𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄 || 𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐘 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐊

𝟏𝟎.

Malibu, California
-

Inside the workshop, Tony claps and Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash starts to play over the speakers. "Wake up. Daddy's home." He says to Jarvis. "Welcome home, sir. Congratulations on the opening ceremonies. They were such a success, as was your Senate hearing. And may I say how refreshing it is to finally see you in a video with your clothing on, sir." Jarvis says and Tony chuckles.

Tony's Dummy causes a mess in the background "You!" he says turning his attention towards it. "I swear to God I'll dismantle you. I'll soak your motherboard. I'll turn you into a wine rack." Tony says and the Dummy powers down.

"How many ounces a day of this goobledegook am I supposed to drink?" Tony asks Jarvis.

"We are up to 80 ounces a day to counteract the symptoms, sir." Jarvis says. "Check palladium levels." Tony tells Jarvis. "Blood toxicity, 24%. It appears that the continued use of the Iron Man suit is accelerating your condition. Another core has been depleted."

Tony holds his reactor in his hand "God, they're running out quick." he says removing a piece. "I have run simulations on every known element, and none can serve as a viable replacement for the palladium core. You are running out of both time and options." Jarvis tells Tony as he places his reactor back into his chest.

"Unfortunately, the device that's keeping you alive is also killing you." Jarvis says as Tony looks at his arc reactor that now had veins spreading across his chest. "Miss L/N is approaching I recommend that you inform her..." Jarvis informed.

"Mute." Tony says muting Jarvis as Y/N put in the code to the shop before walking in. "Uh-uh." Tony hummed. "Tony, is this a joke? What are you thinking?" Y/N scolded as she walked over to Tony. "What?" Tony says.

"What are you thinking?"

"Hey, I'm thinking I'm busy. And you're angry about something. Do you have the sniffles? I don't wanna get sick." Tony tells her. "Did you just donate... our entire modern art collection to the..." Y/N says. "Boy Scouts of America." Tony finished for her.

"...Boy Scouts of America?" Y/N states. "Yes. It is a worthwhile organization. I didn't physically check the crates but, basically, yes. And it's not our collection. It's my collection. No offense." Tony says. "No, you know what? I think Pepper and I are actually entitled to say "our collection, considering the time that she put in over 10 years, and me putting in time for over 5 years, curating that." Y/N says.

"It was a tax write-off. I needed that." Tony replies. "Ya know, there's only about 8,011 things that I really have to talk to you about." Y/N says. "Dummy. Hey, stop spacing out. The Bridgeport's already machining that part." Tony says to his Dummy. "The Expo is a huge waste of time." Y/N states nasally. Tony places his hands on Y/N's shoulders "I need you to wear a surgical mask until you're feeling better. Is that okay?" he says.

Y/N lets out a cough "That's rude." she says.

"There is nothing more important to me than the Expo. It's my primary point of concern. I don't know why you're..." Tony says and Y/N cuts him off. "The Expo is your Ego gone crazy." Y/N says. "Wow. Look at that." Tony says holding up a Iron Man Board. "That's modern art. That's going up." Tony tells Y/N.

"Oh, you're joking." Y/N says. "I'm gonna put this up right now. This is vital." Tony says and Y/N sighs before following behind him. "Stark is in complete disarray. You understand?"

"No. Our stocks have never been higher." Tony tells Y/N. "Yes, from a managerial standpoint." she says. "Well, if it's messy,  then let's double back." Tony says. "Let me give you a prime example." Y/N states. "Let's move on to another subject."

"Oh, hell no. You are not taking down the Barnett Newman and hanging that up!" Y/N tells Tony. "I'm not taking it down. I'm just replacing it with this. Let's see what I can get going here." Tony says and he stands on the counter. "Anyway, my point is, we already awarded contracts..."

"Yeah."

"...to the wind farm people."

"Don't say "wind farm." I'm already feeling gassy." Tony tells her. "And to the plastic tree, which was your idea, by the way. Those people are on payroll... and you won't make a decision." Y/N says. "Everything was my idea. I don't care about the liberal agenda anymore. It's boring. Boring. I'm giving you a boring alert. You do it." Tony says as he hopped down from the counter.

"Do what?" Y/N asks in confusion. "Excellent idea. I just figured this out. You run the company." Tony tells her. "Uh, yeah. I'm trying to help run the company." Y/N states.

"Well, stop trying to do it and do it." Tony says.

"You won't give me the information... I need... in order to... physically do it."

"I'm not asking you to try... I'm asking you. I need you to do it." Tony tells Y/N. "I'm trying to do it." Y/N says. "Y/N, you're not listening to me! I'm trying to make you CEO. Why won't you let me?" Tony states making Y/N pause.

"Am I hallucinating and have you been drinking?" Y/N asks. "Chlorophyll. I hereby irrevocably appoint you chairman and CEO of Stark Industries, effective immediately." Tony says. "Tony, I..." Y/N tries to say. "Yeah, done deal. Okay?" Tony says. "I've actually given this a fair amount of thought, believe it or not. Doing a bit of headhunting, so to speak, trying to figure out who a worthy successor would be. And then I realized it's you. It's always been you." Tony states as he opens a bottle of champagne.

"I thought there'd be a legal issue, but actually I'm capable of appointing my successor. My successor being you." Tony says bringing Y/N a glass to where she sat. "Congratulations? Take it just take it." Tony says. "I don't think I can accept this offer." Y/N tells him.

"Why not?" He says sitting down.

Y/N sighs "Because, Pepper deserves the position of being CEO, not me. Even though I appreciate you thinking of me, but let's be honest we both know she deserves it more than I do." Y/N plastering a tiny smile.

"Now I'm kinda sad..." Tony says jokingly earning a nudge from Y/N. "But I guess you're right." he finishes. "Of course, I'm always right. And hey, to Pepper becoming CEO." Y/N says before the two of them clink their glasses and taking sips.

After a minute of silence Y/N spoke "You know you're gonna have to tell her, don't you?" she states. "I know." Tony says. "Well I'm glad you're aware." Y/N tells him chuckling.