Our new Lives as Tony Stark and Pepper Potts.

"So you really want to watch?"

Pepper: "I missed your first attempt, I'm not missing this one." - "I'm not falling this time. I have both." - "We will see."

I shrugged and walked onto the platform with both the boots and hand flight stabilizers.

Last Time I just had the hand stabilizers and I went to hover and fell when I tried to land.

"Day 9, test 32, configuration 2.0. For lack of a better option, since Pepper won't do it, Dummy is still on fire safety. But I swear if you douse me again, and I'm not on fire, I'm donating you to a city college."

Pepper: "Be nice to Dum-E I like him. He's cute." - "He's... I wouldn't say cute."

Dum-E's head drooped down.

Pepper: "Look at what you did. You hurt his feelings."

"He will be alright. Okay back on track. Let's start this off, nice and easy.

Seriously, just gonna start off with... 1% thrust capacity. In three, two, one." 

I Lifted off the ground and hovered in place for a bit before landing. Pepper claps.

"You're Hilarious, and you." I looked at Dum-E. "Please don't follow me around with it, either, 'cause I feel like I'm gonna catch on fire spontaneously. Just stand down!

If something happens, then come in. Let's do it again, let's bring it up to 3%. Three, two, one."

I lifted off the ground higher and with less control. I start to hover around the shop without control.

Pepper: "Come on Tony. You can do it... You better not break one of those cars." - "You're not helping!"

I start hovering towards the garage door, but I throw my hand up to stop myself, and change directions.

I hovered back over the platform and How the original Tony landed popped into my head so I tucked everything in and I landed like an expert.

"Oh, yeah. I can fly." I'm so going to go on a joy ride tonight."

Pepper: "You have fun with that. I have to get ready." - "What for? Do I need to be there?"

She shrugged her shoulder. "No need to worry... I'll see you later. Have fun." - "Yep, you too."

I started to tap my leg while I was thinking. "Okay J. Let's start to make the shell out of gold titanium alloy." - "Smart idea. That should be a lightweight, but durable metal." - "That's the idea."

.

After the face mask went over my face and I got released from the machine, my HUD lit up and readings from all over the suit started to pop up.

"Jarvis, are you there? - "At your service, sir." - "Engage heads-up display." - "Check." - "Import all preferences from the home interface." - "Will do, sir." - "All right, what do you say?"- "I have indeed been uploaded, sir. We're online and ready." - "Can we start the virtual walk-around?" - "Importing preferences and calibrating virtual environment." - "Do a check on control surfaces" - "As you wish... Test complete. Preparing to power down and begin diagnostics."

I smiled. "Hey, how about you don't and Do a weather and ATC check. Start listening in on ground control." - "Sir, there are still terabytes of calculations needed before an actual flight is..." - "You are way too cautious. Sometimes you just have to take a risk and enjoy the ride." I see the ch deck complete on my HUD. "Fire then up in, three, two, one."

I hovered off the ground, then angled myself, and started to fly out of the garage.

I screamed in joy as I leveled out and soared through the sky.

I looked over at the Ferris wheel and zoomed in to see two children perfectly clearly.

I turned my head and looked up to the sky, then angled myself up.

"What's the SR-71's record again?" - "The altitude record for fixed-wing flight is 85,000 feet, sir." - "Start the backpack. We're going to break it."

The backpack on my back fired up and a cone of air surrounded me and I was gone.

I broke through the atmosphere and my connection to Jarvis became more and more spotty, and the suit's power started the fail until it shut off.

I hovered in space for a moment until I regained just enough power to fire a shot to start pushing me back down to Earth.

Just below the clouds, I regained power and I flew off to my house.

I landed in my front yard and then walked through my front door.

Jarvis: "I love the look, sir." - "Thanks. I didn't want to break anything. Figured this is the next best option." - "Just warning you. I'm sending Ms. Potts some pictures of you currently." - "Don't do that!" - "Sorry, sir. She asked me, and they are already sent."

I stood at the top of the stairs looking down trying to think of a response.

I started to walk downstairs and said. "Jarvis. I want to keep you busy. I want you to find Maya Hansen." - "Of course."

.

I'm on the computer countering Shields attempts to get into my system while my new suit is being rendered, when I notice the news.

"That's where she went."

TV reporter: "Tonight's red-hot red carpet is right here at the Disney Concert Hall, where Tony Stark's third annual benefit for the Firefighter's Family Fund has become the place to be for L.A.'s high society."

"Let me guess. We didn't get an invitation?" - "I have no record of an invitation, sir."

TV reporter: "He hasn't been seen in public since his press conference where he promised new stuff that hasn't been seen yet. Some claim he may be suffering from post-traumatic stress and has been bedridden for weeks. Whatever the case may be, no one expects an appearance from him tonight."

Jarvis: "Render complete."

I looked at my computer, at the all-gold suit, and then looked at the gold face mask in my hand. "It's a little ostentatious, don't you think, J?" - "What was I thinking? You're usually so discreet."

I was trying to decide if I still wanted to go with red, or go with another color like blue.

I looked past the monitor, and saw the red car.

'No, I have to do red.' "How about you add a little hot rod red."

The model changed and added red.

Jarvis: "Yes, that should help you keep a low profile."

I smiled. "I love it. Fabricate it. Paint it." - "Commencing automated assembly. Estimated completion time is five hours." - "Sweat. Get it done, and don't stop your search for Maya.

I have a date to get to."

.

I pulled up to the event and the crowd outside cheered as I stepped out.

I threw my keys at the valet and hit the red carpet.

Random Woman: "Hey, Tony, remember me?"

"Who are you?" I continued down the carpet and saw the creator, almighty. Stan Lee.

'Let's see, what did The original say?... right.' "You look great, Hef." I patted his shoulder and continued over to Stane who was talking to reporters

Obadiah: "We're going to have a great quarter."

He saw me and moved away.

"What's the world coming to when a guy's got to crash his own party?"

Obadiah: "Look at you. Hey, what a surprise.

"Yeah, look at me, Hey, I'll see you inside. I have a date to get to." - "Tony!" - "See ya, Obi."

.

"Give me a Scotch, and make it quick. I'm starving."

Agent Coulson: "Mr. Stark?"

I looked to my left. 'Oh, yeah, you.' "Yeah?"- "Agent Coulson." - "Yeah. Yeah. Pep told me about you, you're from the.." - "Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division." - "Wow. You guys must be good if you guys can remember that name. I think you might need to change it though." - "We get that a lot. Listen, I know this must be a trying time for you, but we need to debrief you. There's still a lot of unanswered questions, and time can be a factor with these things." - "Of course. I get that." I spotted Pepper talking to some people. "I'll put something in the books." - "How about the 24th at 7:00 p.m. at Stark Industries?" - "Shouldn't be a problem. Hey, how about this? I'll go tell my assistant about it right now."

.

"You look stunning. This dress fits you."

Pepper turned away from the other. "Hey, I was wondering if you'd come." - "Forgot about it. But the news helped jog my memory." - "Did your flight go as planned?" - "Yeah, hey, let's dance." - "You know I don't like to dance." - "Come on."

I pulled her to the dance floor.

"You know, you really do look amazing in this dress." - "I don't really know what goes with what in this body so I just went with the dress I know looks good, since well... you know." - "It definitely works. I should buy you more like this." - "I wouldn't say no... so, the suit worked as expected?" - "I only had problems when I left the atmosphere." - "You The atmosphere?" -"Of course, I had to see what it could do. I don't think I could fix that right now, but I did fix some small problems, but I noticed some slow responses here sluggishness there that's about it, Then I added in the weapons. It's being fabricated as we speak." - "Are you heading straight over there after this?" - "I would've Done it sooner if I had a suit capable of doing so." - "I still think it's beyond dangerous." - "I'm a walking tank." - "You can still get Injured." - "I'm trying to solve that problem. I'm looking for Maya." - "You are going to use Extremis?" - "Of course. But I plan on helping her fix the exploding problem first. I'm not putting something in my body that might make me explode." - "That makes me feel better." - "Do You know what would make me feel better?" - "I'm not using it." - "We will see."

I saw Christine Everhart and pointed her out to Pepper.

Pepper: "Look who's here... hey, go get me a drink. But make sure you active it to me before you leave."

I kissed Pepper. "Right away. vodka martini?" - "Exactly like the original."

I nodded and headed to the bar.

"Two vodka martinis, extra dry, extra olives, extra fast." I slid a Hundred to him. "As fast as you can, oh, and make one of them dirty, will you?"

Christine Everhart: "Wow. Tony Stark."

'Hello, annoying reporter.' "Hey, Christine Everhart." - "You remembered." - "Of course. How couldn't I? So, what brings you to this lovely event?" - "I came to get a Reaction from you." - "About? It can't be about your performance." - "No. About the atrocities your company has done." - "Hey, Just because you got an invitation, doesn't mean you have to come." - "Not that. This."

She shoved photos into my chest.

I grabbed them and glared at her.

I looked through them, and even though I knew this was happening and that's why I built a suit seeing pictures of the actually happening. Definitely ticks me off.

"Where?" - "Gulmira" - "When?" - "Yesterday."

Bartender: "Here you go Mr. Stark."

I downed my drink and grabbed Peppers.

"I'll look into this. Until then. Please leave me alone."

I walked up and handed Pepper her drink. "How did it go?" - "About as well as you think. I'm going to go." - "Be safe." - "Always."

I walked outside and right by Stane and got my car, then drove home.