Jericho

"Oh, good morning, my dearest Air Force Colonel," Tony greeted, munching on a burger as he spotted Rhodey.

"Tony, it would be nice if you could actually be on time for once." James Rhodey replied. Although he was accustomed to Tony's habitual tardiness, this morning Tony had kept him waiting in the cabin for two hours.

"Hey, I'll try to be on time next time," Tony grinned.

Leon stepped forward, chuckling, "James, you know Tony loves his leisurely pace, he'll never change."

"If you didn't fuss over extra security, we wouldn't be late," Tony replied

Leon retorted, "Even if I didn't insist on having extra guards, you'd still be dragging your feet. And besides, arranging proper security is standard procedure nowadays."

Tony shook his head, silent for a moment, before James Rhodey broke in, "Tony, I actually agree with Leon. Having a professional security detail is the smart move. I used to complain about it, but you never listened. I'll come along, but you know it's always smart to have extra security."

"I trust you," Tony said, patting James Rhodey on the shoulder as they headed toward the plane. Meanwhile, Pepper remained behind to handle matters back in America.

....

Inside the sleek private plane, Tony, Rhodey, and Leon settled into their plush leather seats, the hum of the engines and soft music creating a calm backdrop for their conversation. Beyond the sealed cabin doors, their hired security were present.

Once cruising, one of the three air hostesses approached "Can I get you gentlemen something to drink?" she asked, her smile bright.

Tony grinned and ordered a neat scotch. Rhodey, however, shook his head "Nah, I'm good," he replied.

Tony leaned forward theatrically. "Come on, Rhodey, don't be such a party popper! A little drink never hurts anyone, it's practically mandatory on these flights." His tone was light and teasing.

After a moment, Rhodey relented. "Alright, alright, you win. I'll have a glass of wine then."

Just as Leon was about to request a drink for himself, Tony interjected sharply, "Hold it, kid. Not so fast."

Leon stepped back, mild irritation on his face. 

Before long, both Tony and Rhodey were comfortably sipping their drinks, their banter growing as familiar as an old routine.

Meanwhile, the three air hostesses started their performance around a gleaming pole. Their synchronized, daring moves drew the undivided attention of Leon. For a brief moment, Leon's mind drifted from the high stakes business as he watched with genuine amusement.

.....

After flying for a day, the plane safely landed at a military airport in Afghanistan. Upon arrival, a sizable contingent of US and Afghan military personnel was already waiting. Leading the greeting was an imposing, seasoned lieutenant whose presence exuded authority. As Tony Stark and Leon disembarked, they were met with enthusiastic handshakes and warm greetings. In contrast, the black clad bodyguards who accompanied them received only curt nods, they were, after all, there solely for protection.

Half an hour later, at a weapons testing range set against a rugged mountain backdrop, Tony Stark, dressed in a sleek black suit and sunglasses with the peaks behind him addressed a group of uniformed officers while introducing the latest display of weaponry.

"It doesn't just impress, it demands respect," Tony declared. "With that conviction, I present to you the flagship products of our Stark Industrial Freedom series. This is the first missile system to integrate our exclusive cluster impact technology."

A voice from the crowd interjected, "People say that the best weapons are the ones that never have to be fired."

"I don't agree," Tony countered briskly. "I believe the best weapon is the one that you only have to fire once. That's how Dad did it, that's how America did it and that worked out pretty will so far."

He hooked his hand to a nearby missile launcher. Almost immediately, the device sprang to life, manipulating a missile that locked onto a target behind the mountains.

"Fire…" Tony commanded.

In response, the missile roared into the air, quickly disintegrating into a swarm of smaller projectiles that cascaded toward the mountain range. 

Tony slowly raised both of his hands," For your consideration, Jericho."

The clusters exploded with a booming sound. The shockwave reverberated, sending tremors through the testing ground.

Once the commotion had died down, Tony strode over to a nearby alloy box. Opening it, he revealed an assortment of chilled wine bottles and a collection of elegant wine glasses.

"For every deal exceeding 500 million, we send a bottle of wine, a gesture of respect and goodwill," Tony quipped. He picked up two glasses, handed one to Leon, raised his own, and took a hearty sip.

Although Leon found Tony Stark's aggressive weapons demonstration a bit overwhelming, he had to admit, it was effective.

After the demonstration, Tony prepared to leave the range in a military vehicle. As they were getting ready to depart, Tony suggested riding alone. Leon was the first to object.

"I don't think there's any appeal in that," Leon added dryly, glancing at Tony. His eyes scanned the surroundings as his left hand discreetly clutched a small bottle.

Tony noticed the tension in Leon and teased, "What's with all the nerves? You've just stepped into a military camp, it's natural to feel a bit on edge. But relax this weapons demonstration is just the beginning. As a Stark family member, you'll be expected to stand on stage sooner or later. You need to get used to it."

Leon grumbled, "I'm not nervous about the demonstration. I just have a bad gut feeling. Tony, let's be careful." His eyes scanned the surroundings, before sitting in the Humvee, his left hand discreetly clutching a small bottle that contained a spider.

When Tony was demonstrating the missile, he found a spider and decided it would be his next extraction.