120 Chapter 120: Running away from responsibilities.

When people start to see what is beyond their scope of understanding about their position in the universe, they will do one of these three things.

First, they will accept their situation, study to become more advanced, and set foot together with the other civilizations in the universe in exploring its infiniteness.

They will open their mind to new possibilities, and their dependence on religion will reduce as they keep trying to understand. Most of these people are intellectual, and people who can see far into the future.

The bodies of the chitauri are studied by professors in lab coats, the alien technology is broken down into their base and incorporated into our own, and we keep trying to do better.

These types of people are excited to venture into the new future.

Second, it's the exact opposite of the first one.

In front of the White House, a crowd of religious people is protesting the government and carrying banners with their accusations.

[ GOD's Wrath UPON MEN!]

[ ***** IS OUR SAVIOUR]

[ Punishment from God because of Gay Marriage]

They are exposed suddenly to a new worldview, and their illusion is shattered. Afraid of their position – their status as the only children of god revoked, people, start to turn to their books and guidance – rejecting everything that is happening and clinging to what they can understand.

They turned to their wise man and pastors – wanted to ease their worry as they are unsure about their fate now.

"People are crazy," Tony exclaimed as he watched the protest around his re-constructed Stark Tower, at the street from the glass window.

[ STOP PLAYING GOD]

[ STARK IS A HERETIC]

[ RETURN TO THE EMBRACE OF GOD]

A minority of people are marching all around the tower, trying to bring down the hero who saved them to their level.

Deep inside, people are afraid. Will they manage to survive in a bigger world? Or will something even stronger than the chitauri come?

The secret research on the aliens is publicized by some corporations – hoping for a piece of the cake. The ongoing research is monopolized by the government and special institutions, making these profit-centric companies restless.

Their decision to do that caused the protest currently ongoing in parts of the country.

Dissatisfied that Oscorp, Stark Technologies, and the Knight Industry have special treatment, the other company wants to get public opinion help in getting some tech to study.

The McCullen group in Europe is hiding behind Nato and is trying to include themselves in the study. Nations around the world are banding together to create a new future and are applying to study the aliens' stuff.

Unfortunately for them, the United States isn't going to let them do that unless the country can do it first. They are keeping a tight hold on the tech – they think.

Arms dealers such as Ulysses Klaw are selling the alien tech a week after the incident. Smuggled from the Hydra within Shield, the tech is now all over the world. It's rare to find a patriotic person that couldn't be swayed by money.

With the corruption in the backbone of the country, the flow of alien tech is now too hard to keep track of, even for Ryan.

"I guess Shield is correct in burying the alien stuff," Tony said suddenly. In his hand, there is a stack of paper, courtesy of Ryan.

Pepper, who had been forced to wear loose clothes even though it was only her first trimester of pregnancy, had her mouth open when she heard what Tony said. Her pen, who is signing the document as the CEO, dropped on the table.

"Really, you of all people?" Pepper asked in an instigative tone. This is unlike Tony who was curious about everything exciting.

"Don't get me wrong. The burying is for the masses. Not me," Tony said as he walked toward Pepper who was sitting on the desk, and handed her the papers from Ryan.

"What is this?" Pepper asked as she started to read the paper.

"This is analysis. A shockingly accurate analysis about the current time," Tony said as he remembered the content of the paper.

Ryan included what to do and what not to do. The society reaction is inside of his estimation. Tony wanted to remove all of the protestors, but Ryan's guidelines told him not to.

These people aren't interfering with his business, it is a peaceful protest. After all, Tony saved New York by guiding the nuclear bomb to the wormhole. What these people want is for Tony to become one of them – listening to the word of god.

Forceful action against these people can be bad for Tony and the rest of the Avengers. It seems dictatorial for Tony to do it. Freedom of speech, Tony needs to respect that.

The crowd gathering around his tower is now lessened after a week of protesting.

How to increase the Avengers' prestige and manage the public sentiment. Merchandising and commercial involvement, and many more.

"I will report to Gwen that he is working even during his vacation," Pepper said as she became absorbed in the papers.

Ryan's analysis even included the behavioral study of the politicians and governments, the stock market movement, and more things that can make money. The profits are used by Ryan and Tony to help rebuild New York.

"I don't think that is going to work."

"Why?"

"He wrote the paper a month ago."

========================

A month ago, Pepper's heart is beating quickly as Tony landed in the Malibu Mansion and is getting out of the suit.

"What do you want to talk about?" Tony asked, a little worried.

"Have a seat first," Pepper pointed to the seat adjacent to her.

"Why the seriousness? It's like you're going to tell me you're pregnant or something," Tony joked as he sat down. He looks at Pepper that is loading up the question and is a little surprised as Tony is the one to broach the subject.

"....What if I want to tell you that?" Pepper asked. 'Oh my god, what if he hates it? Why did I listen to a robot!' panicking inwardly, Pepper waited for Tony's response and hid her emotion with her poker face. Her fingers are entwined and her palm is sweaty.

"What?" Tony is puzzled. What did he say before again? His eyes widened and his mouth agape as he realized what he said.

"Tony… TONY!" Pepper called him repeatedly, but the man was frozen. She waved her hand on his face, but there wasn't any reaction. She sighs and pulls up her phone and begins scrolling.

Tony is out of reality for a couple of minutes. Pepper managed to complete a few works in between.

The initial shock passed. Tony remembers back when he brought the wine home after he stole it from Ryan.

The wine is a gift, he didn't have to steal it. Ryan finally got the perfect ratio of the diluted golden wine and he pairs it with some additional material for the body to adapt faster to it.

Tony had been living using the life support in his chest after his time in the cave. Although he looks stable, there is an open wound on his chest – causing him to be exhausted quickly and not last longer in bed as he used to. He thought it was because he got older, and won't notice it until the shrapnel is taken out from him.

"It's all the wine's fault," Tony said comfortingly as he sat next to Pepper. He did freak out initially, but after he calmed down, he felt incredibly happy that he couldn't stop smiling.

"I know. I think so too," Pepper calmed down when Tony calmed down. Seeing Tony smiling widely, she too is smiling, albeit softly.

"Don't get me wrong. The night is great." Tony patted Pepper's hand and held it after.

"The best we ever had."

"The best? I am not so sure about it." Tony said as his ego is a little hurt.

"We did it 7 times. Well, you do it seven times," Pepper teases. It was an incredible night.

"Yeah… do we still have any left?" Tony is looking around the mansion. The wine had already finished that night.

"I wish. But I can't drink," Pepper said sadly. She wished she could drink before she told Tony this. It might make things easier.

"Right, the baby. I need my wallet. Have you seen it?" Tony said before he gets up without releasing Pepper's hand.

"I think it's in the basement," Pepper said in an incomprehensible tone. What does he want to do right now?

"Wait a moment," Tony rams madly to the basement and comes back out in a huffing breath. He stops in front of his lover and bends the knee.

"Pepper Potts, will you marry me?"

===========================

"Mommy, can you give me my phone back?" Tony asked Pepper who was reading the papers. He slowly reaches into the desk drawer to steal the phone Ryan gave him.

Pepper smacked the thick ream of paper onto the rugged hand.

"No. Ryan and Gwen say to call them only if it's necessary. You've already abused it 3 times before."

"When did I abuse it? It's all urgent stuff," Tony said as he rubbed his hurt hand.

"You call him at 3 in the morning to bother him about a new suit," Pepper said, exhausted. Tony had been spending more time with the suit recently – almost obsessive with it.

If their doctor, Kai had not been continuously advising Tony to be more attentive to Pepper during the pregnancy – she wouldn't be able to see him at all, for weeks at a time.

Tony felt bad. He did try to be more available for Pepper, but at the same time, he kept imagining the scene where an alien army invaded New York – This time with no one to stop them.

Pepper is rubbing her neck with her left hand while her right hand is picking up a pen.

"I told you, you need to rest regularly," Tony snatched the pen away from her bare finger without any ring on it. He goes behind her and starts to massage her shoulders and neck gently.

"Hey. I need to do this today," Pepper said with hesitation as Tony started to hit the right spot.

After Tony got jealous during the checkup and Kai was demonstrating to the couple how to make the mother more relaxed, Tony had been secretly taking lessons from Kai as the doctor managed to produce a sound from Pepper that he had never heard before – or heard it in the bedroom.

He learned it seriously and didn't take any chances with it. After she said no to him, his heart was crushed.

She told him she would say yes when he asked her again, after having surgery to remove the shrapnel and stop living with life support. Ryan told her that MediQuick is designed by him to help Tony in the first place.

Kai supported Ryan's theory by confirming that the surgery will be successful. It's up to Tony now. Can he face his mortality and do the surgery?

He kept putting it off and a month had passed. Not that he didn't want to do the surgery, but it was a hectic month.

Natasha and Clint's disappearance, the harassment Kai is facing from religious fanatics, the government is going back on their word and trying to get forcefully seize the weapons Ryan showed during the war, the new terrorist threat, and more. Tony had been having a headache every single day. The person who can help him solve these issues is now uncontactable — his lover won't let him contact the guy. He has to do it on his own.

The third type of person after the human worldview shattered is they are just going to ignore it.

So what if aliens exist? They still need to go to work, still need to feed their family, and live out their mundane day-to-day life.

People are thankful that Ryan and the Avengers had helped them. However, some do wonder — if the aliens did kill half of the world or break the existing way of life, would they become happier or would they become saddened by it? Or they won't feel anything at all.

…

It's been a month since the Chitauri Incident. During that time, numerous things happened.

Ryan had disappeared from the public eyes. His fans and people who are depending on him have become devastated after hearing he is struggling with his life one day after the war.

Before he went on a vacation, Ryan posted a video on his Instagram, recording only his face and not showing his injuries.

"Heyyo Boyzz, this is your peps, Ryan K. Nocturne "

Gwen scolded him from behind the camera. "Talk normally!"

"Umm... (Whispers) I got scolded."

"Anyway, I want to tell you guys that I am well, although I am injured, my condition has stabilized. I want to thank you for the support and ask the one who is camping near my house, you can go home now."

He talked about his condolences to the people who had lost their family and friends and gave words of encouragement to the New Yorkers.

"I still need to rest for a couple of months to make a full recovery. I will see you guys soon," Ryan said and waved before he concluded the short 1-minute video posted on his social media account.

He also posted a picture of Gwen's hands with the ring, captioned "She said Yes"

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It was the most discussed topic after the war. Ryan now understands why celebrity gossip usually comes out to cover up an incident or an issue.

People are fickle. Instead of focusing on a depressing topic, they are now focusing on discussing Ryan and Gwen's wedding, without the couple participating in it.

"J. Jameson still won't stop talking about me huh."

Lying shirtless with beach pants on a sunbathing chair with Gwen next to him wearing a string bikini at the beach, Ryan is checking up on the news.

"He keeps saying that you're a bigger hero than the Avengers combined," Gwen said as she sipped a drink through a straw from a coconut.

"I am," Ryan said teasingly. Gwen rolled her eyes at him.

"Are you sure now is the right time to release the new movie?" Gwen asked. "Don't you think a portal in the city type of movie will open up the fresh wounds for the victims?"

Ryan is silent for a while. Then he answered,

"Maybe. Or it can give them hope. Besides, this is a kid's movie."