It had been months since her and her brother's arrival in America. She expected to be tortured, hated and experimented on by Stark and the US Government.

  But Wanda was wrong.

  Instead of hatred, she received comfort. Once Tony Stark had brought them over to the Avengers Headquarters outside New York City, she and her brother received their own bedrooms with all the amenities. Then, the paperwork was done for them to register them as tourists on Visa.

  In one day, she'd seen the likes of Captain America, Bruce Banner, Charles Xavier, Jean Grey, and more—names now world-famous as the most liked Superheroes. But she never saw Tony Stark again.

  Being deep inside the enemy territory, she chose not to act stupid and tried to bide her time. But the more time passed, the more she realized that the world wasn't all bck and white, left and right, good and evil.

  SHIELD gave her access to all the files reted to Sokovia. Reading them, she realized how foolish she'd been. The Hydra that she'd joined was also the reason why the civil war started in Sokovia in the first pce. How Hydra wanted to take hold of the country, to which the world reacted. Of course, Stark Industries' weapons were used, the same weapons that killed her parents.

  All her life, she'd hated Tony Stark and America. Now, finding out that it was Hydra behind it all, she had no clue what to even think. Who to hate, what to fight for. By all accounts, it looked like the United States had eliminated Hydra, Tony himself had done it. Sokovia was now among the top nations scheduled to receive aid for rebuilding itself.

  The civil war was over, and she'd done nothing of value despite her power. Same for her brother.

  Knock! Knock!

  The door to her small living unit opened, and her brother's head peeked inside.

  "Sis, you got time? He's here… to talk with us," Pietro voiced, his expression a little nervous.

  "Who?" Wanda stood up, patting away the wrinkles of her dark skirt.

  "Our kidnapper, who else?"

  Cnk!

  Suddenly, a metallic hand gently knocked on Pietro's head from behind, and the door was pushed fully open. Tony Stark appeared behind Pietro, the metallic gauntlet slowly vanishing from his arm.

  "I didn't kidnap you. You've got the visas, first-css ticket home whenever you feel like it." Tony brushed it off, stepping inside without so much as a gnce at Wanda's mix of shock and barely contained fury. "Had to blow up a Hydra base, figured you wouldn't want front-row seats. But hey, if yelling at me helps, be my guest."

  "What do you want from us?" Wanda snapped.

  Tony shrugged and dragged himself to a simple sofa. The living units Maximoff siblings had received were like mini apartments with a long living room that also had a kitchen on one side and then a lone bedroom. "Five hundred trillion dolrs… Oh, you thought I was gonna say that? Cute. Take a seat. We both know which one of us needed this meeting more."

  Quickly, Wanda and Pietro sat together on the longer sofa, staring directly at Tony's rexed figure.

  "You've got questions? Comments? Maybe a strongly worded letter? Now's your shot."

  "You killed our parents." Wanda accused strongly, her eyes fring up with a magical gre.

  "That's true… Yeah, that checks out." Tony nodded, lifting his phone with a flick of his wrist. Instantly, a projector screen lit up, and a long list of names started scrolling like movie credits. "As well as all these people. I have the list… I have it for a reason. It rolls on for more than three hours like this."

  Raised brows, the Maximoff siblings stared at the projector screen for a while.

  Tony exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, my weapons killed your parents. And a lot of others. No excuses. My name was on those missiles, front and center. Back then? I was an idiot. Rich, charming, and profoundly unaware. I let a bunch of soulless suits run my company—guys who'd probably auction off their own grandmothers if the price was right.

  "I shut it down. And once I became the President, I ended all American military engagements. I'm as anti-war as you can get, Wanda. I can't change the past, but I can build a better future, that's what my three years of presidency have been about. One big, overly complicated, mildly stressful pn to fix the mess Stark Industries helped create."

  Wanda stared at his face with her big eyes for a while. The woman looked a little too pale in her all-bck clothes. "You think this will be enough to earn forgiveness?"

  "Not at all. I'd have feared God at first, but then I met Thor, and there's that. Kind of shifts your perspective, you know? As for the rest, I have no idea. I'm just trying to do my job and make life a little less terrible for everyone. One more year in office, and if all goes well, my guy will take over next.

  "Look, you can hate me—that's fine, really—but if you've got abilities, maybe use them to help fix the world. Plenty of Wandas and Pietros out there, waiting for someone to step up. That's the Avengers initiative now. Less punching aliens, more saving people. Hopefully, with fewer property damage compints."

  That was the st thing the two were expecting Tony to say. All their life, they'd heard Tony Stark was an egotistical maniac. Sure, they noticed a bit of ego, but nothing maniacal about it.

  "You want us to become an Avenger?" Pietro asked, his voice a little excited.

  "If you really want to, sure. You can outrun a bullet—that's a solid start in my book," Tony said, rubbing the back of his head before gncing at Wanda. "And you can… you know, do the thing."

  He seriously had no idea what Wanda could do.

  Wanda had been staring at Tony the whole time. Not for a moment did she look away, her big eyes furious as well as understanding at the same time.

  "Sis?" Pietro shook his sister.

  "We'll think about it," Wanda replied as if she woke up from a stupor. "But not Pietro. He needs to go to college."

  "Yeah, sure, just name the college. Consider it done." Tony stood up, picking up on the less-than-warm vibes. "Oh, and by the way—get your allowance from Agent Coulson. Bet you'll want to check out Manhattan while you're here. Feel free to swing by Stark Tower if you're in the area."

  Beep!

  Just as Tony began to leave, he felt his phone vibrate. He looked it up: a text from May, asking him to stop by if he's got time.

  For that woman, he always had time.

  "See you around." Tony waved back at the siblings and summoned his nano suit on his body. He watched Pietro show excited looks, watching the suit form on Tony's body.

  Eventually, Tony left.

  Wanda noticed her brother's excited face and smacked at his shoulder. "Don't fraternize with the enemy."

  "But that's what the Hydra used to say, sis. I don't think we have enemies anymore."

  "Ugh~"

  Wanda just growled frustratingly and left him be. In her heart, she knew her brother was right.

  ####

  Tony flew stealthily and arrived at the Manhattan apartment where May lived with Peter. It was the middle of the day, so Tony was a little surprised by her invitation. She was usually at work at such hours.

  As usual, he entered through the custom-made movable window.

  "May?"

  "Tony." May walked out of the kitchen after hearing all the noise. "That was quick."

  "I was in the neighborhood," Tony said, wrapping her in a hug and giving her a firm squeeze. "What's up?"

  "Tony, I…" May gnced up, worry all over her face. "I think Peter's in trouble. He's been acting weird, and he's way too secretive."

  "He's a kid, a boy. That's pretty on-brand, isn't it?" Tony let her go and made his way to the fridge, fishing out a drink. "Probably found himself a girl or, I don't know, discovered video games. Either way, crisis averted."

  "No, Tony. He's been different tely. Always stuttering, making excuses. I never know when he's coming or going. And he's out so te at night," May added.

  Sighing, Tony plopped down on the couch and welcomed May as she straddled his p, her soft fingers tracing his beard, her hair a sprinkled mess.

  There's got to be a secret behind her beauty. Tony pondered, finding her quite attractive even at that age. Well, her grinding those hips on his p added an extra yer, it seemed.

  "Tony, can't you look into it? He's all I have."

  "Already doing it," Tony replied, unashamedly wrapping an arm around her, his palm spread on her ass, covered in a tight bck legging. "Jarvis is looking into it."

  "Hmm…" May hummed and slumped on Tony's chest, wrapping her arms around his neck as her face nestled beside his ear. She moved her hips in waves, back and forth, knowing where she was leading this quick meeting.

  It surprised her, too. How slutty she'd been with Tony ever since their first meeting. How she'd let him tie her up and even make her scream in ways she didn't know she could. Yet, she loved it all and yearned for more such moments. She felt as if Tony was the only man she could be so open with.

  Why? She reckoned that was because of how insignificant she was in front of Tony. Who was she? Just an ordinary woman living a common life. Who was he? The President of the United States, Iron Man, Tony Stark, the richest man in the world.

  In some ways, it was comforting. Knowing that Tony had nothing to gain by using her. Knowing that he relished the physical intimacy as much as she did.

  Tony wasted no time, shoving his hand under the waistband of her leggings, his fingers sinking into the soft, bare flesh of her ass. His grip was firm, possessive, spreading her smooth ass cheeks as he guided her grinding hips, making her move exactly how he wanted. His other hand discarded the beer can without a second thought, fingers returning to knead and cim every inch of her.

  The thin barrier of her leggings meant nothing. He could feel her heat, the dampness pressed against his cock, teasing him through his formal pants. The material already forming a small tent between his legs.

  "You know…" Tony murmured into her ear, his lips brushing against her skin as his relishing smile deepened. "This is giving me serious déjà vu. Kinda like our first meeting... on that couch of yours."

  His tone was cocky as ever, but there was hunger beneath it, a promise that sent a shiver down May's spine. May let out a soft ugh, pressing her mouth against his neck, kissing him deep before giggling against his skin. She rocked her hips harder, her body rubbing over the bulge straining in his pants, and felt his fingers teasing along her ass, one slipping lower, circling the tight, forbidden entrance he loved to py with.

  He always did this; pushed her limits, made her crave things she never thought she'd want, never letting her hide from how easily she gave in to him. He made her body react before she could even think, willingly teased by him.

  "I remember it well… I'm gd it happened," she whispered, her voice dripping with something sultry and knowing. That night had ruined her; she had never been the same since. Letting herself be reckless, letting herself be used, craving Tony Stark like a drug.

  And now, here she was again, letting him do whatever he damn well pleased.

  Tony groaned against her ear, his cock pulsing against her through his pants so hard it was almost painful. His grip on her ass tightened, fingers spreading her wider as he exhaled sharply. His breath was hot against her skin, his fingers pressing just a little firmer against her sensitive pucker. "Kinda makes me wanna reenact it.."

  May shivered, but this time, there was nothing innocent about it. She smirked, lips brushing against his ear as she purred, "At this point, you don't even need to ask, Tony."

  That was all the permission he needed.

  "Really? Then…" Tony didn't hesitate. With wide palms still teasing her from behind, he grabbed the thin fabric of her leggings and tore them open with a sharp rip. The sound of it split through the air.

  A shudder ran through May's body as the cool air caressed her exposed skin, her leggings torn wide open between her legs. She gasped, her body tensing for a brief second before a giggle bubbled up in her throat. Excitement sparked through her like fireworks, and she lifted her face, meeting Tony's hungry gaze before crashing her lips onto his.

  Her hands moved everywhere, roaming his face, his jaw, combing through his thick hair with frantic, hungry fingers. Her body rocked against him even harder, her movements desperate, needy, as if she couldn't get him close enough, fast enough. All she knew was the wanting deep in her salivating core.

  May fumbled at his belt, her fingers trembling with urgency. "Ugh… this damn belt.."

  Tony chuckled a bit and batted her hands away, unfastening the buckle with ease. He pushed his pants down to his ankles while May eased off a little on her knees. His driving need finally sprung free, thick and aching between them.

  The moment his p was bare, May rose onto her knees higher, her lips kept devouring his as she reached down and wrapped her fingers around his cock. She stroked his rigid source of heat, slow at first, teasing, savoring the feel of his heavy, pulsing heat in her palm. She wanted it, and she wanted it now.

  He was thick, hot, pulsing in her grip, and just feeling him in her palm sent another wave of fluttering warmth pooling low in her belly. Her nimble fingers stroked him, slow, teasing, her breath coming faster, her thirsty lips wet against his.

  Then she pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. Her lips were glossy with their spit, her breath shaky. "Too bad we don't have a lot of time today."

  Tony barely had a second to register her words before May grasped his length with one hand, using the other to push aside the damp bridge of her panties.

  Then, with a slow, shuddering inhale, she sank down onto him. Inch by inch, she took him in, her delicate pussy lips snugly stretching around him, her body clenching greedily as she gasped through the overwhelming sensation. This was it; this was what she craved: hot, solid, brutishly big, stretching her wide. The helpless struggles her wet walls made. It all felt so, so good.

  Her walls cmped around him, gripping, sucking him in deeper as a long, drawn-out moan escaped her lips. "Ooohhhh…"

  Her fingers dug into his shoulders, her breath uneven, as if she were finally taking the first taste of an addiction she couldn't fight. A deep, trembling moan escaped her lips as her fingers left marks on his skin, her head falling back, her whole body quivering from how deep he reached inside her. "Ummmmmhhh….."

  She took a moment to feel it all when his cockhead finally struck the deepest part of her soaked cave of wonders. Silently sitting there, a deep blush crept over her charming face, relishing everything. Her inner walls throbbed against his rigid shaft, asking for more.

  Tony gritted his teeth, groaning as he felt her tight pussy wrap around him, taking him in with that perfect, wet squeeze. His hands slid under her oversized shirt, shoving it up to reveal her creamy skin, pushing her bra up, and letting her honey-soft swells spill free. The sight alone made his cock twitch inside her, too sinfully inviting.

  "Ghh…" He groaned, gripping her hips as he thrust up into her, meeting her movements with raw intensity. Then he leaned in, capturing one of her swollen, sensitive nipples in his mouth. His tongue flicked over the stiff peak, lips sealing around the cloud-like globe as he suckled, his teeth grazing just enough to make her whimper.

  May trembled in his arms, her hips rolling instinctively, grinding down harder as he switched between her plump mounds and her mouth. Every time his lips left her jiggling flesh, his hands would knead and mold her flesh, leaving her no breathing room. His mouth would feast on her lips, stifling the lewd sounds she was making.

  She gasped into his kiss and moaned against his tongue. Her spyed, soaked walls fluttered around his cock as pleasure overtook her. He was so deep, so perfect inside her, filling her up in a way that sent pleasure crackling through every nerve in her body. Her fingers clenched around his shoulders, her breath coming in broken, uneven pants.

  Tony shuddered as he felt her uneven squeezes around him, pulling him in deeper, making his cock throb inside her heat.

  May was close, so close she could barely breathe. And then the pleasure peaked, scorching and blinding. She shattered with a cry, her walls gripping around him as she came hard.

  With a sharp cry, her pussy clenched around him, her orgasm crashing over her in shuddering waves. "Ahhhhhh!"

  But Tony didn't stop, not even for a moment. His grip tightened on her waist as he kept moving, kept thrusting, fucking her through her climax and straight into another. Her body spasmed as the muscles of her belly knotted up, overwhelmed, her moans turning into incoherent whimpers while her pussy dribbled out with each thrust. Each plunge squelched inside her, each jolt struck against her cervix.

  Her body writhed against him. She couldn't think, couldn't do anything but take it, let him use her, let him fuck her until she was nothing but a trembling, breathless mess in his arms. She could feel it; the way his body tensed, the way his cock pulsed inside her with those thick veins. Nothing but sinful, dirty pleasure, taunting her, teasing her, driving her towards the edge.

  Tony's control was slipping, his thrusts growing rougher, more desperate. He could feel it in his balls, the tight pressure taunting him close to the edge. Wild and unrestrained, wanting to devour her completely.

  "Where?" He gritted out, his breath ragged against her ear.

  May barely managed to answer, her words breaking between moans. "D-Don't worry… oh! I'm on pills… Ahhh!"

  Tony hesitated for only a moment before his hands slid down to her waist. His fingers pressed into the soft, heated skin of her rolling hips, pulling her closer, holding her steady. Then, with a sharp thrust, he drove up into her, sheathing himself to the hilt.

  "Ahhh!" A gasp broke from her lips, her prim nails digging into his back as her body arched against him.

  He didn't give her time to adjust, didn't let her catch her breath. He set a slow, punishing pace, dragging his cock almost all the way out to his swollen head before smming it back in. Each thrust was deep and deliberate, each movement forcing another sweet cry from her lips.

  She clenched around him, gripping him like she never wanted to let go, and the thought sent fire through his veins.

  His pace quickened; hard, deep plunges that sent May shuddering in his grasp. He felt the way she tensed, the way her breath hitched, and her pussy twitched as pleasure overtook her. When she came again, she quivered against his chest, her body squeezing his cock tight, milking him to oblivion.

  "Fuck…" Tony cursed under his breath, holding her down as he buried himself balls-deep each time, groaning low and rough.

  The heat of it made her whimper, and something about that sound made his pulse thrum with satisfaction. His grip tightened on her hips as he smmed into her one st time, his cock diving deep to its hilt. A massive wave of pleasure flooded his entire being.

  Heat surged through him as the final barrier of restraint broke. Blood rushed towards his loins, sending out a heavy burst of creamy, sticky batter, spilling deep inside her. He felt her squeeze him through the st twitches of his climax, throwing him deep into cloud nine.

  They both held each other, riding the waves of bliss coursing through them. For a moment, neither of them moved, their bodies tangled, breath mingling. It felt amazing, perfect, warm and wet, dirty and dazzling.

  Slowly, Tony exhaled, easing back as he pulled out, his cock still thick and sensitive. A warm, creamy trail leaked from between her legs, dripping onto his calming length. The sensations of her dripping pussy against his cream-covered fccid length sent a pulse of satisfaction through him. He smirked, running his hands zily up her thighs, enjoying the way she shivered beneath his touch.

  May stayed right there, straddling him, her body still pressed against his. Her hands came up to cradle his face, her thumbs brushing along the stubble of his jaw.

  "Thanks," she murmured.

  Tony let out a breathy chuckle, still smirking. "For what?"

  May's lips curved into a small, almost bashful smile. "Life was kinda dull before you. Boring. Just the same old thing. Until you…"

  Her voice softened, her fingers tracing slow patterns along his cheek. "I love Peter like my own, but I wanted something more. And then you came at the right time."

  Tony's smirk deepened, a wicked glint in his eye. "I sure came… a lot."

  "You—" May ughed, swatting his chest, but the way she looked at him, still holding his face, still close, made something settle inside him.

  She leaned in, her breath warm against his lips. "I feel alive again. Thanks to you."

  Tony chuckled, leaning back as he pulled her in, close and warm. "You know, you keep me grounded. Sometimes, I have these dreams where I just lose it—full-on psycho-dictator mode. I mean, I own the government, I've got the tech, the money, and let's be honest, the influence. If I went off the deep end—I can fuck this world up if I go crazy, May."

  "Hmm…" May pulled her face back and stared at Tony intently. "Nope, not the megalomaniac type. Pyboy? Absolutely. A politician? Not even close."

  "I'm not a politician," Tony replied and softly traced her jawline with a hand, tucking locks of hair behind her ear. May being an ordinary woman was what made it all so pleasant. No random talks of politics or world-ending issues. Just small talk and sex.

  "Don't overthink it. You did a pretty good job," May said, starting to shift off his p. "I saw the news. Your approval is still above eighty percent, the highest in history. People like you. That's gotta count for something."

  "I guess."

  Tony yawned and stretched his arms as May got off of him. He grabbed some tissues that May gave him and quickly wiped himself clean, fixing his pants after that.

  Silently, he listened to Jarvis give him a report on Peter in his ear while he waited for May to return from the bathroom. The more he heard, the more he felt troubled. It was a lot to digest for him, let alone May.

  Cck!

  Just as May came out of the bathroom, the main door of the apartment also opened. Peter walked in with his schoolbag, his face looking a little too tired for a nerdy kid just back from school.

  Tony grabbed his gsses from the coffee table and looked at Peter. One scan at the backpack, and he knew the contents inside.

  "M-Mr. Stark?" Peter froze in shock.

  "Hey, kid." Tony waved back. "How's school going?"

  "Goo—I mean, awesome! I aced the physics exam, and I just made the Academic Decathlon team!"

  Tony was no amateur. He knew a nervous kid when he saw one. He'd seen Peter so many times already that by now, it made no sense for the boy to lose his cool in front of him.

  "Let's have a chat." Tony turned around and walked towards Peter's room door. "In your room."

  Nervously, Peter followed Tony into the room and shut the door behind him. By then, Tony was already seated in front of the top-of-the-line computer. Peter didn't ck any resources, as May had a far better job. Nice computer, nice pocket money, and even a few tech devices in the room from the looks of it.

  "Mr. Stark, did something happen?"

  "Yep," Tony said, pulling out his phone. "Got a call from May this morning—she's worried about you. Had Jarvis do a little digging, and surprise, surprise, look what turned up."

  A holographic screen formed from the phone and showed videos of a guy in a red suit and mask saving people, swinging by, stopping cars and trucks, and even lifting them.

  "Giving Captain a run for his money? Even he can't lift a truck like that." Tony muttered and kept showing the videos.

  "T-That's… That's computer generated, you know."

  "Take a look again." The video then changed to a small camera near an isoted alleyway. Peter walked into that alleyway, and then the guy in a red suit came out swinging, wearing the same bag as Peter. "Gotta hand it to whoever did the CGI. Pretty realistic, huh?"

  Peter froze, stuttering without words. "I-I…"

  "So, Spider-Boy?"

  "S-Spider Man."

  Tony shook his head and began walking around the room, eventually finding the red suit hidden in the cupboard. "Nope, Spider Teen is better. You're what? Fourteen? Definitely not a man."

  Peter sat down on his bed, nervously watching Tony walk around the room.

  "You made this?" Tony asked, holding a small gss tube in his hand. "Tensile strength is off the charts. What about climbing walls?"

  "It's uh… a long story."

  "I got time." Tony shrugged, stashing away the low-budget superhero getup and sitting down. "I know, shocking, right? But I do. Lay it on me—no edits, no shortcuts."

  Peter gulped and nodded. There was no other way to go about it.

  "So, I went on this field trip… I had a fever for a night, and when I woke up, I felt stronger. Like, bend-steel strong. And my hands? Super sticky. I could hear a dy screaming for help, like, blocks away. Even tracked a fly with my eyes. And then I thought…"

  Tony listened to Peter with patience. By now, he'd seen so many things that what Peter said didn't shock him. After the recent Fantastic Four fiasco, it seemed anyone could gain superpowers as long as the conditions were right.

  Peter didn't have the X-gene, he knew that already. So whatever that spider did, it made Peter a greater Super Soldier than anything the Captain could dream of.

  "And the first thing you thought of after all these magical upgrades was to py superhero?" Tony asked, raising an eyebrow. "Seriously? What's the motivation? You're a kid, why not live a little?"

  "Because it's wrong," Peter blurted out. "I-I mean, it wouldn't be right… turning into some star athlete overnight. I can't tell anyone about this."

  "Why take the risk? Why suit up, step into the fire, and py hero?" Tony asked. Not an interrogation—more like a nudge in the ribs, the kind that says, 'C'mon, you already know the answer.'

  "Because… when you can do things that I can, but you don't, and then the bad things happen. They happen because of you."

  That was more than just an answer. Tony looked away as if those words affected him personally. Peter's words were exactly his thoughts ever since he stepped into the Oval Office. With all that power, all his tech, if good folks were still dying somewhere, it was because of his inability. That was the idea.

  After a moment of silence, Tony got up and stepped closer to Peter. Then, he patted the young superhero's shoulder. It made him recoil saying it, but he reckoned he'd be doing that a lot soon.

  "Proud of you, kid."

  Not expecting that, Peter looked up.

  "But no more superhero stuff. You're not ready, and it's too risky." Tony held up a finger before Peter could argue. "You need training... and a suit that doesn't look like it was made in gym css."

  "Training?"

  "A week at the Avengers headquarters for briefing, then a year at the X-Mansion," Tony said, tapping away on his phone. "You'll get the hang of your powers and figure out how to fight the bad guys without wrecking the neighborhood. Trust me, insurance premiums are no joke. You'll be an Avenger someday. But remember, Peter—you can't half-ass this gig. It's not just your neck on the line. It's everyone around you."

  Realizing that Tony had just offered him a golden ticket, Peter took the chance instantly.

  "I'll be serious!"

  Nodding, Tony decided to leave. But as he walked to the door, he gave one st warning. "Just make sure those grades don't tank, alright? If they do, you're off the roster. No exceptions."

  That only made Peter more excited. The school was boring anyway. Scoring the grades was easy.

  With that, Tony left the room. However, Peter still had to deal with his aunt's worry and make a believable excuse.

  Thankfully, he had his best friend to throw under the bus.

  ####

  The normal American life had changed a lot in the st six years.

  Ever since Tony Stark announced his run for Presidency, so many things have changed. At first, it was just the Iron Guardians, but then came those Stark Industries' cars and trucks that ran seemingly forever. Then came the change to the electric grid, with Arc Reactors now powering the entire nation. Electricity bills fell hard. Overall energy prices also fell, as fossil fuel wasn't really that important anymore.

  But these were changes that affected life on the outer surface.

  There were other things that changed the very essence of people's lives. The government's efficiency was at an all-time peak. Data security was impenetrable. The IRS reforms made it easier to pay taxes and know where the tax money was used. The reforms made it easier to get insurance and also cash them out. Medication was affordable with Stark Industries' threatening entrance into the healthcare business.

  No more dying over a shot of insulin.

  Finding jobs was easier now. Getting a college education was no longer a matter of going into debt. The homeless were cared for; the rich paid their taxes. The lobby groups lost their edge and disintegrated among themselves as Tony's callousness forced them to focus on survival by actually putting in an effort and creating better products.

  Healthy food was no longer an exception. It was the norm.

  Pollution was no longer a rising danger but a diminishing crisis already past.

  Increasing crime was a thing of the past.

  Illegal immigration was under control as the Iron Guardians occasionally bombed the living hell out of Cartel hotspots in Mexico. Of course, it required a little convincing at first, but Tony had his ways of making the Mexican politicians agree.

  In the end, Mexico saw economic growth, too. Tagging along with America's 21st-century success story. The 2008 financial crisis was no longer a topic of discussion.

  Corruption was investigated and punished.

  There were no more wars to fight.

  The national debt was falling.

  The infrastructure was repaired and polished.

  The average American was richer than a decade ago, healthier than six years ago, and happier in decades. The economy had jumped beyond the 1984 rate, and as a whole, the nation was growing.

  All of America was aware that Tony Stark had a thousand faults. He was a known pyboy, a maverick who did whatever pleased him.

  But as the 4th year of Tony Stark's presidency approached, nobody dared call him a bad president.

  45th Forever!—It was a phrase that was popurized by the internet. There were massive posters, bumper stickers, and tattoos with the same words all across the country. The news channels, without even being asked, ran stories about it.

  The internet was filled with memes about Tony Stark or, at times, edgy, cringeworthy video edits painting the man Alpha, Sigma, Gamma, or something.

  It was no longer a matter of demographics. From 80-year-olds to 18, the fondness for the 45th President of the United States was universal.

  The journey that Tony had begun appeared to be approaching an end. In Tony's own words, the United States can't help the world unless it helps itself first. He did just that, and once the gig at the Oval Office would end, he pnned on aiming at the rest of the world.

  Without equal growth across the globe, it was impossible for Earth to aim for the stars. Stand against the aliens that roamed in spaceships the size of Rhode Isnd.

  Of course, the people didn't know it yet.

  That their beloved president had no desire to warm the Kennedy chair for four more years.

  ####

  "Damn it! Full power to thrusters, JARVIS! If I don't make it in time… Ugh. That damn Kim Jong. Who the hell throws a national festival just to celebrate the US President's visit?"

  Tony hissed in compint. He'd gone to North Korea to see how his grand ambition to turn the nation into a high-tech heaven was going.

  Sadly, he had no clue that Kim had turned Iron Man into an almost god figure. The people knelt to him as if he were the second coming of Jesus. They cried at his sight, and unlike the propaganda videos, this time, the tears were real.

  What had been pnned as a one-day trip turned into a 3-day festival.

  And on the third day, he received an emergency call from his California mansion. The pce had been turned into a modern operating room/bor room.

  Yes, Ororo was almost at the finish line, and Tony was jetting across the Pacific Ocean to reach home on time. Of course, he knew he didn't need to, but he didn't want to miss the birth.

  He didn't want to be a shitty father like Howard was.

  "Dammit, is that all we got?"

  "Sir, if we go faster, the fish will die."

  Tony hissed and changed trajectory.

  "Alright. We're taking orbit! Prepare the rocket attachments."

  Like hell he was going to miss the birth of his first child.