Marvel : Endless Power

A week later, Tony Stark was forced to pull himself away from his laboratory. There was an important gala that evening one he couldn't afford to miss.

Since Stark Industries' transition into an energy-focused enterprise, the shift had brought its own challenges. The technology itself wasn't difficult, but the political and corporate obstacles required more than just innovation to overcome. This banquet was meant to smooth things over with investors, politicians, and military officials, making Tony's presence essential.

Rody had no interest in attending, but Pepper Potts had already prepared a tailored suit for him. He was starting to suspect that all women had a natural instinct for matchmaking, as Pepper had also taken it upon herself to introduce him to some of the ladies attending that night.

New York City glowed under the night sky, its skyline illuminated by towering buildings and the constant hum of high society. Inside the grand venue, Rody, dressed in a sleek Armani tuxedo, leaned against the window, feeling slightly out of place. Two months had passed since he had arrived in this world, but he still wasn't entirely comfortable with the life of the ultra-wealthy.

Tony, however, moved through the crowd like a shark in water. He had already cycled through three different women clinging to his arm. Meanwhile, Rody attracted his own share of attention several blonde socialites attempted to engage him, but he offered only polite conversation before they quickly lost interest. After all, in a room filled with billionaires and power players, no one wanted to waste time on someone they assumed was just a pretty face.

"Hey, Rody! Why are you standing around drinking alone? Don't tell me none of the beauties here have caught your eye?" Tony teased as he sauntered over, a glass of whiskey in hand.

"Go enjoy yourself, Tony. Don't worry about me," Rody replied with a smirk. "Besides, my father was Chinese. I have a more traditional mindset."

Tony rolled his eyes. "My dear cousin, you seriously need to adapt to American culture."

"Right, sure. But you might want to focus your Little Pepper is getting attention from some eager Wall Street types," Rody pointed out casually.

Tony's face fell. "Damn it! Stay away from her, or I swear I'll steal your date tonight."

Before Rody could reply, Tony had already stormed off.

Another well-dressed man, one of Tony's socialite friends, chuckled at the scene. "You two have an interesting dynamic. But hey, if you're up for a trade, I wouldn't mind getting to know Pepper a little better."

The two men laughed, exchanging the kind of jokes only the absurdly rich could make without consequence.

Rody, however, wasn't interested in Tony's antics. His attention was elsewhere focused on Obadiah Stane. Ever since arriving at the banquet, he had been trying to listen in on Stane's thoughts. Unfortunately, his mind-reading abilities weren't picking up anything useful.

Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Stane seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood tonight. Was it because Stark Industries had somehow become even more profitable after shifting away from weapons manufacturing?

"Is this guy actually reconsidering his plan to assassinate Tony and steal the Arc Reactor?" Rody wondered.

Then he dismissed the thought. A man like Obadiah wouldn't suddenly grow a conscience. If anything, the success of Stark Industries would only make him greedier.

Lost in thought, Rody caught sight of something unusual in the window's reflection.

A blonde girl had entered the banquet hall, but she stood out not because of her appearance, but because of what she was wearing.

She was dressed in an elegant yet simple evening gown, but it was too modest for an event of this caliber. Even without recognizing designer labels, Rody could tell that her dress wasn't from a high-end brand. It looked ordinary. In a room filled with designer-clad elites, she didn't belong.

But what truly caught his attention was the faint red glow surrounding her.

Rody's body tensed. "Not again…"

His first thought was that she was another enhanced operative sent after him by some unknown force.

Activating his mind-reading ability, he cautiously probed her thoughts. What he discovered shocked him.

This girl unlike the others had no malicious intent. She wasn't an assassin or a spy. In fact, she seemed as out of place here as he felt.

For the first time since arriving in this world, Rody had encountered another superpowered individual who wasn't trying to kill him.

Intrigued, he made his way toward her.

---

Claire Burnett forced herself to maintain a neutral expression, though she was already regretting coming here.

She had been invited to New York by an old middle school friend, but she hadn't realized it was for this kind of event. Now, surrounded by the ultra-rich, she felt completely out of place.

The elegant atmosphere, the expensive champagne, the hushed conversations about stock portfolios and corporate takeovers it was suffocating.

She just wanted to leave.

Then, out of nowhere, a tall, dark-haired young man with striking blue eyes approached her.

"Hey there, beautiful. If you're looking for a quiet place, I've got a private room over there," he said smoothly.

As soon as the words left Rody's mouth, he immediately regretted them. That… did not sound right.

Claire's expression darkened, and Rody panicked. "Wait! No, no, I didn't mean it like that! I just meant you looked uncomfortable, so if you need a place to get away from all this, you can use the room. Alone. I swear."

For a moment, Claire stared at him. Then she suddenly smiled.

Rody's awkwardness seemed to amuse her. Unlike the men she had encountered so far smooth talkers dripping with wealth and arrogance he felt genuine.

"In that case," she said playfully, "how about you buy me a drink? Juice is fine."

Rody blinked, surprised at how easily she brushed off the misunderstanding. "Of course."

He waved over a waiter carrying a tray of drinks. Claire picked up a glass of fresh orange juice and took a sip before giving him a curious look.

"You're not like the others here, are you?" she observed.

Rody smirked. "What gave it away?"

"Well, for starters, you didn't immediately try to impress me with your net worth."

Rody chuckled. "Rody Stark. Nice to meet you."

Claire's eyebrows rose slightly. "Stark? As in Stark Industries?"

"Guilty as charged."

Claire took another sip of her juice before finally introducing herself. "Claire Burnett. Nice to meet you too."

Rody hesitated for a moment before asking, "So… how exactly did you end up here? You don't seem like the type who usually hangs around these kinds of events."

Claire let out a small sigh. "A friend from middle school invited me to New York for a visit. I had no idea she was bringing me to this kind of gathering. If I'd known, I probably wouldn't have come."

Rody nodded in understanding. "I get that. Honestly, I didn't want to be here either. But Tony dragged me along. I think I stand out here just as much as you do."

Claire smiled, finding his honesty refreshing. "Well then, at least we're in this together."

As the two continued their conversation, a brunette woman with bold makeup approached them.

"Claire! Who's this handsome guy?" she asked with a smirk. "I was just about to introduce you to some Wall Street elites."

Claire glanced at Rody before giving the woman a polite but firm smile.

"Actually," she said, "I think I'm good right here."

Rody couldn't help but grin.

This night had just become far more interesting.