Marvel: The saiyan

A while later, as Tony tinkered with the suit, making adjustments and reconfiguring its systems, he glanced over at me with an incredulous look.

"You know," he began, gesturing vaguely with a screwdriver in hand, "I still can't get over the fact that you can fly. Like, actual flying."

I let out an exasperated sigh, leaning back against the wall. "Tony, you're really starting to get on my nerves with this," I said, raising an eyebrow. "Will you drop it if I tell you that you can probably do it too?"

"Huh," Tony scoffed, spinning the screwdriver between his fingers as he shot me a smug grin. "Of course I can. Did you miss the part where I was soaring through the air back there?"

Yinsen, sitting nearby with his usual calm demeanor, sipped his coffee without a word, though the faintest flicker of amusement danced in his eyes.

I crossed my arms, smirking as I leaned forward. "Seems like the genius isn't geniusing anymore," I quipped, letting the sarcasm land before adding, "You could fly just like me—without the suit."

Tony froze mid-spin, the screwdriver slipping from his fingers and clattering onto the workbench. He turned to me slowly, his expression an amusing mix of confusion and skepticism.

"Without the suit?" he repeated, narrowing his eyes like I'd just told him aliens built the pyramids. "You're kidding. You have to be kidding."

"Do I look like I'm joking?" I replied, my face deadpan serious.

Tony barked out a sharp laugh, running a hand through his hair as if I'd just handed him the most ridiculous problem he'd ever heard. "Okay, okay, let me get this straight," he said, gesturing wildly. "You're telling me that I, Tony Stark, can just… what? Wave my arms around and whoosh—take off like Superman?"

I leaned back lazily in my chair, smirking. "Not just you. Technically, anyone can do it. You just don't know how."

Tony blinked, staring at me as if I'd grown a second head. He pointed at me dramatically, his voice dripping with incredulity. "Hold on. So anyone can fly? Me, Happy, Pepper—literally anyone? And all we're missing is some magic 'how-to' manual?"

From his corner, Yinsen paused mid-sip of his coffee, his eyebrows lifting slightly. While he remained composed, the faintest flicker of curiosity betrayed his calm exterior.

I shrugged, my tone as casual as if we were talking about learning to ride a bike. "It's a little more complicated than just flipping through a manual, but yeah. You're not wrong."

Tony stared at me, his jaw slack, before finally throwing his hands in the air. "Of course! Why not? Why wouldn't anyonebe able to defy the laws of physics? Makes perfect sense!"

Yinsen, still sipping his coffee, chuckled softly. "It's always amusing how the simplest truths are the hardest to accept, Tony."

Tony shot him a look, then turned back to me, jabbing a finger in my direction. "Alright, fine. Let's pretend I believe you for five seconds. How? How the hell does anyone learn to do this?"

I gave him a slow, deliberate grin. "That," I said, leaning forward slightly, "is the million-dollar question, Stark. And guess what? You've got the perfect brain to figure it out."

Tony rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. "Oh, great. Another puzzle for the genius to solve. Just what I needed."

"I could tell you," I said, my tone laced with faint mockery as I leaned back lazily in my chair. "But honestly? I don't know if you're worthy enough for me to pass on my knowledge."

Tony froze mid-rant, his mouth half-open as though I'd just hit him with a verbal sucker punch. He blinked, then pointed an accusatory finger at me. "Did… did you just mock me?"

Yinsen, still nursing his coffee like an amused spectator, let out a soft chuckle. "Yes, Tony. I believe he did."

I smirked, leaning forward just enough to drive the point home. "Well, you're always bragging about how much of a genius you are," I said with a shrug, my voice casual but teasing. "I figured you'd appreciate a challenge. Or is this too much for the great Tony Stark?"

Tony scoffed, placing a hand on his chest in exaggerated mock indignation. "Too much? For me? Please." He straightened up, as though suddenly reminded of his own brilliance. "I built an arc reactor in a cave—with a box of scraps! If anyone can figure this out, it's me."

"Then prove it," I said, my tone sharpening as I locked eyes with him.

The challenge lingered in the air like a spark, daring him to act. For a moment, Tony just stared at me, his ego clearly wrestling with the bait I'd dangled in front of him.

Finally, a grin crept across his face, the kind that screamed challenge accepted. "Alright," he said, crossing his arms. "You're on. Whatever your mystical, 'oh-so-secret' method is, I'll crack it. Hell, I'll probably improve it while I'm at it."

I chuckled softly, shaking my head. "Good luck, Stark. You'll need it."

Even as I said it, part of me wondered if pushing him in this direction was the right call. Stark was brilliant—if anyone could reverse-engineer ki-based techniques, it was him. And while that might be useful for his tech… was it worth letting someone like him get too close to the source of my power?

The thought lingered in my mind like an itch I couldn't scratch, but before I could dwell on it, the sound of approaching footsteps drew my attention.

A Few Hours Later

Pepper walked briskly into the garage, her tablet in hand and her no-nonsense energy immediately changing the atmosphere. Tony was hunched over the hologram of the Mark II, muttering to himself about stabilizers, while I was idly flipping a wrench between my fingers, perched on the edge of a workbench.

"The materials for Shallot's… project just arrived," Pepper said, her tone crisp as she glanced between the two of us. "Everything's in good condition, and the crew's ready to start whenever you are."

Tony looked up, spinning one of the holograms with a flick of his finger. "Fantastic! Let's get this show on the road."

Pepper raised an eyebrow. "Do you even know where on the road is? Because last time I checked, Shallot hasn't exactly given us the GPS coordinates for his dark manor."

I smirked, tossing the wrench onto the workbench and standing up. "Don't worry, I'll lead the way. My place isn't hard to find—if you can fly."

Tony's eyes lit up at the jab. "Oh, I'll get there. Just wait."

Pepper ignored the exchange, already typing something on her tablet. "Alright, I'll have Happy coordinate with the crew. We'll load up the materials and follow you to the site. And by we, I mean Tony and myself."

"Wait," Tony said, holding up a hand. "You're coming too? I thought delegating was your thing."

Pepper shot him a withering look. "You've entrusted me with managing your company, your life, and occasionally your sanity. You think I'm going to let you and him"—she gestured toward me with a sharp nod—"run off to build a mystery chamber without supervision?"

"She's got a point," I said, chuckling.

"Fine," Tony relented, throwing his hands up. "You're the boss, Pep."

Pepper nodded, already turning back to her tablet. "Good. The crew will be ready to leave in twenty minutes. I suggest you both use that time wisely."

45 minutes later, a convoy of black SUVs, a flatbed truck loaded with materials, and a few nondescript construction vans rolled down a winding road into the woods, my house wasn't that deep inside but it was quite far from the highway.

Tony and Pepper rode in one of the lead vehicles, while I flew overhead, keeping pace effortlessly. The trees stretched out below, the isolation of my home starkly contrasting with the high-tech chaos of Stark's Malibu estate.

When the convoy finally reached the clearing, I landed lightly ahead of them, folding my arms as the vehicles pulled to a stop. The construction crew climbed out, looking around with mild curiosity as they took in the sprawling forest and the simple exterior of my house.

"This is it?" Tony asked as he stepped out of the SUV, surveying the area with an arched eyebrow. "Gotta admit, I was expecting something more… dramatic."

"Not everything has to scream 'look at me' to be effective," I shot back, smirking.

Pepper exited the vehicle with her usual air of efficiency, her sharp gaze already assessing the area. "Well, it's certainly… remote. Are you sure this is the best place for such a large-scale project?"

"Perfectly sure," I replied, gesturing toward the clearing. "No nosy neighbors, no stray eyes, and plenty of space. It's exactly what we need."

Tony clapped his hands together, his grin practically splitting his face. "Alright, then. Let's get to it. Time to build the future—or, you know, your gravity dungeon of doom."

"Gravity chamber," I corrected dryly. "But sure, let's go with that."

The crew wasted no time unloading the materials, the flatbed truck's cargo revealing crates of reinforced alloys, high-capacity power units, and specialized tools that would make even Stark jealous.

As the workers began setting up, Tony wandered over to inspect the materials, his curiosity already in overdrive. "Those are quite good," he said, nodding approvingly.

I was leaning casually against a nearby tree.

Pepper was already coordinating with the crew, her sharp tone cutting through the organized chaos like a general on the battlefield. "No, the power units go there. And make sure the cables are insulated before you start connecting them. This thing's going to draw enough power to light up a city—we don't need any mishaps."

Tony glanced at her, his expression amused. "You know, you could've been an engineer, Pep. You're scarily good at this."

"I wouldn't need to be if you actually stayed organized," she quipped, not missing a beat.

I smirked, watching their dynamic with mild amusement before turning my attention back to the workers. The foundation of the gravity chamber was already starting to take shape, the clearing buzzing with activity.

This was it. The first step toward pushing my limits even further.

As Tony examined a crate of energy conduits, he glanced back at me, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You'd better make this worth it, Shallot. This chamber of yours better be the stuff of legends."

I chuckled, my gaze steady. "Oh, it will be. Trust me."

"Tony, you can't even begin to imagine the level of strength I'm about to reach with this." I said with a purposely evil smile.

Tony raised an eyebrow at my words, the corner of his mouth twitching as if he were trying to decide whether to laugh or be concerned. "Oh, great. That's exactly what I wanted to hear from the guy who already flies without a suit and casually shatters boulders for fun," he said, folding his arms. "Now you're adding 'evil overlord vibes' to your repertoire?" 

I let the grin linger, purposefully leaning into the theatrics. "What can I say? It's fun to keep you on your toes." 

Pepper, who was supervising the workers nearby, overheard the exchange and turned, her hands on her hips. "Please tell me he's joking," she said, her sharp gaze darting between Tony and me. 

Tony shrugged dramatically. "Honestly, Pepper? With him, it's hard to tell. Half the time, he's throwing shade, and the other half, he's threatening to conquer the world. Who knows anymore?" 

I chuckled, shaking my head as I stepped closer to where they were standing. "Relax, Potts. I'm not about to conquer anything... yet." 

"Yet?" Pepper echoed, narrowing her eyes. 

"Relax, Pepper," I said, holding up my hands in mock surrender. "It's just a joke. Mostly." 

She sighed, rubbing her temples. "Why do I get the feeling this project is going to give me more gray hairs than Tony's entire career?" 

"Because it probably will," Tony said, smirking. "But hey, look on the bright side—if Shallot does end up taking over the world, at least you'll have a front-row seat." 

"Very reassuring, Tony," Pepper shot back, her sarcasm cutting through the conversation like a scalpel. 

I crossed my arms, my grin fading slightly as I looked at Tony. "Joking aside, Stark, this isn't just about me getting stronger. This chamber is about pushing beyond limits. It's about proving that strength isn't finite—that there's always more to reach for." 

Tony's expression shifted, the humor fading from his eyes as he considered my words. He leaned against one of the crates, his tone quieter now. "Pushing beyond limits, huh? Sounds familiar." 

"Because you do the same thing," I replied, meeting his gaze evenly. "Every time you push your tech further. You know what it's like to chase something that feels impossible. That's what this is about." 

Pepper looked between us, her expression softening slightly as the tension eased. "Just… don't blow up the forest, alright? Or yourselves." 

"No promises," I said with a smirk, turning back toward the workers. 

Tony laughed, shaking his head. "You're impossible, Shallot." 

"And yet, you keep me around," I called back over my shoulder. "What does that say about you?" 

Tony didn't respond immediately, but I could feel his grin as he turned back to inspect the progress. 

The gravity chamber was taking shape now, its reinforced frame rising steadily in the clearing. As I watched the workers fit the pieces together, I could feel the anticipation building inside me. 

Pepper, ever the pragmatist, crossed her arms as she surveyed the site. "If this thing ends up being some sort of supervillain training ground, I'm going to blame both of you." 

"Don't worry, Pepper," Tony said, waving her off with a grin. "If he goes full supervillain, I'll take him down." 

"With what?" I quipped, smirking. "Your altitude-challenged tin can?" 

Tony glared at me playfully. "Careful, Shallot. I might just figure out how to fly without the suit, and then we'll see who's laughing." 

I chuckled, leaning against a nearby tree as the workers continued their work. "I'll be waiting, Stark. Just try not to break your neck in the process." 

The banter continued as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over the clearing. For the first time in a while, I felt a flicker of something I hadn't expected—contentment. 

As the gravity chamber neared completion, I was feeling like a kid receiving a toy car.

Pepper approached me with her usual brisk efficiency, the faint hum of activity from the construction workers filling the air around us. She stopped just a few feet away, her tablet tucked under one arm as she regarded me with her usual no-nonsense demeanor.

"Shallot," she said, her voice steady but clipped, "your gravity chamber will be finished in approximately two days, assuming everything stays on schedule."

I nodded, leaning casually against one of the nearby trees. "Good to hear. I was starting to think Stark might've slacked off."

Pepper arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by the jab. "Tony may slack off when it comes to cleaning up his workshop, but he takes his projects seriously."

"Fair enough," I replied with a smirk. "And you, of course, are the reason anything actually runs smoothly around here."

"Glad you've noticed," she shot back, her tone as dry as the Malibu air. But then her expression softened slightly as she continued, "I have something I need to take care of, so I won't be heading back with you two."

She gestured toward the nearby construction truck, where a few workers were loading up supplies. "You'll accompany Tony back to the mansion. Make sure he doesn't… you know, do anything ridiculous."

"Babysitting Stark?" I teased, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think that's in my job description."

Pepper gave me a pointed look. "Well, consider it a favor—for both me and humanity."

I couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Fine, fine. I'll make sure he doesn't blow anything up on the way back. But no promises once we're at the mansion."

She sighed, shaking her head but not arguing further. "Thanks, Shallot. You're… actually somewhat tolerable when you're not trying to scare me with that evil smile of yours."

I grinned at her, leaning just slightly into her teasing. "Don't worry, Pepper. The smile's all part of my charm."

"Sure it is," she muttered, turning toward the truck. She climbed in with a practiced ease, shutting the door behind her. The workers began climbing in as well, the engine roaring to life as they prepared to transport her back home.

Before the truck pulled away, Pepper rolled down the window and gave me one last look. "And Shallot? Just… try not to corrupt Tony too much, alright? He's already enough of a handful."

"I don't know about that," I replied with a wink. "But I'll keep him in one piece. Maybe."

She shook her head with a faint smile before the truck started moving, kicking up a small cloud of dust as it rolled down the dirt path and disappeared into the trees.

As the sound of the truck faded, I turned to find Stark standing nearby, his arms crossed and an amused grin on his face.

"She's got you running errands now, huh?" he quipped.

"Looks like it," I replied, brushing some dust off my sleeve. "But don't get too comfortable. If you start slacking off, I might let Pepper know about it."

Tony rolled his eyes, his grin widening. "Please, Pepper's already on my case 24/7. What's one more lecture?"

"Guess we'll find out," I said, motioning toward his car parked near the edge of the clearing. "Come on, genius. Let's get you home before Pepper starts thinking I've let you get yourself into trouble."

Tony smirked, but there was a flicker of something thoughtful in his expression as he followed me toward the car. As much as he loved to play the role of the carefree genius, even he couldn't deny the weight of everything happening around him.

The ride back to Malibu was bound to be anything but quiet.

Once Tony and I returned to his house, he immediately immersed himself in finalizing the Mark III suit design. The holographic projections in his workshop flickered to life as he manipulated them with deft movements, the blue light casting sharp shadows across his focused expression.

A nearby television droned softly in the background. A glamorous reporter stood amidst a flurry of camera flashes, her voice carrying the excitement of the evening.

"Tonight's red-hot red carpet is right here at the Disney Concert Hall," she announced, her smile dazzling. "Tony Stark's third annual benefit for the Firefighter's Family Fund has become the place to be for L.A.'s high society."

Tony glanced up from his work, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes. "JARVIS, did we get an invite for that?" he asked, tilting his head thoughtfully.

"I have no record of an invitation, sir," JARVIS replied smoothly.

On the screen, the reporter continued, her tone shifting to one of speculative concern. "Mr. Stark hasn't been seen in public since his bizarre and highly controversial press conference. Some claim he's suffering from post-traumatic stress and has been bedridden for weeks. Whatever the case may be, no one expects an appearance from him tonight."

"Well, that's cheery," I remarked dryly, leaning against a nearby workbench.

Tony smirked, waving off the reporter's words. "They do love their drama," he quipped.

Just then, JARVIS chimed in. "The render is complete."

Tony turned his attention back to the holographic image of the suit hovering before him. He scrutinized it for a moment before making a face. "A little ostentatious, don't you think?" he mused.

"What was I thinking? You're usually so discreet," JARVIS replied with a hint of sarcasm.

Tony chuckled, shaking his head. "Tell you what—throw a little hot-rod red in there."

"Yes, that should help you keep a low profile," JARVIS retorted. "The render is complete."

The updated design materialized, the sleek lines now accented with bold streaks of red. Tony's eyes lit up as he took it in. "Hey, I like it. Fabricate it. Paint it."

"Commencing automated assembly," JARVIS confirmed. "Estimated completion time is five hours."

As the automated systems whirred to life, Tony turned away from the holograms, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Shallot," he called, grabbing his jacket, "feel like going somewhere fun?"

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "Depends on what you have in mind, Stark."

He grinned, his energy infectious. "I think it's high time we made an appearance at that little soirée they're holding in my honor."

I smirked. "Crashing your own party? Sounds about right for you."

"Exactly," he said, tossing me a knowing look. "Besides, I could use the company. Someone's gotta keep me entertained."

"Or keep you out of trouble," I retorted, pushing off the workbench.

"Details," Tony waved off, heading toward the garage. "You in or not?"

I considered it for a moment, " I would have said yes but I'm quite sleepy, so I'll just go back

"Exactly," he said, tossing me a knowing look. "Besides, I could use the company. Someone's gotta keep me entertained."

"Or keep you out of trouble," I retorted, pushing off the workbench.

"Details," Tony waved off, already heading toward the garage. "You in or not?"

I leaned against the doorway for a moment, considering his offer. Then I yawned dramatically, stretching my arms overhead for emphasis. "I would've said yes, but you know what? I'm exhausted. So, I think I'll pass and just head back."

Tony stopped mid-step, spinning around to face me with an exaggerated look of betrayal. "Seriously? Sleep? You're choosing sleep over an exclusive Stark-level adventure? What are you, eighty?"

I smirked, folding my arms as I leaned casually against the frame. "Not everyone's built like you, Stark. Some of us actually need downtime between saving your life and watching you play mad scientist."

He scoffed, crossing his arms and shooting me a mockingly disappointed look. "Downtime is overrated. But hey, you do you, Shallot. Enjoy hibernating like a bear while the rest of us actually live our lives."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Right. Because jetting off to do something reckless and over-the-top screams 'living' to me."

"Exactly!" Tony shot back with a wide grin, pointing a finger at me like he'd just won the argument. "You see? You getit."

I rolled my eyes, already turning to leave. "Good night, Stark. Try not to burn anything down while you're out 'living.'"

"Please," he called after me with a smug tone. "The only thing I'm setting on fire tonight is the dance floor!"

I waved him off without looking back, a faint smirk tugging at my lips. "Sure, Stark.

Power stones 🤪