"You have BT as your AI buddy, and it's all sunshine and rainbows. But the moment I do it, suddenly it's a felony? Where's the justice?" Tony complained.
"It's not a felony and they won't care if you make. It is me who will come for you, on my own. Have you seen BT helping you with other work or hacking any server for you? No. BT is constrained, and that is also the reason I was allowed to use BT. A normal surveillance AI is fine, but never make an AI that could outgrow." Liam said.
"You need to introduce me to your secret organization. I've got some Stark-grade hardware that might just change their lives." Tony grudgingly said.
"Even I haven't seen their faces, and you expect them to show up for you?" Liam asked. Of course, this organization never existed, and it was just a cover.
"Yeah, yeah, secrets and shadows, I get it. But hey, are you good?" Tony asked.
"Is something wrong with me? I think this question should be asked to you." Liam said as he looked at his arc reactor. Tony reacted like he didn't see it and continued.
"Your mom gave me the whole 'concerned parent' speech. Apparently, you've been brooding like a discount Batman for the past year. And after what I saw in that footage, I gotta ask—how are you even functioning after all that blood and carnage? I'm betting your 'secret club' signed you up a year ago, didn't they?"
"Tony, it's not like you haven't seen me killing people in Afghanistan." Liam said.
"There's a difference between shooting a guy from a distance and going full horror movie on people. Look, I'd say you need therapy, but let's be honest—what shrink is even qualified for this?" Tony said.
"Says the guy who believes the least in therapists." Liam said.
"I believe in therapists. I just happen to be the perfect specimen of mental health. No flaws here." Tony replied. Liam could only roll his eyes at the words of this person.
"I don't need counseling, and yes, killing those people didn't affect me. Didn't I leave so many drug peddlers to be handled by the police? Everyone has their own story. Some were coerced, and some had to take the bad route to earn money. But not everyone deserves a second chance. The individuals on the pier definitely didn't, so I took care of it. You don't have to worry about my mental health. I am fine, and if you think I am being controlled by the organization behind me, then you can't be more wrong. They don't even care about me." Liam said.
"Good. I hope you don't get influenced by them or fall under their control." Tony said. "Because I have a present for you."
"What is it?" Liam asked.
"You'll find out on your birthday. Try not to die before then, alright?"
Liam didn't press more, but they did talk about the things that had gone down on the pier and also about the fact that Liam behaves so grown up. At least he needed to act like a teenager to quell the concerns of his parents.
"I think SHIELD is already suspecting you of being this monster." Tony said.
"Thanks to you. I told you to stay away from me in the public eye. Now look." Liam complained.
"What can I say? I'm a people magnet. They just can't get enough of me. But don't sweat it, I'll keep them off your tail." Tony assured.
"As if Fury will ever listen to you." Liam said.
"Fury? Oh, you mean Patchy McSerious? That guy?" Tony asked.
"You met him, and he didn't even introduce himself? Wow, you must have been pissed." Liam teased. Tony just rolled his eyes.
Tony didn't stick around much longer, and later Yinsen joined after Tony left.
"How is the new life?" Liam asked.
"Well, you know, it's far from my life in Gulmira. He has made an extra lab for me and a new home, so I am thankful to Tony and you for saving me." Yinsen said.
"You have already thanked me multiple times. You don't need to." Liam said, and Yinsen only smiled in return.
"Has he made any progress in finding a cure?" Liam asked.
"That's a no. And recently, he is making a new armor, a brand-new one, with more capabilities." Yinsen said.
"Really now?"
"Yeah, he is even asking BT to send over more information and data so that the new armor is perfect." Yinsen said. "I fear he is making this new armor as his last legacy."
"Didn't I tell you? He will not die." Liam said.
"How are you so sure he won't when he himself has given up hope?" Yinsen said.
"Because that's not his destiny." Liam said. Yinsen was dumbfounded by his words because the word destiny was absurd to a scientist like himself. Especially from someone like Liam. But then again, he had also seen the footage, and like Tony, he was also a bit worried for Liam. He was just a teenager, and committing such gory attacks wasn't what a teenager should do.
He was sure Tony had spoken about it to him before.
All of their movements were also seen by the red-haired woman who was the new secretary of Pepper. As expected, it was Natasha, who was introduced as Natalie here. She was there to surveil Tony for SHIELD.
Fury had also spoken about how Tony might have connections with the so-called Wraithborn, though there wasn't any evidence. It was just a hunch. Natasha knew that Tony was close to Liam, but she didn't know that Yinsen too was close to Liam from what she had seen.
She wanted to hear the conversation between Tony and Liam, but she couldn't as she wasn't able to slip a listening device onto Tony. Yinsen wasn't in her calculations at all. But she could easily see that Liam was highly regarded by both Tony and Yinsen.
She had read the reports on Marvel and thought Tony was just raising a genius, but seeing how both of them interacted, it might not be as simple as she thought. This vacation was godsent for her, as it would allow her to get close to Liam and get to know him better.