Chapter 59: The Unexpected Encounter

Clarice exclaimed with excitement, her eyes wide with anticipation.

James nodded confidently. "If he really dares to charge over, I'll handle him for you."

From the pocket of his trousers, the chalice jangled, a reminder of the adrenaline coursing through him, a mix of thrill and anticipation.

"Sir, your prank seems to be backfiring. That James doesn't appear frightened at all, but the tourists around are panicking. Should we stop?" Jarvis, the AI assistant, chimed in from above.

Tony Stark smirked, his trademark confidence shining through. "Why stop now? I'm curious to see how long this James can keep up the act."

He maneuvered the armored suit, hurtling toward the cockpit where James was seated. Just as he was about to make contact, he veered away, executing a sharp turn that left him just inches from James's cockpit.

"Yo, roar!" Tony shouted, feeling invincible as he challenged the fixed-wing flight altitude record of 26,000 feet.

"Sir, we have a situation…" Jarvis interrupted, his tone urgent.

"Mr. Stark !" James's voice echoed behind him, cutting through the wind.

The sudden shout startled Tony, nearly causing him to lose control. He turned to see James flying just a few meters behind him, his black wings shimmering in the light.

"How are you flying?" Tony exclaimed, incredulous. The kid who had been in the Ferris wheel just moments ago was now effortlessly gliding through the air, his expression relaxed and confident.

James's appearance was striking—his youthful face framed by wind-blown hair, exuding a charm that was both innocent and daring. But that wasn't what puzzled Tony the most; it was the wings. "Is that some kind of military tech? I thought all of them were decommissioned."

"Do you really think I'm military?" James replied, raising an eyebrow. He hadn't realized how reckless he was being by revealing himself so openly.

"Why do you know my identity?" Tony pressed, a hint of suspicion lacing his voice. It was a valid question; the details of his escape with the original Iron Man suit hadn't been leaked to the press, and nobody outside his inner circle was supposed to know.

Caught off guard, James stumbled for a response. "Uh, guess?" He laughed nervously, trying to mask his confusion.

"Guess?" Tony repeated incredulously, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "You've got to be kidding me."

James shrugged, unsure of how to backtrack without sounding ridiculous. "I mean, you're kind of a big deal, Stark. It's not hard to put two and two together."

Tony allowed himself a moment to consider. "Just don't expect me to give you a prototype or anything. My toys are not for amateurs."

"Mr. Stark, is this your new toy? My sister thought you were a shooting star and wanted me to catch you," James teased, a playful smirk on his face.

"'Shooting star'? You think this is some kind of joke?" Tony huffed, exasperated. "This is serious business!"

"Then why are you flying so low?" James shot back, enjoying the banter while keeping pace effortlessly behind Tony.

"Jarvis, increase speed!" Tony commanded, not liking how easily James was keeping up. The suit's propellers kicked in, pushing the velocity higher, yet James remained right on his tail.

"Are you the devil?" Tony muttered, feeling the pressure. "Jarvis, climb!"

"Sir, the altitude is too high—" Jarvis warned.

"Just do it!" Tony snapped, determined to outpace the young man.

The suit shot upward, and Tony couldn't help but laugh. "Let's see how you handle the cold, James!"

But the higher they climbed, the colder it became. The air thinned, and the suit began to show signs of frost. James, however, showed no signs of discomfort.

"Damn it! Jarvis!" Tony yelled, realizing too late that the rapidly dropping temperature was affecting his suit. The ice spread, freezing the propellers, and suddenly, the suit powered down.

In a free fall from 10,000 feet, panic surged through him. "Jarvis! I'm frozen! Activate auxiliary wings—now!"

As he plummeted, expecting a hard landing, he was shocked to find himself suspended mid-air. Looking out, he saw James, radiant and unfazed, his wings glowing with an almost ethereal light.

"Mr. Stark, don't give up now! You were aiming for the stars, remember?" James called out, a reassuring smile on his face as he held Tony in mid-air.

Tony felt a conflicting surge of gratitude and irritation. "I… well, thanks?" he managed, the words stuck in his throat.

"Let's get you back down safely," James said, slowly lowering them both, his wings folding gracefully behind him.

As the ground approached, Tony couldn't shake the feeling that he had just encountered someone far more extraordinary than he initially realized.

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