Tony Stark's Journal

From a news report aired on CNN:

"This is Trish Tilby, reporting live from Shea Stadium, where today's crowd showed up for a historic subway series game. . .and got even more than they bargained for.

Steve Rogers -- the man known to millions as Captain America -- made a surprise appearance to throw out the first pitch. This outing marked the Captain's first public appearance since the dramatic announcement of his return from apparent death. Few details of the beloved hero's fifteen-month absence have been provided to the public, and today's outing did little to dispel the clouds of mystery.

Wearing a Mets cap and jacket over his familiar star-spangled uniform -- as you can see in this footage -- Rogers entered the stadium to thunderous applause. By his side, in Yankees regalia, walked SHIELD director and Mighty Avenger Tony "Iron Man" Stark.

Asked how he and Rogers had come to put aside their differences, Stark smiled at the camera --"

*cut to footage of Stark clapping his hand on Rogers's shoulder*:

I've always been a proponent of Yankees and Mets fans getting along.

"One potentially tense moment came when Stark was introduced. . . to a chorus of isolated but vocal boos. However, at that moment, Captain America stepped forward raised his hands and, with the commanding presence for which he has long been known, silenced the crowd, and stepped toward the pitcher's mound.

"Oh, and the pitch? Right over the plate. Back to you, Kyra!"

"Thanks, Trish! If you ask me, the Mets should sign him. Now to weather. . ."

In the private luxury box at Shea Stadium, Tony muted the TV and twisted the top off a bottle of Pellegrino. He poured the sparkling water for himself, and a Coke for Steve.

Calling back to the bathroom, where Steve was presumably changing out of his uniform shirt, he said, "Looks like our debut went off pretty well. Now. . ." He turned toward the view of the field where the first inning was getting underway. ". . .If only both of our teams didn't suck this year."

From: Tony Stark
To: Steve Rogers

Subject: Take me out?

Steve --

I know how much you value your privacy, and your recuperation-time, and your Sharon-time so I wouldn't be asking this in most circumstances. But according to Pepper, the management of the Mets is just wild about the idea of your throwing out the first pitch in Sunday's game*, and I'm sure you know those boys in blue could use all the morale they can get right now. Before the Yanks crush them of course. So, what do you say? Is it a date? We'd just need to do some obligatory photo ops before hand. I've got a private box for the actual game. Invite whoever you want. Pepper might be stopping by.

Oh, and if you feel up to it, you might want to drop a call to W. I've been giving him the away message, and you know how he can get.

I love you.

-Tony

From: Stark@starkindustries.com
To: V.Potts@starkindustries.com

Subject line: It's your boss, remember me? This is important.

Pep --

So are we going to put our heads together on this thing with Steve or not?

You're not answering your phone, you know that makes me nervous. I want to take Steve to the ballgame tomorrow, and we need to make sure we have all our ducks in a row for a public appearance.

Get back with me soon, please, so I can stop fidgeting. Steve doesn't like it very much.

-T