He casually adjusted his collar. Then, a familiar figure gracefully walked up to him, holding two glasses of champagne. This woman was the blonde reporter who had flirted with him at the previous gala, only to be interrupted by the kidnapping.
"Mr. Henry, we meet again." Her voice carried a hint of teasing, and her eyes were filled with undisguised admiration.
"Our conversation was interrupted last time. I wonder if I have the honor of hearing the rest of your story tonight?"
Henry took a glass, winked at her, and gave a charming smile.
"Of course, beautiful lady."
He handed the other glass of champagne back to her.
"However, the story tonight might be a bit long and very exciting. Are you sure you're ready?"
The beauty looked into his deep eyes, her cheeks slightly flushed, and she proudly puffed out her chest.
"I'm a professional, Mr. Stark. I've seen more exciting scenes."
"Oh? Is that so?" Henry smiled, draining the champagne in his glass, and casually handing the empty glass to another beauty who had walked up.
He strode over to Tony and, seeing his arrogant demeanor, couldn't help but complain: "I say, Tony, how long have I been gone? And you've already turned this place into a zoo. Seriously, your taste is still so down-to-earth. I thought you'd at least invite some top-tier talent, not just a bunch of screaming, butt-shaking arm candy."
"Oh, come on," Tony scoffed, shooting back without missing a beat.
"At least they're good-looking. Unlike you, who always hangs out with a pile of cold parts. Honestly, sometimes I wonder if your sexual orientation is a little too hardcore."
"No, of course not." The two brothers continued to mock each other openly in front of everyone. Far from making the atmosphere awkward, it only made the crowd more excited.
Just then, Tony's phone rang in his pocket. He took it out, saw Pepper's incoming call, and immediately hit the mute button, tucking the phone back into his pocket.
"Who was that?" Henry asked casually.
"Pepper." Tony waved his hand dismissively.
"She probably wants to discuss stock prices, the board, or my cholesterol. That's so boring. We're celebrating now; no work talk."
Henry looked at him, smiled, and didn't ask further. He knew that was Tony—a jerk who always put pleasure first but could still shoulder everything when it mattered.
After they finished their banter, Henry spread his arms wide, giving a brilliant smile to the beauties in the pool who were staring at him with heated gazes.
"The party only truly begins now!" he announced loudly.
"Miss me, sweethearts?!"
"AHHH!!!"
Deafening screams and cheers instantly reignited the entire party!
The music started again, even more explosive than before! Countless beauties rushed towards him, screaming like maniacs!
Henry smiled, opening his arms, openly embracing the night of revelry that belonged to him.
He navigated through the crowd, dealing with all kinds of enthusiastic advances, chatting effortlessly with everyone from up-and-coming Hollywood actresses to beautiful models. He was more popular than Tony, seemingly born for this world of glamour and fame.
Tony, holding a drink, leaned against a pillar. He watched Henry navigate the crowd so easily, a subtle smile playing on his lips. Although he complained about Henry stealing his spotlight, he felt a peace he hadn't known before.
The little brother he felt he needed to protect had, overnight, grown into a man who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him.
This feeling wasn't bad.
Henry finally broke free from a group of overly enthusiastic beauties and walked over to Tony, a drink in his hand. The female reporter, sticking to him like a burr, followed closely.
"Why are you hiding here, drinking alone?" he nudged Tony with his elbow.
"Are you feeling unbalanced because I'm more popular than you?"
"Unbalanced?" Tony looked like he'd heard a massive joke.
"I'm contemplating a very serious scientific problem."
"Oh? Do tell. When did you become a scientist again? I thought you only wanted to be a party animal now."
"I'm thinking," Tony's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"After this boring party ends, we must go to the lab. I need to give you another full physical check-up. I'm too curious about how that serum cocktail in your body turned you into a monster. Although Jarvis has explained it, I need to figure out how they merged! Only then can I create the perfect enhanced Super-Soldier Serum tailored for me. I can't let you hog all the spotlight, little brother."
"Monster?" Henry raised an eyebrow.
"No, Tony. That's not a monster."
He raised his glass, clinking it towards the lights of the pool, and then toward the curious reporter next to him, giving a confident smile.
"That's evolution."
Tony rolled his eyes and couldn't help but retort.
"Did I hear that right? You, evolution? You're, at most, a lucky recipient of the genetic lottery—the kind who stumbled into a stroke of good fortune. Honestly, the way you were talking just now, you sounded exactly like those mad scientists in third-rate sci-fi movies preparing to destroy the world. Next time, remember to add a maniacal 'Mwahahaha' laugh; the effect will be better."
"We're the same," Henry shot back unreservedly, then drained the champagne in his glass.
"At least my entrance was more eco-friendly than your tin can, and I don't have to worry about the paint chipping. Seriously, Tony, you should consider getting insurance for your tin can. If you ever hit a bird in the sky, the repairs will be expensive."
They continued their typical Stark-style verbal sparring in front of everyone. The crowd had long become accustomed to it, finding it the most entertaining side-show of the party.
A while later, Henry leaned against the villa's second-floor railing, holding his drink. He watched the beauties enjoying themselves in the pool and the night view of Los Angeles in the distance, with a faint smile on his face. But deep in his eyes, there was a thought no one could comprehend.
It's good to be alive.
He felt that this feeling—this feeling of being grounded, of being able to breathe, think, and protect the people he cared about—was truly wonderful.
He thought of his parents in this world, Howard and Maria Stark. The couple who always flaunted their affection in front of him and spoiled him like a child who would never grow up.
Ever since he realized he was in the high-risk Marvel universe, he had been anxious about their fate.
He was like a solitary figure burdened with a colossal secret, fighting against a predetermined, wretched future.
The first thing he did was go to Howard, subtly bringing up Captain America and the sealed Super-Soldier Serum.
His idea was bold, even crazy: he wanted the entire Stark family to take the serum. He thought that if the whole family had the ability to protect themselves, at least they could survive whatever the future held.
But Howard refused. Howard Stark, though still a genius, had his edges smoothed by a time of peace. He smiled, patted Henry's head, and told him, "Son, the war is over. The world is safe now. We don't need such dangerous things."
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