As it turned out—
Tony wanted to upgrade the neural inhibitor collar around Supergiant's neck into a nano-structured system capable of seamlessly integrating beneath the skin.
It would serve two purposes.
First, as a practical experiment for future nano-armor feasibility.
Second, it would make the device more aesthetically pleasing and convenient for Supergiant herself.
When she didn't want it visible, it could retract beneath the skin.
When she did, it could reconstruct into a full collar around her neck.
Functional—and stylish.
After the trip to Sakaar, Tony had come to deeply resent one thing: storage.
For safety reasons—especially with the Grandmaster around—he had barely removed the Mark VI Armor.
He wore it everywhere.
It had almost begun to feel like it was growing into his flesh.
That lingering sensation was disturbing enough that the moment he returned to Earth, he skipped even arguing with Pepper and immediately began developing Mark VII from scratch.
He had once thought Mark VI would last him a lifetime.
Clearly, he had been wrong.
Necessity breeds innovation.
Fortunately, Dr. Helen Cho's Regeneration Cradle was now complete. The 3D bio-nano tissue printing technology within it could be adapted directly for metallic nano-assembly research.
Tony had no psychological burden borrowing from Helen's work.
After all, they were practically family now.
Courtesy of Leon.
"Leon, perfect timing," Tony said. "I've redesigned the neural inhibitor system. It's no longer limited to a collar form. All that's missing is your material."
"This kind of failsafe needs the toughest substance available. Supergiant's abilities are far too dangerous otherwise. Only someone as reckless as you would casually keep her at your side."
"If you want to use her as your lab rat, just say so."
"My Living Adamantium isn't strictly necessary," Leon replied coolly. "And how do you know I don't have other safeguards in place?"
He tilted Supergiant's chin upward, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"Isn't that right, dear?"
"Mm—mm!"
Supergiant froze for half a second, then nodded frantically like a pecking chicken, swearing loyalty with her entire being.
Leon said east—she would never go west.
Leon commanded obedience—she would comply without hesitation.
"You win."
Tony gave Leon a thumbs-up of reluctant admiration.
While Living Adamantium inside Leon functioned almost like living nanometal, outside his body it was far less responsive. Without active focus, autonomous flight was already considered advanced usage.
But if it could be restructured into fully independent nano-molecular systems capable of forming mechanical components based on user intent—
Anyone wielding it would ascend to another level entirely.
Let alone Tony Stark.
"Alright. Show me the blueprint."
Leon gently patted Supergiant with a reassuring Leon's Grip before extending his hand toward Tony.
"Let's start small," Tony replied, swiveling around from the Mark VI. "Upgrading the inhibitor system is necessary."
He cupped his hands theatrically and called out:
"Dr. Helen Cho, please."
"Helen?"
"Since when were you into mechanical design?"
Leon stepped behind her, resting his hands on her slightly stiff shoulders and beginning a casual massage.
"I'm not that impressive," Helen said softly. "I'm just refining the nano-molecular arrangement. The device and the new armor design are Tony's work. I'm assisting."
Leon's hands carried a peculiar warmth and precision—firm yet controlled. Helen's eyes fluttered briefly closed, forcing herself to remain composed.
Fortunately, Leon stopped at just the right moment.
Before she reached her limit.
In every sense.
Helen exhaled quietly, steadying herself before projecting the neural nano-inhibitor blueprint onto the main screen.
There was no fixed collar shape.
It was simply a cluster of programmable nano-metal molecules—formless, adaptive.
"I see."
Activating Absolute Thought Acceleration, Leon analyzed the uniform molecular base structures in microscopic detail.
Without drawing attention, he subtly adjusted Helen's chair angle—just enough that her back faced the rest of the lab.
Out of sight from the others.
Leon raised his left hand, fingers spreading to their widest span in a grasping configuration—
And the hand disappeared from everyone's view except Helen's.
…
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