Work Text:
The Interview
Tony looked at the press.
After answering several questions about the battle and his recovery for the major newspapers, he decided then to give a chance to a young journalist sitting in the back, looking shy and out of place.
"You there, kid. Don't be shy. Give your best shot."
The young man stood up awkwardly, adjusting his large glasses on his face.
"Peter Parker for the Daily Bugle... Everyone's has been asking you about your recovery for the past half an hour sir and I'm sure you're tired of answering it, so... Regarding the project you mentioned earlier that will be resumed by Stark Industries, the Stark Energy Matrix, did you use a harmonic stabilization algorithm based on the Fibonacci sequence to contain the plasma, or... or did you solve the thermal oscillation problem by reconfiguring the core geometry into a truncated dodecahedron?"
The room fell into total silence.
The reporters stared in shock.
Tony stared in shock.
"Truncated dodecahedron... That's an extremely specific solution. How did you know that was my second option?"
"I... I read your old articles, Mr. Stark. It makes mathematical sense."
The billionaire shook his head, stunned.
"It's not in the articles. I never published that theory... What's your name again?"
"Peter Parker, from the Daily Bugle..." The journalist coughed to disguise his embarrassment. "I... uh... have another question. Time travel was quite a decision. Why did you do it? What was your inspiration?"
Tony froze.
He couldn't answer.
No matter how much he thought about it, the reason that moved him to save the world, his mind remained blank.
...
"Thank you very much, Mr. Stark, for granting me this exclusive interview."
"You're welcome, Mr. Parker. Make yourself at home. So you have a great interest in science?"
"Yes, I... I studied it a little in the past, I read your articles, but--"
"And tell me, why in your opinion will plasma containment by applying the reconfiguration of the truncated dodecahedron be more successful in regularizing thermal oscillation?"
"Its geometry is the only way to achieve near-perfect isotropic stress distribution..." The young man shook his head. "But Mr. Stark... I'm the journalist and you're the interviewee; I'm the one who has to ask the questions and you to answer them."
"Oh, right, sorry... Though truncating the vertices allows creating additional hexagonal faces that act as natural 'pressure valves' for the plasma. In your opinion, Mr. Parker, will this maximize the internal volume-to-surface area?"
Peter gave the billionaire a flat stare.
"...Mr. Stark."
"Alright, alright, kid... ask your question, but you answer mine next."
...
"So you're retiring from Iron Man, but you'll still support the Avengers with your high-tech projects?"
"Once a scientist, always a scientist, as they say. I'm currently working on a turbine prototype, but the thermal expansion in the carbon-nanotube casing is causing a 3% loss in kinetic efficiency during high-altitude transitions."
"It's the ventilation geometry. If you switch the exhaust ports to a cross-flow staggered pattern and use a liquid-nitrogen-cooled heat sink with a graphene-copper interface, you can dissipate the thermal load before it even reaches the casing."
"Exactly! I knew you'd get that right, Mr. Parker. Tell me again, why do you work as a journalist?"
"Buy food, clothes, pay the rent, spend the pennies left over on not-so-healthy activities. It's capitalism, Mr. Stark. Capitalism. I'm sure it's one of your friends."
"Don't you want to work for me?" He truly didn't know what possessed him to ask that.
"...Thank you, Mr. Stark, but no, I'm good with my current job."
"I can't believe someone other than Pepper could turn me down."
"Can we get back to the interview, Mr. Stark?"
...
"Oh, Mr. Parker, what a pleasant surprise to find you here in this cafeteria."
"We're near where I live and I'm off work... are you following me?"
"What a strange question, why would I do that? Isn't that your job as a journalist?"
"Yes, and not the other way around, Mr. Stark; it's me who should be begging for a few minutes of your busy schedule."
"No need to stoop so low, I've already given you two days a week to come to the Tower's lab, you can ask the questions while collaborating on my projects, two thinking heads are better than one. See you on Tuesdays and Thursdays."
"Mr. Stark, wait! I didn't agree to anything... Mr. Stark!"
...
In the end, it took only a small incident in the lab for his memories to unlock.
Peter said goodbye, Tony stepped forward to open the door at the same time as the journalist; both collided in each other's arms. Frozen for a second, they quickly pulled away.
"Sorry, that wasn't a hug--"
"I know, Mr. Stark, you're just going to grab the door for me."
Peter smiled gently and then left, Tony stared at the closed door for a long time while tears slid down his face.
...
"Do you always barge into other people's apartments like this out of the blue, Mr. Stark?" The journalist asked as the billionaire paraded inside before he could slam the door in his face.
"Only when I wish company to visit Europe. Did you know your lock was broken and the door was open? I swear I didn't do it."
"What are you doing here?"
"Didn't you know? I bought this block and I'm inspecting it personally. I've received complaints that this building is infested with spiders. Have you seen any spiders here?"
"You bought... what?!... You came here... because of spiders?"
"Precisely, Mr. Parker. So, did you see any spiders?"
"...No, Mr. Stark... There aren't any spiders here."
The billionaire gave him a look.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." Peter stated annoyed.
"This is a cozy place, but the heater needs fixing. Look at that cool sewing machine. I have something similar in my lab that does the same thing."
"... I'm sorry, what?!"
"You're forgiven. By the way, I finally remembered the answer to that question you asked in your first interview."
"...which question are you referring to?" The journalist asked bemused.
"Why I invented time travel." The billionaire removed his colorful sunglasses. "I did it to save my kid."
Peter stared in shock.
Tony smiled warmly.
"I did it for you."