Saving Private Tony

"Clang!" Wearing the Mark V, Stark landed on the rooftop of the tallest commercial building in downtown Gotham City, Wayne Tower.

"Tony, if it were me, I wouldn't visit after angering the master," said the decadent and corrupt leader, lounging on a sun lounger, leisurely basking in the sun.

"Careful Bruce doesn't come back and beat you up."

Aeo pushed up his sunglasses, revealing his charming grey eyes.

Clang, clang, clang. Stark carelessly stomped on the pool floor of Bruce's luxurious sky-high hotel, making loud noises. His attitude was so terrible that even Aeo couldn't help but feel sorry for Bruce.

"I didn't know you and that guy Bruce were so close," Stark said, avoiding the question and speaking flippantly, "He actually let you live here? I begged him for so long but couldn't get into one of the most luxurious hotels in the entire federation... it even has a pool? Tsk tsk, this Wayne guy really knows how to enjoy himself."

"Old Alfred, are you there?" Stark sat down on a sun lounger as if he were at home, with a loud clang, completely breaking the chair of the Batman's home.

But he, unfazed, stood up with a clang clang, "Get me a martini before Bruce comes back to beat me up."

The old butler probably twitched the corner of his mouth in helplessness before silently walking out, "A martini?"

"A martini!"

Watching the butler reluctantly go to pour him a drink, Aeo smiled. "Listen, Tony, if you have something to say, just say it quickly and don't bother Old Alfred anymore." He flipped over and sat up. Unlike his peers, his physique, which could rival a bodybuilder, was exposed to Iron Man. Another silver sphere hung on Aeo's chest.

"Tell me, what do you want with me!"

Stark shifted his gaze away from Aeo's perfect eight-pack abs, thinking of his own belly that seemed to be starting to get flabby, and muttered, "Tsk, damn Kryptonian kid, why train such a good body..."

"What?" Aeo pretended not to hear.

With a click, he opened his faceplate. Iron Man said flirtatiously, "Uh, it's like this, I know you provided S.H.I.E.L.D. with your latest stealth material and propulsion technology. I wanted to ask, can you give me the same thing? I want to apply it to my armor, you know, stealth... whoosh whoosh."

"Does your armor need to be stealthy? Isn't it fast enough, fireproof, and freeze-proof? Why do you need so many functions? Also, your current propulsion is already very good. The Arc Reactor is a great invention, just utilize it well..."

Aeo frowned, "Its potential is much greater than you imagine..."

"I know that," Stark sounded a little impatient, "But I want it to be stronger, more advanced, you know..." He looked at the young man with some annoyance, "I don't want to be easily taken down by you again like last time."

Fine, it seemed the young man's blow last time was still weighing on his mind, Aeo awkwardly rubbed his nose.

Since his debut, Tony had been smooth sailing with his Iron Man armor and the advanced Arc Reactor, crushing all current technological means. But in the end, he was defeated by a reborn person with just a couple of punches. No wonder Stark couldn't accept it.

"Listen, I won't take it for free. I'll give you shares in Stark Industries in return, how about that?" Stark, as expected of a qualified businessman, immediately made a very tempting offer.

"I know you have an agreement with S.H.I.E.L.D., but that doesn't affect our friendship, does it?"

Seeing Aeo remain silent, Stark became more impatient, "Yes or no, just say something."

Looking at Iron Man, who was anxious and a little frantic, Aeo didn't quite understand. This wasn't the genius, playboy who was full of spirit a few days ago, silencing Hydra politicians. Coupled with his deliberate provocation of Bruce when he arrived, Aeo felt that something must have happened to Stark that he didn't know about. He frowned, "It's not that I can't..."

"Listen, what do you need to exchange with me, some suitable technological materials or something?" Stark said frantically, "Just say it, and I'll find whatever I can give you. Please be quick!"

Just then, the old butler happened to bring the martini he had ordered, "Young Master Tony, your martini... Gentlemen, what happened?"

Seeing their furrowed brows, Alfred humorously said, "Don't argue, gentlemen, when one of you is naked and the other is stuck in a tin can!"

"!"

The two then realized their awkward situation and coughed lightly. "Sorry, I got a little excited." Stark took a few deep breaths and apologized to the old butler.

Aeo shrugged as well.

Seeing that they had both calmed down, the old man smiled magnanimously and left without fuss.

Meanwhile, Aeo thought for a moment and relented, "Okay, okay, what do you want?"

After all, these things no longer posed a real threat to him now. "Stronger alloy materials? Stealth coatings? More advanced energy weapons? Uh, this one I can't give you..."

Stark didn't get angry, just frowned and thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "Do you have a formula for a stronger alloy material?"

"Of course."

"Then do you know any element that can replace the function of palladium? As a substitute energy source for my Arc Reactor..." Tony Stark's words were astonishing.

Huh? Aeo then remembered what he had forgotten. He quickly scanned Iron Man's body with his X-ray vision!

"...Tony," Aeo said with a serious tone, "How long has your body been like this?"

He exposed what Iron Man had been hiding.

"You're poisoned by palladium and you're still running around? Are you tired of living?"

Stark fell silent. After a moment, he pretended to be nonchalant and pouted, "It's not a big problem, I can handle it..."

"Tony!"

"..."

Under Aeo's stern gaze, Stark slumped down, "I knew I couldn't hide it from you! I've been like this for more than half a month..." he explained.

"Ever since I thwarted Obadiah's (Plot of Iron Man 1) conspiracy, the more I drive the Iron Man armor and the Arc Reactor in my heart, the faster the poison flows in. My blood is now almost 35% palladium... I've tried all the known elements on Earth, but I still can't find a substitute for palladium..."

"I'm truly out of options! If you can... save me."

If anyone saw this man, who was now dejected and helpless, as the Iron Man who was full of spirit on camera and invincible in battle, they would probably drop their jaws.

"Please hurry! The feeling of waiting to die is driving me crazy!"

"..." Facing Tony Stark's almost despairing gaze, Aeo slowly uttered a few words.

"Save you? No problem!"