The silence of Stark's private lab was broken by the faint hum of machinery. The sleek room, bathed in soft, white light, was a stark contrast to the harsh desert they had just escaped. Tony Stark stood at the center, inspecting a mechanical gauntlet on one of his workbenches, his face a mask of focus.
Alexander leaned casually against a wall, his coat folded neatly on a nearby chair. His sharp eyes scanned the room, taking in the cutting-edge technology that surrounded him. Holograms danced in the air, blueprints and schematics shifting with the wave of Tony's hand.
"Nice setup," Alexander said, breaking the silence.
Tony didn't look up. "It's more than nice—it's the best. This lab has built everything from missile guidance systems to artificial intelligence. So, yeah, you're standing in the heart of genius."
Alexander smirked. "Impressive. Though I bet you're about to make something even better."
Tony paused, glancing at Alexander. "What makes you say that?"
Alexander took a step forward, his tone serious. "You're not the same man who walked into that cave. You're done building weapons for others. You're building something new—something for yourself."
Tony's eyes narrowed. "You're oddly insightful for someone I just met."
"Like I said," Alexander replied, "I know more about you than you think."
A Test of Skill
Tony turned back to his work, sliding on a pair of protective goggles. "Alright, Alex, I'll bite. You've got a lot of mystery going on, and I'm not a fan of mysteries in my own house. So, let's settle this. How did you take out those guys in the desert?"
Alexander shrugged. "A mix of skill, instinct, and... let's call it a unique set of abilities."
Tony put down the gauntlet, clearly unsatisfied. "You're dodging the question. I need to know what you can do if we're going to work together—or if I need to kick you out."
Alexander straightened, his expression turning serious. "I was a Marine. Not like the U.S. Marine Corps, but a real Marine—from another universe. We were the dominant military power of the seas, tasked with enforcing law and order in a world filled with chaos."
Tony stared at him, his expression unreadable. "Another universe. Sure. Why not? What else?"
Alexander continued, ignoring Tony's skepticism. "We weren't just ordinary soldiers. We trained in extraordinary techniques—abilities that let us break the limits of what most people thought possible. Haki, for example, is the mastery of willpower. With it, I can predict your movements, strengthen my body, or even crush the spirits of my enemies."
Tony raised an eyebrow but didn't interrupt.
"We also had the Six Powers," Alexander went on. "Techniques that turned us into weapons. I can move faster than the eye can see, jump into the air without any footholds, slice through steel with a kick, and much more."
Tony let out a low whistle. "Alright, assuming I believe any of this—and that's a big assumption—you're basically saying you're a superpowered space pirate cop."
Alexander smirked. "Close enough. But I'm here to help, Stark. This world? It's got its own threats, and trust me, you're going to need someone like me."
Alexander raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "You want a demonstration?"
Tony gestured toward a reinforced testing dummy across the room. "Knock yourself out. Literally, if possible."
Alexander walked over to the dummy, inspecting it briefly. Its metallic surface gleamed under the lab's lights, and Tony watched intently, arms crossed.
Alexander took a deep breath. In an instant, his body radiated power as Armament Haki coated his fists, the blackened energy gleaming like obsidian. With a sharp exhale, he threw a punch.
The dummy shattered on impact. Pieces of reinforced metal flew in every direction, scattering across the floor as the air rippled from the shockwave.
Tony's jaw dropped slightly, and he blinked in disbelief. "Okay. That's not normal."
Alexander turned back to him, flexing his fingers. "There's more where that came from."
"More?" Tony repeated, clearly intrigued.
Alexander grinned. "Watch closely."
With a sudden burst of speed, Alexander vanished, reappearing across the room in the blink of an eye. He leapt into the air using Geppo, hovering effortlessly before launching a Rankyaku from his leg. The razor-sharp air slash carved through another dummy, splitting it cleanly in half.
Tony let out a low whistle, walking over to inspect the wreckage. "Alright, I take back every snarky comment I've made about you. You're officially terrifying."
"Glad we're on the same page," Alexander replied, crossing his arms.
Tony turned to him, his expression serious. "So, what is it? Super soldier serum? Mutant DNA? Or are you some kind of alien?"
Alexander deadpanned "I already told you."
Tony rolled his eyes. "Right, the 'other universe' thing. Still not buying it."
Alexander shrugged. "Believe what you want. But I'm here to help, Stark. And trust me, you're going to need it."
The Iron Project Begins
Over the next few days, Tony immersed himself in his work, building a new suit of armor that would surpass the Mark I. Alexander stayed close, observing Stark's methods while training himself in the spacious confines of Stark Tower.
One evening, as Alexander practiced his Haki techniques, Tony wandered in, holding a cup of coffee.
"You train a lot," Tony said, leaning against the wall.
Alexander didn't stop. His fists glowed with Conqueror's Haki as he unleashed a flurry of strikes at a makeshift target. "I have to. The world isn't going to stop throwing challenges my way."
Tony watched in silence for a moment before speaking. "You know, I can't decide if you're here to help me or show off."
Alexander stopped, lowering his fists. "A bit of both, maybe." He turned to Tony, his expression serious. "But mostly, I'm here because I know what's coming. This world... it's bigger and more dangerous than you realize."
Tony frowned. "What's coming?"
Alexander hesitated. He couldn't tell Tony everything—not yet. Instead, he said, "You'll see soon enough. And when it happens, you'll be glad you've got me around."
The First Trial
When the Mark II suit was finally ready for its first test, Alexander stood by as Tony suited up. The sleek silver armor gleamed under the lab lights, a stark contrast to the bulky Mark I.
Tony smirked, flexing the suit's fingers. "Alright, Alex, time to see what this baby can do."
"Just try not to crash," Alexander said, leaning against a workbench.
Tony launched into the air, the suit's thrusters roaring to life. He soared through the spacious lab, performing sharp turns and precise maneuvers. Alexander watched closely, his Observation Haki tracking Tony's movements with ease.
"Not bad," Alexander called out. "But you might want to watch your—"
Tony misjudged a turn and slammed into a support pillar, the suit clanging loudly.
"...trajectory," Alexander finished, smirking.
Tony groaned as he stood up, brushing off the impact. "Minor adjustment. Nothing I can't fix."
As Tony resumed his flight tests, Alexander couldn't help but feel a growing sense of admiration. Stark was reckless, impulsive, and arrogant, but he was also brilliant and determined.
This is the man who'll change everything, Alexander thought. And I'm going to make sure he survives to do it.
A Growing Partnership
By the time the test was over, Tony was exhausted but triumphant. He removed the suit and leaned against a workbench, looking at Alexander.
"You're not just muscle," Tony said. "You've got ideas. I can tell. So, let's hear it—what would you improve?"
Alexander raised an eyebrow. "You want my input?"
Tony smirked. "I don't trust easily, but you've proven you're not here to stab me in the back. So, yeah, I'm listening."
Alexander thought for a moment, then began outlining ideas for energy efficiency, combat versatility, and emergency protocols. Tony listened intently, occasionally jotting down notes.
By the end of their conversation, Tony leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "You're full of surprises, Alex. I might actually enjoy having you around."
Alexander chuckled. "Glad to hear it. Now, let's get to work. We've got a lot to do."
Returning to the Lab
After the press conference, Tony retreated to his lab, where Alexander was already waiting.
"Well," Tony said, loosening his tie, "that went about as well as expected."
Alexander chuckled. "You just shook the foundations of your entire company. I'd say you did pretty well."
Tony collapsed into a chair, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, well, now I've got to figure out how to back it up. And that's where this comes in."
He gestured toward the half-assembled Mark III suit on the workbench. "This is the future. Not bombs, not missiles—this."
Alexander stepped closer, examining the suit. "It's a good start. But it needs work."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And you're an expert in powered armor now?"
Alexander smirked. "Not exactly. But I know a thing or two about combat. Your suit's impressive, but it's too dependent on external energy sources. If you're fighting someone who knows how to cut you off, you're done."
Tony frowned, considering the point. "Go on."
"You need a failsafe," Alexander said. "Something internal. Something no one else can touch."
Tony nodded slowly. "Alright. That's actually not a bad idea."
"And another thing," Alexander added, pointing to the gauntlets. "Your repulsors are powerful, but they take too long to charge. You need a way to fire quicker, even if it means sacrificing a bit of power for speed."
Tony stared at him for a moment before breaking into a grin. "You know, Alex, for a guy who punches stuff for a living, you're surprisingly smart."
Alexander smirked. "I've been around."
Tony clapped his hands together. "Alright, let's get to work. We've got a lot to do."