Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: I don’t own Avengers or Iron Man. I do own Rebecca Stark and Elizabeth Stark. 

Authoress Note: Welcome to Book 2 of Stark Dynasty: Together in This. I’m excited to show you guys what happens in this story. We are now going to be dealing with Iron Man and going into the Avengers. I know that you guys are probably curious about what this story is going to entail, and I’m happy to show you. Without further ado, Chapter 1 of Together In This. ENJOY!

CHAPTER 1

A blonde-haired woman dressed in a blue gown sat next to Obadiah Stane for the award ceremony for Tony. She chewed the inside of her cheek as she looked over at the empty seat that was next to her, which belonged to Tony. “He’s still not here.” She pointed out to Obadiah. 

“If he doesn’t show up, we’ll handle it, Becca,” Obadiah said, offering her a small smile. “I know you worry about your cousin.” 

“That’s an understatement.” She said with a shake of her head, letting out a soft breath. She knew that Tony was probably out doing something that wasn’t a good thing. 

“And how do you feel about your daughter going with Tony overseas?” Obadiah asked, his brows furrowing slightly at the thought. 

“Tony was the one who asked. Thought it would be wise to have her learn the company now, even though she is only a teenager.” Rebecca said, letting out a soft breath, pushing some of her hair back. 

“I’m sure that Elizabeth will do wonderful overseas with Tony. She’s just as smart as you and Tony… as well as Dorothy and Howard. Howard would be happy to see three generations of Starks making the company proud.” 

Rebecca let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head lightly as the lights dimmed around them, alerting her that the ceremony was about to begin. She chewed the inside of her cheek, wondering how she and Obadiah were going to handle what was to come next when the award was awarded. 

“Tony Stark. Visionary. Genius. American patriot. Even from an early age, the son of legendary weapons developer Howard Stark quickly stole the spotlight with his brilliant and unique mind. At age four, he built his first circuit board. At age six, his first engine. And at 17, he graduated summa cum laude from MIT. Then, the passing of a titan. Howard Stark's lifelong friend and ally, Obadiah Stane, steps in to help fill the gap left by the legendary founder, until, at age 21, the prodigal son returns and is anointed the new CEO of Stark Industries. With the keys to the kingdom, Tony ushers in a new era for his father's legacy, creating smarter weapons, advanced robotics, and satellite targeting. Today, Tony Stark has changed the face of the weapons industry by ensuring freedom and protecting America and her interests around the globe.” 

There was clapping all around the room, cheering that Tony was being awarded this award. 

Rebecca watched as Rhodey took his place at the podium. She knew that this wasn’t going to end well when he found out that Tony wasn’t there. 

“As liaison to Stark Industries, I've had the unique privilege of serving with a real patriot. He is my friend, and he is my great mentor. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present this year's Apogee Award to Mr. Tony Stark. Tony?” Rhodey called out his friend, but seeing that there was no movement from Tony. He didn’t even see Tony out there. 

Obadiah got up to his feet, offering his arm to Rebecca, who took it slowly. He led her up towards the stage.

Rebecca chewed the inside of her cheek as she stood next to Obadiah. 

“Thank you, Colonel,” Obadiah said with a smile as he looked at Rhodey. 

Rhodey leaned forward. “Thanks for the save.” He said, thanking the two of them. 

Rebecca nodded her head. “Anything to help. I know my cousin is a bit lax when it comes to these things.” She said with a shake of her head.

Obadiah took the award from Rhodey, holding it in his hands for a moment, and then handed it to Rebecca. “This is beautiful. Thank you. Thank you all very much. This is wonderful. Well, I'm not Tony Stark. But if I were Tony, I would tell you how honored I feel and what a joy it is to receive this very prestigious award. Tony, you know...The best thing about Tony is also the worst thing. He's always working.” 

The crowd laughed at the joke that he had made. 

Rebecca looked at the award and let out a soft breath. She looked at Rhodey. “I’ll go with you to find him.”

Rhodey nodded his head in understanding. He knew that Rebecca would be a great help in finding his friend and her cousin. 

XXXXXX

Tony rolled the dice with a grin on his face. “Work it! Come on! We should just stay till the morning.” 

“You are unbelievable.” The woman said as she hung over Tony’s shoulder. 

“Oh, no! Did they rope you into this?” Tony said as he looked at Rhodey and his cousin as they came into view. 

“Nobody roped me into anything!” Rhodey said with a cross of his arms. 

“You'd better have a good reason for missing it, Tony. I reminded you countless times about this, and you still missed it.” Rebecca said as she looked at her cousin. 

“I'm so sorry,” Tony said as he looked at the two of them. 

“But they told me that if I presented you with an award, you'd be deeply honored,” Rhodey said as he looked at his friend. 

“Of course I'd be deeply honored. And it's you, that's great. So, when do we do it?” 

“It's right here. Here you go.” Rhodey said as he put the award down on the table. 

“There it is. That was easy. I'm so sorry.” 

“Yeah, it's okay.” 

“Wow! Would you look at that? That's something else. I don't have any of those floating around. Uh, we're gonna let it ride! Give me a hand, will you? Give me a little something-something.” 

A hot woman blew on the dice. 

“Okay, you, too,” Tony said as he held out the dice to Rhodey as well. 

“I don't blow on a man's dice.” 

“Come on, honey bear.” 

Rebecca shook her head lightly, knowing that this was almost impossible to handle. 

“I don't blow on a man's dice,” Rhodey said as he knocked away Tony’s hand, causing the dice to roll. 

“There it is. Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes rolls! And…” 

“Two craps. Line away.” The dealer said as he took the tokens from the table. 

“That's what happens,” Rhodey said, looking at his friend.

“You think that’s what he’s worried about?” Rebecca questioned as she looked at Rhodey. 

Tony shrugged his shoulders as he looked at Rhodey with a boyish grin. “Worse things have happened. I think we're gonna be fine. Color me up, will ya?” 

XXXXXX

Rhodey, Tony, Rebecca, and Happy walked towards the exit of the casino. 

“This is where I exit,” Rhodey said as he headed towards the door. 

“All right,” Tony said with a wave of his hand. 

“Tomorrow, don't be late.” 

“Yeah, you can count on it.” 

“I'm serious!” 

“I know, I know,” Tony said as he handed the award to Caesar. “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's. There you go.” 

“We have a little bit to talk about Tony before you go home,” Rebecca said as they continued on their way to the exit.

“You’re worried about Liz coming with me.” 

“She’s only a teenager, Tony,” Rebecca said as she looked at Tony as they walked. 

“She is a Stark just like you are and Aunt Dottie.” Tony pointed out, looking over at her. “It’s time for her to start learning the family business. Besides, she’ll be safe with us. She’ll have full military protection.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about, Tony, and you know it. I’m worried that you’re taking my daughter out there to show her what Uncle Howard always did… and you’ve only made the weapons smarter…”

“She’ll be fine. I promise you that she’ll be fine.” Tony said, putting his hand on her shoulders, squeezing them softly in reassurance that his young teenage cousin would be alright with him and Rhodey. 

Rebecca let out a soft breath and nodded her head softly. “Alright. I’m holding you to that.” 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

This is the end of Chapter 1 of Together in This. I hope that you guys enjoyed this chapter. I tried my best with writing this chapter out and making it as long as possible. I hope that it turned out well. Please leave a review and let me know what you think of this chapter. Reviews help keep me going when it comes to writing. I’m excited to show you guys what happens next. Until next time. 

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 2

Rebecca sat on the stairs that led up to the plane, waiting for Tony to show up. Her daughter was already on the plane waiting. She let out a breath as she watched Tony pull to a stop with his car and Happy in the other car. 

Tony got out of his car, shouting at Happy. “You're good. I thought I lost you back there.” 

“You did, sir.” Happy said as he grabbed Tony’s things from the trunk. “I had to cut across Mulholland.” 

“I got you. I got you.” 

Rebecca got off the stairs as Tony came towards her. She let out a breath, shaking her head lightly. “Late night, Tony?”

Tony patted his cousin’s shoulder with a grin. “Yep, you know me so well.” He said with a wink. 

Rebecca let out a breath, shaking her head lightly. “You take good care of her.” 

“I promise. She’ll be alright with us.” 

Rebecca let out a breath as she moved towards her car. “I’m holding you to it, Tony.”

Tony waved his hand as he headed up the stairs to the plane. 

“What's wrong with you?” Rhodey questioned as he looked at his friend standing at the jet’s doorway. 

“What?” 

“Three hours.” 

“I got caught doing a piece for Vanity Fair.” 

“For three hours. For three hours, you got me standing here. And Elizabeth has been waiting just as long.” 

“Waiting on you now. Let's go. Come on. Wheels up! Rock and roll!” Tony said as he went inside the plane. 

Elizabeth looked up from the book that she had been reading. “Running a bit late, aren’t you, Tony?” She questioned, her brow raising slightly. 

Tony came up to her and ruffled her dark hair. “Piece for Vanity Fair.” 

Elizabeth shook her head lightly. “I have a feeling there is more to that story, which I do not want to know.” She said with a wave of her hand, knowing how her cousin was when it came to women. She had many horror stories from her mother, and she didn’t want to know any more than that. 

XXXXXX

Tony looked over at what Rhodey was reading. “What are you reading, platypus?” 

“Nothing,” Rhodey said as he moved away from Tony, moving closer to Elizabeth, who sat next to him. 

“Come on, sour patch.” Tony mused as he tried to look again. 

“I'm not sour.” 

“Don't be mad.”

“I told you, I'm not mad. I'm indifferent, okay?” Rhodey questioned as he looked over at his friend. 

“I said I was sorry.” 

A flight attendant came up to them. “Good morning, Mr. Stark.” 

“You don't need to apologize to me,” Rhodey said with a shake of his head. 

“I told you I was sorry.”

“I'm your man.”

“Hi. I told him I was sorry, but he…” He said as he looked at the flight attendant. 

“I'm just indifferent right now.” 

“Hot towel?” 

“You don't respect yourself, so I know you don't respect me.” 

“I respect you.” 

Elizabeth rolled her eyes as she read her book that she had in her hands. 

“I'm just your babysitter. So, when you need your diaper changed…” Rhodey grabbed a hot towel. “Thank you. Let me know, and I'll get you a bottle, okay?” 

“Hey! Heat up the sake, will you? Thanks for reminding me.” Tony said with a grin. 

“You promised Mom you wouldn’t be drinking around me,” Elizabeth said as she looked over at her cousin. 

Rhodey nodded his head in agreement. “I'm not talking... We're not drinking. We're working right now.”

“You can't have sashimi without sake.”

“You are constitutionally incapable of being responsible. And you made a promise to Rebecca to watch Lizzy.” 

“It would be irresponsible not to drink. I'm just talking about a nightcap.” Tony said, looking at the two of them. 

“Hot sake?” The second flight attendant asked, looking at Tony with a smile. 

“Yes, two, please.” 

“No. Just-- I'm not drinking. I don't want any.” Rhodey said, shaking his head. He didn’t like the idea of drinking in front of Elizabeth. He was making sure that she was safe on this flight, if Tony wasn’t going to make sure she wasn’t safe. 

“Go ahead, Rhodey,” Elizabeth said as she turned the page in her book. “You can have one… I mean, we’re fine in the air. 

Tony patted his friend’s shoulder. “See, even Liz is okay with this.” 

“I’m not okay with it, Tony, I just don’t care.” She said as she looked up at her cousin from her book. Her hazel eyes locked with his own. 

Tony grinned. “I knew you were more like me than a little.” 

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, shaking her head lightly. 

XXXXXX

Elizabeth sat on the other couch, still reading her book, as music played on the plane. She looked over at Rhodey and Tony, who were already drunk off the sake that they had drunk. She shook her head lightly as the flight attendants danced around them. “Mom is sure going to enjoy hearing about this.” She thought to herself as she went back to her book. 

“That's what I'm talking about. When I get up in the morning, and I'm putting on my uniform, you know what I recognize? I see in that mirror that every person who's got this uniform on has my back!” 

“Hey, you know what? I'm not like you. I'm not cut out…” Tony said, waving his hand as he ordered another sake for them to drink.

Rhodey shook his head. “No, no. You don't have to be like me! But you're more than what you are.”

“Can you excuse me if I'm a bit distracted here?” 

“No! You can't be distracted right now! Listen to me!” 

Elizabeth knew that Tony wasn’t going to pay much attention to Rhodey now that he had a distraction before him. 

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 3

Bagram Air Base

Afghanistan

Tony came up to the General, shaking his hand. “General.” 

“Welcome, Mr. Stark. We look forward to your weapons presentation.” 

“Thanks. This is my younger cousin, Elizabeth Stark. She’s learning about the business.” 

“Welcome, Miss Stark.” The general said, shaking her hand as well. 

“You too, sir.” She said politely, offering the man a small, shy smile. Her heart raced slightly in her chest, wondering what would happen during this presentation of the weapon that Tony had made. 

XXXXXX

Elizabeth stood with the military, watching Tony with a careful gaze. She hadn’t even heard which weapon he was going to be talking about this time around. She had heard stories of how many weapons he created. And this weapon was the first one that she was going to be around to actually see. 

“Is it better to be feared or respected? I say, is it too much to ask for both? With that in mind, I humbly present the crown jewel of Stark Industries' Freedom Line. It's the first missile system to incorporate our proprietary repulsor technology. They say the best weapon is one you never have to fire. I respectfully disagree. I prefer the weapon that you only have to fire once. That's how Dad did it. That's how America does it. And it's worked out pretty well so far. Find an excuse to let one of these off the chain, and I personally guarantee you the bad guys won't even want to come out of their caves.” 

The missiles were launched into the air. 

“For your consideration, the Jericho.” 

The missiles exploded, causing a huge rush of debris to come towards them. 

Elizabeth brought her hand up to her mouth to make sure that she didn’t get debris into her mouth. She let out a breath as the dust cleared. She watched as Tony opened a cooler full of alcohol. 

“I'll be throwing one of these in with every purchase of 500 million or more. To peace!” Tony said with a smile. His phone began to ring. He flipped it open to answer it. 

“Tony. Lizzy.” Obadiah said with a smile as he looked at the two of them. 

“Obie, what are you doing up?” Tony questioned with his brows furrowed together. 

“I couldn't sleep till I found out how it went. How'd it go?” 

“It went great. Looks like it's gonna be an early Christmas.” 

“Hey! Way to go, my boy! I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?” 

“Why aren't you wearing those pajamas I got you?” 

“Good night, Tony.” 

Tony hung up his phone and looked at Elizabeth. “Ride with Rhodey, alright?” 

Elizabeth chewed the inside of her cheek and nodded her head. “Alright.” 

Tony got into another military vehicle. 

Rhodey walked up to Tony. “Hey, Tony.” 

“I'm sorry, this is the 'fun-vee." The "'dum-drum-vee"' is back there.” 

“Nice job.” 

“See you back at base. Keep an eye on Lizzy, okay?” 

“You know I’ll protect her. She’s like a niece to me, you know that.” 

Tony patted his friend’s shoulder, giving him a small smile. “I know Rebecca will be pleased with knowing that.” 

Rhodey came back to the Humvee that was towards the back. “You alright, kiddo?” He questioned as he looked at her, seeing that she had a worried gaze on her face. 

Elizabeth took a breath. “Just kind of worried. Is that wrong of me to be worried?” She asked softly, looking at Rhodey, her brows pinching together in worry. 

“It’s alright to be worried because we’re in a hot spot.” 

Elizabeth chewed the inside of her cheek. “You’re not riding with Tony?” 

“He wanted me with you.” 

“He said the same thing.”

Rhodey patted her shoulder as he got into the Humvee with her. “I’ll protect you, you know that, Liz.” 

“I know.” 

XXXXXX

Loud gunfire could be heard ahead of them.

Elizabeth swallowed the lump in her throat in worry. Her hands grasped tightly in her lap in nervousness. “Rhodey… Tony…” 

“Don’t worry, kiddo. Stay in here.”

Elizabeth nodded her head weakly. 

Rhodey carefully leaned forward and grabbed something. He put a pair of headphones over Elizabeth’s ears. 

Elizabeth looked up at him with her brows furrowed in confusion. 

“To help with the noise.” He said, gesturing to the outside. He knew that she was going to be worried about Tony. But he needed to protect Elizabeth, too. That was something that Tony wanted him to do, no matter what, to make sure that she was safe. Now he wished that Tony hadn’t talked Elizabeth into going with them. 

XXXXXX

Back at the air base, Elizabeth waited nervously for Rhodey to return. She was worried that something had happened to Tony. What was she going to do? How was she going to tell her mother and grandmother that something had happened to Tony? She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, knowing that she needed to call her mother to at least let her mother know that she was alright. She opened a video chat as she chewed on the inside of her cheek. 

“Elizabeth… how did things go there?” Rebecca asked as soon as she got on the video call. She noticed the fearful look on her daughter’s face. “Lizzy, what happened?” 

“Don’t get scared, Mom… but there was an ambush…”

“Ambush? You and Tony are alright?” She asked softly, worry etched across her face. 

“Rhodey made sure I was safe, but Mom, I don’t know about Tony… no one has said a single word about Tony since we made it back to base.”

“I’m sure they’re looking for him,” Rebecca said to herself, trying to calm herself down, knowing that the company was now in their hands more than Tony’s and Obadiah’s. Meaning that they were going to have to run the company the best that they could until Tony was brought back.

“What do we do?” Elizabeth asked softly. 

“Run the company like Uncle Howard wanted us to. And how Tony would. You get on the next flight with Rhodey and get home.” 

“I will, Mom.”