and beside him, coming from your own chest.
“Look, I- I’m no, uh, expert-”
“In prostitution? Of course not. You’re a Senator. Come on.” With his palm slapping onto the tabletop before him, turning to wave to the crowd. Spotting Pepper shaking her head and mouth 'no’ to him, all the while you pat his forearm whilst trying to hold your own laughter back.
“I’m no expert in weapons. We have somebody here who is an expert on weapons. I would now like to call Justin Hammer-” Tony straightened up at the name that was just spoken. Obviously having some relationship to the man. “-Our current primary weapons contractor.”
“Oh, so that’s why the weapons all went downhill?” you muttered, knowing of the man and the shoddy weapons he has created.
“Het 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.”
Hammer smiled and gestured his glass of water to the man, playing the words that irked him off, cool.
Senator Stern banged his gavel a few times, before Hammer pulled his microphone in front of him and forced a laugh into it.
“Absolutely. I’m no expert. I defer to you, Anthony. You’re the wonder boy.”
“Someone’s petty.”
“Uh, Senator, if I may?” The man proceeded to rise to his feet, bringing the microphone with him, as he moved towards a large TV being set up. “I may well not be an expert, but you know who was the expert? Your dad.” He pointed at Tony. “Howard Stark. Really a father to us all and to the military-industrial age.”
Tony was visibly uncomfortable as the man continued on, talking about his late father. Prompting you to place a comforting hand upon Tony’s shoulder, being careful as you did.
You always had to be careful now.
“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 Stark has created a sword with untold possibilities. And yet he insists it’s a shield. He asks us to trust him, as we cower behind it. I wish I were comforted, Anthony, I-I really do. I’d love to leave my door unlocked when I leave the house, but this ain’t Canada.”
'I hate him,’ you thought.
“You know, we live in a world of grave threats, threats that Mr Stark will not always be able to foresee. Thank you. God bless Iron Man. God bless America.”
Only the people of the Committee clapped as the man moved to return to his seat.
“That is well said, Mr Hammer.”
You couldn’t help but scoff and shake your head at this french farce.
“The Committee would now like to invite Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes to the chamber.”
“Rhodey?”
“Rhodey? What?” you and Tony spoke at the same time, moving to watch as the man, your friend, walked into the room.
Tony got up to greet the man, just as he had done not too long ago, with you. The only difference being the almost betrayed energy filling the space from between the two, as you followed behind the billionaire. Watching as they shook hands.
“Hey, buddy. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Look, it’s me. I’m here. Deal with it. Let’s move on.”
“Hey, Rhodey,” you uttered, moving to hug the man.
“Y/N. Glad to see you home safe. I’m sorry. If I would have known-”
“It’s fine. It’s not your fault.” You pat his shoulder. The three of you, moving back to the empty seats.
“I just-”
“Drop it,” Rhodey told Tony forcefully.
“All right, I’ll drop it.”
“I have before me a complete report on the Iron Man weapon, complied by Colonel Rhodes. And, Colonel, for the record, can you. Please read page fifty-seven, paragraph four?”
“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.”
That’s never the case, is it?
“You’re being used, Rhodey,” you called over to the man.
“I understand. A lot of things have changed today. So, if you could just read-”
“You do understand that reading a single paragraph out of context does not reflect the summary of ly final-”
“Just read it, Colonel. I do. Thank you.”
'I hate him, too’
“Very well,” Rhodey gave in lightly. “"As he does not operate within any definable branch of Government, Iron Man presents a potential threat to the security of both of the nation and to her interests”. I did, however, go on to summarize that the benefits of Iron Man far outweigh the liabilities.“
"Uh. Uh. Uh,” Stern sounded off, unimpressed by how the Colonel was being honest and not just using part of his report out of context to align with his wants.
“And that it would be in our interest-”
“That’s enough, Colonel.”
“-To fold Mr Stark-”
“That’s enough.”
Tony leaned forward in his seat, resting his arms and body in and onto the table, as Rhodey continued to speak, even with the Senators calls for him to stop.
“-Into the existing chain of command, Senator-”
“I’m not a joiner, but I’ll consider Secretary of Defense. If you ask nicely,” Tony sassed into the mic, “We can amend the hours a little bit.”
“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.”
“With all due respect, Colonel, I understand. And if you could just narrate those for us, we’d be very grateful.”
Rhodey waved over to the TV, discouragedly, “Let’s have the images.”
'Weaponized Suit Intelligence’
Upon the screen, below that title, showed an overhead view upon a base, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. A part of it magnetised, with an arrow pointing at a mysterious object.
“Intelligence suggests that the devices seen in these photos are, in fact, attempts at making manned copies of Mr Stark’s suit,” he said. New images of different bases crossed over the screen.
All the while, Tony looked on curiously. Moving to sit haphazardly in his seat as he fiddled with his phone in his lap.
“This has been corroborated by our allies and local intelligence in the ground, indicating that these suits are quite possibly, at this moment, operational.”
“Hold on a second, buddy,” Tony said, leaning across the man, phone pointed out towards the screen showing the surveillance images, “Let me see something here.”
He then tapped twice on the see-through device. And instantly, the TV was overridden with two boxes, clearly hacking into the system. One, in big letters, writing, 'WELCOME MR STARK’.
“Oh! Boy, I’m good,” he complimented himself, “I commandeered your screens.” He then moved on to do the same to the TV on the opposite side of the room. “I need them. Time for a little transparency.” You couldn’t wipe the grin off of your face while waiting for Tony’s systems to fully hack the security defences. “Now, let’s see what’s really going on.”
“What is he doing?” Senator Stern asked. Who he was talking to? You didn’t know. Nor did you rightly care that much.
“If you direct your attention to said screens,” Tony prompted, tapping away on his phone, now laying on the table, “I believe that’s North Korea.”
Upon the screen, played pixelated black and white footage. Clearly showing an attempt at some sort of giant robotic manned machine. Watching as it quickly crumbled to the ground, firing off bullets as it landed. Licking and injuring the few people gathered around. Before finally shooting, and probably killing, the man filming. Blood splattering down onto the cracked screen.
“Oh, that’s a 2.5 out of 10.”
“Can you turn that off?” Stern asked, leaning over to point at the TV. Hammer jumps up to do that right away, “Take it off.”
“I thought you wanted to show this stuff.”
“Iran,” Tony said, presenting the next video.
Hammer pushed a man out of the way to get to the TV and its systems. Now, showing a man shouting behind the camera and a janky suit hovering in the sky. When it suddenly crashed into the ground. Billows of smoke covered the screen before the suit re-directed itself towards the person filming. Then it was suddenly cut off.
“No grave immediate threat here.”
You nodded, agreeing with Tony, pointing downwards the TV Hammer was still trying to shut off, “Yeah, that was a solid three.”
“Is that Justin Hammer?”
It was Justin Hammer. The man standing behind a suit wired up to a piece of machinery.
“How did Hammer get in the game?”
“Oh, let’s see how bad he fucks this up,” you said, leaning back into your seat, arms crossed over your chert.
“Justin, you’re on TV. Focus up.”
“Okay, give me a left twist,” the TV Hammer said to the man testing out the suit, “Left’s good. Turn to the right.”
Glancing over, you saw Rhodey hiding his smile behind his fingers. Yours, however, was out in the open for the whole world to see. Literally.
Back to the screen. There was a loud crack of bones breaking and a muffled scream. The image shows the 'Hammer Industries’ suit, its top half facing backwards, while the bottom, stayed facing forwards. Arms limping down slightly.
“Oh! Oh, fuck!” you yelled, unable to take your eyes off of the disaster playing over the TV.
“Oh, shit. Oh, shit!”
“'Oh, shit’ is right! That’s minus twelve points, that is.”
Finally, Hammer managed to find a wire, and pull it apart, instantly shutting the TV off before returning to his seat, trying to hide his obvious embarrassment.
“Wow,” Tony uttered, “Yeah, I’d say most countries, five, ten years away.” He waved over to the now black screen. “Hammer Industries, twenty.”
“I’d like to point out that that test pilot survived.”
“I hope you’re paying for everything for him and not acting like a sleazeball,” you called over to Hammer.
“I think we’re done, is the point that he’s making,” Stern said, trying to gain back control, stuttering as he continued, “I don’t think there’s any reason-”
“The point is, uh, you’re welcome, I guess.”
“For what?”
You scoffer out a sarcastic laugh, “'For what?’.”
“Because I’m your nuclear deterrent. It’s working. We’re safe. America is secure. You want my property? You can’t have it!” He punctuated by smacking his palms upon the table. “But I did you a big favour.”
Tony then rose to his feet, turning to the gathered rows of people sitting behind him. “I have successfully privatized world peace.” Then he threw up two peace signs for everyone to see. The majority of the crowd raised to their feet, giving the man a standing ovation. “What more do you want?! For now!”
Out of the corner of your eye, you spotted Senator Stern rolling his eyes at the man, looking down the table to his fellow Senator’s.
“I tried to play ball with these ass-clowns!” Tony pointed to the Committee.
Stern leaning over the reply, “Fuck you, Mr Stark. Fuck you, buddy.”
“Now, is that any way to talk to Senator Botched Botox?!” you sassed with a bright smile, leaning into the microphone to be heard over the applause behind you.
“We’re adjourned. We’re adjourned for today,” another Senator spoke. As Tony strutted forward and slid on his sunglasses.
“Okay.”
“You’ve been a delight.” At that, Tony blew them all kisses from each of his palms.
“Hey, Hammer?” you called over to the man as you got up to follow after Tony.
“What?”
“You’d be great as a lawyer.”
“Oh, yeah? Why’s that?”
“Because you’re a real show pony.”
Tony laughed after hearing your words, throwing his arm over your taller shoulders.
“What do you wanna do now that you’re free from the military?”
You sighed.
“I want a burger.”
“My bond is to the people,” Tony promised to the camera filming you both. As he continued to shake hands while still holding onto you, “And I will serve this great nation at the pleasure. Of. Myself. If there’s one thing I’ve proven, it’s that you can count on me to pleasure myself.”
“Oh, great. I’m never gonna get that image out of my head.”
He laughed brightly.
“Let’s get you a burger.”