Avengers: The life of Morgan stark (the pre-qual)

Chapter 18- Stark Expo

At the Stark Expo, the atmosphere was electric. The massive hall was filled with eager attendees, all waiting to hear Tony Stark's latest announcements. Tony stood confidently on stage, addressing the crowd with his usual charisma.

"Welcome, everyone, to the Stark Expo!" Tony began, his voice booming through the speakers. "Today, we're going to show you the future of technology—"

Meanwhile, Happy stood at the sidelines, keeping a watchful eye on Morgan. Pepper had been called into an emergency meeting, leaving Happy in charge. He held Morgan's hand tightly, but she was squirming with the energy of a curious toddler.

Suddenly, with a burst of determination, Morgan wriggled free from Happy's grasp. Before he could react, she crawled onto the stage, her tiny form barely noticeable amidst the bright lights and large audience. The crowd's murmur grew as they noticed the little intruder.

Morgan, now center stage, looked around in awe at the sea of faces. Her initial curiosity turned into fear, and she began to cry, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar sights and sounds.

Tony heard the cries and turned, his eyes widening in surprise. "Morgan?" he whispered rushing over to her. The audience watched in stunned silence as Tony knelt down and scooped Morgan into his arms.

"It's okay, sweetheart. Daddy's here," Tony whispered, trying to calm her. He looked out at the crowd, his mind racing for a way to handle the situation without alarming his daughter further.

The audience was captivated, their previous anticipation now replaced with curiosity and empathy. Tony stood up, holding Morgan close, her head resting on his shoulder as she continued to sob quietly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the unexpected guest," Tony said, his voice softer now, resonating with a different kind of sincerity. "This is my daughter, Morgan. Looks like she decided to join us today."

A wave of sympathetic laughter rippled through the crowd. Tony looked backstage and caught Happy's eye, signaling him to come over. Happy, looking sheepish, quickly made his way to the stage.

"Happy, could you take her back, please?" Tony asked, handing Morgan over carefully. "It's okay, Morgan. You're safe with Uncle Happy."

Morgan clung to Tony for a moment before allowing Happy to take her. Her cries softened as Happy whispered reassuringly to her, walking back towards the sidelines.

Tony returned to the microphone, clearing his throat. "As I was saying," he began again, a small smile playing on his lips, "the future of technology is something we all must embrace, but family—family is what grounds us. It's what gives us a reason to push boundaries and strive for a better world."

The audience, now more connected with Tony on a personal level, responded with warm applause. Tony continued his presentation, but his thoughts remained with Morgan, grateful for the reminder of what truly mattered.

Backstage, Pepper had just finished her meeting and was rushing back when she saw Happy with a now-calmer Morgan.

"What happened?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

"She just wanted to be with her dad," Happy explained with a gentle smile.

Pepper took Morgan into her arms, kissing her forehead. "Thank you, Happy."

As Tony wrapped up his presentation, he glanced towards the side of the stage, catching a glimpse of Pepper and Morgan. He finished his speech and approached the two with a smile on his face, before leaving for the bathroom.

Tony entered the bathroom, locking the door behind him. His cheerful facade faded, replaced by a look of grim determination. He pulled out a small device from his pocket and checked his blood toxicity level. The screen showed an alarming increase, confirming his fears that the palladium in his arc reactor was poisoning him at an accelerating rate.