An unremarkable private clinic in New York.
Consciousness returned with a jerk. The last thing he remembered was the blow, the feeling of suffocation, and the icy water pouring into the plane's cabin. He was... alive? But how? Jumping out of the bed he was on, the man looked around. He was in a strange ward, the decoration, the furniture, the linen - everything was somehow... unusually white and bright, like snow on a sunny day. And the light from the ceiling was the same - bright and cold.
- Are you awake yet? Well, hello, my dear pelmeny, - suddenly part of the wall simply moved aside and revealed a passage in which stood...
- Howard? - the awakened man looked at the man he could call his friend.
This slightly crazy engineer was eccentric, never at a loss for words, but his sense of humor… who else could, while piloting a plane under anti-aircraft fire, suggest "dropping by for a fondue later"? Only the features of the man who entered were different. He looked alike, very alike! But instead of curls, the stranger's hair was straight, his dapper moustache was replaced by an equally dapper beard, only the aura of eccentricity remained the same. Maybe this was his brother?
"Sorry, I seem to have confused you with one of my friends," Stephen confessed, hastening to correct the awkwardness of the moment.
"Yes, we are similar," the stranger smiled with slight sadness. "Then allow me to introduce myself, Anthony, but better yet, just Tony Stark."
- Oh, so you really are Howard's brother?
"No…" he shook his head, then moved his upper lip in a special way and seemed to have decided on something. "In general, I was given a whole bunch of advice on how to conduct a conversation and bring you up to speed," the stranger poured out on him almost quickly, "but… to hell," he finished eccentrically. "Anyway, Cap, you haven't been with us for almost seventy years. I'm Howard's son."
- W-what? - Steve Rogers took a step back. - I... How is this possible?
"Cryogenic freezing in natural conditions. It would have finished off a normal person, but you're much tougher," Stark said, "so you went into a kind of suspended animation and... Oh, I don't think you're interested in the technical details. Are you okay there?"
- I'm late for a date... by seventy years... - Steve was never "okay". What? How? Is this a joke? Crazy? Or not? He... he needs to get outside and see for himself!
"I understand. Bad news," Tony nodded sympathetically, looking away as if trying it on himself. "But if it makes you feel any better, we won. The war is over, Hitler committed suicide in his bunker, the death camps are closed, the prisoners are saved, and you're a hero to the entire planet."
"This…" it was difficult to comprehend everything, "is good… But… Am I under arrest or can I go outside?" the man raised the most pressing question.
- Who do you take me for? - Stark's eyes widened at him, offended. - I've been reading comics about you since I was five!.. Until the constant reboots and new interpretations got on my nerves, - he twitched his cheek with a bit of embarrassment. - Anyway, of course you can go out! Hey there, - the man turned to the exit, - bring a set of clothes for Cap! - Only then did Stephen notice that he was walking around in his underwear, however, against the background of everything else, this was the least of his problems.
- B-but sir...
- I'll fire you!
- Right now, sir!
- They'll recruit from the ad... - the guest tiredly closed his eyes and sat down on the nearest white chair, casually throwing off the medical gown that was already casually lying on his shoulders, after which he casually sprawled on the piece of furniture. For Rogers' taste, there was too much "casually", but he couldn't describe everything this strange guy had done any other way. - Listen, you're a full-fledged captain, right? That is, you know how to manage people, make decisions in extreme situations and conditions of insufficient information, quickly adapt to changing conditions, select deputies and all that?
"Um... Yes... all sorts of things have happened..." the most famous captain of the American army answered with some doubt and suspicion.
- Excellent! I need a competent leader for the position of Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.! What do you say? - Stark stunned him.
- Shield? - Steve didn't understand.
- It's an office that was created after the war, mostly from your closest colleagues, - Anthony began to explain. - The main task is to protect peace throughout the world and fight sick bastards, like the Red Skull. And everything would have been great, but due to the brainless leadership of one idiot, there were idiots in it who decided to revive Hydra and did a good job of it, crushing sixty percent of the organization's personnel, until it was revealed a couple of weeks ago. In fact, you could have woken up those same couple of weeks ago, but due to the rising churning of shit, they safely forgot about you, and I literally just got around to the documents about your discovery. Now, to call a spade a spade, I'm rebuilding S.H.I.E.L.D. again, along the way completely falling out with the Pentagon and Congress, but they are not a problem, I now have dirt on everyone, but I need someone competent to play the role of the new director, because the old one has completely gotten on my nerves...
- Well, there you go! You missed it by just five minutes! - a new voice suddenly rang out from the void, after which three new characters appeared at the door from the shimmering green-golden light. - Nio, it's your fault! If we hadn't stopped for ice cream, I would have beaten him to it! - a polished dandy from Wall Street turned reproachfully to a girl of about ten, playing with a silver cane.
- (-_>)? - she raised an eyebrow skeptically, and was indeed eating an ice cream on a stick. Despite the adult's shout, she did not tear herself away from eating it for a moment.
"What do you mean you'd beat me to it?!" Stark said loudly, jumping to his feet. "What were you planning on doing with Captain America? He's a national treasure, if you must know!"
"I don't want to know anything!" the new guest brushed aside the claims, and to Rogers' surprise, besides the child, there was a man who again looked suspiciously like one of his acquaintances. "You just dumped the affairs of a top-secret organization on a simple Brooklyn guy who had just come out of a coma and who knows nothing about the modern world, and offered to run this organization!"
- It doesn't matter that he doesn't know anything! - As if knowing his interlocutor perfectly well and considering such a tone of conversation normal, Tony did not remain in debt. - It's even good! He will try to figure it out! In this alone, he is head and shoulders above Fury in professional terms!
- ... - the dandy froze for a moment, clearly lost in thought. - An argument... - the stranger admitted impressed. - Then I'm proud of you! - he immediately switched to a positive tone. - But I still can't allow this.
- Why else?
– I need a physical education teacher for my school, and I've already promised the women one.
"Hi, Steve," while Stark was digesting the answer, a man who looked very much like one of his colleagues approached the bewildered Rogers.
- James? - the man asked incredulously, afraid of being deceived after the first embarrassment, and the years of coma he had mentioned were making themselves felt.
- Yes, it's me. I'm shocked myself, to be honest.
"Who is this?" Tony turned his attention to him.
"He's an old colleague of Cap's, I thought he could use at least one familiar face," the dandy shrugged. "But don't get off topic! You want to harness a superman without a specialized education to perform bureaucratic work in a militarized office, but I have much more global and necessary plans for humanity!"
"A job as a college gym teacher?" Stark raised an eyebrow skeptically.
"Not just any college, but a college where dozens of children with superpowers study!" the cane-wielder raised his finger.
- O-o-o... - Tony drawled. - But I've already prepared everything! Who will run S.H.I.E.L.D. then? I'm already getting a real migraine from all this spy crap, and Pepper is already threatening to evict me from the couch! I can't let that happen!
"Sir, here's the kit," an inconspicuous orderly entered the doorway and, as if not noticing three of the four visitors, handed Stark a set of clothes.
"Yeah, thanks," he reflexively accepted the bundle of clothes and, looking suspiciously at his subordinate, turned to his interlocutor: "They can't see you again?"
"Of course. Otherwise there would already be alarm here," he smiled disconcertingly.
- Now you see how tired I am of all this! My head is completely out of order! - now the man with the beard made a lecturing gesture. - Cap, take this, - immediately, without any pause, he turned to Steve and handed him the clothes.
- Appoint Maria Hill as director, she can handle it.
- What were you listening to when I was talking about Pepper and the couch?
- Aha, I knew that was the reason for the delay in her promotion! - the dandy rejoiced.
– Now do you understand the delicacy of the situation?
- Yes, but I've already promised women too!
"James…" Rogers turned to his colleague, having already begun to dress hastily, periodically glancing at the ten-year-old girl who was listening with interest to the adults' argument and did not react to his nakedness, "what's going on here, who are all these people and why aren't they embarrassed to discuss me like this in my presence?"
- Ah, - he waved it off and, taking a cigar from the inside pocket of his leather jacket, lit it with a familiar gesture, - this is Loki. Loki and embarrassment are incompatible things. And Tony, as I understood from his explanations, is his priest and follower, that is, just as crazy, only on a minimum.
- Hey, by the way, I privatized S.H.I.E.L.D. and saved humanity from Hydra! - the discussed Tony was indignant.
"And I privatized Jotunheim and saved humanity from World War III, a killer virus, and so on, a few other small things," retorted the dandy called "Loki." "And I also have Nio," he pointed proudly at the girl, "and she's the best!"
"Okay, you convinced me," Stark sighed, glancing at the child. "By the way, why did you set the interface language on the yacht to Russian?"
- Why not "yes"? You like the color red, - and the two again continued to communicate on their own wavelength, although it was obvious that they were paying more than enough attention to what was happening.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to it," James patted him sympathetically on the shoulder, taking a drag on his cigar. "But you've really missed a lot and you have a lot to learn, so I suggest we get out of here. I saw a small cafe downstairs, let's go there, order a beer and a hamburger, and I'll start filling you in on the situation, since both of the 'responsible'" - there was sarcasm in his voice that Cap knew well - "have decided to give up on this very thing..."
"O-okay," Steve answered uncertainly. He couldn't wrap his head around everything that was happening, but at least James was there, and if he could trust him with his back during the war, he could rely on him now too…
Ibid. After Cap left.
- So, I harnessed Wolverine to work as a psychotherapist and a history teacher, and he didn't even notice. I'm a good guy, right, Nio?
– (V_v)?
- Well, yes, Tony also tried, but that doesn't change the epic nature of the achievement! - I object to the girl's skepticism, reflexively twirling my cane.
– (<_<)…
"She's the perfect conversationalist, isn't she?" I turn to Stark with a smile.
"Don't drag me into talking about children!" he snapped, raising his index finger in warning.
- Okay, whatever you say. Listen, there's a grain of truth in every joke, shouldn't we know that? So, are things really that bad that you wanted to offer a recently defrosted simple Boston guy to run a "global" organization? - I made quotation marks with my fingers, because the power of S.H.I.E.L.D., de facto, extended to NATO countries... and that's it - the same China, Russia, the Middle East and even Africa didn't give a damn about their statements and flutters, and the S.H.I.E.L.D. members worked in these countries as illegal agents, that is, spies and saboteurs.
"Uh-huh," Tony ruffled his hair in a dejected, tired manner, glancing slightly at Laura, but so… purely reflexively, "Fury is as dumb as a cork."
- Hm?
- Well, okay, - Stark winced painfully and, pulling a flat flask from under his jacket, took a greedy sip, - maybe I'm exaggerating, but it's impossible to work with him. He has more arrogance than the President of the United States, and he's almost useless. Where even I understand that I need to shove personal relationships deep down and just work, he continues to dodge, stir up trouble and try to play at psychological processing. And he even came up with the idea of creating a special team of superheroes for S.H.I.E.L.D. right now, as if we have nothing better to do!
- The Avengers Initiative? - I thought it necessary to demonstrate my awareness.
- Yes! That's exactly the stuff! - Tony perked up, pointing his hand with the flask in my direction.
– By the way, did he tell you why the name is so stupid?
- No, what's wrong with it?
- It sounds like SHIELD completely and utterly screwed everything up, to such an extent that the only thing left for the survivors to do now is take revenge. No, I understand that this is pretty close to the truth, apparently Fury, when he came up with it, subconsciously realized his competence, but why would he set the organization a karmic attitude of a knowingly lost first battle and a bunch of casualties?
- ... - Stark chewed his lips thoughtfully. - Do you mind if I use this quote?
"For God's sake," I smiled.
"But that doesn't change the issue of Cap," the billionaire engineer returned to the topic. "I understand the need for rehabilitation, but understand me too - it's not that easy to remove Fury, even despite how much he screwed up, and not a single rat on the Security Council would dare to object to Captain America's candidacy, otherwise I'll simply drown them for collaborationism and sympathy for Hydra.
- And why are you so stubborn against Maria? It's unlikely that it's about your beloved wife, after all, Miss Potts... I beg your pardon, Mrs. Stark is an unusually intelligent, self-possessed woman, seasoned in unequal battles with madness and tyranny, does she really allow the idea that the new headmistress will take her place not for her professional skills?
- Of course, there's no problem with that, - Tony twitched his cheek. - She's just too blinkered. In her head there are only instructions, rules and regulations, and also unconditional faith in Uncle Sam. As a deputy, she's good, but if she starts running everything herself, she'll immediately start kicking harder than Fury, flushing all the work on updating and taking control of the organization down the toilet for me... - the engineer waved his hand in the air, showing that he didn't like the idea very much.
- And that's why you want to harness a guy who's seventy years behind the times to work? His first gay parade will send him into awe! And what will happen to him if we analyze the agenda in more detail, even I'm afraid to imagine! The "Skull was right!" option is not the most dangerous. What's more, I - supposedly an evil deity responsible for chaos, giving everyone in power a headache and all that - am still in shock and awe! And Cap is just a pre-production prototype of an Astartes, here the level of Pathos Overcoming should correspond to a Primarch, or even an Impi ...
- And yet... Uh... What language are you speaking now? - the billionaire crossed his eyes comically.
"Tony," I looked reproachfully at my priest, "I understand that you were busy drinking and chasing skirts, but not knowing about Vakha at your age... you should be ashamed!"
- So, what is this Vakha? - My priest did not understand me. And so a suspicion crept into my soul. You don't want to say...
- Okay, now... - I take out my phone and go online.
Only to crawl out of it in horror five minutes later.
- ... Tony... This is a disaster! Warhammer was not invented in this universe! I don't care, we have to fix this! In the name of the Omnissiah!
"I feel a bit uneasy… And the issue with these freaks still needs to be resolved…" the billionaire hinted.
- Later, all later! And now we should grab a mug of mushroom beer and begin your dive! This is a gold mine! And adepts, many adepts! Although... Oh, the pro clearly won't like the slogan "Kill the mutant, Burn the heretic, Destroy the xenos". But "In the name of the Greater Good" might be good enough...
"..." Stark rolled his eyes and pulled a transmitter out of his pocket. "Jarvis, clear my schedule for today. Something tells me this is going to be a long one..."
- You won't regret it, my friend, - I smiled. - It's a very interesting and contradictory world. You'll like it. As for SHIELD... Well, I have one candidate who really doesn't like Nazis in general and Hydra in particular, has extensive experience in identifying and eliminating the above-mentioned, as well as experience in creating secret organizations, conspiratorial work, and in general he's just a good guy who definitely wouldn't mind "protecting" a shady government office so that it doesn't make the wrong moves. And he doesn't give a damn about the US government, yes.
"It's a rather ambiguous characteristic," Iron Man chuckled, "but I like it!"
- Excellent. True, at our last meeting I hit him hard on the head, and his woman on the face, which could have caused him to harbor a grudge, so we will need help in recruiting from his friend... But first Warhammer, and Iron Man's introduction to Magneto - later!
"After you said his nickname, I started to like it less," Tony stroked his iron reactor in his chest.
- Oh! You haven't heard how his powers work yet! The concept is simply gorgeous, you'll like it, as well as the option of reproducing them using purely technical means, - my grin did not bode well for anyone.
Maybe it's progressive madness, maybe it's something else, but the fact remains - I really wanted to introduce an engineer to the Mechanicus cult, give a failed terrorist control over the coolest "supra-governmental" organization, and take Captain America to a secret school for mutants and make him a gym teacher. Because that's what the God of Jokes should do, that's what makes sense, yeah. All in all, the day promised to be interesting.
Some time later.
- So... - Stark took a sip of the ale I had created from a plastic bottle transformed into a cup. - Are you saying that two dozen shamans who had stabbed themselves were able to create an entity that could rat on any of the Four, just for the hell of it?
- Well... purely theoretically, there weren't twenty of them, but literally everyone who lived on Earth then, plus or minus those who didn't make it on foot, but overall... yes, - I also took a sip of thick ale, because, having brazenly seized the office of the head of the departmental hospital of S.H.I.E.L.D., we were culturally getting drunk, to call a spade a spade. - Also keep in mind that trillions of people worshiped him for a very long time, considering him to be St. George the Victorious and a number of other legendary figures who entered many cults, that also counts.
– Okay... let's assume... but he, knowing that this crap exists in the universe, simply told his subordinates "stay away from it" and... that's it? That's it? Hell, even Fury thought to hang signs on the doors to the distribution center of his flying fortress "Do not enter - you will be killed" with an explanation that you can get electrocuted there! And here - like a guy who was able to take over the world and is systematically taking over the galaxy, who is already well over thirty... thousand years old. What the hell?! And why the hell am I so outraged by this made-up story? Although... – Tony calmed down a little and took another sip of ale, - I suspect that geeks from Mars who worship toasters are somehow involved in this.
- You know, that would sound more plausible if you weren't an engineer who worships an ancient Scandinavian deity.
– That doesn't stop me from trying to unscrew some weird gadget and see how it works, but these crazy people are forbidden from inventing! Whatever you dug up in ancient blueprints, that's what you can assemble! Ten thousand years! And humanity has gone from smelting copper to space flights in half that amount of time! And what about space hippies with plasma guns? And crazy combat mushrooms… Oh, the only normal ones in the whole world are the Necrons and Tyranids! Both of them have some kind of tactics, and they stick to them!
"And yet, I see you're hooked," I chuckled and took my sip.
- Hooked? Of course it did! This is some kind of fucked up universe! - the genius, playboy and philanthropist threw up his hands. - I thought Fury was stupid, but what the inhabitants there do... it's just beyond good and evil.
– But it's Gothic and with Pathos.
- Yeah, yeah, and there's also a certain Tsegorakh, who reminds me of someone...
- Hmm... in general, Loki gave you an idea for an awesome startup and even threw you images of all sorts of cute sororities and brutal power armor of the space marines, with this my duty as your Deity, at least in the field of enlightenment, is fulfilled.
- Ugus... - he picked up the communicator. - Jarvis, I need to hire a couple of... hundreds of game designers. Organize it.
"Somehow you're not very respectful towards the Machine Spirit…" I played with my eyebrows.
- I am Iron Man, I have the right to disrespect the Machine Spirits... Zog!
- You've got it all mixed up, but I like your attitude. However, we still have one unresolved issue...
- Mmm? What question? - the billionaire was already somewhere there, inside his plans. - We'll have to try to whip up some kind of series, for promotion...
"Well, there's that… SHIELD, global security and other boring things…" I hinted.
- So you wanted to introduce me to someone, so introduce me, - the engineer shrugged his shoulders melancholically. - But I don't have time for unnecessary movements - I need to draw up a business plan! By the way, where is your powerful child? - Tony looked around the room with a cloudy gaze, noticing Laura's absence.
- About two hours ago I went with my phantom to Logan and Cap to listen to stories about the war, and not our drunken ramblings, - I shrug. - You were still glued to the monitor, trying to grasp the physics of Eric's gravitational-magnetic field process, - I nod at Stark's folding smartphone-laptop, which was now lying a little further away on the table.
- Speaking of which, - my interlocutor perked up. - Remembering your slip of the tongue about blows to the head, I don't feel very comfortable with the idea of showing up uninvited to a person who can do such things. I hope you have a plan?
- Of course.
- And is he reliable?
- Like a Swiss watch!
- And what does it consist of?
- Point one: sober up!
"…Yes, this is an important point," Stark agreed, taking another sip of Asgardian alcohol.
"Next, we need to send the children and veterans home, and you and I should fly to San Francisco… Or use the Rainbow Bridge?" I involuntarily wondered, not knowing what was better.
- What kind of bridge is this?
"A passage to Asgard and from there," I shrug. "On the one hand, it will be faster, and more interesting for you, on the other hand, my brother is there, his friends, mom… And, God forbid, Stan Lee, dad wakes up…"
"Dad, this is serious," Tony agreed, instantly transferring the situation to himself.
- Okay, - I clap my hands, removing the illusion-illustrations surrounding us with images of imperial technology, spaceships, gothic skulls and other coloring. - It's too late to go visiting today anyway, and it's better to invite you to Asgard with Pepper, otherwise he'll get offended, and you and I shouldn't offend women, especially those so perfect that they can tolerate us.
- So, an airplane?
- Yeah. But first, the child and the veterans!
– I'm a little nervous at the thought that, being a piece of iron, I'll have to go meet a guy whose nickname is associated with magnetism.
- To be honest, I myself am not very keen on just showing up to Eric in person, - I smile discouragingly. - After all, in a couple of versions of this universe, he even gave Apocalypse a run for his money.
- Uh-uh... isn't "Apocalypse" some kind of phenomenon? How can you give it a light? - Tony asked with some doubt, pouring himself a couple more sips to be sure.
- No, he's a tough guy, like Thanos, but not such a sweetheart. Although he's also an idiot... - I shake my head, remembering that no matter how cool they make him in any canon and no matter how many times he captures the Earth, he still manages to screw everything up in the most stupid way.
"It hasn't become any clearer," Stark admitted.
"Oh, forget it," I waved it off, "this is an explanation for the viewers, those who are not in the know." It's not like I suspected that I was a character in a movie, having ended up in a character in a movie, but you never know, I'm sitting here, fucking drinking with Iron Man!
- ...Well, okay, - the genius shrugged again. - But I don't understand, are we going to Magneto or not? Or are we compatible somehow?
- Oh, you guessed it! You are a genius, my esteemed priest.
- That's true... but now you, as a respectable God, must explain what kind of brilliant idea I came up with and what I guessed.
- I am the God of Intrigue! It must be kept! - I fill my cup with a new portion of ale and, having assumed the most mysterious look, I begin to pause, slowly sipping the drink.
- As you say... - they sat and were silent for about ten seconds. - Well, did you hold it long enough?
- Oh, that'll do, anyway, watch the trick! Sit down, relax and... - creating our illusions wasn't difficult, but "connecting" Tony to his image was more challenging, but am I the God of Magic or did I just go out for a smoke?
- What a... strange feeling. It's like I'm in two places at once... - the billionaire introduced himself when a phantom of himself appeared next to him and began blinking in confusion.
- Well, that's more or less how it is, by the way, it's better not to...
- Ooh! - the engineer hit himself in the eye with a cup.
- ...don't look through the illusion and your own eyes at the same time, your vestibular system won't thank you for that.
- I already got it... - Tony winced in pain. - Okay, we're going tomorrow, right? Let's not push you into an unnatural release of everything I drank! - Stark began to blink and squint, clearly feeling sick.
- Yes, of course, - I dispel the illusion. - Well, shall we go look for veterans?
- Yes, you can. Oh, - the billionaire rose from the table with difficulty, - it seems I started drinking less, but there is more incomprehensible crap in my life... not that I'm complaining, but, as a rule, everything should be the other way around...
A little earlier, also Loki, but in a school for gifted children.
- Charles! - the telepath, as expected at this time, was sitting in his office.
- Loki, - Xavier nodded affably, - judging by your voice, you have some kind of idea. Still no revolutions, I hope? - the old man smiled... although after interacting with Mjolnir he was not so old.
- No, - I waved it off, - better! I sat here and thought... Why don't we make Eric the head of S.H.I.E.L.D.?
- Mmm... could you explain in a little more detail? For those who can't boast such a quick flight of thought? - was he just politely hinting at my complete loss of my mind? It's a shame, isn't it?
- Well, you can go into detail. Eric is still "fighting" for the mutants, replacing senators with his metamorphic agents, digging under the warriors, and so on. And there is a chance that sooner or later he will run into trouble, which could lead to some unpleasant events that will pull me out of my vacation, or even my honeymoon, and make me completely unbearable. So I thought, why not give our quasi-terrorist control over a quasi-terrorist organization of world significance? But he will be able to legally dig under politicians, monitor murky squabbles, and stop wild things like the development of viral-based biological weapons or something else equally useful and smart.
- Hmm... the offer, oddly enough, is interesting, - as always, Charles thought over my words quite seriously, even though they sounded like blatant nonsense, - but you know my convictions - I am not going to use my abilities and get into anyone's mind without extreme, vital necessity. And appointing Eric as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. is definitely not such a necessity.
- Ouch, - I waved it off, - don't worry, I have a friend who has the necessary superpower. You, of course, have it too, but it's much weaker.
"For some reason, it seems to me that you don't mean a telepathic gift," Xavier answered calmly.
- Of course. When we talk about a capitalist country, the main superpower of any super is the Possession of Really Big Money, and if we add to that the Possession of Compromising Information and the ability to use it with impunity, then we get a truly irresistible combination.
"As sad as it is, I am forced to admit that you are right again," the man sighed sadly. "Nevertheless," Charles left the table and, going to the "rest corner," poured himself a glass of water from the decanter standing on the table, "you didn't come just to present me with a fait accompli, did you?"
- True, for all my sloppiness, I realize that the position of Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. is a position that allows access to such opportunities that, if something happens, the devils in Hell will get hot. And you've known your friend for seventy years, if not more. That's why I want to ask you, is he suitable for this role? Will he be able to actually protect people, and not the interests of this or that faction?
"First and foremost, Eric will protect mutants," Xavier began to answer after a moment's thought. "However, I shared with him your research regarding the latent X-gene and its actual prevalence. In light of this new information... yes, let him first and foremost protect the already awakened mutants, but secondly, ordinary people," sigh, "even from themselves."
- Well, that's a lot better than the description of most of the intelligent beings I know, endowed with some degree of power... Speaking of intelligent beings and power, as promised, I found us a gym teacher! True, now he and Logan are reminiscing about the old days, and perhaps this will drag on, but if you don't mind one of my non-mutant friends visiting the school, then we can escort two drunken bodies from the bar to the crib. Otherwise, I'll have to call Scott, because I'm definitely not ready to force Yuriko to carry drunk veterans on her back!
"Somehow it seems to me that this friend of yours must be most unusual, since you are prepared to invite him here," Charles returned to his desk. "Will you tell me who it is?"
"Tony Stark," I anticipated surprise or something like that.
- Well, he really is a very suitable acquaintance for you, and besides, he has experienced a lot and understood the value of human life... - alas, this time I was in for a bummer - the telepath proved his Power, the intrigue from the God of Intrigues did not get through to him, eh...
- So you don't mind?
"I wouldn't seek a meeting with him or interfere in mutant affairs," Professor X began to explain, shifting a folder in front of him from one place to another, "but from what you're saying, it turns out that he's the one who's going to push Eric to the position of head of S.H.I.E.L.D., which means he at least knows who we're talking about and is interested in the consequences of such a decision. And in such circumstances, I can't refuse to meet him, although I can't say that I don't feel anxious about it."
"Well, that's great," I nod. "I'm not sure how late we'll arrive—we're having a very interesting conversation here, and it wouldn't be very right to interrupt Cap from delving into the situation, but just in case, let Storm, Yuriko, and Sarah not worry if we're gone until dark, and go to bed."
- Good. Just in case, - the professor stopped me with a gesture, - should we prepare only two rooms or more?
"Two will be more than enough – knowing Tony, he'll spend the night in my lab hugging the Soul Crucible, and we'll still have to kick him out of the party," I smile. "You'd better start preparing for calls on the topic: 'this isn't a prank, and this shady guy really means exactly what he's suggesting', otherwise, I'm afraid Eric won't believe me so easily."
"We'll prepare two rooms," the telepath also smiled. "I must admit… this is starting to seem funny to me."
- Oh! - I was inspired.
- And this is what worries me...
- It's okay, I believe in you, prof!
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