Chapter 60: Lynn: Tony, Want a Cheeseburger?
In front of him, the Skrull's spirit was glaring, its blood-red eyes burning with a hatred so intense it looked like it wanted to tear him apart and eat him alive.
Lynn just let out an annoyed "tsk" and flicked a finger. A wisp of death energy sparked to life, leaping onto the spirit like a drop of oil.
The soul instantly ignited. Amidst a silent, agonizing scream, it burned away into nothing.
"He's dead."
Steve, who had knelt by the chair, checked the Skrull's pulse and shook his head.
"Right."
'Of course he's dead,' Lynn thought. 'I just personally annihilated his goddamn soul.'
***
At the same time, in a remote part of Tennessee...
Tony Stark slowly regained consciousness inside the suit. He looked around, disoriented, as the armor flew itself through the night sky.
He fought the controls, dodging through a dense forest, before the suit finally gave out and crashed hard into the snow.
The sky was dark. Snow was falling.
Inside the armor, Tony was gasping for air. "JARVIS? Why the hell did you bring me here?"
"Sir, this was the flight plan you filed."
"Oh, come on, JARVIS! I never filed a flight plan to… ah, forget it. Just open the suit."
Tony needed to move. He ordered JARVIS to open the armor.
JARVIS's voice came back, strained. "Sir, I believe... I am experiencing a critical malfunction."
"JARVIS. Open the suit."
At Tony's second command, the armor groaned and hissed open, sparks flying from its joints.
He sat up, the freezing air hitting him instantly.
He looked at the darkening woods and the falling snow. He shivered, rubbing his hands together. "Well. This has been one hell of a day. You know what, JARVIS? It's warmer in the suit."
He grabbed a handful of snow, pressing it against his bruised hand, and prepared to climb back in.
"Sir... I... I believe I need to sleep now."
The lights on the suit flickered, and then, with a final electronic sigh, it went completely dead.
"JARVIS?"
Tony tapped the helmet. "JARVIS? Come on, buddy."
He called out several more times. Nothing.
Tony's voice grew heavy. "Don't leave me, buddy."
But there was no reply.
"Sigh."
Tony Stark looked around at the endless, snowy woods. He got up, found a rope, and tied it to the dead suit of armor, beginning the long, agonizing drag.
The only thing he left behind was a deep trench in the snow.
***
That evening.
"I'm really worried about Tony."
Pepper stared at the dinner Natasha had brought, untouched.
She looked up at Lynn. "Lynn, is there any way... can you find him? Find out where he is?"
Lynn thought for a moment. "...Probably."
That was all she needed. Pepper shot up from her chair and grabbed his arm. "Lynn, please. You have to go find him. I'm terrified he's going after the Mandarin alone."
"I know he told you to protect me, but I'll be fine. Natasha and Steve are here. I won't be in any danger."
"Please... as his friend."
Lynn looked at her red, pleading eyes. Natasha stepped in. "She's right, Lynn. Steve and I can handle Pepper."
"Tony... he's all yours."
"Fine."
Lynn shoved the last piece of pizza in his mouth and stretched. "Guess I'll go find him."
He left Natasha's apartment and got in his car. "I really envy those sorcerers and their goddamn portals. I gotta look into that Kamar-Taj place one of these days."
He started the car and headed for the airport.
***
The next evening. A small town in Tennessee.
Inside a converted garage workshop.
"What's your name, kid?" Tony asked, eating a sandwich.
"Harley. What's yours?"
"You can call me... 'The Mechanic.'"
Tony stared at the dead suit of armor. "I fix these things. ...Alright, fine, just call me Tony."
The kid gave him a look that clearly said 'you're full of shit.' Tony just shrugged. "You got any more of these? This tiny thing isn't gonna cut it."
Just as Harley was about to say no, a new voice came from the doorway.
"The sandwiches are gone. But you want a cheeseburger?"
Hearing that familiar voice, Tony's head snapped up, his eyes wide.
Harley instinctively raised his potato gun, but Tony was already on his feet, a look of pure relief on his face. "Holy shit! Lynn? How the hell did you find me?"
"This is... this is amazing. Buddy, you have no idea. I dragged this suit... I thought I was gonna die out there."
"Then I found this town, and this kid... but the suit... wait, what is that? Is that a cheeseburger?"
Lynn just listened to Tony's excited, rambling relief.
He handed him the bag of burgers.
Lynn understood. Tony was terrified of putting Pepper in danger again, so he couldn't go back.
He was alone in a strange town, his armor was wrecked, and he was hunting super-powered terrorists. His only "ally" was a ten-year-old kid.
Of course he was glad to see a familiar face.
Lynn watched as Tony tore into a burger, then gratefully passed one to Harley.
He leaned against the doorframe and smiled. "I thought you didn't take things from people's hands? You didn't even make me put it on the table first."
Tony just shrugged, his mouth full. "Circumstances, my friend. It's all about the circumstances."
He took a huge bite of the cheeseburger, his eyes closing in pure bliss.
You'd think he was eating a five-star meal.
"You know... when I was stuck in that cave... the one thing I wanted... was a cheeseburger. My favorite."
He looked at Lynn. "Wait, I asked you to protect Pepper. How are you here?"
"Is she okay? The attack... she wasn't too scared, was she?"
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