1974
Stark Industries.
Howard Stark's office.
"Everything can be achieved through technology—better lives, healthier bodies, and for the first time in human history… the possibility of sustaining world peace."
"I'm Howard Stark. Everything you'll ever need in the future is right here."
"City of Tomorrow? Future Metropolis? The City of Tomorrow…"
Beside a table displaying a miniature city model, Howard Stark was recording a message.
Two little heads—barely tall enough to peek over the tabletop—sneaked in quietly. The boys exchanged mischievous glances, each grabbed a miniature building, and started tiptoeing away.
They were caught immediately.
"Hey! Tony, Leon—what are you doing? That's the City of Tomorrow model, not a toy!"
"Put it back. Right now! Where's your mother? Maria?"
Howard lifted one small Stark under each arm and handed young Tony and Leon over to their mother, Maria, who had rushed in at the commotion.
After that—
Howard resumed filming, explaining his vision for the future city.
…
"J.A.R.V.I.S., are we done?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Oh, thank God."
Howard loosened his tie in relief. "I much prefer improvising to scripted lines."
"With respect, Sir, your improvisations tend to proceed in unexpected directions. For this recording, reliability and stability were required."
"Fair enough."
Howard nodded. "Still, I'm glad you're here, J.A.R.V.I.S.. Thank you for staying with me."
"It is both my duty and my honor, Sir."
J.A.R.V.I.S. smiled politely.
Their casual exchange was faithfully captured on film.
Thirty-Five Years Later
After a brief break, Howard reappeared before the camera—leaning casually against the City of Tomorrow model.
"Tony. Leon. You're too young now to understand. So I'm recording this in advance."
"Everything I've built—I built for you."
"One day, you'll understand. This isn't just an invention. It's the culmination of my life's work."
"It's the key to the future."
"I'm limited by the technology of my era. But one day, you'll figure it out."
"Of course… mostly you, Tony."
"Leon doesn't quite have the same brilliance. Though he always won the milk battles when you two were infants. Maria says he'll probably be popular with girls someday."
"Really? (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧"
Little Leon suddenly popped up from beneath the table.
Howard clutched his head. "Oh my God—Leon! When did you sneak in?"
"When you said 'Tony and Leon, you're too young to understand.' Hehe~"
"That was the beginning!"
Howard groaned. He flicked Leon's forehead and then crouched down, expression stern.
"If you've heard this, you are not to tell your brother until the time is right. Or I'll tell your mother about you flirting with your kindergarten teacher."
"O-okay…"
Young Leon, clutching his forehead, swallowed his tears and nodded obediently.
After all—
A father's warning was manageable.
But Maria's discipline? That involved real consequences.
Still, children's memories fade. By the time Leon grew up, he only vaguely remembered that Howard had told him not to reveal something to Tony.
The details—too complex for his younger mind—were long forgotten.
Maria returned, dragged Leon out by the ear, and filming resumed.
"…When you discover all of this, you two will change the world."
"Because—"
"You two are my greatest creation."
Leon clicked his tongue softly as Arcee (A2 mode) projected a reconstructed 3D scan of the footage.
Howard really knew how to comfort people.
Leon always joked that he was the "bonus child" thrown in for free—yet Howard had insisted on putting him beside Tony.
Thanks to the System—and to Odin Allfather—Leon had, at the very least, lived up to those expectations.
At that moment—
2B looked up at him.
"That is Master's father?"
"What kind of relational link is blood kinship?"
"It has no verification system. No guarantees. It is less reliable than my identity authentication with Master. Yet all records suggest that human-to-human bonds are valued above human-machine bonds."
Her logical conclusion contradicted observed reality.
She did not understand.
Leon smiled faintly and brushed a few strands of hair from the corner of her lips.
"I don't understand it either. It's probably instinct."
"Other animals have something similar. But humans experience it more intensely—whether love or hate."
"…I see."
2B fell into quiet contemplation.
Leon lightly tapped her cheek.
"Don't overthink it. You only need to focus on one thing—faithfully carrying out my orders."
…
Kamar-Taj
Leon approached the Ancient One, who was seated in meditation.
"Master, I have a request."
"No."
She opened her eyes calmly—rejecting him before he even explained.
"Why?"
"Time travel is forbidden," she replied. "Returning to the past risks fracturing reality—creating branching timelines."
"But worse—tampering with an Absolute Point in time could collapse this universe entirely."
"What I want to do won't affect reality."
Leon refused to back down.
He now possessed the power to create a better outcome. How could he ignore it?
"You cannot guarantee that," the Ancient One said gently, placing a hand against his cheek.
"Strong emotions cloud judgment. They lead to unintended consequences."
"Leon—you are no longer what you once were."
"Then come with me. Supervise me."
"I cannot leave Earth. There are powerful entities watching it constantly."
She shook her head again.
"Then let Odin watch Earth temporarily."
She paused.
Countless possibilities flickered across her eyes as she calculated outcomes.
At last—
"…Very well."
"But we cannot remain long. It must be swift."
"Nice!"
"Master, I love you!"
Leon threw his arms around her in an overly enthusiastic embrace.
…
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