"Avengers? What's that?"
Tony Stark was in the New Research Department, using Stark Industries' production facilities to modify armor when he swung a wrench into the equipment beside him.
"I've never heard of an organization like that. It sounds like one of those third-rate superhero teams from street-corner comics. It's cheesy as hell."
At Miao Mu's suggestion, Tony had come to the New Research Department and looked at the heavy armor that had just been fitted with an external power source.
Whatever lingering feelings he had for Obadiah Stane had completely shattered, especially when he saw the reserved slot for an energy reactor core in the armor's chest.
It left him with mixed emotions, but this thing really was a big toy. At least, in Tony's picky eyes, it had plenty of flaws, but it was still usable.
"Say whatever you want, but the few of us are planning to head back. Are you sure you won't help?"
Miao Mu raised a hand and tapped on Iron Monger's armored shell. Pale black Talons quietly formed around his fingers, scratching a white mark across its surface.
"I can help, but... if it means going against..."
Tony hesitated. After spending these past few days together, he could tell Miao Mu and the others were not bad people. They were just... too much...
Perhaps it was the gap in strength that made Tony uncomfortable, making him feel as though he were looking up at someone else. But now...
He had completed the JARVIS system upgrade last night and finished the design for the Mark III Armor.
He was qualified to stand tall now. And this oversized toy, Iron Monger, was not completely useless either. At the very least, once an Arc Reactor was installed, it could undergo further modifications.
In Tony's vision, Iron