"Is that so... well, listen to this recording."
Vex chuckled as he had Alpha play a recording.
Stark's anxious voice played out of nowhere:
"Please! I'm begging you!"
"Whatever you want afterward, or anything you ask for, I'll agree to it!"
"Please, go to Los Angeles right now, save Pepper! And Happy too!"
"Please, you have to save Pepper! I can't lose her!"
These three short sentences made Pepper, a seasoned businesswoman, blush uncontrollably.
"Vex! What are you doing?" Stark was furious. "Pepper! Listen to me, those words were just…"
"I mean, with the atmosphere set up like this, you're still not confessing? Are you a man or not?" Vex cut him off.
Could Stark take that insult?
"Who's not a man?"
"Fine, I'll admit it today. I love you, Pepper!"
"Back when I was trapped in that cave, I swore that if I ever got out, I would marry you!"
"That's why, when I thought I was going to die, I handed the company over to—"
Pepper, who had just been blushing, suddenly changed her expression.
"Going to die? What do you mean, going to die?" Pepper pressed.
"Uh... that was before. I'm fine now, aren't I?"
"And you didn't tell me about it?"
Vex had no interest in watching the couple argue, so he casually walked away, hands in his pockets, hiding his achievements and name.
Jean followed him with a smile.
"I can tell you don't like Tony Stark very much," Jean said. "So why are you helping them?"
"One thing at a time," Vex replied casually. "I'm not someone who holds grudges because I usually settle them on the spot. Today, Stark acted like a man, so there's no need to dwell on the past, right?"
This magnanimity made Jean's heart flutter again.
My God!
What kind of perfect man is this?
She hadn't been interested in men for over twenty years, and now she had come across someone this incredible?
"Errrk—"
A Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of the two, and Happy respectfully got out of the driver's seat.
"Where are you headed? I can give you a ride."
"Huh? You're not staying to protect Pepper?" Vex asked, surprised.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. agents have arrived. They're way more professional than I am," Happy replied honestly. "I feel like... maybe I'm not really cut out for this job."
Was he having an existential crisis?
Flesh against metal — and Happy was the one who lay down in front of Pepper. Losing wasn't embarrassing; in fact, it was rather manly!
"Come on, man. Anyone would think you'd been dumped." Vex laughed. "Open your mouth."
Happy, puzzled, opened his mouth.
Vex took out a vial of Enhanced Serum KW89, using telekinesis to envelop the golden liquid and push it straight into Happy's mouth.
"I like you, so I'm giving you this one for free."
"When you wake up, get a good meal. Stop doubting everything."
With that, Vex wrapped his arm around Jean's waist and disappeared without a trace.
Happy, still confused, only felt his eyelids growing heavier until he collapsed on the ground, fast asleep.
Not long after, Brock Rumlow rushed over. Seeing Happy asleep on the ground, his eyes flickered with jealousy.
As a Hydra squad leader embedded in S.H.I.E.L.D., he immediately recognized the Enhanced Serum Kw89.
Fury had paid a steep price to acquire a single dose.
And yet, Happy just got it like that?
No way!
He'd have to include this in his mission report later, just to make Fury fume.
---
Santa Monica Beach.
Vex and Jean flashed into existence, the gentle sea breeze blowing toward them.
"Tent."
"Beach chairs."
"Lights."
...
Vex, like a god, conjured everything he needed with a word.
Though these were just ordinary items, they were enough to leave Jean in awe.
In the past, she might have thought it was just some spatial storage or teleportation ability.
But now, after acquiring the Phoenix Force and experiencing multiple teleportations, she could sense simple spatial fluctuations.
But not this time!
These items were simply being created out of thin air!
How...
How incredible is this?
Every second spent with Vex shattered her understanding of the world!
Once everything was set up, Vex turned to see Jean staring at him intently. He instinctively looked down at himself.
"Strange, I don't see anything dirty. Am I just too handsome?"
"Pfft—"
With a single joke, Vex went from godlike to human.
Jean lay casually on the beach chair, stretching lazily, her entire body relaxing.
"It's been so long since I felt this at ease," Jean sighed in contentment. "No need to worry about losing control, no students interrupting, and..."
"And being with someone interesting."
"This is the life I've dreamed of."
Vex chuckled and lay down beside her.
Jean's body tensed
After waiting for half a minute and not seeing Vex make any further moves, she relaxed again, though a twinge of disappointment lingered in her heart.
Vex saw all of this.
He knew Jean had already fallen for him.
He could probably push for a kiss, and she wouldn't resist.
But...
Vex decided to take it slow.
It can't always be about physical connection, right? Love is a spiritual experience, too.
The two of them lay on the beach like old friends, chatting about anything that came to mind, carefree and unrestrained.
Without realizing it, Jean had fallen silent, slipping into a peaceful sleep.
A sweet smile lingered on her lips, suggesting a beautiful dream.
Vex smiled and waved his hand, conjuring a blanket with telekinesis to cover Jean before turning his attention to the starry sky, lost in thought.
He had been in this world for nearly half a month. From day one, it had been nights of indulgence and days of leisure.
This was a rare moment of solitude.
Vex was a very methodical person, and instinctively, he began to ponder what his place in this world was.
A superhero?
Or a savior?
Hmm...
The former seemed exhausting, with annoying people always getting in the way. And because of the identity, you couldn't even argue back.
In the end, they'd probably come up with something like the Sokovia Accords, just like the Mutant Registration Act — being a superhero would require registration and supervision.
Too stifling.
As for being a savior...
This wasn't even his world, so why save it?
To be blunt,
With the Kryptonian teleportation stone in hand, even if Earth were to be destroyed, he could just relocate with his entire family.
Zod would surely welcome him.
He could even get a ship and tour the universe.
So,
He was open to helping out for compensation, but acting out of pure goodwill? No thanks.
In the meantime,
He could collect some treasures, pursue high-quality women, and enjoy life to the fullest.
As for Thanos' snap?
°°°
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