Swish!
The lights in the entire building dimmed instantly as the power was cut.
Renzo threw a punch at Steve, but Steve dodged it deftly. He spun and tried to kick Renzo away, only to find that Renzo didn't budge at all. It felt like kicking a mountain.
"Sorry, Captain," Renzo said bluntly as he grabbed Steve by the leg and flung him across the room.
"Damn it!" Sam was still disoriented from the sudden blackout. His vision blurred for a moment, and when it cleared, he saw Steve being thrown aside.
"Rhodey! Watch them!" Tony made his decision. He had already missed one chance—this time, Renzo was giving him another. He wouldn't waste it.
Tony immediately rushed toward the interrogation room. Rhodey reacted at once, moving to restrain Sam.
He had brought Tony back to prevent things from escalating—but now, the situation had changed. He understood why Tony hated Bucky so much.
Steve had his brother.
Tony did too.
Unfortunately for Rhodey, his hand-to-hand combat wasn't on Sam's level. Most of his strength came from the armor. Older and less physically capable, he quickly found himself outmatched.
"Hey—take it easy!"
Sam pinned Rhodey to the ground, locking him in place.
"I'll deal with you later!" After subduing him, Sam turned toward Steve—only to see him being completely overpowered by Renzo.
Boom!
Steve was thrown again, crashing heavily into a desk. Without his shield, he was at a clear disadvantage.
Panting, Steve pushed himself back up, shaking out his arms as he squared his stance.
"I can do this all day."
"I know," Renzo replied calmly, standing motionless. As Steve stepped forward, he suddenly felt his neck seized from behind.
"Captain, go!" Sam shouted, locking his arm around Renzo's throat.
But in the next second, his grip slipped—there was nothing there.
Renzo simply phased through his hold and continued forward as if nothing had happened.
"Don't treat me like I'm human."
Sam stared in disbelief. Ignored? By someone who had joined the Avengers after him?
He gritted his teeth, shot forward, and kicked at Renzo.
Thud!
He bounced off and fell flat on his back.
Renzo stepped over him without even sparing a glance.
Sam scrambled up to chase again—but was suddenly slammed down from behind and pinned in a textbook hold.
Rhodey grinned. "This one's mine."
"Hah… hah…"
Steve chased after Tony, nearly catching him—but was suddenly yanked back by a powerful force. Renzo had him by the collar and threw him aside.
"I can't let you interfere with Tony," Renzo said, standing firmly in Steve's path like an immovable wall.
Steve struck him again and again—solid, powerful punches to the face—but Renzo didn't even flinch. It was like hitting steel.
"Enough."
Renzo raised his hand and thrust it forward—phasing it directly through Steve's abdomen.
"Don't move, Captain. I don't want to leave a hole in you."
His arm remained intangible inside Steve's body. One wrong move, and it would solidify.
Steve froze, forced to watch helplessly as Tony disappeared from sight.
Then—
The tension broke.
The two exchanged a look, and the atmosphere shifted completely.
"Nice performance," Renzo said lightly. "Let's not do that again."
Steve gave a strained smile. Those punches had been real. He had genuinely feared Bucky would die.
"Come on," Renzo added. "If we're too late, Tony really will kill him."
...
Tony walked slowly toward the interrogation room. The psychiatrist had already evacuated when the power went out, leaving Bucky alone inside.
Seeing the man who had killed his parents standing right in front of him, Tony's suppressed fury surged. His eyes reddened as he pressed both hands against the glass, his voice tight with rage.
"Do you know who I am?"
"Tony Stark… Howard Stark's son… heir to Stark Industries… Iron Man…"
Bucky spoke weakly. Prolonged confinement had left him stiff and underfed. He looked worn down—though still dangerous.
"Good. At least you remember."
Tony slammed his fist against the glass. He wanted to kill him right there—but the reinforced barrier could withstand heavy firepower. To reach him, he would have to open it.
He hesitated.
But the memories came flooding back—his parents' deaths, his mother's desperate pleas echoing in his mind, breaking down what little restraint he had left.
Act first. Regret later.
Tony opened the door.
His watch unfolded into a mechanical gauntlet, which he pressed against Bucky's head.
"You're going to kill me? You?" Bucky lifted his head with a faint, mocking smile.
Something felt off.
In an instant, Bucky grabbed Tony's arm and yanked. Tony nearly lost his footing—but reacted just as quickly. A sonic pulse fired at point-blank range, stunning Bucky momentarily.
Tony seized the opportunity and drove a punch into his head.
But he had misjudged.
Bucky absorbed the hit without faltering. Instead, his eyes sharpened, something darker surfacing.
His metal arm shot forward, gripping Tony's throat. Step by step, he forced him back against the wall, lifting him off the ground.
Just a little more pressure—and Tony's neck would snap.
Boom!
"—Ah!"
Bucky was blasted away, crashing across the room.
Tony collapsed to the floor, clutching his throat, gasping for air.
Renzo stood between them, arm still raised from the shot.
He had fired the blast.
After all, a convincing act required real risk—and sometimes, real pain.
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