"By doing this, you wouldn't just be making enemies of the Avengers or even the Justice League—you'd be making an enemy of me."
With a single sentence, Batman shut down Iron Man Tony Stark's proposal.
It had been nearly half a year since the two first met. Having fought side by side through countless battles, Tony trusted Batman enough to pull the arc reactor from his own chest and hand it over to him; likewise, when Batman traveled to the primal world, he willingly entrusted the control of the portal to Tony.
Their bond wasn't something that would shatter over a single suggestion from Tony or a rejection from Batman. Instead, after speaking their minds, both men quietly and seriously reflected on each other's perspective.
"Tony, I agree with your idea to prepare in advance and prevent impending disasters, but it cannot come at the cost of turning all of New York into your Iron Legion," Batman said.
"Let me think about it." Iron Man raised a hand to shade his eyes, gazing off into the distance, his mind unreadable.
Batman didn't rush him. A few minutes passed before Tony spoke up again:
"I've got an idea."
"Let's hear it."
"I'll contact Norman Osborn and Colonel Rhodes. Using them as intermediaries, I'll negotiate with the US government to turn the Avengers into an official organization," Iron Man said.
"You want to expand the superheroes' influence to attract other extraordinary individuals who might be hiding among the general public?" Batman instantly grasped Tony's line of thinking.
"Exactly." Iron Man put his business acumen to work. "You might not realize the extent of the Avengers' influence right now, but more than half the world knows who we are."
Batman waited in silence for Tony to continue.
"In a way, the Avengers have become global celebrities. Billions of people are fascinated by us... With a little maneuvering, we could generate an astronomical amount of revenue for the US government."
"If I use that as bargaining chip, negotiating with the government shouldn't be a problem."
As he spoke, Iron Man gave a firm nod, increasingly convinced that the plan was viable.
Batman was no stranger to this approach. In his original world, Wonder Woman had her own toy lines, action figures, and animated series to generate revenue.
Wonder Woman had even suggested during a council meeting that her earnings be used to fund the Justice League.
"This plan relies on one prerequisite: people must genuinely like the Avengers," Batman reminded him. "Right now, public perception of superheroes isn't particularly favorable."
"That can't be helped. During the Battle of Manhattan, nearly half of the city's destruction was caused by the superheroes themselves. In the eyes of Manhattan's civilians, we aren't much different from Loki." Iron Man let out a troubled sigh.
"There is still a difference. Once the damaged buildings are repaired and they receive substantial compensation from the Parker Corporation and Stark Industries, the ordinary people who view us as enemies will be a minority," Batman consoled him.
"Except it's the money they're grateful for—our status as businessmen—not who we are when we put on the suit," Iron Man pointed out.
"Is there a difference?" Batman asked.
"Yes. I only feel like Iron Man when I put on the Mark armor. Any other time, no matter how hard I try, in everyone else's eyes, I'm still just a playboy."
"When you take off the armor, you're still a philanthropist, an entrepreneur, and a billionaire," Batman said. "If you feel like you're nothing without that suit, then you don't deserve to wear it in the first place—even if you built it with your own hands."
Tony's lips moved slightly; he felt the urge to drink again.
However, suffering from alcohol poisoning and still confined to a hospital bed, he obviously couldn't indulge. He swallowed hard, swallowed his frustration, and voiced the confusion weighing on his mind:
"I'm having a hard time finding a balance between my superhero persona and my personal identity."
"Peter, how do you manage it?"
Batman looked at Tony. Seeing this man—who was usually so flippant and non-serious—looking so genuinely plagued by worry, he knew his visit hadn't been in vain.
Without needing much time to think, Batman gave a direct answer:
"Tony, do you remember what you said at the press conference after you returned from the Middle East?"
"'I am Iron Man.' How could I forget?" Tony answered without hesitation, only realizing the implication a moment after the words left his mouth. "...I am Iron Man?"
"Precisely. That's the answer to your question. You already answered it three or four months ago," Batman said.
Tony chuckled faintly, not taking Batman's words to heart.
Seeing this, Batman knew he had to help Tony see things clearly:
"Did you know? There are many superheroes who have revealed their identities publicly, just like you—some, like Jessica Jones and Luke Cage, even face the world under their real names."
"But you are different from them. If I had to make a comparison, you're like Captain America and Wolverine."
"For Captain America and Wolverine, there is no divide between their superhero persona and their personal identity. Steve Rogers has completely merged with the identity of Captain America. Even when he isn't wearing his suit, the first thing people do when they see him is address him as 'Captain.'"
"It's the same for Wolverine, and it's the same for you. You are Iron Man, and Iron Man is you."
Tony Stark walked back to his hospital bed, sat down, and let out a light laugh:
"Sounds like you're speaking in tongue-twisters... But I get what you mean, Peter. Thanks."
"It's simply the truth," Batman said. "No need to thank me."
"Give me a little time. I'll think this over carefully," Iron Man said.
"Alright."
After saying their goodbyes, Batman walked down the streets of Manhattan, heading toward a location three blocks away from Stark Industries.
Earlier, while standing by the window in Tony's hospital room, Batman had looked out across a distance of nearly a thousand meters and spotted two familiar figures.
Those figures were none other than Captain America, Steve Rogers—whom Batman had just mentioned—and Jack Monroe.
The two were standing beside a building currently under repair, wearing only thin tank tops despite the chilly November weather.
When Batman saw him, Captain America was chatting and laughing with Jack Monroe while working hard.
That was right—the pair wasn't engaging in the lofty, heroic duties expected of superheroes. Instead, they were helping construction workers haul massive chunks of concrete that heavy machinery couldn't easily clear.
Batman didn't approach Captain America. Instead, he stood atop a high-rise building, watching them quietly from afar for a while before turning to leave silently.
Maybe Steve would make a fine teammate, Batman thought to himself.
A dozen minutes later, Batman arrived in Hell's Kitchen and met with a group of superheroes led by Daredevil.
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