Tony didn't summon the armor.
Because Bucky made a move first.
From behind his waist, he slowly drew a black Glock pistol.
Then he reversed it—grip first—and extended it toward Tony.
"I know this won't make up for anything."
His eyes were hollow. Not defiant. Not pleading. Just… empty.
"Howard… he was a good man. He helped me more than once."
"Maria… she was kind."
He stepped closer. The grip nearly touched Tony's chest.
"I'm not asking for forgiveness."
"A life for a life."
Tony stared at the gun in front of him, face dark as storm clouds.
Then he snatched it.
Click.
He chambered a round.
The black muzzle pressed hard against Bucky's forehead.
"Bucky!!"
Steve lunged forward—
—and stopped.
A hand clamped down on his shoulder.
Antony stood behind him, immovable as a mountain.
"Antony!" Steve's voice cracked. "He'll—!"
"This is necessary," Antony murmured near his ear. "It was Bucky's choice."
"Now the choice belongs to Tony. Interference would be disrespect."
Steve froze.
Tony felt the cold weight of the pistol in his hand.
Images flashed in his mind—his parents' broken bodies. Blood on snow. Twisted metal.
Pull the trigger.
Twenty-five years of grief and rage would end in a heartbeat.
But then another memory surged in.
Yesterday.
Kneeling at Lorelei's feet.
Like a dog.
Firing chemicals into the Hulk. Watching him mutate in agony. Watching buildings collapse. Innocents hurt.
That feeling…
"Ha… ha…"
Tony's breathing grew ragged in the silent room.
One second.
Two.
Three.
"Damn it…"
He suddenly reversed the pistol.
CRACK!
The butt of the gun smashed across Bucky's face.
Bucky staggered back, lip splitting instantly, blood spilling down his chin.
"That's for my father!!"
Tony roared and stepped forward.
CRACK!
The second strike split Bucky's brow open.
"That's for my mother!!"
Bucky didn't dodge.
Didn't block.
He simply took it.
Almost… relieved.
CRACK!
The third blow landed square on the bridge of his nose with every ounce of Tony's strength.
"That's for me!!!"
Bucky collapsed to the floor, face soaked in blood.
Tony stood there, chest heaving violently.
He raised his arm again—
But this time, it stopped mid-air.
He couldn't bring it down.
The pistol slipped from his hand and clattered onto the floor.
"…I was a Winter Soldier yesterday too."
He gave a hollow, self-mocking laugh and tapped his temple.
"That feeling? It's hell."
"And you didn't lie to me."
He looked at Steve now, something quieter in his eyes.
"That matters, Rogers. You didn't hide it."
"You brought him to me. You gave me the choice."
"That at least means… you still consider me a friend."
Steve's eyes glistened.
"Tony… thank you."
"Don't."
Tony waved him off and turned his back.
"But I don't want to see you. Not right now."
"Take your metal-armed best friend and get out, Captain."
"If I see you two in Vought's cafeteria, I might throw hot coffee in his face."
Steve nodded solemnly.
He helped Bucky to his feet.
"Let's go."
Bucky looked one last time at Tony's back.
"I'm sorry."
Then he left.
The door closed.
Only then did Tony collapse into a chair, elbows on knees, hands covering his face.
Antony approached quietly, studying the billionaire who now looked impossibly alone.
"Well done, Tony."
Tony didn't look up.
"Shut up, Homelander."
"I want to be alone."
"Of course."
Antony shrugged casually.
"Oh, and about that free technical support."
"If you're not feeling up to it… I can allow you to start tomorrow."
"GET OUT!!"
Tony's shout echoed through the hallway as Antony walked away, smiling.
[Special Popularity Gained +10,000 (From Steve Rogers)]
[Special Popularity Gained +10,000 (From Bucky Barnes)]
[Special Popularity Gained +5,000 (From Tony Stark)]
The Popularity System's notifications chimed pleasantly.
Antony was in excellent spirits.
Back inside the conference room, Tony's hatred hadn't vanished.
It had simply found a new target.
"Hydra…"
He whispered the name like a promise.
…
"Tap. Tap. Tap."
Antony's footsteps were light, almost cheerful, as he returned to his spacious office.
"Ashley."
"I'm here, sir!" came the immediate response.
"Clear my schedule. For the next two hours, no interruptions."
"Yes, sir! Would you like me to prepare something? Warm milk?"
"No need."
He ended the call.
Then he walked toward a towering wall of books.
His finger tapped lightly against a thick volume titled The Horus Heresy.
Click.
The bookshelf slid silently apart, revealing his private vault.
Resting on a titanium stand—
The Scepter.
Blue light pulsed faintly from its head.
Antony stepped forward and lifted it in one hand.
No scanning equipment.
No delicate extraction process like Hydra's scientists.
He chose the simplest method.
The most brutal one.
His left hand rose and gripped the blue crystalline casing encasing the Mind Stone.
CRACK—!
His fingers tightened.
Fractures spiderwebbed across the casing instantly.
BOOM!
The shell exploded into glittering shards that scattered across the floor.
Golden light flooded the chamber—brilliant, warm, but not blinding.
The Mind Stone.
Antony gazed at it with pure admiration.
Beautiful.
Perfect.
Between two fingers, he gently lifted it—
And brought it toward the Infinity Gauntlet on his right hand.
Like two magnets drawn together.
The oval gem trembled—
Then shot forward with a sharp hum.
Click.
It locked into the socket on the back of the gauntlet.
Seamless.
Perfectly aligned.
A flawless fit.
--------------
T/N:
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