Papers and empty cups of coffee littered the entirety of the table. Broken pens and pencils galore as one of the Avengers sat, stumped, watching the countless files of battle footage between them and the iron beast. The rest of the team stood idly, watching from the sidelines as the man at the computer continued their search. The videos were hazy, as was with most cameras. No file gave away any sort of hint towards the man behind the mask.

Their voice modulator was that of the highest quality, backed up with the latest tech. There was no way for them to break through any of Iron Man's inputs to find any similarity to a living person.

"Y'know," Clint called Bruce, a pencil tapping away at his lip, "it could like I say before: there's no one in the suit, it's remote controlled."

They had a similar argument once before, Banner's knitted brows and green-tinted neck a sign of them heading back to square one.

"Look, guys, I'm trying!" The sudden break of the keyboard showed a rather different result. "I'm doing my best here, okay? I-I'm not fitted for this sort of thing, so I- can't we... can't we just try getting Fury? Or at least someone who knows how to work one of these janky things? I'm a doctor of medicine and gamma research, not tech!"

Nose flared, from crossed arms to an exaggerative display of agitation, Sam barked, "Who the hell does Fury know that could try at figuring out the identity of Iron Man? Last time we checked, that terrorist has been cursed with genius intelligence! We can't catch him for shit, and he knows it! Damn guy is always bringing it up every possible chance how dumb we are on how we can't even guess what his suit's made of!"

Standing off to the side, shoulder against the door frame, Natasha paused. Watching their banter brought forward a crazy, yet highly possible theory.

"Wait,"

Her eyes wearingly grazed over Banner's screen, then over to the door down the hall separating them and Fury.

"could there be a chance that Fury... knows who Iron Man is?"

• • •

Between the time of Strange's deranged visit and his latest adventure at another HYDRA base, Tony was nearing his end with frustration. Sitting at his desk down at his lab, cameras would see him knocking his head against DUM-E's frame while sighing incoherently.

He was uncovering compromised SHIELD facilities left and right, yet not one of them contained the stupid blue cube.

He didn't really need the stone as his motive of transportation, if he truly thought about it. He was sure that bribing or threatening Strange into creating a portal was an option, but in doing that, he was at risk of having the entirety of the magical community on his ass.

When at odds with magic, having control of the Astral Plains was his one and only strong suit that rivalled the Sorcerer Supreme's own. He could only hold off so many acolytes at once before it became too much.

So, no. Getting Dr Strange into opening a portal to Asgard for him was never on the table. His only other option was to harness the space stone, or somehow build an intergalactic travelling device that would not catch the eyes of pretty much ever single person on the planet. He already had governments and SHIELD watching his every move, having space fanatics like NASA or Space X would ruin his plans.

[Stark.]

Ah, his eyes darted to the ceiling, and him.

"Ultron! Thought I made you only for my little side gig. What'cha doing on Jarvis' servers?"

[I was... curious.]

[This 'Jarvis'.]

[Does he... know of my interference?]

"Well," he paused, "wanna tell me why you care?"

The AI did not voice his answers immediately, but rather fluctuated the power of the lab. Lights flickered, and his computer screens glitched.

The room overtook a red hue, and the main screen he had been working with turned bright red.

[Your orders dictate me a subtle system. A computer no other may see. An AI that oversees your actions as Earth's most wanted villain.]

"I don't see that as a reason for turning my lab into the backend of a night club. Turn the lights and screens back, will you?"

[I believe I can offer a plan that prove to be of sufficient service to you.]

[I have been made aware that the Director of SHIELD knows your counterpart's identity.]

[Would you like me to initiate a thorough cleanse of this fact?]

I'm hearing that, Tony stood up from his chair, the offending object sliding across the floor before tripping a wire and falling over. The room was quiet.

"You will not kill Nick Fury, do you understand me?!"

[You stated, sir, that you would kill him if he were to ever reveal your identity.]

[I have made it through to many of SHIELD's facilities, and in one, Natasha Romanoff is currently making plans towards interrogating him on the knowledge of Iron Man's identity.]

Well, that would make his plans that much harder.

"Anyone from SHIELD and the Avengers are the last people I want to be killing, Ultron. Fury will take my threat, but I really have no plans to ending his life any time soon."

[Then what do you suggest?]

If Fury reveals his identity to the Avengers, no doubt would he also say not to attack in our in the open. Tony was a celebrity, and having the heroes of Earth attacking him without any good reason known to the public would ruin them. He had to prepare for an ambush.

On another note, if Fury told the Avengers to reveal his identity to the world? Well, then there was no holding back anymore, was there?

He promised that only those that stood in his way would feel his wrath. Innocents would be spared unless provoked, and he was not one to end the life of children. So, if the world stood between him and his desires?

Well, then world must end.

"If anything," he smiled, "let them come."