It's hard not to think of Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark, but the man in front of me looks virtually nothing like him, and it's not just because he has to be atleast 20 years younger than RDJ was in the first movie, his beard and hair lack any grey, and there's no wrinkles around his eyes. The lack of RDJ's previous cocaine-fueled existance probably helps too, even if this Tony Stark has a tendency to look too deeply in the bottle if I remember my comic history right.
And I don't know who he thinks he's kidding, because unless plate metal undershirts are current high fashion among the obscenely rich, he's clearly wearing the bulky chest plate from his armor underneath his expensive, tailored suit. Apparently even Stark is stuck with early 60's technology up to a certain point, no "arc reactors" to keep his heart going for this guy. Must put a bit of a crimp on his dating life too.
"Mr Stark" I get up from the bed, correcting the flag bandana as I do, and shake his offered hand "I really appreciate you offering me a place to stay, it's a hell of a trade up from my old place, that's for sure!"
Stark smiles and nods "It's the least I could do, Iron Man told me all about what a help you were during the Loki incident. Not a lot of people would respond to an emergency transmission like you did, and even fewer would try to talk the Hulk down. I think you made quite an impression on him."
I shrug sheepishly "It's not as heroic as it sounds, the other Avengers did most of the actual muscle work, I just figured words might work since trying to punch the guy hadn't worked very well so far."
"Still, I'd say it's fortunate that you did, I was amazed to hear that Dr. Banner was the Hulk this whole time, it would have been a tragedy to lose such a brilliant mind to self-exile."
"I trust you won't spread that around, Dr. Banner has it hard enough as it is without his identity being leaked."
Stark stiffens and shakes his head "Certainly not, what the military has done to him... It's absolutely monstrous. I'm going to try to use my own resources to help him, but..."
I nod "Yeah, I imagine dealing with the government is a bit of an uphill battle."
He gives a resigned chuckle, running his hand through his hair "Pal, you don't know the half of it, you wouldn't believe the hooplah they've been kicking up over the technology I equipped Iron Man with, they just cannot stand the idea of anyone having nicer toys than they do, even if the toys they already have can blow the planet up a dozen times over." He shakes his head "But enough about that sorry business, I wanted to ask you a favor..."
"Yes?"
"Well, I got to admit, I'm a bit curious about your powers..."
....
Tony's personal labratory at Stark Industries is probably as cutting edge as it gets in 1963, atleast outside the Fantastic Four building, which is probably an unfair comparison since atleast some of the tech there is literally out of this world, but for someone from 2020 and it's technological wonders, such as they were, even Tony Stark doesn't quite impress as much as he should.
I never thought I'd see a computer with tape storage outside a museum, but then again, this past week has been full of surprises.
I still make a show of oohing and aahing as Stark gives me and Dr. Banner a personal tour, after making sure we're away from the curious eyes of his staff. And to be fair, a lot of the actual projects he's working on here are pretty impressive stuff, even if the technology used for them are 50 years behind anything I'm familiar with. Banner, understandably, looks like christmas came early, but considering he's been on the run for the past year, he's probably elated to have access to science equipment he didn't have to dig out of the trash.
We finally come to a stop in front of a giant monitor that takes up most of the northern wall of the lab, the monochrome screen showing off various formulas and numbers I can't even begin to comprehend.
"See, Iron Man's description of your abilities made me very curious, Mr. Sunshine." Stark says as he begins typing something on the massive keyboard "The way he described it, you somehow have the ability to...manipulate sunlight for various effects, is that correct?"
I shrug "Some sort of light anyway, I just assumed it was sunlight since it looks golden, and spending time outside during the day makes me feel like my powers are more charged."
Banner nods along, intrigued "Fascinating, it's as if you're somehow able to filter the sunlight through your skin and store it for later use. I only share the Hulk's memories in vague terms, but I seem to remember you using light blasts? And moving very quickly."
"Somehow converting the sunlight into near-lightspeed and actual physical attacks, the physical process required for that..." Stark adds, looking thoughtful "Are those the only abilities you have access to? If you truly have control over light, there's theoretically far more you should be able to do. Invisibility, just as an example."
"Honestly, it's just the ones I've figured out so far" I respond, scratching the back of my head awkwardly "I didn't do so well in physics in school, the idea of using light for speed was pretty much the only thing I could think of off the top of my head. I mean, I do remember something about light being necessary for visibility, but wouldn't blocking that off make me blind too?"
Stark turns around, a grin on his face "Powers never quite seem to do things the way they're supposed to."
.....
"I gotta hand it to you, Mr. Stark, when you're right, you're right!"
Stark just nods absentmindedly as he watches my hand fade from view and back again. I'm not quite brave enough to try it on my whole body yet, but after Stark gave me a, what I can best describe as a Photonics For Dummies lecture and guided me through the theory he had, I actually managed to channel my power to deflect light as well, allowing me to turn myself invisible.
I just hope I can figure out how to do it on my entire body without blinding myself, otherwise I'll have to turn myself into a pair of disembodied eyeballs every time I try to use it.
Stark pokes curiously at the empty space where my hand is, grinning as he touches the invisible limb "Even after what Iron Man told me, this is far beyond anything I expected."
"It can't be that shocking, there's a girl across town who can turn her entire body invisible no problem. And that's not even touching on the rock guy or the literal human torch she lives with."
Stark gives a dismissive wave "Yes yes, but that had an explained cause, as ridiculous as cosmic radiation might sound, but from what you've told me, you just woke up one day, and your powers were just there?"
"Your bloodwork is very unusual too" Dr. Banner says, staring through the microscope at the blood sample I gave him, under the strict condition it be destroyed as soon as he was done "The only thing close to it I've ever seen is my own, but even then, it doesn't really compare. You really have no idea how you came into your abilities?"
I shift uncomfortably, trying to think of a good explanation. I don't actually have confirmation that I'm a mutant, it just seemed to be the most reasonable idea when I first woke up and discovered my powers, but I guess anything could technically have happened to me while I was out to cause this transformation. Still, with what Banner said about my blood, it remains the most likely scenario. "Do you guys know what a mutant is?"
Stark glances back at Banner before turning back to me "You mean an organism with a new genetic character? Yeah, why?"
I shake my head "No, I mean... well, yes actually, but I meant like, more specifically, you know what a human mutant is? The kind with superpowers?"
Stark just stares blankly, but Banner lifts his head from the microscope "That does sound familiar... but from what I've heard, it's mostly considered to be pseudoscientific bunk. There's been records of people who were born with their powers rather than being given them by some accident or experiment later in life, I remember reading a study on a man with telekinetic powers named Tad Carter a few years ago that claimed he was born with them. And then there's the case of Ted Lestron, The Man With the Atomic Brain..."
Stark chuckles "Jesus, who come up with these names?"
I shrug "All I know is that I went to sleep one day with no powers and woke up the next day with powers, I don't know if I'm just a late bloomer or what. I think I would remember if I got hit by space radiation or something."
"Well, regardless of the source of your abilites, you'll always be an important part of the Avengers!" Stark says, patting my shoulder before walking over to the computer console "After all, Iron Man had nothing but good things to say about you."
Okay, this is getting painful "Mr. Stark, may I be frank?"
He turns around, a quizzical look on his face "About..?"
"I already know you're Iron Man"