The atmosphere in the lobby of Stark Industries shifted from celebratory to surreal the moment Tony Stark bypassed the podium and sat on the floor. It was a move so uncharacteristic of the "Merchant of Death" that the room went into a collective confusion.
"Hey, would it be all right if everyone sat down? I heard it has miraculous effects when you eat while sitting down on the floor," Tony said as he took out a cheeseburger from the pocket of his suit jacket.
"Why don't you just sit down? That way, you can see me, and I can see you properly; it's also a little less formal," Tony finished, swallowing a mouthful of the burger.
The reporters looked at one another and then slowly sat down on the floor; even Obadiah sat down on the podium floor next to Tony.
Adam also sat down and watched all this happen, with a smile at the corner of his lips. He was in his Spectator mode, as he had come to call it, observing and analyzing everything happening in the room: how some of the reporters grimaced as they sat down, how Phil Coulson looked at the podium as if billionaires sat on the floor to tell stories every day of the week. He took everything in while dulling his presence from the room. This was no longer a press conference for him; it became a stage where people performed to entertain him, the Spectator.
'Hopefully, a good amount of my potion will be digested here,' Adam thought as he observed the drama on the podium. 'It's going to be a nightmare to manage the fallout of this. How did Pepper manage this in the movie?' Adam lamented that his workload might increase once again.
During the three months of Tony's absence, Adam had digested about eighty percent of his potion simply by spectating the corporate fight at Stark Industries about who would become the CEO after Tony, and some from spectating random fights in the nightlife of New York.
Rhodey approached from the back and sat down next to Pepper. "What's up with the lovin'?" he asked her, not taking his eyes away from the podium.
"Don't look at me. I don't know what he's up to. I mean, it's Tony we're talking about," Pepper replied.
Rhodey opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came; he closed his mouth and nodded in understanding.
"Good to see you," Tony said while looking at Obadiah. "I never got to say goodbye to Dad." Obadiah placed a hand on his shoulder, giving comfort.
Then Tony turned toward the reporters and repeated a bit louder. "I never got to say goodbye to my father. There are questions that I would've asked him. I would've asked him how he felt about what this company did. If he was conflicted, if he ever had doubts," he said while wiping his mouth. "Or maybe he was every inch the man we all remember from the newsreels."
"I saw young Americans killed by the very weapons I created to defend them and protect them," he said, looking around the room to take in everything.
The lobby fell silent, the only sounds piercing the air being the rhythmic click of camera flashes and Tony's voice. Adam observed the impact Tony's words had on the reporters and, most importantly, Obadiah; he saw the calculating gleam in the man's eyes hidden behind the fake concern he showed for Tony.
"And I saw that I had become a part of a system that is comfortable with zero accountability." As he finished speaking, one reporter raised his hand to ask a question. Tony signaled him to ask the question.
"What happened over there?" the reporter asked, pen poised over his notebook.
As if Tony's body had been injected with a sudden jolt of raw energy, he stood up from the podium floor abruptly and walked back toward the lectern. "I had my eyes opened. I came to realize that I have more to offer this world than just making things that blow up, and that is why, effective immediately, I am shutting down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark Industries."
Chaos erupted as every reporter stood up from their place, shoved the mics they were carrying in his direction, and Obadiah also got up abruptly and came to Tony's side with a smile to do damage control. "Until such a time as I can decide what the future of this company will be—what direction it should take; one that I am comfortable with and is consistent with the highest good for this country as well."
Pepper gaped at the announcement while Rhodey looked disappointed in Tony.
As for Adam, he was nursing a preemptive headache, even with his enhanced mind. 'He does everything with a bang, doesn't he? And now Pepper and I will look like zombies when it's all done. Does he even think about what his decisions will cost?' Adam complained in his mind while not letting anything appear on his neutral face. But his perfect control failed him this time as his left eye twitched.
Obadiah gently steered Tony away from the podium and took the microphone. "What we should take away from this is that Tony's back! And he's healthier than ever," he spoke, trying to mitigate the damage that was already done.
Adam watched as Tony left. The reporters were swarming him from all directions.
When he was out of the building and in his car, the reporters turned towards Pepper, who looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here.
"Miss Potts, can you please explain the reason why Mr. Stark is taking such a big decision?" One reporter asked.
"Is the Board of Directors in on this?" Another asked.
Adam stepped between Pepper and the mob, subtly shielding her. "Miss Potts does not have the answers, as she was not informed of this decision in advance. Thank you. Now, excuse us."
He led Pepper out of the building and into the waiting car, leaving the madness of Stark Industries behind.