The Man with no Heart (Tony Stark) - ON HOLD

Twelve Percent of a Moment

"Sir, Agent Coulson of SHIELD is on the line"

"I am not in, I am actually out"

Something had happened.

Probably something really serious. And I could not deny how curious I was. Jarvis could not get much information from the latest events on SHIELD.

But I would not say anything. Never.

And obviously, I was already noticing Fury was sending Coulson after me.

Oh, now he needs me.

"Sir, I am afraid he is insisting"

"Well, ignore it Jarvis, I got a date"

"Levels are holding steady...I think"

I smiled as I spotted my beautiful Pepper Potts in casual shorts "Of course they are... I was directly involved" I started to ramble on the conversation, getting lost in her eyes as she touched my arc reactor.

"All of this... came from that"

You cannot possibly imagine how relieved and happy I feel for her accepting me with a hole in my chest, where this big piece of technology fits in. Even if it keeps me alive, it still is a scratch in my male image.

"Give yourself some credit, please..." I stared at her "Stark Tower is your baby, give yourself... 12% of the credit"

"12... per cent?"

"An argument can be made for 15..." I turned as she walked away from me

"12%... of my baby?!"

"Well... I did do all the... heavy lifting... I literally, lift the heavy things..." I approached her as she got the champagne ready for us "And, I'm sorry, but the security issue..."

"Ooooh"

"... that was on you"

"My private elevator"

"Our private... elevator"

"Yeah... steaming with... sweaty workmen..." Of course, I would never forget that incident.

And, with that, and before I knew it, Coulson really had sneaked into my building, ruining the amazing moment I was having with Pepper in her best casual outfit. You have no idea how sexy she was on those shorts... and I am not even going to comment the fact she calls Coulson... Phil?!

My genius brain, always embracing all kinds of thoughts and theories actually stopped for a second as I projected the holograms of what Coulson has brought. I sensed Pepper lightly gasping next to me.

Yes, it all seemed pretty violent. At first sight.

I noticed the tesseract my father once found, at the bottom of the ocean, as he was looking for Captain America. And the same cube he had drawn on that old notebook that got me some of the ideas for my new chest piece.

Were the latest events related to that cube?

"I am going to DC tonight"

"Tomorrow"

"You have homework... lots of..." She softly whispered

"Well, what if I... didn't?"

She smirked at me "You mean when you are finished?"

I stared at her, suddenly lost in her ocean eyes, in that 12% of a moment.

"Well, then..." she slowly bit her lip, leaning to whisper the best of ideas in my mind... and damn, what a fantasy. She knew me way too well already, I guess.

"Work hard" she softly kissed me, before turning to... Phil.

I really thought we were having a moment.

But it quickly turned down to be a real marathon of research.

First, the tesseract.

Then, the boyband.

Of course I knew them. But not everything.

And if Fury even thought of joining me with them, I had to know what kind of people I would be working with. That would be, if I ever decided to go.

After all, I was just a consultant.

"What are you getting me into, Fury?"

Is SHIELD talking about aliens again?! Oh... please.

Truth was... something did happen.

SHIELD basement went down after, thankfully, they evacuated the building. So they had to be messing around with that cube. How the hell would they create a portal?

And who the hell is this... Loki?

"I have gotten some other information, Sir" Jarvis spoke, as I almost slept on top of my sixth cup of coffee.

"This is going to be a long night..." I moaned "Come back, Pep..."

I took a deep breath, concentrating on what Jarvis had for me. I had to focus and not miss anything. After all, Fury was still hiding a lot. Of that I was sure.

So, I spent the next hours with my buddy, until I decided I would not get to know more if I did not left the tower.

"J, I need you to get me everything you could on SHIELD, as soon as I plant these on their territory."

"Of course, Sir"

"Now, give me locations"

"All I have are the ones you know, Sir." He explained "Though there is a device moving towards Germany"

I smirked "Lets suit up, J"

And so I went, with my usual confidence boost, totally unaware of what I was going to get myself into.

If only I knew.

The first steps towards an endless war that I should have never been a part of.

---

Hello everyone!

First of all I deeply apologize for the incredibly short update!

I feel like I am failing you guys, and I am truly sorry.

I am trying the best I can on updating more and not so crappy chappies.

Please tell me what you think! Give me feedback!

Love,

Carly*