Peachy Keen

Chapter 17

The Wakandan scientists carried out tests over the next few days, and confirmed Tony's hunch. He
was going to do his own tests, of course, but it was good to get them started from their end. They
could produce a lot more than he could.

While waiting for their results he had forged vibranium steel into a new bio-mechanical leg for
Tripod, who accepted the change with equanimity after adjusting to the lighter weight. Since it
worked for the cat, and really, there wasn't anything that could go wrong, Tony made a set of
powered leg braces for Rhodey and then puzzled over how to get them to him, before he
remembered Jayden.

"Friday, track Jayden's phone, let me know where he is." He doubted Jayden would still be visiting
his grandmother. "Oh, and find out where Rhodey is!" Tony felt more than a little guilty he hadn't
tried to talk to him, but he'd been busy! Yeah, no, he'd been avoiding Rhodey, Pepper and Happy
because he just had this irrational feeling that if he spoke to them, something bad would happen to
them. He admitted it wasn't logical, but he still couldn't bring himself to do it. Not now. Maybe
someday when he stopped believing that everything he touched turned to shit. So far, he hadn't hurt
the Keeners. God, let him not hurt the Keeners. Even the cat deserved better than to get caught up in
a typical Tony Stark disaster extravaganza.

"I have located Jayden in Manhattan, Boss, and Colonel Rhodes is currently in residence at Stark
Tower, while undergoing physical therapy. Would you like me to connect you with either of them?"

"Jayden, connect me with him, just him. I don't want to bother Rhodey." Tony took his two month
coin out of his pocket and rubbed his thumb over the embossed words, thoughtfully. It was about the
right size for a component of the vibranium 'net', which gave him ideas and Jayden being in
Manhattan might work out even better than his first thought.

"Tony?"

"Yeah, hey, hi there, Jayden. Look, I need to know, are you busy?"

"Not really. Been job hunting, but you know, I'm not exactly the flavor a lot of folks are hiring."

"Some people don't know a good thing when they see it. You need to apply at S.I. we're... they're
always looking for good people."

I appreciate it, Tony, but I don't want to get a place I didn't earn just because I did the decent thing."

"No, no, don't get me wrong. Sure, I'd put in a good word for you, so you could jump the line for an
interview, but S.I. doesn't give out make work positions. You've got a lot of potential, and I hate to
see it wasted. Or worse, I'd hate to see you give in and cut off your dreads."

"Hah, I can't. Grandma told me she'd never bake me another pie if I did. She loves my dreads, man."

"Your grandmother is a wise woman."

"And she bakes a killer pecan pie. So, what did you call me for?"

I was hoping you might stop in at Ave... Stark Tower, and pick something up for me. And I'd have
a package for you to take back to them from me."

"Huh, sensitive stuff you don't want to drop in the mail?"

Friday chirped, "Harry Winston sent the Hope diamond to the Smithsonian via regular registered
mail."

Tony blinked. "And when was this?"

"1958, Boss!"

Jayden said, "My grandma sent me five bucks for my birthday last year. I lied and told her I got it."

"Yeaah," Tony said, "Times change, Friday. So, Jayden, you think you could do that? You could go
for the job interview at the same time."

"Are you paranoid, Tony? Do you really think someone's watching everyone that goes in and out of
the Stark Tower?"

"Mmmmaybe. Just a little. Hey, paranoids have enemies, too!"

Jayden laughed. "Sure, I'll do it. Call me back when you've got everything set up. Want me to bring
you anything else?"

"Maybe a pizza from Ray's?"

"They got a twelve hour hot box?"

"No, but S.I. does!"

Jayden laughed again. "You got it, man." Jayden ended the call.

"Ok, Friday, talk to your other self at the Tower. I want a box of samples of Chitauri and Leviathan
armor packed up and ready to go. I want Jayden to get a pass-through to H.R. for an immediate
interview. I want you to tell Pepper what's going on, and have her do one of her 'random' drop ins so
she can meet Jayden. You know, she likes to keep them on their toes."

"Are you sure you don't want to talk to Ms. Potts yourself, Boss?"

Tony was tempted. "No. No, not yet. Just... tell her I love her. I always will."

"Yes, Boss," Friday replied.