The next day
When Pietro was called out of his room by Henry and brought into the lab, he was still half-asleep.
Yesterday, he had actually run a hundred laps.
At his speed, it wasn't much of a challenge.
But the monotony, the repetition, and that asshole Henry occasionally sneering in his ear had left him mentally and physically exhausted.
"What do you want?" he rubbed his eyes and asked irritably. "Are you going to make me run around the U.S. today?"
"No, today we're trying something new." Henry pointed at the silver armor slowly unfolding in the center of the lab.
It was a full-body, streamlined suit, gleaming silver, with sky-blue energy lines running along the joints.
Its design was much slimmer than Tony's suits, looking less like heavy weaponry and more like a piece of futuristic art.
"This is…" Pietro's eyes were instantly drawn to the armor.
"A new toy for you," Tony's voice came from the side. He was holding a cup of coffee, looking proud as ever.
"I call it Quicksilver. Made with the latest nanotech, it fits your body perfectly. Built-in Arc Reactor gives you nearly unlimited energy. Most importantly," he paused, confident, "it can amplify your speed at least tenfold."
"Tenfold?!" Pietro's breath hitched.
"Try it on," Henry egged him on.
Pietro didn't hesitate.
He stepped up to the suit and lightly touched its cold surface.
In the next instant, the armor seemed to come alive, instantly breaking into countless silver nanites that wrapped around him. When the light faded, a brand-new Pietro stood before them.
The silver suit perfectly outlined his tall, athletic frame, the sky-blue energy lines flowing over him.
The sense of tech and speed was off the charts.
Pietro looked down at his new gear, feeling the boost it gave him.
He had the sensation that if he wanted, he could take a single step and land on the moon.
It was exaggerated, but he genuinely felt powerful.
"How does it feel?" Henry asked, smiling.
Pietro lifted his head. The hatred and resentment in his eyes had been replaced with excitement and joy.
"This is amazing!" he shouted, disappearing from the spot in a blur.
In the next second, the lab was filled with his afterimages and loud, thrilled laughter.
Banner and Bronski stood dumbfounded.
They hadn't seen much in the way of superhumans before, and now there was another one appearing out of nowhere.
Banner's interest was piqued as he watched Pietro vanish and reappear in an instant.
When the armor was being made, he didn't fully grasp it, but now he experienced extreme speed firsthand.
Unlike Henry's almost invisible speed, Pietro left trails behind him that were even more astonishing.
Henry smiled lightly. Pietro had been written off in the original story before showing Quicksilver's brilliance.
As the team leader, giving him some gear wasn't too much.
Only Tony remained holding his coffee with a look of mild annoyance, smirking.
"Energetic little brat," he muttered, though there was pride and satisfaction in his eyes.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!"
As time passed, Tony finally couldn't stand Pietro running around like a headless fly in the lab.
"You damn kid! Stop! If you keep running, you'll fry my precious servers with static! Do you even know how much those cost? I couldn't pay for them even if I sold you!"
His roar echoed in the lab, but Pietro was still lost in the joy of his new toy.
His silver afterimages flashed around the room, accompanied by his ridiculous, triumphant laughter.
"I am lightning! I am light! I am the fastest man in the world!"
"This kid is an idiot."
Henry rubbed his forehead, feeling his IQ being dragged down by this runaway husky.
He suddenly regretted thinking giving this hyperactive kid an amplified suit was a good idea.
Tony clearly realized verbal warnings weren't working.
He put down his coffee and smiled pleasantly.
"J.A.R.V.I.S."
"Yes, sir."
"Activate laser mode."
"Yes, sir."
The moment J.A.R.V.I.S. replied, dozens of miniature laser emitters sprang out from the ceiling, walls, and floor. Red beams flickered wildly and unpredictably across the lab.
"Waaahhh!"
Pietro's screams replaced his earlier laughter.
He looked like a poor bug thrown into a washing machine, jumping and dodging through the dense laser web.
"How's that, brat?" Tony said, sipping his coffee and grinning. "Think you're still fast? This laser dance is designed for hyperactive kids like you. Survive ten minutes without getting hit in the butt and I'll admit you've barely outgrown snail level."
"You bastard!" Pietro shouted, flailing through the lasers.
Banner and Bronski watched in awe.
They felt like the shocks they experienced in one day outweighed the past ten years combined.
First, recruiting felt like a pyramid scheme, now training teammates felt like walking dogs.
The Stark brothers' methods were truly one of a kind.
Henry leaned against the console, amused.
Tony really had a twisted sense of humor.
But using this method to train Pietro's speed control wasn't bad.
Of course, it did consume a lot of power.
At that moment, the lab door opened.
Wanda stood there holding an empty plate, looking hesitant.
She seemed shocked by the "laser dance" in front of her, curiosity shining in her eyes.
"Um…" she said, uncertain. "I finished eating. Where should I put the plate?"
Her soft voice paused the chaotic lab atmosphere.
She felt awkward; the mansion was so big, she couldn't find the kitchen.
Who builds a house this massive anyway?
Tony's smile froze.
He suddenly remembered there was another volatile guest at home.
Henry also stopped watching the spectacle.
He looked at Wanda and the plate in her hands.
The girl hadn't found the kitchen?!
"J.A.R.V.I.S., turn off laser mode," Henry said tiredly.
The red laser web disappeared instantly.
Pietro collapsed to the floor like a puddle, gasping for breath, though his armor remained pristine.
This was the value of a vibranium-infused suit.
"Just put the plate over there," Henry said, pointing to a nearby collection chute. Then he looked at Wanda.
"Did you finish your homework? How many times did you copy Capital? And how many times did you practice smiling?"
Wanda hesitated, embarrassed.
"I'm still reading Capital. I'm still practicing my smiles."