Superman in Marvel: Multiverse Ascendant

"Of course, but if it were him, he'd definitely say—"

Leon stretched out his words: "Pepper, I have many habits, but nostalgia isn't one of them. Do whatever you want with this thing—smash it, burn it, it's up to you."

"Pfft~" Pepper couldn't help but laugh at his spot-on impression.

She gazed at the Ark Reactor in her hand, unable to get enough of it.

"That's exactly what he'd say," she chuckled. "So, where is he now?"

Leon shrugged. "Sleeping. He's been pulling all-nighters for days, so I knocked him out."

"What? He hasn't slept for days? Oh my God, Leon, you absolutely did the right thing! Is he in the bedroom now?"

"Of course. Go check on him upstairs."

"Okay, okay, I'll go right away!" Pepper nodded eagerly and hurried off, but before leaving, she turned back.

"Leon, you too—make sure to get some rest, okay?"

"I know, I know!" Leon grinned. "Once I finish tidying up here, I'm calling it a day."

Pepper gave him an approving look. "That's what I like to hear!"

As she disappeared down the corridor, Leon let out a deep breath.

"Phew… problem solved."

Jarvis chimed in. "Master Leon, are you sure this is alright? Mr. Stark never actually—"

"Oh, come on. If it weren't for me, Tony would've given Pepper the Ark Reactor himself, and what he'd say would be pretty much the same as what I just imitated."

Leon waved it off. "Run a simulation, see for yourself."

After a brief pause, Jarvis responded: "Bzzt… Based on Mr. Stark's behavioral patterns, the simulation results show an 83% similarity."

"See? I just polished the delivery."

Leon spread his hands. "The results speak for themselves—Pepper's happy, Tony's happy, and I get some free time. Win-win-win!"

"Mr. Stark will be… grateful when he finds out." Jarvis said wryly.

"Oh, he better be grateful. Now, with no more distractions, let's finally start building this armor!"

When Tony woke up, something felt… off.

Pepper was too gentle.

Jarvis kept checking in on his well-being.

And worst of all—Leon, that scheming little brat, had banned him from his own lab.

His own lab!

Huffing, Tony sulked in bed, his mind racing.

Hah! He must be panicking, realizing he can't actually make the armor! That's why he won't let me see anything. He's afraid of embarrassing himself!

With renewed determination, he stormed down to the garage.

"Fine! Even if I can't get into the lab, I'll still crush Leon in two days. And then, I'll make him chug a cup of hot Coke in defeat!"

"Alright, Daidai, push the support frame over! Clumsy, bring me the—"

Silence.

Something was wrong.

"Daidai? Clumsy? Where the hell are you guys?"

Tony looked around.

None of his mechanical assistants were there.

"You've got to be kidding me! Leon stole all of them? They're all working for him now?!"

Tony was losing it.

In the end, he had no choice but to storm back into the lab and demand his "little assistants" back.

After all, he didn't have superpowers—he needed those machines to build his armor.

Two days later.

It was a rare sunny day on the West Coast of Los Angeles.

Sunlight reflected off the ocean, waves shimmering like scattered prisms.

From Stark Mansion, the sea stretched out endlessly, sailboats and cruise ships dotting the waters in a peaceful scene.

But inside the mansion?

Tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.

In the underground garage, the sunlight slanted in from the entrance, dividing the massive space into stark halves—light and shadow.

Leon stepped inside, golden light glinting off the edges of his hair.

At the far end of the garage, Tony sat with a long-brimmed hat pulled low over his face, the perfect picture of mystery.

"I'm here." Leon's voice was cool.

"I've been waiting for you." Tony's face remained hidden beneath the hat. "You're doomed to lose. You should never have come."

As he spoke, dramatic, adrenaline-pumping music blasted through the garage.

It was the kind of soundtrack that made you expect someone to whip out a gun and start shooting.

"WTF!?" Tony nearly jumped out of his seat.

Realizing he'd lost his cool first, he scowled, ripping off his hat and slamming it onto the table.

"Jarvis! What the hell is this music?!"

"Mr. Stark," Jarvis replied calmly, "this is 'Extreme Ways' by Moby, the theme song from 'The Bourne Supremacy.' Master Leon requested it be played in advance."

Tony's eye twitched. "Leon! We're competing in armor, not a gunfight! What, you planning to pull a gun on me if you can't win?!"

"Tony, Tony." Leon shook his head, looking disappointed. "It's called atmosphere. I'm just setting the stage—to let you feel the weight of your impending defeat!"

"Oh really? If talking big was all it took to win, every underground rapper in the country would rule the world!" Tony scoffed.

Leon smirked. "Look who's making excuses before the match has even started. Nervous, are we?"

"Pfft. Alright then, show me what you built these past two days!" Tony's eyes scanned the room.

Nothing.

No armor.

Just Leon standing there, empty-handed.

Tony folded his arms. "Huh. What's this? No armor? Could it be that you couldn't build it at all and just don't want to admit it?"

Spreading his arms, Tony sighed dramatically. "Leon, don't do this. As your brother, I've always taught you to be honest. If you apologize now, I might forgive you."

Leon only grinned. "Oh, don't worry. You'll see soon enough."

Tony squinted. "Why not now?"

Leon pointed at him, smirking. "Because, according to international tradition—ladies first."

Tony's face darkened instantly. "Kid, I swear I don't remember teaching you to speak like that."

Leon feigned innocence. "Really? Then which gentleman was it who told me 'ladies first' before my graduation speech?"

Tony groaned. "That was a year ago!"

"But you did teach a young gentleman how to address another gentleman." Leon maintained his composure.

Tony pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine, fine! My bad. But don't say that to anyone else, it's rude."

Leon nodded. "Of course not. I'll only ever say it to you."

Tony gave up and turned away, choosing to ignore his smart-mouthed little brother.

...

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