"Pepper, let me explain — there's no danger. This isn't… what it looks like," Tony said quickly, words tripping over each other as he tried to justify the armored suit.
"Tony's new toy?" Karl laughed. "That's what we're calling it now?"
He exchanged a glance with Yinsen, and the two burst into laughter.
Pepper looked between them, confused.
"Wow… what exactly did I walk into?"
Tony shot Karl an exasperated look, then guided Pepper aside while disengaging the Mark II armor.
As Tony removed the chest plate, Karl caught sight of the arc reactor embedded in his chest.
It was still the crude cave-built version.
So that's why he needed Pepper.
The thought alone gave Karl goosebumps.
Tony Stark trusted Pepper Potts with his life — literally.
Karl turned toward Yinsen.
"Let's go upstairs. Tony needs privacy while he flirts with his assistant."
He said it loud enough for Tony to hear.
Yinsen shook his head, smiling.
"Karl! When this suit is finished, I'm going to personally test its durability on you!" Tony shouted from across the workshop.
Karl waved dismissively and headed upstairs with Yinsen.
While Karl and Yinsen drank at the bar, Tony guided Pepper through replacing the arc reactor power unit.
After several tense moments and nervous instructions, the replacement was successful.
Tony handed her the old reactor.
"I have many flaws," he said lightly. "One of the most obvious is that I'm a terrible decision-maker."
Pepper stared at the device in her hand.
After a moment of hesitation, she kept it instead of discarding it.
That quiet decision would one day save Tony's life.
Tony joined Karl and Yinsen in the living room.
"Charity gala tonight," Tony said, pouring himself a drink. "High society, open bar, and more beautiful women than should be legally allowed in one building. You two should come."
The gala was officially in his honor.
Unofficially, he knew Obadiah Stane was behind it.
"I'll pass," Yinsen said calmly. "Crowds aren't my preference."
"I have a woman," Karl replied, sipping his drink. "So I'll pass too."
Tony sighed dramatically.
"You two are incredibly disappointing. You can still enjoy yourselves without… extracurricular activities."
Then he gave Karl a knowing look.
"Didn't expect your tastes to run… mature."
Karl ignored the jab.
Instead, his expression turned serious.
"Use one of the favors you owe me," he said. "I want Stark Industries' super-soldier research revisited and perfected. No side effects."
Tony's eyes narrowed.
"What do you need that for? You're not planning to give it to her, are you?"
"Yes," Karl answered calmly. "And for myself."
Yinsen looked between them.
"I feel like I missed several chapters of this conversation."
Karl explained plainly:
"An optimized super-gene therapy could enhance physiology, slow aging, increase resilience, and repair cellular damage. Someone important to me has been anxious lately. I want to give her back some youth."
Yinsen nodded slowly, understanding.
Tony leaned against the bar.
"That's complicated. I'm an engineer and physicist, not a geneticist. But with the right team and funding, it's possible. Extremis research, bio-enhancement work, military gene therapy programs — fragments exist. We'd need to rebuild it safely."
"We can recruit," Karl said. "University labs. Private researchers. Offer funding and full autonomy."
Tony considered it.
"It would be useful," he admitted. "Biological resilience has… obvious applications."
Karl smirked.
"Look at you. Right now you're fragile. I doubt you could last three minutes in a real fight."
Tony choked on his drink.
"Excuse me? That reactor in my chest is the only thing keeping shrapnel from reaching my heart. If I injected anything, the reaction could dislodge fragments and kill me instantly."
Karl nodded.
"I can remove the fragments. I can repair the damage."
Tony stared.
"But not yet," Karl added. "There are factors you wouldn't understand yet."
Tony exhaled slowly.
"…Fine. I'll build the lab first."
He was excited — and frustrated.
Karl stood.
"See you tonight. Yinsen, you should go. You can't stay inside forever."
Before Tony could respond, Karl vanished.
No shadows.
No transition.
Just gone.
Tony and Yinsen stared at the empty space.
"…He didn't even use the shadow world," Tony muttered.
"He's getting stronger," Yinsen said quietly.
Tony snorted.
"When the gene therapy works, I'm putting him through durability testing."
Then he looked at Yinsen.
"You should consider the treatment too."
"We'll see," Yinsen replied. "Perhaps I can help with the research."
Tony nodded.
"I've already begun arranging medical aid and supplies for your hometown. Reconstruction will take time — but it's a start."
Yinsen's eyes softened.
"Thank you, Tony."
Tony lifted his glass.
"For second chances."
Happy new month gooners🔥