𝙸𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 (𝚆.𝙼𝚊𝚡𝚒𝚖𝚘𝚏𝚏)

Message in the Model -- (Iron Man II)

Malibu, 2008.

DJ Goldstein clicked a few keys on his laptop, brandishing a Iron Man Mask symbol on the top, and over the speakers, the song, "Another One Bites The Dust" by Queen blasts through the foyer which amuses the not-so-sober Stark with a happy face on his face.

Rhodey clasped onto the suit, holding him in a lock. "I told you to shut it down!" He yelled at his best friend. However, it had only led Tony to mask himself, and propel them backwards, smashing through a wall into the boxing ring. Tony stood up and began to walk away. "Now, put that thing where you found it before someone gets hurt." He spoke bitterly.

Rhodey picked up a barbell and threw it at the helmet, as Tony slowly turned in shock that his best friend would do such a thing. Rhodey threw more barbells, smashing the glass around him, but still trying to get a feel for the armor in the process. "Really?" Tony scoffed as he picked up a full set of weights. "Sorry, pal, but Iron Man doesn't have a sidekick."

"Who said I was a sidekick!?" Zach yelled furiously, but ducked away from the room as more havoc and destruction occurred. "What is my life right now?!"

In the chaos of the evacuation, Pepper had caught up to everyone fleeing and spotted Natalie in the midst of it. "Natalie!" She yelled for her, and on cue, Natalie turned to her. "Miss Potts!"

"Oh, don't you "Miss Potts" me! I'm onto you!" She shouted at her. "What have you been doing with my son and – you know what – Ever since you came here–" Pepper was briefly interrupted as both Tony, Rhodey and Zach crashed through the ceiling, the two man landing in front of the ladies while Zach fell from another hole.

However, as he fell, he noticed Natalie had taken a fighting stance just as the men dropped, which was rather curious for him. "Pepper!" Happy ran through the fray and came to Pepper's side, but Natalie ran off to another corner while Zach sneakily followed after her.

"YOU WANT IT?! TAKE IT!" Tony shouted as he swept Rhodey off his feet, face planting him into the floor. Once Rhodey had gotten up, the two men traded punches at each other until Tony grabbed Rhodey and smashed him into the music station. Tony then turned to face the scared crowd. They were just there for a night of fun and drinks, but were treated to Tony's drunken rage... and he wasn't finished.

Tony roared at the crowd, scaring them all away, but Rhodey had gotten up once again, and smashed a kitchen sink into him, throwing him into the fireplace, but Tony came out unscated, facing Rhodey once more. He raised his gauntlet with an open hand at Rhodey, but he'd done the same, seeing how Tony had done it time and time again.

"Put your hand down." Rhodey calmly commanded. "You think you've got what it takes to wear that suit?" Tony growled at him.

"We don't have to do this, Tony." Rhodey responded. "You wanna be the War Machine, take your shot." Tony scoffed aloofly.

"Put it down!" "You gonna take a shot?"

"PUT IT DOWN!" "NO!"

"DROP IT, TONY!" "TAKE IT!"

And they both fired a shot at each other, blowing up the remaining glass in the area, and sending both flying into different directions and a blackout inside the house. A few moments later, Tony had woken up to Rhodey still standing, turning back to him, and leaving.

—------------------

Meanwhile...

Zach ventured after Natalie inside the mansion, searching after her. Even with their... recent connection, he felt something wasn't right. And surely enough, he had found her, but something was different. Instead of the dress he had gotten her, he found her in a black jumpsuit.