Two days later, Private Airport
A sleek, silver private jet slowly taxied to a halt on the private airstrip. The atmosphere was electric, reporters, cameramen, and military officials swarmed the area like a hive of anxious bees.
Camera flashes exploded like fireworks, the press shouting over each other, trying to get a glimpse of the man who had escaped death.
Standing near the plane's designated arrival point, Pepper Potts folded her arms tightly, her fingers digging into her sleeves as she waited. Beside her stood a group of stern-faced military officials, their polished faces reflecting the morning sun.
Even though she was used to dealing with Tony's recklessness…
He had almost died.
She had barely slept for days, waiting for news, clinging to every rumor, hoping it wasn't true
And miraculously, he came back.
The cabin door slowly opened, and there he was.
Dressed in a tailored charcoal-gray suit, stepped onto the platform, moving with his usual swagger. His face bore freshly scabbed wounds, and a few white bandages peeked out from under his sleeves.
But his eyes~
Were different.
He had changed.
But that didn't mean he'd lost his usual sarcasm, unfortunately.
Tony smirked as he spotted Pepper's red-rimmed eyes, her face paler than usual.
"Missed your boss that much, huh? I didn't know I was so important to you."
Pepper's lips twitched, trying to suppress the wave of emotions.
"I'm relived I don't have to find a new job. Do you know how hard it is to work for a billionaire playboy? The benefits are great, but the stress levels are off the charts."
Tony chuckled, the familiar sound easing some of the tension in the air.
"Well, lucky for you, Pepper, I have no plans of dying anytime soon."
"Good." She said, her voice quieter now. "Because I really don't want to find another boss."
For a brief second, Tony saw the worry in her eyes… and for once, he didn't deflect.
His playful mask slipping a little. "Yeah... Me neither."
A convoy of black SUVs pulled up to the airstrip. The group quickly got inside, leaving the clamoring press behind.
The moment news of Tony's survival hit the media, it exploded across the country and the world.
Some called it a miracle.
Others, especially those in hostile nations, called it a damn shame.
One thing was clear... the world was watching.
Cameras flashed. Journalists whispered. Executives shifted nervously in their seats.
Tony Stark walked in.
There was no arrogance in his stride.
He stepped up to the podium and took a deep breath.
"I've seen some things in the past few weeks that I can't ignore."
The room fell silent.
"For years, I believed I was making the world safer. I was wrong. Stark Industries has been selling weapons to people who shouldn't have them. And I saw firsthand what those weapons do."
He glanced at the front row, where Pepper sat, hands clasped tightly.
"So, effective immediately~"
A murmur ran through the crowd.
"Stark Industries is shutting down its weapons manufacturing division."
Silence.
Journalists leaped to their feet, bombarding Tony with questions.
"Mr. Stark, does this mean Stark Industries is abandoning the defense sector?"
"What about government contracts?"
"Won't this cripple the company financially?"
Tony simply raised a hand.
"I get it. You're all shocked. Hell, even I'd be shocked if I hadn't just spent months in a cave being held hostage by my own weapons."
The room quieted.
Tony leaned forward slightly.
"I won't be responsible for innocent lives being destroyed. I won't be responsible for blood money. And if that means losing a few billion dollars, so be it."
Pepper felt a strange sense of pride wash over her, this was not the Tony Stark she had known before.
This was someone better.
The moment the press conference ended, Tony didn't stick around.
Ignoring his executives, military officials, and concerned shareholders, he grabbed the keys to his Audi R8.
There was only one place he needed to be.
"Tony, where are you going?"
Pepper's heels clicked rapidly against the pavement as she rushed after him, her face etched with concern.
Tony glanced at her, a faint smirk playing on his lips, but there was something in his eyes.
He didn't stop, unlocking his Audi R8 with a swift motion. "I'm going to a hospital."
"You should be lying in one." Pepper crossed her arms.
Tony exhaled through his nose. "Yeah, well, I've never been a fan of hospital food. And I've got somewhere more important to be."
Pepper frowned, stepping closer. "You're not telling me something."
Tony hesitated. He ran a hand through his hair.
"Look... Yinsen nearly died to save me. I saw him bleeding out, Pepper." His voice tightened slightly. "I need to know he's okay."
The sincerity in his voice took her off guard.
She nodded. "Alright… But I'm coming with you."
He didn't argue.
Without another word, they got in the car, and Tony floored the gas, the Audi roaring through the streets of Los Angeles.
Everlife Medical Center
The Everlife Medical Center was modest, unassuming, nothing like the grand, high-tech hospitals Tony was used to. But the name carried itself, Dr. Soren Macaluso was famous in the medical world.
His treatments? Miraculous.
His methods? Unknown.
He barely had time to step out before the clinic doors swung open on their own.
From inside, a smooth, almost amused voice greeted him. "Mr. Stark, you came from afar. Please, come in."
Tony's eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded and stepped forward, Pepper close behind.
The moment Tony entered, his eyes locked onto Yinsen.
The man looked healthy, not just alive, but completely healed.
"Yinsen!"
"Tony!"
The two men rushed toward each other, gripping each other in a tight embrace.
For a moment, Tony simply held onto him, as if reassuring himself that Yinsen was real, that he had actually survived.
When they pulled apart, Tony gave him a once-over, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"You~You look great! Last time I saw you, you were half-dead, full of holes. Now you're…" He gestured at Yinsen's pristine condition, "…not."
"I have Dr. Macaluso to thank for that." Yinsen chuckled.
He turned toward Soren, who stood a few feet away, watching the reunion with mild amusement.
"His medical skills are… extraordinary. When I woke up, there wasn't even a single scar left."
Tony's gaze shifted to Soren, his expression unreadable.
Then, he did something rare.
He extended his hand.
"Soren… thank you."
Soren smiled slightly, shaking Tony's hand. "No need for thanks, Mr. Stark. Anyone who walks in here with my business card receives the best treatment I can offer."
Tony's lips quirked upward. "Then call me Tony. And I have to say…" he gestured at Yinsen again, "…modern medicine isn't supposed to work this fast."
Soren's smile deepened, but he didn't respond.
Pepper, who had been watching closely, suddenly spoke. "Dr. Soren, if you can heal someone that fast… can you help Tony?"
Tony turned to her, startled.
Pepper looked back at him, determined.
"I know about your chest, Tony." Her voice softened. "I've seen the arc reactor. If anyone can help you, it's him."
Tony's first instinct was to brush it off. To say he didn't need help.
But…
He looked at Yinsen.
At Soren.
At himself.
Maybe it was time to stop pretending he was invincible.
His voice was quiet but firm. "Soren… if you can fix me, I'll give you 3% of Stark Industries."
Soren raised an eyebrow.
"Hell, I'll make it 6%. Three for saving Yinsen, three for saving me." Tony exhaled.
Pepper's eyes widened slightly. She knew exactly what that meant.
6% of Stark Industries wasn't just a generous offer. It was a king's ransom.
Tens of billions of dollars.
Even Soren, who had seemed completely unfazed by everything so far, looked mildly surprised.
Then, his smile returned.
"Since you're so generous, how can I refuse?"
The moment Tony stepped into the treatment room, he felt different.
The walls were strangely sterile, yet not in a hospital kind of way, Soren gestured for him to sit on the operating table.
Tony did.
Then, just as Soren was about to start~
Tony held up a hand. "Wait."
"Something wrong?" Soren stopped.
Tony's hand rested over the glowing arc reactor embedded in his chest.
He stared down at it, his expression difficult to read. Finally, he looked up.
"After you fix me… can I keep this?"
"That reactor is a wound, Tony. My treatment will restore all injuries."
Tony exhaled. He looked down at the reactor again, running his fingers lightly over its cold metal casing.
"I know." He murmured.
"But this isn't just a wound. It's a reminder."
A beat of silence.
Then Soren nodded, understanding.
"Even without it, Tony… you can still do what's right."
Tony looked at him.
And for the first time in a long time…
He believed it.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Fellow Phantoms and aspiring Phantoms to be, if you seek to access advanced parts of this story procced to my shadowy realm of p@treon.
PhantomDream