Coming Clean

They arrived at home and Viktor brought Tony to the kitchen, sitting down as he asked "Want a drink?" Tony asked "Do I need one?" Viktor smiled "Maybe." as he curled his finger.

The cupboard opened and a familiar bottle of Amaretto floated out with 2 glasses.

Tony pursed his lips and said "Is that from Avengers tower?"

Viktor coughed "No, no… You must be mistaken…" as the Amaretto poured itself. The glass slid across the table on its own and Tony grabbed it, only for it to swirl out of the way.

Tony scratched in between his eyes and chuckled, grabbing the glass quickly. Viktor sipped his drink and smiled, saying "Do you want to remember?" Tony tapped the table and asked "Why now? After all this? Why me?"

Viktor smiled, "Because you're my friend." Tony smiled back and replied "Doesn't feel like it." Viktor sighed and said "Emma, please." Tony's eyes suddenly brightened and he muttered "Oh… I get it now."

Viktor explained "I can't afford to be sloppy, Tony. You should know why. I have to hide at all times. It's… not a comfortable feeling." Tony retorted "But you don't really." as he drank from the glass.

Viktor rubbed his nose replying "I guess. I really don't want to get involved, but I don't have a choice." Tony shook his head and replied "But you do! You always have a choice, Vik."

Tony paused and swirled the Amaretto, continuing "You've been choosing this entire time. You chose to live like this, you chose to help when we needed it, and you chose to do what you did today."

Viktor drank from the glass and stayed silent for a few moments before asking "Was it the right choice?" Tony laughed and said directly "I don't know." Viktor smiled wryly and explained himself, "I can't have people knowing about them, Tony. That is absolutely the worst case scenario, if the world wasn't like this, then it wouldn't matter. But it's unfortunate that it is! I will not seclude myself away in some shithole corner of the world!"

Viktor shook his head and continued "I'm not going to make my family suffer because of the way they were born. Do you think Lilith deserves this? Do you know what they do to Mutant children?!" he paused and sighed, hitting the table lightly, "It's nothing good. Those inhuman scum are simply worse than any enemy you've ever met. At least the Chitauri killed indiscriminately…"

Tony suddenly asked "You left the Vibranium and Nanotechnology book in my house?" Viktor grabbed the air and tossed the book on the table.

Tony looked at the book and laughed, shaking his head, "Mystery solved." Viktor asked "Tony, I want to know what you think."

Tony replied "Me? What I think? I think you're crazy, absolutely insane." Viktor sighed depressingly but Tony continued "However! I agree with you. I think that you're doing what you do for the right reasons, although I think your methods could be a little less dramatic, they worked."

Tony leaned on the table and looked at Viktor, saying directly "I don't think you're a bad person, Vik. Don't look like that. I think you're a bit extreme. But… If it was Pepper, I don't know what I would do, maybe even worse."

Viktor threw a new book on the table.

Tony looked at it and said "Death of Iron Man?" Viktor said "I think that's what you'd do. At any rate, as long as you're still my friend…" Tony suddenly said "Hm? I'm not, actually I hate your guts."

Viktor rolled his eyes and said "Then I'll just take the comic cut back…" Tony chuckled and said "What? I just had a hallucination… I'm getting old." Viktor chuckled and said "You don't look a day over 21, pal."

Tony rubbed his nose and said "You neither buddy… Speaking of which, how about a dose for Pepper?" Viktor chuckled and replied "It's not a beauty serum, okay?" Tony pointed out, "No, no, of course not. It's extra life!"

Viktor rolled his eyes and suddenly asked "Why don't you become the Director of the Avengers?" Tony froze and said "What are you talking about?" Viktor waved his hand and said "Privatize the Avengers yourself. Will anyone still try and sit on your head? You're the Director, Steve is the Captain, nothing changes except their status."

Tony laughed "You want ME to manage the Avengers? Sorry, I don't have that kind of time." Viktor said "Oh, right. How could I forget? You're so busy doing nothing!" Tony retorted "Being a playboy, entrepreneur, philanthropist is busy work!"

Viktor chortled with laughter and said "Right. Giving out money is hard work… Why don't you give me money? I need it." Tony smirked, "For what?" Viktor rolled his eyes and said "You still need to ask that? I told you. The school! Do you know how much the school is going to cost? My blueprints alone cost millions!"

He used a draw in anger.

Bell, Cherry, Bar.

[Ultimate University Blueprints]

Viktor was dumbfounded and said "I didn't even-"

[Host, subconsciously wanted a draw…]

Viktor was speechless and shouted "Give me my draw back!"

[No.]

Viktor grumbled and Tony said "Oh yeah? Let me see it." Viktor slammed the Ultimate University Blueprints on the table angrily, still upset he had somehow used a draw.

Tony chuckled and said "No need to be angry, I was just saying…" before freezing as he stared at the blueprints, shouting "What the hell is this!?" Viktor looked at the blueprints and sucked in a cold breath of air, saying "See? I told you I need money…"

Tony said "Buddy, you need a lot more than money! The land you bought up is barely enough!" Viktor said "Hey… Another task force…" Tony said "That's dangerous thinking, Vik…"

Viktor coughed and said "No, I was just kidding…" Tony looked at him and he coughed some more, looking away. Tony chuckled and turned back to the blueprints, asking "How close are you to Avengers Tower?"

Viktor said nonchalantly "Like 1-2 blocks?" Tony suddenly said "Wait a minute…" he pulled up a map and said "You're a lucky bastard!"

Viktor was confused and asked "What? Why?" Tony showed him the map and Viktor shouted "There's such a coincidence?!" Tony burst out laughing and shook his head, "Who knew that blasting an entire block to hell would be right next to your empty plot!"

Viktor said quickly "I have to buy it!" as he made a call right away, Tony flipped his phone and said "Friday, buy all the buildings from Avengers tower to the empty plot a few blocks away. Buy them all and build new ones on the other side of the city before moving everyone out… Oh, tell them when the University opens they can send their kids there for free."

Friday replied "Yes, sir."

Lilith came running down the stairs and Viktor shot his hand out quickly. Lilith tripped and fell down the stairs. She was immediately caught by gravity and telekinesis at the same time.

Lilith patted her head and giggled "Oops!" Viktor teleported her to him and pinched her cute little nose, saying "And what are you doing, little lady? Running down the stairs again?"

Lilith touched her nose and said "Ah! I'm sorry…" Viktor melted and kissed her little face all over, saying "It's okay, Daddy loves you…" Tony rubbed his forehead and said "Dude… Come here little demon, Uncle Tony wants a hug~"

Viktor held Lilith and said vigilantly "What are you doing?!" Tony said angrily "I can't even hold her?!" Viktor said warily "I don't know your intentions." Tony grinded his teeth and Lilith squirmed "Uncle Iron, come help!"

Tony's lips twitched and Viktor burst out laughing "Uncle Iron is a bad guy, what do we do to bad guys?" Lilith raised a fist and said "Beat them to a pulp!" Viktor started a coughing fit and said "Nononono, the other thing…" Lilith blinked and spat out her tongue, blowing a raspberry.

Tony sneered, "Excellent education." Viktor sneered back, "My daughter, not yours, okay? When you get one, we'll see! Oh, wait. You're on a break! Hahahahaha!" Tony rubbed his temples and said "You know, I'm really starting to hate you." Lilith climbed down Viktor's leg and ran over, hugging Tony's leg with a sweet smile.

Tony pulled out a candy from behind her ear and said "Huh? Why are you hiding candies there?" Lilith gasped "Oh my god! You're a magician?! I hide candies in my drawer!"

Viktor frowned "You do, eh?" Lilith froze and frowned seriously "No, no, no. You're so silly. I didn't say that." as she took the candy and stuffed it in her mouth very quickly.

Viktor was speechless and picked her up, saying "You think I didn't see you!?" Lilith said with a muffled voice "See what?" Viktor almost threw her out the window! He said angrily "You damn little demon! No more Paw Patrol." Lilith's eyes widened and she said "WHAT?!"

Viktor snorted "Hmph!" Lilith kissed his face with sticky lips, saying "I love you so much, Daddy! More than Mommy!" Viktor pursed his lips and giggled "I love my little angel~" Lilith giggled and pushed his face away as he kissed all over her face.