Saving Private Tony

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

"Tony, if it were me, I wouldn't come knocking after pissing off the owner," said the decadent leader, lounging on a sunbed and basking in the sun.

"Careful. Bruce will beat you up when he gets back."

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

Bang, bang, bang. Stark stomped across the pool deck of Bruce's luxurious penthouse hotel without a care, making the floorboards thud with every step. His behavior was so appalling that even Aeo couldn't help feeling sorry for Bruce.

"I had no idea you and Bruce were so close." Stark dodged the question, then drawled, "He actually lets you stay here? I begged him for ages to let me into one of the most luxurious hotels in the entire Federation, and he wouldn't budge... It even has a pool? Tsk, Wayne sure knows how to enjoy himself."

"Old Al, are you around?" Stark plopped down on a sunbed as if he were back home. With a crash, he promptly broke Batman's chair.

But he didn't care. He got up with another clatter and said, "Get me a martini before Bruce comes back and beats me up."

The old butler's mouth twitched in resignation. Then he silently emerged. "A martini?"

"A martini!"

Watching the old butler go pour his drink, Aeo smiled. "Listen, Tony, if you've got something to say, say it already. Quit giving Old Al a hard time." He sat up, revealing a physique that put bodybuilders to shame, unlike most people his age. A second silver sphere hung from his chest.

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

Stark dragged his eyes away from Aeo's perfect eight-pack abs and glanced down at his own belly, which seemed to be getting a little soft. "Tsk. Damn Kryptonian kid. What's the point of getting that ripped..."

"What was that?" Aeo pretended not to hear.

With a click, Iron Man's faceplate opened. He said flippantly, "Uh, so, I know you gave S.H.I.E.L.D. the latest stealth material and propulsion technology. I was wondering if you could give me the same stuff. I want to use it in my armor. You know, stealth... zoom, zoom."

"Does your armor even need stealth? It already flies fast enough. Just make sure it can handle fire and cold and all that. Why give it so many features? Besides, your propulsion system is already excellent. The Arc Reactor is a brilliant invention. Just make good use of it..."

Aeo frowned. "It has far more potential than you think..."

"I know that." Stark sounded a little impatient. "But I want it stronger, more advanced, you know..." He shot the boy an irritated look. "I don't want to get knocked out of the sky as easily as last time."

Well, it seemed the boy's beating had stuck with him. Aeo awkwardly rubbed his nose.

Ever since making his debut, Tony had sailed through life, relying on his advanced Iron Suit and Arc Reactor to surpass all the technology of the day. And then, just like that, a man who'd been reborn had taken him down with two or three simple punches. No wonder Stark couldn't accept it.

"Listen, I'm not asking for it for free. I'll trade you shares in Stark Industries. How about it?" Stark was a shrewd businessman, and in an instant he'd made a highly tempting offer.

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

When Aeo didn't answer, Stark grew more impatient. "Well? Are you in or not? Say something."

Looking at Iron Man, anxious and on the verge of snapping, Aeo was confused. This wasn't the brilliant playboy who'd been full of swagger just days ago, leaving a Hydra politician speechless. Combined with his deliberate needling of Bruce on the way in, Aeo was sure something had happened to Stark that he didn't know about. He frowned. "It's not that I'm unwilling..."

"Listen, what exactly do you want in exchange? Some suitable tech, materials, whatever." Stark sounded frantic. "Just tell me. If I can get it, I will. So please, be straight with me!"

Just then, the old butler came up with the martini Stark had ordered. "Mr. Tony, your martini... Gentlemen, is something wrong?"

Seeing the pair of them frowning, Alfred quipped, "Don't argue, gentlemen. Not when one of you is stripped naked and the other's stuck in a tin can!"

"!"

Only then did the two realize how awkward the situation was. They both gave a little cough. "Sorry, I got a little carried away," Stark said, taking a few deep breaths before apologizing to the old butler.

Aeo shrugged.

Seeing they had both calmed down, the old man smiled magnanimously and went back downstairs without a fuss.

Meanwhile, Aeo thought it over and relented. "All right, all right. What do you want?"

None of this could really hurt him anymore anyway. "A stronger alloy? Stealth coating? More advanced energy weapons? Uh, I can't give you that last one..."

Stark didn't get angry. He just frowned in thought, then suddenly asked, "You have a formula for a stronger alloy?"

"Of course."

"Then do you know what element could replace palladium in my Arc Reactor as an alternative power source?" Tony Stark's question was startling.

Huh? Only then did Aeo remember what he'd forgotten. He hurriedly used his X-ray vision to scan Iron Man's body!

"...Tony." Aeo's tone turned serious. "How long have you been like this?"

He'd exposed what Iron Man had been trying to hide.

"You're suffering from palladium poisoning, and you're still running around everywhere? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Stark fell silent. A moment later, he forced a careless smirk. "It's not that serious. I can handle it..."

"Tony!"

"..."

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

"Ever since I foiled Obadiah's plot, the more I use the Iron Suit and the Arc Reactor in my chest, the faster the toxins build up. My blood is now nearly thirty-five percent palladium... I've tried every known element on Earth, but I still can't find one that can replace palladium..."

"I really have no other options! If you can... save me."

If anyone had seen this distraught, helpless man and realized he was the same Iron Man who was so confident in front of the cameras and so powerful on the battlefield, their eyes would've popped out of their heads.

"Please, hurry! Waiting to die is driving me crazy!"

"..." Meeting Tony Stark's nearly despairing gaze, Aeo slowly spoke a few words.

"Save you? No problem!"