"Not even going to read the fine print?" Antony asked lightly. "Vought's legal department has a reputation for draining blood."
"No need."
Natasha Romanoff closed the contract and slid it back across the desk.
"At S.H.I.E.L.D., Fury used to talk to me about ideals. Sacrifice. Saving humanity."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Then he'd turn around and dock my field bonus."
Her eyes met Antony's—clear, sharp, but lighter than usual.
"You're different. You talk about salary. Benefits. Insurance."
A faint smirk touched her lips.
"It's crude. But it's honest."
She leaned back.
"After years of doing dirty work in the shadows, I always assumed I'd die in some alley no one would ever remember."
A brief pause.
"…Now? Working with you might be the smartest decision I've ever made."
Antony folded his arms.
"I don't sell dreams. I have enough flour to bake the cake outright."
Then his tone softened.
"And here, Natasha… you don't have to crawl in the dark anymore."
"You can stand in the sunlight. Take applause."
"You get to be a hero."
"Not a weapon."
She went quiet for a moment.
Then—unexpectedly—a bright, genuine smile broke across her face.
"Everything sounds perfect," she said dryly, "except the fifteen-thousand-dollar wardrobe reimbursement cap."
Antony laughed.
"Talk to Ashley. I'll add three zeros."
The system chimed.
Ding! Founding Avenger Black Widow – Natasha Romanoff has officially joined the faction!
Special Popularity +50,000
Reward: Allied Super-Agent Combat Kit
Items scrolled in Antony's mind:
Black Hawk Pistols (dual) – Switchable armor-piercing / high-explosive modes. 300-meter effective range.Chrono-Rewind Belt – Return to position and condition from 5 seconds prior. Retain memory. 30-second cooldown.Ultra-Condensed C4 – Miniature. Devastating yield.All-Terrain Steel-Toe Tactical Boots – Extreme mobility, including sustained aquatic combat.Ballistic Athletic Vest – Advanced impact mitigation.
Antony nearly cursed out loud.
Time rewind.
Five seconds wasn't much.
But five seconds could mean life.
The belt? Absolutely keeping that.
As Natasha rose to leave—
"Natasha."
Antony pulled a matte-black tactical case from beneath his desk and pushed it toward her.
"Welcome package."
She arched a brow.
"What's inside?"
"Open it."
She flipped the latches.
Inside—sleek, futuristic black pistols rested in precision-cut foam. Beside them, a pair of advanced combat boots. And… a box of completely ordinary-looking gum.
Her expression shifted instantly.
As a top-tier operative, she knew quality when she saw it.
She picked up one pistol.
The balance alone told her everything.
"Where did you get these?" she asked quietly. "Tony can't manufacture this level of finish."
"Vought exclusive," Antony replied smoothly. "No magazines needed. The boots will let you run across rock faces and skim water like a damn otter. And the gum…"
He smiled faintly.
"Use sparingly. One piece can flatten half a block."
She shut the case gently.
"This is excessive."
"Only for people worth it."
A warmth flickered across her expression.
"Thank you."
She stepped closer.
On her toes.
Pressed a kiss to his cheek.
"I'll turn your recruits into the best soldiers on Earth."
She picked up the case and left, confident, graceful.
Special Popularity +10,000 (from Natasha Romanoff)
Antony watched her go.
Equipment redistribution. A beautiful cycle, he thought.
-----
Later—
He switched on the television.
A special report filled the screen.
Footage looped of him—bloodied, arms braced beneath collapsing concrete at St. Agnes Orphanage, shielding terrified children.
Headline blazed across the screen:
"Only Love Can Make Homelander Bleed!"
Cut to crowds gathered outside Vought HQ, laying flowers.
Real-time popularity continued pouring in.
Amid the flood of notifications, two stood out.
Special Popularity +5,000 (from Mary Sue Porter)
Special Popularity +5,000 (from Matt Murdock)
Skye.
Matt Murdock.
St. Agnes Orphanage.
Of course.
They'd grown up there.
That moment had hit them personally.
Good.
Very good.
-----
3:00 PM – VGD Headquarters
Advanced Tactical Briefing Room
On one side of the long conference table sat three defeated men.
Tony Stark.
Clint Barton.
Bruce Banner.
Thor occasionally extended his hand toward nothing, as if expecting something to fly into it.
Nothing did.
Across from them—
A wall-sized projection screen.
Playing a highlight reel.
Clip 1: Tony on his knees before Lorelei.
"For the Queen! My missiles hunger!"
Clip 2: Hawkeye grinning like a lovestruck idiot, feeding her grapes.
Clip 3: Thor being rag-dolled by Hulk, complete with a mocking caption: "God of Thunder? More Like God of Getting Smashed."
Clip 4: Ultra-HD slow motion—Tony firing a green T-VEX syringe straight into Hulk's open mouth.
Tony finally groaned.
"Turn it off… Antony…"
He slumped forward.
Hands over his face.
Radiating pure social annihilation.
Banner rubbed his temples.
"I don't even remember half of it."
Clint didn't look up.
"I'd like to retire."
Thor, still staring at his empty palm, muttered:
"Why… why did Mjolnir choose Jane…"
The video looped again.
Tony's voice echoed through the room:
"My missiles hunger!"
"Please," Tony muttered weakly. "I will personally fund three Vought space programs if you just shut that off."
Antony leaned back in his chair.
Calm.
Composed.
In control.
"Oh, we're not done yet."
He tapped a remote.
The next clip appeared.
Tony launching T-VEX.
Banner inhaled sharply.
Clint slowly turned his head.
Thor stopped mid-summon.
The room fell silent.
And for the first time—
All three men realized something.
The problem hadn't just been mind control.
Someone had escalated it.
And that someone…
Had been Tony Stark.
--------------
T/N:
Access Advance Chapters on my
P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals