…
After speaking with Arcee, Leon headed upstairs.
"Stay home. I'm in a bit of a mood. I'm going to settle accounts. I'd rather not accidentally hurt you."
"Very well," Arcee replied calmly. "Just try not to kill anyone."
"I promise."
On Sublevel One, Tony was still energetically tinkering with the Mark IV Armor, looking like he hadn't slept at all.
"Morning, Tony."
"Morning, Leon."
Tony set down his screwdriver and accepted a coffee from Dum-E.
"You look like you're about to start a war. Who's the target?"
"Don't ask. Haven't seen the headlines yet?"
Leon gestured for Tony to check for himself while walking over to the armor display.
Then—
[Prompt: Would you like to perform today's Daily Sign-In?]
"Do it."
[Ding. Daily Sign-In complete. Congratulations, Host: Ability acquired – "Bio-Field."]
[Bio-Field: Kryptonian-grade baseline field. Performance scales with biological strength. Current output: Homelander+. Continue improving.]
[Description: Leave it to me. Everything can be left to me.]
"Yes!"
Leon practically shouted.
"Tony, I love you!"
System, love you three thousand.
Under Tony's confused stare, Leon smashed straight through the workshop window and dove headfirst into the Pacific.
Moments later—
The ocean exploded upward.
Leon shot out from the depths, sending waves tens of meters high. The clouds themselves seemed to part for him.
No golden glow.
No Starlight Template energy.
And yet—
He was flying.
That was the Bio-Field's power.
It nullified gravity's hold on him, removed dependence on external energy, and allowed true self-sustained flight.
Then—
At over Mach 5—
Golden light ignited around him.
Second-stage acceleration.
Mach 10.
"Now this—this is freedom!"
Manhattan – Upper East Side
Christine Everhart had just finished an all-night writing session.
Now she was enjoying a long, luxurious soak in her bathtub.
Steam curled upward. The room was quiet.
After nearly an hour, she stepped out, dried herself, and casually left the bathroom wrapped only in a small towel.
She froze.
A man stood in her living room.
Back turned.
Reading her manuscript.
"Ah—!"
Before she could scream, he moved.
One arm around her waist.
One hand over her mouth.
"Shh. Breathe, Christine."
"…Leon?"
"Yeah."
He let go.
She faced him—
And realized her towel had slipped.
"…I— You— How did you even get in here?"
"With a key."
He jingled the spare key she had once given him—along with those Gulmira photos.
Leon's expression hardened.
"You exposed my identity."
Christine straightened slowly.
Confidence returned.
"I recognized you immediately from the photo. Anyone who knows you would."
She crossed one leg over the other, composed despite the situation.
"And even if I'd been wrong… would you really sue me?"
Leon stepped closer.
"Why 'Shield Kid'?"
She smiled.
"A little revenge."
"You had the biggest story of the year and didn't tip me off. I had to pull an all-nighter."
Leon tilted her chin upward.
"You're not afraid I'd be angry?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you never intended to hide."
She held his gaze steadily.
"That half-helmet? Symbolic at best."
"With modern facial recognition, it's only a matter of time."
"I just accelerated the inevitable."
Leon went silent.
She wasn't wrong.
He and Tony had planned to reveal themselves eventually—
Strategically.
Let Stark Industries' stock fall.
Buy back shares from former Obadiah loyalists.
Then drop the superhero bombshell and rebound the company overnight—alongside clean Arc Reactor energy.
Christine had forced his hand early.
Which meant—
He'd need to reclaim the narrative fast.
And absolutely rebrand.
"Shield Kid" was not happening.
Leon leaned closer.
"Christine. I'm still annoyed."
She arched a brow playfully.
"Should I be worried?"
He smirked faintly.
"Let's just say… next time, coordinate with me first."
Her smile widened.
"Deal."
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