Stark Villa.
A red, flame-colored halo shimmered into view, and a familiar figure stepped out, followed closely by a steel armor clattering with every step. Tony's brows furrowed, his face a mixture of deep thought and lingering amazement. Lockhart's previous display had left him reeling, challenging every scientific principle he knew.
Turning high-strength alloy into edible chocolate? It was an inconceivable transformation, defying every theory Tony had encountered. Reshaping matter at the atomic level? he wondered, or perhaps on a microscopic—or even finer—scale. Could magic truly manipulate elements with such precision?
As Tony pondered, Lockhart entered the villa, letting the portal vanish behind him. He moved to the sofa in the living room, settling into the soft cushions with practiced ease.
"Jarvis, pour the water," Tony instructed, though he himself moved to sit across from Lockhart, sighing softly. Silence fell between them, both lost in their own thoughts. Tony's mind raced with theories about the nature of magic, while Lockhart, too, reflected on Tony's technology—specifically, the magic-suppressing tool Tony had used during their battle. There's something essential here for me, Lockhart thought, feeling an almost instinctive pull toward it.
A robot appeared, holding two cups as it inquired mechanically, "Mr. Lockhart, would you prefer room temperature or heated?"
"Room temperature, please," Lockhart replied, and the robot set down the glasses.
Lockhart took a sip, opening his mouth to speak, but Tony was quicker.
"Lockhart, that magic—turning my suit into chocolate—was that permanent?" he asked, his face creased with both curiosity and disbelief. "Or was it temporary?"
"It should be permanent," Lockhart replied, a slight smile touching his lips. "Why? Does it worry you?"
Tony seemed to shake off the memory of the suit as he continued, "Can you show me that again? I should've taken a sample right then! And by the way, you were using magic, right?" He leaned forward, the scientist in him unleashed. "I've done some analysis on the nature of magic energy, and it doesn't seem capable of directly affecting the atomic level—or at least, not without significant mutation. So, Lockhart, about the so-called mental power…"
Tony's questions spilled forth in an endless stream, covering everything from atomic manipulation to theoretical particle shifts, each one building upon the last. Lockhart watched him with a mix of amusement and growing impatience, feeling both admiration for Tony's intellect and a desire to cut in.
Finally, Lockhart raised a hand, stopping Tony mid-question. "I'll demonstrate on the glass in my hand. Will that satisfy your curiosity?"
Tony nodded eagerly, his eyes lighting up as he leaned in to observe. "Absolutely. Jarvis, start recording the process," he called out.
Lockhart lifted the glass, a faint glow of golden light flickering in his eyes as magic swirled around his hand. The water in the cup evaporated instantly, disappearing without a trace, and a soft hum filled the air. A golden glow pulsed around the glass, and with a faint buzz and a click, the change began.
To Tony's intense focus, the clear bottom of the glass darkened, transforming from transparent glass into rich, solid brown chocolate. The change moved upwards, covering the entire glass in less than three seconds, leaving the cup a full, sweet-smelling chocolate.
As the aroma filled the air, Tony's face remained thoughtful, his mind racing over the transformation he'd just witnessed. He scrutinized the glass intently, as if hoping to catch any lingering traces of energy.
"Jarvis," he murmured, "were there any unusual readings just now?"
"Apologies, sir. No abnormal energy fluctuations were detected. There's a 90% probability that the glass simply changed states, with the remaining 10% possibility attributed to undetected factors."
A holographic screen appeared before Tony, displaying a range of data—an array of time, space, energy, and material readings from the moment of transformation.
As Tony analyzed the data, Lockhart watched him in silence, his own thoughts momentarily pulled into Tony's fascination with science. Finally, Lockhart cleared his throat with a light cough, pulling Tony's attention back.
"Keep the chocolate cup, Tony. It's permanent, and as long as it remains intact, it should make for a fascinating study," he reminded.
Realizing he'd been staring too long, Tony looked up, somewhat sheepish. "Sorry, Lockhart," he said with a chuckle. "That display gave me so much to think about. But let's get to your reason for visiting. What can I help you with?"
Lockhart's gaze settled, a serious edge softening his expression. "The Gold Galleons casting machine," he replied. "I've collected the machines I need, so this visit is primarily to settle expenses. Also, I'd like Jarvis's assistance locating someone. Or rather, a pair of people."
Tony nodded, gears turning. "For the expenses, you can talk to Pepper—she handles all that." He tilted his head, intrigued. "So, who are we looking for, Lockhart? Someone from your past?"
Lockhart laughed lightly at Tony's quip. "These people are tied to Stark Industries, actually," he replied. "Your uncle, Obadiah, was known for selling weapons covertly. I'm looking for survivors—specifically, siblings who were affected by missiles sold by your company. They're Sokovian, a brother and sister."
The mention of Obadiah brought a brief cloud over Tony's face, though he quickly brushed it off, focusing instead on Lockhart's request. "Any other identifying information?" he asked. "Where they lived, names, even small details like habits or online activity. The more we know, the faster I can trace them."
Lockhart shook his head, his mouth quirking in frustration. "Unfortunately, I don't have that much. I know they're siblings, that they lost their parents, and they were born in Sokovia. That's all."
Tony frowned. Sokovia was a large country with millions of families, many of whom shared similar stories of loss. This won't be simple, he thought. "Fingerprints or blood samples would help immensely," he suggested, though he knew the answer.
"No luck there either," Lockhart replied with a sigh. "If I had more details, I wouldn't need both you and Jarvis on this." He paused before adding, "The brother and sister's names are Wanda and Pietro Maximoff."
Tony nodded thoughtfully, processing the limited information. "Alright. Describe them to Jarvis as best you can. If there's anything unique in their appearance, it might help."
Lockhart paused. The versions of these characters he'd encountered varied, and he could only describe vague characteristics, perhaps broad enough for Jarvis to pick up similarities in facial recognition.
After Tony made a few more adjustments, he asked, "Just curious, why look for them? Are they also magical?"
Lockhart nodded. "A prediction from one of our seers. These two are set to play a crucial role in what's coming. Better to find them early."
At this, Tony grinned. "If I find anything, you'll be the first to know."
Lockhart smiled, yet his mind wandered back to their duel. "Tony, I want to discuss your magic suppression technique." He leaned forward. "Let's make a deal—I'm interested in the knowledge behind that technology."
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, Trident Building, Director's Office.
Nick Fury stood with his trademark intensity, his one-eyed gaze locked on the three agents before him: Coulson, Black Widow, and Rumlow.
"Coulson, Natasha, Rumlow, you're S.H.I.E.L.D.'s best," he began, his voice steely. "Now, I have a highly classified mission for you. Do you have what it takes?"
The trio snapped to attention, responding with a resounding, "Yes, Director!"
Satisfied, Fury gave a sharp nod. "Your mission is to locate two individuals in Sokovia. The utmost discretion is required, and failure to keep this covert will be met with the highest consequence—treason."
Hearing the gravity in Fury's tone, the agents straightened even further. Coulson's expression was serious, and while Natasha and Rumlow exchanged a glance, they understood the stakes.
Fury continued, "The targets are a brother and sister. Civilian, no visible political ties. Our mission is to secure them and bring them safely to U.S. soil. Any indication of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s involvement must be erased, and securing their goodwill is paramount."
The Director's unusual insistence on diplomacy raised brows. Rumlow and Natasha, with their history in covert ops, seemed puzzled by the need to charm these civilians.
Coulson raised a hand once Fury dismissed Natasha and Rumlow, staying behind as Fury motioned for him to speak.
"What's our real objective here, Director?" Coulson asked, his voice a low murmur.
Fury didn't flinch. "This relates directly to the wizard you're handling. These siblings could be our bridge into the magical world."
Meanwhile, in Rumlow's office, the Hydra agent processed his new assignment with a grim satisfaction. After a pause, he retrieved a hidden, secure phone, quickly summarizing the mission details and sending them directly to Hydra's leader, Alexander Pierce.
As the message vanished, so did any trace of its existence, Rumlow's face set with an expression of fervent loyalty.
On his arm, a faint dragon tatto glowed momentarily, as if signaling its master far away.
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