…
Afghanistan.
To ensure their safety, Leon and the others didn't remain in place. Instead, they rode atop the Jet Sliger, cruising at low altitude across the desert while slowly making their way back toward friendly territory.
Several hours passed.
Then, from the distant horizon, came the unmistakable thrum of rotor blades.
"Hey! Over here, Rhodey!" Tony shouted, waving enthusiastically.
The military helicopter descended, and Colonel James Rhodes stepped out with several fully armed special operations soldiers.
Rhodey didn't ask why Leon was there.
He didn't ask how Tony escaped.
He simply looked at the two brothers and said dryly, "Next time, try riding in the same convoy as me. Okay?"
Tony gave a sheepish smile. Leon merely shrugged. Yinsen watched the exchange with quiet amusement.
With Rhodey's help—and determined not to squeeze onto Leon's vehicle again—Tony and Dr. Ho Yinsen transferred to a large military transport aircraft.
Leon joined them without complaint.
As for the Jet Sliger, J.A.R.V.I.S. had already piloted it ahead to the airport.
The moment they landed—
Medical staff rushed forward with stretchers, only to be waved off impatiently by Tony.
Happy Hogan had been waiting with the car.
Pepper Potts stood nearby, eyes red, half-laughing and half-crying at the sight of the two brothers alive and well.
Leon moved first.
Like an overgrown child, he lunged forward and wrapped Pepper in a dramatic hug, pressing his cheek against hers.
"Pepper, I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too, Leon," she said warmly.
"Alright, alright—break it up!" Tony's eye twitched as he yanked Leon away. "Go stand over there, kid."
He stepped in front of Pepper.
"Oh? You were crying?" Tony teased lightly. "Miss your boss that much?"
"I was happy," Pepper shot back. "Saves me the trouble of job hunting again."
"Oh really?"
Before she could react, Tony leaned in and kissed her.
Leon, Rhodey, and Yinsen all wore identical knowing smiles.
The surrounding soldiers? Completely unfazed.
Tony Stark's playboy reputation wasn't exactly a secret.
What they didn't know was that Leon genuinely regarded Pepper as family—his future sister-in-law. Some lines simply weren't meant to be crossed.
Otherwise, Tony might end up designing an anti-Leon armor just to teach him a lesson.
Wait.
Anti-Leon armor?
Leon's expression suddenly turned serious as he stared at Tony's back.
He wouldn't actually be drafting something like that already… would he?
After a long moment, the kiss broke.
"Alright," Tony said, suddenly all business. "Let's get to work, kids."
He glanced at Leon.
Leon nodded.
Tony and Yinsen climbed into Happy's car with Pepper. Originally bound for the hospital, the route was changed—at Tony's insistence—to a press conference.
Before they left—
"Hey, skinny old man! Don't forget your burger!"
Leon grabbed two Burger King bags from the Jet Sliger and tossed them neatly through the car window to Tony and Yinsen.
He had J.A.R.V.I.S. prepare them in advance.
"Now that's what I'm talking about." Tony took a huge bite, looking thoroughly satisfied.
After surviving death in a cave, Tony had made up his mind:
He would shut down Stark Industries' weapons division.
Leon had no objections. But as for the press conference? He wasn't interested.
He just wanted a hot shower.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., wash my suit later. And patch up the damaged parts."
"Yes, Master Leon."
When Leon returned to the Malibu Mansion, he found a figure waiting outside the gates.
"Mr. Leon Stark, may I have a word?"
The man had a scholarly, composed air—similar to Yinsen. He wore a neat black suit and carried himself with calm professionalism.
"You are?" Leon asked, though he already knew.
The Jet Sliger parked automatically as J.A.R.V.I.S. took control.
The man extended his hand.
"Phil Coulson. I'm with the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division."
Leon blinked.
"Wow. That's a mouthful."
"Why not just use the initials? S.H.I.E.L.D. Sounds better. 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' has a nice ring to it."
Coulson's eyes lit up slightly. "That's… actually an excellent suggestion. I'll pass that along."
"S.H.I.E.L.D." He nodded thoughtfully. "I like it."
"But why you?" Leon continued. "Why not the Department of Defense? Or the FBI? CIA? I've never even heard of your division."
"Unlike the DoD, FBI, or CIA, we operate independently. Our focus is… more specialized."
Coulson then produced a photograph and handed it to Leon.
"We'd like a detailed account of how you and Mr. Stark escaped."
Leon looked down.
The image showed an extremely blurry crimson beam, viewed from above.
Most people wouldn't recognize it.
Leon did instantly.
It was his Chest Beam.
Radiation interference had distorted the satellite image so badly it looked like a censored blur.
"At the time," Coulson explained calmly, "radiation levels in that region spiked dramatically. We initially suspected a reactor detonation. Our satellite captured this anomaly."
He met Leon's gaze.
"That location coincides with the Ten Rings compound where Mr. Stark was held."
"Can you tell me what weapon produced this energy discharge?"
Leon was speechless.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s efficiency was terrifying.
Then again… considering how deeply HYDRA had infiltrated the organization, maybe that wasn't surprising.
"Agent Coulson," Leon replied lightly, "I'm just the younger brother. You'll probably hear the full story from Tony soon enough."
With that—
He vaulted cleanly over the three-meter white wall into the Malibu Mansion grounds, leaving Coulson outside.
Coulson stared at the wall.
His polite smile twitched slightly.
…
Moments later, a Bluetooth call came in as Coulson returned to his car.
He answered.
"How did it go?"
"Sir, the target was not cooperative."
"Hmm. Tight-lipped, is he?"
There was a brief silence on the other end.
"Very well. If Leon Stark won't engage, shift focus. Approach Tony Stark's assistant—Pepper Potts."
"And Leon?"
"Natasha is currently on assignment in the Far East. She won't be available for a few days."
A pause.
"Send Sharon."
"That kid has a reputation for enjoying himself, doesn't he?"
"Then let him."
"Yes, sir."
—
Meanwhile, blissfully unaware of the incoming "hospitality package" S.H.I.E.L.D. was preparing for him, Leon was enjoying a hot shower.
If he had known—
He might have said:
"There's such a good deal waiting for me?"