starkingenuity | Why Can't We Be Friends?

"See, I really appreciate this actually." The scotch it good, the company is interesting and he's got a gun training on the back of his head. It makes him smile because Tony Stark isn't always in his right mind. Danger is a turn on. It means he's not bored and likely not alone. Both of these things are the utter bane of his existence.

He smiles at the shorter but equally impressively dressed man. Irish. Snarky. He gets that it's pretty rare to get a meeting like this.

"The invitation, I mean." By invitation, he really means kidnapping. Oh well. "But you know I can't do what you want. Stark Industries is out of the weapon's biz."

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From:

dontbeobvious

'Dear Jim, fix it for me so that bastard Stark that bankrupt my company will go back to doing what he does best so I can profit once more. If not, blow his fucking head off?'

It had been a simple request, one Jim found very amusing because of the sheer bluntness of it all and the absurd amount of money his client had thrown at him. He knew the basics, Tony Stark was once a weapons manufacturer and then he saw the light, decided to do good and wear a stupid iron suit instead. Sounded like a mid-life crisis personally.

"Oh you could do anything you wanted, Mr Stark. You could easily go back to manufacturing weapons, we both know that. What you mean is I won't do what you want. Try to get it right," Moriarty shot back, rolling his eyes in annoyance. Couldn't people speak right in America?

He was sensing this wouldn't be a quick, easy or clean job. Fortunately he packed spare clothes.

From:

starkingenuity

"Okay, fine, semantics. I won't. I have absolutely no intention of going back on my word. It would look bad, you know how it is. Stockholders have such a terrible time with change and to go back to the original format would just be stupid."

He stretches out in his seat, legs stretching beneath the red suit he had on. Yes, red. But no less designer than Jim's classic ensemble. Tony just likes flash sometimes. He'd been prepping for a photoshoot when a very weird looking guy in a car dragged him away.

That was pretty epic though. Broad day light and Iron Man gets kidnapped? He likes it,

"Who are you any way?"

From:

dontbeobvious

"I'm Richard," he lied easily, the name rolling off his tongue like it was truly his own. He smiled playfully at his friend, currently holding a gun to Starks head, knowing he wouldn't give away the game or he'd be met with a painful end. Jim always lied about his name and he was good at being convincing now. Few rarely even got to see his face but Stark was special.

Apparently the iron suit was scaring his poor wittle henchmen so he had to step in.

"I do what I'm told by my bosses and they've told me that you need to go back to making weapons or we'll have to waste that intelligent little brain. Well, I'm reliably informed you're a clever ducky anyway."

He hadn't seen much proof. He looked like a right berk in that red suit.

From:

starkingenuity

"Yeah okay, so let me stop you there."

Tony leans forward and puts his drink down with a half of a grin, his eyes always watching everything that's happening. He's got the gunman in his sights too but he figures that the guy is just a lackey. Jim's the one to watch for. There's something in his crooked teeth that prove it.

"First, you're lying. You don't have a boss. Or you do and it's some other personality or something because you are giving off all of these boss vibes. It's true."

He glances back at the gunman.

"Don't you think so?" Moran actually cocks the trigger and that gives it away. Tony thanks him with a smile. "You guy here thinks so too."

From:

dontbeobvious

"Moran had an itchy trigger finger but I should warn you, if you get too smart, he will blow your head off. It hurts his little brain when people get all deductive," Moriarty teased but Moran knew he didn't mean it, after all they went to the same university and if his 'lackey' had no brain then he wouldn't of hired him.

"I work for hire so technically, it depends how you look at it. I'm either a self employed boss with henchmen to back me up or I get a new boss every week. Take your pick of which one you think suits me best and it should help you get a peek into your future," if he was self employed, things would get ugly, if he was trying to impress a boss, maybe not as bad.

But both options gave him a clear idea of Tony had a good read on him or not.

"He's not my guy, for the record, you best be nice to my dear Moran."

From:

starkingenuity

"Yeah, yeah, we all work for hire," Tony says, mellow as ever. "We're business men." He's pretty sure Moriarty is more than that, but he's not really sure just what he creates. Ordered chaos? Unordered chaos? It probably doesn't matter. "We both deal in contracts and employees and all of that other stuff. And we pick and choose our clients. Especially you. I'm sort of guessing you don't really have a moral code, huh?"

He can actually feel Moran's hostility levels rising. Interesting.

He turns, hooking an arm over the back of the seat. "And you! Well you're sort of amazing, aren't you? I mean, c'mon, what does this guy pay you? Not enough. Which means you're loyal. I could use a you. Not you exactly, just someone that loyal. Use to have Potts, but things happen. You know how it is."

Moran sighs through his nose and gazes up at Moriarty. "Can't I just shoot him?"

From:

dontbeobvious

"Wait till we get to the room, you're not getting blood in the car again," Moriarty complained, he wasn't saying no, he just wanted to do it in the hotel. Perhaps it might stop these boring deductions the iron freak kept splurging out. Sherlock would of figured this all out moments ago, which was sad. Oh how he missed his dear sweet enemy, now he was stuck with chatty Americans. Clever but still.

He did always appreciate a good show off and this man was definitely a big one.

"We need less chatty clients. I miss the ones that cried," Jim mused idly to Moran in a casual tone, like they weren't in the middle of a kidnapping, talking right over Tonys head. "Remember that one guy? Pissed himself? We had dinner after we dumped him in the lake... where was that? They did an excellent pasta dish thing?"

He always liked to keep track of good places to eat.

From:

starkingenuity

"Ah, use to be called Las Consellos but you made them change their name for not being Italian enough. I had to shoot the daughter first."

Tony just frowns. Shooting people is not the way to go, folks. Trust him. And besides, Tony's not that kind of genius. He doesn't have that in him. He's more a practical sort, but nothing like these two, even if he and Jim would probably have a little melding of minds over math. Tony and math are friends.

"Never been there. Usually stick to places I know are clean. What's their rating? Do you know?" What? He can get in on the conversation too, guys!

From:

dontbeobvious

Moriarty just stared at Tony like he'd just cursed them both out. Why was he butting in? They were in the middle of something here. Heaving a sigh, he resisted not letting Moran shoot him, he just remember the awkwardness of trying to get the blood out last time.

"I'm sensing we're going to end up killing you. And eight. It became a nine when it changed the name."

He gives Morans a pointed look to show the whole murder of the daughter was not in vain, it improved reputation and made it seem more genuine. "See, now I'm in the mood for Italian. Moran, find me food?"

From:

starkingenuity

"I thought you were going to kill me anyway because I won't conform to your evil plans or something." Yeah, Tony's just going to shrug a little and settle in. He still doesn't think that they'll actually kill him.

If they do, well, he'll just look pretty damned surprised and haunt them from beyond the grave.

He watches as Moran pulls out his phone immediately to call around for reservations. He grins at Jim and mouths: 'where did you get him? He's so cute! House trained?'

From:

dontbeobvious

"Probably but people crack eventually, you just have to find the weak spot," and he had a few ideas when it came to Mr Stark, it was pretty obvious from what he's observed of the man and he intended to exploit it greatly.

As Moran called up some food, Moriarty pulled out his own phone, barely paying attention to Tony. Though he did mouth back 'Oxford'. They had both attended the same university but of course, by then, Moriarty had published two books and was well regarded.

Despite his age.

He sent off a quick text before tucking his phone away and grinning. "Moran, don't forget to get Mr Starks order."

From:

starkingenuity

"Risotto and lemon chicken if they have it. White sauce not red. There might be enough red sauce later and it's easier to clean up if I spill." See? He's really a very good guest. Always thinking. "Though I won't say no to whatever wine you decide on."

Alcohol of any sort is delicious and, if you ask Tony, necessary. The man's a full blood Italian after all, born and raised in Long Island.

Moran looks like he wants to hit Tony in the nose, and Tony just smiles before going for his own phone. Moran grunts and grabs it.

"Hey, I need to check my email!"

From:

dontbeobvious

Jim uses his own phone to easily hack into Tonys emails. He can get into anything and everything, not that he'd explain how. He liked to be all smoke and mirrors, appear all knowing, really he often just cheated and did it the easy way. "Hmm, one from Pepper about a board meeting you'll never attend, one about a shipment you need to sign for that you never will and a few from friends. I assume you have friends? They want you for drinks."

Either that or they were very informal business partners.

Turning off his phone, he slipped it away and peered out the window. Nearly there. And yes, they were seriously going to check into a hotel with a hostage right there beside them.

Wouldn't be the first time, his mind was going back to that magical holiday in France. Just him, Moran and Bob. Oh Bob, it was a shame to throw him off the Eiffel tower.

From:

starkingenuity

Well, they didn't have to. He gave them what they wanted but Moran made a sad face over not getting to kill anyone-- Moriarty was the best boss sometimes. Othertimes, the worst, but you have to give and take.

Tony seems impressed at least by the hack job, at least to a degree. "Could you tell Ms. Potts that board meetings are for board members, not chairmen and I happen to be the chairman?"

No sign of distress still. Tony's not really worried. Sure, he's without his suit, but JARVIS will be getting curious soon and starting pinging his location through the reactor.

In the meantime, Tony is going to enjoy himself.

This is one nice hotel.

From:

dontbeobvious

As they pulled up outside the hotel room, Jim opened the door and hopped out. He wasn't dumb enough to email Pepper. And he wasn't in the mood to point out that if it was a critical matter, it was best the chairman attends. His father never missed a meeting but then he was a by the book businessman.

Boring!

Once they were all out, Jim turned to Tony and put his hands on the mans shoulder, smiling a very demented and unsettling smile. "If you try to run or tell people you're our hostage, we won't kill you. And trust me, that's worse."

Death was merciful, living hell was much more fun.

"I'll get the hotel key. Moran, you know your job."

From:

starkingenuity

"Why would I run? I want lunch." Tony arches an eyebrow at Jim and grins back at him. He's not even remotely demented, just amused. Just very amused. He's had worse really. Being kidnapped in Afghanistan certainly has nothing on this. "And we're having fun aren't we?"

Moran isn't as pleased by being dismissed. He knows exactly what Jim expects him to do.

Go and get lunch and threaten a bunch of people.

Well at least threatening is fun.

From:

dontbeobvious

Afghanistan? Oh they had nothing on Jim. He was playing nice, he always started off nice. It got progressively worse as they went on. He left Moran to handle all the odd little duties while he approached the desk, handing over his card and a fake ID. It took a while for everything to get set up then, finally, he was offered the room key.

"Have a nice stay, Mr Brook."

Jim smiled back happily and took off towards the room, he assumed Tony would just follow.

He seemed dumb enough to believe it wasn't that bad and Moran would easily take him down if he ran.

From:

starkingenuity

Just where is Tony going to go? Or run to? No, he's curious. He also has a face that just about everyone in the entire world remembers, or knows, or wants to know which is why they are both very suddenly surrounded by mothers and children with their phones out for pictures and scraps of paper for autographs.

Tony is a ham. But he also is pretty sure that taking pictures with this 'Richard Brook' in the background is a bad idea.

But he'll sign the books. It's easier just to go along with it he's found.

From:

dontbeobvious

Jim didn't seem to mind the pictures or the autographs, he wasn't that bothered. If he didn't want to be seen and if he didn't want Tony to be seen, they'd of made sure of it. This was much of a show for himself as it was for Tony. Not for Tony and not for his client but for a certain someone back home.

Who would read the paper, see his face and know he was back.

And he was responsible for what happened to Tony Stark. Smiling into the cameras, he lead Tony along to the elevator where, finally, they were free from fans and going towards the room.

He hummed along with the elevator music, tweaking his suit jacket. "After you, of course. We're at the end of the hall."

From:

starkingenuity

Tony's mind is elsewhere. Those people the took photos... Are they going to be killed? Will their devices be stolen? Will they been scared and intimidated? He really doesn't know and it scares him more than Jim ever will. They promise of it being worse than death if he tries to run might not be a bluff.

After all, Jim can just hurt those innocents. Or have his stray dog do it.

"Yiu didn't have to get the bridal suite. But Jesus, Richard, I feel like a princess!"

He needs to get need something electrical. He needs to warn JARVIS and the best way is through the device in his chest going haywire.

From:

dontbeobvious

"Well you shouldn't," Jim said in a serious tone, turning around and very slowly, the dorkiest grin ever spread on his face. "I'm the princess here. Baby, you should of seen my crown... but the government got in my way, took it back. Looks much better on me that the queen."

He heaved a longing sigh and opened the door, shoving Tony in ahead of him and locking the door behind them. Their bags had been sent ahead of time and sat on the double bed. Well, he was hardly getting separate beds, Moran either slept on the floor or with him. Didn't care which.

"Take a seat, I'll offer you a drink. Choose wisely."

He was going to be nice, the rest of this day would be rough and there was still a 3.5% chance Tony may actually do as he asks.

From:

starkingenuity

"I think you're going to make a pretty poor follow up with that scotch in the car." He's still trying to pull off good natured and docile here. He already knows that Jim is well aware of everything he is. And probably all about SHIELD and the Avengers too.

That doesn't seem to be a problem for him. Which always spells bad news.

The crazies are the worst. They really are.

"How about a cocktail? What are you drinking?"

From:

dontbeobvious

"I'm not. One cocktail it is," Moriarty never drank when he was on the job, it was all about a clear mind. He had a thing for being at his best and that never happened when he was drinking... he just ended up screwing someone. And with Moran being all snippy today and Tony so not being his type, he didn't even want to go there.

Moriarty didn't have a professional sort of bar in his room but the mini fridge was very well stocked and they had a pretty broad table.

He whipped up something quick, it wasn't perfect and lacked the typical wedge of fruit but he wasn't a bar tender, Moran usually handled this. He slid the drink along and pulled out his phone, sending his second in command a text to get his ass up here now.

Sliding it back into his pocket, he sat just across from Tony and dropped back. "I have to say, I'm a fan of your fathers work. Not yours, you're like a sequel to a really good film, it's not bad but never compares and usually lacks that spark. No, he was a genius, the way he was with numbers? Blew my mind."

From:

starkingenuity

"Well thanks, if I ever see him again, I'll let him know he's still got one fan down here. Well two. Rogers still likes the old coot." Tony doesn't mind being ridiculed. It sort of feels forced, though he doubts Jim is saying it just to get a rise.

He sort of is positive that Jim doesn't do anything to get a rise. Tony on the other hand--

"So what's with this Richard Brooks stuff, Jim?"

What? He's a genius too you know!

From:

dontbeobvious

"I'm not surprised, no one in America appreciates a great mind, they just like the shiny bright stuff you present to them," he mocked, unable to help himself. He always mocked Americans, solely because it annoyed Moran but he forgot the man wasn't in the room... damn, he'd have to repeat that one later.

He did appreciate Tony was a genius and he wasn't surprised that he could work things out but he wasn't overly amazed.

"Richard Brook is a real man, you know? Tell me, how can you be sure I'm not Richard and I am Jim? Why Jim?"

He was curious. Especially since no one had mentioned his name, he wasn't displaying the name Jim anywhere and most importantly, no one in the world could put a name to his face. No secret government, no brilliant minds, no spies. Only Sherlock. He was sure there was a way, it clearly wasn't clear what it was.