YOU OWE ME

Next day, Airport.

Carl is currently sitting in plane looking out of window at runway thinking about his chat and deal he made with Tony last night.

"looks like it's time to visit kamar Taj, this will gonna be a pain in the ass." Carl sighed while rubbing his forehead

<FLASHBACK>

"You.. you are dying! and you didn't even tell me about it." Pepper looked at Tony with shocked and hurtful look on her face.

"no it's not like what you think I was gonna tell you but I don– " Tony hurriedly tried to explain seeing her hurt and teary eyes. he couldn't bear to lose her.

"you were gonna tell me? huh? when? when it will be too late?" pepper angrily yelled at Tony after hearing what he said. "if you would have told me about it maybe.. maybe we would have found cure for it already."

Seeing her being angry yet still worried about his safety, really warms his heart. Tony look downwards as he couldn't bear to look in her eyes and said "there is no cure for it." he pointed at arc reactor.

"unless I remove it for forever, it will continue to produce poison but I can't do it. just like my father left his name in history because of Arc reactor, I want my name in history as Iron Man." Tony went forward and embraced her in his arm.

"you know, I was never gonna tell you about it. Pepper you are special for me, i don't wanna see you sad. you have always been with me at my weakest as well as strongest moment in my life. In entire world you are the only one who understood me best regardless of whatever others say." He slowly let go of her, and cups her face with his hands, while looking at her with gave full of love and warmth.

"Pepper, I LOVE YOU. I don't know when you become this important in my life, or maybe you have always been important. I love you for a long time but I don't want to confront this feeling, i was scared about letting someone in my life, but now knowing that my life will soon end helped me realize how much I love you."

Pepper suddenly hugs him tightly while sobbing "I also love you, you idiot. you know, how long I was waiting for you."

Tony froze hearing her reply, then suddenly smiles knowing that she also loves him, but then some hesitation appeared on his face. "but, I can't be with you. I don't have much to li–"

"if you guys have done your lovey dovey session. then you should remember you have a guest here." Carl spoke in annoyance, he never thought that a single and they will forget that he was even here.

Tony and Pepper woke up from their moment, and remembered Carl was here. Tony looked at Carl with mixed emotions, he is angry at him that he told her about his condition, but he is also thankful to him because without him he will never have enough courage to tell her about his feelings.

"also what the hell are you going looking like you are having some funeral. do you think, that I have come all the way here to ruin his little secret?"

hearing him say that they also come to realisation. Pepper left Tony embrace but still held his hand and asked hurriedly with a hopeful look "Mr. Carl do you have a solution for it?"

"Yes, but I think we should change the room. I don't want to have a important talk in a ruined place." Carl looks at hole tony has created and rubble around the room.

#

Carl sat leisurely while drinking coffee in room hotel has arranged, across him are sitting Tony and Pepper looking anxious.

Tony broke ice first "you said there is solution about my situation, but i have already tried everything."

"Yes, maybe no. you are one of smartest people I know." Tony puffs his chest in pride hearing him say that, but soon it crumbles and replaced by anger. "and biggest idiot alive."

"how dare you brat. I am one smartest person in this world. how dare you insult my intelligence." Tony spoke angrily.

"hahaha... Yes I was wrong. you are not only an idiot, you also have a giant ego. You ask me how dare I say that? simple because I know solution to your problem."

Seeing Tony is about to flare up again, Pepper hurriedly hold him back. she turned to Carl and asked with a hopeful look. "Mr. Carl, what is solution, you are talking about?"

"simple, a different element to replace. arc reactor."

Tony who was holding back his rage for a while, finally couldn't hold back and snapped at carl. "You think I don't know that. their is no different fucking element in entire world."

"Sorry, I should be more specific. what I mean is a new element."

Tony first got stunned after hearing his answer, then gave him a look one would give at a lunatic or mental person. he sighed and turned to pepper.

"I guess I was just being naive thinking that he may be able to help us. let's go pepper, it's just a waste of time."

"Tony.. oh tony. you should do something about your ego, yes you are smart but that is your problem. because of your arrogance you were not able to realize that you already have solution to your problem."

Tony looked stunned, he pointed finger at his face and asked "I have solution. you mean I have a new element under my eyes, but never able to see it."

"Alright let me show you. Luna bring it."

As carl asked Luna to bring up hologram of a smart city. seeing it Tony realized that it is stark expo 1974 model his father made, this model is still placed in CEO office of Stark Industries. he has questions but held them back, he wants to see what carl want to do.

"Luna, remove the footpaths, remove the landscape, plants, parking area, entry/exit. Clap... Structure the protons and neutrons, using the buildings."

"Congratulations Big brother, you created a new element in this world." Luna creates a hologram of herself while congratulating carl. "what are you gonna name it? brother"

"thank you, but I'm not the one who created it. Howard is the real genius, he was able to create it long ago but due to material restrictions, it was impossible to create it until now." saying this carl looked at trembling Tony who couldn't believe what's happening in front of him. "I think you should be naming it, after all this is inheritance your father left for you."

"huh? I don't know old man, I never thought you will keep giving me lessons even after death." Tony sighed with a complex look in his eyes. he himself Don't know what he is feeling discouraged, tired, admiration, warmth.

"Vibranium. this is what it will be called."

"Mr. Carl, lets talk straightforwardly. what's your motive behind this? you sure want something from me, otherwise you wouldn't get through all this trouble."

Carl looked at Tony who has finally calmed down and spoke slowly "favor, you owe me one thing."

"what do you mean by one thing? and since you have already given me new element. what if I backed down from our deal?" Tony frowned hearing his vague deal.

"One thing means, in future I want you do something or want something form you. as for backing down from deal? hehe.. Mr. Stark you underestimate me. if I showed you my part of deal already, that means I have confidence in making my deal safe. after all it comes down to whose fist is strongest." Carl replied with a laugh as he stands up to leave.

Before he closed the door he decided to tell, Tony who is looking at Carl with frowned expression. "Tony this is my last advice of day. Your father has left you many things you don't know about. If you want them then don't replace your arc reactor and continue doing what you are doing. someone will come to you."

<FLASHBACK ENDS>

suddenly at back of Carl some golden sparks materialized, which kelt getting bigger before turning into portal which sucks Carl, who is still in deep thought.

Carl was sitting at his seat looking out of plane's window in deep thought, suddenly felt lightness and free fall before he felt his butt touching floor. he realizes he isn't at plane anymore. 'who brought me her–'

Cough.. Cough.

But before he can continue his thoughts he heard sounds of someone. when he fell to floor he haven't sensed anyone in room. he hurriedly sprang to his feet and took a fighting stance because whoever can come near him without leaking his presence is a master.

when he turned towards sound he froze, then cursed his bad luck. because the one sitting on front him is

"hello Mr. Carl. I am Sorceress Supreme, current leader of Kamar Taj and protector of earth. Its nice meeting you."