Tony Stark couldn't stop smiling, under his helmet.
Granted, it was a multi-billion dollar smile that probably shouldn't have been used unless a spokeswoman for Mabelline was in the room, or an actress from "Grey's Anatomy" was greeting him. But given the circumstances, he simply couldn't help it. This was so damned typical that it almost warranted a chuckle.
A SHIELD agent stood infront of him, with Thor at the side, his hammer held above his shoulder. Tony, in full Iron Man armor, could only look over as the SHIELD agent's eyes noticeably darted from side to side, at the two individuals behind him. He was nerve racked, by their prescence. And that's what was probably so funny to Tony... SHIELD agents barely ever even showed a hint of emotion. Part of him felt sick because of that... the other part, well, was trying all that it could to keep Tony from bursting out in a laugh he knew he wouldn't be able to explain.
"...So. Nice weather we're having."
Within seconds, the SHIELD agent had frantically tapped a button on the elevator, and gotten off on the next floor. He probably wasn't even heading for that one... but it was obvious, from the way he had rushed out, that neither Tony or Thor were going to get the chance to ask.
Thor turned, and innocently grinned towards Iron Man.
"I do wonder what that was about."
Iron Man shrugged.
"Couldn't imagine.", The Armored Avenger answered, before reaching up and pulling off his helmet.
"Whew. Stuffy, this thing is."
A few moments of silence between the two passed, as they waited for the elevator to reach their floor of the Triskelion. But finally, the self proclaimed Thunder God managed to clear his throat, breaking the tension that could've been sliced into with a knife.
"Permit me a question, Tony.", Thor stated.
"With a face like that, how could I resist?", Tony asked, with a smirk.
"It is just... You seem calm. Nigh, uncaring, of the situation we are about to face. How do you do that? The calmness, I mean."
"Well, quite honestly, Thor...", Tony stated, peering through the lit metal hallways as the elevator door finally propped open, allowing the two entrance to their destination.
"There comes a point in a man's life where megalomaniacs and giant monsters threatening the country, even the world, just seem to fit into the routine of things."
"And you reached this point?"
Tony grinned.
"Quite awhile ago, old friend. Quite awhile ago..."
It was in that moment that the two entered a lounge room, and were greeted with quite an impressive sight, by anyone else's standards: Infront of Tony and Thor stood, perhaps, the entire roster of active Ultimates. From Captain America to Wasp to Black Widow, even down to Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, and uneasily enough, Giant-Man. They all turned, viewing the two as they gave a friendly wave. Tony, however, seemed very fixated on Natasha, as he stood next to her and flashed that billion dollar smile that had seduced many a woman, in Tony's binge days.
"Natasha. Darling. You're looking quite positively spectacular. Still hitting the gym regularly, I take it?"
The Black Widow turned, seemingly unamused by Tony's blatant attempt at charm.
"I see you haven't changed since we last crossed paths, Tony."
"And what a dreadful time it was,", Tony remarked.
"Need someone to hold?"
"Quite preverbially in your dreams, comrade."
Tony seemed to mock pain, as he turned away.
"As still as fiesty as ever. My dear, you're going to make some royal king or international assassin a very lucky man, someday."
"Cut the crap, Stark,", Hank Pym interjected.
"I don't think any of us are in the mood."
Tony raised an eyebrow.
"And why is that, again?"
Wasp sighed.
"Told you Fury wouldn't tell him upfront."
Now Tony was even more confused.
"Well, somebody better start explaining. I'm an expert in technological tactical warfare and writing the world's largest blank checks, not riddles."
"Bet he hasn't told pretty boy Rogers, either.", Giant-Man muttered.
"I too must attest to being in the dark on this, friends...", Thor inclined.
"To what do we owe the General such hostility?"
"From what I can piece together from the message sent to my brother and I,", Scarlet Witch stated.
"We're adding to our ranks."
Tony's curiousity was not dead, with the answer he had been looking for. Infact, it only seemed to increase, after this bit of news.
"Come again, Wanda, honey?", Tony asked.
"I seem to have had a bug in my ear. Did you just say that we've gone from being The Ultimates to being the Draft?"
"Well, I've heard she's nice, so maybe it could turn out for the best."
Tony seemed to perk up, a bit.
"Her, you say?"
"I also heard she's underage, though."
Never once, in the history of the world, did Tony Stark's multi-billion dollar smile fade so fast. But upon a silent thought, Stark only seemed to bounce back from it, resuming the grin with a bit of a sly edge to it.
"Well, in that case... Anyone for Moscow?"
In that moment, General Nick Fury walked into the room, covering a shadowed individual behind him that stood still in the elevator, seemingly under Fury's orders.
"Nick! Fury, you cruel bastard... how dare you. Have you no class, man?"
"Calm down, soldier.", Fury warned.
"I'll do no such thing,", Tony argued.
"How dare you enlist female recruitment without so much as a single offer for screentests?"
Fury rolled his one visible eye.
"If we can move on, Tony...", Fury stated, before turning to the team in it's entirety.
"Now, first order of buisness. As some of you probably might have heard, the mutant terrorist known as Magneto just broadcasted a worldwide threat, which I won't even go into the fact was a clear message to us, in particular. The broadcast, however, is already spawning a situation of panic in the Middle East that I want a few of you to go down and handle immediately. But first, let me get to the more withstanding matter of intrest..."
The figure behind Fury walked in, further, as a set of long, brown hair seemed to illuminate through the shadows of the elevator. Followed by a noticeable pair of white, bug-like lenses that all of the Ultimates recognised, but were very surprised, upon the figure's full exposure from the darkness.
"Without further adue, let me introduce both the newest and youngest member of the Ultimates, thus far. A Miss Jessica Drew, a.k.a, Spider-Woman."