Half a month later, evening, Stark Tower.
Tony Stark, healthy and carefree, was leisurely enjoying some quality time alone with Pepper Potts.
After Lee Stein returned from China, having gotten a taste of the benefits, Tony shamelessly extorted another neural-interaction watch from him. Thanks to the virtual space, the two had twice as much time together. They did not even need to travel anymore, completely immersed in Azeroth-Marvel Continent and unwilling to leave.
As usual, the two had turned into degenerate gaming shut-ins and were happily playing co-op games.
But an uninvited guest interrupted them.
"We need you to look at this file immediately."
The uninvited Phil Coulson patted Tony Stark, who was sprawled across the sofa, and handed him a detachable two-in-one tablet.
"Sorry, I don't like taking things from other people."
Having already received Ultron's warning, Tony Stark had exited the virtual space by then. He glanced at the tablet Coulson offered but did not take it.
"That's fine. I like taking things."
Pepper Potts helplessly accepted the tablet, then passed it to Tony Stark after it had gone through her hands.
"Official consultation hours are from eight in the morning to five in the afternoon, every other Thursday."
With their private time interrupted, Tony Stark was clearly not pleased to see Coulson. Although he accepted the tablet Pepper handed him, he did not open it, making his intention to send the man away abundantly clear.
Coulson said, "This isn't a consultation."
"Is it about the Avengers Initiative?"
Pepper asked, then immediately realized what she had said and hastily tried to cover it up. "Uh, I don't know anything."
"I thought the Avengers Initiative had been shelved."
Tony Stark shrugged, but he still lowered his head and opened the tablet as he said, "Besides, you people don't think