"Then you should also know…"
Jack Kadere, who had just finished demonstrating a few moves to Skye and the others, lazily stretched his arms and smirked. "You've interrupted my training session."
"You're teaching self-defense to the girls?" Tony Stark arched a brow, flashing him an "I get it" grin. "Well, that's… interesting. What's the next step? I'm guessing you should've locked the door so I couldn't stroll in and nearly get myself kicked."
The three girls immediately blushed and shuffled behind Jack, avoiding Tony's gaze.
Even Felicia, who usually dropped her aloof persona whenever she was around Jack, reverted to her cool, untouchable demeanor. After all, they were still just high school students, and Tony Stark's reputation preceded him. This was the world-famous billionaire, genius inventor… and notorious playboy.
Tony, however, wasn't here to charm anyone—at least not directly. He was sizing up Jack. "I didn't expect a guy with an artist's touch like you to also be into combat training."
He shifted into a loose boxing stance, bouncing lightly on his feet. "I've been working the gloves with Happy lately. How about we spar? You and me."
Jack could tell from Tony's posture that he had only recently started practicing. Stark wanted to improve as Iron Man, sure, but his fundamentals were still green.
Still, Tony saw this as the perfect opportunity—another newbie to test himself against. And, of course, in typical Stark fashion, there was also the desire to show off a little in front of the young women in the room.
Jack grinned inwardly. Perfect. A volunteer punching bag just walked in. This way, Skye and the others could watch a clean demonstration without the awkwardness of him sparring too closely with them.
"Alright," Jack said, stepping toward the open area in the middle of the studio. "Don't worry, I'll go easy on you. I'd hate to bruise Iron Man's ego."
"Big talk." Tony motioned toward Happy Hogan. "If I get a little too into it, make sure to pull me off him."
Happy smirked. "Got it, Boss. I'll save him if it gets ugly."
Satisfied, Tony took his position opposite Jack and gave him a once-over. "You're looking more built than before. Training's paying off."
"You too," Jack replied with a faint smirk.
The compliments ended there. They squared up, fists raised.
Happy hovered nearby like a referee who might actually have to step in. Skye and Felicia watched with anticipation, curious to see how Jack's teachings would translate into a real spar.
Only Cindy seemed uninterested—she already knew Stark, no matter how smart or rich, wouldn't match up to someone with Jack's abilities… especially since the Spider Totem gave her a completely different benchmark for "dangerous."
Jack, of course, wasn't taking this too seriously. Tony's opening punch was slow and predictable. Jack let him come in, parrying lightly or sidestepping without exerting much effort.
He was using Stark as a live example for the girls—demonstrating counters, evasions, and controlled responses. If this had been a real fight, Tony would have been flat on his back after the first move.
After only a few exchanges, Tony started to notice something was off. Every punch he threw was effortlessly dodged or blocked. Jack's force wasn't overpowering—if anything, their strength felt similar—but in terms of timing, positioning, and technique, he was getting outclassed at every turn.
Skill? Since when do I need to think about that? Tony's Iron Man armor already gave him strength and firepower beyond most opponents. Combat drills were mostly to keep him sharp, not to deal with someone like this.
While Stark was lost in thought, Jack had already demonstrated enough for Skye and the others. Spotting Tony's moment of distraction, Jack decided to end things with one final move.
That's when Happy Hogan quickly stepped forward, grabbing Tony by the arm and pulling him back. "Boss, your attacks are too intense. I'm afraid Mr. Kadere might not be able to handle it!"
Tony blinked, then gave Happy an approving nod. "Well done, Happy. I almost got carried away there—good thing you stepped in."
Jack's expression was flat. Really? That's the story we're going with? But he didn't bother arguing.
Happy's fighting skills were… mediocre at best. The main reason he remained Stark's bodyguard was that they were close friends. Stark knew it too. If Happy hadn't stepped in, Tony would have just kept going to save face.
Instead, Stark looked at Jack curiously. "What exactly is this style you're using?" He was intrigued. Compared to these sharp, calculated movements, the boxing and brawling techniques he'd practiced before felt clumsy.
"Basic martial arts," Jack replied simply, then turned to the girls. "Did you catch the details?"
"Crystal clear!" Skye grinned, clapping her hands like a fangirl. "Jack, that was amazing~"
"It looked impressive," Felicia Hardy agreed, flexing her slender fingers into fists as if testing the motion. If she could master that style, maybe she wouldn't have to worry about jocks trying to hassle her again.
Cindy, who had already expected the outcome, still gave a small, approving smile. "Nicely done~"
Hearing the chorus of praise, Stark realized he'd just been used as a live demonstration dummy. And somehow, it only made him want to learn the style more.
"Alright, Kadere," Tony said, stepping closer. "Teach me this technique. I can pay you whatever you want—just name it."
Jack stifled a yawn. "Depends on the situation. I'll teach you when I have time. You know how I am."
Tony remembered all too well how lazy Jack could be. The guy could take weeks just to finish a commissioned sketch. "Fine," Stark said with a smirk. "If you ever find the time to teach me a few tricks, I'll treat it as a bonus."