James Rhode stood in front of Tony, frowning, his eyes full of worry and helplessness. This was how he always saw Tony lately, either dead drunk at a party or throwing a party while acting completely crazy, looking like he didn't care about anything. Although he seemed very relaxed on the surface, Rhode knew clearly that this was absolutely not normal.
"Tony, what's wrong with you?" Rhode's voice was low, but filled with obvious concern. "You've been partying every night lately, just like a college graduate. Are you trying to stir up some earth-shattering news again?"
Tony was holding a cocktail stick in his mouth. Hearing Rhode's words, his eyes flickered slightly, then he grinned and pretended to be indifferent: "Hey, buddy, parties are the spice of life. Do you want me to stay in the lab every day and get moldy? Relax, this is how you enjoy life. Besides, if I kick the bucket someday, at least I can say I lived life to the fullest, right?"
Rhode frowned, looking at Tony with even more dissatisfaction: "Do you know how many times Pepper has asked me lately? She wants to know what's wrong with you, and you need to give her an explanation."
Hearing the name "Pepper," Tony's expression immediately changed subtly. He let out a light whistle, his eyes drifting around the room: "Uh... Pepper? Isn't she very busy lately? I don't want to disturb her. Besides, when she sees me like this, she'll definitely understand, right?"
Rhode rolled his eyes and retorted unceremoniously: "Stop avoiding it, Tony. You know you're making excuses." He paused, seeming a little hesitant, but finally said, "Also, I need to remind you of something. It's better to have less contact with your friend Dominic."
Tony raised an eyebrow and said nonchalantly: "Oh, wait a minute, are you telling me how to make friends? Sorry, Rhode, I think I missed the moment you became a life coach. Tell me, when did you start grading friendships?"
Rhode sighed helplessly, lowering his voice a few degrees: "General Ross is watching Dominic. The Military and the White House are both unhappy with him, especially after the last time—he took out a group of FBI Agents. It caused a huge stir, you know?"
Tony was stunned, his expression involuntarily becoming serious. The playful look in his eyes gradually disappeared, replaced by a hint of confusion and vigilance: "Hmm... I heard about it, but that guy is just like that, always causing a big fuss out of nowhere. To be honest, that's nothing new." At this point, his tone returned to being a bit relaxed, "And, how should I put it? Dominic's style... although a bit over the top, it's at least very interesting. Not everyone can treat life's 'little episodes' as easily as he does."
"Treat easily?" Rhode lowered his voice, saying somewhat urgently, "Tony, he killed people! And they were government Agents. You think that's 'interesting'? Dominic's actions are completely out of control. The Military and the White House don't want you getting too close to him; they already suspect you might be involved in something dangerous with him."
Tony's eyes widened, and a half-smile curled up at the corner of his mouth: "Oh, wait a minute, the government is now even managing who I make friends with? How worried about me are they, Rhode?" He spread his hands, looking indifferent, "If they're so bored, why don't they care more about big things like World peace instead of wasting time on my private gatherings with friends?"
Rhode took a deep breath, his tone becoming more serious: "Tony, this is not a joke. General Ross and those people are looking for reasons to interfere in your life; you should be more careful yourself. Your current state is already giving Pepper a headache; don't let yourself get deeper into trouble."
Tony was silent for a moment, his gaze becoming complicated. He knew Rhode was concerned about him, but he also knew his current situation wasn't good. He sighed, his voice becoming a bit low: "I understand what you're saying, Rhode. But some things, I have to handle myself. Don't worry, I'll be careful." He looked up and forced a smile, "Besides, if the sky falls, at most I'll just throw a few more parties and see if I can hold it up."
Rhode looked at him helplessly, a bitter smile appearing on his face: "You... you're still the arrogant Tony Stark, always trying to push things away with jokes." He patted Tony's shoulder, his tone carrying a hint of pleading, "Just, don't let yourself completely lose yourself in this 'playing' mindset, okay?"
Tony nodded slightly, smiling weakly: "Don't worry, Rhode, I'm not planning on disappearing that quickly."
After Rhode left, Tony lay lazily on the sofa, holding a can of cold cola in his hand, as if the World had nothing to do with him. He casually turned on the TV, pretending he could still find some fun there. But Jarvis's voice suddenly sounded from the room, breaking the silence: "Mr., I must remind you that the palladium toxicity in your body is still increasing. Although Nick Fury has some methods that can temporarily suppress the toxin, this is not a long-term solution."
Tony frowned slightly, took a sip of cola, and waved his hand dismissively: "Suppress? Sounds like putting a band-aid on a volcano, Jarvis. I don't need any temporary lifelines; I need a permanent solution." His tone was relaxed, but there was a hint of fatigue hidden in his eyes.
Jarvis was silent for a moment, then said: "Very well, Mr. However, there is one more thing you might be interested in—Dominic has arrived. He just flew onto the balcony."
Before Tony could react, he heard a "buzzing" sound from outside the balcony, followed by a familiar figure floating in from outside, wearing that signature devil-may-care smile. Dominic landed casually on the ground and straightened his collar: "Hey, old friend, with such a big house, don't you think you should leave me a key? Every time I fly in from the balcony, I feel like a superhero on a night raid. Oh wait, that's right, I am."
Tony glanced up at him, a smile twitching at the corner of his mouth: "Oh, Dominic, your elegant entrance truly impresses me. Have you ever considered that flying in without knocking is very impolite? But thinking about it, politeness and you, seem to never be associated."
Dominic shrugged, looking completely indifferent: "Politeness? What's that? Can you eat it? Besides, who needs politeness, I'm Dominic." He grabbed a can of cola, popped the tab open, and took two large gulps, letting out a loud burp.
Tony stared at him, his eyes flashing, and suddenly asked: "Since you're being so direct, let's get straight to the point—why did you kill those FBI Agents?"
Dominic didn't hesitate at all, not even blinking: "Huh? Oh, yeah, I killed them. What about it?" He answered so quickly that Tony was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting such directness, but then, he showed a thoughtful expression.
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(End of Chapter)