After returning from Stark's mansion, Karl had barely stepped into the living room when Wanda ran toward him again.
He caught her instinctively.
"You came back fast," she said seriously.
"I always do."
He smiled faintly and slid a slim red bracelet onto her wrist.
Wanda tilted her head.
"Is this the gift?"
"Yes," Karl said gently. "Tap it three times."
She obeyed.
The bracelet vibrated softly.
Silver-red nanostructures flowed outward from the band, spreading across her arm like liquid metal before stabilizing into a lightweight vibranium defense suit. The transformation took less than two seconds.
The suit was sleek, reinforced along key impact zones, but flexible.
Wanda looked down at herself in awe.
"It's alive?"
"Adaptive," Karl corrected. "It reacts to kinetic force. It absorbs energy."
She flexed her fingers experimentally.
The suit responded perfectly.
Satisfied, Karl deactivated it with another triple tap and let her continue training.
He distributed the remaining bracelets to May, Raven, Pietro, Peter, and Yelena.
"Wear them at all times," he instructed calmly. "Unless necessary, don't remove them."
Each bracelet was coded to his primary interface.
Then he headed toward Speed's warehouse.
Speed's Analysis
Karl handed his own bracelet to Speed.
"Full diagnostic. Hardware, firmware, hidden subsystems."
Speed transformed into its mechanical form and began scanning.
Although its knowledge combined Cybertronian engineering and Earth tech, it wasn't omniscient. But nanotech diagnostics were within its capability.
After several minutes, Speed reported:
"No hidden surveillance modules. No external transmission protocols beyond encrypted short-range sync to your master band. Tony Stark did not install covert monitoring."
Karl nodded slowly.
He hadn't truly expected betrayal.
But Tony was paranoid by nature — and brilliant. Verification was logical.
"Upgrade the AI framework," Karl instructed. "Limit external override pathways."
Speed complied.
Once returned, Karl tested the suit himself.
Triple tap.
Silver nanostructure deployed instantly, forming a streamlined vibranium defense armor around him.
It lacked heavy weapon systems — by design.
Pure defense.
High kinetic absorption.
Minimal energy leakage.
He dismissed it back into bracelet form.
Satisfied.
Still cautious.
In another timeline, Tony had created Ultron.
Karl would never underestimate Stark's capacity for unilateral decisions.
Meanwhile — Stick
Back in his own safehouse, Stick reviewed intelligence on Karl's estate.
Stark Industries shareholder.
Close association with Tony Stark.
Incident in Clinton — mass organized crime elimination.
Mutant Academy engagement.
Belarus airbase destruction.
Stick exhaled slowly.
He had walked into a hurricane blind.
He was fortunate Karl had chosen warning over retaliation.
The Chaste had underestimated him.
That would not happen again.
Evening — Phone Call
Karl was seated on the sofa with May leaning against him when his phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Karl… it's Gwen."
Her voice was softer than usual.
"Are you still coming tonight? For my birthday?"
"Of course," he replied calmly. "Send me the address."
She quickly gave the location before hanging up — slightly flustered.
Karl smiled faintly.
May looked up at him knowingly.
"Be gentle."
Karl blinked.
"With what exactly?"
May gave him a look.
"She likes you. That's obvious."
Karl leaned back slightly.
"You're assuming."
"I'm observing," May replied. "She couldn't stop asking about you when she visited. And when you walked in, she forgot everyone else existed."
Karl considered that.
He hadn't consciously noticed.
"I'm not exactly subtle," he admitted dryly.
May laughed softly.
"She's young. She hasn't seen much of the world. Someone like you… you leave an impression."
Karl studied her expression carefully.
"You don't mind?"
May's answer was calm.
"I chose you knowing who you are."
That was enough.
Karl exhaled.
"I do like her," he admitted quietly. "But I won't force anything."
May gave him a sideways glance.
"You don't need to. That's the point."
He chuckled lightly.
Later that evening, Karl changed into a tailored black suit.
If May was right…
Tonight might change something.
He stepped out.
…
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