"Tony, you can't keep pushing yourself like this. You haven't slept properly in three days."
Pepper's voice trembled with concern as she helped Tony up from the floor, her eyes brimming with worry. Tony's chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath. Once he found his footing, he shook out his limbs and rolled his neck, clearing the fog from his eyes. Without hesitation, he pulled away from Pepper's grasp and strode toward the workbench.
Pepper trailed after him, her tone insistent. "Tony! You need to rest. Please."
"I already did," Tony replied curtly, his gaze fixed on the holographic projection of a sleek, modern building. "Pepper, come here. What do you think of this design?"
She stepped closer, but her attention wasn't on the blueprint. Her eyes lingered on Tony's face, tracing the dark circles that shadowed his eyes.
She reached up to cradle his cheeks, her voice soft but pained. "You only slept for three hours."
Tony's lips twitched into a confident smirk. "That's plenty. Einstein slept three hours a day, and look what he accomplished."
Pepper shook her head firmly. "That's a myth, Tony. No one can function at their best on so little sleep."
"I think I can," Tony countered. "Look at these armor blueprints. I've upgraded the Combat Armor and its deployment system. Honestly, I don't like the guy, but his Hulkbuster Armor feels like it came straight out of my subconscious. It fits my design philosophy perfectly. And I've made it better."
Pepper glanced briefly at the designs before sighing. "Tony, everything you say starts with 'I.'"
"Does it?" Tony asked, genuinely surprised.
"Always. You've been like that since the day we met. Do you know what that means?"
Tony paused, considering. "That I'm... brilliant?"
"No," Pepper said gently. "It means you're incredibly confident."
Tony nodded, a hint of pride in his voice. "True."
"You've always been this way, and honestly, it's part of what makes you so captivating. Every time I see you deep in work, I think, 'How is this man so magnetic?'" Pepper's gaze locked with Tony's, her words a tender confession.
Tony was momentarily speechless, drawn in by her sincerity. With a flick of his hand, he dismissed the holographic designs scattered across the table.
"I've always known I have a certain charm," he quipped, earning a soft laugh from Pepper.
"You do. Especially when you're working."
"Then why won't you let me work?" Tony asked, his tone teasing but with an undercurrent of exhaustion.
"Because you need rest to work better," Pepper replied gently.
Tony's smile faltered, and he looked away. "I can't sleep," he admitted quietly.
Pepper wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes searching his. "What's on your mind?"
Tony hesitated, his lips parting but no words coming out. Pepper pressed on. "Is it the battle? Or Captain America's lawsuit?"
"Both," Tony finally said, his voice low. He licked his dry lips before continuing. "That battle showed me how much we don't know about the world. I used to think that as Iron Man, I could protect this country—maybe even the world. But that day, an army of thousands of aliens made it clear that one person's strength isn't enough. We need to unite to face threats like that. But..."
He trailed off, his thoughts tangled.
Pepper waited patiently, her silence giving him the space to gather his words.
"But I never expected Steve to sue Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. It completely undermined everything I thought we were fighting for. Fury was the one who brought the Avengers together. He united us—including me. I don't fully trust him or S.H.I.E.L.D., but I don't believe he'd deliberately provoke an alien invasion. He's the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Annoying, sure, but capable."
Tony's voice wavered, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him.
"If Fury can maintain stability as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., and if the public weren't condemning the organization like they are now," Tony mused, "it would mean Steve, Banner, and I could at least share a common, stable platform. We'd have the chance to mesh into a real team, given time."
Pepper nodded thoughtfully as she listened. Whether she agreed with Tony's assessment or not, she kept her thoughts to herself for now.
"Steve's too impulsive," Tony continued, frustration creeping into his voice. "He sees things too one-sidedly. Chasing momentary victories could cost us long-term gains. No wonder he's just a soldier. Even if he went into business, he'd be nothing more than a street vendor."
Pepper couldn't help but laugh at that. She gave his shoulder a light pat and rolled her eyes.
"Is this what's been bothering you?"
Tony nodded slightly, his expression softening.
"Regret's useless now, but honestly, Steve isn't entirely to blame. I didn't expect someone would edit the footage from the Battle of New York and post it online. Jarvis analyzed it—the uploads were synchronized, and they hid their initial IP addresses. Steve's right; someone is targeting us. If not for his lawsuit, those videos might've stayed buried until our enemies were ready to move against us. By then, the public would've forgotten the context of the battle, and we'd be left as targets."
Pepper's eyes widened. "Is that true?"
"Without a doubt," Tony confirmed.
She frowned, puzzled. "If you've figured that out, why are you hiding here instead of reaching out to them?"
"Hiding? This is my home," Tony said, eyebrows shooting up.
"Alright, fine, I misspoke," Pepper conceded quickly. "Then why aren't you acknowledging them?"
"Because I can't get involved," Tony explained. "Whether Steve wins or loses, it's best if this stays his fight alone. That way, we can still leverage the government's power for whatever comes next. Whether we call ourselves the Avengers or something else, forming a team is what matters. Everything else is secondary."
He paused, then added, "These past few days, while designing the new building and armor, I've also analyzed S.H.I.E.L.D.'s situation. Fury's safe, and he's got plenty of secrets. I think the Avengers can still exist."
Pepper listened in silence, her hand gently stroking his cheek as she stared into his eyes without blinking. Her gaze lingered until Tony finally asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she said softly, shaking her head. "I just think you're really charming."
Tony leaned in immediately, but Pepper raised a hand to stop him.
"It's time for you to sleep."
"Stay with me."
"No."
"Then I won't sleep."
"Fine, but only sleeping."
"I promise."
......
At the Manor, Hong Fei practiced his stance on the lawn. The air around him rose like steam, swirling within a confined space without escaping. The morning sun pierced through the clouds and forest leaves, casting a sharp line of light and shadow across his cheek.
After a long moment, his eyelids twitched slightly. When he finally opened his eyes, golden currents of air seemed to swirl within his pupils.
As he finished his form, all the airflow retreated into his body slowly and steadily. After showering and changing into fresh clothes, Number Three brought breakfast. As Hong Fei ate, he turned on the television. Steve's lawsuit was about to officially begin.
The airwaves buzzed with heated debates and wild speculation about the case. People were placing bets left and right. Watching the pundits on TV argue with such passion and eloquence, Hong Fei couldn't help but wonder if their fervor stemmed from heavy wagers rather than genuine interest.
Meanwhile, coverage of the Battle of New York was gradually fading from the headlines. Though the public still remembered the superheroes who had shone during the battle, nothing could halt society's relentless pursuit of the next big thing.
The term "Super Hero" had officially entered the global lexicon when Tony Stark admitted he was Iron Man. By the time of the Battle of New York, it had exploded back into public consciousness with unprecedented force.
Yet no matter how shocking a term or event might be, it inevitably loses its edge over time. People have to focus on their own lives. No superhero, no matter how powerful, would suddenly descend from the heavens to cook dinner, pay next month's car loan, or cover the rent.
No matter how grotesque and terrifying aliens might be, ordinary people could do little more than fear and worry. Superheroes weren't the novelty they once were. This was the reality for most people.
Hong Fei finished his breakfast and was about to stand up when the TV screen flickered abruptly. In the flashes of light and dark, a strange image appeared.
Ten rings arranged in a circle, with two oddly shaped weapons crossed in the center.
Hong Fei froze, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The screen then cut to a dimly lit, shaky video. A man with sunglasses and a long beard filled the frame. Behind him, a group of armed men executed kneeling prisoners.
"Some call me a terrorist," the man began, his voice calm but menacing. "I consider myself a teacher. Get ready for another lesson."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"In 1864, in the Sand Creek area of Colorado, the U.S. military took advantage of a gap when the Cheyenne warriors were out hunting. They massacred the elderly, women, and children left behind, and seized the land that rightfully belonged to them."
"Thirty-nine hours ago," he continued, "the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait was attacked."
His gaze hardened. "I did it."