The next morning, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, falling onto the carpet of the hotel room.
Kara woke up naturally and stretched comfortably.
Her original apartment had been destroyed in the havoc caused by the Hulk the previous night.
After returning to New York, she had to find a random hotel to stay in for the night.
After a quick wash and change into a fresh shirt and trousers, she hid her suit bracelet in her sleeve and put on the black-rimmed glasses that could disguise her face—as a reporter for the Daily Bugle, Kara was heading to the Stark Industries press conference today.
Outside Stark Tower, crowds were already surging.
Overnight, New York seemed to have been rewritten.
Rumors circulated through every street and alley about the steel duel, the green giant, and the blonde figure that had streaked across the night sky like a meteor.
Reporters’ cameras and microphones formed a dense jungle; everyone was waiting for a definitive answer.
Kara nimbly wove through the crowd, her press badge swaying slightly on her chest.
She looked up at the sky-scraping Stark Tower.
The glass curtain wall reflected the morning light, though several floors still bore the cracks from last night’s battle, like unhealed scars.
The commotion inside the lobby was even more intense.
The colorful logos of various media outlets intertwined, and flashes went off one after another, blinding anyone who looked.
Kara silently blended into the crowd, her gaze sweeping across the room—familiar faces from the New York Times and the Washington Post, and even a few European media outlets that had come from afar.
“I heard that flying girl from last night had an ‘S’ on her chest?” “Did Tony Stark really build armor that can fly?” “What exactly was that green monster…” The murmurs rose like a tide.
Kara pushed up her glasses and took a position toward the back.
Her Super Hearing could capture every conversation in the entire lobby, but she focused her attention only on the podium.
Pepper Potts was speaking in low tones with the staff, looking exhausted yet maintaining her professionalism.
Colonel Rhodes stood to the side, his military uniform crisp and his expression solemn.
And Tony— Kara narrowed her eyes slightly.
Tony walked in through a side door, wearing a well-tailored pinstripe suit and an expensive tie.
His face was somewhat pale, with obvious dark circles under his eyes, but his stride remained composed.
He even raised an eyebrow at a few familiar reporters in the front row.
There was no armor, no dazzling tech display.
Just a man, stepping into the spotlight.
The lobby suddenly fell silent.
Tony adjusted the height of the microphone, his gaze sweeping over the countless pairs of eyes below.
He was silent for a few seconds as the stillness solidified in the air.
“I know what you all want to ask,” his voice carried to every corner through the speakers.
“Last night, many people saw…
things that are hard to understand.” Kara crossed her arms and waited quietly.
“Some have asked me what that suit of armor was,” Tony said slowly.
“My script says ‘private bodyguard’—” He paused, the corners of his mouth curling into an almost provocative arc.
“But the truth is, I am Iron Man.” Flashbulbs erupted frantically.
The crowd below erupted like boiling water.
Tony pressed his hands down to quiet them and continued, “As for that green creature—regrettably, that matter is still under investigation.” He paused, his gaze seemingly wandering through the crowd as if searching for a specific figure.
“But there is one more question I suspect everyone wants to ask.” He reached out to loosen his collar, a gesture that made him seem unexpectedly sincere.
“Who is that blonde girl in the blue uniform who can fly?” The flashbulbs flickered like a rainstorm again.
Kara cooperated by raising her camera.
Tony raised a hand to suppress the noise: “I know her, but based on her own wishes, I must keep her identity a secret.” A wave of disappointed sighs rose from the audience.
“But I know,” his voice was clear and firm, “that last night, when this city faced a threat, she chose to stand up.
When someone needed help, she reached out her hand.” He leaned forward slightly, bracing his hands on the edges of the podium.
“We live in a World that is changing.
Some changes we can see, and some we cannot yet understand.
But one thing I am certain of—” Kara unconsciously held her breath.
“We need hope,” Tony said, each word falling like a heavy hammer on metal.
“We need to believe that when darkness descends, someone will step forward.
Perhaps wearing armor, perhaps wearing a cape, or perhaps…
just an ordinary person standing up.” He straightened up, revealing a tired but genuine smile.
“As for me?
I’m just a man trying to correct his mistakes.
From today onward, Stark Industries will pivot entirely toward energy and infrastructure research and development—this is the new hope Stark Industries brings to the people.” The press conference ended, but the crowd did not disperse.
Kara turned to leave when her phone vibrated— A message from Tony: Back door, five minutes, don’t wear the glasses.
— Tony Stark She raised an eyebrow, put away her press badge, and quietly threaded through the commotion toward the quiet service passage at the back of the building.
The passage smelled of detergent and coffee, a World away from the lobby up front.
Kara took off her glasses and tucked them into her shirt pocket.
The metal door slid open silently.
Tony was leaning against the wall by the emergency stairs, holding a cup of steaming coffee.
He had changed out of his suit into a simple black T-shirt, with a small piece of medical tape on the back of his hand.
“Are all Daily Bugle reporters this punctual?” He handed her another cup of coffee, his tone carrying its familiar banter.
Kara took it, the cup feeling warm against her palm.
“I thought a celebration called for champagne.” “When wounds hurt, coffee works better.” Tony took a sip, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment.
“Last night’s fight…
I knew you were ‘super,’ Kara, but I didn’t expect you to be able to go toe-to-toe with that big guy to that extent.
It’s a good thing you two eventually moved the fight above the atmosphere.” “I’m just a reporter, Mr.
Stark,” Kara said solemnly.
“Give it a rest.” Tony curled his lip.
“What reporter can dismantle half of New York in minutes?” Kara smiled and remained noncommittal.
She looked toward the window at the end of the hallway; the sky outside was azure, with wispy clouds drifting by.
“I can feel it…
change is happening,” Kara said softly.
“The World is changing, and we might all be turning into versions of ourselves we never imagined.
‘Supergirl,’ ‘Iron Man’…
are we really becoming the kind of people who can bring hope?” Tony followed her gaze.
“The question isn’t what we’ve become,” he said slowly, “but what we choose to do with this power.
Isn’t it?” Kara shrugged.
“Since when did you, the playboy, start preaching?” Her eyes were filled with amusement.
“A playboy doesn’t have lethal shrapnel in his body, nor does he have to rely on a ‘battery’ in his chest to stay alive.” Tony spread his hands.
He set down his coffee cup and took a key card from his pocket.
“This is a penthouse suite that hasn’t been listed for sale yet, on a street that’s still intact next to where you used to live.
The property documents are inside.
Consider it…
payment for helping me clean up those stray weapons.” Kara was slightly moved.
The address on the key card was in one of the most expensive areas of New York.
“I remember all the listings there were reserved by bank executives,” she said, puzzled.
“How did you get it?” Tony replied casually: “I bought the bank.” Kara: “???” …
Over the following months, Kara lived quite leisurely.
The property Stark gave her was a luxury penthouse on the top floor of that high-end development, large enough for her to fly short distances inside.
She roughly estimated it to be at least a thousand square meters.
Tony even provided a car for her in the private garage—after Kara checked the model and the price, she cursed Stark under her breath as a major capitalist.
However, the penthouse residence did make daily take-offs and landings much more convenient.
Under the night sky, the lights of New York were as bright as day, and Kara stood on the edge of the high terrace, overlooking this complex city.