The desert was quiet again.
Like nothing had happened.
Like it hadn't just tried to take a Stark.
The distant sound of helicopters broke that silence.
Military.
Rescue.
Late.
Harry stood on the ridge, unmoving.
His eyes scanned everything—routes, patterns, threats.
Even now… he didn't relax.
Behind him—
Tony leaned back against the rock, armor lifeless, breathing heavy.
"…Next time," Tony muttered, "I'm kidnapping you first. Save myself the trouble."
Harry didn't look at him.
"Next time, don't get kidnapped."
Tony smirked.
"…Yeah, I'll add that to my schedule."
The helicopters approached fast now.
Searchlights cut across the desert.
Voices echoed.
"THERE! TWO HEAT SIGNATURES!"
Tony exhaled.
"…That's our ride."
Harry stayed silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
Even rescue could be a threat.
Flashback – Stark Mansion, Late Night
"You're still awake?"
Tony peeked into the dimly lit room.
Harry sat at a desk, surrounded by papers, old files, scattered notes.
"Working," Harry replied without looking up.
Tony walked in, grabbing one of the papers.
"Super soldier serum?" he raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
Harry took it back.
"It worked once."
Tony shrugged. "Yeah, on a guy from the 40s. Times changed."
Harry's eyes didn't.
"Human limits didn't."
Tony studied him for a moment.
"…You're actually serious about this."
Harry finally looked at him.
"You build weapons to protect people."
A pause.
"I'm removing the need for them."
Tony huffed a small laugh.
"…You're insane."
Harry returned to his work.
"No."
A beat.
"Just prepared."
Present – Afghanistan
The helicopter landed hard.
Dust exploded into the air.
Soldiers rushed out—guns raised, scanning.
"IDENTIFY YOURSELVES!"
Tony raised a hand weakly.
"Yeah, hi—millionaire, playboy, genius, currently exhausted—"
"TONY STARK CONFIRMED!"
They rushed forward.
One soldier stopped when he saw Harry.
"…Sir?"
Harry didn't answer.
His gaze stayed outward.
Watching the horizon.
Always watching.
Only when Tony was lifted… secured… safe—
Did Harry finally move.
And even then—
He didn't relax.
Back in the U.S. – Stark Industries
The building was alive again.
But not the same.
Tony Stark was back.
News exploded worldwide.
Media frenzy. Questions. Speculations.
But inside the company—
Something had changed.
People noticed it.
Felt it.
Because for the past weeks—
Someone else had been in control.
Boardroom
"Tony! You're alive!" Obadiah stepped forward, arms open.
Tony hugged him briefly.
"Yeah… missed me?"
Obadiah chuckled. "More than you know."
Then—
His eyes shifted.
Harry stood near the window.
Silent.
Unmoved.
Obadiah's smile thinned slightly.
"…Harry."
Harry turned.
That same calm presence.
That same unreadable gaze.
"Obadiah."
A pause.
Subtle.
Tense.
Tony noticed.
But said nothing.
Not yet.
Later – Private Room
Tony dropped into a chair.
"…I'm shutting it down."
Harry didn't react.
Tony looked at him.
Serious now.
"Weapons. Stark Industries. All of it."
Silence.
Then—
Harry nodded once.
No argument.
No shock.
Tony blinked.
"…That's it?"
"You already decided."
Tony leaned back.
"…Yeah."
A small pause.
"…You knew this would happen, didn't you?"
Harry's eyes met his.
"I knew something would."
Tony let out a breath.
"…You always do."
Elsewhere – SHIELD
A screen flickered.
Footage played.
Blurry. Incomplete.
But clear enough.
A man.
Moving through trained militants like they were nothing.
Agent Coulson adjusted his tie slightly.
"…That's not Tony Stark."
Nick Fury stood behind him.
One eye focused.
Sharp.
"Not the one in the suit," Fury said.
The footage paused.
On Harry.
Calm.
Mid-motion.
Dangerous.
"…Who is that?" Coulson asked.
Fury's voice was quiet.
"That… is the one we should be watching."