章 26: Chapter 23: Greedy Slime!
"Oh my god… That thing is what's keeping you alive?"
Stark wiggled the sleek, new arc reactor in his hand, his tone casual as ever.
"It was. Now it's time for an upgrade. I've made a few improvements. You'll help me put this one in."
Before Pepper could process his words, Stark reached for the old reactor and, without hesitation, twisted it loose with a soft click before yanking it out.
Pepper's eyes widened in horror.
It was like watching someone casually pull a knife out of their own chest—then toss it aside like garbage.
"You—Wait—How—Is this safe?!"
"Relax." Stark waved her concerns away. "There's a wire inside. I just need you to reach in and pull it out."
"Safe?!"
"Completely safe. Think of it like minor surgery. Just be careful not to let the wire touch anything—or yank my heart out while you're at it."
"What kind of surgery—?!"
"It's more like a game," Stark interrupted smoothly. "No pressure."
Pepper stared at the dark cavity in Stark's chest.
Cold dread slithered down her spine.
"I think… I can't—"
After what felt like an eternity of hesitation, followed by frantic instructions and Stark's overly enthusiastic encouragement, Pepper finally managed to swap out the old arc reactor for the new one.
Her hands were coated in a slimy, yellowish liquid that looked disturbingly biological.
"Protoplasm," Stark clarified cheerfully as Pepper grimaced. "Totally normal. Just a byproduct of the device."
Pepper wasn't convinced. She took a deep breath, trying—and failing—to calm herself as Stark leaned back, looking completely unbothered.
"Never! Ever! Ever! Make me do something like this again!"
Stark's playful smirk softened as he tilted his head to meet her eyes.
"But you're the only one willing to help me."
One second.
Two seconds.
The room fell into an awkward silence as the weight of his words hung in the air. Both of them looked away at the same time, breaking the tension before it could become unbearable.
"Maybe Lemu would be willing to help next time," Pepper muttered.
Stark shook his head immediately. "No, no, no. He'd be happy to pull it out—probably without asking first. But putting it back in? Not unless I offered him at least two or three million."
Pepper dabbed at the old arc reactor with a tissue, cleaning it off as best she could. "I think you're seriously underestimating him. Or maybe you just don't understand him at all."
She held up the device. "What should I do with this?"
"Smash it. Or burn it." Stark shrugged. "Sentimentality isn't my thing."
"Anything else, Mr. Stark?"
"Nope. That's all, Miss Potts. Blueberry?"
"No, thanks."
….
Lemu had made a terrible decision—one that delivered a critical blow to his heart.
It all started innocently enough.
He had merely wanted to test Great Sage's abilities, so he hacked into J.A.R.V.I.S.'s system. It wasn't even that hard—this version of J.A.R.V.I.S. couldn't even keep out S.H.I.E.L.D.'s amateur hacking attempts.
Then curiosity struck.
He wondered what Stark and Pepper were doing in the basement. So he pulled up the surveillance feed.
And that was where it all went wrong.
Watching their intimate moment—Pepper and Stark gazing at each other like the whole world had faded away—Lemu knew he had made a mistake.
Why? Why, as a proud single, would I willingly subject myself to this?
It was the emotional equivalent of walking into a slaughterhouse and climbing onto the chopping block.
Lemu reached for another yogurt, ripping it open and downing it in one go. His cheeks flushed, giving him a deceptively delicate, almost bashful look.
The table was already cluttered with empty yogurt bottles—at least ten of them, scattered like the wreckage of his broken dignity.
Bitter wine burns the heart. The more I drink, the deeper it hurts.
Slamming another empty bottle onto the table, Lemu made up his mind.
The moment he finished laundering his funds, he was going to build himself a mansion—no, a palace.
A golden house to shelter beauties! Hmph! If Stark could flaunt romance, so could he!
"Cheers, Big Claw!"
Lemu raised his yogurt bottle and clinked it against Big Claw's mechanical arm.
The robotic claw, holding an open yogurt bottle, mimicked the gesture. Unfortunately, lacking a mouth, it only succeeded in pouring the yogurt over its own frame. The milky-white liquid ran down its polished metal surface and pooled on the floor.
Lemu didn't even flinch.
And Stark— Lemu's eyes narrowed. For you to slander me behind my back? I'll remember this!
'System: Skill Acquired—Lactic Acid Resistance.'
That night, Lemu slept in one of the guest rooms on the second floor.
The room was comfortable—plush pillows, soft blankets, and temperature control.
The window faced the ocean, and the sound of waves gently lapping against the shore echoed through the quiet night. The stars were visible, though dimmer than the ones he had seen in the Afghan desert.
Even aliens get homesick.
Lemu tossed and turned, unable to settle down.
His mind wandered—from Thanos looming just a few years away to the terrifying thought that Stark might die before the big battle even started. Who would snap their fingers then?
Hulk? He's got two hands, but what if he hasn't made peace with Banner yet? Can Hulk even handle the snap?
Captain Marvel? No, what if she never figures out how to do it properly?
And it wasn't just Thanos. The multiverse was full of nightmares like Dormammu—ancient monsters waiting to descend on Earth.
And what about the Ancient One? She just died and left everything to Doctor Strange—a reckless troublemaker who seems better at creating disasters than preventing them.
Come to think of it, Stark's not much better.
No.
Lemu clenched his fists.
I can't rely on anyone but myself.
This galaxy was his home. If disaster struck, there'd be no place to run—no escape routes.
I need to be stronger. Strong enough to survive, no matter what comes.
As determination settled in his chest, exhaustion finally overtook him.
That night, he dreamed of wielding all six Infinity Stones.
In one hand, he strangled Thanos by the neck. Beneath his feet, a massive demon writhed in defeat.
Lemu stood tall against a backdrop of endless stars, laughing triumphantly.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., are you awake?"
"Always at your service, sir."
Need another mission tomorrow???
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