Location: Venice, Italy – Private Stark Estate
The sun dipped low over the Venetian horizon, casting gold ribbons across the Grand Canal. The private Stark villa sat like a jewel at the edge of the city, opulent yet tasteful — for once, Tony had let Pepper make most of the aesthetic decisions.
Which was why everything looked like a romantic dream.
White floral arches lined the garden aisle, light jazz drifted from a live quartet, and dozens of chairs were occupied by the world's most elite — Avengers, diplomats, tech moguls, and one slightly bewildered X-Man still trying to figure out if this counted as a "mutant-friendly event."
And at the center of it all, stood Otto Octavius.
In a sharp three-piece black suit with crimson lining and a matching pocket square, Otto looked more like a villain in a spy movie than a wedding guest — his posture straight, expression unreadable, and hair still in that tactical wolf-cut that screamed "militant genius." His lean, refined physique added to the effect. The only thing missing was an ominous soundtrack.
"Why are you standing like that?" Tony's voice snapped Otto out of his observational trance.
"I am simply assessing the perimeter," Otto said. "Standard protocol. Weddings are prime targets for laser attacks, alien invasion, or emotional meltdowns."
Tony chuckled. "You're not wrong, but relax. Today's about love and extremely expensive hors d'oeuvres."
He paused, then added, "Also, where the hell were you when I needed help with the flower budget last week?"
Otto raised an eyebrow. "I was managing a Stark Industries satellite acquisition in Tokyo while rerouting your redundant AI clusters away from malware."
Tony nodded. "Right. The boring stuff."
Otto smirked slightly — a rare, blink-and-you'll-miss-it expression. "You're welcome."
As the ceremony began, Otto took his place beside Happy Hogan and Rhodey. Behind them sat Peter Parker, who was pretending not to cry.
The music swelled. Pepper Potts emerged from the garden archway, radiant in white, her arm hooked with Morgan, who proudly walked her mother down the aisle. The crowd turned. Phones were definitely not allowed — Stark had invented a nanotech field to jam camera signals for the next 45 minutes.
Tony stood at the altar, uncharacteristically quiet. As Pepper approached, even Otto had to admit — this man, the one-time narcissist-turned-hero, looked truly in awe.
They exchanged vows.
Pepper: "You once told me I completed you. That was the one time you weren't exaggerating."
Tony: "And you once told me I was impossible to work with. That was the one time you weren't lying."
Laughter.
Applause.
The kiss was sincere. And long.
A few guests clapped. A few others wept. Otto… quietly calculated the weight distribution of the decorative chandelier in case it fell mid-kiss. (It didn't.)
—
Reception – Later That Night
"Admit it," Tony said, swirling a drink beside Otto at the bar, "you cried a little."
"I merely blinked slowly," Otto said. "The sun was in my eyes."
"It was sunset."
"Exactly."
Pepper approached, smiling warmly. "There you are, Otto."
He straightened. "Pepper. Congratulations. You looked radiant. A statistically improbable level of radiance, in fact."
She laughed. "Only you would compliment me like a lab report. But thank you."
She handed him a small envelope. "And here's something Tony insisted on giving you."
Otto opened it. Inside — a handwritten note:
> "To the man who keeps Stark Industries from falling apart when I forget what day it is — thanks. Now go eat a cannoli or something. — T"
Otto blinked. "Is this... genuine affection?"
Tony raised his glass. "Weird, right?"
Hmm
---
Chapter Title: "Superior Management"
Location: Stark Industries – Manhattan HQ, Two Days After the Wedding
The morning sunlight gleamed off the glass towers of Stark Industries. The building pulsed with subtle tech — biometric locks, AI security drones, and espresso machines that greeted employees by name. All of it now fell under the watchful eye of… Otto Octavius.
Because Tony Stark, having married Pepper Potts in a whirlwind ceremony involving champagne fountains, drone fireworks, and a jazz cover of AC/DC's Back in Black, had officially left the country.
Honeymoon: unknown. Tony only told Otto one thing before he left:
> "Don't blow up the company. Or, like, become king of it. Again."
---
Day One – 7:00 AM
Otto arrived early, naturally. He was wearing a black turtleneck beneath a perfectly pressed burgundy suit, complemented by mirrored glasses and the ever-present necklace containing his retracted Iron Spider suit. The spider insignia shimmered white against the black crystal — sleek, silent, lethal.
"Good morning, Mr. Octavius," Friday's voice chimed as he entered the executive elevator.
"Status report," he replied.
"Tony and Pepper have arrived safely in an undisclosed Pacific location. Weather is sunny. No shark attacks yet."
"Pity," Otto muttered, stepping out into the top-floor office.
The executive suite was cluttered: half-eaten bagels, dozens of project prototypes, a 3D-printed Iron Man mug that constantly whistled "Highway to Hell." Otto sighed.
"Let us begin the cleansing."
---
9:13 AM – Boardroom, Stark Industries
"Wait… Stark left him in charge?" a board member asked, staring at Otto with disbelief.
Otto's four mechanical arms extended from his back slowly, curling around the room like a crown of spiders.
"Yes," Otto said, calmly sipping black coffee. "Does anyone else have a stupid question?"
No one did.
"Excellent. Let's review today's agenda."
He activated the central screen with a flick of his gauntlet. A digital whiteboard flickered to life with charts, algorithms, and a pie chart labeled: 'Percentage of Useless Meetings: 72%.'
"Effective immediately, I have terminated four subsidiaries wasting funds on self-heating golf clubs, emotionally sensitive toasters, and a perfume called 'Iron Musk.'"
Silence.
"Furthermore, I've redirected the satellite division to assist with global climate monitoring, tripled our cybersecurity funding, and canceled Tony's contract with that musician who makes beats out of MRI machine sounds."
From the corner, Pepper's assistant Harley peeked in, carrying a folder. "Sir, there's also a PR thing. Uh… the media wants to know if you're the new CEO."
Otto turned. "Tell them I am the temporary steward of Stark Industries. I have no interest in empire. Only efficiency."
Harley blinked. "Okay, cool. That sounds... ominous, but cool."
---
12:45 PM – R&D Lab
Otto strolled through the research division, watching scientists scramble to look busy.
"Dr. Octavius!" one intern piped up. "We were working on the neural AI-to-organic interface Tony shelved last year. Want to see?"
Otto scanned the prototype, lifted an exposed wire, and said, "This would melt someone's cerebellum."
The intern paled. "Oh."
"Relocate it to sub-project Beta-7 and triple the shielding. It has promise."
Adele, Otto's personal AI, chimed in: "That was surprisingly encouraging of you."
"I'm evolving," Otto said smugly. "I've even learned how to smile at interns."
He attempted a smile. The intern dropped her coffee.
---
2:00 PM – Press Conference
Otto stepped onto the podium, surrounded by flashing lights and camera drones.
"Citizens of New York," he began, adjusting his collar, "Stark Industries is secure. I will ensure its output remains ethical, innovative, and superior."
A reporter raised a hand. "Are you an Avenger now?"
Otto scowled. "I am not an Avenger. I am the man who keeps their toys from crashing into populated areas."
Laughter rippled through the press pool.
Another reporter asked, "And where's Mr. Stark?"
Otto's answer was simple. "Married. Finally. May the odds be ever in his favor."
---
6:00 PM – Otto's Office
He sat at Tony's desk, now meticulously organized. No crumbs. No whiskey glasses. No Iron Man bobblehead that screamed "Genius Billionaire Playboy Philanthropist" every hour. He'd vaporized that.
He stared out the window, arms folded, watching the skyline darken.
This wasn't his empire.
But it was his to protect — for now.
Adele whispered, "You're doing well."
Otto smirked. "Of course I am. I'm the Superior Interim CEO."
Just then, his phone buzzed. A message from Tony:
> "How's my kingdom?"
Otto typed back:
> "Functional. Unlike your sense of fiscal restraint."
> "Love you too, Doc. Don't fire everyone."
> "No promises."
---
Would you like the next scene to feature Gwen visiting Otto at Stark Industries, or perhaps Otto handling a corporate crisis with his usual deadly charm?