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{Chapter: 92 - Return to the Island And Pepper}
After stepping off the bus and making sure everything was in order back at the temporary base, Aiden didn't waste any time. With a deep breath, he soared into the skies, tearing through the air like a living missile. The sonic boom that followed him scattered a flock of birds below as he moved like a silver blur over the land and ocean.
His destination? The West Coast Island.
In a matter of minutes, he passed through clouds and reached the sky above his island base. Below, the scene was bustling with life. The once quiet and isolated island was now a hub of progress. Dozens of temporary housing structures dotted the cleared terrain. Scaffolding framed new buildings. Workers in hard hats moved in coordinated groups, while machinery rumbled and hissed under the afternoon sun.
What drew Aiden's attention most was the shimmering oval-shaped portals opened, people appearing and disappearing near the dock area. Materials—metal beams, prefabricated panels, even crates of supplies—were being moved in and out in seconds. Blink stood at the center of it all, directing traffic like a quiet general.
Descending slowly from the sky like a silent god returning to earth, Aiden hovered a few feet above the newly paved concrete platform. The late afternoon sun caught the metallic shimmer of his armor, making him glow against the dust-choked skyline. As his boots touched the ground with practiced grace, the constant thrum of construction continued around him—drones humming overhead, scaffolding groaning under the weight of half-built towers, and generators pulsing with stored energy.
"Boss! You're back!" came a familiar voice—sharp, bright, and tinged with something warmer.
Blink's voice. Clarice Ferguson.
She looked up from a glowing control panel, wiping sweat from her brow with the back of her arm. Her magenta hair was tied up messily, a few rebellious strands sticking to her damp forehead. Her light pink skin glistened with effort under the sun, sleeves rolled up to reveal toned arms streaked with dust and grease. Her eyes locked on Aiden with a spark of something too quickly buried—excitement, relief… maybe even longing.
Aiden stepped forward, a flicker of concern softening the usual stoicism in his expression. "Clarice," he said, his voice gentle beneath the armor's modulation. "You shouldn't push yourself this hard. You look exhausted."
Her lips curved into a faint smirk as she reached for her water canister. "It's not that bad," she replied, her voice teasing. "Besides… seeing you land like that might've just given me my second wind."
He tilted his head slightly, amused but saying nothing. She didn't miss the way his eyes lingered—just for a heartbeat—on the curve of her hip as she shifted her weight. It wasn't much, but it was enough to send a flutter down her spine. She took a slow sip of water, letting the pause stretch.
"This is good training for my portals," she added, her tone growing more focused. "I can feel my control improving. Distance warping, stabilization under external pressure… it's all getting tighter."
Aiden nodded, offering a small smile. "I'm proud of you."
Those words hit harder than they should have. Blink looked down at her boots, then back up at him. A few years ago, she'd been a frightened, aimless girl—tossed between hunters and being hunted, warzones, and survival camps. Now she was here, helping to build something real… something lasting. With him.
"You know," she said more softly, "sometimes I wake up thinking this is a dream. Being here. Working beside you. Leading. Living."
Aiden blinked, sensing the shift in her tone. "It's not a dream," he said.
"I know," she replied, her voice lowering. "But if it were… I don't think I'd want to wake up."
Their eyes locked. For a moment, the air between them was charged—like a storm waiting to break. She wondered if he could hear the way her heart stuttered in her chest, or see the faint flush on her cheeks that had nothing to do with the sun.
"How's the progress?" he asked, finally breaking the moment.
Blink blinked—how fitting—and forced her mind back to the present. "We're steady. If nothing unexpected happens, we'll have most of it finished in about six months. Housing, labs, defense systems… basic infrastructure will all be operational."
"Six months…" Aiden's brow creased. "That feels slow."
"Well, we're not exactly rolling with StarkTech or Wakandan support, you know," she quipped with a smirk. "Unless you've got a genius billionaire girlfriend hiding somewhere?"
He chuckled softly. "Not yet."
"Pity," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Could've used a sugar mommy."
Aiden laughed under his breath, shaking his head. "You're incorrigible."
She leaned a little closer. "You like that about me."
He didn't deny it.
She straightened, brushing off her hands, trying to suppress the grin threatening to take over her face. "Anyway," she said more businesslike, "I'll keep pushing the schedule. Maybe if you ask real nice, I'll open some portals to speed up transport. I might even let you owe me."
He arched a brow. "And what would that debt cost me?"
Her voice dropped, sultry and low. "I haven't decided yet. But I'll enjoy collecting."
A flash of gold shimmered across the sky. Blink looked up instantly, her mood shifting.
"Boss—something's approaching fast."
Aiden followed her gaze, eyes narrowing.
A sleek golden trail burned across the sky, diving toward them with velocity that suggested either recklessness… or confidence. It didn't take long for the silhouette to become familiar.
"That looks like Tony," Aiden said with a sigh. "Let me guess—he's still obsessed with the Dark Elf spaceship?"
Blink groaned. "Seriously? Can't he just get laid and chill?"
Aiden gave her a sideways glance. "You volunteering?"
She laughed out loud, stepping back toward her terminal. "Not my type. Too much ego. Not enough mystery."
Before he could respond, she flared a portal to life beside them, a ring of violet energy humming with stability.
"I'll talk to the Dark Elf," she said, glancing back over her shoulder. "See if he can help speed things up with their tech. Might as well explore that option. Who knows… might shave a few months off."
She hesitated just a second longer, eyes holding his. "And when I get back… maybe you can tell me what kind of girl is your type."
She vanished before he could answer, the portal snapping shut behind her with a ripple of light.
And for the first time in a long while, Aiden found himself smiling longer than he intended. There was something different about her lately—something blooming beneath the scars of a life once defined by chaos, loss, and displacement. This girl, who once flinched at affection and carried her pain like armor, was slowly letting go of the shadows that once shaped her. She was adapting—thriving even. No longer just surviving between portals and skirmishes, she was becoming something more. Someone real.
And now... she was getting flirty. With him.
That playful smirk, the suggestive glances, the confident sway in her hips—it wasn't just a performance. It was her, unshackled. It was her finally living. And Aiden wasn't sure whether he should be amused… or a little unnerved by just how much he enjoyed it.
He was shaking his head, Aiden turned his attention back to the descending figure. The golden armor slowed as it approached, hovering several meters off the ground before gently landing. With a soft hiss, the helmet began to retract.
To Aiden's surprise, it wasn't Tony Stark under the mask—but Pepper Potts.
Her appearance was elegant as always, even encased in the repulsor suit. Aiden blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
"…Pepper?"
She gave a warm, knowing smile as she stepped out of the suit, letting it fold away neatly behind her like a loyal dog. "Hello, Aiden. Sorry to disappoint you. I know you were probably expecting Tony."
Aiden relaxed slightly, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah… kinda. No offense, just… unexpected."
"None taken," she replied graciously, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. "I figured it was best to come myself."
He raised an eyebrow, curious. "So… are you here about the spaceship too? If that's the case, you might be wasting a trip. I'm not handing it over, not even to Tony."
Pepper chuckled softly and waved a dismissive hand. "No, no. That's not why I'm here. Actually, I came in private. This visit… it has nothing to do with Stark Industries. Or Tony."
Aiden tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing with a spark of curiosity. The way Pepper had approached him — calm, assertive, yet carrying a weight behind her words — intrigued him more than he cared to admit.
"Alright… you've got my attention, Miss Potts," he said with a half-smile, his voice tinged with amusement. "But private? Heh, aren't you afraid Tony will get jealous?"
There was a momentary flicker in Pepper's eyes — not quite annoyance, not quite embarrassment. She folded her arms with graceful composure, a businesslike firmness in her tone.
"Mr. Aiden," she said with a trace of sharpness, "I think you've misunderstood our relationship. I'm only his assistant — not his girlfriend."
Aiden raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "Oh... really?" His gaze lingered on her, processing what she had just said. 'Strange,' he thought, 'I could've sworn Tony looked at her like she was the last glass of whiskey in the world. Must've been a serious falling-out… or maybe she finally got tired of his narcissism.'
From what Aiden knew, Tony Stark rarely showed consistent emotional attachment to anyone outside of his tech — except when it came to Pepper Potts. However,
Looking at what Tony thought of Pepper, Aiden thought, 'They were a pair, but it seems they had a significant disagreement due to his recent actions and unexpected fixation on my ship, similar to Susan. But honestly, Tony is way different from Reed.' Aiden thought while looking at her.
Maybe he might have been mistaken in perceiving this world as a blend of comics and the MCU along with its television shows, or perhaps it was simply another instance of the butterfly effect; regardless of what it was, it held no significance for him.
"Haven't you…" Aiden started with a teasing glint in his eye, "had some intimate moments with him?"
Pepper looked at him like he'd just asked if she moonlighted as a circus juggler.
"Of course not," she said flatly, her tone edging toward offense. "I'm his assistant. Not his girlfriend, not his therapist, and definitely not his emotional crutch — though some days it feels like I'm all three."
She sighed, brushing a lock of brunette hair behind her ear. The wind tugged lightly at her sleek business wear, making her look both out of place and perfectly natural among the half-constructed buildings of Aiden's private island.
"I've known him for years," she continued. "We've gone through a lot together — near-death experiences, board meetings, lawsuits, rogues, you name it — but it's always been professional. Even when it was personal."
Aiden watched her carefully, noting the subtle tension in her posture. She wasn't lying. She wasn't here for Tony. She was here for something else.
"In fact," Pepper added, "I've been trying to find a new assistant for him. But no one seems to survive more than two weeks. Too many explosions. Too much attitude. And ever since your spaceship arrived, he's been worse. Obsessive. Distracted."
She paused, then looked him directly in the eye. "That's why I'm here. To thank you."
Aiden blinked. "Thank me? For… Extremis?"
Pepper nodded. "Yes."
"But I told you already — I was just trying to get Extremis for myself. You surviving was… a byproduct."
"I know. But that doesn't change what it meant to me," Pepper said softly, her voice carrying more weight than before. "It saved my life, Aiden. And I'm not just talking about the virus. I'm talking about the fact that I'm here, standing, breathing, not buried six feet under some wreckage. That matters."
Aiden was taken aback. Gratitude wasn't something he expected — especially not from someone in Pepper's position. She was always the composed one. The poised professional who kept Stark Industries from collapsing under the weight of Tony's chaos. And yet here she was, sincerely thanking him.
She hesitated, then admitted, "I just… don't know how to repay you."
Aiden grinned. "How about devoting your life to me?"
Pepper's expression froze for a moment — caught between disbelief and offense.
"I'm joking," Aiden quickly added, chuckling. "Mostly."
Pepper's lips quirked slightly, the ghost of a smirk forming. "You've got Tony's sense of humor. That's not a compliment, by the way."
Aiden shrugged. "Fair enough. But seriously — if you want to help, I could use a small favor."
"What kind of favor?"
"By now, Tony should've built a whole army of remote-controlled suits, right? I'm building infrastructure here — big projects. Underground bunkers, vertical farms, tech centers. But I'm sorely understaffed. If he could spare a few suits — not for combat, just for heavy lifting, construction, logistics…"
Pepper didn't hesitate. "I'll talk to him."
Aiden blinked. "Really?"
"I can't promise he'll agree," she added quickly. "But I'll try. And when I say I'll try, I mean I'll bring it up in a way that makes it sound like his idea. That's how things work with Tony. You have to trick him into thinking he's helping himself."
Aiden laughed. "Sounds exhausting."
"You have no idea."
The air buzzed faintly as the Iron Man suit recalibrated itself. Pepper stepped back toward the suit and placed her hand on the helmet.
"If he says no," Aiden said with a shrug, "it's fine. I'll figure something out. Maybe kidnap some construction droids from Latveria next time."
Pepper gave him a look. "Please don't. I have enough diplomatic fires to put out without you starting an international incident."
"Noted."
With a faint hiss, the suit sealed around her. The repulsors flared to life, kicking up a cloud of dust. But just as she launched into the air, there was a loud clang and the suit tilted sideways, smacking into one of the unfinished steel beams with a metallic bang.
Aiden winced and instantly threw up a barrier of energy around the site. The gust of dust cleared in seconds, revealing Pepper shaking her head inside the armor.
"Still working on the landing," she muttered through the external speaker.
Aiden snickered and crossed his arms. "Whether it's cars or Iron Suits… women are terrible drivers."
The suit paused mid-air. For a moment, Aiden wondered if she was about to fire a repulsor at him in retaliation.
Then her voice came through, dry with mischief: "I heard that."
And with a final blast, she shot off into the sky, leaving behind a faint sonic boom and a smirking Aiden watching the clouds.
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