Chapter 5: Shadows of Genius

Marcus Young was no stranger to admiration for genius. Working at Stark Industries for the past three years had felt like standing in the shadow of a giant. Tony Stark wasn't just a man; he was an icon, a force of nature in the world of technology and innovation. The whole company revolved around Stark's brilliance—his ideas, his inventions, his iron will to change the world. Every time Marcus entered the building, he was reminded of that fact. Tony Stark's name was plastered on everything, and his influence was woven into every facet of the company.

But lately, Marcus had started to feel something else. It wasn't just admiration anymore. It was something deeper, something unsettling. Ever since the arc reactor accident that had nearly killed him—and subsequently changed him—Marcus felt like he was standing even closer to that genius than ever before. Too close, perhaps.

It had started with the small things. After the accident, Marcus found himself solving problems at work more quickly. Simple troubleshooting tasks that used to take him hours now took mere minutes. Configuring servers, fixing software bugs, optimizing network flow—it all came so easily to him. At first, he attributed it to a newfound focus. Maybe the near-death experience had sharpened his mind. Maybe surviving something as terrifying as the reactor surge had given him a sense of clarity he didn't have before.

But as the days passed, it became harder to ignore. This wasn't just focus. This wasn't just clarity.

Something had changed in his brain. He knew things he had no business knowing.

It was early one morning when the realization first hit him. Marcus sat in the company cafeteria, a steaming cup of coffee in front of him, staring at the screen of his tablet. He had been working on a project for weeks—a security protocol to streamline the data flow between Stark's various research divisions. It wasn't a simple task, and Marcus had been struggling to find a solution.

But today was different. Today, the solution came to him as easily as breathing.

He sipped his coffee and absentmindedly scrolled through lines of code, but his fingers moved as if they had a mind of their own. Before he even realized what was happening, he had typed out a complex algorithm that optimized the data flow perfectly. He stared at the screen, his heart skipping a beat.

It was flawless.

Marcus blinked, his hand freezing over the keyboard. He read through the lines again, his pulse quickening with every word. He had no idea where this had come from. The logic, the structure—it wasn't his. He knew his own capabilities, knew the limitations of his knowledge, and this... this was beyond him.

Panic started to creep into his chest. How did I know this?

Marcus felt his breath catch in his throat as the answer began to form in his mind, the same answer he had been trying to avoid ever since the accident. He had copied it—absorbed it. Somehow, someway, he had taken in Tony Stark's genius without even knowing it.

The day of the reactor accident replayed in his mind constantly, like a loop he couldn't escape. The explosion, the flash of light, the overwhelming energy that had surged through his body. It hadn't just changed him physically; it had changed him mentally. At first, he thought the strange awareness he had felt—being able to sense objects and their properties—was the full extent of it. But this was different. This was something deeper.

Marcus rubbed his temples, trying to push the thought away. He needed answers, but he didn't know where to start. How do you explain something like this? How do you even test it?

As he sat there, lost in thought, a voice broke through the fog.

"Hey, Marcus."

He looked up to see Sarah standing over him, her usual bright smile on her face. Sarah had become a friend since joining the IT department a few months ago, and her bubbly, upbeat personality was a welcome distraction from the constant pressure of work.

"Hey," Marcus replied, trying to force a smile, though his mind was still spinning.

"You okay?" she asked, her brow furrowing. "You look... kind of out of it."

"Yeah, just, uh, thinking about a project," Marcus said quickly, gesturing to his tablet.

Sarah glanced at the screen, and her eyes widened. "Wait, is that the new data flow model? I thought you said you were stuck on that."

Marcus hesitated. "I was. But... I figured it out."

Sarah leaned over the table, squinting at the code. "You figured it out in one morning? That's impressive, Marcus. It took the guys upstairs weeks to develop something even half as good as this."

The blood drained from Marcus's face. "The guys upstairs?" he echoed.

Sarah nodded, oblivious to his sudden discomfort. "Yeah, the research team. They've been working on a similar problem for one of Stark's projects. But this... this looks better. How did you...?"

Marcus's mouth went dry. He hadn't known. He hadn't known that this was a problem Stark's own engineers were working on. But somehow, he had solved it. And not just solved it—he had done it better.

"I, uh, I don't know," Marcus muttered, feeling a cold sweat break out on his forehead. "Just... got lucky, I guess."

Sarah gave him a curious look, clearly sensing that something was off, but she didn't press the issue. "Well, whatever you did, it's impressive. Maybe you should show it to Stark. He'd probably love it."

The idea of showing this to Stark made Marcus's stomach churn. He couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't his work. This was Stark's work. His mind raced with the implications, but before he could dwell on it any further, Sarah gave him a quick wave and headed off to her next meeting, leaving Marcus alone with his thoughts.

Later that afternoon, Marcus found himself back at his desk, staring blankly at his computer screen. He couldn't focus. His thoughts kept drifting back to the code, to the realization that he had somehow copied Stark's genius without even trying. The more he thought about it, the more it terrified him. What if this was just the beginning? What if he was absorbing more than just technical know-how?

He needed to figure out what was happening to him. And to do that, he needed to get closer to Stark.

It wasn't easy. Tony Stark was always busy, surrounded by a team of engineers, scientists, and executives. But Marcus had an idea—an idea that would allow him to test his theory without drawing too much attention.

The opportunity came a few days later, when Stark Industries held a company-wide meeting to discuss the upcoming projects in the research and development department. Tony Stark was scheduled to give a presentation, outlining the future of the company and the new technologies they were developing.

Marcus attended the meeting, sitting toward the back of the crowded conference room, trying to blend in with the rest of the employees. The room buzzed with anticipation as the lights dimmed and Tony Stark appeared on stage, his usual confident swagger on full display.

"Good afternoon, everyone," Stark said, his voice carrying easily across the room. "I hope you all had your coffee because we've got a lot to cover today. And trust me, it's gonna blow your minds."

The crowd chuckled, but Marcus barely heard them. His attention was laser-focused on Stark. As Stark began his presentation, explaining the latest advancements in clean energy, AI development, and aerospace technology, Marcus felt a familiar sensation creeping into his mind—the same sensation he had felt when he copied skills from his coworkers.

He could feel it happening again. As Stark spoke, Marcus's mind seemed to absorb the information effortlessly. It wasn't just about understanding the technology—it was about seeing the world the way Stark saw it. Marcus's brain was processing information faster, connecting dots that he hadn't even known existed. He could almost feel the gears of Stark's mind turning, as if he was inside Tony's head, thinking like him.

Marcus's breath quickened. It was happening again. He was copying Stark's genius in real-time, without even meaning to.

The presentation continued, but Marcus could barely focus on the words. His mind was racing, absorbing not just the knowledge but the methodology behind it—the way Stark approached problems, the way he saw the potential in every piece of technology. It was overwhelming, exhilarating, and terrifying all at once.

By the time the presentation ended, Marcus was drenched in sweat. He stood up quickly, his legs shaky, and made his way out of the conference room before anyone could notice his distress. His heart pounded in his chest as he rushed down the hallway, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

He didn't stop until he reached the empty stairwell. Leaning against the cold concrete wall, Marcus closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm in his mind.

What is happening to me?

He didn't have an answer, but one thing was clear: he had just copied Stark's genius. Not just his technical knowledge, but his way of thinking, his approach to innovation. And if he could do that... what else was he capable of?

The next day, Marcus made a decision. He couldn't do this alone. If he was going to figure out what was happening to him, he needed help—real help. And there was only one person in the world who might be able to understand what he was going through.

Tony Stark.

It was a long shot, and Marcus had no idea how he was going to approach Stark about this. But he couldn't wait any longer. He had to try.

After the day's work ended, Marcus stayed behind, waiting until most of the employees had left for the evening. He knew that Stark often worked late, tinkering with projects in his private lab on one of the upper floors. That was where Marcus would find him.

The elevator ride to Stark's lab felt like an eternity, his stomach twisting with nerves. What was he even going to say? How do you tell someone that you've been inadvertently stealing their genius?

When the elevator doors slid open, Marcus stepped into the sleek, high-tech lab. It was a marvel of modern engineering, filled with holographic displays, advanced machinery, and prototypes of new inventions. And in the center of it all, Tony Stark stood at a workbench, his hands busy assembling a new device.

For a moment, Marcus hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. But before he could turn back, Stark looked up and spotted him.

"Marcus, right?" Stark said, raising an eyebrow. "What brings you up here? Thought you IT guys stuck to the lower floors."

Marcus swallowed, his heart racing. This was it. There was no turning back now.

"I... I need to talk to you," Marcus said, his voice wavering. "It's about what happened during the reactor demo. I think... I think something happened to me."

Stark's expression shifted, the easygoing smile fading as he studied Marcus more closely.

"Something happened to you?" Stark repeated, his tone more serious now. "What do you mean?"

Marcus took a deep breath, gathering his courage.

"I think I've been... copying your abilities. Your genius, your skills. I don't know how, but ever since the accident, I've been able to absorb the skills and knowledge of the people around me. And it's not just you—it's everyone."

For a moment, Stark didn't respond. He simply stared at Marcus, his sharp eyes flicking over him as if trying to gauge the truth of his words.

Then, without warning, Stark set down the tool he had been holding and walked over to Marcus, his expression unreadable.

"Show me," Stark said quietly.

Marcus blinked, unsure of what Stark meant. "Show you?"

"Show me what you can do," Stark clarified, his voice calm but firm. "If you've been copying my genius, prove it. I want to see it."

Marcus hesitated, his hands trembling slightly. He wasn't sure if he could control it, but this was his chance—his chance to get answers, to understand what was happening to him.

Taking a deep breath, Marcus stepped forward and picked up the device Stark had been working on. It was a complicated piece of technology, something Marcus had never seen before, but as soon as his fingers touched it, the familiar flood of knowledge washed over him.

His mind worked quickly, analyzing the components, understanding the design. He could see the flaws in the circuitry, the potential improvements that could be made. Without thinking, his hands began to move, adjusting the device, making subtle changes to its structure.

Stark watched in silence as Marcus worked, his expression unreadable.

When Marcus finished, he set the device back on the workbench, his heart pounding in his chest.

"There," Marcus said, his voice shaky. "I... I think it's better now."

Stark picked up the device, examining it closely. For a long moment, he didn't say anything. Then, finally, he looked up at Marcus, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.

"Well," Stark said, his voice low. "This just got interesting."

And in that moment, Marcus knew that his life had just changed forever.