A sucker for you -Loki

Are You There Yet?

"A famous man once said,

'We create our own demons.'

Who said that? What does that even mean? Doesn't matter. I said it because he said it. So now, he was famous, and it's basically getting said by two well known guys. I don't, uh..." Tony sighed, rubbing his temples. "I'm going to start again. Let's track this from the beginning."

1999

Tony is seen at a New Year's party full of people. He's with a woman, mingling in the lively atmosphere.

"Half an hour till the ball drops," Happy announced to the pair.

"Hey, do you wanna-" Tony began, turning to the woman.

"Tony Stark? Great speech, man!" a man interrupted, his excitement obvious.

"I got you, pal," Happy said, starting to guide the man away, but Tony stopped him.

"I gave a speech? How was it?" Tony asked.

"Edifying," Happy replied while continuing to escort the man out.

"Unintelligible," the woman remarked, smirking at Tony as they walked.

"Really?" Tony asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Mmm hmm."

"It's my favorite kind. A winning combo," Tony quipped.

"Where are we going?" the woman asked, slightly amused.

"Uh, to town, on each other. Probably back in your hotel room, because I also want to see your research," he said smoothly.

"Okay, you can see my research," the woman agreed. "But that's... I'm not gonna show you my 'town.'"

As they walked, a man called out, "Mr. Stark!"

Tony turned to see a familiar face. "Ho Yinsen!"

Ho led Tony toward another man. "I would like to introduce you to our guest, Dr. Wu."

"Oh, this guy. Hey," Tony greeted before the introduction could even be made.

"Mr. Stark," Dr. Wu greeted back in Mandarin.

"You're a heart doctor. She's going to need a cardiologist after I..." Tony blew his party horn, then walked away with the woman.

"Bye," the woman said as they left.

"Perhaps another time?" Ho called after them.

"It started in Bern, Switzerland. 1999," Tony narrated. "The old days."

Tony followed Happy through the crowd, a group of women trailing behind them. As they approached the elevator, another man hurried over.

"Mr. Stark!" the man called out, breathless.

Tony barely glanced back. "I never thought they would come back to bite me. Why would they?"

"Oh, wow! Hey, Tony! Aldrich Killian." The man introduced himself, stumbling over his words. "I'm a big fan of your work."

"My work?" the woman asked, curious.

"Who isn't? He means me," Tony clarified.

"Well, of course, but, Ms. Hansen, my organization's been tracking your research since year two of MIT," Aldrich explained.

"Yeah, we're full," Tony said as they entered the elevator, but Aldrich slipped in just before the doors closed.

"Oh, wow, he made it. He made the cut," Tony muttered.