#poolxfdead

It really was amazing how quickly things could change. A few months away from it all, a little unplanned vacation to a frozen hell-hole where Tony had to watch his every move lest he get noticed and, goodness forbid, captured, and the world practically seemed a different place than he left it.

Of course, the thing that hit him first was Detroit. He'd been so careful during his recon that he hadn't heard, his contact with the outside world limited to the point that it had almost driven him mad closer to the end. The fact that he came home to a world where Detroit was practically wiped off the map, with nothing he could have done if he had even been there, was frustrating and, honestly, more than a little terrifying. It was the type of bombshell that required a drink, so the well-stocked bar was the first place he went to when he returned to his New York penthouse, aiming for a drink or five.

The second, which Tony mused over as he poured the first scotch of the evening, was the surprising rise of the man who'd sent him on his little mountain excursion. First just a SHIELD guy looking for a favor, Brandt seemed to now be the head honcho over there, if the headlines were anything to go by. Considering the careful messages he had sent to the guy - mostly just snippets of info and sarcasm - he supposed he shouldn't be too surprised the news of that promotion had fallen on the wayside. 

Sighing and absently wondering if that meant it would be harder to grab Brandt's attention this time, he grabbed his glass and turned to round the bar, fully intending to sit and relax. Of course, unexpected company always did have the annoying habit of ruining plans.