Chapter Forty-Four: A Promise Between Men

“Tony? Tony?”
Rhodey stared at the satellite surveillance feed in disbelief—Tony had vanished into thin air.
He tried calling again, only to be greeted by a message saying the number was unreachable.
Where had Tony gone?
And that other man—he had disappeared as well. Where did he go?
Tony looked around, bewildered. In the blink of an eye, the world changed; he now stood amidst a vast, frozen expanse, an empty, silent scene of snow and ice.
“Jarvis? What’s going on? Where are we?”
“According to satellite positioning, you are in the Himalayas. The external temperature is already minus ten degrees Celsius.”
“What?”
Tony frowned, glancing around, his confidence shaken once again.
“In a split second, I’ve ended up on the other side of the world? Oh, that explains why I can see the sun.”
“Jarvis, plot a course. Let’s fly home.”
“Yes, sir.”
Tony set off westward, crossing the European continent, over the Atlantic, finally returning to North America.
Thankfully, he’d just installed a new core—otherwise, who knows if he could have made it back.
Once home, Tony immediately began investigating information on Michael.
Pepper, exhausted, walked over. “Tony, where have you been? You didn’t answer your phone.”
Tony frowned. “You might not believe me, Potts, but I was in the Himalayas.”
“What for? A pilgrimage?”
“It’s hard to explain. That man—he drew a circle, and suddenly I was in the Himalayas.”
Pepper looked at the man on the screen, hesitated, and said, “He looks kind of familiar.”
At that moment, Jarvis, combing the internet, uncovered Michael’s true identity.
Pepper exclaimed in surprise.
“Oh, so it’s him! No wonder he looked familiar. He’s much more muscular now—not at all like his old photos.”
Pepper had attended banquets with Tony, reviewing photos in advance so he wouldn’t offend any socialites he didn’t recognize, offering him advice.
Tony rested his chin on his hand and couldn’t help but yawn.
“Looks like everyone’s underestimated this young genius. What he did yesterday would leave anyone dumbfounded.”
Tony lay on the sofa, worry etched on his face as he read Michael’s profile and the news.
“Let’s meet him tonight, then.”
With that, he got up and went to his room to rest.
“Potts, wake me before the party. I’m dead tired.”
“Alright, boss.”
…
Michael called Gwen.

“Are you free tonight?”
Gwen smiled sweetly. “Maybe. What’s up?”
“There’s a banquet—Stark Industries. Supposedly a lot of big names will be there. Interested in being my date?”
“I’d love to.”
Hearing her agree, Michael smiled, happiness in his voice.
“I’ll pick you up this evening.”
“Okay.”
Gwen hung up, then bounced off to change clothes.
Mrs. Helen looked on with a frown of disapproval, then turned to George.
“Your daughter’s dating. Aren’t you going to do something?”
George thought for a moment. Dating seemed a lot more reasonable than running around in a skintight suit as Spider-Woman.
“It’s fine.”
Helen looked baffled. What kind of attitude was that? Shouldn’t a doting father be more concerned?
“How can you say that? She’s so young—what if she gets taken advantage of?”
“It’s alright. Maybe Gwen doesn’t need me to hover over her.”
With Gwen’s intelligence and fighting spirit, George felt completely at ease.
Helen couldn’t understand. “Don’t you know? When women are in love, their IQ drops to zero.”
George pondered—there was some truth to that.
Gwen was still a girl, and infatuation could cloud her judgment.
“Who’s the guy?”
“It should be Michael. He asked Gwen out tonight.”
Going out at night?
George’s mind raced with possibilities, a twinge of worry creeping in.
The two of them crept to Gwen’s room and peeked inside.
“Gwen, what are you doing?”
Gwen looked at her parents. “I’m picking out a dress, but none of them look right.”
“Where are you going?”
“Michael invited me to a party. I need to look good.”
She looked over her clothes, dissatisfied, sighed, and threw them back in the closet, slinging her bag over her shoulder to head out.
“Where are you going?”
George was baffled.
Gwen replied helplessly, “Shopping for a dress. I just realized I don’t have any fancy evening gowns.”
George looked at Helen in confusion. “Are all girls in love like this?”

Helen rolled her eyes. “If I hadn’t been lovestruck, would I have married you?”
George nodded anxiously.
He gathered his things and headed out.
“And where are you going?”
“Patrolling—and I’ll help Gwen pick a dress. What if she doesn’t have enough money?”
Helen sighed, feeling as if her own menopause was approaching, otherwise she wouldn’t be so irritable these days.
With George’s help, Gwen chose a purple dress that bared only her shoulders.
At dusk, Michael arrived in an old classic car to pick up Gwen.
George followed them out.
“You seem a little different.”
Michael still leaned on his cane, but his muscular build and broad shoulders were impossible to hide.
“I recovered my health.”
George was incredulous. “What kind of medicine can change someone so much?”
Michael replied carelessly, “I drew inspiration from Dr. Connors and learned from his mistakes. I invented a serum to cure myself.”
George nodded, concern in his eyes. “If you ever become a monster and endanger the public, I’ll catch you myself.”
“Hearing that from an American is truly unexpected.”
Michael remarked with a hint of irony, then asked, “Where’s Dr. Connors now?”
George replied, “I don’t know. After the military took him, he didn’t go to court. It seems some mysterious organization took him away.”
A mysterious organization?
Michael frowned.
Anyone who could take someone from the military must be one of those old men in Congress.
Probably S.H.I.E.L.D. took Connors away.
Whether Connors was at S.H.I.E.L.D. or a Hydra base, there was no doubt he was still continuing his research.
George took Gwen’s hand, placed it in Michael’s, and looked at Michael seriously.
“I’m entrusting her to you now. Promise me you’ll keep her safe.”
Gwen blushed a little. Was this the promise between men?
Michael nodded. “Of course. I’ll protect her.”
George smiled, giving Michael’s shoulder a good-natured thump. “I really don’t want to see her swinging above the city anymore. I’m counting on you.”
Michael nodded.
He didn’t want Gwen to become Spider-Woman either.
Sometimes, love is like that. The ones who truly love you will try to keep you away from danger, even if it means stepping away from your dreams.
You have to understand—when you’re out risking your life, the ones who love you are worrying for your safety. All they hope for is your well-being; whether you’re a hero or not means nothing to them.