At 7:00 p.m., Gaia retrieved his car from Oscorp and drove Wanda to Stark Tower as agreed.
“Tony.”
Reaching the top floor of Stark Tower, Gaia and Wanda found Tony Stark sitting in the open lounge area, tinkering with a holographic display.
Gaia called out in greeting.
Hearing the voice he had been hoping for, Tony hastily set aside what he was working on, turned around, and let out a long breath of relief.
“Oh, buddy, seeing you is such a relief.”
Little Gaia chimed in, “Did the Ten Rings scare this guy into erectile dysfunction?”
Gaia and Wanda stepped forward, and Gaia nodded in agreement.
“He’s right, Tony.
Did the Ten Rings scare you into impotence?
Stop looking like you’ve seen a ghost and had the courage shaken right out of you.
I know a really skilled traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.
If you beg me, I might just introduce you.”
Tony had been about to say something, but hearing this, he sighed helplessly and stood up to greet them.
“Sometimes I really want to slap you.”
Little Gaia stood beside Gaia’s feet, clutching his stomach with laughter.
“Big talk, huh?”
A smirk pulled at the corner of Gaia’s mouth, his eyes brimming with disdain.
“I doubt you have what it takes.”
Tony refused to back down.
“We could test that out, you know.
I developed a secret weapon recently.”
Tony licked his lips, let out a deep sigh, glanced at Wanda, and clapped his open hands together.
“All right, what I actually wanted to say is…
I’m sorry.
I sincerely apologize for my earlier behavior.”
Gaia turned to Wanda, and Wanda looked back at him.
Their eyes met.
Gaia burst into laughter.
“Hey, you’re actually willing to apologize just to get my help?
You sneaky bastard.
Now I’m starting to regret coming over.
You must have something impossibly difficult that you need my help with, right?”
Tony sighed once more and waved Gaia over.
“Think whatever you want.
Come here, I want to show you something.”
Tony turned and walked toward the computer.
Curiously, Gaia followed him.
Based on the timeline, Tony’s only real enemy right now should be Iron Monger, so what could possibly have him this worried?
Stepping up beside Tony, Gaia watched him pull up a video on the screen.
At first, Gaia watched with casual interest.
Wasn’t that just Obadiah Stane?
He knew all about him.
Yet as the progress bar slowly moved forward, even Gaia couldn’t keep a smile on his face.
Little Gaia yelled in shock, “Holy shit!
How did Obadiah Stane turn into a three-meter-tall Frankenstein monster?!”
In the video, much like the Hulk transforming, Obadiah shifted from an ordinary human into a three-meter-tall, cyan-skinned mountain of flesh.
Seeing that Obadiah Stane could even consciously control the transformation, Gaia couldn’t help but speak up.
“Stark tech has already advanced to this point?
What in the world is that thing?
Is he the original archetype for Frankenstein?
You want me to help you take that down?
Come on, I’m not Superman.
Even if Captain America showed up, one body slam from that guy would clamp him down flat.”
Facing Gaia’s barrage of complaints, Tony rubbed his temples and looked at him with genuine earnestness.
“I’m sorry, Gaia.
I really didn’t know who else to turn to.
You were the only one I could think of.”
Gaia sneered dismissively.
“What a joke.
You never invite me to your parties, but you call me for this.”
Tony looked innocent.
“Hey, you can’t say that!
I invite you every time.
You’re the one who never shows up.”
Gaia scoffed.
“Buddy, haven’t you heard of politely declining three times before accepting?
Shouldn’t I be allowed to play hard to—”
A sharp sting pierced his head as his Spider-Sense blared wildly.
Gaia quickly changed the subject.
“Fine.
What price are you willing to pay, then?
Clean up after me by licking the toilet clean?”
Tony glanced at Wanda, who was glaring at him with intense hostility from beside Gaia, and decided to tread carefully.
“I wouldn’t have a problem with it, but I don’t think Wanda would appreciate that.”
A look of pure disgust washed over Gaia’s face.
He quickly wrapped an arm around Wanda’s waist and took several steps back.
“Oh my god, Stark, I had no idea you were into that sort of thing.
Being into guys is one thing, but you actually eat shit?
Seriously, every time I think you couldn’t get any wilder, you come up with a whole new trick.
Now I finally understand why a playboy like you never made a move on Pepper all these years.
At first, I thought you just didn’t want to mess around in your own backyard, but it turns out it was all a cover-up.
No wonder you’re thirty-eight and don’t even have a single kid.
So that’s the real truth.”
Tony stared at Gaia holding the blushing Wanda while looking at him with utter revulsion, wishing he could slap himself across the face.
*Damn it, why do I always forget he’s a lunatic?*
Suppressing the urge to curse Gaia out, Tony forcefully steered the conversation back on track.
“All right, enough with the nonsense.
I want to hire you to protect Pepper, Gaia.”
Gaia frowned and scolded sternly, “Tony, I believe life is far more important than saving face.
There’s no need to make me protect Pepper just to cover up your secret.
If you really want to keep her safe, just give her some time off right now.
Don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul.
I’ve lived in New York for so long; I’m very open-minded.”
Tony turned his head away helplessly.
After composing himself, he considered Gaia’s suggestion and realized it actually was a solid way to keep Pepper safe.
He looked back up at Gaia.
“You’re right, buddy, but just to be safe.
Pepper means everything to me.”
Seeing Tony this way, Little Gaia remarked, “Who would’ve thought the playboy Tony Stark could have a side like this?”
Gaia’s expression turned serious as well.
“In that case, Wanda and I will need outfits to conceal our identities.”
Tony nodded solemnly.
“No problem.
Leave it to me.”
Seeing the two finalize the plan, Wanda quietly raised her hand.
“Um…
I have my own clothes.”
All three pairs of eyes turned toward Wanda.
Seeing them look her way, Wanda gave a light wave of her hand, and crimson Chaos Magic instantly enveloped her entire body.
When the swirling Chaos Magic cleared, Wanda’s clothes had transformed into a sorceress robe styled after a qipao, showing off her magnificent figure.
Her face remained veiled behind a red mist, making her features impossible to discern.
“Whoa~” exclaimed all three in unison.
Tony turned to Gaia with utter disbelief.
“You never told me she’s a magician.”
Pleased by Tony’s shock, Gaia held his head high.
“There’s plenty I haven’t told you.”
…
That night, Peter returned home after testing his abilities.
Looking around the empty apartment, he scratched his head in confusion.
*Cousin Gaia isn’t back yet.
Have I turned into an empty-nest elder?*
Tossing his backpack onto the couch, Peter made dinner, went back to his room, and began researching Silk.
Earlier today at school, he and Gwen had discussed their superpowers.
It turned out Gwen had an extra ability he lacked—she could shoot Silk—which made Peter deeply envious, while also leaving him wondering what kind of powers Gaia possessed.
*Ring, ring~*
The phone rang.
Peter saw it was a call from Gaia and answered.
“Peter, I’m going out of town on business for a few days.
I won’t be home for a while.”
Peter replied while examining his formula, “Okay, no problem.
Um…
by the way, Gaia, can you shoot Silk?”
Without a second thought, Gaia replied, “Of course.
Why do you ask?”
Though Peter had already anticipated the answer, hearing the confirmation still brought on a mild wave of existential dread.
[Side Sketch: Heavens, we were all bitten by spiders, so why are my powers the most basic?
I’m just a bit stronger, can sense when Gwen and Gaia are nearby, and can climb walls.
But both of them can spin Silk.
It’s not fair!
I feel like they’re leaving me out!
This is Peter Parker bullying!]
(Little Peter curled up in the dark, tearfully gazing at Little Gaia and Gwen standing together under the warm sunlight.)
“Nothing.
Bye, Gaia, hope everything goes well.”
“Um…
all right.
Bye, Peter, thanks for the well wishes.”