Washington, D.C. — The Hearing
The chamber was packed.
Senators.
Military officials.
Observers from every agency that mattered.
Cameras lined the walls.
At the front—
Tony Stark stood alone.
Behind him, seated quietly—
Alex, Veronica, and Pepper.
Alex's posture was relaxed, unreadable.
Veronica sat straight, composed—but alert.
Pepper held her tablet, already anticipating damage control.
The gavel struck.
The hearing began.
Old Friends
As Tony took his place, Alex's eyes shifted.
James Rhodes sat among the military representatives.
Rhodey noticed.
Their eyes met.
Alex nodded once.
Veronica followed.
Rhodey nodded back.
No words needed.
Tony vs. the Senate
The accusations came fast.
Weaponization.
National security risk.
Ownership of the Iron Man armor.
Tony listened.
Then smiled.
Bad idea for them.
He spoke with confidence—arrogant, yes, but sharp.
"You want my suit?" Tony said casually.
"You can't have it."
Murmurs filled the room.
Alex leaned back slightly.
Veronica whispered, "He's enjoying this."
"He always does," Alex replied calmly.
Tony dismantled them point by point.
Technology gap: decades ahead.
Replication: impossible without him.
Control: already proven.
When Senator Stern pushed—
Tony pushed back harder.
"I've successfully privatized world peace."
Silence.
The Turning Point
They tried to corner him.
Tried to shame him.
Tried to scare him.
Tony only smiled wider.
"I'm Iron Man."
"Not a weapon."
"A system."
"And it's not for sale."
Alex watched closely.
Not worried.
Tony didn't need saving today.
Verdict
By the end—
The senators had nothing left.
No leverage.
No authority.
Tony had won.
The gavel struck again.
Hearing adjourned.
Aftermath
As they stood—
Rhodey glanced back once more.
Concern flickered in his eyes.
Alex caught it.
He already knew what was coming.
As they exited the chamber—
Pepper exhaled. "We survived."
Veronica smiled faintly. "Barely."
Alex glanced toward the ceiling, sensing distant ripples.
Washington was done.
But the game wasn't.
Not even close.