Chapter 95 I am the sun
The night was deep.
The roar of the Quinjet's engine gradually faded into the night sky over the Chicago suburbs.
Inside the cabin.
Tony Stark took off his helmet, letting the cold wind mess up his hair.
He felt tired.
Not physically, but mentally.
"Fuck."
He cursed under his breath and chugged a large gulp of energy drink.
The cooled drink tasted like chemicals.
This trip to capture someone was more messed up than he'd imagined.
In the back cabin, a family huddled together.
Faustus.
This Eternals craftsman, who had lived for thousands of years, was now as helpless as a mortal.
He could only tightly embrace his family and Jack.
His family's faces were filled with terror.
"Faustus..." His family's voice trembled.
"Is, is this real?"
Faustus closed his eyes and nodded.
"I'm sorry, I..."
"Dad?" Jack peeked out from his father's arms, his small face full of confusion and fear.
"Where, where are we going? My soccer game tomorrow..."
"We'll be fine, Jack."
Faustus held him even tighter.
But he didn't even believe that himself.
Tony watched all this through the rearview mirror.
He clicked his tongue and turned his head away.
"Hey, big guy." He said irritably to Dr. Banner in the co-pilot's seat.
Dr. Banner was nervously staring at the data pad, pretending to work.
"What is it, Tony?"
"Don't you have anything to say?" Tony's tone was filled with annoyance.
"What exactly are we doing? Kidnapping? Extortion?"
"We just threatened a father in front of his child."
Banner pushed up his glasses, his gaze evasive behind the lenses.
"Tony, we cannot defy the will of Mr. Leon Odinson."
"Hulk, he's very quiet."
"Quiet?" Tony scoffed.
"He's just terrified."
"And you, Blue Flash." Tony then looked at Adam, who was resting with his eyes closed in the back cabin.
"Are you just going to be a thug for the rest of your life?"
Adam opened his eyes.
His gaze passed over Tony and landed on Faustus.
"He is very lucky."
Adam's voice was calm.
"Leon has given him a purpose."
"And we..."
Adam closed his eyes.
"Are just enforcing the rules."
"Fuck." Tony felt his blood pressure rising again.
"One terrified, one born with Stockholm Syndrome, did I form a League of Surrenderers?!"
"Jarvis!"
"Yes, sir."
"How much longer until Sunshine Coast?"
"Estimated arrival at the Villa in five minutes."
"Good."
Tony put on his helmet, the faceplate closing.
"Prepare for landing."
He didn't want to talk anymore.
He just wanted to quickly hand over the hot potato.
Then, drink heartily for three days and three nights... at the seaside Villa.
The Quinjet slowly landed on the helipad behind the Villa.
The cabin door opened.
The sea breeze blew in, very cool.
"Disembark, lucky ones." Tony's voice came through the armor's amplifier, sounding muffled.
Faustus, holding the hands of his family and Jack, tremblingly walked down the gangway.
Then, they froze.
This... wasn't a S.H.I.E.L.D. secret base.
This place, it was too beautiful.
The Villa under the moonlight was brightly lit.
The pool's Water reflected the starlight.
On the lawn... Faustus's pupils constricted!
He saw it!
In the Shadow of the lawn, a man was sitting.
A man with long black hair and a gloomy demeanor.
The other party looked up and glanced at him.
His eyes were hollow, numb, and full of despair.
It was Druig!
Faustus's heart instantly sank to the bottom!
Even Druig had been captured?!
And, judging by his appearance, he had been broken.
"Dad, over there, someone's fighting over there."
Jack tugged at Faustus's sleeve and whispered.
Faustus turned his head.
He saw the other side of the Villa, where the brightly lit gym was.
"Bang!!"
A loud noise!
A silver-haired youth was kicked flying, slamming hard against the wall!
"Cough cough..."
The youth slid to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Too slow!"
A woman in bronze battle armor stood opposite him, disdainfully gesturing in sign language.
Her face was full of mockery.
Faustus knew that woman!
"Makkari?!"
Faustus cried out.
Even Makkari... wasn't she the fastest runner?!
How could she also be caught?!
Makkari heard his voice, tilted her head, and looked over.
When she saw Faustus, she froze for a moment.
Immediately, a sympathetic smile appeared on her face, mixed with a hint of schadenfreude.
She gestured in sign language:
"Oh, hi, Faustus."
"Are you also here for school?"
Faustus froze.
Druig... Makkari... next, would it be Sersi? Would it be Kingo?
Leon Odinson... was he going to capture all the Eternals in one fell swoop?!
"Welcome."
A gentle voice came from the terrace.
Faustus's body stiffened.
He slowly turned his head.
He saw that man.
Leon Odinson.
He was wearing a casual suit, his golden long hair casually draped over his shoulders.
He held a glass of red wine in his hand, smiling as he looked at them.
The moonlight gilded him with a sacred halo.
He stood there, the center of the night.
His smile was gentle and polite, like a nobleman welcoming guests from afar.
But Faustus only felt a chill.
This man... "Mr. Faustus, right?"
Leon slowly walked over.
With every step he took, Faustus felt his heart being squeezed tighter by an invisible large hand.
"And..." Leon's gaze fell on his family and Jack.
"This must be your family and Jack."
"You must be tired from the journey. I've already had Jarvis prepare supper for you."
"Jack, I guess you must like ice cream and the latest PS console?"
Jack hid behind his family, peeking out fearfully.
Ice cream?
Game console?
Wasn't this man, who looked like the Sun god, a bad guy?
"You, what exactly do you want to do?!"
Faustus mustered all his courage, shielding his family and Jack tightly behind him.
"Let them go! They are innocent!"
"Whatever you want, I'll give it to you!!"
Leon's footsteps stopped in front of him.
He didn't look at him.
His gaze passed over Faustus and landed on Faustus's family.
"Faustus's family, right." Leon's tone was still gentle.
"Your husband is a genius."
Faustus's family swallowed nervously and nodded.
"But his genius has been wasted for the past few millennia."
"He's been fixing tractors, he's been building Water pipes."
Leon's tone carried regret.
"And I..."
Leon looked at Faustus.
"I will grant him a stage."
"A stage worthy of his status."
Faustus clenched his fists.
"I will not build weapons anymore!"
"I will not..."