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Even now, Tony Stark can remember the exact moment it happened; the memory burned into his brain like an unforgettable fever dream.
Hope had reached out and pulled him toward what should've been a solid stone wall inside that cave. But instead of slamming into cold, unyielding rock, he watched in stunned disbelief as the surface rippled like how a pebble dropped into still water. Concentric waves shimmered outward, distorting the stone's texture with every pulse.
But here's the kicker: it was all visual. It was just an illusion. When Tony reached out to touch it, the wall felt exactly how it should, hard as hell and completely solid. No give. No softness. No science fiction nonsense.
Yet, the second Hope took his hand, everything changed. The ripples shimmered more brightly this time… and then the wall simply let them through. As if the laws of nature had just taken the day off.
And Tony Stark—billionaire genius, engineer extraordinaire, and lifelong worshiper of rational physics—had absolutely no explanation for what he'd witnessed.
"Liquid-Liquid Fruit…" he muttered to himself, rubbing his temple. "A fruit that turns things into liquid…"
He turned abruptly toward Pepper, a mix of fascination and frustration in his expression. "Okay, I need answers. Pepper, tell me more about this Devil Fruit thing. I'm listening now."
Pepper smirked, unable to resist a jab. "Oh? Now you're interested? Weren't you the one who said, and I quote, 'It sounds like some kind of over-the-top Halloween gimmick'? Something like that?"
Tony gave her a look, half sheepish, half annoyed. "Alright, alright, I was wrong. Can we move on?"
She chuckled, then eased into a more serious tone. "Alright, smartass. I'll give you the rundown." She explained everything she knew about the Devil Fruits, their mysterious origins, wildly unpredictable powers, and the mind-blowing but straightforward truth: eat one, and you gain a unique supernatural ability.
"A few of the people who helped get you out of that cave," she added, "are Devil Fruit users too. I brought them in specifically for the rescue. You really should thank them next time you see them."
Tony raised his eyebrows, now fully locked in. "Wait, what? Seriously?" He leaned forward like a kid begging for spoilers. "Okay, now you've really got my attention. Who are they? Come on, Pep, don't leave me hanging here!"
"You've already met Hope," Pepper began, her voice steady but still holding a faint note of amusement. "She's the one with the Liquid-Liquid Fruit. You've seen her power in action firsthand."
Tony slightly nodded, still thinking about how they'd walked through a solid rock wall like it was mist. That alone had turned his understanding of reality upside down.
"But aside from her," Pepper continued, "there's also Wade Wilson. He's... a bit of a handful. He ate the Smooth-Smooth Fruit."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Smooth-Smooth Fruit?" he echoed skeptically.
"Yep," Pepper confirmed with a straight face. "It makes his entire body incredibly slick. Like, zero friction smooth. Bullets? Knives? Physical contact? They just slide right off. It's like trying to fight someone covered in Teflon."
Tony blinked, surprised. "So he's basically a human bar of soap?"
"More or less," Pepper replied, amused.
"Then there's Wilson Fisk," she continued, her tone shifting to something a little more serious. "He ate the Steel-Steel Fruit. It allows him to transform his entire body into solid steel. Makes him a walking tank."
Tony's eyebrows shot up. "So let me guess, he doesn't need armor because he is the armor?"
"Exactly."
Pepper leaned in slightly, lowering her voice a bit. "And finally, there's Agent Natasha Romanoff. She's with S.H.I.E.L.D. She's the one who ate the Mimic-Mimic Fruit."
"Mimic-Mimic?" Tony repeated. "What does that do?"
"She can perfectly imitate anyone," Pepper said, her tone sharp and clear. "Their looks, voice, mannerisms, even their fighting style. If she touches you once, it's game over."
Tony leaned back in his seat, clearly impressed. "Okay, that's... honestly kinda terrifying."
Pepper smiled. "You're lucky she was on your side today."
Tony absorbed it all, eyes wide, completely hooked. This wasn't just superpowers but a lineup of living cheat codes. He couldn't wait to meet them.
Of course, Pepper didn't mention everyone. One person remained a mystery: Clint Barton. Whatever Devil Fruit he had eaten was top-secret—strictly need-to-know, and Pepper didn't. During the operation, he'd remained high above the battlefield, keeping his distance and never revealing his hand.
Just as Tony opened his mouth to ask more, a commotion from outside caught his attention. Voices. Footsteps. He turned toward the door, eyes narrowing. A moment later, the entrance opened, and in walked the team. Natasha Romanoff led the group, sharp-eyed and calm as ever, followed closely by Hope, Fisk, and finally...
"Tony Stark!"
A loud, obnoxiously cheerful voice rang out across the room.
Wade Wilson, decked out in a bloodstained tactical suit absolutely riddled with bullet holes, strolled in like he owned the place. If there was such a thing as "chaotic swagger," he had it in spades.
He threw his arms out wide, grinning under his half-lowered mask. "Well, look at you! You really do look like a hobo. No, scratch that, a steaming pile of crap that's been run over twice, dressed up in billionaire cosplay."
Before Tony could even formulate a comeback, Wade pulled out his phone. "Hold still. I gotta document this. For science. And blackmail."
*Click click click click!*
Wade snapped photo after photo at rapid-fire speed.
Tony just stood there, head slowly turning toward Pepper with a deadpan expression that said everything: 'Who. The hell. Is this guy?'
Pepper, trying not to cringe, gave an awkward smile. "Tony, this is Wade Wilson, the guy I mentioned with the Smooth-Smooth Fruit."
Tony gave Wade a skeptical once-over. "So... you're the slippery guy?"
Wade grinned. "That's me, baby."
Tony arched an eyebrow. "Right. Cool. So, considering you just took about fifty unflattering pictures of me without permission, I think I'm entitled to at least one thing in return."
"Oh?" Wade tilted his head, curious.
"I wanna touch your face," Tony said flatly.
Wade jolted back like he'd been zapped. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Buddy, what in the heterosexual hell are you on about?"
Tony stared at him, deadpan. "Payback. Equal exchange. Fair and balanced society."
"Hell no!" Wade raised both hands as if fending off a ghost. "A grown man asking to caress another grown man's face? Absolutely not! I am as straight as a laser beam on a caffeine binge!"
Tony: "…"
The reaction was so dramatic; it was as if Tony had just asked to strip him down and paint him like one of Jack's French girls.
'This guy is completely insane,' Tony thought. 'Unhinged. Deranged. Possibly rabid.' He slowly turned to Pepper, his face filled with growing concern. "Okay, serious question, have you guys ever given him an actual psych eval? Like a real one, with a licensed doctor and everything?"
Pepper let out a long-suffering sigh. "Tony, believe it or not… this is Wade at his most stable. You learn to roll with it."
Before Tony could respond, Wade suddenly whipped a pistol out of his holster with all the theatrical energy of a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat.
"Wade! What the hell are you doing?!" Pepper yelped, stepping forward in alarm.
Across the room, Natasha was already moving. With a fluid, practiced motion, she raised her Widow's Bite and locked onto Wade, her expression cold and sharp. "Drop it. Now."
She'd been monitoring everything from the sidelines, quiet as always, but not for one second had she taken her eyes off Wade. She'd read the mission reports. Seen the footage. And based on everything she knew, he was a wildcard—unstable, unpredictable, and a walking disaster just waiting for a reason.
"Whoa, hey! Everybody relax," Wade said, holding the gun in one hand like it was a water pistol. "You really think I'd shoot one of you? Do I look like a lunatic to you?"
Everyone around him gave him the exact same look: 'Yes.'
Wade huffed. "Wow. The betrayal. The slander. Honestly, I'm offended on a spiritual level."
"I just wanted to make this interesting!" Wade said, grinning like the Joker on opening night. "If Mr. Billionaire over here wants a demo of my powers, let's give him one! I'll shoot myself in the face. Boom. Slippery enough for you?"
Tony took a cautious step back. "Look, Wade, I really appreciate the enthusiasm, but there's no need for a live demonstration. I take your word for it. You're slippery. Super slippery. Best in class. All good."
*BANG!*
Too late.
Wade had already fired, point-blank, straight into his own face like it was just another Tuesday.
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Next Chapter: I Have to Visit That Devil Fruit Shop
Next Next Chapter: A New Customer and the Rise of Zoan-Type Fruits
Next Next Next Chapter: Marvel's New Heroine
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