When Nick Fury found Tony, he was wearing that flashy Iron Armor, lounging atop the giant doughnut sign outside a burger joint and wolfing down a freshly baked cheese pizza.
Half a minute later, they were seated inside the fairly famous burger joint, having ordered a combo meal as well.
"I don't want to join your super-boy team." Tony rejected the one-eyed Black man's proposal without a second thought.
Iron Man had never needed teamwork. He alone could protect New York and defend the world.
Deep down, Tony hated working for the national government. He had no intention of following in his father's footsteps, using money to win political capital and gain higher status. This freedom-loving Iron Man utterly despised being bound by rules and regulations.
"Your condition is terrible, Tony." Nick Fury looked at the mustached man across from him and said gravely, "You appointed Pepper Potts as CEO, gave your assets away left and right, and even let your friend fly off in Iron Armor... Are you putting your affairs in order?"
The one-eyed director had invited Tony before. Once the Avengers Initiative had been approved by the World Security Council, he had approached Iron Man, but the high-spirited Stark had flatly refused. Knowing the time was not yet right, Nick Fury had not pressed the matter.
He had dealt with Howard Stark for some time and knew that father and son shared a remarkably similar pride and stubbornness. Only after palladium poisoning and public pressure had left Tony struggling for breath did Nick Fury come calling again. After all, help in a snowstorm always inspired more gratitude than icing on the cake.
"No, I'm doing great!"
Tony shook his head in rebuttal. A trace of ease showed through his exhausted face. "A few hours ago, Sean gave