Chapter 23

As Pepper turned to leave, still clutching the old arc reactor in her hands, she cast one last look at Tony and Stephen. "Try not to blow up the lab, okay?" she said, her tone both exasperated and fond.

"No promises," Tony replied with a grin, waving her off.

Pepper sighed but smiled faintly before disappearing up the staircase, her footsteps fading into the quiet hum of the lab.

Once she was gone, Tony spun on his heel, his eyes lighting up with excitement as he turned to Stephen. "Alright, Doc. Let's talk upgrades."

Stephen raised an eyebrow, his arms crossing over his chest. "Upgrades?"

"Yeah, upgrades," Tony said, walking over to a nearby workbench and gesturing for Stephen to follow. He tapped a holographic console, and the image of a bulky, gray suit of armor flickered to life in the air above the table.

It was crude and rough, its design cobbled together from scrap metal and desperation. But even in its simplicity, there was an undeniable brilliance to it—a prototype of something far greater.

"Recognize this?" Tony asked, grinning as he gestured toward the hologram.

Stephen stepped closer, his blue eyes narrowing as he studied the design. "Your first suit," he said in a low tone.

Tony nodded. "The Mark I. Built it in a cave with scraps, as you so eloquently put it. And you know what? It worked. But it's time to take this bad boy to the next level."

Stephen tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. "You're planning to rebuild it?"

"Not just rebuild," Tony said, his grin widening. "Reimagine. Upgrade. I'm talking sleeker, faster, more powerful. Something that can actually take on the kind of threats we've got out there. Because let's face it—people like the Ten Rings? They're not going away anytime soon. And someone's gotta deal with them."

Stephen huffed softly, his arms still crossed. "I assume that 'someone' is you."

"Damn right it is," Tony said, his voice filled with confidence.

But before Tony could dive further into his plans, Stephen's voice cut through, calm but firm. "Anthony."

Tony paused, glancing over his shoulder. "What?"

Stephen stepped closer, his expression sharp. "You're putting a lot of thought into this suit of yours and that's admirable. But have you given any thought to your company? To the people who depend on you?"

Tony frowned slightly, his grin fading. "What do you mean?"

Stephen gestured vaguely toward the hologram. "You've shut down the weapons division. That's a step in the right direction. But what about the people who work in it? The engineers, the technicians, the manufacturers—what happens to them?"

Tony opened his mouth to respond but hesitated, the weight of Stephen's words sinking in.

Stephen continued, his tone measured but pointed. "If you want to reassure the people in your company—and avoid a complete collapse—you need to offer them something new. Something that proves Stark Industries still has a future. Not just for investors, but for the people who work for you."

Tony rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze flicking to the hologram of the Mark I suit. "Okay, so what are you suggesting? I just hand out arc reactors to everyone?"

Stephen rolled his eyes. "Of course not. But you're a genius, Anthony. Surely you can come up with something. Inventions related to protection, defense—something that aligns with your new vision while keeping people employed."

Tony frowned thoughtfully, leaning against the workbench as he considered Stephen's words. "Protection and defense, huh? Like… research and rescue?"

"Exactly," Stephen said, his tone softening slightly. "You're already working on this suit of yours. Why not expand on that? Develop technology that can protect people, not destroy them. Use your brilliance to build a legacy you can be proud of."

Tony was silent for a moment, his gaze distant as he turned Stephen's suggestion over in his mind. Finally, he straightened, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "You know, Doc, for someone who claims to be a sorcerer, you're surprisingly good at corporate strategy."

Stephen smirked faintly, his blue eyes glinting with dry amusement. "I've spent centuries observing human nature. Some lessons stick."

Tony laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, fine. I can do both. But first," he gestured back to the hologram, "we upgrade the suit. I need to make sure the next time someone comes after me, I'm ready for them."

Stephen tilted his head, his expression softening slightly. "Just remember, Anthony—power without purpose is meaningless. Build the suit, if you must. But don't lose sight of why you're building it."

Tony's grin softened, his eyes meeting Stephen's. "Noted. Thanks, Doc."

Stephen saw how Tony next worked feverishly in his lab, his hands flying between tools and holographic displays, as he began sketching and assembling designs for the upgraded suit. The Mark II, as he was now calling it, was already coming together in his mind: sleeker lines, better flight capabilities, and an arsenal of defensive features that could rival anything Stark Industries had ever produced.

But even as he focused on the suit, his mind was already moving a step ahead. "JARVIS," he called out, his voice brisk, "pull up the old rescue drone schematics and cross-reference them with the new propulsion tech from Project Liberty. Let's see if we can make those things more autonomous."

"Right away, sir," JARVIS replied smoothly, his voice filling the room.

Stephen, who had been leaning casually against a nearby workbench, raised an eyebrow as several new holograms sprang to life around Tony. The displays showed blueprints for various gadgets: drones equipped with search-and-rescue capabilities, military-grade scanners designed to locate survivors in disaster zones, and other devices that seemed geared toward protection and aid rather than destruction.

Tony waved a hand through one hologram, enlarging a schematic for a scanner with a sleek design. "And while you're at it, JARVIS, pull up the notes from Project Sentinel. Let's see if we can adapt those sensors for civilian rescue use."

Stephen tilted his head, his blue eyes narrowing slightly as he watched Tony work. "You're good at multitasking," he said, his tone faintly amused.

Tony glanced at him, smirking. "Of course I'm good. You think I'm gonna focus on just one project at a time? That's rookie stuff, Doc."

Stephen huffed softly, crossing his arms as he stepped closer to the displays. "And here I thought you were just an eccentric billionaire. Turns out, you're actually efficient."

Tony grinned, gesturing to the displays. "Efficient and brilliant. Don't forget brilliant."

Stephen rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Fair enough."

He turned his attention back to the holograms, his gaze lingering on the rescue drones. "These… they're designed for saving lives?"

"Exactly," Tony said, his tone growing more serious. "I started working on them a while back—before all the weapons stuff got out of hand. The idea was to build drones that could go into disaster zones, find survivors, deliver supplies. You know, actually do some good in the world."

Stephen studied the designs for a moment before nodding slightly. "Impressive. You should focus more on projects like this."

Tony smirked, picking up a tool as he resumed tinkering with one of the suit's components. "Oh, don't worry, Doc. I've got plenty of ideas. Just gotta find the time to make them all happen."

As Tony continued his work, Stephen stepped back, his expression turning contemplative. Watching Tony juggle multiple projects with such ease reminded him of his own training—the days when his mind had been sharp and disciplined, capable of juggling countless spells and theories at once.

Perhaps it was time to put that training to use.

Closing his eyes, Stephen settled into a meditative stance, his breathing slowing as he focused inward. The faint hum of Tony's lab faded into the background, replaced by the subtle, rhythmic pull of the universe's energy.

Without the Time Stone, accessing the flow of time was more difficult. The artifact had been a powerful conduit, allowing him to manipulate time as easily as a painter wields a brush. But even without it, Stephen's connection to the mystic arts remained intact.

He didn't intend to alter anything—he couldn't, not without the Time Stone. But observing the flow of time, feeling its threads and currents, was still possible.

And right now, there was one thread he was particularly interested in: the one tied to Anthony Edward Stark.

The air around Stephen shimmered faintly as he extended his senses, his mind reaching out to the temporal web that connected all things. It was like standing on the edge of a vast river, its currents rushing past in countless directions.

As Stephen delved deeper, the threads of time began to take shape in his mind's eye. They twisted and wove together, forming a complex tapestry that spanned countless moments and possibilities.

And though focusing on the timeline of a single individual was like trying to follow a single strand of silk in a hurricane, Anthony Edward Stark was not just anyone. So he focused on the ones tied to Tony's future, watching as they unraveled before him. Most of the threads were still intact, their paths converging toward familiar events: the creation of the Mark II, the rise of Iron Man, the eventual battle with…Iron Monger?

He was curious about this Iron Monger, so Stephen's senses delved deeper, glimpses of the immediate future began to emerge, like flashes of light in the darkness, drawing his attention back to the battle he had seen—a clash of iron and fire, betrayal and fury. The bulky suit—the so-called Iron Monger—loomed large in his vision, its operator fueled by a simmering jealousy that burned as brightly as the flames that surrounded them. And Tony, for all his brilliance, radiated a deep ache of betrayal.

Stephen's breath hitched as he withdrew his senses from the temporal web, the shimmering threads dissolving into the edges of his awareness. Slowly, the hum of Tony's lab began to creep back into focus.

He opened his eyes to see Tony bent over his workstation, completely absorbed in his work. A holographic display of the Mark II hovered before him, the sleek red-and-gold suit already beginning to take shape in intricate digital detail. Beside it were projections of various other designs—scanners, drones, tools—all part of the new direction Tony was determined to take Stark Industries.

Stephen stepped closer, his footsteps soft against the polished floor. He took a moment to watch Tony, marveling at the sheer focus and drive that seemed to pour out of him. This man, this genius, was a fixed point in the timeline for a reason.

But Stephen also knew that Tony's brilliance was both his greatest strength and his greatest vulnerability. The battle he had glimpsed in the flow of time wasn't just a physical confrontation—it was a confrontation of ideals.

The moment lingered before Tony finally noticed Stephen's presence. He turned, grinning faintly as he wiped his hands on a rag. "You're not just standing there being all mystical again, are you? Because if you're about to tell me my aura's out of alignment, I'm gonna need more coffee first."

Stephen huffed a quiet laugh, his arms crossing over his chest. "No, but your aura could use some balance. Let's just say I've been… meditating."

Tony raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the workbench. "Oh boy. Here we go. Is this the part where you tell me you've seen some great cosmic disaster and I'm doomed to die in some tragic, heroic way?"

Stephen's jaw tightened at the comment, the weight of the truth pressing against him. He exhaled slowly, his gaze meeting Tony's. "Not exactly," he said, his voice quieter now.

Tony's smirk faltered as he studied Stephen's expression. "Alright, Steph. Spill. You've got that look—the one that says you've seen some heavy stuff. What's going on?"

Stephen hesitated for a moment, his fingers curling slightly at his sides. How much could he say without causing further ripples in the timeline? How much should he say?

"I've been observing the flow of time," Stephen began carefully. "Your thread, in particular."

Tony tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. "You can do that? Like, actually look into the future?"

Stephen nodded faintly. "I can observe some, yes. Manipulation is… no longer an option without the Time Stone."

Tony frowned slightly at the mention of the artifact but didn't press. "So what did you see? Do I win the lottery, or do I end up in jail?"

Stephen exhaled, his expression turning contemplative. "I saw a battle. You, in that suit you're building." He gestured toward the holographic Mark II. "And another suit. Bulkier, cruder. But powerful."

Tony's brow furrowed, and he straightened slightly. "A battle? Against who?"

Stephen hesitated, his gaze flicking to the holographic display before returning to Tony. "I couldn't see the face of the operator. But the emotions were clear. Anger, jealousy… and you were feeling betrayed."

Tony's jaw tightened, his usual cocky demeanor slipping. "Betrayed? You're saying someone close to me—"

"I'm not certain of anything yet," Stephen interrupted, his voice firm but calm. "But the battle doesn't take place in the desert. It happens here, in Los Angeles. And it's personal, Anthony. Whoever this is, they're not just attacking you—they're trying to destroy what you stand for."

Tony's lips pressed into a thin line, his mind already racing as he processed the information. "You think it's the Ten Rings? Or someone else?"

Stephen shook his head. "It's not the Ten Rings. This is closer to home."

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