The Little Terror, Morgan the Dutiful Daughter

Lin Yi took it. It was an exquisitely crafted rectangular metal object.

"What's this?"

"A backup of JARVIS. Don't get me wrong, it's not for the me in the other universe."

"You don't have JARVIS over there, do you? I heard your armor's AI on the surveillance feed earlier. I think it was F.R.I.D.A.Y..."

"That's right. Was it because of the Ultron Incident? Did that happen here? You know, the..." Lin Yi gestured. "A crazed electronic consciousness?" He wasn't sure how to describe it.

"It did happen, but JARVIS came through it just fine."

"Maybe that's one of the differences between universes. The details don't quite match. We can have a proper talk about it next time, if we get the chance," Tony said with a smile.

"This backup of JARVIS is for Morgan. He can help her, and he knows everything she likes."

"You can also give him to the me in the other universe. Whether he uses him is up to him."

"Got it." Lin Yi nodded, stepped forward, closed the case, and tossed the whole thing into his pocket dimension.

Tony looked a little envious. "Honestly, sometimes I envy you people who can use magic."

"Though our Strange can't do that..."

"Never mind. Since your ability is so convenient, put these in there too. They're Morgan's things..." Tony pulled over two more suitcases.

That was less than Lin Yi had expected. When Tony mentioned Morgan's things, he'd thought the doting father might try to pack up the entire lakeside cabin.

After storing everything in his pocket dimension, Lin Yi looked at Tony as though he wanted to say something.

Silence suddenly settled over them.

Both men seemed to have something to say, yet neither could find the words.

Morgan and Spider-Man's quiet laughter drifted in now and then from the next room. Tony stood there in a daze for a while.

Lin Yi understood. The father hadn't come to terms with it yet. After raising his daughter for seven years, Tony's feelings had to be a mess.

He was right. That was exactly how Tony felt.

Tony wanted to tell Lin Yi about Morgan's habits, but JARVIS's backup had them all recorded. There was no need to repeat them.

He wanted to tell Lin Yi to protect Morgan, but what kind of father was he if his daughter had to flee to another universe for safety?

He wanted to ask whether his other self would treat Morgan well, but that felt overly sentimental.

Yesterday, he'd said he trusted the other version of himself. But human emotions were funny that way.

Trust was one thing. Worry was another.

In the end, after his cheek twitched for a long moment, everything he wanted to say came out in a single sigh.

"Take care of Morgan..." Tony patted Lin Yi's shoulder. His voice was soft, edged with helplessness and a plea.

Lin Yi gave a solemn nod and made his promise to the Tony of this universe. "I will. Don't worry."

"Good..." Tony quickly lowered his head, struggling to hide his emotions. Then he put his smile back on and headed for the door.

"Come on. I can spend a little more time with you. Morgan said she wants to bring some gifts to the other world."

That morning, Morgan had said she wanted to bring gifts for her daddy and mommy in the other universe. Tony had felt a pang of jealousy.

It wasn't as though Morgan had given him many gifts.

Still, it was hardly an unreasonable request. At least the doting father could go shopping with her one more time.

They regrouped and marched straight to the shops.

Preparing gifts really just meant buying a few things.

Lin Yi didn't see the point. Couldn't they buy the same things in their own universe? The brands might differ, but the products would be more or less alike.

Spider-Man was excitedly picking things out too, which Lin Yi couldn't quite understand.

"Mr. Lin Yi, what do you think I should buy?" Spider-Man counted on his fingers.

"I need gifts for Aunt May, Mr. Stark, Pepper, Morgan... and I should get something for the Ancient One too."

"Oh, and..."

"Okay, okay, stop counting." Lin Yi cut Peter off, his head starting to ache.

"I don't know about the others, but Morgan probably has some of the same interests. Why not ask the Morgan here?"

"As for the Ancient One... I don't know why you want to get her anything." Lin Yi's eyes darted sideways, and he grinned.

"But how about some shampoo?"

"Shampoo?" Peter hesitated. "Would that work?"

"Why wouldn't it? Weren't you wondering whether she uses shampoo when she washes her head?"

"Don't overthink it. Just buy it! It's a gift. She's not going to yell at you for that!"

"...You're right!" Peter was convinced.

Having sent Spider-Man on his way, Lin Yi turned around and found Morgan browsing electric razors.

Oh? Was this a gift for her other daddy? Like father, like daughter. This Morgan already knew how much Tony cared about his appearance.

"Hey, you know him well, Morgan!" Lin Yi walked over with a grin.

"Your daddy really cares about how he looks. He'll love that thing!"

Morgan was wavering between two electric razors. At the sound of Lin Yi's voice, she shook her head without looking back.

"No, I'm buying it for myself!"

Huh?

Lin Yi leaned back, thrown by her answer.

"Wait. Did you say that wrong, or did I hear you wrong? You're buying an electric razor for yourself?" Lin Yi dug at his ear.

"That's right! It's for me!" Morgan put one of the razors down, having made up her mind.

"But what do you need it for?" Lin Yi looked at her smooth face. She didn't have a beard. What was she going to do with a razor?

Morgan grinned and raised the razor in her hand.

"Powerful motor. Quiet, too!"

"I've decided. If the daddy in the other universe treats me badly, I'll wait until he's asleep and shave off his beard!"

Lin Yi drew a sharp breath.

What a dutiful daughter!

The corner of Lin Yi's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Was he about to bring Tony a little terror?

But Lin Yi soon caught on.

Morgan might be smiling brightly now, but didn't this prove she wasn't as happy or as calm as she looked?

Her worry for her daddy, her uncertainty about the future, and her fear of another world were all tucked away inside her.

Lin Yi softened his voice and ruffled her fluffy hair. "Don't worry. I can promise you the daddy in the other universe will always treasure you."

Morgan nodded with a hum, then swatted Lin Yi's hand away. "Stop touching my hair! You're messing it up!"

...What a little brat.

And here he'd been thinking he would look after Morgan himself if Tony really didn't want her... not that there was much chance of that.