Chapter 11 Stark's Gift
In front of the 'ruins' of Crete Clinic.
A sleek, silver-grey sports car was parked in front of the clinic's ruins, looking like it had stumbled into a World it didn't belong to.
Inside the car, Tony Stark leaned back in his seat, feigning sleep, while Jarvis thoughtfully turned off Tony's preferred aggressive metal music, replacing it with something light and soft.
The Battle of New York had ended two days ago.
Without a doubt, the Avengers had become heroes in everyone's eyes, the strongest shield against alien forces.
But this trust and adoration brought the Avengers not just glory, but an indescribable responsibility and burden.
Tony Stark wasn't sure how the other Avengers felt, but he felt like the weight was suffocating him.
As soon as he closed his eyes, the grotesque Chitauri would appear before him.
They stopped the alien invasion this time, but what about next time?
What if an even stronger enemy appeared?
Death, Fire, burning cities... these images clung to him like an unshakeable nightmare, preventing him from getting any proper rest.
Jarvis diagnosed him with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and advised him to temporarily set aside work and rest.
Tony readily accepted Jarvis's suggestion; although he didn't think he needed rest, he felt he should go see Lynn.
After all, his damaged Iron Man Suit was still with Lynn.
Tony found an excuse to rest, but to his surprise, he fell asleep in the car.
As he gradually drifted from feigned sleep into a deeper slumber, the images that tormented him subtly resurfaced in his mind.
Cities burning in Fire, corpses wailing in their final moments, and a monster, enveloped by a blurry Shadow, dragging him into the abyss… Thump! Thump!
A crisp knocking sound broke the Shadow engulfing him, pulling him out of the terrifying dream.
Tony gasped for breath, the fear in his eyes still lingering. He frantically searched for the source of the sound, only to see Lynn standing by the car window.
He froze for a moment, a look of disorientation flashing in his eyes. He took a deep breath, fully waking from the dream.
Tony vigorously wiped his face. When he removed his hand, a Stark-esque smile was back on his face, and he opened the car door and stepped out.
"Hey! Lynn! You're much faster than I imagined."
Tony greeted Lynn, showing no sign of being tormented by nightmares.
Lynn calmly looked at Tony and slowly said, "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?"
Tony's expression stiffened. He suddenly remembered Lynn's identity.
A Doctor who often took on shady jobs, helping Mutants with treatment.
A wry smile appeared on his face: "Buddy, you're just going to expose me like that? I'll lose a lot of face."
"Face?"
Lynn looked at Tony Stark playfully, pinching his chin and saying, "When I saved you that day, you were clutching my hand, begging me to change the way I was holding you."
Tony looked as if he'd been struck by lightning, his entire demeanor visibly dimming several shades.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!"
Tony laughed awkwardly: "Did I?"
Before Lynn could answer, he answered his own question: "No way!"
Lynn didn't respond, merely watching the other man with a teasing gaze.
A blush of embarrassment and exasperation crept onto Tony's face, and he snapped, "Kid! That's enough!"
Lynn shrugged his shoulders.
"How about it, do you feel any better?"
Tony paused, and after realizing that the fear from his nightmare had completely dissipated, he felt a surge of gratitude towards Lynn, yet he stubbornly replied, "I've always been comfortable."
Lynn didn't expose his tsundere facade, simply asking, "Where's the surprise you mentioned?"
Although they hadn't exchanged contact information that day, it was incredibly easy for Tony Stark to find someone's contact details.
So, when Tony Stark called him, Lynn wasn't surprised at all.
Instead, he was wondering if he could turn Tony Stark into his first believer.
After all, Tony Stark, as Iron Man, had a massive fan base.
If Iron Man became his follower, as long as Tony Stark wished, he could convert many of Lynn's supporters from this vast fan base, providing him with a large amount of faith power.
"Cough."
Tony cleared his throat and said to Lynn, "I know your clinic was destroyed in the war, so I want to give you a new clinic."
"Oh?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow, teasing, "When did Tony Stark switch to philanthropy?"
"I've always done charity!"
Tony said with dissatisfaction. Seeing Lynn look at him suspiciously, he then said helplessly, "Alright! I admit this is payment for you saving me."
"Oh…"
Lynn drew out the sound, his tone full of disappointment.
"So, the life of Tony Stark, a genius scientist, billionaire, playboy, and Iron Man, is only worth 'one,' yes, one clinic."
"Holy sh*t! You greedy black Doctor!"
Tony glared at Lynn, but inwardly, he was overjoyed.
His life was certainly worth more than any clinic!
"Anywhere in New York, you pick."
Tony was secretly pleased, but he kept a straight face as he spoke. Seeing Lynn still looking at him askance, he helplessly said, "Alright, this isn't payment for saving me."
"This is…"
He paused, lowering his voice, "A thank you gift for returning my Iron Man Suit."
Although that Iron Man Suit was badly damaged, it also held significant sentimental value.
"Iron Man Suit?"
Lynn was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "I completely forgot about that thing."
Tony looked at Lynn meaningfully.
You think I believe that?
Lynn chuckled, pointing to a detached two-story house about two hundred meters from the clinic's ruins.
"That's the one."
To have survived this war, that small building must have been blessed by the god of luck.
Tony nodded and said directly, "Jarvis, buy that small building."
"Yes, Mr. Stark."
Jarvis's voice came from the car.
Lynn raised an eyebrow, experiencing Tony Stark's wealth firsthand for the first time.
Minutes later, Jarvis's voice sounded again.
"Mr. Stark, that small building now belongs to you."
"Change the ownership to Lynn Crete."
Tony said indifferently, then asked Lynn, "Do you need me to find someone to help you move?"
Lynn didn't stand on ceremony, nodding to Tony and saying, "Thank you for the trouble."
He gestured with his chin towards the clinic ruins.
"There's not much to move anyway, just some medicine in the warehouse."
Tony nodded. After delegating the task to Jarvis, he said to Lynn, "Come back to Avengers Tower with me? The Iron Man Suit needs to be retrieved."
Lynn smiled and nodded: "As you wish, Boss."
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