Chapter 12: The Avengers' Invitation
Lynn wasn't visiting Stark Tower for the first time, but it was his first time entering through the main entrance. Oh, it had already been renamed Avengers Tower.
Although it hadn't been officially announced, Tony was already calling it that.
"It will be officially renamed once the repairs are complete."
Tony explained to Lynn, then led him into his private elevator, under the curious gazes of the staff.
As the elevator slowly ascended, Tony raised an eyebrow and, with a proud expression, said to Lynn, "How about it? Isn't this building magnificent? Once it's fully repaired, it will be even more…"
"Like a boot."
Lynn interrupted Tony expressionlessly.
Tony's mouth twitched, and the rest of his sentence was swallowed back.
"Post-war anxiety."
Just then, Lynn suddenly spoke.
"What?"
Tony didn't react for a moment and looked at Lynn in confusion.
Lynn smiled and explained, "Your PTSD. I prefer to call it 'post-war anxiety caused by insufficient firepower'."
Tony looked at Lynn in surprise: "You didn't say anything on the way here. Were you thinking about my condition?"
"Might as well, since I'm idle anyway."
Lynn smiled slightly at Tony and teased, "You just gave me an apartment; I should at least show some appreciation."
Tony rolled his eyes but felt that what Lynn said made a lot of sense.
Insufficient firepower?
Just as he was pondering how to supplement his firepower, Lynn snapped his fingers.
"Hey, hey!"
Lynn looked at the recovered Tony and said, "Protecting Earth isn't your responsibility alone. You don't have to bear the burden by yourself."
"Besides…"
"Earth is much stronger than you imagine."
Tony was stunned, and a warmth spread through his heart. He looked at Lynn with a suspicious gaze.
"Do you know something?"
Lynn smiled mysteriously and gave Tony a gesture that would drive the Koreans wild.
"A little bit."
A hint of curiosity emerged in Tony's mind. Just as he was about to ask more questions, the elevator stopped.
The elevator doors opened, and Lynn stepped out first, saying to Tony, "I'm not a professional psychologist, so what I just told you can only be taken as a reference."
Tony raised an eyebrow, followed Lynn out of the elevator, and quickly walked two steps to catch up with Lynn, also giving him the gesture that would drive the Koreans wild.
"I think it had a little effect on me. You should be proud."
Lynn smiled, looking around with some surprise.
"It's already repaired? That was quite fast."
He remembered that the damage to the top floor on the day of the New York battle still looked quite severe.
"I hired a construction team from Asia; their efficiency is truly unparalleled."
Tony explained, unable to help but praise, "I feel that as long as I give them enough funds, they can meet all my requirements."
"Come with me."
He nodded to Lynn and led him into the top-floor workshop.
"Put the Iron Man Suit here."
Lynn nodded and said to Tony, "I'll go get it for you."
He took a step and disappeared from Tony's sight.
While Tony was still curious about what Lynn's ability was… Clang!
The Iron Man Suit's faceplate fell to the ground with a crisp sound.
Tony picked up the faceplate and, seeing the heavily scarred Iron Man Suit thrown out by Lynn, his eyes momentarily blurred.
This scene felt somewhat familiar, as if it had happened before.
Oh, right.
He had encountered it many times before he became Iron Man, only it wasn't the Iron Man Suit that was thrown out.
"Done. Check if any parts are missing."
Lynn clapped his hands, as if dusting off non-existent dirt, and walked out of his Inner World.
Tony observed Lynn, and finally couldn't suppress his curiosity.
"So, where was that place I went last time? Is that your ability? Are you… a Mutant?"
"Yes. As for whether I'm a Mutant… I'm not sure either."
Although his mother was a Mutant, his father was Zeus.
Seeing Lynn's vague answer, Tony didn't press further.
He controlled the robotic arm in the workshop, placed the Iron Man Suit on the workbench, and gently stroked the scars on the suit, then suddenly asked.
"Interested in joining the Avengers?"
"The Avengers?"
Lynn rejected without thinking: "Not interested for now. I'm not a superhero."
The blunt refusal stunned Tony.
Just as he was about to speak, a voice, full of positive energy, sounded from the workshop doorway.
"Superhero? The moment you stopped the nuclear bomb from exploding, you became the greatest superhero."
Steve Rogers walked into the workshop, followed by a somewhat restrained Bruce Banner.
Tony nodded to Steve and teased, "When did you develop a habit of eavesdropping?"
"Eavesdropping?"
Steve spread his hands and said helplessly, "Sorry, my hearing is just too good."
"Haha."
Bruce Banner pushed up his black-rimmed glasses and said in his characteristic gentle voice.
"I had some things I wanted your help with."
"I ran into Captain on the way and came over with him. I just happened to hear you inviting Lynn to join the Avengers."
He rubbed his hands a bit awkwardly, explaining in detail, as if afraid Tony would misunderstand.
"Banner, you're too reserved."
Tony looked at Bruce Banner helplessly and said, "I was just joking with Captain."
"Oh, oh."
Bruce Banner responded sheepishly, curiously observing Lynn, who was standing nearby.
At this moment, Tony looked at Lynn seriously and extended the invitation again.
"Join the Avengers. We need you."
If Lynn joined the Avengers, his "insufficient firepower" might be alleviated.
Steve nodded to Lynn, his eyes also full of expectation.
Lynn's gaze swept across the faces of the three, then he suddenly said playfully, "Do you know me? And you dare to pull me into the Avengers?"
"Lynn Crete, nineteen years old, a Doctor at Crete Clinic, often provides help to Mutants, and is deeply trusted by Mutants."
"Your mother, Freya Krete, is the founder of Crete Clinic. Based on some activity traces of Freya Krete, I suspect she is a Mutant."
Tony detailed the information gathered through his investigation, then paused and continued, "Your father, Mike Krete, is currently the Director of the New York Police Department, but is recently preparing for retirement."
"When you were three years old, because you taught children socialism in kindergarten…"
"Stop, stop!"
Lynn quickly called for a halt.
If he didn't stop Tony Stark now, all the things he did out of boredom as a child would be revealed.
He looked at the smug-faced Tony and slowly said, "What I mean is, do you know my true identity? Do you know what kind of trouble that could bring?"
True identity?
The three of them Tony, Steve, and Bruce were stunned, but then a smile appeared on their faces.
"Buddy, every Avenger's identity is extraordinary. Could your identity be even more incredible than Thor's?"
Tony joked.
But Lynn nodded with a normal expression.
"More or less."
"I am the Son of Zeus."
....
AN: Check out my Patreon For +60 extra chapters.
Thank You For your Support!!
👉 Join now: patreon.com/Chaos_God