**
Tony Stark's surgery was scheduled, and Link arrived punctually at the hospital. This was a facility in Hell's Kitchen, now well-funded by several contributors, and its expanded medical capabilities were top-notch. Stark's lead surgeon was curious—how was it possible to remove the shrapnel without any incisions?
Before starting, Link made sure to communicate with the doctor. While the procedure itself wasn't complicated, there was still a need to ensure nothing unexpected would occur after the shrapnel was removed. The metal had been lodged in Stark's body for years, and while it hadn't caused issues recently, there were always risks with such operations.
Link had reviewed a significant number of medical texts to ensure he had a firm understanding of the situation, though he kept that knowledge to himself. A discussion with the medical team was still essential.
Pepper Potts was also present. "Thank you, Link," she said as they embraced. "Tony told me about the extraordinary method you're using to remove the shrapnel. Does this mean the most dangerous part of the surgery won't be necessary?"
"Don't worry, Pepper, it's completely safe. You could think of it as magic," Link reassured her. Holding up the Reality Stone in his hand, he explained, "This is the Reality Stone. I can temporarily transform Tony's body into something like building blocks, remove the block in his chest, take out the shrapnel, and then put the block back—no cuts, no blood."
"Oh my God!" Pepper gasped, her hands flying to her mouth in disbelief.
"Let me talk with the doctor first, then we can proceed," Link said before heading to the doctor's office. Together, they reviewed X-rays and discussed the procedure. Though the doctor couldn't fathom how Link planned to remove the shrapnel without an incision, he had no reason to argue, especially considering his boss's involvement. As long as no major blood vessels were affected, the plan should work without a hitch.
After finalizing the details for the next day, Link left the office and, led by Pepper, made his way to the hospital room where Stark was staying in preparation for the procedure.
"Hey, Link!" Stark greeted him with a wave. "You sure about this?"
"Want me to turn you into pudding to test it out?" Link joked, shaking his hand playfully. "During the alignment of the Nine Realms, Jane Foster got caught in an anomaly, and the Aether—the disguised form of the Reality Stone—infected her. That's how I obtained the stone. I've now got two of the six Infinity Stones."
Stark nodded thoughtfully but then asked, "If the stones are this powerful, doesn't that put a target on our backs? Couldn't we be asking for trouble?"
"If someone wants to gather them, it won't matter if they're in our hands or not; they won't stop coming. But with six stones in one person's possession, the entire universe would be at risk," Link replied. "So, it's better that we hold onto a few. It boosts our combat strength and keeps them from falling into the wrong hands."
"That makes sense. I'll be counting on you tomorrow, then." Stark shrugged off his concerns about the stones for now.
"Don't worry, I've got it under control. Just rest up." Link didn't dwell on the conversation any further and soon took his leave.
---
The next day, the surgery commenced. Stark lay on the operating table, no anesthesia required yet, and Link, having disinfected and changed into scrubs, entered the operating room alone.
Watching from behind a glass window, Pepper observed everything anxiously. Link wasted no time, and with a clench of his fist, Stark's body transformed into blocks.
"Wow," Stark marveled. "That's... really something."
Using his X-ray vision, Link pinpointed the shrapnel. Gently, he removed the block from Stark's chest and, with precise movements, extracted the pieces of shrapnel one by one. Once they were all out, he replaced the block and restored Stark's body to its original state.
Feeling his chest, Stark was amazed. "That's incredible."
"The Reality Stone can temporarily alter reality. Whether turning attacks into something harmless or restructuring matter, its power has many applications, even if the changes are temporary," Link explained.
"Got it. Thanks, man," Stark said, visibly relieved.
With his part done, Link left, and the doctors entered to perform the rest of the procedure. A quick scan with a portable X-ray confirmed that the shrapnel was gone. Astonished, the surgeon kept his questions to himself and focused on finishing the operation.
Stark would need to stay in the hospital for some time and would likely require months of recovery. Full rehabilitation would take about half a year, but with no immediate threats to the Avengers, he had the luxury of taking his time to heal. Once fully recovered, Tony would be able to marry Pepper, as they'd both planned.
This train of thought made Link realize—shouldn't he be thinking about proposing to Jessica?
Jessica had never brought up marriage, but Link knew she would want him to propose. The idea quickly settled in his mind, and he knew there was no point in delaying it. Children could come later; marriage wouldn't hinder that.
Returning home that evening, Link discreetly measured Jessica's ring size. Then, he got to work in his lab, synthesizing a large diamond for the engagement ring.
That's right—the engagement ring would feature a lab-created diamond. Indistinguishable from a natural one, the diamond didn't need to be mined. If it were up to him, he'd choose a simple gold band, but as the CEO of Oscorp with a net worth in the billions, even a synthetic diamond would be regarded as top-tier.
Using the Reality Stone for precision, Link expertly cut the diamond, then set it in a platinum band with an intricately designed, hollowed-out setting. It was perfect.
Satisfied with the result, he ordered a ring box online. By the time the box arrived, Jessica still hadn't returned home from work.
Link placed the ring inside the box, smiling to himself. He had everything he needed now.
And of course, he started preparing a candlelit dinner—after all, just because the proposal was happening at home didn't mean it shouldn't be romantic.
(End of Chapter)