CHAPTER 12: A STARK ALLIANCE
The Stark Tower penthouse smelled of expensive coffee and new technology, a scent that was a stark contrast to the clean, sterile air of Haven. John stood on a glowing portal, the hum of his own city's technology a low, constant drone. He had arrived unannounced, the portal's arrival a loud, disruptive sound that drew the immediate attention of the one man he needed to talk to.
Okay, John. You've done this before. You've convinced a sorcerer supreme to join your side. You can convince a genius billionaire to help you. Just… don't mention his dad. It always works. No, wait, Celeste said to mention his dad. No, no. Don't. This is going to be so much fun.
[
Tony Stark, in a sleek black suit, appeared in a blur of motion, his hands raised, his eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Jarvis, what was that?" he asked, his voice a mix of wit and arrogance. "Did someone order a cosmic delivery? I specifically requested a no-fly zone in the penthouse. It's a liability."
"You're Tony Stark," John said, his voice a mix of admiration and frustration. "I'm John Nolan. I'm here to talk to you about the end of the world."
Tony scoffed, a look of bored condescension on his face. "Another one? Great. Look, I'm booked. I have a press conference in an hour, and I have to choose between a hundred different shades of red for my next suit. So, unless you're here to offer me a new shade of crimson, I'm going to have to ask you to step off my carpet."
John smiled, a grim, humorless expression. "I'm here to talk to you about a new shade of crimson. The kind that will paint the universe if we don't do something about it."
The verbal sparring had begun, a rapid-fire exchange of insults and thinly veiled threats. John's internal monologue was a mix of admiration for Tony's wit and a deep frustration with his arrogance.
He's just a man. He's not a god. But he acts like one. I have to get through to him. I have to make him see.
John dropped the pretense. "Tony, I saw something. Something that's coming. A vision. The Snap. Thanos. He's real. He's coming. And he's going to turn half the universe to dust."
Tony's smile faltered, a flicker of genuine shock in his eyes. He had heard the whispers, the rumors of a cosmic threat, but to hear it from a stranger, a man who had appeared out of thin air, was a different kind of horror.
The humor was gone, replaced by a tense, heavy silence. The Stark Tower penthouse, with its mesmerizing holographic displays, was now a backdrop for a grim conversation. John, his voice a mix of grim warnings and a plea for help, explained the visions, the Tesseract's echo, the terror he had felt.
Tony listened, his arms crossed, his face a mask of guarded curiosity. He was a man of science, of logic, of reason. He didn't believe in magic, in visions, in cosmic prophecies. But the look in John's eyes, the raw, unfiltered terror, was something he couldn't deny.
"So you're telling me," Tony said, his voice low, "that a guy with a magic city from another dimension saw a future where a purple guy with a glove full of rocks turns half the universe to dust. And you came here, to me, to ask for help."
"Yes," John said, his voice firm. "I'm a mechanic. I can fix a city, but I can't stop a god. But you… you build things. You build weapons. You build defenses. You're the only one who can help me."
Tony's internal monologue was a whirlwind of intellectual analysis and a personal, emotional confrontation with his own fears. Is this real? Is this a trick? A prank? No. The kid is terrified. And he's telling the truth. I can see it in his eyes. The fear… it's familiar. It's the same fear I've felt since that wormhole opened in the sky.
[
The air was heavy with unspoken emotions. Tony, for all his bravado, was just a man. A man who had seen the cosmic horrors, who had felt the cold dread of a threat he couldn't fight. He saw a kindred spirit in John, a fellow soldier in a war he didn't ask for.
While John was talking, Tony's AI, Jarvis, was working in the background, a silent, unseen presence. Jarvis was analyzing Haven's energy signature, a paradox that captivated his analytical mind. He found a hidden energy source within Haven's core, a unique power signature that was unlike anything he had ever seen.
[
John's internal monologue was a jolt of alarm. He's a good guy. But he's also a paranoid genius. He doesn't trust anyone. He thinks this is a trick. I have to play this carefully.
He looked at Tony, a wary observation in his eyes. He knew what Tony was doing. He was creating a backdoor. A way in. A way to control Haven if he felt it was a threat.
"So, you're saying," Tony said, a smooth series of half-truths in his voice, "that you have an energy source that is unique? Un-replicable?"
"Yes," John said, his voice a series of subtle misdirections. "It's a unique energy. A paradox. It's what makes Haven, Haven."
Tony smiled, a confident, arrogant expression back on his face. "Well, I'm a big fan of unique things. We should talk. About upgrades. About defenses. About… a collaboration."
[
John knew the truth, but he couldn't say anything. Not yet. He had to play along. He had to build trust. He had to convince Tony that he wasn't a threat.
The air was thick with tension. The sound of their voices echoed in the quiet room. John, furious at Tony for his betrayal, for his lack of trust, decided to use the only weapon he had left: vulnerability.
He confronted Tony, his voice a mix of anger and vulnerability. "You don't trust me. I get it. But you're willing to risk my city, my people, just because you can't let go of your paranoia."
"It's not paranoia! It's protection!" Tony shot back, his voice a mix of defensiveness and a grudging respect. "I don't know who you are. I don't know what you are. For all I know, you're another alien invader, a magical spy."
"No," John said, his voice a low, emotional plea. "I'm just a guy. I'm not a hero. I'm just trying to keep my city from falling apart. I saw the future. I saw the Snap. I saw the fear. I'm not doing this for glory. I'm doing this for them." He used his telepathy to show Tony a glimpse of his internal thoughts, his fears, his hopes for Haven. He showed him the pain he felt when he absorbed the Tesseract's echo. The raw, unfiltered horror.
[
Tony saw it all. The fear. The vulnerability. The raw, desperate need to protect. He saw a mirror image of himself, a man who had been broken, a man who had lost everything, but a man who was still fighting.
The comms device was cold and sleek in John's hand. It hummed with a faint energy, a symbol of a new, wary alliance. Tony had agreed to help, but on his own terms.
"I'll help you," Tony said, his voice a professional, wary negotiation. "I'll provide you with new technology. Upgrades for your defenses. But the backdoor stays. I'll keep an eye on you. For… research purposes."
John knew he had won. He had an ally. A powerful one. He had to trust that the alliance was worth the risk.
[
Tony gave him a sarcastic, but useful, piece of advice about his new device. "Don't break it. It's more expensive than your city."
John gave a small, tired smile. "I'll try not to."
He had the power of science and magic on his side. But he also had a new, powerful enemy in his own camp. A paranoid genius who didn't trust him. A man who was willing to risk everything to protect his world. A man a lot like himself. He had to prepare for Dormammu. He had to prepare for the TVA. And now, he had to prepare for Tony Stark.
Love [ MARVEL : Floating City Owner ]? Unlock More Chapters and Support the Story!
Dive deeper into the world of [ MARVEL : Floating City Owner ] with exclusive access to 35+ chapters on my Patreon, plus new fanfic every week! Your support starting at just $5/month helps me keep crafting the stories you love across epic universes like [Grimm, Teen Wolf ,blacklist,Game Of Throne ,MCU and Arrowverse].
By joining, you're not just getting more chapters—you're helping me bring new worlds, twists, and adventures to life. Every pledge makes a huge difference!
👉 Join now at patreon.com/TheFinex5 and start reading today!