Tony quietly listened. From initial shock and rage, he gradually calmed down.
Looking at Henry, he felt dazed, as if his younger brother had truly grown up overnight.
He thought of their parents.
He remembered how Henry told him about their father—strict on the surface, yet secretly proud of him behind his back.
In those scattered fragments of memory, he recalled that look in his father's eyes, filled with complex, deep love whenever he looked at him.
Tony always thought he didn't care, but at this moment, upon learning the truth, he realized just how much it hurt.
Beside them, Ethan, seeing the heavy atmosphere between the two brothers, let out a sigh.
"Tony, I know that the terrorists who invaded my home and slaughtered my family were just pawns being used," he said slowly, eyes flickering with grief and hatred.
"But I don't care who was pulling the strings. If I can't even avenge my family, then I don't know how I'm supposed to face their souls."
Tony froze.
He took a deep breath, then suddenly hurled the wine glass in his hand to the ground with a loud smash.
"Bang!"
"You're right, Henry!" His eyes burned with fury.
"I don't care if he was brainwashed! He killed our parents—he must die! Weapons are only tools, it depends how they're used. But if this weapon has committed an unforgivable sin, then the master deserves death, and the weapon must be completely destroyed!"
"Exactly." Henry nodded, his eyes flashing with a trace of relief as he looked at Tony.
"So, we're going to wipe out Hydra completely," he continued.
"Cut down their leaders one by one, drag them out of the shadows, and end this cursed organization once and for all."
Henry's plan was simple: destroy Hydra, cleanse S.H.I.E.L.D., and kick that bald, egg-headed bastard and his green monster buddy the hell off Earth!
…Or maybe let them "permanently" stay on Earth.
Henry chuckled at the thought. After all, wasn't taking over the family business only natural?
"Looks like we've got a lot to do," Tony muttered, struggling to control his emotions.
"Exactly. From now on, we just move in this direction."
Tony exhaled, then nodded. "Got it. Guess in the short term, we're not gonna be those save-the-world superheroes."
"Once in a while, if we're in the mood, sure. But being Superman all the time? That's exhausting—and a thankless job." Henry snarked.
"But before that, we need to give that bald bastard director a proper lesson. He needs to know what he should—and shouldn't—be doing."
Tony recalled tossing Nick Fury out in his armor the night before and couldn't help but laugh.
"Why?"
"It's simple," Henry said.
"Dad was a genius. He worked in that organization for so long—do you really think he didn't leave anything behind? I'd bet he definitely left something that could solve that little problem in your chest. And that scheming bald bastard hasn't handed it over to us."
Tony instantly understood.
Years in the business world had taught him that someone like Nick Fury was surely keeping those things as bargaining chips—waiting until the day they needed him, so he could trade them for their loyalty.
"Got it." His eyes glinted coldly.
"Looks like we really do need to pay that bald bastard a visit."
By now Tony had his emotions under control. He knew he couldn't lose his head.
Then he slipped back into his usual snark, stretching lazily.
"But before that, if someone shows up to give us a little sparring practice, that'd be perfect."
"I can do it." Henry gave him a look that screamed are you looking down on me?
"The problem is, you can't beat me."
"Is that so?" Tony rolled his eyes, refusing to back down.
"I just don't want to bully some country bumpkin fresh back from outer space."
Ethan watched them bicker, about to chime in—when suddenly, Jarvis's voice echoed.
"Gentlemen, I believe I've found you a sparring partner."
"Oh? What is it?" Tony immediately perked up.
Henry listened as well, a guess already forming in his mind.
Could it be that big green brute?
At this point in time, yeah, it was about right for him to show up.
Sure enough, Jarvis's voice rang again.
At the same time, a powerful holographic projection appeared in the middle of the lab.
In it, a gigantic green monster—like a walking mountain—was locked in a brutal battle on the streets of New York with another equally massive, earth-toned monster, both hideous and terrifying!
Every clash between them shook the ground, every roar rattled the soul.
"Just moments ago, these two unidentified creatures appeared in Harlem, New York," Jarvis explained.
"They are engaged in violent combat, already causing extensive destruction. Gentlemen, I suggest you might want to take a look."
Tony stared at the projection of the two monsters, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Well, Henry?" He turned with a challenging grin.
"Interested?"
"I've never really had a proper opponent. Of course I'm interested." Henry smirked.
The two of them stood up. Henry glanced at Ethan.
"Ethan, looks like you'll have to head back by yourself."
"No problem." Ethan nodded.
"You two be careful."
"Relax," Tony said as they parted ways.
"We're just going for a friendly academic exchange."
The three of them chatted as they headed upstairs.
Tony grabbed his suitcase from a hidden compartment.
In the living room, after saying goodbye to Ethan, Henry also walked over to his own case, preparing to suit up.
"Hey, Jarvis, go easy. Don't clamp me in there."
"Don't worry, Henry. Even if I did, with your current recovery ability, you'd probably heal in 0.1 seconds."
Tony suited up beside him.
Soon, two sleek, futuristic armors stood ready in the living room.
They stepped out onto the lawn.
"Seriously, Tony, that gold-and-red armor of yours looks flashy as hell," Henry quipped.
"Better than your all-black suit that makes you look like a villain," Tony shot back. "Mine's called minimalist, got it? Minimalist!"
"Fine, minimalist tin can." Henry slowly floated up.
"Let's see who gets to New York first."
Tony took off too.
"Then let's race! Loser buys the winner cheeseburgers for a month."
"Deal!"
Before the words had even left his mouth, Henry shot forward like a streak of black lightning, vanishing into the horizon!
"Boom!"
A massive sonic boom erupted behind him. Even though with bioforce field he doesn't make any disturbance, he's doing this deliberately by controlling it.
Don't ask why—because damn, it was cool.
"..."
Tony stared, dumbfounded, at Henry disappearing without a trace.
"F*ck! No honor! Pulling a sneak attack!" he roared furiously.
"Jarvis! Full power! Catch that bastard! I'll show him who the big brother is today!"
With that, he too blasted off, streaking across the sky in hot pursuit toward New York.
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Alright boys we're 4 stones off from 200 but I'll post bonus anyways. Thank you for your support 🙏
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