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Post by Countess on Sept 13, 2024 23:09:58 GMT
The car pulls up to the expansive estate, Barbara no stranger to such ostentatiousness. She grew up running around the Wayne manor- they are certainly two peas in a pod, Bruce and Tony. Not that she would tell either of them. She smothers a smile at the thought. Now she wants to see them in a room. The constant one upping would be... ridiculously, unintentionally homoerotic. Barbara is very, very sure there is fanfic of them out there in the world.
When Desiree, of all people in the damn world, contacted her last week, she almost blew her off completely. Barbara is not her friend, nor her ally, not even a fan. In all actuality, she is actually deeply hopeful that Desiree Allard would get what is coming to her. Not in a revenge kind of way, but that... you reap what you sow irony kind of way. The woman had broken the heart of one of her very good friends, Roy Harper. That is enough for her to get the perpetual enmity of Barbara.
Babs wouldn't do anything outright malicious... but Desiree has certainly has had a great deal of issues here and there where Barbara can send it. Amazon packages always getting lost, strange subscriptions, glitter bombs, red lights that last a little too long... Just minor, petty inconveniences.
Regardless- when she cad contacted Babs, she almost hung up on her, but when she made her snooty, uppity case about Tony... The pettiness melted into the background. It was... important. She could tell. The mere fact she wanted Barbara there in person, instead of over a call spoke volumes.
"When you see him, you will understand. He needs your help."
How could she say no?
So now, she is getting out of the rental car on his Malibu estate. That is really the only way to describe this place... At least it has a view. Barbara had seen it before, many times before, but being there in person really made a vast difference. Steeling herself, as she really has no idea what she is walking into, Babs goes up to the door and rings the bell.
This better not be a joke.
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Post by Nomz on Sept 14, 2024 0:46:59 GMT
The best thing about his workspace is that all the metal tables were always, always so very cool to the touch. Which, honestly, is a fantastic thing for when Tony is at his absolute limit and needs to cool down. This is exactly where Tony has his face plastered when he hears the doorbell echo from upstairs, his music automatically lowering so it can be heard over the din.
Brown eyes open wearily as Tony hesitates. "Jarvis. Is that a telemarketer?"
"Telemarketers do not go door-to-door," is the immediate, soft reply.
He pushes himself up slowly, mindful of the way the motion makes his head spin. "Then who-"
"That would be Ms. Gordon. Des set up an appointment between you two."
Tony blinks once. Twice.
"She did what- She's here?!" His stool tips over as Tony pushes himself to his feet, but he does not stop to correct it. Out of everything he had planned today, meeting up with one of the most intelligent people he's ever met had not been on the itinerary (not that he ever reads his itinerary). "Hit the speaker and let her know I'm coming."
"Understood, Sir."
Tony tries to take the stairs two at a time and quickly realizes that he's long since lost the ability to do that after the second attempt. He swallows hard before grasping for the railing and half pulling himself up the rest of the staircase. Jarvis' voice can be heard from inside the home as he addresses Barbara.
"Good day, Ms. Gordon. I have alerted Mr. Stark of your presence and he is on his way."
Trembling hands try to straighten his ratty tank top as Tony wheezes a little for breath. He knows there is nothing to be done about his oil and grease-stained, grey sweats and he, thankfully, does not catch sight of his bedhead before he swings the door open.
"Ms. Gordon," he tries to sound warm and pleasantly surprised. It may have worked if he had looked different. The last time the world saw Tony Stark, his skin was tanned, his eyes were bright with mischief, and he was a poster boy of health.
The man before Barbara looks like he should be in a hospital bed. His skin has paled considerably. The dark circles under his eyes can compete with Drake's, and Tony looks like a strong wind could push him down for the count.
"It's a pleasure to see you. Welcome to my home," Tony manages a smile even as he steps back to pull the door open more in invitation.
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Post by Countess on Sept 14, 2024 2:19:01 GMT
"Hey Jarvis," Barbara says, pleased to hear him. "Hope you are doing well," she says, knowing he is AI, but sometimes manners wins out. "Can I get any spoilers for my meeting her today...?" she asks, a but conspiratorially. Des had certainly gotten both her attention and curiosity with all of this- as well as her concern. It could be anything. Really- because knowing Tony...
And there he is.
Looking like... he is on death's door.
All of the color leaves Barbara's face. Thousands of possible answers go through her head- but only he knows which is the right one.
She is utterly at a loss. There are no words to be said for a time.
Care surges through her. Barbara clenches her hands, fighting the urge to hold him. They are coworkers- yet he holds a place in her heart that is near-familial. She cares, so deeply.
"Tony, please, what happened?" Barbara asks, taking tentative steps in. "How can I help?"
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Post by Nomz on Sept 14, 2024 3:42:33 GMT
Tony watches as Barbara seems to pause and the color drains from his face. Perhaps straightening his shirt hadn't helped as much as he had hoped. He notices her hands clench and, vaguely wonders if she's going to hit him, but he throws that idea out almost as soon as it forms. This is Barbara. There is a reason he wanted her in on the know.
He gestures for her to keep coming in until he can close the door. Tony runs a hand through his hair as he evens out his breathing.
"I'm dying." It doesn't get easier or harder to say. Tony tips his head for her to follow him as he goes into his kitchen, bare feet silent on the hardwood. "The arc reactor is slowly poisoning me. The main metal in it is palladium and it's been getting into my bloodstream. I can't remove the reactor without letting the shrapnel sink into my heart. Can't keep the reactor as it's killing me."
He pauses to drop onto a stool at his breakfast bar, trying and failing to hide how winded he is. Those brown eyes slowly turn up to Barbara, a shard of fear tucked into their depths.
"I haven't been able to come up with a solution. I need help."
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Post by Countess on Sept 14, 2024 3:57:12 GMT
Barbara fully goes into the building, peering about curious for only a moment. The beauty of his home is... nothing compared to her concern for him. She has to find a seat when he starts talking, her knees going weak. Dying? Babs follows him quickly to the kitchen, sinking into a stool next to him. Caution is thrown into the wind when he asks for help, and her arms wrap around him.
Barbara holds him for a time. Her face is in the curve of his neck, and the contact is very platonic. It is the hug from someone who cares, who wants a little bit of support, and is giving it to him. She hugs him like a sister.
Then, she moves away. Her eyes seem redder, but there is a stubborn bend to her lips as she frowns. Fuck Desiree.
"Okay. You've got my help. We are going to do this," Babs says, reassuring him. "Have you started Dialysis? What about Chelation Therapy? We need to get you time... if there was a substance you could replace it with, you would have..."
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Post by Nomz on Sept 14, 2024 4:51:32 GMT
Tony tries so hard not to freeze up as Barbara's arms wrap around him in a hug. If someone asks him when the last time he was just held, Tony isn't sure he knows the answer. Still, one arm comes up to wrap around her back, palm helping to keep her close. He finds himself melting into the embrace and, but the end of it, he's eyes are closed as he absorbs the affection.
He doesn't stop her from pulling away, watching her quietly as her mouth turns stubborn. A stab of affection rushes through his chest at the sight.
"The biggest issue was keeping this under wraps. If the media caught wind of it all." Tony knows he doesn't need to finish. "We're getting a team of private doctors and nurses together to get the Dialysis set up. I'll bring up Chelation Therapy."
Tony realizes his hand is still on her back and he lets it fall as casually as he can.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I tried for a long time to get this sorted out on my own. I've gone through every metal and element under the sun. None of it has been stable enough. The palladium is the best thing we have for this. It's just not good enough."
"I've reached the end of my resources."
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Post by Countess on Sept 15, 2024 0:28:34 GMT
Barbara is very used to those who don't know they need a hug. Between Bruce, Damian, Jason... she has perfected the truly comforting hug. There are pats and rubs involved, a squeeze to release endorphins, just simple human contact to ease the burden just a little bit. Tony had struck her as the kind of man that never really got this kind of contact from others. It is something she doesn't mind rectifying.
"Okay," Babs says, pulling a hair tie from her bag to get her hair out of her face. The others in her family know that means things are serious. "I can suppress anything that might leak," she murmurs, already knowing how to effectively do that. She's done it before. Calls it the Jason Special.
"You knw the best time to plant a tree?" Barbara says, then immediately answers herself. "Twenty years ago. The second best?" she continues, smiling at him. "Now. Don't worry. I am here now. That's what matters," Barbara says, reaching out again to put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it. She is a very physical person. It always came naturally- but Diana really showed her how important it is. It means more than people typically let on.
"Okay. You've tried Earthly elements- what about extra-terrestrial? Or magical? The solution is there, somewhere. I thought- I thought I would never walk again, but some... magic guy swept me back onto my feet," she says, thinking. She has no way of contacting him. Maybe Diana? "If it doesn't exist here, it must exist somewhere, right?"
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Post by Nomz on Sept 15, 2024 1:09:32 GMT
His confidence in this entire adventure leaps as Barbara confirms that nothing about this will leak out. Tony is good. Jarvis is better. Barbara is the sharpest mind he knows. Hell, she hacked him and he had almost missed her presence in his system entirely. She may be part of the reason behind why he created Jarvis.
There is a little smile of disbelief blooming on his face and it seems to add a touch of color back to him. Hope has that effect on people when they let it fester long enough, threading its roots through their ribs without remorse. Tony props his chin up on the counter with one hand, just watching her as she reassures him.
"I haven't been able to get my hands on very many extra-terrestrial materials and absolutely nothing on magical." That is one thing about Tony that he knows sometimes sets him aside from other people of science. He doesn't shy away from magic and the options it offers. More so when it comes to his life. Magic is just a science he doesn't understand. Yet.
"If I can get my hands on it, I can put it through the tests to see if it can withstand being used for the reactor. The trick is that it needs to be as good or better than the palladium. If the reactor loses even a little bit of power, it won't be able to hold the shrapnel back or operate the suit." He rubs at his lips for a moment, frowning when he realizes they're dry and chapped. Clearly, he hasn't been getting enough water. Just one more thing to add to his list at this point.
"Did I ever show you how to make one of these," he asks while tapping at his reactor with his other hand.
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Post by Countess on Sept 15, 2024 1:43:15 GMT
"Have you tried Nth Metal?" Barbara asks, thoughtful. It is the first thing that comes to mind with the parameters in front of her. "It is native to Thanagar, both Hawk Woman and Hawk Man are from there," Barbara says, musing. "From what I have studied, it has... a vast amount of abilities. It is what allows them to fly- gravitational control. It could hold the shards in suspension perfectly. Plus- it also has energy absorption and redistribution abilities. While it might mean redesigning your arc reactor, it could not only do what it is doing for you now... it could hold more power. Last longer," she says, eyes lighting up as if she had solved a hard problem. Which- in many ways, it is.
"Getting it will be difficult. It is very, very rare," she says, the light fading a little. "It might mean speaking to the Hawks," she continues, already thinking on it. Babs could give them a ring...
"Mm?" Barbara asks, mentally multitasking. She gets up, starting to go through his cabinets. When she finds glasses, she takes a cup, filling it with water to hand to him. All without asking, just... her seeing a need and filling it. "No. You have now shown me," Barbara says, giving a bit of a cheeky glance. She knows how they are made- but has done nothing with it. It was fascinating to her, and she wanted to know. That was all. It is his intellectual property, after all. What she would do to have an Arc Reactor in the Watchtower...
Something to ask for, if this all goes well. Honestly... she would want more than just his tech. Barbara wants him on the team. Badly.
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Post by Nomz on Sept 15, 2024 2:41:32 GMT
"Never heard of that," he answers honestly, watching Barbara as she goes over the details of it. "If even half of what you're saying is true, it sounds ideal. The fact that it is rare may be our downfall." He does not feel the need to follow her as she moves about the kitchen like it is her own. Tony seems to hardly notice as his mind starts turning over the newest pieces of his puzzle.
"If you can even get me the smallest piece of it, we can test if it would work. Rebuilding this reactor from the ground up may be the biggest challenge I've faced, but what is life without a little struggle?" Tony flashes her a soft smile of appreciation as he takes the glass from her. The water trembles a bit before it makes it to his lips and then to the bartop.
"I expected no less of you, Ms. Gordon," he says with the air of a stuffy principal talking to a prized student. If only he could keep his expression as flat as his tone. "Are you sure you don't want to work for me?"
Tony grins, breaking the start of a poorly created pout and he chuckles a bit breathlessly. He swallows as his head tips down to where his free hand rests on his chest still, fingers tapping on the edge of his reactor. There is a hesitance that is so unlike him shrouding his shoulders.
"Barbara, I- my hands aren't as steady as they need to be for this. I can work through most of it on my own, the math and the studies. When it comes to building the new reactor..." He pauses to take a breath. Slowly, Tony lifts his eyes to find Barbara again and they're a cruel mixture of hope and trepidation. He is readying himself for denial. "Your hands don't shake." It's closer, but even Tony believes it may not be enough. He pushes a little more. "Would you help me build the new reactor?"
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Post by Countess on Sept 15, 2024 3:03:22 GMT
"I can put some feelers out for some," Barbara says. Bruce might actually have some... he has a lot of things like that squirreled away. Worst comes to worst... she can go to the cave and dig around. Tony doesn't need to know where she got it from, right?
"....." Barbara can feel the excitement at the mere idea of helping him construct this. Her heart pounds in her ears. "You would trust me with this?" she asks, voice almost a whisper, as if in awe. "I swear, I would never do anything to profit off of your work. I only want to help, not steal. I have no reason to, no want to," she says, trying to convince him of something he has already offered. "I- really, if I wanted money, I could do a lot easier things with a lot less chance of lawsuits. I don't want infamy, I've got my work with the Justice League and... even then, I like the shadows," she says, words rushing out of her quickly in her extreme happiness and giddiness. She shouldn't be this euphoric about this, given the circumstances, but she cant stop it. "Sorry I can't work for you, but I will sure as hell love to help you with this, Tony. I- I cannot... I am so sorry, this is maybe one of the best moments of my life, and you're..." she says, looking hat him with a touch of guilt.
"I miss working with you, I miss the Watchtower," she says, sitting back down. "Don't worry. You and me, we are going to find a solution."
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Post by Nomz on Sept 15, 2024 3:33:51 GMT
He watches as Barbara goes on, words spilling from her mouth in her obvious excitement at the mere idea of helping him build a new reactor. That fear in his eyes fades to something soft and fond. He wears a half smile as he goes back to resting his chin in his hand, content to let her talk for the time being. a tiny part of him wonders if this is how it would feel to have a protege of his own.
"I believe this is the part where I tell you that I'm not worried." He reaches out to place a hand on her shoulder. It isn't as sure a man with decades of practice and it's even a bit awkward as he's unsure what to do with the contact now that he's established it. "You were the very first person I wanted in on this and the only demand I cared to make."
It's clear he's talking about his situation with Ms. Allard, which brings the question of what he may or may not have given up for Barbara. Tony gives a little pat before letting his hand drop again.
"You and me, we've got this. Hell, we could probably take on the world if we cared too." And there it is. Finally. That little spark of the man who boldly declared to the world that he was Iron Man shines in his eyes as he chuckles again. "Jarvis will set you up with access as needed," Tony smirks a bit. "Not that you ever required access to be given, right?"
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Post by Countess on Sept 15, 2024 3:54:31 GMT
Without Tony stopping her, she keeps word vomiting. "Okay- so- where do we start? The metal! Yes, that is the basis for all of this..." she says, pulling out her phone. A few texts are already being sent out, trying to see if she can get her hands on it without giving details. "Don't worry, I can scrounge something up. A lot of people owe me favors, and even more just like me enough to help me out with something like this..." she says, now biting her lip. Her brows are furrowed, brain moving a million miles an hour. So many possibilities run through her mind. She doesn't want to have to use up Bruce's supply... but this is why he has it. This exactly. Damn hoarder.
"I know a short term solution, and... well, we can tackle the supply issue after. The main issue is... Nth metal has a lot of other properties. It could spontaneously heal you, it could give you time control powers, it could bend reality, it could make you capable of reincarnation... It is profoundly, profoundly powerful and also unstable. It is imperative we are careful with this," Barbara says, running a hand through her pulled back hair. It dislodges a great deal of it. She looks almost like he does when he is neck deep in a problem.
Right. Her. "I should be clear with you- I really, really hate Desiree. If she had not said this was for you, I would have likely blown her off. She is... God, Tony, she is the worst," she says, showing a bit of exasperation. "She broke my friend's heart, and he really... well, hasn't been the same since. Kinda the deal, right? Fuck with my friends, you fuck with me, and all that," she says, shaking her head. "I'll work with her, for you, but understand that I hold no respect for her. I understand why you need her on your side, just... honestly? Be careful. She's got a reputation... just like you. If she breaks your heart too, I may have to revisit my "No Revenge" rule..."
Babs shakes her head again. This isn't the place for her pettiness. "Just- thanks, for bringing me on. As for access... I can neither confirm nor deny your question."
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Post by Nomz on Sept 15, 2024 4:31:08 GMT
Yeah, Tony needs to get a protege if this is how it is. Watching Barbara talk her way through the issue at hand and her path through it is so similar to what he does. Hell, even down to the look on her face as she runs her hand through her hair is so very close. That isn't to say he isn't listening to what she's saying. He's quite impressed that she seems to have such a large net to count on. It's something he should be better at but isn't. Asking for help and relying on others has never been his forte and he's been hurt too many times doing it.
His brows rise as she mentions her clear and obvious hatred for Ms. Allard. It isn't a take he was expecting to hear, and Barbara seems all too willing to explain her reasoning behind it. It does and does not fit his image of the other woman and part of him almost wants to dismiss it.
"Can't break what's already full of shrapnel," Tony jokes, tone light and teasing. "I apprecaite the offer anyway. I doubt she could get close enough to fit that dagger between my ribs. I don't think you would ever need me to, but if someone ever gives you trouble- well, you have my number."
Tony pauses to wink playfully. "Well, I mean my phone number, but I don't doubt you have my social as well as my birthday. My age. My shoe size." If she had been anyone else, 'shoe' wouldn't have been the last size he listed. As it stands, he does not want to touch those waters with Barbara.
"I should be thanking you for coming on. You really don't have to do this, but I won't talk you out of it. I need you and I'm glad you're here." Tony takes another sip of water. "And I have physical copies of you breaking into my system. Don't think for a minute that the ones you destroyed were the only ones I have. Does the Justice League know what sort of tomfoolery you get up to, Miss?"
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Post by Countess on Sept 15, 2024 19:27:37 GMT
Barbara decides not to comment on the shrapnel heart comment. She knows better than most that even the most broken of hearts can be shattered a little bit more. She's seen it too many times with Bruce...
"I also know your... well... I guess it is true what they say about shoe size... shame they are so small, huh?" Barbara says, snickering a little. She knows him- dishes it right back like one of the guys. "You are about... five months too late on that one, Tony. I guess you didn't hear- makes sense given what you have preoccupying your mind," Babs says, leaning onto the counter. She folds her arms, tucking her chin onto the surface, her body bent over. "I had a boyfriend, and it turns out he was a total psycho. You never knew, but... I was paralyzed. Waist down. Run in with the Joker-" she starts, then cuts herself off. Her eyes close- flashes of light-
"Well, ex decided to kidnap me. Why? I am still not sure, to be honest. Called himself Spellbinder. Some kind of low tier mage. I, expectedly, kicked his ass. I suppose you also don't know- I was- well, I was Batgirl for a while," she says, spinning this insane yarn for him in the most casual and despondent of ways. "So, one of his magic rivals showed up, offered to heal me, and... here I am," she says, kicking her feet a little. "Sorry, Tony, you are... so late on the whole help thing," she says, laughing a little as she looks at the card. "But I'll be sure to call you next time. Don't think I'll be dating for a while... But we did get a vintage hottie on the Justice League- Johnny Storm," she says, sighing a little.
"He is... so happy?" Babs says, trying to decipher it. "Guys like him don't need people like us, you know? An anchor," she murmurs, looking away. "Sorry. Didn't know I needed to talk about it until... I started talking about it. Why I would rather keep busy. Too much downtime... well, then it is all right there, right?"
Barbara rolls her eyes at his teasing. "Bold of you to think I didn't take care of those, too. I was trained by Batman, Tony. Do the math," she says, snickering. "The JL doesn't need to know what I am doing in my free time, yeah? Besides, if they ask, this is me trying to recruit you. Okay?"
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