Peachy Keen

Chapter 13

"There is no cake in that bag, Charley," Vision replied even as Tony was wondering how she had
got into the shop. He had closed the doors, hadn't he? They were open now, that's true.

Charley huffed and rolled her eyes. Tony recognized the signs of an imminent frustration related
outburst. Sometimes Charley would reach out, and not be understood. No one was happy when that
happened, results varied, but they were never pleasant. He decided to go with emergency distraction
mode. "Get your good shoes on, we're going to the bakery!" he announced.

"Cake," Charley said with satisfaction and ran out of the workshop.

Vision watched her for a moment and then turned back to Tony. "Will the young lady's knowledge
cause a problem? If you need to relocate, I can assist."

"No, no, it's fine." Tony felt sick at the thought of leaving Rose Hill, and the Keener family.
"Charley knows who I am, and she hasn't told anyone. Her communication skills are weak, not her
understanding."

"That cake," Charley said, pointing to an all chocolate Boston Cream Pie. Then she turned and
looked at a cake topped with shavings of chocolate curls like leaves, with cherries set in between.
"That cake." Then she looked at a chocolate fudge cake with thick swirls of chocolate. "That cake."

"We can't eat three cakes before they get stale," Tony pointed out.

"Perhaps," Vision said, "An assortment of smaller cakes?" He indicated a display case full of
cupcakes.

Charley smiled. "Cake, cake, cake, cake," she said, pointing out four different kinds of cupcakes.
"Charley, Harley, Holly, Sterling."

Tony said, teasingly, "What about Vincent?"

"I am not a cake-eater, Mr. Keener," Vision said, which was an understatement. Vision enjoyed
cooking, and he could actually eat, although he couldn't differentiate tastes, and digest, but he found
the process 'inconvenient'. Since it wasn't enjoyable or necessary, he tended to avoid it. Tony still
hadn't figured out why Ultron had kept modeling his form after humans. You'd think since he hated
them, he would have made something entirely new.

Charley nodded in a 'so-there' way and watched closely as the cupcakes were packed up. They had
driven to the bakery in Vision's small rental car, so for once Tony wasn't having to fit things into the
carriers on his motorcycle. The baker had greeted him and Charley by name, and he'd introduced
Vision as a friend from the city, come to see how settling down had agreed with him. He hoped such
a prosaic explanation would cut down on the rumors.

They went back to the house, and put the cupcakes in the refrigerator. Charley wandered off once
that was done.

"So," Tony said, turning to Vision, "You didn't get to tell me how everyone is doing. You saw Pepper? In person?"

"Indeed. Ms. Potts is quite well, as is your company. There was however a stock drop when rumors
of your demise were circulated. There were also rumors claiming that you were not dead, but that
your disappearance was a sympathy seeking ploy meant to overshadow your having driven Captain
America out of the United States. Interestingly enough, both of these rumors have been applied to
Captain America in reverse, but as he has no association with any corporation, I have been unable to
ascertain any effect on the economy."

Tony shook his head. He wasn't going to even think about Rogers. "I don't care about S.I. Well, no,
ok, I care because if S.I. goes under a lot of people get hurt, but I trust Pepper to have everything in
hand. I'll be sending new product specifications via Friday which should help convince the board I'm
not dead. We'll use the Wakandan Deep Net, so no one can trace it back to me. Thanks for that, it
saves me some work figuring out a secure route. If Pepper thinks it's a good idea, she can tell the
board I've temporarily retired from public life, due to injuries. The hospital has my HIPAA release
for her to access my records if she needs to show them just why I need to recuperate.

"I'd rather she didn't have to use it, but if she does, it's there. I'll tell Friday to pass that on."

Vision nodded. "If I may ask, why do you not contact Ms. Potts directly? You have access to
untraceable methods, and have had so for some time."

"Yeah. Well... we were on a break. She needed distance from me, and all my associated baggage.
That hasn't changed."

Vision made a non-committal noise that seemed to indicate polite disapproval. He really was learning
to be human. "I still have some time before I need to leave to make my next appointment. Is there
anything else you'd like to discuss?"

"Yeah." Tony sat in the kitchen chair that was now his. He waved at Holly's chair, across from him.
"Rhodey. Happy. Dum-E and U. Are they... are they ok, really ok? Do they understand that I didn't
want to leave them? I miss them. I miss them every day."

Vision nodded as he sat. "I believe they understand." He smiled. "Friday tells them about your day.
They are glad you have found a refuge and no longer are so driven."

Tony sighed. "I was pretty arrogant, thinking I could save the world by myself. That takes a team. A
real team." He reached out to squeeze Vision's shoulder.

"And you have it," Vision replied. "There are many people of good will around this planet. All that
is required is to connect those with resources, whether mental, physical, economic, or political with
those who can best use them. King T'Challa is merely one of many who will help us defend our
home. It is not alone on your shoulders. You are not suited for the role of Atlas."

"No one is," Tony agreed.