"What is that? An anti-gravity device powered by propellers?"
"Did we suddenly jump back to the Age of Discovery? Why is an aircraft carrier using propellers?"
"We seriously need to rebuild this fortress."
Tony was in full-on genius mode, eyes darting excitedly as he pointed at one module after another, rattling off ideas for upgrades.
"Swap out the energy system with an arc reactor, convert the anti-gravity propulsion into beam energy, and enhance the stealth system..."
"Oh, and on the deck, I can build an armor storage bay—deploy the suits in real ti..."
"Hold it! Tony, wait!" Malrick cut in as Tony continued hijacking the conversation.
"What? Got suggestions of your own?" Tony asked, now clearly valuing Malrick's input on all things scientific.
"No, I just think you're a little ahead of yourself."
"What do you an?"
"This fortress doesn't belong to you yet."
"What?! Jarvis said you gave it to !"
"It's your 40th birthday present. Are you 40 now? You're still a few months shy of 39."
Tony blinked. "40? You expect this fortress to just sit around unused until then?"
"Of course not. I still need it. The Widows are using it for now, and—"
"So you're giving a third-hand birthday gift?!"
Tony crossed his arms, dead serious. "Malrick, what kind of monster won't even give a second-hand present? Have I not been a good brother to you all these years?"
It was clear he loved the fortress. Even though he had complained during the tour—pointing out every flaw and pretending to be reluctant—his eyes had been sparkling the whole ti. Like a kid unwrapping the Transforr toy he'd dread of for years.
"I'm not saying—"
"Here's the deal!" Tony interrupted. "Until my 40th, we co-own the fortress. Then you can give it to officially as a 'two-and-a-half-hands' birthday gift."
Malrick hesitated. "But—"
"Malrick! There's no way you can rebuild this entire thing by yourself, right?" Tony gave him the wide-eyed puppy stare.
Malrick sighed under the pressure. "Fine, fine. For now, half-and-half."
"I was planning to keep the Widows stationed here for mission logistics and personnel transfers," Malrick added.
"As long as they're not disrupted, do whatever you want."
Tony grinned. "Of course! I would never interfere with their work."
"But seriously—why do you keep calling them Widows? Does the Red Room only recruit widows?"
Malrick shook his head. "No. They were selected through a gene sequencing project when they were kids, and sent here later on..."
He gave a brief rundown of the Red Room's dark history.
Tony's expression darkened.
"Training and modifying little girls… First Hydra, then S.H.I.E.L.D., now the Red Room. How many monsters are hiding under the world's 'peaceful' surface?"
"Take to et them. Also—if you're starting a new organization, you might wanna rebrand. You can't have a bunch of girls walking around calling themselves 'Widows.' Makes you sound like so unforgivable dieval baron."
Tony had always cared more than he let on.
Malrick nodded. "They'll have new nas soon enough."
When they returned to the deck, the girls were lounging in the sun, chatting and enjoying the view above the clouds.
Their conversation was scattered—random thoughts and topics, like kids finally allowed to just be.
When they spotted Malrick, they stood up and clustered around him.
After introductions and a bit of back-and-forth,
Tony pitched his ideas for transforming the fortress. He even offered to pay each Widow stationed there a monthly salary of $100,000 until their transfer.
But as they talked, Tony noticed the girls giving him odd looks.
He nudged Malrick, puzzled, until the truth ca out—everyone on the fortress knew that he'd been stuck in his armor holding in a bathroom ergency.
Red-faced and mortified, Tony quickly said his goodbyes. He and Malrick left the fortress together.
Part of it was embarrassnt.
Part of it was the press conference he had to attend. Missing it would an facing Pepper's fury.
Malrick, anwhile, had so sunbathing to do.
He planned to fly straight back to the capsule and sleep.
Also, he needed to reinstall the new hatch on the spacecraft—the one he'd accidentally destroyed in a bout of excitent after waking up.
He'd just wanted to test his strength. The poor hatch had been an unfortunate casualty.
Naturally, that ant he had to fix it himself.
---
Back on the deck, the Widows watched them fly off, envy in their eyes.
"Must be nice to just… fly," Yelena said wistfully. "I wonder if I'll ever get the boss to build a suit like that."
"Just imagine it—flas bursting from your boots, whoosh, you're in the sky."
Natasha stayed quiet, still watching Malrick vanish into the clouds.
Yelena elbowed her. "Hey. Stop staring. They're gone. You spent hours alone with the boss—haven't seen enough?"
"Mind your business," Natasha muttered, shoving her sister.
Yelena grinned and leaned in again. "Oh co on. Spill it. How was it?"
The other girls perked up imdiately.
"Yeah, tell us!"
"Is he as strong as he looks?"
"Like being hit with a hydraulic press?"
"Or faster than an electric drill?"
"We can only imagine! You have to tell us!"
The Widows practically vibrated with curiosity, their eyes sparkling.
Natasha flushed and raised her hands. "It's... kind of like flying through the sky. Nonstop. And yeah—he's strong."
"Aaaaahhh!!"
"Dammit!"
"Damn you, Natasha!"
"My Superman!!"
The second she said it, the group erupted into screams and howls of playful agony.
---
Los Angeles, 10 a.m.
Stark Industrial Park
The press conference began right on ti.
Pepper stood on stage, delivering a lengthy speech. It outlined Stark Industries' plan for new energy infrastructure.
It was still in the early phases—major agreents with sovereign nations would co later—but the room was packed. Reporters snapped photos, silent and focused.
Everyone there knew they were witnessing a global shift.
A well-written article from today might land them a permanent place in history.
When Pepper finished, the expected Q&A didn't follow.
Instead, she stepped aside, and Tony Stark walked up to the podium.
"Relax, I'll keep this short," he said, resting both hands on the stand.
After a mont of shuffling and murmurs, the room settled again.
All eyes were on him.
---
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