"Furthermore," Karl continued calmly, "you two are not ordinary children. You both possess abilities — extraordinary ones — but they have not awakened yet. That is normal. Many enhanced individuals do not manifest until adolescence or extreme emotional stress."
Wanda's fingers tightened slightly.
Pietro looked up.
"In a few days," Karl went on, "I will show you the weapons contracts Obadiah Stane signed with terrorist groups. Stark Industries weapons did reach Sokovia… but Tony did not authorize those sales."
He paused.
"Tony still bears responsibility. He built the weapons. But he did not knowingly target your home."
Silence settled over the room.
"You can continue to hate him," Karl said evenly. "You may even attack him after your powers awaken — I will not interfere."
Both children looked up sharply.
"But you are ten years old," he continued. "Do you really want to carry hatred every day while you grow up?"
His voice softened slightly.
"And Obadiah Stane will be dead soon."
Their eyes widened.
"When the time comes," Karl said, "I can give you the chance to take revenge yourselves."
Wanda and Pietro lowered their heads.
Their entire childhood had been shaped by that moment beneath the rubble — waiting for the Stark missile to explode.
Fear.
Hunger.
Hatred.
Now the foundation of that hatred was cracking.
Not gone.
But shifting.
They also learned something even harder to process:
They were different.
They had powers.
Unawakened… but real.
Karl stood.
"Go rest. Think about what I said. Tomorrow things return to normal. And don't let Aunt May worry."
He walked upstairs, leaving the twins staring at each other in stunned silence.
When Karl entered the bedroom, Aunt May was sitting on the bed waiting.
She looked up immediately.
"I told them everything," he said quietly. "Including their abilities."
Aunt May hesitated.
"They're only ten, Karl… isn't that a lot to carry?"
"They've already carried more than most adults," he replied gently.
He sat beside her and pulled her into his arms.
"We can't let them live in hatred. When Obadiah falls, I'll give them the chance to face the truth themselves. If they still choose revenge… that path will only open once their powers awaken."
Aunt May sighed softly.
"I think they'll come to their senses. Poor children…"
She didn't ask what he meant by "chance for revenge."
She already understood.
Karl had told her enough about Obadiah's betrayal.
"Let's rest," he murmured.
Downstairs, silence lingered.
After a long time, Wanda spoke softly.
"Pietro… I think we should trust Karl."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"He said we'll get a chance for revenge. And if Tony Stark didn't know… then he isn't the man we thought."
Pietro stared at the floor.
"He built the weapons," he muttered.
"Yes," Wanda said quietly. "But Obadiah chose where they went."
She swallowed.
"Karl saved us. Aunt May treats us like family. Tony is Karl's friend… if we hurt him, Karl will be caught between us."
Pietro clenched his fists.
Karl had bought him things he never dreamed of owning.
A home.
Safety.
Warm meals.
Laughter.
The happiest weeks of his life.
He exhaled slowly.
"…Then we take revenge ourselves."
He looked at Wanda.
"As for Tony Stark… I don't know what to do with him yet."
Wanda nodded.
That answer was enough.
They returned to their room and, for the first time since Sokovia, slept without fear of bombs.
Elsewhere
Obadiah Stane stood inside a restricted Stark Industries fabrication facility, gazing up at the towering steel exoskeleton before him.
The Iron Monger frame.
Recovered from:
the wreckage of Tony's Mark I armor
schematics retrieved from the Ten Rings compound
salvaged combat telemetry
Karl had intentionally left the Mark I remains behind in the desert. Removing them could have disrupted events too drastically.
The Ten Rings commander who survived the cave assault had gathered the remnants and attempted to extort Obadiah.
He did not live long enough to collect payment.
Now the technology belonged to Stane.
"When will it be ready?" Obadiah asked.
"The armor frame will be operational tomorrow," the lead engineer replied. "But we lack a viable compact power source."
He gestured toward the arc reactor powering the facility floor.
"Replicating the miniaturized reactor in Tony Stark's chest is… beyond current capability."
Obadiah's expression darkened.
"You built this reactor," he snapped. "Make it smaller."
The engineer shook his head.
"With respect, sir… miniaturization at that scale required Stark's original breakthrough. We are attempting to replicate it, but—"
"I'm not interested in excuses," Obadiah cut in coldly. "Finish the armor. I'll solve the energy problem."
He turned and walked away.
Tomorrow, he would secure control of Stark Industries.
He had already gathered board support.
Tony Stark's removal was only a formality.
The Next Afternoon — Stark Industries Boardroom
Every director was present.
Karl arrived shortly after receiving Tony's message and took his seat.
Obadiah greeted him warmly, performing the role of benevolent executive.
"Our newest board member — Mr. Karl Auguston Zhang. Young, successful, and already an asset to Stark Industries."
Polite laughter filled the room.
Karl smiled faintly and took his place.
With an 8% stake, he ranked fifth among shareholders.
Not dominant.
But far from insignificant.
Minutes passed.
Tony had not arrived.
Obadiah stepped forward and addressed the board.
"The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss the future direction of Stark Industries…"
His tone was smooth.
Confident.
Predatory beneath the surface.
The coup had already begun.