Over the past few months, Lemu and Tony Stark had completely parted ways in their Iron Suit designs.
The split?
Philosophy and aesthetics.
Stark insisted on his signature style—the sleek and elegant Iron Man design, built primarily for long-range combat.
Lemu?
He wanted big swords and flashing lightning.
Explosions? Yes. Missiles? Absolutely. Cannons? Bring them on.
His suit was designed for melee combat, requiring mobility and burst power—a design path that deviated wildly from Stark's streamlined vision.
One afternoon, the disagreement finally boiled over.
They called it quits—separate blueprints, separate projects.
Stark stuck with the name Mark II.
Lemu?
"Ghost I."
Not stopping there, Lemu created an encrypted folder under the Ghost I project, labeled "Battle Angel."
He moved his work setup to the living room, claiming the wall-mounted glass screen as his personal workstation.
Despite their differences, the two occasionally shared ideas—tech was tech, after all.
And now? Both suits were almost complete.
Today at 6 PM, they had planned a joint flight test.
But for now, it was still early.
Living Room.
Lemu was busy organizing the final design notes for Ghost I, preparing them for archiving, when the doorbell rang.
The unexpected guest?
Obadiah Stane.
Reacting instantly, Lemu switched the screen to a news channel and sent the project files to the background.
Obadiah Stane entered like a man owning the room—perfectly tailored suit, polished shoes, and an aura of authority.
The only signs of age? A slightly fuller frame and the way his bald head gleamed under the lights.
In one hand, he carried a large pizza box.
In the other, a box of cake.
"Gifts," he declared, handing them off to Pepper Potts, who had come to greet him.
Pepper accepted the food, but her polite smile was tinged with wariness.
Obadiah hung up his jacket, rolling up his sleeves to reveal the faint outlines of old scars—remnants of a life spent playing hard.
He waved and greeted Lemu with warm enthusiasm.
"Ah! First time meeting you! I brought a little something—cake—hope you like it!"
The man's voice was deep and hearty, his smile friendly, his demeanor that of a kindly uncle.
He took a seat on the sofa, his laugh echoing through the room.
"Ha-ha! Lemu! Tony's told me all about you.
"But, well—you know Tony. He's always stirring up trouble. I've been swamped dealing with his messes, so I haven't had time to visit until now."
Obadiah extended a hand and flashed another charming smile.
"Call me Obie. Everyone does.
"Tony calls me that too. I was best friends with his father, Howard. We built Stark Industries together."
Lemu studied him briefly before offering a polite nod.
"Nice to meet you, Obie."
Obadiah didn't seem bothered by the lukewarm reception.
If anything, he doubled down on his charming act.
"You know—"
He leaned forward, voice dropping slightly as if sharing a secret.
"You look just like your mother."
"I met her once—what, ten years ago? She had the same long, blue hair. Absolutely stunning."
He smiled nostalgically.
"Howard told me her family took her back home after that.
"I always wondered how she was doing, especially after what happened to Howard and Maria…"
His voice trailed off, the perfect mix of sorrow and reminiscence.
But inside, Lemu's brain was short-circuiting.
Mother? What mother?
I'm a freaking slime!
What had Tony Stark been telling this man?!
On the surface, Lemu remained calm.
He gave a vague nod and replied,
"She's doing fine."
Keep it vague. Keep it simple. Don't overthink it.
Obadiah's smile deepened.
"Good, good."
But behind that friendly façade, his sharp eyes flickered—studying, measuring.
And Lemu could feel it.
This man… wasn't here just to chat.
The cake box opened to reveal a four-tiered masterpiece—nearly 50 centimeters tall and covered with sliced strawberries and chocolate chunks.
Thick layers of whipped cream, piped into flower-like patterns, added the finishing touch.
Pepper cut two slices and handed them to Lemu and Obadiah Stane.
Lemu took his with a polite "thank you."
Obadiah waved it off, declining the offer with a warm smile.
The first bite of cake sent Lemu's taste buds into overdrive.
The rich creaminess combined with the sweet-tart flavor of strawberries had him hooked instantly.
One bite… then another… and another.
Delicious. Absolutely delicious.
For a brief moment, Lemu almost reconsidered his suspicion toward Obadiah.
Maybe this big bald guy isn't so bad after all.
Pepper, however, didn't touch the cake.
Lemu paused mid-bite, licking a trace of cream from his lips.
"You're not eating?"
Pepper smiled, shaking her head.
"I'm slightly allergic to strawberries. You go ahead and enjoy it."
She stood up, brushing invisible crumbs off her skirt.
"I'll head downstairs and bring Tony up."
And then there were two.
Obadiah leaned back into the sofa, his eyes glinting faintly as he watched Lemu work through his second slice.
No child could resist sugar and cream.
While the boy ate, Obadiah's tone softened, slipping back into nostalgic anecdotes.
"Howard always dreamed of having a daughter, you know."
The older man chuckled lightly.
"He never stopped bragging after she was born—so proud."
Obadiah's voice dipped slightly, as if revealing a hidden sorrow.
"But then he'd sigh whenever he talked about Sophie. Said she was always a bit cold and distant.
"It bothered him, you know? Made him question if he'd done something wrong."
A faint shadow crossed Obadiah's face as he gazed down at his hands.
"But Howard's gone now. So is Maria. I guess all we're left with are memories."
Lemu stabbed his fork into the cake, his smile unwavering.
Sure, sure. I totally believe you.
He didn't trust a single word.
Feigning curiosity, Lemu tilted his head.
"And then? What else do you know about… Sophie?"
Obadiah's expression shifted into mild regret as he cut another slice for Lemu.
"Not much, I'm afraid."
"I only met her once, and we didn't even talk. She always kept her distance—never opened up to anyone."
Downstairs…
Tony Stark finally emerged from his workshop, wiping grease off his hands as he made his way upstairs.
The first thing he heard?
Obadiah's storytelling.
Some stonezzz would be good to release an extra chapter…. What do u think?