Saving On Our Own | Book 1

Chapter 2

A scene from when Tony Stark was young plays out. At the end of the scene an older Tony walks onto the scene and begins speaking. "That's how I wished it happened. Binaries Augmented Retro-Framing or BARF. God, I gotta work on that acronym. An extremely costly method of hijacking the hippocampus to clear traumatic memories." Tony blows out the candle from the scene. It takes a few tries before the scene starts to vanish. "It doesn't change the fact that they never made it to the airport or all the things I did to avoid processing my grief or even the trauma cause to my now sixteen-year-old daughter when she lost her mother. Plus, $611 million for my little therapeutic experiment? No one in their right mind would've ever funded it. Help me out, what's the MIT mission statement?" The MIT students recite it as Tony speaks with them. "To generate, disseminate, and preserve knowledge. And work with others to bring it to bear on the world's great challenges. Well, you are the others. And, quiet as it's kept the challenges facing you are the greatest mankind's ever known. Plus, most of you are broke." The audience laughs. "Oh, I'm sorry. Rather, you were. As of this moment every student has been made an equal recipient of the inaugural September Foundation Grant." All of the students gasp at this information. "As in all of your projects have just been approved and funded." The audience stands and applauded Tony. "No strings, no taxes, just refrain the future! Starting now." Tony pauses as the teleprompter mentions Pepper Potts to speak but she isn't there. Tony stands frozen momentarily before speaking. "Go break some eggs." The students clap again and Tony walks off the stage.

A MIT staff member starts rambling about the grant and a girl comes up to apologize about the teleprompter when Tony's phone begins to ring. "Excuse me." He pulls his phone out the see his daughter's name and picture appear on his phone. "Hey baby cakes."

"Hey dad! I was wondering if I could stay at MJ's House tonight?"

"Sure sweetheart. Have fun."

"Thanks dad! Love you!"

"Love you too. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye!" Tony ends the call and walks out. On his way out he comes across a woman in a hallway.

"That was nice, what you did for those young people."

"Ah, they deserve it. Plus, it helps ease my conscience." Tony modestly says.

"They say there's a correlation between generosity and guilt. But if you've got the money break as many eggs as you like. Right?" This makes Tony's head snap towards the woman.

He reaches over and presses the elevator button. "You going up?"

"I'm right where I want to be." She starts rummaging through her purse.

"Okay Okay Hey." Tony reaches over and grabs her hand. She gasps. "Sorry, its an occupational hazard."

"I work for the state department. Human Resources. I know it's boring but it enabled me to raise a son. I'm very proud of what he grew up to be." She shoves a photo towards Tony. "His name was Charlie Spencer. You murdered him. I'm Sokovia. Not that that matters in the least to you. You think you fight for us? You just fight for yourself. For your daughter. Who's going to avenge my son, Stark? He's dead and I blame you." Tony grabs the photo from her and she walks away.

/\/\/\/\/\

"11 Wakandans were among those killed during a confrontation between the Avengers and a group of mercenaries in Lagos, Nigeria last month. The traditionally reclusive Wakandans were on an outreach mission in Lagos, when the attack occurred." The news anchor reports.

A clip from an interview with King T'chaka of Wakanda flashes on the screen. "Our people's blood is spilled on foreign soil not only because of the actions of criminals but by the indifference of those pledged to stop them. Victory at the expense of the innocent is no victory at all."

"The Wakandan king went on to..." You turn off the TV the Steve was watching. He turns to protest but you both hear another TV talking.

"They are operating outside and above the international law. Because that's the reality, if we don't respond the acts like these." Steve goes to stand up but you look at him giving him an 'I got this look.'

You go up the stairs to find Wanda watching a different news report. "What legal authority does an enhanced individual like Wanda Maximoff have to operate in Nigeria?" You turn the TV off before the reporter can go any farther.

After a few moments, she speaks. "It's my fault."

"That's not true." You say, walking farther into her room.

"Turn the TV back on. They're being very specific."

"Steve says he should've clocked that bomb vest long before you had to deal with it." You walk and sit next to her. "Says Rumlow said "Bucky"and all of the sudden he was a sixteen-year-old kid again, in Brooklyn. And people died. He says it's on him. But I say it's on me. If I had paid attention and not gotten knocked out, Rumlow wouldn't even have had that vest still on."

"It's on all of us." Wanda says looking at you.

"And I'm supposed to be giving the pep talk." You both laugh before you speak again. "This job... we try to save as many people as we can. Sometimes that doesn't mean everybody. But if we can't find a way to live with that ten next time maybe nobody gets saved."

Suddenly vision comes through the wall. "Vis! We talked about this." Wanda scorns him.

"Yes but the door was open so I assumed that..." He trails off then goes back to what he came to tell. "Miss Y/n wished to know when her father was arriving."

"Thank you Vis. We'll be right down."

"I'll use the door." Vision walks out but turns back. "Oh, and apparently he's brought a guest."

"Do you know who it is?" You ask.

"The Secretary of State." You and Wanda look to each other before standing and following Vision out the door.