New York, Stark Tower, Top Floor
Tony Stark twirled his whiskey glass, the amber liquid catching the soft glow of the room's lights. He squinted, studying the young man across from him with a mocking smirk.
"Let me guess," Tony drawled, stretching the words. "Runaway lab genius? Or S.H.I.E.L.D.'s latest errand boy?"
James Holden remained unfazed, his steady gaze locked on Tony. "I want 15% of Stark Industries' shares." (Note: The hero isn't driven by money; it's just a means to an end. This won't be a major focus later.)
Tony burst into a sardonic laugh. "Look at this, Jarvis. This guy's got tech that outshines mine, and now he's after my shares!"
"I'm not after money," James said calmly. "I want resources, networks, and a legal identity. In return, I can ensure you'll never fear for your life again."
Tony set his glass down, spreading his arms theatrically. "Wow, what a heartwarming offer! Too bad Tony Stark doesn't need anyone's protection."
James let out a soft sigh. "Sounds like you need a demonstration."
Tony's smartwatch suddenly flashed red. "Energy anomaly detected!"
In an instant, James's eyes ignited with a blazing golden glow.
ZAP! BOOM!
Twin heat beams sliced through Stark Tower's reinforced windows, striking an abandoned factory miles away with surgical precision. An explosion roared, and the industrial site erupted into a sea of flames.
Tony leapt to his feet, pupils narrowing. "Jarvis! Energy analysis!"
"Sir, the beams reached 5,500°C, equivalent to the sun's surface," the AI responded.
Tony's breathing quickened, but he forced himself to stay cool. "Nice trick. Laser weapon? Energy projector?"
James didn't reply. He rose slowly from the floor, his black suit floating lightly in still air. Tony's expression shifted.
"Anti-gravity tech?"
James smirked. "No. Just raw power."
Before Tony could react, James grabbed his shoulder. "Wait, what are you—"
BANG!
A sonic shockwave erupted as they shot into the sky at a speed beyond human perception. In 0.5 seconds, Tony found himself in Earth's orbit, struggling to breathe in the vacuum.
"I'm gonna die…" he stammered, pale.
James glanced at him and, with a gesture, enveloped Tony in a golden bio-force field. Tony Stark—genius, billionaire, playboy, Iron Man—stared at the spinning Earth below like an awestruck child.
"Impossible…" he whispered.
James's calm voice echoed beside him. "Still think I'm bluffing?"
Tony turned, stunned, forgetting that sound shouldn't carry in space. "Who the hell are you?"
James's clothes floated in the void, haloed by sunlight. "You've already guessed, haven't you?"
Tony swallowed hard. "Superman?"
James shrugged. "Good guess, but no prize."
Back in Stark Tower, Tony collapsed onto the couch, fingers trembling. As a genius scientist, he grasped the magnitude of what he'd witnessed: breaching the atmosphere, surviving reentry temperatures—feats beyond human technology.
"You're really Superman?" he asked, voice hoarse.
James met his gaze, eyes deep. "You could say that. Call me that if you like."
"Like in the comics? Kryptonian? Powered by the yellow sun?" Tony was already analyzing.
James smiled. "Something like that. My story's… more complicated."
Tony caught a key point. "Hold on. Why the shares in Stark Industries? With your power, you could—"
"I don't want to rule the world, Tony," James interrupted. "I need a legal identity, a platform. And you're the best choice."
"15% of the shares to never worry about kidnappings, assassinations, or any threat again."
Tony fell silent for a long moment, then looked up, his arrogance replaced by a complex glint. "Deal."
For the next half-hour, Tony bombarded James with questions like an eager student. James answered some, deftly sidestepping others.
"So, you can hear the whole planet? See through walls?" Tony paused, suddenly awkward. "Wait, does that mean…"
"Relax, I'm not interested in people's secrets," James sighed.
Tony returned to the bar, pouring another drink and downing it in one gulp. "15% of the shares… the board's gonna have a meltdown."
"Say I'm an offshore fund," James suggested. "Or that it's your personal call."
Tony flashed his roguish grin. "How about you prove your goodwill by fixing a little problem?"
James had anticipated this. "The reactor in your chest is poisoning you."
Tony instinctively touched his chest. "Yeah. I've tested the entire periodic table."
"The Stark Expo model, left by your father," James said softly. "The answer's there."
Tony jolted, shocked. "How do you know that…"
"Trust me, check the model," James replied, standing. "We'll meet tomorrow to discuss the shares."
Before Tony could respond, James vanished into the night, leaving only a rippling curtain.
Tony stood frozen, then muttered, "Jarvis, pull all data on the 1974 Stark Expo."
"Ready, sir," the AI replied. "Shall I contact Ms. Potts?"
Tony shook his head, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "No. Prep the car, we're heading to the warehouse."
Meanwhile, at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, an alarm blared. Nick Fury stared at a satellite image of a figure breaching the atmosphere, his single eye gleaming with danger.
"Find him," he ordered Black Widow via the screen. "Before anyone else."
In a dimly lit room, Alexander Pierce studied the same image. "Suspend the Winter Soldier project," he said into a phone. "We need to reassess this guy's threat level."
In the night sky, James floated above the clouds, his super-hearing catching every conversation about him. He knew he'd sparked a storm, but that was exactly what he wanted.
"The game begins," he murmured, then shot toward the sun.
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