Tony stared at Rhodes, his mind filled with confusion and disbelief.
He considered Rhodes his closest friend, yet he couldn't understand why Rhodes was now standing against him, trying to stop him from helping his other friend, Chen Ye.
He stood his ground, his gaze fixed on Rhodes, trying to comprehend why his best friend would obstruct him from doing what he believed was right.
"Tony, you know I wouldn't stop you without a good reason," Rhodes said, his voice steady and firm, each word carrying an unquestionable resolve. "But this time, I can't let you go."
Tony's brow furrowed in frustration. He couldn't understand why Rhodes was being so stubborn.
Chen Ye was his friend, and he needed help.
Tony couldn't just stand by and watch as Chen Ye and the people of Hell's Kitchen faced the Federal Government's onslaught alone.
"Why? Chen Ye is my friend, and he needs my help right now!" Tony's voice was laced with bewilderment.
A fierce, determined light burned in his eyes.
"Don't give me any of your bullshit about the Federal Government," Tony snarled. "I don't care, and I'm not afraid. If you still consider me a friend, then get out of my way!"
His voice trembled with emotion, yet his words betrayed a fierce loyalty to Chen Ye and a profound sense of friendship.
In Tony's eyes, Chen Ye's conflict with S.H.I.E.L.D. was his own fault. He felt a crushing weight of responsibility toward Chen Ye and the people of Hell's Kitchen, a guilt that gnawed at him.
For days, he had tirelessly sought a solution, leveraging every resource and connection Stark Industries possessed to avert the crisis in Hell's Kitchen. But his efforts had met with nothing but disappointment.
The Federal Government seemed hell-bent on eradicating Hell's Kitchen, refusing to compromise no matter the price Tony was willing to pay.
He had never given up, but now that war had arrived, he knew it was time to help Chen Ye and his people.
He had never expected anyone to stand in his way—least of all his close friend, Rhodey.
The betrayal left Tony utterly bewildered and furious.
He couldn't understand why Rhodes was standing against him, trying to stop him from doing what he believed was right.
Rhodes looked at Tony, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.
Taking a deep breath, he began to explain his position. "You know this, Tony. You're not like Chen Ye. Stark Industries has long-standing ties with the Federal Government and the military. These relationships bring in massive orders and profits for the company, while providing the government and military with essential technical support. If you show up in Hell's Kitchen now, it will be seen as a declaration of war by Stark Industries against the Federal Government and the military. The company will face devastating losses, and countless employees will lose their jobs. Is that the outcome you want?"
Rhodes finished speaking and looked at Tony expectantly, hoping he wouldn't act impulsively.
But how could someone as brilliant as Tony not know all of this? He simply didn't care. He had absolute confidence in his own scientific and engineering prowess.
The Federal Government could stop buying from Stark Industries for all he cared—he had already shut down the weapons division anyway.
As long as he was around, Stark Industries would survive.
He quickly snapped his Iron Man helmet closed and declared, "I'm going to help Hell's Kitchen as Tony, the Iron Man, not as Tony from Stark Industries."
His words were filled with conviction, as if he were announcing his stance to the entire world.
He wasn't acting as the CEO of Stark Industries, nor as the playboy Tony the world knew. Instead, as Chen Ye's friend and as Iron Man, he had decided to help the people of Hell's Kitchen.
As soon as Tony finished speaking, he turned without hesitation and shot toward Hell's Kitchen like an arrow released from a bow.
In the night sky, his figure traced a brilliant arc, like a meteor piercing the dark canopy.
However, to Tony's surprise, he never reached his destination.
A blinding flash of light erupted, and Rhodey's Iron Man suit suddenly appeared in his line of sight, slamming into him without warning.
The powerful impact sent Tony crashing to the ground, his body tumbling several times before finally coming to a halt.
Lying on the ground, Tony's eyes were wide with shock and disbelief.
He slowly pulled himself up and glared at Rhodes, his voice trembling with fury and disbelief. "You're actually using the armor I gave you to stop me?"
Rhodes met Tony's gaze, his own eyes filled with helplessness. "I had no choice," he explained. "I can't just stand by and watch you throw Stark Industries into the middle of Hell's Kitchen. Besides, stopping you is a direct military order."
A wave of bitterness washed over Tony. He looked at Rhodes with profound disappointment, a thought crossing his mind: *If this were Chen Ye, he'd probably defy orders to help me.*
Tony shook his head slowly.
*I'd much rather be friends with Chen Ye and his crew,* he thought bitterly. *There are no ulterior motives or conflicts of interest. Chen Ye's only vice is his obsession with money. But that's a simple enough demand—can't I just pay him?*
Compared to everything Chen Ye had done—saving his life, finding his parents' killer, and even making an enemy of the Federal Government for his sake—asking for money seemed like a modest request. *What a kind, pure-hearted man,* Tony thought.
He was so poor that all he had left was money!
Tony looked up at Rhodes, a flash of determination in his eyes.
He knew he couldn't give up now. He had to do everything in his power to help the people of Hell's Kitchen and Chen Ye.
"Then come and try to stop me," he said, his voice firm. "And don't forget, I'm the one who gave you that suit."
With that, Tony stopped talking and accelerated away. Rhodes followed closely behind, and the battle between them was about to erupt.
At this moment, they were no longer friends, but adversaries.
Relying on his superior Iron Man suit and his deeper familiarity with its systems, Tony quickly gained the upper hand in the fight. He nimbly dodged Rhodes' attacks while launching a constant barrage of counterstrikes.
Each blow left Rhodes struggling. He had to admit that Tony possessed extraordinary talent and skill in combat.
However, Tony knew this wasn't the time to defeat Rhodes. He had to get to Hell's Kitchen and Chen Ye as quickly as possible.
After landing another hit on Rhodes, Tony accelerated away without hesitation, leaving Rhodes behind in a state of helpless frustration.
Rhodes watched Tony's retreating figure, his heart a tangle of emotions. He understood his own helplessness and predicament; he was being monitored and couldn't act freely.
He could only sigh in resignation. "It's not that I won't stop him... it's that I can't beat Tony."
But Tony had no time to spare for Rhodes' feelings. He was now flying at full speed toward Hell's Kitchen to support his friend, Chen Ye.
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