1 A Reflection of Value #1

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....

"It's been sixteen years..." I muttered, standing at a safe distance from the docks, gazing up at the night sky filled with Iron Man suits descending upon the Norco oil tanker. It was a sight that took my breath away.

I still couldn't fathom how I ended up in this crazy world. One moment I was dozing off, and the next, I wake up in the body of a seven-year-old kid in an orphanage. All I had were these three mysterious crystals and the knowledge that my life had taken an unexpected turn, a Marvelous Twist, if you will.

It didn't take me long to realize I had landed smack in the middle of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After some digging and recognizing familiar faces from my previous life, I pieced it together. But it wasn't an exact replica of the MCU; mutants also existed here, throwing a curveball my way since I wasn't well-versed in the comics.

"But hey, there's always a chance," I mused, tearing my gaze from the explosive display in the night sky and focusing on the white crystal in my hand. Greed essence crystals is what I called them — it had a ring to it. And somehow, I instinctively knew their purpose: to devour and stabilize.

From the moment I realized where I was, a plan began to form in my mind. I was determined to transcend my current limitations and rise to power, or at the very least not be snapped out of existence. I won't bore you with the nitty-gritty, but it all starts with obtaining Extremis.

Extremis was the holy grail of super-soldier serums in the Marvel Universe. It offered everything—a healing factor, super strength, super endurance, plenty firepower, and more-- all at the small risk of exploding into a million pieces due to its unstable nature.

But, hey, That's where the crystal comes in. I just needed to find an Extremis-enhanced individual, either knock them out cold or convince them to part ways with it.

Fortunately, Iron Man and Pepper Potts were on the brink of dealing with Killian, providing the perfect opportunity. I had already made up my mind on which option to pursue.

Extremis would grant me an enormous power boost, but it wasn't solely about strength. If that were the case, I wouldn't waste one of my precious crystals on it.

A smile curled on my lips as I watched Pepper Potts single-handedly take down Killian, saving Tony Stark's ass. It was the signal for me to make my move toward the harbor.

...

"So, am I gonna be okay?" Pepper asked, panting for breath after her heroic takedown of Killian, knowing the side effects of ingesting the Extremis Serum.

"Nope. You're in a relationship with me. Nothing will ever be okay," Tony retorted, deadpan expression on his face, earning a smile from Pepper for his witty effort.

"But hey, I think I can figure this out," Tony added, his words trailing off. He wanted to reassure Pepper that everything would be alright, but something caught his attention, causing him to step forward protectively.

Tony frowned, remarking, "There's just no end to you people, is there?" His gaze settled on a young man who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, approaching them.

"I'm not your enemy," the young man replied, wearing a disarming smile and raising his hands in the air. "Looks like the lady could use some help... I can lend a hand," he added, gesturing towards Pepper with a slight tilt of his chin, hands still raised.

"And what makes you think we need your help?" Tony scoffed, giving the young man an unimpressed look that could rival any expert.

"With your genius, I'm sure you can handle it eventually," the young man replied, shrugging his shoulders and stroking Tony's ego, which brought a grin to Tony's face.

"I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually, but why leave things to chance when I can solve your problem right now?" the young man continued, a smile playing on his lips as Tony visibly faltered. "

"By the way, mind if I lower my hands? My shoulder's getting a bit stiff," the young man asked, a troubled expression on his face as he glanced at his raised hands.

"I'm not pointing a gun at you, am I?" Tony retorted, a hint of snide in his voice, causing the young man to chuckle and drop his hands.

Curiosity piqued, Tony shot the young man a suspicious look and asked, "Who are you, anyway?"

The young man raised an eyebrow in amusement and replied, "Would you take my word for it?"

"Fair point. Jarvis, spill everything you've got on this guy," Tony nodded, instructing Jarvis, the trusty artificial intelligence, to investigate.

Pepper muttered under her breath, clearly exasperated by the banter unfolding between Tony and the young man. She sighed, rolling her eyes at their back-and-forth.

According to Jarvis, the young man was Evan Shepard—an orphan with no known relatives, a graduate from Jefferson High, served in the army for four years, and honorably discharged under mysterious circumstances. Evan simply nodded, confirming Jarvis' findings.

"Well, Mr. Shepard, as impressive as your military record may be, there's nothing to suggest you have the ability to remove Extremis," Tony retorted, studying Evan with a furrowed brow.

"Mind explaining how on God's green earth you're gonna do it?" Tony mocked, giving the young man a provoking look.

"In fact, I do," Even simply shrugged, prompting Tony to swallow whatever retort he had prepared.

"Well then, how can we trust you?" Tony narrowed his eyes, suspicion lingering.

"You don't need to trust me. Trust my common sense not to mess with the only man who can create an Arc Reactor, who just so happens to be a billoinaire and an avenger," Evan replied, waving a dismissive hand.

"And what do you hope to gain from all this? You don't expect me to believe you're doing this out of the kindness of your heart, do you?" Tony questioned, a thoughtful pause preceding his words.

Evan chuckled, shaking his head. "It'd be awkward if you did, because I'm not. I want the blueprints to your Arc Reactor," he revealed, but Pepper swiftly intervened.

"No," Pepper flatly refused on behalf of Tony, causing Evan to smile knowingly.

"Thought so, but it was worth a shot," Evan replied, unfazed by the rejection. "So, here's the deal: 100k and a favor from Tony Stark, which I can call in anytime. And, of course, your word to keep the process confidential," Evan proposed, earning a frown from Tony.

"And if I ever ask you to do something against your morals, feel free to refuse," he concluded, assuaging their concerns, visibly easing their tension.

After some contemplation, Tony was about to voice his opinion, but Pepper cleared her throat, effectively capturing their attention.

"Alright. We've made our choice," Pepper said, nodding resolutely, her calming smile directed at Tony. She wasn't quick to trust people, but the situation left her no choice but to lower her guard and accept the young man's assistance.

With Stark Industries under preassure, it would require the combined forces of Pepper Potts and Tony Stark to keep the company afloat. While she believed in Tony's ability to solve the problem and save her life, she knew it would take time and effort they couldn't waste.

Tony sighed, giving in, and nodded in agreement.

"Let's head somewhere private to get this show on the road. I'm not a fan of public performances," Evan remarked, his meaningful look signaling their departure.

"Fair enough. I'm not an exhibitionist either. Follow me," Tony replied, reluctantly accepting the circumstances and leading the way.

...

"That's quite the place you've got here," Evan commented, leaning against a wall inside a room devoid of windows, taking in the surroundings.

"Well, I should hope so. I designed the Stark Tower Complex myself," Tony responded, a tinge of arrogance in his voice as he waved his hand dismissively. "Before Pepper comes back, let me make one thing clear..." he began, crossing his arms.

"I don't know what you're up to, but if you harm Pepper in any way, I'll hunt you down to the ends of the world," Tony concluded, his face sporting a resting bitch expression.

"Don't worry, I'm not looking for a death wish, and you don't have to trust me for this to work," Evan replied, his smile remaining unwavering, unbothered by the threat.

"Just trust in your ability to make me regret crossing you. That should be more than enough to deter most people," Evan chuckled, causing Tony's frown to deepen.

Tony wanted to say more, but Pepper entered the room, diverting their attention.

She didn't utter a word, simply nodding at Evan to indicate her readiness to proceed and get this over with.

"I don't know if the process will be painful or not, but I can assure you it's completely safe and guaranteed to succeed," Evan reassured, stepping closer to Pepper as she straightened her posture, determined.

"Just give me your hand," Evan instructed, reaching out with his right hand towards Pepper while holding a transparent crystal in his left that was hidden behind his back.

Pepper hesitated for a moment, but quickly dismissed her doubts and took Evan's hand. He shot her a questioning look, seeking her resolve, before crushing the crystal firmly.

Instantly, Pepper's body glowed with an intense orange hue, radiating a searing heat as her face contorted in pain—a sight that concerned Tony, who tried to intervene.

However, Pepper swiftly turned her gaze towards Tony, her expression firm, and he sighed, holding back his protests.

The glow on Pepper's body gradually diminished, converging into the hand connected with Evan's as his veins bulged and his eyes emanated an ominous red glow.

Finally, Evan released her hand and staggered backward, catching his breath while leaning on his knees.

"Are you alright?!" Tony exclaimed, rushing to Pepper's side, gripping her shoulders with genuine concern etched on his face.

"I... I think I'm okay?" Pepper replied, her voice slightly dazed as she inspected her hands, opening and closing them. "I don't feel the Extremis... It worked!" she exclaimed, excitement taking over as she held onto Tony.

"It seems my work here is done," Evan remarked, gathering himself and standing upright. "I'll leave you lovebirds alone. I can find my way out," he added, taking the briefcase filled with money and moving towards the exit.

"Just like that?" Tony questioned skeptically, his gaze fixed on Evan, filled with doubt. "You do realize I could easily renege on that favor now that you've fulfilled your part," he pointed out, making Evan pause in his tracks.

"You won't go back on your word," Evan replied, a knowing glint in his eyes as he glanced back at Tony.

"And why is that?" Tony inquired, his frown deepening.

"Because the favor you owe me is a reflection of how much you value Miss Potts. After all, I did save her life," Evan responded, sounding oddly sure of himself as he reached for the door.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a rendezvous with some spooks waiting to ambush me outside..."

...

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