Kapitel 1763: 39
Chapter-specific warnings: the usual [unreliable narrator because of different priorities, legal drama and scheming, not Avengers friendly, etc.], However, the unreliable narrator is going to amp things up even more, as any last dregs of Tony's self-awareness make a break for it. Also, there's misunderstandings and threats of canon-typical violence due to said misunderstandings, but don't worry, there's a happy ending somewhere in this mess.
Also, an attempt at cameos despite my never having seen the characters in question.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Tony Stark took a deep breath and scrubbed his face in preparation for the inevitable emotional roller coaster from hell.
He didn't want to do this.
He really, really didn't want to do this.
But it wasn't like he had a choice anymore.
[Thor had called it "a higher form of war" and the Earth was nowhere near ready—no.]
"If you want something done right…" He muttered, then sighed.
This was the endgame, there was no turning back. No hesitation, no regrets.
No regrets.
The Merchant of Death had left retirement, and was loath to go back to it now. As much as he hated it— Tony's voice had absolutely none of the doubt he felt as he squared his shoulders and looked up.
"JARVIS, give me everything we've got from SHIELD's files about what happened in New York, Phase 2, and anything else that might've involved the Tesseract or alien invasions."
To: Hill, M. Head Intel Officer, Director of SWORD [Communications, Security, New York branch]; All Security Department Heads [all branches]; All Communications Department Heads [all branches]; All Legal Department Heads [all branches]; Jordan, A. Head Representative [Legal, New York branch]; All PR Department Heads [all branches]; Lee, M. Head Representative [PR, Los Angeles branch]
From: Rivera, M. Coordinator [Legal, New York branch]
Subject: I Wish I Were Making This Up
Due to Dr. Stark's experience with SHIELD and handling of the latest incidents, the UN and WSC want to consult with him on the formation of the internationally-approved Avengers Initiative.
We just received the request.
Please send help.
—Rivera
———————
To: Rivera, M. Coordinator [Legal, New York branch]
From: Johnson, E. Staff Assistant [Marketing, Security, London branch]
Subject: Talk About Closing The Door After The Horse
Let me get this straight: the Avengers threw a hissy fit that influenced multiple countries' foreign policy when it comes to international aid, was so bad we didn't even make any waves when we got the Secretary of State *fired*, required departments around the world working overtime for **weeks** to help clean up, and now this?
I can't even. We still on for the campaign?
—Johnson
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To: Rivera, M. Coordinator [Legal, New York branch]
From: Romero, D. Department Head [PR, New York branch]
Subject: No.
Just from a practical level, isn't Dr. Stark booked solid for the next three months?
I understand that the UN has been impressed with our handling of these issues and would greatly appreciate using some of our policies as a reference for the creation of a functional system for Enhanced individuals wishing to help, especially in light of recent events. However, upon reviewing said request, they are asking the wrong individual for this. That's the excuse we're going with for why this is being denied, and not 'I glimpsed Dr. Stark's schedule and it scares me'.
Anyone willing to take this one? I'm thinking SWORD, personally.
Too tired to not Occam's Razor it, is why
—Romero
———————
To: Romero, D. Department Head [PR, New York branch]
From: Rivera, M. Coordinator [Legal, New York branch]
Subject: Agreed.
Also, for the record: last I checked, the earliest time slot that can be scheduled for meeting with Dr. Stark is six months away.
Really looking forward to Phase 3 rn
—Rivera
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———————
To: Hill, M. Head Intel Officer, Director of SWORD [Communications, Security, New York branch]
From: Rivera, M. Coordinator [Legal, New York branch]
Subject: High Priority—Request for Consultation
There will be be representatives from PR and Legal, but we believe someone with your outstanding credentials would be a great fit for this endeavor as well: our potential clients, the UN and WSC, are trying to create an internationally-approved system for the Avengers Initiative. Any personnel with experience in a related field would be a tremendous plus.
Bonus points if you can…politely remind them that one man is not an entire company
—Rivera
———————
To: Decker, M. Analyst, Head Secretary of SWORD [Accounting, Security, Los Angeles branch], Palamas, K. Deputy Director of SWORD [Security, Los Angeles Branch]
From: Hill, M. Head Intel Officer, Director of SWORD [Communications, Security, New York branch]
Subject:If I Have To Do This, I'm Taking Everyone With Me
Attachment: Request for Consultation
Clear your schedules for the foreseeable future, we all know how efficient these sorts of things are.
—Hill
———————
To: Hill, M. Head Intel Officer, Director of SWORD [Communications, Security, New York branch]
From: Decker, M. Analyst, Head Secretary of SWORD [Accounting, Security, Los Angeles branch]
Subject: Yes I Am Back On My BS
And I am doing more than just fine, I am on *fire* even if I did not miss these levels of bureaucracy. You're welcome for getting that amendment through, btw— just delete any evidence of Honolulu and we'll call it even.
Speaking of which, though: why is Dr. Stark not out for blood? That was the perfect opening to leverage the situation for it
—Decker
———————
To: Decker, M. Analyst, Head Secretary of SWORD [Accounting, Security, Los Angeles branch]
From: Hill, M. Head Intel Officer, Director of SWORD [Communications, Security, New York branch]
Subject: Why Are You Like This
Dr. Stark's priorities are on the bigger picture: the Avengers are no more, he's been working on a long-term contingency for a while now and the timetable's been upped to right now. I know you've been out for blood since DC, but revenge is not on his mind as far as I can tell.
Also, before you waste a few favors on it: I'm pretty sure Legal's grudge is more than enough to take care of the problem, even by your standards
—Hill
———————
To: Decker, M. Analyst, Head Secretary of SWORD [Accounting, Security, Los Angeles branch]
From: Palamas, K. Deputy Director of SWORD [Security, Los Angeles Branch]
Subject: This Next Meeting
Please tell me you got the digital version of Form I-225-X because I think my paper copy got lost somewhere in the pile and I need it as reference for this latest pitch in an hour.
Hill wasn't kidding about making us suffer with her, was she.
Joke's on her though: I actually *like* having to fill out my crap in triplicate
—Palamas
———————
To: Palamas, K. Deputy Director of SWORD [Security, Los Angeles Branch]
From: Decker, M. Analyst, Head Secretary of SWORD [Accounting, Security, Los Angeles branch]
Subject: No Need To Rub It In
Here, btw.
I think Accounting spoiled me for efficiency because this is just getting on my nerves now. First responder elements + militant aspects and leanings + NGO structuring, with some of these countries? And then watch as they get all huffy about why it's taking so damn long?
Why don't you just shoot me, it'd be less painful
—Decker
"Sir, it is past midnight and you have been staring at that file for the past five minutes without making any edits. May I suggest resting?" JARVIS' voice cut through Tony's errant thoughts, and he jolted from where he was hunched over the monitor.
Then he straightened up as the words registered, and bit back a sardonic laugh even as something in his back popped.
"J, you really think I'm going to get a good night's sleep until JOCASTA is finished?"
"Sir—"
Tony was alone, was on a roll while in the closest he could get to an engineering binge in week s, no way was he stopping now, not when—
"Sir. You have averaged five hours this past week, six this past month, your body temperature and blood pressure are both elevated. We are now aware that this increases the risk of Extremis' reactivation."
Tony heaved a sigh, and looked back at the monitor where JOCASTA's code was practically swimming before his eyes in one window, and...what had he been even thinking, for those output relays? Oh, wait, never mind that would really— and then the entire screen froze just as Tony tried to make another note.
"Sir, what you are doing is neither healthy nor sustainable, please rest."
That...gave Tony pause.
JARVIS sounded worried. Had a note of something in his voice, that sounded jarringly out-of-place when it came to his usually deadpan and snarky AI [and startlingly reminiscent of the original Jarvis].
This wasn't anywhere near the first time Tony had pushed himself. Not even close. From his occasionally ill-thought-out experiments, way back in MIT that had him regularly up past three in the morning if Rhodey wasn't around to drag him to bed, to engineering binges that went over 72 hours [ much to JARVIS' despair ], to Afghanistan and then...well.
Point was, Tony was acutely aware of his limits, and wasn't afraid of pushing himself to [ and occasionally past ] them if necessary— and in this case, the situation absolutely demanded it of him: something big was coming, and he was currently the last man standing of the original Avengers initiative who was capable of and willing to do something about it.
He had the power to help— it would be downright criminal to not. The world was in extreme danger, even if it was currently living in blissful ignorance, and he would rise to the occasion [just like he always did].
Even if he was doing like 90% of the work for it in what normal people would have considered their spare time. Even if he was sandwiching designs and notes and ideas for coding on his phone between meetings with politicians from around the globe and hearings and press conferences. Even if he was exhausted in three different ways, where he'd previously thought there were only two.
"J—"
"Your stress levels have not decreased despite the apprehension of the fugitives. Your average hours of rest have , which is not conductive to your long-term goals."
"JARVIS. What rest? Every goddamn time I close my eyes I see—" Tony cut himself off for a moment to keep his voice from cracking. Then he remembered he was alone with the one being who'd been with him at his best and at his worst, and never once treated him any differently for it. Finally, he let the last few dregs of his mask fall away with a quiet sigh.
"I see the endgame, JARVIS. Something big is coming, so big it makes New York—" his voice faltered, but he plowed on regardless, "—look like a slapfight between preschoolers. I know you didn't get footage of what I saw when I went through that portal, but...we're outnumbered and outgunned. So. Damn. Much. If whatever it is shows up tomorrow, we wouldn't stand a chance even if the Avengers assembled and all the world's militaries sent out their best."
He took a ragged breath, and clenched his hand as he glared at the uncooperative numbers dancing on his monitor, now fully alert and on a roll. "We don't stand a chance, wouldn't even make a dent. As it is right now, we'd be dead in the water and I refuse to let that happen."
"Sir, core temperature rising!" JARVIS warned, just as Tony caught the acrid scent of melting plastic.
Damn. There went his spare pen.
Wait, shit, that meant Extremis was close to—
Tony took a deep breath, and carefully let it out as he focused solely on JARVIS' counting. Then again, and again.
Once his heart rate was back down to something that wouldn't have him leaving scorch marks everywhere, Tony carefully stood up and make his way to where DUM-E's latest smoothie was already waiting for him.
"Hey JARVIS, is this edible?"
"Nothing hazardous, sir. Though I would recommend adding protein powder, as the caloric cost of activation energy--"
"Preaching to the choir here, J."
"And yet you nearly reactivated Extremis." JARVIS could not have sounded more judgemental if he tried.
Which... unfortunately, he had a point.
"Look, I get it, okay? But at this rate JOCASTA won't be up for another few months at best, and there's still the tech necessary for a planetary defense system, and that's not even counting the meetings I have to do—"
" Sir . Right now you are working yourself into an early grave, and that is not acceptable. "
Tony threw up his hands. "Well, who the hell else am I supposed to trust with this, J? I'm still dealing with the fallout from the last time I tried, talk with Dr. Foster only once in a blue moon, and the more I'm looking at this the more it looks like I'm going to have to bring out the big guns and I don't see that going over well with anyone. Myself included."
"That can wait," JARVIS insisted, "I can do some of the work while you rest."
Tony leaned back in his chair. "While I appreciate the thought, no. Anyone gets wind of you working on JOCASTA's code, all sorts of red flags would go up and we're already going to be pushing the envelope as is."
"Then I will work on the Legion's defenses instead." JARVIS rebuffed stubbornly, and at that, Tony couldn't help but give a slight smile as he leaned back to consider it.
If he put JARVIS on it...that'd be one less thing to worry about, in the long run. He was already in charge of the Legion, was always ready and willing ear to bounce ideas off of, that he could trust with even the darkest of his impulses and nudge him away from death rays or submachine guns or...whatever.
Huh. He really was tired, if he couldn't think of other no-good-very-bad ideas for potential Legionnaire modifications.
Meh, chalk it up to his focusing on getting JOCASTA's code up to snuff. Especially since she was going to be under far greater scrutiny than any AI he'd ever built before, what with the whole 'proposed planetary defense system' thing and all. If JARVIS wanted to help him out with some of the supplementary work...that would actually be very helpful, and a load off his mind.
"That works. Some people might try and make a big deal out of it, but...you've been on Iron Legion duty for a while, I'll leave that to you, sound good? Keeping it up and ready if anything hits the fan for no,. I'll leave the necessary modifications at your discretion. And then you can catch Jo up to speed, when she goes online."
JARVIS sounded so pleased it should've been a crime. "That is most agreeable. Now, rest."
"I'm going, I'm going. Geez. Mother hen." Tony grumbled as he slowly got to his feet.
"He's right, boss." FRIDAY piped up.
At that, he nearly choked on the last of his smoothie before he sighed. "Not you too, Fri."
As if that wasn't enough, however, You somehow managed to sneak up on him well enough to dump both a pillow and a blanket on his head.
"My own AI are ganging up on me." Tony mock-scowled as he tucked his surprise acquisitions under his arm, before laughing for what felt like the first time in weeks. "Mutiny. Fine, I know when to quit. Night, everyone."
To: Hill, M. Head Intel Officer, Director of SWORD [Communications, Security, New York branch]
From: Decker, M. Analyst, Head Secretary of SWORD [Accounting, Security, Los Angeles branch]
Subject: Consultation Progress
I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel
—Decker
———————
To: Hill, M. Head Intel Officer, Director of SWORD [Communications, Security, New York branch]
From: Palamas, K. Deputy Director of SWORD [Security, Los Angeles Branch]
Subject: Revised List of Candidates
Looks like Cpt. Danvers is the current favorite to be the program head.
I do not envy the paperwork she's going to have to deal with
—Palamas
———————
———————
To: Decker, M. Analyst, Head Secretary of SWORD [Accounting, Security, Los Angeles branch]
From: Palamas, K. Deputy Director of SWORD [Security, Los Angeles Branch]
Subject: So…
We can definitely use at least 3 of those loopholes for Phase 3, right? And did Hill even notice that last clause?
—Palamas
———————
To: Palamas, K. Deputy Director of SWORD [Security, Los Angeles Branch]
From: Decker, M. Analyst, Head Secretary of SWORD [Accounting, Security, Los Angeles branch]
Subject: Now Listen Here You Young Whippersnapper
I was operating since before you were but a shiny baby-faced probie, do you *honestly* think I didn't leave in a backdoor for us? Or several, for that matter.
Didn't take the favors I'd expected, even. And no, otherwise she'd go 'oh no' and 'it'd be too obvious' and 'if you two chuckleheads take over the world I am going to drag you down with me when management comes calling' and I am NOT doing this again.
I am having too much fun with this to stop now
—Decker
The next few months flew by in a blur for everyone in Stark Industries.
Tony made a special point of apologizing to both Peter and his aunt, and apparently the makeup wasn't doing a good enough job of hiding the bags under his eyes because May didn't even punch him when he showed up on her doorstep.
Made even worse by the worried looks he'd gotten when he'd mentioned having to put a brief hiatus on his mentorship thing with Peter, because the kid deserved someone who could focus on him, rather than the literal flood of meetings and appointments Tony was currently handling. It wouldn't be long, just until the worst of it was over and he wasn't babbling in what little he knew of Mandarin at a meeting with German diplomats. [That had been embarrassing on a number of levels, made even worse by how understanding the guys'd been about it.]
Still.
For as stressful as it all was, time marched on regardless, and they all weathered the storm. For the most part, anyway— the biggest casualty on Tony's end was his ability to keep up on what was going on in the world: between his workload and his plans for the Earth's defense, if JARVIS wasn't updating on him then it was just one thing he was missing out on.
Pepper was dealing with something similar too, but her not having to worry about JOCASTA's coding meant she was a bit more in the know than he was. Not to say that JARVIS wasn't doing a good job— he was, and sometimes had a better bead on current events than the local news— but.
Much to everyone's dismay, Tony was no longer up to date on the nuances of pop culture, as evidenced by the first meme to fly right over his head. Which was a bummer, because if the R&D guys' faces were anything to go by, it'd been a doozy.
Still, it was nothing compared to the bigger picture, so needs must.
…even if it meant that he was blindsided by the fact that he'd somehow managed to get picked as both Time's Person of the Year and been ranked #1 of Forbes' list of most powerful people during its annual compilation.
Because yeah, that was a thing.
And Tony didn't know how he felt about it. Especially when the memes started to float around even more, to the point where they started to get on his nerves— like the time he'd found the copy of the Evil Overlord List taped to R&D's break room fridge with several items checked off.
However, even that was second to the relief felt when he contacted Dr. Foster about any breakthroughs in her research, and started talking about its possible applications. She had been a bit wary at first, [probably thought he wanted to steal it, knowing his luck,] but when he'd mentioned his plans and the need for someone to oversee the development of a way to counter whatever energy the 'Dark Elves' had been using during the London incident…well.
Their new agreement involved a lot of funding and Dr. Foster being in charge of however her research was used. At the moment Tony was focused on making sure alien portals couldn't be opened at the drop of a hat, the fact that her research was also touching on the energy and mechanics of Asgard's Bifrost wasn't as much of a priority for him. Nor was the potential for the Earth to do something similar— even if that it sounded really cool and he'd love to geek out over it when they could afford to do so.
For now, if Dr. Foster wanted to be the Earth's first intergalactic gatekeeper, more power to her— all Tony wanted was the peace of mind that nobody'd be invading that way again.
…huh.
Things were finally looking up.
Progress.
Maria Hill was coordinating with Dr. Stark and the Security department over the latest wave of paperwork sent to them from the new Avengers Initiative. Captain Danvers and Hope Van Dyne were the first two of the new program [much to Hank Pym's displeasure], and they'd been wrapping up on how to best coordinate over potential threats and recruitment down the line.
Or, at least, they had been, prior to the light show around the corner of the hallway.
The moment she'd first glimpsed the golden sparks arcing out, she cursed the fact that she'd left her gun in her office and shoved her boss into the nearest cubicle in sight— for all that Dr. Stark was looking better than before [read: less haggard than usual, as if he'd had 6 hours of sleep instead of 5], this was a new threat and he was nowhere near 100%. Or his suit, for that matter.
"JARVIS," she barked out even as she hefted the ugly lamp Marcia'd somehow snuck past HR, "Sound the alarm."
But even as she spoke, a cloaked figure emerged from the glowing portal and she knew any heavy-duty backup would arrive far too late to be of help. [Ugh. Why was it always magic?]
Still. She wouldn't be who she was if she didn't stand in its way.
"You are not authorized to be in this area. Leave." Maria Hill ordered, with all the command she had as the Director of SWORD and former Deputy Director of SHIELD.
The unknown appeared to be a tall Caucasian male wearing old-fashioned robes and a cloak that fluttered in the nonexistent wind.
Yep. Definitely magic.
Fuck.
Made even worse by the way he casually brushed off a speck of lint off his sleeve as he stepped out of wherever he'd come from, before looking at her with the same cool competence she was used to seeing from coworkers.
"Where is Tony Stark?" He asked pleasantly as he approached her, as if he wasn't fully aware of what he was doing.
"Not happening, you don't have an appointment with him. Try sometime three months from now." She shot back, with just as much saccharine courtesy.
"Oh," she really wanted to punch that stupidly smug smile right off his face, "I believe he'll make time. Didn't expect him to be the type to have minions, though. Or personal guards."
"That's because I don't, they're employees." Dr. Stark replied coolly behind her, and she stiffened. "Also, rude."
The unidentified stranger's eyes gleamed even as he sketched a bow. "Ah yes. My apologies, Director Hill, it is not you with whom I have a quarrel with."
That was not comforting in the slightest.
Especially as the unknown continued, not looking away from Dr. Stark as he slowly started to circle them. "I am Dr. Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth. It is my duty to guard it against threats. Both potential and…not."
Maria bristled even more, because that was as clear a threat as she'd ever heard and all of that was aimed squarely at Dr. Stark and they might've joked about Phase 3 but this was—
She could only stare in disbelief as Dr. Stark's face shifted from 'Merchant of Death' to dawning realization, and couldn't even move fast enough to interfere as he moved from his somewhat-secured position to right square in front of the very dangerous and hostile unknown.
"Threats, you say? Why the hell didn't you say so earlier? Jesus if this was your pitch to join the Avengers you're really barking up the wrong tree but—"
If not for the gravity of the situation, Maria might have laughed at look of sheer bafflement that crossed Dr. Strange's face.
…then again, she was fairly certain her own expression wasn't any better.
She'd known Dr. Stark was very brash at times, but having the guts to saunter up to the guy threatening him to his face and acting like everything was okay? While also calling off the backup JARVIS sent in?
That was one hell of a way to deescalate the situation. Even more so, because it was actually working: in the span of minutes, Dr. Strange went from 'hostile and ready to fight', to where they were now, with Dr. Stark animatedly talking about energy signatures while pretending to ignore the look of very deep suspicion he was getting.
Finally, his phone started ringing and Dr. Stark startled out of his impromptu presentation.
"—and that's my alarm for my next meeting, like I said you're barking up the wrong tree if you want to be an Avenger but I'd love it if you could chip in on how to counter alien magic because Dr. Foster's currently our lead expert but the more the merrier for something like this. Here's my business card, next time don't be an ass and just call if you want to drop in because you crashed the tail end of this meeting and I'd rather keep the misunderstandings to a minimum, thanks."
Dr. Strange took said card with an oddly amused look, then tucked it away. "I'll be seeing you around, Stark."
Then he turned sharply and with a single gesture, vanished into another golden-edged portal.
Just like that, the last traces of surreality vanished and everything returned to normal.
Okay, that was it: Maria Hill hated magic.
Tony Stark didn't bother to hide the flicker of hope he felt as he flicked through diagram after diagram of what would soon be JOCASTA's defense systems.
Something that would shield them from the horrors of what was to come.
Something big, something the world had never seen before, not on this scale.
He wasn't— part of him was proud of it, yet not.
He wasn't proud of what he'd had to do to get to this point. Wasn't proud of breaking his cardinal rule, of how much input had been needed by Merchant of Death to give his youngest AI the vicious claws she would have to lash out in the Earth's defense, to make JOCASTA strong and bulky enough to survive a grudge match against the worst he could think of and still come out swinging.
So far, the core components involved a global network of satellites, and every scrap of research ever conducted on green energy. New York had been very informative in regards to some things, and now…
Well.
Yes, most of this was still in theory— but now it was only a matter of time before he could make it a reality.
Just a matter of time, and refining the last bits of JOCASTA's hardware and code before she came online.
He finished off his bottle of juice, and sighed as he went through his phone for any last-minute updates before letting himself crash for the night.
It pinged, and he snorted at the latest text from Peter.
Their mentorship thing was finally back on, but now Peter made references he didn't get, cracked jokes whose punchlines no longer made sense. Apparently he was really big into memes and kept sending them Tony's way, and every time he didn't get them the kid seemed even more gleeful than before, like there was some joke he was missing out on.
Eh. Whatever, he'd be able to catch up on that later.
For now, it was mostly the memes about Star Trek— although he was getting sick of whoever it was that'd asked JARVIS to play "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" whenever he entered the room because come on, that band wasn't even his genre!
Notes:
Unreliable narrator instances:
—Remember PR's memes about world domination? And how they're meant to mask the extent of the power Tony and SI have managed to accrue thus far? Yeah, that's what's flying over his head right now. His workload + laser focus on protecting the planet ASAP means he's missing some things, and will continue to do so for an embarrassingly long time. Which is how you get him slowly falling apart at the seams, as well as Dr. Strange showing up the way he did, all 'what are your intentions towards Earth' and Tony completely misses the thinly-veiled threat because all he sees is 'here's an expert on magic volunteering to join the club! Dramatic entrance but whatever here's what I've got so far'.
—For the record: Dr. Strange was expecting to have to fight an evil genius/mad scientist-type with delusions of grandeur. He's reluctantly impressed by the extent of Tony's obliviousness, because at first he suspected it was an act but by the third minute of Tony's earnestly explaining what he's got going on in terms of planetary protection, Dr. Strange's just going '...I'm not sure if he's a greater danger to this planet or to himself'
———————
Me, seconds after finishing undergrad: hey I actually have some time to finish my WIPs! Yay!
RL: lol no
^my life in a nutshell right now. Ha. Hahaha *headdesk*
Okay, so there's some stuff you should know, especially if you're a new reader.
1) I outlined this fic since before Spiderman: Homecoming hit theaters. As such, there's elements of this AU set in stone that contradict what's happened since in canon [e.g. whatever it is that went down in Captain Marvel, as well as Thor: Ragnarok, ditto for Infinity War] since they're key to the endpoint of this story. So, don't be surprised that this is going incredibly AU. Because it will. Even more than it already has.
2) While I've tried to incorporate cameos and characters that've shown up in the time since, I'm not a miracle worker nor a Marvel writer so characterization may vary.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein