Watching Tony announce on TV, "I am Iron Man," with complete seriousness, Feeney took a sip of Ice Cola, his expression calm. With Skye around, the fridge at home always seemed to mysteriously fill up with all sorts of things.
"He just admitted it?"
Skye hugged her computer and looked at Feeney in surprise. She'd spotted him in the video as soon as it started spreading all over the internet. After all, she'd experienced Possessed by Evil Spirit herself.
So last night, she'd dragged Feeney out of bed to give her a quick explanation. That made her one of the few people who knew the whole truth.
"So what if he admitted it? No one would dare mess with him."
Feeney shrugged, looking unconcerned. "He's Tony Stark, the weapons-development genius and billionaire. Admitting it just adds another layer to his aura."
"Did he really build that armor himself?"
Skye watched Tony Stark on the TV, along with the battle footage edited in beside him, and couldn't help asking curiously.
"Yeah. That's only the second generation, too. It probably won't be long before he upgrades it."
Feeney watched Tony on the TV as well, filled with anticipation. The sorcerers at Kamar-Taj had plenty of experience, but after grinding away for so long, it was about time for a change of pace.
"What about your Possessed by Evil Spirit? Can you make another one?"
Skye couldn't stop thinking about how it had felt to fly. She looked over at him with a pleading expression.
"Sorry, that one's unique."
Feeney glanced sideways at her. In truth, once he got stronger, he might be able to give Skye Possessed by Evil Spirit to use. But right now, he was as weak as a bug and couldn't even protect himself. How could he lend out the most important piece of gear he had for grinding experience?
"Hmph!"
Skye snorted in annoyance, then turned back to the TV and watched intently. She channeled her irritation into her appetite, eating chips by the handful and washing them down with cola.
"Take it easy. I haven't seen you working out much lately!"
After experiencing Possessed by Evil Spirit, Skye had thrown herself into training for a while. But as time passed, her lazy streak had returned without her noticing. The food piled up in the fridge said it all.
"Hmph. There's only one suit of armor anyway. What's the point of me working out?"
Skye was still fixated on Possessed by Evil Spirit, and she was expressing her displeasure in a roundabout way.
"Don't say that. A little exercise is always a good thing." Feeney understood what Skye was getting at, so he played along with a grin. "What if one day I lose my mind and give you Possessed by Evil Spirit, but you're not in shape to use it? Wouldn't that be a shame?"
"You'd give it to me?"
Skye eyed Feeney suspiciously. Ever since she'd gotten to experience flying, she'd pestered him several more times to let her try it again, but he hadn't agreed once.
"Of course!"
Feeney answered without hesitation. If he ever reached the point where he no longer needed Possessed by Evil Spirit, Skye would absolutely be his first choice. Her Vibrational Power could give her incredible offense, while Possessed by Evil Spirit would make up for her lack of defense.
Of course, that all depended on him becoming strong enough not to need Possessed by Evil Spirit anymore. At the very least, he'd have to be strong enough to beat up Hulk and Thor. That should do it.
Feeney was always mean and liked teasing her, but she could still tell when he was being sincere and when he was joking.
"Fine. I'll make sure to work out."
Skye was full of anticipation again. She didn't know when Feeney would "lose his mind," but if he'd said so, then surely that day would come eventually.
Tony's official announcement that he was Iron Man didn't have much of an impact on Feeney's life. Because Tony kept his identity secret, S.H.I.E.L.D. still didn't know who he was.
The next morning, on a campus full of youthful energy.
"Morning, Feeney."
"Good morning, Hailsaiz."
Quite a few classmates greeted Feeney, most of them girls. After all, his appearance had been enhanced by Golden Great Deduction Technique, making him more than attractive enough to catch the attention of young girls overflowing with hormones.
Feeney didn't ignore them. He returned each greeting with a polite smile.
"Feeney, I'm throwing a party this week. Come hang out!"
Just then, a girl with long, golden curls walked over and invited him with a bright smile. Feeney had encountered this sort of situation plenty of times before.
He sometimes went to parties to unwind, though he always turned down the girls who wanted him for his body that night.
But considering the two dangerous situations he might soon have to face, Feeney hesitated before shaking his head. "Sorry, Dante. I have some things to take care of this weekend, so I might not have time."
"All right. That's too bad."
Dante looked disappointed. She was one of the girls who was pretty taken with Feeney, and she was also fairly patient. Feeney had agreed to go to one of her parties before, so his refusal didn't make her suspect anything.
"You're always welcome if you find the time!"
Dante blew Feeney a kiss with a playful grin, then turned and walked away with a swaying gait, leaving him to shake his head helplessly.
Of course he could tell what Dante was after, but he wasn't planning on getting a girlfriend yet.
Sorcerers had hands enough. They were so slow even opening a portal—how could they expect to date someone!?
According to his memories from his previous life, two dangerous events were coming up soon after Iron Man emerged. The first was Thor being exiled to Earth. That wasn't too bad, since it was a family matter in Asgard. The Princess and the Second Prince were fighting over the throne, but for the time being it wouldn't have much impact on Earth.
The other one was more troublesome. It would happen right in New York.
Hulk—Dr. Banner—was due to show up soon, and if Feeney didn't interfere, Abomination might appear along with him.
Feeney was a little nervous about Abomination. With his current strength, his only real advantage in a fight would be that he could fly.
In strength, speed, and recovery, he was probably still inferior to Abomination. With Abomination able to leap dozens of meters into the air, Feeney wouldn't have much of an advantage up there, either.
If he flew a hundred meters into the sky, Abomination wouldn't be able to hit him, but he wouldn't be able to hit Abomination, either.
As for stopping Abomination from appearing in the first place, that would be difficult, too. First of all, he didn't know where the professor who'd been conducting the serum experiment with Banner was. Using Compass to find him would come at too high a cost, and Feeney couldn't manage it.
Jack Sparrow Compass pointed toward the place a person wanted most. That desire had to be the strongest in their heart; simply thinking of a place wouldn't do. Back then, Feeney had truly wanted to find the Ancient One and reach Kamar-Taj. That was how he'd managed to find the New York Sanctum.
So, to find the professor, he'd have to wholeheartedly want to go to the school and meet him.
Feeney simply couldn't bring himself to wholeheartedly want to meet a man. He'd tried when he was looking for Tony, but it hadn't worked—and Tony wasn't even that ugly.
Feeney wasn't going to sacrifice himself for a mere Abomination. Besides, even if Abomination did show up, Hulk would be there, too. At worst, Feeney could go help out.
He'd stand off to the side, Add Buffs to Hulk, feed him, and hand over gear. He refused to believe they couldn't take down Abomination.
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