Hiring James

''Because it is... Dum-E?''

Suddenly, the robot moved to the side, letting a section of the floor hiss as it began to open, lifting up was the full mark 3 suit.

James stared at it, walking over to it as he began to inspect it, slowly frowning before he spoke. ''Tony... Whereas this might be the coolest thing I've ever seen, and most likely ever will... This thing has got weapons on it... High tech weapons, I thought you...''

''I am... I stopped making weapons to the public, yes... I stopped making weapons that would be used in wars, because after they died... I realized that it was a terrible business to be in, and a dangerous one...''

He pushed all the blueprints to the side, leaving only the suits as he began to pull other folders, evidence, records, and everything he needed to show what Stane had been doing behind not only his back but the back of his parents as well.

James raised his hands, crossing his fingers he rested his hand's ontop of his head, walking around as he slowly read through everything.

''Tony... Did you kill Stane?'' James asked after awhile, all of this was adding up, and then his disappearance, labeled as a meeting gone wrong, people upset over Stark no longer selling weapons.

''I did.'' Tony said without lying, sucking in a breath as he prepared for the words that would come his way.

''I'm...'' James moved to sit down, rubbing his hands against his face slowly, trying to get his thoughts in order.

''I wish you would've said something before you did it... There was no reason for you to have blood on your hands, I could've done it.''

''You're... Not screaming at me, which is better then I planned on this going.''

''Tony, there is something I didn't tell you. The explosion that took out your parents, there was Stark shrapnel... Whoever killed them, did so with a Stark weapon.''

Anger waved through Tony, rage filling him as he thought back to Stane, now wishing he didn't end it so quickly.

''Sir, your vitals have spiked above what you recommended, I suggest you calming down.''

Tony hissed out a breath, closing his eyes as he leaned forward, resting his hands onto the bench he had been working on previously, the one with the sheet pulled over it.

He pulled his mind together and started to focus. IT was possible Stane sold the weapon used to kill his parents, but at the same time it wasn't just Stane who could get ahold of their weapons.

It wasn't exactly a far stretch to say Hydra itself also got ahold of the weapons without Stane being involved, stealing from Shield or so many other situations.

Taking a moment he stood up, speaking. ''Thank you for telling me now, thought I'm upset you waited... But I can understand why you did.''

''Tony... I've seen some things in my time in the military, I thought I seen the dark side of the world before I joined... But it was only after that I truly seend some of the worst people can offer... I can't be angry at you, not for killing someone like Stane, not when you have so much evidence to prove your claim... Especially not when I've thought about the times I should've pulled the trigger... We're not hero's, we're just humans...''

Tony walked over, joining him back on the couch as he cracked open another beer for the both of them, which James took without a word.

They sat their in silence for a bit, Tony thinking about the night he had killed Stane, as he was sure James was thinking about all the times he would change things before James took a deep breath.

''Alright man... What's the job offer.''

Tony looked up from his beer, taking a sip from it before he tilted his head towards the suit. Just as an additional section opened, out rising what looked to be a matte black one.

''I want you to fly in one of the suits, be my pilot. I'll join you whenever, but I just want your help to hunt down the weapons still in circulation that have my name on them. In return I'll give you a sizable salary, benefits, and you'll be the first one to test the suits as they come out.''

James looked, his eyes already looking longingly at the armor... Maybe he could convince Tony to put a bigger gun on it... Like a 7.62-mm minigun?

''Can that thing stop bullets?'' James asked it the first thing that came to his mind.

Tony grinned, pulling a video of a few test flights, one of which was when he took a direct hit from the main turret of a tank and came out with just scratched paint.

James whistled at that. ''The hell you make it out of?''

Chuckling Tony spoke up. ''The armor is composed of 95.5% Titanium and 4.5% Gold Alloy, which is incredibly durable. It is impervious to small arms fire, and even taking a .50 only chipped a very, very small piece off it... So for now? You are just like a Hero in that thing.''

Tony watched James stare at it for a moment before he spoke up again. ''But you aren't going to be a hero... Once we hunt down the weapons, we'll shelve the armor until they are needed, and not just for some joy rides, or petty crimes. No, we're talking huge events, that could shake the earth... Possibly even destroy it. Until that happens, I'll focus on other projects, that will help humans, technology, better living, and things that will do nothing but benefit the whole of humanity... And once that happens, you'll still be paid the same, but all you will be doing is testing the suits as I upgrade them more and more... Preparing for what could be coming.''

James watched him a long time before he nodded slowly. ''Well, you convinced me when you pulled out the first suit, I'll be honest... But why do you seem so sure that these things will happen?''