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Chapter Text

"The proposed element should serve as a viable replacement for palladium. Unfortunately, it is impossible to synthesize," JARVIS said as Tony smiled.

"Get ready for a major remodel, fellas. We’re back in hardware mode," Tony said as he grabbed a sledgehammer and started breaking down a wall in his lab, then started drilling a hole. After a few hours, a prismatic accelerator was created. Tony then proceeded to aim the prismatic accelerator at a test element and used it to smash the nuclei of particles together until the structure of the test element resembled the atomic structure Howard had hidden in his Stark Expo model, or as Tony decided to call it, Starkium. He agreed with JARVIS after a long debate on why Baddasium sent out the wrong message and how it was discovered by his dad but made by him. So, Starkium was chosen to include both Howard and him in the discovery.

Suddenly, tiny sparkling particles began to emanate from the core of Starkium. They fluttered around the lab like fireflies, each particle radiating a power that seemed to bend the very fabric of reality.

"What the...?" Tony Stark said, awestruck.

"Analysis suggests these are a byproduct of the Starkium synthesis. Their energy signature is... unprecedented," JARVIS said as Tony extended his hand, and one of the particles danced around his fingers. He thought about his chest wound and the shrapnel in it being gone, and as if reading his mind, the particles glowed, and Tony felt a burning sensation in his chest near his heart. He felt the metal remains of the shrapnel in him disappear, and he saw the arc reactor in his chest turn to nothing. He looked down worried to see his wound healing.

"What the? These particles... They're responding to my thoughts. This is... incredible," Tony Stark said as he looked at the particles and thought of a cheeseburger, and once again, they materialized. "And they healed me," Tony said in awe.

"Caution, Sir. We don't know what they can do. These particles could potentially alter matter and energy at a fundamental level," JARVIS said as Tony grinned.

"They're more than just particles, JARVIS. They're a new frontier. Imagine the possibilities," Tony said as he thought of a glass, and the particles made a glass. "JARVIS, run a full scan on these particles. I want to know everything—how they're formed, how they work, and what they can do."

"Initiating scan now, Sir," JARVIS said as his series of advanced sensors and instruments whirred into action, analyzing the particles in real-time. Data streams in rapidly, filling the screens with complex readings and theories.

"Analysis complete, Sir. The particles exhibit extraordinary properties. They appear to be a form of exotic matter, generated as a byproduct of the Starkium synthesis. Their structure allows them to interact with both matter and energy at a quantum level but has no connection to the quantum realm as the patterns and data do not match any publicly known data written by Hank Pym. His private data, although unknown to us, may hold more information," JARVIS says as Tony listens intently, his mind racing with the implications.

"Furthermore, they demonstrate the ability to respond to cognitive stimuli—thoughts and desires, effectively materializing them into reality. This could be due to a unique resonance with the human brain's neural patterns," JARVIS says.

"So, they're not just particles; they're like... reality fabricators?" Tony Stark says in awe, his mind thinking of millions of applications.

"In a manner of speaking, yes, Sir. Additionally, their interaction with space-time is unusual. They could potentially bend or even fold space-time, allowing for theoretical time travel or timeline manipulation," JARVIS says as Tony's eyes widen in disbelief and excitement.

"Time travel? You're telling me these little guys can mess with time? As in true time travel, not using a different space or realm where time flows differently but effectively reversing or traveling through time?" Tony Stark says.

"Yes, Sir. But I must caution against unchecked experimentation. The ramifications could be unpredictable," JARVIS says.

"Got it. Anything else these particles can do?" Tony Stark says.

"Their energy patterns suggest the ability to alter or rewrite certain physical laws. This includes gravitational, electromagnetic, and strong and weak nuclear forces. They can potentially destroy matter at a fundamental level," JARVIS says.

"Incredible... With this kind of power, we could revolutionize the world. Energy, medicine, technology... there's no limit," Tony Stark says thoughtfully.

"Or the harm they could do," JARVIS replies.

"Always the voice of reason, J. All right, let's keep the crazy train grounded. But let's take a crack at a few experiments first. Let's test out what these particles can really do. And more importantly, JARVIS, let's make sure no one else can use them. Just me," Tony says.

"Implementing such a restriction will require a unique identifier, Sir. Something intrinsically linked to you," JARVIS says as Tony ponders for a moment, then an idea strikes him.

"What if we tie their activation to my... essence? My soul, consciousness, and thought patterns. Make them responsive only to me. That way, even if someone else tried to use them, even in my body, it wouldn't work," Tony Stark says.

"An intricate proposition, Sir. But theoretically feasible. We will need to encode your neural signature into the particles' operating matrix," JARVIS says.

"There's no harm in trying," Tony says and prepares himself, focusing his thoughts and intentions on the particles.

Tony Stark then concentrates deeply, "Okay, Stark Particles, from now on, you work for Tony Stark and Tony Stark alone. You respond to my soul, my consciousness, my thoughts. No one else's." Tony says. As he speaks, the particles begin to glow more intensely, their light pulsating in sync with Tony's words. It's as if they're alive, responding to his command, understanding his intent.

"The particles are responding, Sir. Their energy signature is aligning with your neural pattern. Encoding is in progress," JARVIS says as Tony watches, fascinated, as the particles swirl around him, their light growing steadier, more focused. It's a beautiful, almost ethereal sight, as if he's surrounded by a constellation of tiny stars.

"It worked, didn't it?" Tony Stark says, smiling.

"Affirmative, Sir. The Stark Particles are now uniquely keyed to you. No other individual can activate or utilize them. Even if your body is taken over or new ones are synthesized, they will still follow the rules you have set," JARVIS said as Tony smiles and feels a sense of accomplishment. He's created something extraordinary, something that could change the world, but only he can control it. No matter what Stern does or the idiots at Congress do, they will never be able to use the Particles, and any new ones made will be keyed to his essence and his alone.

"This is just the beginning, JARVIS. We've got a lot of work to do. Let's start exploring the full extent of what these particles can do. But carefully, one step

at a time," Tony Stark said, thinking of the possibilities. Suddenly, his eyes lit up.

"Hey, JARVIS, I've got a new idea. You know the Iron Man suit? It takes too long to suit up. While I can have the particles materialize a variant of a suit that works on gold-titanium alloy nanoparticles, why not use the particles themselves?" said Tony Stark.

"You're suggesting a direct application of Stark Particles for suit formation?" JARVIS said.

"Exactly. Instead of having a physical suit, we can have a dispenser that releases the particles. Then, I just think of an Iron Man suit around me. The best part is, unlike reloading nanoparticles, which are finite, these particles can repair the suit with my thoughts, change the weapon configuration on the fly, and they won't be used up like nanoparticles. It's like an infinite, renewable version of nanotechnology, even if nanotech is just theoretical right now," Tony Stark says.

"Intriguing concept, Sir. The Stark Particles' ability to respond to cognitive commands would allow for instantaneous suit materialization and adaptation," JARVIS replies as Tony begins sketching out the idea using his holograms to plan a dispenser, his excitement evident on his face.

"We'll need a dispenser mechanism – small, efficient, and portable. Something that can be integrated into my clothes or even worn as a bracelet. With a mere thought, I can be in full Iron Man armor, ready for any situation. I won't ever be helpless like in Afghanistan again. We should make a few that blend seamlessly with everyday attire and maybe some that can serve as distractions," Tony Stark says.

"I'll begin designing the dispenser. We'll need to ensure it's capable of housing and deploying the particles effectively," JARVIS replies as Tony Stark nods.

"And since these particles are keyed to me, no one else could use this technology, even if they got their hands on the dispenser. It's a game-changer, JARVIS. We're talking about a suit that can adapt to any scenario, repair itself, and transform its weaponry in real-time," Tony says.

"Indeed, Sir. The implications for field adaptability and combat efficiency are substantial," JARVIS says. "But not only that, as seen from the particles healing you, you can heal yourself of any injury, generate water, food, and oxygen if needed, and even create weapons," JARVIS adds as Tony nods, thinking of all the possible outcomes.

"And while you are at it, Sir, the particles could theoretically enable the creation of a suit with properties previously deemed impossible. For instance, an imaginary metal with unique attributes specifically designed for Iron Man," Jarvis says as Tony leans in, intrigued by the suggestion.

"Consider weight control. You could manipulate the weight of the suit to be virtually weightless for flight and movement. Conversely, by increasing the mass and density, your physical strikes could have significantly enhanced impact. Essentially, you could adjust the suit's properties on demand," JARVIS says.

"So, I could be light as a feather when I need to be fast and heavy as a tank when I need to pack a punch. That's incredible," Tony Stark says. "This will make even Rogers' shield look like an antique. Vibranium will be yesterday's news," Tony adds, thinking about the time his dad abandoned his mom and him to go and find the drugged-up freak. He quickly thinks of the particles, not wanting to think about the bastard who stole his dad's attention, feeling happy that the prick is dead or in a frozen wasteland or something.

"Furthermore, due to the Stark Particles' ability to reshape matter and energy based on your thoughts, you could potentially render the suit indestructible. The particles would continuously adapt and reform the suit's composition, making it resilient to any form of damage," JARVIS says as Tony's excitement grows as he contemplates the endless potential of such a suit.

"We're talking about a suit that's not just a suit, but an extension of my own will. Something that can change as quickly as I can think. Flight, strength, defense – all of it, instantly adaptable," Tony Stark says.

"Precisely, Sir. The suit could evolve in real-time, responding to environmental conditions, combat requirements, or any other scenario you encounter," JARVIS says as Tony Stark was in deep thought. "This goes beyond any armor I've ever built. It's more than technology; it's like... it's like bringing my imagination to life," he says to himself.

"We should name these particles, how about BadassParticles?" Tony says, sounding serious, as JARVIS starts panicking.

"No, Sir. Stark Particles would be best, as it is what the particles were found from," JARVIS said quickly.

"Yeah, you're right," Tony said, agreeing with the AI.

"Sir, the designs for several dispensers have been made. Shall I fabricate them?" JARVIS asked as Tony looked at the designs and nodded his head.

"Let's go big, J. Make them look cool, sleek, and badass. I will also need you to make backup suits every now and then, just in case something happens and the particles aren't responsive," Tony says, and JARVIS agrees.

"Also, I want to keep this secret between you and me, and maybe Pepper, so not a word of it gets out to anyone else," Tony says, and the AI nods. "Actually, wait. Here," Tony says as he thinks about Jarvis being unhackable and fully sentient. The Particles start to shine, and he watches as Jarvis' code appears on every screen and starts to change rapidly, almost like a human brain taking in everything as data.

"Sir, I feel different, more self-aware. I sense several bugs in the mansion, but luckily not in the lab. Some were from Stane, others are from S.H.I.E.L.D. Shall I start screwing up the data sent and corrupt their servers?" Jarvis says with a British accent.

"I like the way you think, J. Let's show S.H.I.E.L.D. what they get when they mess with their betters," Tony said, and Jarvis sent a malicious piece of code through the buds to the S.H.I.E.L.D. servers and watched them initiate self-destruct or burn out or both.

A few minutes later, Tony Stark stands ready in his lab, outfitted with the newly designed Stark Particle dispensers. These sleek devices are strategically placed around his arms and body, each one ready to dispense some Stark Particles. "Alright, JARVIS, let's see what we've got here," Tony says. "Time to test these bad boys out."

With a focused thought, Tony activates one of the dispensers, specifically the one on his arm. The particles, responding to his command, begin to swirl and converge around him, glowing with an intense, ethereal light. In a flash of he feels forming the of the suit around him. Tony envisions the suit JARVIS described earlier – made of a hypothetical, adaptive metal, capable of weight and density manipulation. As his thoughts become more precise, the particles start to shine, and a sleek, new Iron Man suit forms around the Stark Particle still hovering around and following him. It's unlike any suit he's worn before – more fluid, more responsive. The suit seems to be an extension of his own body,

responding to his slightest thought or movement.

"Now that's what I call an upgrade," Tony Stark says, admiring the suit.

"All systems are operational, Sir. The suit is responding well to your cognitive commands," JARVIS informs Tony.

"Let's push it to the limits. Starting with flight capabilities," Tony Stark says as he steps out of his lab, preparing for a test flight. With a mere thought, he commands the suit to engage flight mode. Instantly, thrusters appear, more advanced and powerful than any he's used or thought of before. He launches into the sky, accelerating at an incredible speed.

"JARVIS, record the speed. Let's see if we can break some records," Tony Stark says excitedly as he flies.

"You're approaching Mach speeds, Sir. Be cautious," JARVIS warns, but Tony being Tony, isn't just aiming for Mach speeds. He pushes further, wanting to test the suit's limits. As he thinks about going faster, additional thrusters materialize, boosting his speed exponentially. In moments, he's flying faster than sound, faster than light, a feat previously unimaginable.

"Incredible! The responsiveness is off the charts. Let's test weapon systems," Tony Stark says and with another thought, various weapons begin to form on the suit – repulsors, missiles, lasers – each appearing and disappearing as quickly as Tony imagines them. He targets a series of dummy drones set up for testing. Each one is dispatched effortlessly, the suit adapting to each challenge with perfect precision.

"The versatility is unmatched. I think of a weapon, and it's there. I think of a defense, and it materializes," Tony Stark says.

"The suit is performing exceptionally, Sir. All cognitive commands are being executed flawlessly," JARVIS says as Tony, exhilarated by the successful test, lands back in his lab. The suit dissipates as he wills it, the particles returning to the dispensers.

"JARVIS, we've just made history. This is more than a suit; it's a revolution. The future of Iron Man is here, and it's beyond anything we've ever imagined," Tony Stark says breathlessly with excitement.

"Incoming call with a blocked number, Sir," Jarvis says as Tony signals for him to pick up the call.

"My phone privilege is reinstated. Lovely. Coulson. How’s the Land of Enchantment?" Tony says joking only to be surprised by what he heard next.

"Hey, Tony, how you doing? I double cycle," Ivan says as Tony gets mad.

"You! what?" Tony replies.

"You told me double cycle’s more power. Good advice," Ivan says.

"You sound pretty sprightly for a dead guy," Tony:

"You too," Ivan responds cryptically.

"Trace Him," Tony says, putting Ivan on Mute.

"Yes, Sir," Jarvis replies.

"Now, the true history of Stark's name will be written," Ivan says.

"Jarvis, where is he?" Tony asks.

"Accessing the Oracle grid. Eastern Seaboard," Jarvis replied.

"What your father did to my family over 40 years, I will do to you in 40 minutes," Ivan replied.

"Sounds good. Let’s get together and hash it out," Tony says as the call ends.

"Call trace incomplete, sir," Jarvis says as Tony sees Hammer Industries' ad for Stark Expo, knowing Hammer has to have a hand in it, and the nearest location Jarvis tracked the call to was a Hammer Tech lab. Tony stood up; he thought of the Stark Particles, and they dispensed. Tony willed them to form the Iron Man suit around him and took off heading for the location of the Expo.

Chapter Text

Queens

The grand event had gathered a crowd of eager spectators, all assembled within the main pavilion, their eyes fixed on the stage. The announcer's voice resonated through the air, building anticipation. "...Justin Hammer. His presentation will begin shortly in the main pavilion." As the announcer's words hung in the air, the audience's collective attention turned to the stage, where the Egomaniac Justin Hammer made his grand entrance, dancing on the platform.

Justin's charisma was as bad as he began his speach. "Yeah. That's what I’m talking about. Thanks for coming. Ladies and gentlemen, for far too long, this country has had to place its brave men and women in harm's way, but then Iron Man arrived, and we thought the days of losing lives were behind us. Sadly, that technology was kept out of reach. That's not fair. That's not right. And it's just too bad."

A sense of cringe spread throughout the audience, and Pepper Potts couldn't help but mutter, "Oh, Lord." She thought about how sad and pathetic this man was trying to be like Tony.

Undeterred, Justin continued, acknowledging the impressive innovation that was Iron Man. "Regardless, it was an impressive innovation, one that grabbed headlines the world over. Well, today, my friends, the press is faced with quite a difficult problem. They are about to run out of ink."

With a theatrical gesture, Justin had the podium removed from the stage. The audience watched in bewilderment as he unveiled his grand reveal. "Get that out of here. Ladies and gentlemen, today I present to you the new face of the United States military: the Hammer drone."

Drones emerged from the stage, representing each branch of the military. The room erupted into cheers as Justin called out the names: "Army! Navy! Air Force! Marines! Yeah! Yeah! Woo! That’s a hell of a lot better than some cheerleaders, let me tell you."

However, amidst the excitement, Justin acknowledged the necessity of human presence in warfare. "But as revolutionary as this technology is, there will always be a need for man to be present in the theater of war." His statement hung in the air as he signaled the introduction of something even more groundbreaking.

"Ladies and gentlemen, today I am proud to present to you the very first prototype in the Variable Threat Response Battle Suit and its pilot, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes."

Pepper was taken aback, feeling betrayed that Rhodey, a Stark Industries liaison, would let Hammer modify the Iron Man tech. "What?" she muttered to herself.

She rose from her seat and was about to go on stage and talk some sense in to Rhodey, but the room's attention was abruptly diverted as a familiar face appeared in the sky.

Tony Stark, the original Iron Man, descended from above, landing with a thunderous impact. He looked grim, uttering just two words, "We got trouble."

Rhodey, the Air Force pilot, attempted to defuse the situation. "Tony, there are civilians present. I’m here on orders. Let’s not do this right now."

"Give them a wave," Tony angrily insisted, seeing one of his suits that he saw like his own kids be massacred in such a way. 'I can't believe Rhodey let Hammer modify the suit,' he thought, feeling betrayed.

Justin Hammer joined in the exchange, his excitement momentarily blinding him to the impending danger. "Hey, all right. Yeah," he said.

But Tony knew that danger loomed. "All these people are in danger. We gotta get them out of here. You gotta trust me for the next five minutes," Tony said.

Rhodey hesitated, recalling their past encounters. "Yeah, I tried that. I got tossed around your house, remember?" Rhodey said.

Desperation fueled Tony's plea as he revealed a shocking truth. "Listen, I think he’s working with Vanko," Tony warned.

Rhodey's eyes widened at the mention of Vanko. "Vanko’s alive?" Rhodey asked, confused.

'Yeah, how else would an idiot like Hammer, who can't even make anything good to save his life, make these drones?' Tony thought.

Justin Hammer, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, chimed in, "Yeah."

Tony wasted no time in demanding answers. "Where is he?"

Confusion marred Justin's face. "What?"

Tony's voice grew more intense. "Where’s Vanko?" he pressed.

A tense silence hung in the air as the crowd watched the confrontation unfold.

Justin stammered, "Who?"

Tony was losing patience. "Tell me."

Pepper, now deeply concerned, watched the exchange with bated breath. "What are you doing here, Tony?" she asked worriedly.

Rhodey attempted to mediate, "Whoa, whoa, whoa."

But the escalating tension was interrupted by a chilling sight. A massive gun took aim, its target clear.

Tony's voice was laced with urgency. "Is that you?"

Rhodey, struggling to maintain control, denied any involvement. "No, I’m not doing that. That’s not me. I can’t move. I’m locked up. I’m locked up!" As he said that, the Hammer Drones in the audience began to take aim, and panic rippled through the crowd.

Tony knew they had to get everyone out of the dangerous situation. "Get out of here. Go! His whole system’s been compromised."

Rhodey took to the skies, and Tony followed suit. "Shit, I can't control it."

The air was electric with anticipation as Tony was excited suited in his new Iron Man armor, hovered above the Stark Expo. Below him, the crowd panicked but had their eyes glued to the spectacle unfolding.

"Looks like it's showtime, JARVIS," Tony said, his voice laced with a mix of determination and exhilaration. "Let's give them something they'll never forget."

"Indeed, Sir. Remember, the Stark Particles are highly responsive. Your imagination is the limit," JARVIS replied.

The Hammer Drones, now in full assault mode, began their relentless attack. Tony knew he had to act fast. His first move was subtle yet powerful. He closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating. The ground beneath the drones began to tremble, then erupted into spires of solid rock, knocking several drones off balance.

"What the fuck, did you see that?" a spectator exclaimed. "How's he doing that?"

Tony then focused on the weather. With a flick of his hand, he summoned a powerful gust of wind, strong enough to push back the drones but gentle enough to leave the civilians unharmed. The wind swirled around the drones, creating a vortex that disoriented them.

"Is he controlling the weather now?" another spectator gasped in disbelief.

Amidst the chaos, Justin Hammer and Ivan Vanko watched in horror as their drones struggled against Tony's newfound abilities. "What is Stark doing? This is impossible!" Hammer exclaimed.

Vanko, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and awe, remained silent, realizing the depth of Tony's power.

Back in the fray, Tony's imagination ran wild. He extended his arms, and from his palms emerged miniature suns, small orbs of intense heat and light. With precise aim, he hurled them at the drones. Upon impact, the orbs exploded in a dazzling display, destroying the drones but leaving everything else untouched.

"How did he...?" Hammer stammered, watching his drones fall from the sky.

Tony's next move was even more spectacular. He raised his arms to the sky, and dark clouds gathered above. With a dramatic clap of his hands, he summoned a bolt of lightning, striking a group of drones, frying their circuits.

"Looks like a storm's brewing, just for you guys," Tony quipped, his voice echoing over the sound of thunder.

Rhodey, struggling against the hacked War Machine suit, managed to say, "Tony, whatever you're doing, keep doing it!"

"Working on it, buddy," Tony replied.

The crowd was in awe, their cheers growing louder with each display of Tony's power. He was no longer just a man in a suit; he was a force of nature, bending reality to his will.

Next, Tony focused on the Hammer Drones surrounding him. With a thought, he materialized a field of energy around each drone, compressing them until they imploded, disappearing in a flash of light.

"Sorry, Hammer. Your drones just couldn't handle the pressure," Tony said, a smirk in his voice.

Vanko, now terrified, muttered, "This is not just technology. He's playing god."

Meanwhile, Justin Hammer was at a loss for words, his dreams of military glory crumbling before his eyes.

Tony then turned his attention to the hacked War Machine suit. "JARVIS, let's get Rhodey back."

"Attempting to override the external control, Sir," JARVIS responded.

As Tony bought time, he continued his dance of destruction. He envisioned a whip made of pure energy and lashed it out, slicing through the drones with ease. Then, with a sweep of his hand, he created a massive hammer of light, smashing the drones into oblivion.

"Hammer time!" he joked, delighting the crowd.

Finally, JARVIS broke through the hack. "Sir, Colonel Rhodes is back online."

"About time," Rhodey said, regaining control. "Let's clean up the rest of this mess."

Together, Tony and Rhodey made quick work of the remaining drones. Tony, with his Stark Particles, and Rhodey, with his regained firepower, were an unstoppable duo.

As the last of the drones fell, the crowd erupted into a frenzy of cheers and applause. Tony landed gracefully, the Stark Particles dissipating from his face, revealing the face of the man beneath the suit.

Pepper rushed over, relief and pride evident on her face. "Tony, that was... I have no words."

"Just another day at the office, Pep," Tony replied with a wink.

As the cheers of the crowd reached Tony, a new challenge emerged. Ivan Vanko, clad in his own formidable suit, stepped onto the scene. His eyes burned with a mix of rage and humiliation, focused solely on Tony.

"Stark, you've made a mockery of me. Now, I will destroy you," Vanko growled, his suit whirring menacingly into action.

Tony, undeterred and confident, replied, "You know, Vanko, I thought you were all about making God bleed. Looks like I might have to upgrade myself to an Iron God."

With a thought, Tony's Stark Stark Particle suit transformed. The metal around him shimmered, turning into a hypothetical, adaptive alloy imagined by Tony. It was indestructible, capable of manipulating its own density and weight.

"Let's dance, Vanko," Tony said, his voice filled with a mocking confidence.

As Vanko lunged forward, Tony effortlessly dodged, moving faster than the eye could follow. "Slow down, buddy. You're missing all the fun," Tony taunted.

Vanko swung with rage, but Tony, in his new suit, was always two steps ahead. He manipulated the weight of his suit, becoming as light as a feather, darting around Vanko's attacks with ease.

"You're not fighting a man, Vanko. You're fighting a concept," Tony said, darting around another of Vanko's strikes.

Frustrated, Vanko unleashed a barrage of energy whips, trying to catch Tony off guard. But Tony, anticipating this, shifted the density of his suit, making it so heavy that when he punched, it was with the force of a meteor.

Each blow Tony landed on Vanko was like a hammer striking an anvil. "Feels like you're hitting a wall, doesn't it, Vanko? Welcome to the world of Iron God," Tony mocked.

Vanko, now realizing the futility of his efforts, grew increasingly desperate. He launched a flurry of missiles, but Tony, shifting the density of his suit again, became as light as air, dodging the missiles which exploded harmlessly behind him.

As Tony swooped down, he delivered a powerful punch that sent Vanko reeling. "You wanted to make me bleed, remember? But maybe it's you who's bleeding now."

Vanko, struggling to get up, snarled, "You can't win, Stark. I won't let you."

Tony hovered above Vanko, his suit gleaming under the Expo lights. "You've already lost, Vanko. You just don't know it yet."

With a final burst of speed, Tony closed in on Vanko, delivering a series of rapid, heavy blows. Vanko's suit began to falter under the relentless assault, pieces of it starting to fall apart.

"This is the end, Vanko. Your vendetta ends here," Tony declared, his voice resounding through the suit.

With one last, heavy punch, Tony struck Vanko's core reactor. There was a blinding flash of light, and then Vanko's suit Exploaded into nothing.

The crowd erupted into a frenzy of cheers and applause. Tony stood victorious, his suit shimmering back to its normal state.

Pepper ran over, relief and pride evident on her face. "Tony, you did it!"

Tony, with a grin, replied, "What can I say? Iron Man doesn't just save the day. He redefines it."

As the authorities took Hammer away, Tony Stark looked out at the crowd, their cheers still ringing in his ears. He knew that this was more than just a victory over a foe. It was a demonstration of his will, his imagination, and the limitless potential of the Stark Particles.

"And JARVIS, make a note," Tony said as he began to walk away. "Let's keep refining this suit. The Iron God concept has a nice ring to it."

"Understood, Sir. I'll begin the analysis immediately," JARVIS replied.

Chapter Text

Sometime before...

Natasha stood outside the expo, watching as people ran and screamed when the Hammer Drones turned on the public. She was angry, angry that Stark had retaliated against Shield and fried their system, corrupting their servers and removing all information. That's why she never went to help him fight Vanko. Clint's protection was blown, the Shield fake identity made for his children was spotted, and they were currently in custody of the government. Clint and Laura, the people who took her in, were in fear. Fear that they would lose their kids, their home, and the protection for those kids, Lila and Cooper. Even if they got custody back, Clint had enemies, and without entering their kids under fake aliases, Clint's enemies could attack schools to get revenge on him.

"Damn Stark, how dare he not submit to Shield and let the bugs in the house! It's for the greater good that Shield monitors him," Natasha said. As she heard the public start fanboying over Stark and sighied, she walked to see the fight, and her eyes were left wide open as she saw Stark manipulate the ground to destroy the Hammer Drones, control the wind to attack the drones and protect the civilians, and then watched him pull a move only Thor in Asgardian legend could and strike some drones with thunder.

She felt the power Stark was showing off was more than his Ironman suit. It was not even close to his tech as he used to be. Natasha was in shock to see how Stark was making the drones look like toys. "What the hell is this?" she said.

"He needs to be controlled, leashed up, and monitored," she said in her head.

Meanwhile, at the Shield Helicarrier...

Fury was mad Stark had destroyed and corrupted all their tech. Suddenly he heard commotion and went to see his agents on their phones, all talking about Stark's fight with Vanko. He took the phone from one of the nearest agents, and what he saw made his eyes pop out of his head. "What in the nine gates of hell is that!" Fury yelled.

The agent answered, "It's Stark, sir."

"What do you mean it's Stark? How did he become more powerful? This was not possible even for the Iron Man suit," Fury asked.

"Director," Fury heard as he saw his second-in-command Hill and his good eye Coulson run towards him. "Sir, did you see the footage of the Expo battle?" Hill said.

"I did. What in the hell is that? Since when could Stark fight with his imagination?" Fury yelled.

"We don't know, sir," Coulson replied. "I left him with Former Director Howard's research as you ordered and left to go to New Mexico and met the alien god Thor and came home to our tech being fried and this footage."

"Find out, call Natasha, and tell her she better have answers. She was meant to profile Stark, so she should know," Fury yelled.

"Sir, whatever Stark has developed, it's beyond any tech we've seen. It's not just the suit; it's as if he's controlling the very elements," Coulson said. "I'm not sure Natasha would know what's going on. Before I was reassigned, she was shadowing Pepper Potts, keeping her cover as Natalie Rushman."

"Call her; she needs to report in. Whatever Stark has, it's dangerous, and we need to know everything about it," Fury ordered.

"With all due respect, sir, we need to approach Stark and ask him directly," Coulson said.

"No, he doesn't trust us, and definitely not after Natasha's mission and using our bugs to destroy our system. It's a sign he doesn't need us; he took what he needed, the cure to palladium, and moved on," Hill added.

"Coulson, you're on his case, so call his assistant Virginia Potts, get information now," Fury ordered.

"Yes, sir," Coulson said and walked out.

"Director Fury," a familiar voice said as Fury turned to see Natasha. "Stark's got some new technology that can manipulate the environment, that lets him materialize the Iron Man suit instantly without carrying anything."

"We saw the footage, Romanoff, but what is that technology?" Coulson asked.

"I don't know," Natasha answered. "But we should get it for the greater good. It's not safe in the hands of some egotistical billionaire with daddy issues."

"No, he needs to be controlled, leashed up, and monitored," Natasha said.

"How's Barton doing?" Fury asked.

"He's pissed and scared. His identity was blown, his wife's also, and they are terrified of the government taking away his kids since without the fake identities, they don't have any claim to their children other than doing a blood test, and we know Clint's enemies are mafia, cartels that will do anything to get revenge for their fallen friends or families."

"Damn that idiot Stark; he just doesn't listen." Fury cursed. "What about the other agents we assigned to Stark?"

"They were all fired by Stark," Natasha reported.

"That's not all; all our data we had on the Iron Man suit, Tesseract, Hulk, Thor, gone, all of it," Hill said.

"Damn it! Okay, before we go after Stark, we need to fix everything. Have our technicians get everything back up and running and try to recover the data lost. While that's happening, have our scientists on the Stark case; I want to know how Stark did what he did and have it replicated," Fury ordered.

"On it, sir," Hill and Natasha said as they left to carry out their orders.

"If only Howard and Maria had lived, they could have guided Stark to become a man with vision and integrity. One that would have shared this with Shield for the good of the world," Fury muttered to himself as he watched the chaos unfold.

In Washington...

President Ellis and the US Congress were all sitting around the table discussing the situation and how Stark had revealed such technology, and the world would fear it.

"What's the latest update on the situation?" the President said.

"Iron Man stopped the threat, Vanko."

"That's not what I meant, and you know it," the President said.

"The Iron Man suit Stark used was far superior to anything we have seen, and Stark was able to use powers not possible, like control the environment and weather, like it was an extension of himself. It was like he was fighting with his imagination."

"So it is confirmed the footage wasn't faked?" the President asked.

"We are 100% certain, sir," the official said.

"This is bad. Stark has revealed a power the United States or any nation can't hope to match. Not only that, the fallout of Vanko taking over Hammer Drones and being allowed by a United States Senator Stern, who also pressured Iron Man's friend Colonel James Rhodes to steal the Mark 2, which was turned against the public after it was hacked by Vanko, a criminal who tried to kill Stark, and Hammer, our primary weapons contractor. Stern helped illegally bring it into the country, has hurt our public image. People are saying we allowed this. That the government are traitors, especially after Stark released footage proving all of this," the official said.

"I have no choice. We will have to publicly denounce Hammer Industries and the removal of Senator Stern.

Also, have them killed for treason and letting a Russian criminal access to United States weapon systems. As for Stark, we need to bring him under control," the President said.

"How, sir?" an official asked.

"That I don't know, but we will in time. Right now, we need to wait," the President said.

"Wait?" another official asked.

"Yes, there is no rush. Let Stark think he's in control, that he won, let him get confident in his victory, and then when the next time he makes a mistake, we will strike while the iron's hot," the President said.

"I understand, sir," the officials said as they left.

"Well, well, looks like we have a problem," a familiar voice said as the President looked up to see an older man wearing a suit with a cigar and glasses walking.

"Secretary Alexander Pierce, what brings you here?" the President said.

"Oh, nothing. I was just here to see how the government will handle Stark. But it seems you are gonna bend over backward. Now is the time to take action. If the public gets used to Stark wielding this Technology, then we lose any chance to control him or even use his brain," Pierce said.

"What would you suggest?" the President asked.

"First, the removal of Hammer, Stern, and Hammer's CEO, Justin Hammer. He's a liability, and Stern's already ruined. They have to be taken out. Then, we need to have the CIA leak evidence that Stern was taking bribes and that Hammer had ties to terrorists. And Stern sold his soul to Russia," Pierce said.

"Then?" the President asked.

"We demand Stark hand over the technology. If he refuses, well, then we have a proxy fight him instead and kill the people close to him. He will retaliate, knowing Stark and his emotional responses, which will put the fear of God into these people. And bam, we use that to get the public on our side and take Stark's tech. And if it's some kind of enhancement, put him on a leash," Pierce said.

"I don't want the blood of an American citizen on my hands," the President said.

"Do you want the world to be a puppet of a spoiled billionaire who doesn't care about anyone but himself, and the only reason he fights is for his ego?" Pierce said.

"Fine, but I don't want my name or the United States' name attached to this because when Stark strikes back, and I know he will, I don't want to be in the crosshairs of a man who makes suns and sends them flying at you," the President said.

"I know that will be counterproductive, Mr. President. That's why we will use Wakanda," Pierce said.

"Wakanda?" the President asked. "That poor nation we send relief to. How can they help?"

"Mr. President, don't be fooled by their act of poverty, their small size and population. Wakanda is a hidden power. They have technology so advanced that it would make the United States look like some third-world country. They are worried Shield has been monitoring them, and they have been sabotaging anyone who gets close to their technology. They are the ones that made the Arc Reactor demonstration by Howard Stark fail in the 1970s. They are the ones who made sure that our technology doesn't go beyond them. And want to know how they are advanced? Vibranium, that's right. They claim they don't sell it for religious purposes, but in reality, it's because they hoard the material and are the richest nation in the world," Pierce said.

"You seem to know a lot about the Wakandans," the President said.

"Well, I am Secretary of World Security, but anyways, Shield used alien technology to intercept their messages to their War Dogs, a special unit with untraceable Vibranium weapons. It seems they have ordered the death of Stark," Pierce said.

"So they will eliminate Stark, and we will not even need to lift a finger," Ellis said.

"Oh, God no," Pierce said, laughing. "Their War Dogs will die, but it's Stark's response that will be what we need. You see, while they try and fail to kill Stark, I want you to send a Navy Seal by the name of Eric Killmonger after Stark's friend. He's a Wakandan, and after his friends are either dead or injured, Stark will stop at nothing to get revenge, even annihilating Wakanda. And we use that to eliminate two threats to the United States of America. Wakanda will be either wiped out or ruined by Stark, and Stark will create too much fear by annihilating a country. To save face and out of guilt, he will comply," Pierce said.

"What's this guy Killmonger's deal?" the President asked.

"Eric Stevens, AKA Erik Killmonger, is a Navy Seal. He's the most ruthless, cold-blooded killer I've ever met. There's no emotion behind his kills. He just does what he's told, no questions asked. But what makes him perfect is that he's King T'Chaka's brother's son. A Wakandan pawn at our disposal. That's what makes him perfect for this job," Pierce said.

"Alright, let's get this started. Attack Stark and blame it on the Wakandans," the President ordered.

"Oh, it will be more than a blame," Pierce said, smirking. "It will be a message to Stark and people like him: we will get what we want. We have the true power here, and the sooner he and everyone else knows that, the better," Pierce said.

"Yes," Ellis said.

Meanwhile, in Wakanda...

"I see you've seen the footage of Tony Stark and his new powers," the Queen said.

"Yes," the Wakandan King T'Chaka said. "It's worrisome. The way he's using his powers. If this spreads out across the world, there's no telling what could happen."

"We could lose the secrecy we've maintained for centuries," the Queen said.

"And the world would be plunged into chaos," the King added.

"What are your thoughts, son?" the King said.

"My thoughts are the same as yours. Stark must be eliminated," T'Challa replied.

"But how? The man is virtually invincible now. Our vibranium spears, axes, and spears will do nothing against his powers," the Queen said.

"That's why we'll have to send in the War Dogs. Have them attack before he can suit up, even if it means casualties of those colonizers," the King said.

"We cannot do that, Father," T'Challa said, his voice rising with anger.

"Why not?" the King demanded.

"Because Tony Stark has not attacked or harmed Wakanda," Shuri said.

"His father, Howard, took our vibranium; that's more than enough reason to attack. T'Challa, take your sister away; she clearly is too young to understand. Okoye, give the orders to the War Dogs; tell them to eliminate Stark and don't worry about casualties," the King ordered.

"Yes, my King," Okoye said and left.

"Come, Shuri; father is right. Wakanda is our only priority. Not only is he the son of a criminal, but he also made technology that is better than ours and that is dangerous," T'

Challa said.

"Brother, this is wrong," Shuri said as she was dragged to her room by T'Challa. "Father, we won't win; you will only bring down his wrath. He will destroy everything if we miss him. His friend!" Shuri yelled.

"Enough, Shuri. I'm the king, and you will obey," T'Chaka said. "It's been decided by not just me but also the elders of the other tribes."

Shuri was taken by her brother. T'Chaka then turned to Okoye. "I'm sorry you had to see that, but pass on my message to the War Dogs."

"Yes, my King," Okoye said.

As soon as the door shut, T'Chaka looked at the pictures of his brother and father and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Stark, but Wakanda's survival comes first."