Late at night, Tony Stark's Malibu Beach villa was quiet, with only the soothing rhythm of waves against the shore.
Skadi, as usual, hugged that enormous, slightly ridiculous chibi killer-whale plush and silently slipped into Takao's room. With practiced ease, she burrowed under the covers and pressed her cool body closer to a warm source.
But tonight was different.
She still wrapped herself around Takao by habit like an octopus, her cheek resting against his back as she felt the steady, comforting warmth of his body and the beat of his heart. Yet a strange, scalding emotion was quietly welling up in her chest—something completely different from her usual simple dependence and fear of loneliness.
Uncontrollably, her mind replayed scenes from the charity gala: the hazy lights, the drifting music, Takao's breath so close, the warm palm braced at her waist, and the moment their eyes met—how her heartbeat had inexplicably sped up, how she'd even felt a little dizzy…
What was that?
Skadi blinked her crimson eyes in the dark, her brows knitting faintly. She couldn't understand this new tide of feeling. It wasn't the exhilaration of battle, nor the satisfaction of completing a mission, nor the pure peace she felt just by being at Takao's side. It was something more complex, more burning—tinged with a faint, elusive restlessness.
All she knew was that it made her want to hold the person in her arms tighter, to touch more, to feel more. Vaguely, she realized that the relationship between her and Takao—something defined as "companions"—seemed to have loosened because of tonight's dance, quietly giving rise to something closer, something different. She still didn't understand exactly what it was, but instead of making her uneasy, it brought a kind of… secret joy.
She tightened her arms and buried her face deeper into Takao's back, as if that could press the unfamiliar fluttering along with it into her heart, to treasure it carefully.
A few days later, Tony's underground lab erupted with a long, unrestrained laugh and a few excited curses.
"Success! Ha—ha! I'm a genius! That guy Takao's 'magic' idea was damn useful!"
After fighting without rest day and night, and combining it with the "blooming" concept Takao had proposed, Tony successfully carried out a revolutionary overhaul of the Mark II armor's suit-up system. The original clumsy method that required a massive mechanical platform was discarded completely. In its place was a simple stand in the center of the lab. On it, the chest and back plates were spread open like two enormous metal flower petals—precision internals exposed, wiring and interfaces laid out with crisp clarity.
Compared with the original Mark II that still needed mechanical arms to help with joint sections, this improved suit streamlined the process to the absolute limit. Tony only had to walk into the center of the open "flower," stand still, and issue a command.
"Begin suit-up sequence."
The moment he spoke, a smooth series of clicks and soft hydraulic sounds followed. The open chest and back plates closed rapidly and precisely, sealing around Tony's torso with a perfect fit. Next, the arm and leg components extended and locked automatically through built-in guidance mechanisms. The helmet dropped last, sealing with a low hum.
The entire process was fluid—and took under five seconds. A complete red-and-gold suit of armor stood in the lab.
"JARVIS, run a full systems scan!"
"All systems nominal, sir. High-altitude icing protocol loaded. Per Mr. Takao's reminder, we preemptively optimized the outer shell materials and heating system."
"Perfect! Let's go take her for a spin!"
Carried by unprecedented convenience and excitement, Tony piloted the Mark II armor straight through the floor-to-ceiling window facing the sea, bursting out like a red-gold meteor and shooting into the blue sky.
He reveled in the thrill of speed, tested each function, weaved through the clouds, and even mischievously traced a Stark Industries logo in the air. With the high-altitude icing problem solved, he flew with even less restraint.
Then, at the peak of his fun, misfortune struck. Maybe he was too excited. Maybe he still wasn't familiar enough with the balance system under the new suit-up method. As he ended the test flight and returned to the villa—preparing to land on the spacious balcony—the thrusters under the Mark II's feet seemed to drift by a tiny margin, throwing off his landing posture—
"BANG!! CRAASH—!"
While Takao and Skadi were (forcibly) watching a nature documentary together in the living room, a tremendous boom came from overhead! Dust sifted down from the ceiling, followed by a harsh sound of shattering!
A red-gold figure smashed through part of the villa's upper structure, tumbling down with chunks of building material. It hit the spotless living-room floor in an extremely pathetic, face-first landing and slid several meters before stopping at Takao's feet, scattering debris everywhere.
The armor's surface was caked with dust and fragments. It looked miserable.
The faceplate popped open, revealing Tony Stark's dazed, awkward expression. He shook his still-spinning head, ready to say something—anything—to salvage the dignity of a genius inventor.
Then a voice came from the direction of the sofa, carrying a teasing smile.
Takao looked at Iron Man sprawled in front of him in a full "prostration," forced down his laughter, cleared his throat, and drawled in the tone of an ancient monarch:
"My loyal minister, why perform such a grand salute? Rise quickly."
"…"
Inside the armor, Tony stared at Takao's smug, watching-a-show face—and at Skadi beside him, who still wore almost no expression but seemed to have a trace of curiosity in her eyes—and couldn't help rolling an enormous eye.
Damn Takao! And damn this imperfect first flight! The lifelong reputation of Mr. Stark!
(End of Chapter)
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