They walked arm and arm into the vast, extravagant ballroom. The Pacific Design Center was just as striking on the inside as on the outside. Tony exchanged nods with a few people he recognized in the crowd.

A few generals and other high-ranking military officials stopped him. Rhodey was supposed to be there, but his flight was delayed. Tony was thankful because that meant that he didn’t have to deal with Rhodey and Kendis meeting so soon. 

Tony didn’t want Kendis and Rhodey to meet, not because he was ashamed of her, but because he knew that this award ceremony was already taking a toll.

He shook his head as he scanned the room. The ballroom was full of the usual type of people in bespoke suits and expensive designer gowns. He didn’t miss the curious looks and whispers as they made their way across the ballroom.

Kendis gripped his hand and squeezed it tight. As much as Tony had agreed earlier with Ron’s idea, the reality was more daunting than he thought it would be. 

Tony sighed quietly when he saw his godfather glaring at them as they walked to their table. Tony saw right through Obadiah’s quick cover-up and pasted-on grin.

Tony led her to his table, and Obadiah stood up as they approached.

“Tony, my boy!’

“Hey, Obie!” Tony said, as Obadiah pulled him into a hug and patted his back. He knew that Obadiah was disappointed at Kendis’s presence, but Tony was a grown man who could make his own damn decisions. And like it or not, Kendis was here to stay, and his godfather would have to get over it.

Tony stepped back and wrapped his arm around Kendis’s waist. “You remember Kendis, don’t you?”

“Certainly,” Obadiah grinned at Kendis, appraising her. “You look wonderful, dear.”

Kendis didn’t let her mask slip for even a minute and simply shrugged, “Thanks, I guess I clean up pretty well.”

Tony steered Kendis to an empty chair at a nearby table. Tony pulled out a chair, and Kendis kissed him on the cheek.

“Thanks, love,” Kendis replied with a shit eating grin. Tony couldn’t help but return it. One of the things he loved about them was that Kendis was a petty little shit just like him.

A pointed cough interrupted them, and Tony turned to see Cordelia Van Ashcroft (wife of the CEO of Van Ashcroft Aeronautics) wagging her hand at him. “Tony, darling, don’t be rude. Introduce your charming companion.”

“Everyone,” Tony waved his free hand. “This is Kendis. Kendis, this is everyone.”

“Hello,” Kendis greeted them with a smile.

“Tony, can I –” Obadiah said, but Tony was distracted by the sudden presence of a stunning woman with long strawberry blonde hair dressed in a pink Oscar De La Renta gown.

“Your Highness?” Kendis squeaked, her eyes going wide.

“Kendis, I thought that was you!” Princess motherfucking Beatrice of England beamed at Kendis. And Tony knew she was nobility, but he didn’t know his spouse was on a first-name basis with the third person in line to the throne.

And next to her was Leon Michaelson, who was a rising star in the tech sector. The younger man was gorgeous, with smooth dark brown skin, dark hair in a short-tapered fade, with a neat beard. His black Dior suit fit his large, muscular body sinfully well.

Tony had been meaning to get Pepper to set up a meeting with him. His innovation in cybersecurity was the talk of the town, and his fingers were itching to dive into the code.

“Your Highness,” Kendis smiled as she got out of her seat to give her a curtsy.

“Oh, do get up,” the princess fondly scolded. “And I keep telling you to call me, Beatrice.”

The rest of the table scrambled to bow or curtsy. “I am surprised to see you here!”

Tony felt like he’d fallen down a rabbit hole when the friends greeted each other with air kisses and smiles. ‘What the fuck?’ he thought to himself.

He shot a bewildered look at Princess Beatrice’s stern-looking security guards standing behind her and then his gaze traveled across the room to meet Jason and Ian’s wide, shocked eyes.

Tony shook his head as he turned back to Kendis, Beatrice, and Leon. 

“I had some things to oversee in America,” Princess Beatrice smiled, and then her eyes darted to Tony. “And Leon wouldn’t miss meeting Tony Stark for all the money in the world.”

Leon looked away and hissed at her, “Bea—”

“But who should I see on your arm, Tony Stark?” Princess Beatrice asked, with a mischievous smile. “A fortuitous meeting indeed.”

“Yes,” Kendis replied with a rueful grin. She turned to Tony. “Tony Stark, meet Princess Beatrice.”

“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Stark.” Princess Beatrice replied, “I have heard so much about you.”

“Only good things, I hope,” Tony bowed. He gave her his best charming smile, and the Princess simply laughed at him. He turned; half-expecting Kendis would be angry because Tony was flirting with another woman in front of her (especially after her earlier reaction to Christine Everhart).

Fortunately, Kendis simply shook her head and threw him a fond look.

“Oh, definitely a cheeky one you got there, Kendis.”

“And you’re dating an American?” Kendis lifted an eyebrow. “Her Majesty the Queen must be thrilled.”

“Well, I guess we are both starting a trend,” Princess Beatrice gazed fondly at Leon. “Trust me, she has made her feelings about Leon very clear. But Henry is absolutely ecstatic that he has her off his back for once.”

There was another pointed cough, and they all turned to see Obadiah standing there. Tony was so distracted by the Princess that he didn’t realize Obadiah was still around.

“This is my Chief Operating Officer, Obadiah Stane,” Tony introduced them.

Obadiah bowed to Princess Beatrice, “Your highness.” 

Princess Beatrice politely responded, “Mr. Stane,” then glanced at Kendis and Tony apologetically. “I’m so sorry, but I must be off.” She kissed Leon’s cheek, and he gave her a fond, indulgent glance.

Tony took out a business card from his coat pocket and handed it to Leon. “Call me, and we can talk about the Ghost Key protocol.”

Leon’s eyes went wide as he took Tony’s card. “T-thank you, Mr. Stark!”

“Call me Tony,” Tony shrugged.

“And you must call me when you are in London, Kendis,” Princess Beatrice nodded to her. “We simply must have tea.”

“I will,” Kendis promised.

With one last glance, Princess Beatrice led Leon back into the crowd.

“You seem close to the Princess,” Obadiah asked, throwing a speculative at Princess Beatrice’s retreating back “How do you know her?”

Tony heard the subtext of that statement loud and clear. Obadiah still thought she was a low-class gold digger with delusions of grandeur. His godfather had underestimated her, and Tony couldn’t deny that he enjoyed proving the older man wrong.

 Tony lifted an eyebrow and turned to Kendis. It was up to her whether she wanted to tell Obadiah about her nobility. They exchanged a long look before Kendis gave him a nod.

“I forgot to formally introduce myself,” Kendis stated as she straightened, taking on a regal air. “Lady Kendis Black of Blackmere, at your service.”

Tony was far too gleefully to watch all the color drain from Obadiah’s face.

***

Thankfully, the rest of the award dinner went smoothly. After Kendis revealed her nobility, Obadiah had been strangely and uncharacteristically quiet. Meanwhile, Kendis, for all her earlier panic, was a natural at shmoozing with the other people at the table.

Tony was in awe of her, and for the thousandth time, he couldn’t help but think that he was the luckiest son of a bitch in the world.

Finally, they moved from the dinner part of the evening to the actual ceremony. Just before the lights dimmed, Obadiah made his excuses and left to go backstage. Rhodey had been the one set to introduce him, but he didn’t mind Obadiah taking over the part.

Besides, Tony found it hilariously ironic that Obadiah probably wanted to read him the riot act, but instead he had to paste on a grin and pretend that he didn’t want to strangle Tony.

Tony wasn’t ashamed to admit that he could be a right bastard sometimes.

The lights dimmed, and the projection screen turned on. Tony inwardly groaned as he was forced to sit through a montage of his life.

“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.”

 The montage and voice-over went downhill from there. It was mostly bullshit. He gritted his teeth when they got to the part about his father’s death. And it pissed him off that his mother was once a footnote in his father’s story.

As if Maria Carbonell hadn’t been as brilliant as Howard was, but because of the sexism of the time never got the chance to show it.

Kendis squeezed his hand and he gave her one of his trademark smirks, but it was obvious that Kendis saw right through him. From what Kendis had told him, she uniquely understood how it was to have your parents’ “legacy” constantly rubbed in your face.

For Tony, this was especially galling after Christine Everhart called his father a war profiteer. Then, finally, after what seemed forever, the lights brightened again and the projector retracted into the ceiling.

And standing there on the stage was Obadiah, holding a shining crystal award in his hand.

“As Chief Operating Officer of Stark Industries and as Tony’s godfather, I am both immensely proud and honored to present this year’s Apogee Award to Tony Stark. Tony?”

Tony stood up as the room erupted in applause. With his glasses tucked in his pocket, the bright spotlight nearly blinded him, but he didn’t let his confident smirk drop for a second. He turned and kissed Kendis on the lips. She beamed up at him and her smile was more important to him than any prize.

If he had to suffer through this, then this moment with Kendis was the best part. He straightened up and swaggered across the room and quickly climbed the stairs to the dais. 

His godfather’s face was a picture-perfect example of a proud father figure, but Tony could read the glimmer of anger in those blue eyes.

Tony wasn’t looking forward to the earful he was going to get once Obadiah got him alone.

He slapped Tony on the back a little harder than usual, but Tony was a pro and ignored it as Obadiah placed the award in his hands and walked offstage.

Tony faced the crowd, his eyes finding Kendis immediately as if he were a compass and she was his true north.

“Okay. Wow. This is… a lot of applause for a guy who once tried to build a rocket in his garage and nearly blew up Malibu. So thank you, really!”

He ignored the notes on the podium. Tony had a photographic memory, and he knew it by heart.

“When people talk about ‘Apogee,’ they usually mean the highest point, the moment you’ve reached the top. Which is funny, because if you know me, you know I don’t really believe in tops. There’s always another idea, another upgrade, another thing that can be done better (preferably faster, and shinier).

This award says it’s about innovation, vision, and pushing boundaries. I like that. I’ve made a career out of ignoring boundaries. Sometimes responsibly, sometimes… not. But the point is, none of this happens in a vacuum. Genius doesn’t thrive alone, no matter what the headlines say.

I’ve had people in my life who’ve challenged me, grounded me, and occasionally told me when I was being an absolute fool. That feedback is invaluable, and I would like to thank Colonel James Rhodes, my first real friend and my constant companion through the years. I would also like to thank my assistant, Pepper Potts. We all know that my business would be nothing without her.”

The crowd laughed, and Kendis shook her head in fond amusement. 

“I would also like to thank my COO, my business partner, and godfather Obadiah Stane for keeping me on the straight and narrow. And being the best damn mentor a genius can ask for.” Tony locked eyes with Obadiah and nodded because, despite the distance that was between them, Tony knew that he would have never taken Stark Industries to the next level without his godfather’s guiding hand.

“And last but never least, I would like to thank the one person in particular who showed me that my purpose is not simply the work but also in the lives I change around me.

 A person who has shown me the true meaning of love. A person who has seen my imperfections and my flaws and loved me anyway. Even when they had every reason to run for the hills.”

This hadn’t been part of his original acceptance speech, but he hadn’t told Kendis that he had sent over the changes last night. And seeing Kendis’s green eyes staring up at him with so much love in them made this all worth it.

“Thank you, Kendis, for being the best goddamn thing that ever happened to me.”

Tony coughed as he tried to remember where he had left off. “This award isn’t a finish line—”

He blinked as his eyes stung, and at first, he thought that his light sensitivity was getting the best of him. He grimaced inwardly as he abruptly smelled a pungent odor of burning herbs.

“It’s a checkpoint, and a reminder that with resources—” Tony started coughing again, and this time there was no stop to it.

Terrified screams replaced the crowd’s confused murmurs as thick smoke rapidly engulfed the entire ballroom. Eyes stinging, Tony thought he saw a brief glimpse of Kendis through the haze.

He flinched as he suddenly heard a loud crack.

A second later, there was something hard poking against the back of his neck.

“Don’t move, Mr. Stark.” A cold, masculine voice growled in his ear. “It would be a shame if I had to kill you in front all of these Muggles.”