When Malrick entered the lab, he found nothing particularly unusual—just a few arc reactors humming on the workbench and a stack of DC comics on Tony's cluttered desk.
But Tony himself was nowhere to be seen.
"Tony?" Malrick called out, scanning the room. "Where are you?"
Malrick's enhanced hearing wasn't always active. Like Superman from the movies, he had to focus, filtering out the noise of the world just to enjoy some peace.
Now, tuning in, he tilted his head slightly and caught the distant sound of movement.
"The garage," he muttered. "But… what's with all the noise?"
By the time Malrick reached the basement, the scene was chaotic.
Tony had dark circles under his eyes but was brimming with manic energy. He wore a pair of mechanical boots with exposed wires, gripping two controllers while barking orders to his AI assistants.
"Dummy, keep recording. You—move the fire suppressant over there. Yes, right there. And you're on fire control duty."
Tony stepped onto his makeshift testing platform, inhaled deeply, and said, "Alright, 10% thrust engaged… initiating test flight."
He bounced on his toes, loosening his shoulders. "Three, two, one…"
The jet boots roared to life—WHOOSH!
A burst of flame hurled Tony into the air, where he smacked into the ceiling with a heavy thud before collapsing back to the ground in a crumpled heap.
"OOF!" Tony groaned in pain just as one of the arms blasted him with white foam.
"Ouch. That looked like it hurt," Malrick muttered, raising an eyebrow at the mess.
Tony groaned, twisting on the floor, "Malrick? Help me out here. I think I cracked a rib."
"Coming…" Malrick walked over and helped Tony into a nearby chair. "Maybe next time ask Dummy to set up a crash mat first."
"It's not extreme sports," Tony grumbled. "I'm working on the Mark II armor."
"You mean… that?" Malrick tapped the scorched boots. "So, your second suit of armor is a pair of shoes? What are you planning—having enemies shoot at your toes?"
"Very funny." Tony rolled his eyes. "I'm testing the propulsion system. Once this is sorted, the suit's efficiency will increase dramatically."
"Sure, sure," Malrick smirked. "Though I doubt the average guy would get it, huh?"
Tony scoffed, "Exactly. Which is why you don't."
Malrick folded his arms. "I got into Columbia, remember? You really think I'm just your average guy?"
"Oh, Columbia! My apologies. When I was your age, I had already graduated MIT and earned three PhDs from Cambridge. Forgive me if I don't relate to your struggle."
Tony waved him off smugly. "Anyway, once you're at Columbia, you'll realize your professors don't understand my tech either."
"I majored in business," Malrick replied. "But they'd probably grasp the market value of your armor."
Before he awakened his powers, Malrick had no choice but to focus on business, thinking that was his path forward.
But now?
He knocked on the boot. "That was then. Things have changed. You do remember what power I awakened, right?"
Tony blinked. "The one where you get stronger in the sun? That one?"
"It's Superman's power," Malrick said, leaning in. "All of it."
"Oh? So, what now—your long-lost Kryptonian dad just showed up, told you to put on red shorts, and save the planet?" Tony snorted. "Or is your Kryptonian cousin flying in tomorrow to arrest you?"
Malrick sighed. "You've been reading too many comics. I'm not from Krypton. You took me to enough physicals as a kid to know that."
Truth was, nineteen years ago, Malrick had arrived in this world as an infant—somehow adopted by the Starks.
He was, in every meaningful way, an Earthling… just not from this Earth.
"And lay off the DC obsession. There's no Gotham gloom in our world."
Tony tilted his head. "Then what's your point?"
"I have a super brain now. Like Superman."
Malrick tapped his temple. "Engineering, physics, computing—I can process it all. I can not only understand your designs, I can improve them."
"Improve my work?" Tony raised an eyebrow. "Malrick, April Fool's was months ago. Save this joke for next year."
He leaned back. "And when did Superman ever use his brain? In every comic, he just charges in with a punch."
"Maybe…" Malrick mused, "his super brain told him that sometimes, sheer power is the right move."
"So, reckless genius?" Tony smirked. "Either way, you still don't understand my suit."
"Enough!" Malrick raised a hand. "You've clearly only read half the comics. Come back when you've finished a full arc."
Before Tony could reply, Malrick challenged, "If you think I can't understand it, prove it. Give me one day. I'll learn everything about your armor."
He held up a single finger. "And in three days, I'll build a better one."
Tony blinked. "Come again?"
His fatigue vanished instantly.
That? That was the line.
A direct challenge to his genius—from his annoying, overconfident little brother.
"This… is the funniest thing I've heard in 2008," Tony said, standing up straight despite the bruises.
"I accept your challenge. 'Mortal wisdom'? I'll show you what real intelligence looks like."
He turned to his workbench and clapped.
"Dummy, reset the station. Butterfingers, bring me the materials. The rest of you—stand by for redesign of the propulsion system!"
Malrick narrowed his eyes, the competitive fire rising.
"Jarvis," he said, "send every piece of exosuit research Tony has to my StarkPad. I want it memorized in 30 minutes."
"Right away, Master Malrick," Jarvis replied, then paused.
"But… may I remind you why you came to see Mr. Stark? And Ms. Potts' earlier request?"
Malrick winced. "Pepper? What about her?"
He cracked his knuckles. "Forget it for now. Today, Tony Stark learns what a super brain can do."
---
Wanna read 40+ Chapters in advance? You can check my p@treon.
Patreon(.)com/Zphyr_