The deal was made with a simple handshake.
A few hours later, Tony's lawyers had sent over the paperwork.
It wasn't just a job; it was a wall that Tony was building around himself.
Tony officially hired Sam as his Personal Assistant.
To the public, Sam was just the guy who handled Tony's schedule and held his coffee.
But in reality, Sam was the only person Tony trusted to keep his heart beating and his secrets safe.
One afternoon, a few days later, a black SUV pulled up to the Stark villa in Malibu.
Nick Fury stepped out, looking like a storm cloud.
He walked toward the front door, but he didn't get far.
Sam was standing there, leaning against the wall.
He wasn't wearing a suit or holding a gun. He just had his hands in his pockets.
"Step aside,"
Fury said, his one eye fixed on Sam.
"I have business with Stark. Official S.H.I.E.L.D. business."
"Mr. Stark is busy,"
Sam said, his voice calm and steady.
"He told me he doesn't want to be disturbed while he's working on his 'new element'."
Fury tried to walk past him, but Sam moved.
It wasn't a fast move, but suddenly, Sam was standing exactly where Fury wanted to go.
No matter which way the Director turned, Sam was there.
"You're a long way from the logistics office, Sam,"
Fury growled.
"Don't get in my way."
"I'm not in your way, Director,"
Sam smiled.
"I'm just doing my job. And my job is to make sure nobody stresses out my boss. Stress is bad for his heart. You understand, right?"
Fury looked at Sam's eyes. He saw the faint pink glow deep inside them.
He realized that if he tried to force his way in, he would be the one leaving in an ambulance.
With a frustrated sigh, Fury turned around and walked back to his car.
Inside the lab, Tony was surrounded by holograms and glowing blue screens.
He looked exhausted. The dark veins on his neck were starting to creep back.
"He's gone,"
Sam said, walking into the room.
"Good,"
Tony exhaled, sinking into a chair.
"That guy gives me a headache just by breathing. Are you ready for the 'daily recharge'?"
Sam walked over and placed his hand a few inches from the Arc Reactor.
He closed his eyes and let his Qi droplets flow.
The warm, pink energy entered Tony's chest like a soft blanket.
"Ah,"
Tony whispered. He leaned his head back as the pain faded.
"It's like drinking the world's most expensive health smoothie. I can actually think again."
"The poison is still there, Tony,"
Sam warned, keeping his voice soft.
"My Qi is just pushing it back. It's like cleaning a floor while someone is still walking on it with muddy boots. You need to find that new element soon."
"I'm working on it, Assistant,"
Tony joked, though his eyes were serious.
"But I have to say, having a bodyguard who can also act as a human battery is the best investment I've ever made."
From that day on, Sam was always by Tony's side.
When Tony went to parties, Sam was in the shadows.
When Tony stayed up all night in the lab, Sam sat in the corner, meditating and keeping the room's energy clean.
Natasha would visit often, bringing news from S.H.I.E.L.D.
She was happy to see them working together. She knew that as long as Sam was with Tony, the "Iron Man" would stay alive, and Sam would have the resources he needed to become even stronger.
One quiet night, while Tony was sleeping and the lab was dark, Sam sat on the floor of the balcony.
The ocean waves crashed against the rocks below.
Sam closed his eyes. In his mind, the tiny droplets of pink Qi in his Dantian began to vibrate.
They moved faster and faster, spinning until they merged together.
Suddenly, they turned into a small, glowing pond of liquid energy.
A warm wave of power exploded from his chest.
His bones felt like they were made of white jade, and his skin became even clearer.
He had done it. He was no longer just a beginner. He had reached the Foundation Establishment stage.
Now, his Qi wasn't just a mist or a few drops; it was a steady flow.
He could feel every living thing in the mansion—from the tiny spiders in the walls to the heartbeat of Tony Stark three rooms away.
The next morning, the mansion was busy. Two people arrived to see Tony.
One was a woman with strawberry-blonde hair and a kind face—Pepper Potts.
The other was a large man with a bald head and a fake, friendly smile—Obadiah Stane.
"And who is this?"
Obadiah asked, his voice deep and loud. He looked at Sam like he was just a piece of furniture.
"Tony, is this the new 'assistant' I heard about? He looks more like a college student than a bodyguard."
Tony clapped Sam on the shoulder.
"This is Sam. He's the reason I'm still standing, Obie. He's my right hand."
Obadiah's eyes turned cold for a split second, but he quickly covered it with a laugh.
"Well, as long as he keeps you on schedule. We have a company to run, Tony."
Sam stood perfectly still. With his new power, he could see things others couldn't.
He looked at Obadiah and saw a dark, muddy energy around the man's heart. It felt like greed and rot.
Obadiah wasn't a friend; he was a snake waiting to bite.
Later that afternoon, Sam found Pepper in the kitchen. She was looking at a stack of papers, looking very stressed.
"Miss Potts,"
Sam said softly.
Pepper looked up and smiled.
"Oh, hello, Sam. Please, call me Pepper. Thank you for taking such good care of Tony. He seems... better since you arrived. Less manic."
"He's trying,"
Sam said. He walked closer and lowered his voice.
"Pepper, I need to tell you something. It's about Mr. Stane."
Pepper paused.
"Obadiah? He's been like a father to Tony for years. Why?"
"People can hide their faces, but they can't hide their spirit,"
Sam explained. He used simple words, but his eyes were very serious.
"When he looks at Tony, he doesn't see a person. He sees a prize. He has a 'messy' heart, Pepper. Please, be careful with the files you give him. Don't trust him with Tony's life."
Pepper stared at Sam. She wanted to say he was wrong, but she had felt a strange coldness from Obadiah lately, too.
She saw the pink light reflected in Sam's eyes and felt a strange sense of peace.
"I... I'll keep my eyes open,"
Pepper whispered.
"Thank you, Sam."
As Sam walked back to the lab, he passed Obadiah in the hallway. Obadiah stopped him, leaning in close.
"I don't know what game you're playing, kid,"
Obadiah hissed, no longer smiling.
"But Tony is mine to manage. Stay in your lane, or you'll find yourself back in a cubicle before the week is over."
Sam didn't blink. He felt the massive "pond" of Qi in his Dantian hum with power.
If he wanted to, he could end Obadiah right there with one finger. But he just smiled gently.
"Mr. Stane,"
Sam said.
"The world is changing. There are things more powerful than money. I suggest you remember that."
He walked past Obadiah, leaving the man feeling a strange, freezing chill in his bones.