After the Battle and the Love-Hate Romance of Tuo-Chen

While Thor was still considering whether Chen Tian's words were true, the distant wilderness suddenly trembled. A brilliant seven-colored pillar of light descended from the sky, piercing the clouds!

"The Bifrost?!" Thor abruptly looked up, frowning.

As the pillar faded, four figures emerged from it—three men and one woman. They were Thor's closest friends in Asgard: the Warriors Three—Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg—and the female warrior Sif!

"Thor!" Sif hurried forward, her long golden hair dancing in the cold wind, her eyes full of worry. "We finally found you!"

Fandral gripped his sword, his expression grave. "The situation is bad. That cunning bastard Loki—"

"He let the Frost Giants into Asgard!" Volstagg roared furiously, smashing his massive axe into the ground. "The whole of Asgard is in chaos now!"

Hogun added with a dark expression, "He deceived Heimdall and Frigga. After Odin entered the Odinsleep, he opened the Bifrost and allowed Laufey's army to storm straight into the Golden Palace!"

Thor's pupils abruptly contracted, and the lightning around Mjolnir instantly became violent. "What?!"

Tony whistled. "Whoa. Family drama just leveled up?"

Chen Tian quietly said to 2B, "Looks like The Ancient One's words have mostly been confirmed."

2B's mechanical eyes flickered slightly. "Master, the Ancient One said that as long as Mephisto is defeated, we will not need to interfere afterward."

Chen Tian shrugged. "I was hoping to get back early. I'm exhausted today."

2B smiled faintly, placing both hands on Chen Tian's shoulders and gently kneading them.

Thor looked at his closest friends and said in a deep voice, "I must return to Asgard immediately!"

Sif stepped forward and pressed a hand on his shoulder. "That is why we came—to bring you back. But..." She glanced at Chen Tian and the others. "Loki's scheme does not end there. He has also planted trouble in Midgard."

Fandral nodded. "He used illusions to deceive Thor, making him believe that the people of Midgard had imprisoned him. His goal was to turn Thor against Midgard."

Natasha raised an eyebrow. "So those 'S.H.I.E.L.D. agents' who attacked and kidnapped Thor at the bar..."

"They were Loki's illusions," Sif said firmly. "He wanted to provoke a war."

Thor's fists clenched with a crackle as lightning raged around him. "Loki...!"

Chen Tian spread his hands. "Well, looks like Bambi got naughty again."

Thor took a deep breath and turned to face Chen Tian and the others. The thunder in his eyes gradually calmed, replaced by sincere gratitude.

"Warriors of Midgard," he said solemnly, his voice no longer angry but filled with earnestness. "Thank you for freeing me from the illusion. Without your help, I might have committed a terrible mistake."

He looked at Chen Tian, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Especially you, Chen Tian. Please take care of Jane for me, and tell her I will come back for her."

Chen Tian shrugged. "Sure, sure. I'll have Tony pay to support her research."

Thor laughed heartily, then looked at Tony. "Neighbor, your fearlessness opened my eyes. Perhaps one day, we can discuss the union of technology and magic in Asgard."

Tony's eyes lit up. "It's a deal. That Bifrost you used to send your friends down just now looked pretty good. How about taking me—"

Before he could finish, Chen Tian grabbed his arm. "Save it. If you go there now, their battle might knock you straight into outer space."

Tony pursed his lips. "Tch. Stingy."

Thor finally looked at Natasha and 2B, nodding slightly. "Brave ladies, your fighting skills are admirable."

Natasha raised an eyebrow. "Just remember to buy us drinks next time you come to Earth."

"Certainly!" Thor agreed cheerfully. Then he turned around and raised Mjolnir high. "Heimdall! Open the Bifrost!"

The sky suddenly split apart, and the seven-colored pillar descended once more, engulfing Thor and his companions. A fierce wind rose, making Thor's cape flap violently. He looked back at the group one last time and called out loudly:

"Once I settle Asgard's troubles, I will return and drink with you all!"

As his words fell, the Bifrost's pillar abruptly contracted. Thor and the others instantly vanished, leaving only faint energy fluctuations in the air.

Tony stared in the direction where the Bifrost had disappeared, lightly stroking the stubble on his chin. "JARVIS, you recorded all the energy readings, right?"

"Completely recorded, Sir. However..." JARVIS's voice carried an unusual hesitation. "This energy structure completely exceeds the scope of our understanding."

"Ha!" Tony shrugged dismissively. "Could it possibly be more impressive than my Mark-3 Eclipse Edition?"

Chen Tian stretched lazily, his bones cracking crisply. "Give it a rest, narcissist." He glanced at Tony's body. "The most important thing right now—" He suddenly pressed a hand onto Tony's shoulder. "—is giving you, the wounded man, a full examination first."

Natasha walked over with a soft laugh. "At last, someone said something sensible."

2B stood quietly beside Chen Tian, her mechanical eyes scanning Tony's injuries. "Your vital signs are fluctuating abnormally. Immediate treatment is recommended."

Tony wanted to argue, but his faceplate suddenly opened automatically, revealing his pale face. "Fine... maybe I really do need it..."

Chen Tian yawned and lazily draped an arm over Tony's shoulders. "Then everyone goes home and gets some proper sleep. This mess..." He looked back at the last traces of the Bifrost's fading glow. "We'll deal with it after we wake up."

"A party," Tony suddenly said. Though his face was pale, the familiar spark gleamed in his eyes. "After treatment, I'm throwing a party. Champagne towers, laser shows, and—"

"And you directing it remotely while lying in a medical pod?" Natasha raised an eyebrow.

"Hey! I'm Tony Stark." He tried to straighten up, only to bare his teeth when the movement tugged at his wounds. "The party has to be personally—"

"Personally directed from a couch," Chen Tian finished with a smile, lightly patting Tony's back. "Come on, wounded man first. As for the party... wait until you no longer need painkiller injections."

After Chen Tian spoke, 2B suddenly tugged lightly on his sleeve. "Master, you are right. But..." She looked around at the desolate wilderness, her mechanical eyes flickering. "How are we supposed to get back? There do not appear to be any vehicles here."

That left everyone stunned. Natasha's smile disappeared as she frowned and scanned the empty wilderness. Tony's armor gave off a faint hum, as if it too were assessing their situation.

The silence lasted several seconds.

Suddenly, Tony's faceplate snapped shut with a click, and his thrusters burst with dazzling blue light. He slowly rose into the air and looked down at everyone, his tone full of mockery. "Aha, looks like certain people will have to walk back on their own two feet?"

"Hey!" Chen Tian glared up at him. "You wouldn't dare—"

"I'll be waiting for you at Malibu Villa," Tony interrupted. His armor had already shifted into flight mode. "Try not to get lost. There's no signal out here."

"Wait! You bastard—" Chen Tian had just started cursing when Tony's armor shot into the sky with a boom. In the blink of an eye, he became a tiny speck on the horizon, leaving behind only the trailing echo of half a taunt: "...By the way, my medical pod is VIP-only!"

The wilderness fell silent again, with only the rustling of wind through the grass.

Natasha folded her arms and looked at Chen Tian with an amused smile. "So... we got abandoned?"

2B tilted her head, her mechanical eyes calmly watching the direction Tony had vanished in. "Master, should I activate high-speed mode and carry you back?"

Chen Tian rubbed his temples and let out a long sigh. "Forget it. I don't want you carrying me across half of America." Then he glanced at Madara, who was still pretending to be aloof.

Madara Uchiha, who had been standing in the shadows, saw Chen Tian look at him. "Hmph... Master, something as trivial as traveling..."

His scarlet Sharingan slowly turned, and chakra energy began to emerge around him. Chen Tian hurriedly waved his hands. "Wait, wait, wait! Madara, please don't get worked up yet!"

Madara tilted his head slightly, the three tomoe spinning in his eyes. "What? Susanoo is much faster than that iron man's toy."

"It's not about the speed..." Chen Tian pressed a hand to his forehead. "Think about it. If a blue giant hundreds of meters tall carried us across American airspace, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s air-defense alarms would probably ring across the entire East Coast."

Natasha could not help laughing. "I bet Director Fury's blood pressure would explode on the spot."

2B added seriously, "According to calculations, the probability of being mistaken for an alien invasion is as high as 97.3%."

Madara curled his lip disdainfully. "Troublesome."

Just then, the roar of engines suddenly came from the distance. Several black S.H.I.E.L.D. SUVs raced toward them through rolling clouds of dust. The lead vehicle came to a graceful drifting stop before them, and the window rolled down to reveal Coulson's trademark gentle smile.

"Looks like I arrived just in time?" His gaze swept over the group. "Looks like the battle is already over. Good. Come on, the vehicles I brought should be enough."

Chen Tian made an exaggerated expression of relief. "Coulson! Letting you leave first really was the right plan!"

"Don't get emotional just yet," Coulson said with a smile as he opened the car door. "The director said this operation report will be at least three hundred pages."

Natasha casually opened the passenger-side door. "I knew it wouldn't be that simple."

2B quietly followed behind Chen Tian, but before bending down to get into the vehicle, she suddenly looked back at the sky. "Master, Mr. Tony's flight trajectory seems... rather unstable."

Chen Tian followed her gaze but saw nothing. Still, he could guess what was happening, and he shook his head helplessly. "That narcissist must be forcing himself to keep going even though his injuries are acting up."

Madara was the last to get into the car. He coldly tossed out a single word. "Fool."

The convoy slowly started moving. Coulson looked at everyone through the rearview mirror. "The medical team is already waiting at headquarters. Also..." He paused. "The director says the battles in New Mexico and New York need an explanation for the public."

Chen Tian slumped in his seat and wailed. "Can't you let us sleep first?!"

Natasha fastened her seatbelt, a faint smile on her lips. "Welcome to S.H.I.E.L.D."

Outside the window, the setting sun cast a golden glow over the wilderness. Behind them, the Bifrost's last light faded into the clouds.

[One Month Later]

"Wind direction 270, wind speed 30 knots, altitude 15,000 feet." JARVIS's elegant British accent sounded in the darkness. "Sir, you may now enter the landing zone."

The opening guitar riff of AC/DC's "Shoot to Thrill" sliced through the silence like lightning! The transport bay's hydraulic doors slowly rose, and amid the red cabin lights, the red-and-gold Mark-Eclipse Edition stood at the hatch.

Tony's armor streaked through the night sky in a dazzling trail of gold and red as AC/DC's rock music thundered around him. He spread his arms and allowed himself to plummet in free fall, while the HUD inside his faceplate continuously refreshed his altitude data.

"JARVIS, activate the fireworks show!" Tony shouted with a laugh, his voice full of excitement.

"The fireworks array has been activated, Sir." The AI's voice carried a hint of helplessness.

"Perfect!" Tony twisted aside, dodging the first red firework flying directly toward him.

Hundreds of custom fireworks launched from the back of his armor, exploding into brilliant flames around him. Like an agile swallow, he weaved through the gaps between explosions, occasionally using his repulsors to deliberately detonate several fireworks and create even more outrageous visual effects.

"Ha! Now this is exciting!" Tony laughed and shouted to JARVIS, "Now! Let's see just how damn cool this armor really is!"

Two massive mechanical wings suddenly unfolded from the back of his armor, blue photon energy flowing across their surfaces. Against the night sky, Tony looked like a mechanical phoenix reborn from flames, trailing a long tail of energy as he dove downward.

Tony's armor traced a perfect arc through the night sky as the deafening guitar solo of AC/DC's "Shoot to Thrill" echoed throughout the entire expo grounds. Below the stage, tens of thousands of spectators simultaneously looked up and erupted into thunderous cheers.

"JARVIS, activate the holographic projection!" Tony shouted as he rapidly descended.

"The holographic matrix has been activated, Sir."

In an instant, the entire venue was enveloped in brilliant blue holographic projections. Countless virtual images of Iron Man danced in the air. Tony's armor unfolded four enormous photon wings, their surfaces flowing with a liquid-metal sheen as they dragged dazzling streams of light through the night.

"Three, two, one—"

As the countdown ended, Tony slammed onto the specially designed stage at an almost vertical angle. The shockwave blasted the surrounding fountains into ten-meter columns of water, and the spray refracted rainbow-like light beneath the spotlights.

As the stage smoke dispersed, Tony slowly rose from one knee. The photon wings fully spread behind him, photons flowing across the metallic feathers like liquid. His faceplate snapped open with a click, revealing Tony's trademark roguish grin.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" His voice boomed throughout the venue through the armor's amplification system. "Welcome to the Stark Industries Expo!"

The audience erupted into tsunami-like cheers. Pepper held her forehead and shook her head in the VIP box, though the corners of her mouth could not help rising. Colonel Rhodes stood in the military viewing area, applauding as he said to Chen Tian beside him, "I knew this guy would never change."

Chen Tian, meanwhile, looked full of envy and resentment as he muttered, "Damn it, damn it. I knew Tony wouldn't miss a chance to show off like this! Damn it! I'm not afraid of my brother living well—I'm afraid of my brother showing off too damn hard!"

Beside him, 2B covered her mouth, and her crisp laughter slipped through her fingers.

Tony gave an exaggerated bow, his photon wings gracefully folding into the shape of a cape.

He stood at the front edge of the stage, spreading his hands as he enjoyed the cheers filling the venue.

"Tony!"

"Tony!"

"Tony!"

"Tony!"

Amid the cheers, Tony's armor began to retract like flowing water, eventually condensing into the new energy core on his chest, which shone like a blue sun.

Wearing a suit, Tony clapped his hands and casually looked around at the audience. The crowd enthusiastically screamed and applauded in response.

"Ah~ It feels so good to be back!"

"You missed me? I missed you too."

"Blow something up!" a rough voice shouted from beneath the stage.

Tony smiled and pointed toward where the voice had come from.

"Blow something up? Been there."

The audience burst into laughter.

"I never said that the world has enjoyed years of long-lasting peace... because of me..."

The holographic projection beside Tony changed into a photo of him knocking down the Destroyer Armor in New York.

The audience looked at the photo and erupted into cheers and applause once more.

Chen Tian said sourly from the box, "Why doesn't he mention what happened afterward? He got sent flying into a coffee shop!"

2B quickly hugged Chen Tian's arm, wrapping it in her softness. "Master, today is Mr. Stark's big day. Please let him have this one."

Chen Tian said nothing more, though he ground his teeth. Pepper beside him was laughing so hard she could barely close her mouth, while Rhodes leaned toward Chen Tian. "Chen Tian, do you think I could get a set of armor like Tony's?"

"Sure! Later, we'll go to Malibu Villa and take all his armor for you."

Tony stood in the center of the stage beneath the spotlights. His smile carried a hint of playful irreverence as he lightly adjusted his suit cuff and swept his gaze across the audience.

"I also never said that no one else in this world could be reborn from the flames like a phoenix, just like me."

The cheers and applause within the venue grew even more thunderous.

"I especially never said that Uncle Sam can lie comfortably in a chair, leisurely drinking iced tea, because I always remain at my peak and no one dares challenge me one-on-one."

When the audience heard Tony say that, their cheers shot straight into the sky. Countless spectators across the expo joined in.

Chen Tian cursed loudly, "I can fight you one-on-one! Tonight! Tonight it is!"

2B laughed as she hugged the hopping-mad Chen Tian and softly comforted him. "Master, weren't you planning to fight me one-on-one tonight? I prepared a bodysuit."

Hearing what 2B had prepared, Chen Tian took a deep breath and dragged her away while grumbling. "Pepper, help me tell Tony that I can't stand watching him show off. I'm leaving first."

Pepper said nothing, merely raising her champagne glass toward Chen Tian. Rhodes, on the other hand, shouted after him, "Hey, Chen Tian! Didn't we agree to go to Malibu and take Tony's armor?"

"Next time! Definitely next time!" Chen Tian waved without looking back.

Chen Tian yanked open the door of a luxurious stretched Lincoln limousine. Tony had used this car when leaving the stage, but Chen Tian had now requisitioned it!

He made an exaggerated "after you" gesture toward 2B. "Ladies first~"

2B's mechanical eyes flickered slightly, though the corners of her lips could not help rising. "Master, this is stealing a car."

"This is called strategic requisition." Chen Tian climbed into the car with complete confidence, casually pressing the champagne button on the center console. "Tony had so much fun showing off onstage. He has to pay some price."

The vehicle refrigerator slowly slid open, and a chilled bottle of Dom Pérignon champagne automatically rose out. Chen Tian skillfully opened it, and the amber liquid fizzed delicately in crystal glasses.

"To that narcissist." He raised his glass and took a small sip, then suddenly frowned. "Wait, this taste..."

2B took the glass and sniffed it lightly. "Trace amounts of sedative compounds detected."

Chen Tian froze for two seconds, then burst into loud laughter. "Hahaha! That bastard knew I'd steal the car!" He slapped the leather seat hard. "JARVIS! Stop pretending. I know you're listening!"

The AI butler's voice immediately sounded through the car speakers. "Mr. Chen, Sir asked me to pass along a message—'Car thieves deserve to be drugged.'"

2B looked at Chen Tian worriedly. "Master, do you need me to initiate the detoxification procedure?"

"No." Chen Tian lazily sprawled across the seat, though his eyes remained exceptionally clear. "This little dose is basically sugar water to me." He suddenly smiled slyly. "But... I can play along~"

As he spoke, he gave an exaggerated yawn and limply collapsed toward 2B. "Ah~ I'm suddenly so sleepy... Maybe I need a cute android lady to carry me to bed..."

2B caught him with a smile. "...Master, you and Mr. Stark are like a pair of elementary school students."

The Lincoln passed through New York's neon-lit streets and eventually stopped before a modern waterfront mansion. The smart security system scanned Chen Tian's irises, and the gates silently slid open.

"Welcome home, Master." The holographic projection in the foyer automatically lit up, displaying Tony's smug virtual image. "A friendly reminder: I specially replaced the master bedroom bed with a vibrating model~"

Chen Tian gave the projection the middle finger and pulled 2B straight upstairs. The instant they pushed open the master bedroom door, they both froze—the entire room had been transformed into a Japanese hot spring retreat. At its center was a natural hot spring pool giving off steam, with robes and sake neatly arranged beside it.

"This..." 2B's mechanical eyes rapidly scanned the room. "Water temperature: 42.3 degrees Celsius. Sulfur content: 0.02%. It is a genuine volcanic hot spring."

Chen Tian picked up the note beside the pool. Tony's flamboyant handwriting was scrawled across it: "Take a bath and relax. Remember to return the car keys tomorrow. PS: Don't do anything weird in the pool."

2B's fingers, which had been testing the water quality, suddenly froze. Her entire body turned red like a boiled crab. Chen Tian gave an awkward cough, crumpled the note into a ball, and tossed it into the trash. "You bathe first. I'll go see if there's anything to eat."

Before he could finish speaking, 2B suddenly tugged at the hem of his clothes, her voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz. "Master... the armor is waterproof... and... I'm wearing my bodysuit underneath..."

Outside the window, New York's nightscape glittered like a river of stars, while the steam from the indoor hot spring gradually blurred their figures. At that moment, the mansion's intelligent system quietly activated privacy mode, and every window turned into frosted glass.

Meanwhile, after finishing his speech onstage, Tony was drinking with Rhodes in a private box and watching the stage performance when he suddenly sneezed.

He rubbed his nose and looked at the "Vehicle has arrived" notification on his phone, a meaningful smile appearing on his face. "JARVIS, how long has Chen Tian been at the mansion?"

"Sir, he arrived an hour ago."

"Heh heh, JARVIS, send a remote command to the mansion."

"It has already been done as requested, Sir." The AI paused for half a second. "But are you sure you want capsaicin added to Mr. Chen's hot tub?"

Tony's hand holding the champagne glass froze in midair. "Wait, when did I ever say—"

"Sir, the mansion's surveillance has already been blocked by 2B, but..." JARVIS's voice paused. "Mr. Chen said he wants to kill you."

Tony silently set down his glass and turned to Rhodes and Pepper. "I suddenly remembered that Washington wants me to attend a meeting..."

Rhodes watched his friend's retreating figure and shook his head with a sigh. "That's why Chen Tian wakes you up every morning..."

Back at the mansion, Chen Tian, who had just had a "deep discussion" with 2B, was reclining comfortably against the edge of the hot spring pool. 2B, dressed in her bodysuit, knelt behind him, her slender fingers pressing against his temples. The water suddenly turned an eerie red, followed by—

"AAAAAH! Tony, I'm going to kill you!!" Chen Tian screamed in agony.