[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019a79b9-88cc-76dc-b53c-f2a072816244.webp[/img][/center][COLOR=GRAY][INDENT][INDENT][color=#f1c232]“Oh, Tony, what happened to you?”[/color]

[CENTER][i][color=#ffffff]♫ (I do) I need an easy friend[/color][/i]
[i][color=#ffffff]I do, with an ear to lend[/color][/i]
[i][color=#ffffff]I do, think you fit this shoe[/color][/i]
[i][color=#ffffff]I do, but you have a clue ♫[/color][/i][/CENTER]
Janet’s words were the first thing Tony heard as he opened his eyes. 

The room around him looked very different from the hallway he remembered being in. Faded music drifted in and out of the room, Cobain’s vocals reaching Tony’s ears as he slowly blinked. This room was much more spartan, even sterile, in comparison to the previous hall. No matter where he looked, all Tony saw were white walls in every direction through the pale gray curtain wrapped around his bed. 

Jan’s hand lay on his chest, tracing the very arc reactor that was keeping him alive while looking caringly over the various scars the shrapnel had left across his torso. Tony, to his surprise, found himself welcoming Jan’s touch, almost longing for it.

He could practically feel the breeze coming in off the Pacific. The smell of salt and sand in the air while Jan lay beside him, enjoying the view of the Maui beach house. She had been a model then; there wasn’t a fashion magazine cover she hadn’t graced.

So, of course, Tony had to have her. 

[CENTER][i][color=#ffffff]♫ I'll take advantage while[/color][/i]
[i][color=#ffffff]You hang me out to dry[/color][/i]
[i][color=#ffffff]But I can't see you every night[/color][/i]
[i][color=#ffffff]Free (I do) ♫[/color][/i][/CENTER]
A whirlwind romance, front page of every tabloid. A highly publicized wedding with an even more public divorce. Stane pulled the best lawyers he knew to ensure Tony didn’t lose a dime. In hindsight, Stane was protecting his own interests more than Tony’s. Jan couldn’t bear to come home each day to find her husband drowning in the bottom of another bottle, and Tony wasn’t prepared to give Jan a chance to spread her wings. 

So she left.

And Tony sank deeper into the drink, becoming more and more like his father. At least, until the intervention of Ten Rings. Surviving the Mandarin’s ordeal was the system restart that Tony had needed; it reframed the world. For the first time, he had finally been able to see Stane for who he was. For the fool that Tony himself had been.

Just how much he lost when he lost Jan.

[color=#f1c232]“The last few years have not been kind to you, have they?”[/color]

[color=#b94642]“I take it you don’t read the news much?”[/color] Tony replied dryly. His mouth felt like he had swallowed a bucket of sand.

[color=#f1c232]“Drink,”[/color] Jan instructed, reading Tony’s expression as easily as she did fifteen years ago. [color=#f1c232]“Your sarcasm seems to be intact.”[/color] 

Tony’s eyebrows raised, opening his mouth to respond before a soft finger shushed his lips.

[color=#f1c232]“I know, ‘it’s not the only thing intact’,”[/color] She teased, anticipating his response while mimicking his voice. [color=#f1c232]“Tony, I’m trying to be real with you right now. I know the headlines, I know the gossip columns, but you know as well as I do that I’ve been in enough of them to know just how little truth there is.”[/color]

[color=#b94642]“No,”[/color] Tony replied, [color=#b94642]“The last few years have not been kind, but they were what I needed.” He said, finally sitting up. “I’m trying to be better, someone whose legacy isn’t wrought with death. Someone you could finally be proud of. Y’know a good man, like-”[/color] Tony suddenly realized how grateful he was to be in a hospital. Finishing this sentence might actually kill him.

[color=#b94642]“H-”[/color] He started, the name catching in his throat, he coughed slightly before managing to choke out, [color=#b94642]“Pym.”[/color]

[color=#f1c232]“Hank’s not without his demons, Tony,”[/color] Jan replied softly before a crestfallen expression passed over her face momentarily. [color=#f1c232]“He’s far from perfect, but he cares, in his own way.” [/color]

[CENTER][i][color=#ffffff]♫ (I do) I'm standin' in your line[/color][/i]
[i][color=#ffffff]I do, hope you have the time[/color][/i]
[i][color=#ffffff]I do, pick a number too[/color][/i]
[i][color=#ffffff]I do, keep a date with you ♫[/color][/i][/CENTER]
[color=#b94642]“Jan,”[/color] Tony started, [color=#b94642]“If he’s done something-”[/color]

[color=#f1c232]“Tony, no,” [/color]Jan replied,[color=#f1c232] “This is my relationship, I’m a big girl who can fend for herself. I’m the CEO of Van Dyne Designs, not a nineteen-year-old model wooed by a billionaire.”[/color]

Janet always did know how to make her words sting.

[color=#b94642]“Forgot I said anything, Jan, you’re right, it’s not my place.”[/color]

[color=#f1c232]“Tony, I-”[/color] Jan placed her hand on Tony’s chest again,[color=#f1c232] “I’m sorry, I just don’t want you feeling like I expect you to be some sort of knight in shining armour.”[/color]

[color=#b94642]“No, no, Pym is great, I got it. Won’t happen again.”[/color] 

[color=#f1c232]“Tony, c’mon,”[/color] Jan pleaded, [color=#f1c232]“It’s not like that.”[/color] She rubbed at her collarbone, her hand subconsciously wrapping around her neck before she moved it back to Tony.

[color=#f1c232]“It’s more business than-”[/color] Her words were suddenly interrupted as a man appeared at the door.

[color=#f4cccc]“Ah, there you are. Janet, I assume you’ve taken enough of Mr. Stark’s time?” [/color]It took control of muscle in Tony’s face not to glare at Hank Pym as the man summoned Janet to respond to his beck and call. 

Tony might have messed up once before, but he knew Jan deserved to be treated like a queen. Not some drone that was ordered around. Wincing, Tony swung his legs over the edge of the bed, feeling his body starting to respond again. The room spun slightly as a mild case of vertigo set in.

[color=#b94642]“Still talking to ants, Pym?”[/color] Tony smirked.

[color=#f4cccc]“Last I checked, that’s never killed anyone,”[/color] Pym replied, [color=#f4cccc]“Can you say the same for your line of work?”[/color]

[color=#f1c232]“Boys,”[/color] Jan warned, earning herself a look from Pym. Tony had seen that look before; it was the same look his father had given Tony’s mother whenever she stepped out of whatever imaginary line he had for her.

[color=#f4cccc]“Next time you faint, Stark,” [/color]Pym replied, [color=#f4cccc]“Try to do it around someone else’s girlfriend.”[/color]

[color=#b94642]“I’ll do my best,” [/color]Tony smiled. Turning his head towards Jan, he watched her walk out of his life yet again, smiling sadly as he softly spoke again.  

[color=#b94642]“Jan.”[/color]

[CENTER][i][color=#ffffff]♫ I do [/color][/i]
[i][color=#ffffff] I do ♫[/color][/i][/CENTER][/INDENT][sub][color=#866C51]_[/color][color=#876D51]_[/color][color=#886E52]_[/color][color=#896F53]_[/color][color=#8A7153]_[/color][color=#8C7254]_[/color][color=#8D7355]_[/color][color=#8E7455]_[/color][color=#8F7656]_[/color][color=#907757]_[/color][color=#927857]_[/color][color=#937958]_[/color][color=#947B59]_[/color][color=#957C59]_[/color][color=#977D5A]_[/color][color=#987E5B]_[/color][color=#99805B]_[/color][color=#9A815C]_[/color][color=#9B825D]_[/color][color=#9D835D]_[/color][color=#9E855E]_[/color][color=#9F865F]_[/color][color=#A0875F]_[/color][color=#A28860]_[/color][color=#A38A61]_[/color][color=#A48B61]_[/color][color=#A58C62]_[/color][color=#A68E63]_[/color][color=#A88F63]_[/color][color=#A99064]_[/color][color=#AA9165]_[/color][color=#AB9365]_[/color][color=#AD9466]_[/color][color=#AE9567]_[/color][color=#AF9667]_[/color][color=#B09868]_[/color][color=#B19969]_[/color][color=#B39A69]_[/color][color=#B49B6A]_[/color][color=#B59D6B]_[/color][color=#B69E6B]_[/color][color=#B79F6C]_[/color][color=#B9A06D]_[/color][color=#BAA26D]_[/color][color=#BBA36E]_[/color][color=#BCA46F]_[/color][color=#BEA56F]_[/color][color=#BFA770]_[/color][color=#C0A871]_[/color][color=#C1A971]_[/color][color=#C2AB72]_[/color][color=#C4AC73]_[/color][color=#C5AD73]_[/color][color=#C6AE74]_[/color][color=#C7B075]_[/color][color=#C9B175]_[/color][color=#CAB276]_[/color][color=#CBB377]_[/color][color=#CCB577]_[/color][color=#CDB678]_[/color][color=#CFB779]_[/color][color=#D0B879]_[/color][color=#D1BA7A]_[/color][color=#D2BB7B]_[/color][color=#D4BC7B]_[/color][color=#D5BD7C]_[/color][color=#D6BF7D]_[/color][color=#D7C07D]_[/color][color=#D8C17E]_[/color][color=#DAC27F]_[/color][color=#DBC47F]_[/color][color=#DCC580]_[/color][color=#DDC681]_[/color][color=#DEC781]_[/color][color=#DDC681]_[/color][color=#DCC580]_[/color][color=#DBC47F]_[/color][color=#DAC27F]_[/color][color=#D8C17E]_[/color][color=#D7C07D]_[/color][color=#D6BF7D]_[/color][color=#D5BD7C]_[/color][color=#D4BC7B]_[/color][color=#D2BB7B]_[/color][color=#D1BA7A]_[/color][color=#D0B879]_[/color][color=#CFB779]_[/color][color=#CDB678]_[/color][color=#CCB577]_[/color][color=#CBB377]_[/color][color=#CAB276]_[/color][color=#C9B175]_[/color][color=#C7B075]_[/color][color=#C6AE74]_[/color][color=#C5AD73]_[/color][color=#C4AC73]_[/color][color=#C2AB72]_[/color][color=#C1A971]_[/color][color=#C0A871]_[/color][color=#BFA770]_[/color][color=#BEA56F]_[/color][color=#BCA46F]_[/color][color=#BBA36E]_[/color][color=#BAA26D]_[/color][color=#B9A06D]_[/color][color=#B79F6C]_[/color][color=#B69E6B]_[/color][color=#B59D6B]_[/color][color=#B49B6A]_[/color][color=#B39A69]_[/color][color=#B19969]_[/color][color=#B09868]_[/color][color=#AF9667]_[/color][color=#AE9567]_[/color][color=#AD9466]_[/color][color=#AB9365]_[/color][color=#AA9165]_[/color][color=#A99064]_[/color][color=#A88F63]_[/color][color=#A68E63]_[/color][color=#A58C62]_[/color][color=#A48B61]_[/color][color=#A38A61]_[/color][color=#A28860]_[/color][color=#A0875F]_[/color][color=#9F865F]_[/color][color=#9E855E]_[/color][color=#9D835D]_[/color][color=#9B825D]_[/color][color=#9A815C]_[/color][color=#99805B]_[/color][color=#987E5B]_[/color][color=#977D5A]_[/color][color=#957C59]_[/color][color=#947B59]_[/color][color=#937958]_[/color][color=#927857]_[/color][color=#907757]_[/color][color=#8F7656]_[/color][color=#8E7455]_[/color][color=#8D7355]_[/color][color=#8C7254]_[/color][color=#8A7153]_[/color][color=#896F53]_[/color][color=#886E52]_[/color][color=#876D51]_[/color][/sub]

[INDENT]The ‘City that Never Sleeps’ certainly lived up to its name. 

Between the cold wind and the hustle and bustle of busy sidewalks, Stark was constantly reminded he was far from the palm tree-lined streets and warm sun of home. He had no desire to rent a car from a local club and attempt to drive it in the gridlocked streets of New York. Horns echoed from every direction as the man continued to walk down the sidewalk, dodging out of the way of every person he came across lest one of them accidentally graze against him.

The nurse had been reluctant to discharge Tony from the hospital; more than a few doctors wanted a closer look at the arc reactor in his chest. Drop the word proprietary a couple of times and mention lawyers, though, and it was amazing how quickly Stark managed to talk his way into a discharge.

It was hard to believe a mere month ago, ‘fire trolls’ had overrun these streets while a ragtag team of self-elected avengers pushed back against them. Public opinion was certainly split on them, though, and while you had very vocal detractors like Gordon G. Godfrey and Lionel Luthor, you had more and more who silently accepted these superpowered individuals as heroes. 

A vibration on his wrist alerted Tony to an incoming call. He blinked twice, the contact over his eye activating his cellphone as the subdermal implant in his ear relayed Rhodey’s voice to him.

[color=#9fc5e8]“Where are you?”[/color]

[color=#b94642]“Hi, Honey, I was worried about you too, so glad you called,”[/color] Tony answered with mock sincerity, his tone practically dripping with sarcasm behind the glib cheeriness. 

[color=#9fc5e8]“Seriously, Tony, I brought you here to consult on the Mandarin resurfacing, not to go sightseeing.” [/color]

Tony stopped a street vendor, poking around the various t-shirts and other items he had for sale.

[color=#b94642]“What size are you?”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“What?”[/color] Rhoades asked, his tone exasperated. 

[color=#b94642]“What’s your shirt size?”[/color] Tony asked, picking up a shirt that depicted one of the superpowered heroes from the fire troll attack. [color=#b94642]“You strike me as a Marvel Boy kind of guy.”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“Who?”[/color]

[color=#b94642]“Y’know red tights, blue cape. Big ol’thunder bolt on his chest, it’s almost patriotic.”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“Isn’t that Thor?[/color]”

[color=#b94642]“Pretty sure it’s Marvel Boy,”[/color] Tony replied, holding the shirt up and mouthing the question at the vendor. The vendor shook his head with a smile before replying.

[color=#ffffff]“Nah, my man, that’s like totally Thor, brah.”[/color]

[color=#b94642]“Never mind, Honey,”[/color] Tony put the shirt down with a disgusted expression,[color=#b94642] “They don’t have anything in your size.”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“You’re in an awfully good mood,”[/color] Rhodes accused, his tone suspicious.[color=#9fc5e8] “What’d you do to Jan?”[/color]

[color=#b94642]“I’m appalled. Antonio Howard Stark always respects the boundaries of a relationship.”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“Uh-huh, what was it that happened between you and Miss March in ‘19?”[/color]

[color=#b94642]“Her name was [i]Miss[/i] March,”[/color] Tony argued, [color=#b94642]“How was I supposed to know she was married?”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“Maya Hansen.”[/color]

[color=#b94642]“She was only engaged,”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“Isn’t Jan just dating Pym?”[/color] Rhodes retorted.

[color=#b94642]“They’re common law, that trumps engaged,”[/color] Tony replied playfully as he continued down the street. [color=#b94642]“Do you like blueberries?”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“What?”[/color]

[color=#b94642]“Blueberries,”[/color] Tony repeated, stopping at a vendor as he picked up a fresh quart of the fruit. Popping one into his mouth, his mouth, he bit down on it, savory the flavour. [color=#b94642]“Y’know, nature’s gusher.”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“Wasn’t that your nickname for-”[/color]

[color=#b94642]“Right, Roxie Gilbert!”[/color] Tony answered, finishing Rhodes’ sentence. [color=#b94642]“Her brother had a mean right hook.”[/color] His jaw ached just thinking of it as he rubbed his chin. 

[color=#9fc5e8]“Look, finish your snack and get back here, we’re going to start the debrief in thirty.”[/color]

[color=#b94642]“See you soon, Honey,”[/color] Tony replied before touching his ear to end the call. 

[color=#ffffff]“Yo, my man,”[/color] The t-shirt vendor from moments ago called, waving to catch Tony’s attention. [color=#ffffff]“I’ve got something like totally vintage that might interest you.”[/color]

Curiosity piqued, Tony reversed his path and went back as the man pulled out a red ‘Stark Industries’ logo shirt. There in the middle of the shirt was a gold behemoth of a man clad in armour, wielding Stark weapons, notably a pair of large handguns.

[color=#ffffff]“Like, dude, it’s Iron Man. ‘And he's here to do some business, with the big iron on his hip.’”[/color]

[color=#b94642]“How many of those do you have?”[/color] Stark asked as the man pulled out a cardboard box. Pulling out his wallet, Stark grabbed several crisp bills before passing them to the vendor.

[color=#b94642]“Keep the change,”[/color] Tony instructed, placing his blueberries atop of the box before picking up the collection of t-shirts and walking off. 

Tonight, he was having a bonfire.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/COLOR]