Tony Stark, still holding the half-eaten cheeseburger, looked intently at Obadiah Stane, who was sitting beside him with a fixed, corporate smile.
"It's good to see you, Obie," Tony's voice was uncharacteristically deep, sounding genuinely heartfelt.
Obadiah smiled, lowered his head, and patted Tony reassuringly on the shoulder. "I think so too, Tony."
Tony then shifted his focus, addressing the vast sea of reporters. "I never got to see my father one last time. I never got to say goodbye," he mused, the cheeseburger suddenly forgotten and set aside.
He fell into a serious, reflective posture. "I always wondered what question I would ask him. I think... I'd ask him what he truly thought about the arms business."
Tony paused, his deep voice resonating through the tense room. "Did he ever feel conflicted? Did he ever waver? Or was he really the hard-nosed pragmatist the media always painted him as?" The flashing camera lights captured every wrinkle of Tony's thoughtful expression.
Pepper, Rhodes, and Obadiah all saw the change. This was not the loud, arrogant Stark they knew—this man was introspective, humbled, and driven by something profound.
Tony looked directly at the reporters. "I witnessed young American compatriots killed by the very weapons I built to protect them," he stated, his mind returning to the doomed soldiers in the convoy. "I also discovered a system complacent about its own terrible irresponsibility. And I was happily a part of it."
Obadiah's smile was thinning, a shadow of calculation crossing his face.
"Mr. Stark?" a reporter raised their hand.
"Go ahead."
"What exactly happened to you out there? What did they do?"
The direct question snapped Tony out of his contemplative state, solidifying his newfound resolve. He stood up abruptly. "I am fully awake now. My contribution to this world must be more than just building things that explode."
"Therefore," Tony declared, his voice ringing with authority, "I have decided to immediately close the weapons manufacturing division of Stark Industries."
Obadiah, genuinely blindsided by the public declaration, lunged up to stop Tony, gently but firmly trying to steer him aside.
"Until I can decide on a new direction for the company," Tony continued, walking past his mentor.
Obadiah desperately grabbed the microphone, trying to control the room. "And one that is in line with the highest interests of the nation!" Tony shouted the last, defiant sentence to the reporters without the microphone.
Tony walked off stage, ignoring the frantic questions.
Obadiah forced a strained smile, trying to salvage the situation. "The real news is that Tony is back, and he's healthier than ever! Isn't that wonderful?"
Looking at the riot of reporters below, Obadiah's eyes flashed with anger and deep, frustrated regret. "We will deliberate on this issue further and inform everyone of our final decision as quickly as possible!"
Tony, protected by Happy, quickly returned to his car. Pepper and Leo followed closely, getting in alongside him.
Stark was deep in thought. The next tasks. 'First, I need to build a replacement reactor. The one in my chest is too crude. Then, I also need to—'
He looked up and saw Leo sitting right beside him, blinking his bright, innocent eyes. Tony's focus shattered.
"What in God's name is going on?" Tony exclaimed, staring at the child.
"Mr. Stark, it is fantastic to see you again," Leo said with genuine, disarming enthusiasm. "Sister Pepper mentioned you were looking for me, so I came right to your door. Isn't that exciting?"
Pepper turned in her seat, looking curiously at Leo. She was still trying to figure out why this small boy held such significance for her volatile boss. It has to be that metal model.
Tony placed his hand on his chest, the icy cold of the Arc Reactor stimulating his thought process. "Happy, take us to the power plant. Now."
"Yes, sir," Happy confirmed, immediately turning the car toward the massive generation center adjacent to the factory.
Leander watched Tony. He could sense the five minute-sized metal fragments that had been absorbed into the crude reactor over the last three days. He focused his gaze, the image of the reactor, the source of Tony's new life, flashing in his mind.
Pepper noticed Leo staring intently at Tony's chest, while Tony's own unbandaged hand was also instinctively hovering over the device. Why are they both so fixated on his chest?
The journey was short. Ten minutes later, they arrived at the immense power generation facility.
"I need to be alone," Tony stated, before reconsidering and glancing at Leo. "Um. Leo, come with me. I have some questions for you."
Happy wisely led a bewildered Pepper away, leaving the two strange companions standing at the main door.
Tony entered first, quickly followed by Leo.
They passed through the security gate and into the central chamber. The first thing that hit Leo was the sight of the original, gigantic Arc Reactor. Huge arcs of blue electricity constantly flashed within the housing, brimming with overwhelming, raw energy.
Stark stared at the colossal reactor, feeling the electrical pulses deep within his own chest, as if looking at his own heart's massive, unforgiving twin. He stood in silence for a long moment.
This was the first time Leo had seen the original device—breathtaking technological beauty and immense power, all contained.
"Leo, right?" Tony finally asked, his voice low.
"Yes, my name is Leo, Mr. Stark."
"What do you know? What did that model mean? I think you owe me an explanation." Tony turned to face the boy.
"Yes, sir. You need to replace the Arc Reactor you have now. Quickly," Leo said, his golden-flecked gaze appearing to pierce Tony's clothes. "Otherwise, the power output won't be enough for the tasks ahead."
"So you know," Tony shook his head, a stunned chuckle escaping his lips. "Why? What else do you know? About me? About my captivity?"
"Yes, sir. I see many things—past events and future possibilities," Leo replied, meeting Tony's gaze with absolute steadiness.
"Oh? Then tell me what you see right now." Stark looked at Leo, his curiosity mixed with a palpable threat. His left hand gripped the nearby steel railing, ready to act.
"Mr. Stark," Leo said, his voice dropping to a meaningful tone. "Do you remember Mr. Ethan's last words to you? Cherish his life. Don't waste it."
The mention of Ethan's name caused Tony's pupils to dilate violently. Impossible! How could he know Ethan? There was no one else there!
"Did you plant a bug on me? Or are you the one who hired the Ten Rings?" Tony stared, his grip on the railing white-knuckled.
"No, Mr. Stark," Leo stared intently back, his own eyes flashing with a brief, barely visible gold light. "I know many things simply because of my abilities."
Leo blinked, and the golden sheen vanished. "As for the man who truly kidnapped you... I think you will be seeing him very soon."
"Mr. Stark, I will wait for you outside now," Leo said, giving a polite nod. He turned and walked out, immediately bumping into Obadiah Stane, who was striding into the chamber with a determined, menacing look.
Leo smiled innocently and stepped aside, leaving Tony completely bewildered and dangerously alone with his betrayer.