Transformer in MCU

Downey knew better than to trust S.H.I.E.L.D. easily, no matter how many times they extended their hand in peace.

S.H.I.E.L.D. was a global organization, wielding immense power and control, answering only to the five major Security Councils.

Their authority was unparalleled, extending to branches in every corner of the world.

The sheer size and scope of S.H.I.E.L.D. made it a dangerous place, filled with hidden agendas and interests from all over the globe.

Various powerful factions within S.H.I.E.L.D. were constantly calculating, maneuvering, and balancing their own objectives, making it a complex web of politics and power struggles.

It was no wonder that Nick Fury, with decades of experience as a master spy, had managed to maintain some control, navigating through these murky waters.

But Downey wasn't so easily swayed. While cooperation with S.H.I.E.L.D. was feasible, joining them outright was a step too far, especially at this volatile point in time.

Even if he considered aligning with a team, it would be under much different circumstances—perhaps after S.H.I.E.L.D. purged the rot from within, including Hydra.

If anything, Downey would consider joining the Avengers or even Batman's Justice League, knowing these teams had less bureaucratic entanglements and were primarily focused on saving the world.

He also knew that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s influence over the Avengers would diminish as time went on.

By the time they faced Ultron, the Avengers would have already distanced themselves from S.H.I.E.L.D., operating independently and relying heavily on Tony Stark's resources.

At this point, Downey's immediate goal was to strengthen his position.

The time for gathering his own loyal allies was now. Fighting alone could only get him so far, and relying solely on his abilities—powerful as they were—wasn't sustainable in a world teeming with threats.

And so, Downey turned his attention back to the old bartender.

"Hey, old man, are you still alive?" Downey asked gruffly, dragging the old bartender into the room and dumping him in the corner like a sack of potatoes.

He clenched his trusty vibranium brick, waiting for the man to stop pretending.

The old bartender jolted awake, his hand immediately reaching for his head, wincing in pain as he felt the enormous lump Downey had left there.

"What the hell happened to me?!" he shouted, furious.

"What happened?" Downey scoffed. "You played dead, old man. I just made sure you stayed down."

His voice was cold, and he gestured with the vibranium weapon threateningly.

"Now stop with the act. I know you're not some harmless bartender. You're neck-deep in vampire territory, and yet, you're still human? Start talking."

The bartender shot Downey a defiant look, his tone unwavering. "I'm just an ordinary guy who got caught up in their mess. They wanted to turn me into one of them. That's all."

His story was smooth, practiced. He quickly followed it up with an outpouring of gratitude, trying to convince Downey that he had saved him from a terrible fate.

The bartender's performance might've convinced most, but Downey was not most people. He could smell the lies.

Without hesitation, Downey swung his vibranium brick, knocking the bartender down again.

"Enough. Tell me who you really are, or I'll leave you for the vampires to finish off."

The old man's resistance crumbled under the threat. He knew Downey wasn't bluffing.

"My family... we've served the vampires for generations. I was born into this life," he admitted, looking at Downey with weary eyes.

"But things changed when my father found something—something ancient. It changed everything."

Downey's interest piqued as the bartender revealed his family's long-standing ties to the vampire Thompson family, a notorious vampire lineage.

However, it was the discovery made by the old man's father that truly caught Downey's attention.

"My father stumbled upon an ancient relic," the bartender continued.

"A piece of leather. But not just any leather—it was made from human skin, covered in strange, ancient writing.

The vampires have been collecting these relics for centuries, trying to uncover their secrets, but none of them ever succeeded."

Downey's eyes narrowed. "And your father did?"

"Partially," the bartender admitted, his voice growing more serious.

"With the help of computers and his genius for languages, he was able to decode some of it. The leather tells a story... a method for creating gods."

O

"Gods?" Downey repeated, his expression hardening.

"Yes. Gods for the vampire race. The texts outline how to elevate a vampire to godhood, to make them all-powerful. But it's not just for vampires.

My father became obsessed with the idea of using this knowledge for himself.

He believed that if he could unlock the full secret, he could become a god—ruling not only vampires but humans as well."

The old bartender's voice was filled with bitterness and fear. "He lost himself in the pursuit of power. He abandoned us, his family, in his mad quest to rise from a slave to a ruler."

Downey crossed his arms, deep in thought. The idea of vampires seeking godhood was dangerous, but the fact that a mere human, driven by greed and desperation, might've gotten close to uncovering that power was even worse.

Downey's instincts told him that this old bartender was holding back more, but he had given him enough for now.

"The leather," Downey said quietly. "Where is it now?"

The old bartender hesitated, his eyes darting to the door, clearly contemplating an escape plan. Downey raised the vibranium brick again, causing the man to flinch.

"Alright, alright!" the bartender relented. "I'll show you. Just don't hit me again."

Downey lowered the brick but kept it close. "Lead the way. But if you try anything, I'll make sure you never leave this room."

The bartender nodded, his face pale with fear, and reluctantly began to guide Downey toward the ancient leather relic that held the secrets of godhood—secrets that could either save the world or plunge it into chaos.

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Sayo nara ~~