UPDATE: Hey everyone, Isopuff here! You're probably wondering why the updates stopped, well, my body gave out on me, and I ended up spending a whole week in the hospital. I've been recovering for the past few days and finally got out of my personal little hellhole (AKA my hospital room).
Unfortunately, I couldn't work on translations during my luxurious stay because I was a bit preoccupied with this annoying thing called pain—maybe some of you have heard of it? Yeah, pain was a real piece of shit, but thankfully, it's finally gone.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that updates are back on track now that everything's good again… I think!
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
"Thanks!"
Tony casually thanked Pepper as he took the wrench from her hand, then immediately resumed tinkering with the car. To Pepper, the mass of old components and tools laid out before him was incomprehensible—a chaotic puzzle that only Tony's genius could make sense of.
For a moment, she stood there, watching him work with a precision that seemed almost effortless. But as the seconds ticked by, it became clear that he had no intention of pausing for her. Finally, she spoke up, unable to contain her frustration any longer.
"Tony, can you stop for just one moment? Seriously, if you put even half—no, make that a tenth—of the effort you're putting into this car into running your company, imagine what Stark Industries could achieve!" Her tone carried a mix of exasperation and the kind of fondness that only came from years of dealing with Tony's antics.
Tony paused, straightened up, and turned to her with his signature smirk, casually wiping his hands on a nearby rag. "Pepper, you've got it all wrong. See, with my level of brilliance, I don't need to put even a tenth of my effort into keeping things running. A fraction of that is more than enough."
Pepper raised an eyebrow, already expecting some kind of witty retort. "Oh, really? Then why don't you actually do it?"
"If I did, Pepper, it would make everyone else look bad. People would lose their jobs trying to keep up with me. I'm considerate like that."
"So, your laziness is... what? Charity for the rest of us?" Pepper asked, crossing her arms.
"Exactly!" Tony declared, grinning as if he had just delivered the most profound truth in the world.
Pepper rolled her eyes but chose not to argue further. Instead, she pulled out a neatly organized stack of documents and handed them to him. "Fine. Be as 'charitable' as you want, but these need your signature. This one is particularly important—"
"Stop. Spare me the details. Just show me where to sign," Tony interjected, waving his hand dismissively.
Pepper didn't even bother sighing. She had long since grown used to his cavalier attitude toward the administrative side of running Stark Industries. Wordlessly, she flipped through the papers, pointing out the places that required his signature.
Tony signed the documents without glancing at their contents, his pen gliding smoothly over the pages.
"Alright, Tony, now about your schedule," Pepper said, pulling out a second, neatly organized list. She adjusted her tone, trying to maintain her patience. "Rhodey asked me to confirm—three days from now, the jet will be ready at 3 p.m. sharp for the transaction."
"For the last time, I know, Pepper! You've told me, what, a dozen times already?" Tony replied, his exasperation only half-hearted as he continued fiddling with his tools.
Pepper ignored his complaint, pressing on. "Vanity Fair has also reached out. They want to schedule another interview with you."
Tony paused briefly, looking up with a glimmer of interest. "Who's the interviewer?"
"Not the blonde with the golden curls and the... assets you couldn't stop staring at last time," Pepper replied dryly, her tone laced with sarcasm.
Tony let out a dramatic sigh. "Then what's the point of the interview?"
Pepper's lips tightened into a thin line as she gave him a withering look. "The point, Tony, is public relations. You know, keeping the media on our side, boosting the company's image, all those little things you seem to think happen by magic."
"Right, right," Tony said with a wave of his hand. "Tell them I'll think about it. Maybe I'll show up, maybe I won't. Keeps them on their toes."
Pepper pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering under her breath, "You're impossible."
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
The two quickly wrapped up the rest of the agenda, easily moving through the remaining items. As Pepper prepared to leave, she finally noticed something she had overlooked before—Tony's eyes were bloodshot, the telltale sign of yet another sleepless night.
"Tony, don't tell me you pulled another all-nighter," she said, her voice tinged with both concern and frustration.
Tony opened his mouth to protest, his instinct to deflect kicking in immediately. "Another? Come on, Pepper, give me some credit. I got a solid half hour of sleep on the couch. Look at me—fresh as a daisy," he added with a smirk, though the bloodshot state of his eyes and the faint slump in his shoulders told a different story.
Pepper raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by his attempt to downplay the situation. The worry in her eyes remained, but instead of arguing, she took a different approach. An idea suddenly came to her, and her expression brightened. Setting the stack of documents aside, she turned to Tony with a small, knowing smile.
"Hold still for a second," she said, her voice carrying an air of mystery. Before Tony could respond, Pepper stretched out her hands, activating the power of the Bubble-Bubble Fruit.
*Puff! Puff!*
Translucent, iridescent bubbles began to form in her palms. They floated gently into the air, catching the light and reflecting soft rainbows as they drifted lazily toward Tony.
Tony blinked in surprise, his eyebrows knitting together as he watched the unexpected display. "Okay, that's new. Magic, Pepper? I didn't peg you for a magician. Not bad, though—I can't spot the trick."
Pepper grinned mischievously, rolling up her sleeves to reveal her bare arms. "It's not magic," she said. There were no hidden gadgets, no wires—just her hands, producing an endless stream of bubbles that seemed to defy explanation.
Tony tilted his head, now thoroughly intrigued. "No visible tech, huh? Alright, you've got me curious. What's the gimmick here?"
Pepper chuckled and replied, "You tell me."
The bubbles floated closer, settling softly on Tony's arms and shoulders before bursting with a gentle
*Pop! Pop!*
"Ah, I get it now. Setting the mood, are we?" Tony grinned, leaning into his usual brand of sarcasm. "What's next? A heartfelt confession of your undying love for your brilliant, charming boss?"
Pepper rolled her eyes but didn't lose her playful grin. "Tony, don't you feel… different?" she asked, her tone inviting curiosity.
Tony opened his mouth to fire back another quip but stopped short. He blinked, a flicker of realization crossing his face. The heavy exhaustion that had weighed on him moments ago? Completely gone. His mind felt sharp, alert, and clear as if he had just woken up from the best sleep of his life.
He flexed his fingers, marveling at the newfound energy coursing through his body. "Okay, Pepper," he said, his tone shifting to one of genuine curiosity. "What did you do? These bubbles—what are they?"
Pepper crossed her arms, her smile widening as she savored the moment. "Tony," she said, her tone deliberately playful, "have you ever heard of Devil Fruits?"
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
Next Chapter: I Have To See This For Myself
Next Next Chapter: The Birth of the First Supervillain with a Devil Fruit Ability
Next Next Next Chapter: Clint Barton Visits to Purchase a Devil Fruit
Visit my Patreon or Ko‑fi page and unlock +20 extra chapters and daily updates for just $5!
patreon.com/Isopuff
https://ko-fi.com/isopuff