Just as Tony was narrowing his eyes at Marcus with a thousand calculations racing behind his calm expression, the maternity ward doors swung open. Mia's doctor stepped into the hallway, her blue scrubs creased from hours on her feet but her expression light, reassuring.
"You are Marcus right?" she asked, scanning the corridor.
Marcus stood up instantly. "Yeah?"
"She's stable. Sleeping peacefully. Both she and the baby are perfectly healthy. We'll keep her here for a couple of days just for observation, but everything's looking textbook. You can head home and come back tomorrow. She'll need rest more than visitors today."
Marcus exhaled with relief. "Thank you. Can you please make sure that no third person is allowed to come to her ward, and provide proper safety to her."
The doctor had heard what had happened and assure Marcus that everything would be order as the safety of the patients were of paramount importance. All the while doctor herself thinking that, dude you have Tony Stark with you, why are you bothering an overworked doctor like myself?
"Alright, kid. Looks like we're off the hook for today."
"Yeah…" Marcus looked back at Room 612 one last time, then followed Tony out through the hospital corridors. Outside, Tony unlocked the sleek, matte-black Audi with a flick of his wrist. The doors opened with a soft hiss.
"I'll drop you off," Tony said, sliding into the driver's seat.
"You sure?" Marcus asked as he opened the passenger door.
"Yeah, besides you will have to take back your beloved truck home too." Tony said. They drove in silence for a few blocks, city lights bleeding through the windshield, the hum of the engine smooth and constant. Finally, Marcus spoke.
"I owe you lunch. Remember? Told you I'd make something good."
"You still want to do that after today?"
"Especially after today," Marcus said. "I keep my promises. And besides—it's a way to say thanks. You didn't have to show up today. But you did." Tony seem to consider that for a moment. Then he gave a single nod. Inherently, he was jumping in joy hearing what Marcus had said.
"Alright, kid. Tomorrow it is. Don't burn anything."
"No promises," Marcus grinned. "But if I do, it'll be intentional."
They soon arrived at the parking of the truck where he saw Happy waiting for them while getting bored being in the same location for forever. He had noticed the fat lip of Tony and asked what happened, to which Tony just brushed off.
"Try not to get punched in the face again until then."
"No guarantees," Tony muttered as he pulled away, the taillights fading into the night, taking Happy away.
Later That Night – Stark Penthouse, Lab Level 1
MARCUS TURNER – AGE: 17
PARENTS: DECEASED
SCHOOLING: LOCAL PUBLIC SYSTEM – UNREMARKABLE ACADEMIC SCORES, BUT NOTABLE DISCIPLINARY RECORDS (MINOR ALTERCATIONS, TWO TEMP SUSPENSIONS).
CURRENT OCCUPATION: FOOD TRUCK OPERATOR. LICENSE UNDER TURNER ENTERPRISES, LLC. FORMED TWO MONTHS AGO.
"Of course," Tony murmured. "No parents in the picture. I figured as much."
He swirled the drink absentmindedly but didn't sip. Something about the kid didn't scream tragic orphan—but he carried himself like someone used to battle the thing called life. Too used to it. Tony could recognize that look.
There.Marcus walked in. He picked up the chlorophyll water. Checked the label like any casual shopper would. Paid in cash. Walked out. Handed it to Tony.
Replayed. Again.
Slower.
Frame-by-frame.
"Nothing," Tony muttered. "No sleight of hand. No vial. No powder. No heat signature. He just... handed it over like it was a bottle of soda."
But the numbers didn't lie.
Tony brought up a side monitor—his biometric toxicity readout. A clean 2% drop. Minimal to anyone else. To Tony, it was statistically anomalous—especially from a drink he'd dismissed months ago during his trials.
"JARVIS," Tony said quietly, "overlay chlorophyll molecular signature from today's bottle against the standard Nestlé variant."
"Working on it, sir." The AI replied. "Preliminary report suggests a variance of 0.8% in the secondary compound chain. Not present in your previously catalogued samples. That is a significant and a very costly change in its ingredients."
"Which means...?"
"Either the company has reformulated without documentation, or... the bottle was somehow altered post-manufacture."
"Bingo," Tony whispered. He leaned back, staring at the screen.
"I don't know what you're hiding, kid," he muttered to himself. "But I'm going to find out."
The Next Day – Morning
Marcus walked the hallway to Room 612 with practiced quiet, a paper bag of warm pastries in one hand, and his usual air of calm masking the churn of concern beneath. A nurse at the front desk gave him a friendly nod.
"She's still resting. Baby's all good, vitals steady. You've got a tough little crew in there."
"Thanks," Marcus smiled.
He stepped into the room briefly—just long enough to check on her. Mia was curled slightly on her side. Marcus didn't linger. He left the bag of pastries on the small table, scribbled a quick note—"Something sweet when you're up. I'll be back."—and quietly slipped out.
Noon – Marcus's Place, Small Rooftop Patio
Tony arrived right on time, Happy trailing behind him like a man who'd been promised real food after a week of protein bars and boardroom catering.
"This better be good," Happy said, half-joking. "Stark made me cancel lunch with Pepper's assistant. You know how rare that is?" Marcus's eye twitched when he heard Pepper's assistant. It meant, Black Widow was around as he remembered that she joined after Stark started to show up with a bit of abnormal behaviors and also for the evaluation of Avengers.
"You'll live," Tony muttered. Tony could see what was going on in the mind of Happy but would never say it out loud, because he himself was mesmerized by her beauty. But now, he was a committed man, or at least so in his mind..
The food didn't look showy. In fact, it looked deceptively humble—just well-cooked and plated with care. But the aroma told another story. Layers. Earthy, acidic, warm, sweet. Depth.