The hardest Part of being a hero

Shot felt something he never thought he would.

Fear.

His voice trembled as he spoke. "H-How are you still breathing…?"

Tony didn't answer.

He simply walked forward.

Shot swallowed hard. "Guess I have to do it right this time."

He pulled his gun, aiming straight for Tony's heart.

Bang!

Tony dodged.

Bang!

This time, Tony caught the bullet between his fingers.

Before Shot could react, Tony rushed forward, driving a brutal gut punch into him. Shot gasped as all the air left his lungs.

Tony's voice was cold. "You brought me back to hell."

His grip tightened. His eyes burned with rage.

"The moment of my death… was the happiest day of my life."

His voice shook with fury.

"But you… you brought back memories. Bad memories."

His hands trembled.

"You brought back the pain."

He ripped the gun from Shot's hand and turned it against him.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Shot screamed. "No… no… no…!"

Tony loomed over him, his breathing slow and heavy.

Then, he spoke.

"Look around."

Shot, barely able to move, turned his head.

The ground was littered with bodies.

Men. Women. Children.

All of them dead.

All of them his victims.

Tony's voice was low and steady. "How many of them screamed in pain when you killed them? Thousands?"

Shot said nothing.

Tony slowly let go of him.

He took a deep breath.

"You know what the hardest part of being a hero is?"

Shot trembled, waiting for the answer.

Tony's gaze was hollow as he whispered:

"Letting the villain live."

Tony turned away, leaving Shot alive.

A Few Minutes Later…

Sirens filled the air.

Police cars surrounded the scene.

Officers stepped out, guns aimed at Tony.

The chief emerged from the crowd, his voice firm.

"Hands up. Now."

Tony didn't move.

He glanced at the officers, then smirked. "Wow, wow, wow… You guys show up now? After the job is already done?"

The chief's expression remained cold. "I won't ask again. Hands up."

Tony's eyes darkened. "No."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The officers opened fire.

Tony dodged. Every bullet.

In a flash, he closed the distance between himself and the chief.

The other officers panicked, but the chief… stood his ground.

He wasn't afraid.

Tony narrowed his eyes. Why are you later ?"

The chief exhaled. "Why should I tell you?"

Tony smirked. "Because I could kill every officer here if I wanted to."

A tense silence.

Finally, the chief spoke.

"Fine. The system ordered us not to engage."

Tony let out a dark laugh.

"Of course. The system."

He turned away. "It's always the system."

Before he could say more—

BANG!

A bullet came straight for him.

Togo reacted instantly, transforming into a defensive wall.

CLANG! The bullet bounced off.

Tony's gaze snapped to the source of the shot.

Shot.

But something was wrong.

His body began to change, metal plating forming over his wounds. His eyes glowed, his body reshaping itself.

Shot was transforming.

Becoming something more than human.

A cyber-human.