17. Are we sure he’s a good villain

Me, Pepper, and Jessi got out of the car and smiled and waved at the camera as we walked inside the hotel. I leaned towards Pepper. "Remember. I'm safe. You don't have to worry about me." - "You're beyond reckless." - "I have my suit, and I heal. I'm fine."

Jessi pulled on my clothes. "Daddy. Red rocket coming." I looked up to see Natasha walking to us and chuckled.

Natasha: "Mr. Stark. Ms. Potts. Ms. Stark." "Good to see you." - "Thanks. How was your flight?" - "Wonderful. Yours?" - "Wonderful as well. We have one photographer from the ACM, if you don't mind."

I put Jessi in front of us and grabbed Peppers waist.

Pepper: "How long will she be with you?" - "Not for long. Smile. You too little miss."

Natasha: "Right this way." - "Great. Let's get out of here."

Jessi: "I hate getting my photo taken." - "Unfortunately you'll have to get used to it."

Pepper: "It's not that bad." - "Still don't like it."

"It's a.. unfortunate necessity for our line of work." - "As a hero or the Heiress to Stark International?" - "Both. But you're not a hero." - "I have powers."

Pepper: "That you haven't trained in. So don't think of trying anything."

"Is this us?"

Natasha: "It can be." - "Good make it, and push all my meets back. You should remember when." - "Of course."

I pulled out a chair for Jessi. "Sit here while we get a drink." - "You're love bossing Natasha around." - "I won't deny it's not fun." I kissed her cheek then walked to Pepper.

"Was that Elon Musk?" - "Yes. You don't recognize him?" - "Oh, I do. That's why I ran away. What are you going to get?" - "I haven't decided I—."

Justin: "Anthony! Is that you?"

"I want to vanish."

Justin: "That is you." - "Hey, Justin." - "How are you doing?" - "I was doing good a second ago." - "You're not the only Rich guy here with a fancy car." - "Which I'm suprised you can afford." - "Ouch. That hurt buddy." - "Not your buddy." - "Hey, do you know Christine from vanity fair? You guys know each other?"

Pepper: "Hi."

Christine: "Yes."

"A little. Thanks by the way." - "What for?" - "Someone to bounce my announcement off of. Big help." Through gritted teeth "Glad I could help."

Justin: "By the way, big story. The new COO of Stark International. Congratulations."

Christine: "I know. I know. My editor will kill me if I don't get a quote for our Powerful Women issue. Can I?" - "Oh, Sure."

Justin: "She's actually doing a big spread on me for vanity fair. I thought I'd throw her a bone."

"What about. You're failing company."

Just long laughed as he spoke. "You're kidding. Such a kidder this one."

Pepper: "No he's not."

Cristine: "Can I have a quote on that?" - "I can give one for him. I'm so good. Even when I'm focusing on other things. He's still 2nd best to me, and that's being generous."

Pepper: "I'm going.. to wash up." - "Don't leave me." - "Have fun."

Justin went to put his hands on me so I pushed him away. "Sorry. I'm going to have to go as well. I have to check up on my daughter."

Christine: "Oh she's here. Can."

"Stay away, or you won't have a job to come back to." - "I understand. I'll just wait for Pepper." - You do that."

As I walk to the table I meet up with Natasha. "Tony. The corner table is yours." - "Good. I'm going to say something to Jessi, then I want you to watch her." - "Of course."

.

"Hey. I'm leaving you in the care of Natasha for a moment until your moms gets back." - "Yoire going out to race." - "Yep. Don't worry. I'll make it quick." - "Be safe." - "Of course I will. It's a second rate villain with a half baked suit. It's nothing." - "Love you 3,000." - "You haven't said that to me yet." I kissed her hand. I love you two little one."

As I walked to the exit I couldn't help but smile and feel more energized.

I made my way down and pulled my weight around to put myself in, and before I knew it I was in a professional race car for the first and probably last time.

The light turned green and I floored it, and I enjoyed the wind in the rush and the exhilaration for a couple laughs before I noticed cars being cut in the tracks are flying.

Before I knew mine was got cut off and as soon as my mind registered, what was going on, my suit started to form and I landed on my knees fully suited.

"You're going to pay. You ruined my fun."

I took a few steps, then did a quick step to the side to avoid a whip.

I took another step and used a arm shield to block the attack. Then the following attack I made Eldridge Whips and wrapped it around his whips.

I pulled hard up, then down slamming him into the ground. I continued my advance when two blue clamps came out of nowhere trapping Vanko's arms to the ground.

I look slightly to my left to see Pepper land next me to.

We both retract our masks and I looked very confused. "What are you doing here?

I moved to Vanko while we talked. "I was just worried. I saw what he was doing to the cars, so I came to help." - "Thanks. But I had a plan."

I grabbed his shoulder to flip him over once Pepper recalled her clamps and while flipping him I injected him with the poison.

I pulled out the reactor and crushed it.

Pepper: "was it any good?" - "Nothing compared to mine. But still more advanced then what anyone else could make."

Our suits flowed back into there containers as the police made there way into the track.

Halfway through the plane ride back I got some amazing news.

Jarvis: "Sir, as you expected Justin Hammer broke Ivan Vanko out of jail and is currently being processed.

Shortly after the police swarmed Hammer's hanger Mr. Vanko dropped dead." - "Thank you J. Can you do me a huge favor and start the process to swallow up hammer industries." - "Right away."

Pepper: "Is that it? Is it that easy?" - "Appears so. Now the only thing we have to deal with now is the Expo." - "You make it look easy."

Pepper got surrounded by blue energy and I levitated her out of her chair and onto my lap. She made some loud noises which I hushed. "Be quiet. Jessi's on here somewhere. She'll hear you." - "You don't need to worry. She's asleep. And Jarvis is watching her." - "In that case. Why don't we celebrate a easy victory. With your help, it was like walking through the park." - "I just over reacted." I kissed her. "I overreacted. You were just fine."

.

The next morning, shortly after we made it home.

Natasha: "So he's confirmed dead?" - "Jarvis confirmed it, and so did I. My concoction worked and it wasn't detected. He's dead, which means the rest of the crazy events that happened originally aren't gonna happen." - "That makes me feel a lot better. I know it was never announced, but I can tell a lot died during Vanko's attack on the Expo." - "I wanted to keep the spot light off that." - "Understandable. What should we do now?" - "I think you should go to Fury and tell him I figured you out. So I kicked you out. See what he does next." - "Really?" - "Yeah. I want this to be over. I have to teach my daughter, and I don't want a one eyed pirate to keep popping up." - "Fine. I'll take my leave then." - "See you in a few years."

When she left my Workshop I started my computers.

"Jarvis. Start a new files, name it Project Superman. And bring anything up we have on the Super Soldier serum. If there's a bigger bad then Thanos coming. I need to be as strong as I can.