For more than a week, the underground laboratory of the Malibu mansion became a world belonging only to geniuses.
Here, time lost all meaning.
Tony and Banner were like two artists obsessed with their own craft, throwing themselves completely into an ocean of knowledge.
Pizza boxes and coffee cups littered every corner of the lab.
The holographic screens flickered 24/7, filled with dense streams of data.
The robotic arms and Dummy worked like diligent assistants—sometimes handing Tony a wrench, sometimes accidentally spilling coffee on Banner's lab notes—only to be threatened by Tony's "believe it or not, I'll scrap you and sell you for parts" rants.
"No, no, no! This is all wrong! This idea of yours is like trying to pry the Earth loose with a single strand of spaghetti!" Tony jabbed at the rapidly forming model on the screen, criticizing Banner.
"The energy system you designed... it's like Los Angeles rush-hour traffic—jammed and sluggish! Are you researching nanotech, or are you researching how to make my suit constipated during battle?!"
Banner helplessly adjusted his glasses, pointing at another set of data in an attempt to calm down the man on the verge of losing himself in obsession.
"Tony, let me remind you. This is scientific research, not some damned whack-a-mole game! What you need is stability—constant energy output! Not to go berserk like a rock star on drugs, smashing his guitar to pieces!"
"That's called passion! That's creativity! Don't you get it?! You're just a college professor clinging to theories and formulas!"
Banner only shook his head with exasperation and corrected him calmly.
"No, Tony, that's called irresponsibility. We're dealing with vibranium—the most stable substance on the planet. Trying to drive it with your method is like trying to wake Sleeping Beauty by screaming at her. The only thing you'll achieve is blowing out your own throat."
Their quarrels erupted in the lab almost daily.
But these arguments were nothing like ordinary fights.
Every verbal clash birthed a new set of possibilities.
Every exchange of scorn sparked an idea so brilliant that even the other had to pause and marvel.
They were like two blades, sharpening each other with every collision—growing keener, and more in sync.
Until, on the afternoon of the ninth day—
In the lab, the final stable model slowly rotated on the holographic screen.
The room fell completely silent.
Tony and Banner stared blankly at the glowing model, dazed.
They hadn't had proper rest in over a week, yet neither felt tired. Instead, they were trembling with excitement.
Damn it. Had they really done it?!
"We... did it?" Banner's lips were dry.
"Of course we did." Tony slumped back in his chair.
His brain felt hollowed out, blank.
But a genuine smile spread across his face.
"Who else did you think was leading this project?"
As he spoke, his gaze instinctively drifted toward the holographic screen still broadcasting Henry's sleeping figure in space.
Looking at the calm body drifting in the void, the corners of Tony's mouth curled upward.
"Hey, you lazy bastard," he muttered at the screen.
"I just finished making your new toy ahead of schedule. When you get back, if you dare say it doesn't look good, I swear I'll throw you into that damned cradle of life!"
...
A few days later, Monaco.
The azure Mediterranean glistened under the blazing sun.
The air reeked of money and desire.
The annual Formula 1 Grand Prix was underway in this tiny nation hailed as a paradise for the rich.
On both sides of the track, spectators from across the globe were packed shoulder to shoulder.
Dressed in glamorous outfits and holding glasses of expensive red wine, they reveled in the thunderous roar of engines, indulging in this feast of speed and passion.
And in the most eye-catching pit stop by the track—
Tony Stark reclined on a beach chair, clad in a flashy racing suit and dark shades, enjoying a pre-race massage from two bikini-clad beauties.
"I've gotta say, Pepper," he remarked, lifting a glass of iced lemonade toward the weary-looking woman beside him who was glued to a tablet. "Those fossils in Washington haven't been calling you lately, have they? I bet they're busy trying to explain to the public why, at their hearings, the most important witness—that's me, in case you forgot—never once bothered to show up."
Indeed, ever since Tony and Henry had first appeared publicly in their suits, the senators had been restless.
They tried everything to force the brothers to attend hearings, fantasizing that public pressure would make them hand over the suits.
But clearly, they had been overly optimistic.
Tony would say they should count themselves lucky Henry was out in space soaking up sunlight—otherwise, some of them might have had to worry about a WMD dropping on their heads at night.
"Yes, they stopped calling." Pepper's expression remained deadpan as she swiped through the news on her tablet.
"Because now every major media outlet is portraying you and Henry as the heroes who saved New York. Under the weight of public opinion, they don't dare use hardline tactics to force you into those damned hearings. But Tony, don't forget—your statements at that press conference thoroughly enraged both the military and those senators. They're just waiting—for the right chance to seize both your suits and Henry's."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Tony raised his brows in mock surprise, utterly unconcerned.
"Well then, let them wait. I'm actually looking forward to whatever new tricks they come up with. As for Henry, that guy's still in space. Honestly, it's been nearly three weeks since I've seen him. He wouldn't really have been abducted by aliens for experiments, would he?"
Pepper ignored his nonsense, sighing helplessly.
"Yes, you're a genius. A genius who exists solely to give me headaches. Let me remind you one more time—you're only here for a sponsorship event! You are not actually racing! That Stark Industries car already has a world champion driver!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Tony feigned astonishment.
"Well, too bad. On the way here, I accidentally fired him. You know me, Pepper—I just suddenly felt like his face didn't really suit our brand image."
Pepper: "..."
She could feel her heart starting to ache again.
***
close to 150 stones guys we can reach it
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