Stark Tower was quieter than usual—at least by Tony Stark's standards. The automated systems hummed gently in the background, soft blue lights lining the walls. Liam stood near the large glass window of the top floor, gazing out over the city, lost in thought.
Behind him, a door slid open with a cheerful ding.
"Well, if it isn't our favorite rainbow man," Tony said, walking in with a cup of coffee and the posture of a man who hadn't slept much but still wanted to act like he owned the world. Because, well—he mostly did.
"Stark."
"I was wondering when you'd show up. You've got that 'I'm-about-to-drop-a-load-of-drama-on-you'. What happened this time?" Tony asked.
"Not quite," Liam replied. "It's about Barton." Tony stiffened a bit when he heard that name. At that moment, Yinsen stepped in from the adjoining lab. He smiled at Liam.
"Okay, so we're all here. Let's talk zombie Barton. Or vampire Barton. Or—whatever he is now."
"The Ancient One and her people are working to contain the transformation through magic. But it's not enough. Whatever infected Barton… it's deep. We might need technological help too." Liam said.
"You're saying magic hit a wall. That's new." Tony replied.
"Not a wall," Liam corrected. "A… ceiling. We've reached the upper limits of what sorcery can handle in this case. So I'm here because I think it's time we approached this from the other side."
"Science." Yinsen nodded. He had been studying the magic and also science, which went hand in hand. And he believed that he could help Barton with the help of some people.
"I need your help. We need to start treating this like an illness. A mutation. Something we can isolate, study, and potentially reverse. But I don't just mean you, Stark. I mean Banner, too."
Tony nodded as he already read about Banner. He was happy to add another scientist.
"Bruce Banner is one of the brightest minds on Earth when it comes to biology and gamma mutation. What's happening to Barton might not be gamma-related, but Banner understands transformation—deep transformation—like nobody else." Liam continued. JARVIS had already brought up the face of Banner in holographic projection. They had already spoken about Banner before and bring him in, but now they would have to up the transfer.
"Talking about transformation? Where is Avallac'h?" Liam asked.
"He is sleeping in his room. He had finally started accepting that humans have potential, instead of looking down on us." Yinsen replied with a smirk.
"JARVIS has he been too annoying?" Liam laughed a bit, in order to alleviate the tense situation. Barton had been like a sword looming over their head.
"He has been very curious, Sir. But his body conditions hasn't fully recovered as of yet. Or at least that is what he told me. I am not fully aware of his bodily functions as he isn't human at all." JARVIS replied.
"Figures." Liam nodded. They spoke of all the tales they had heard about vampires and how they could help Barton since now he was vampire and get ready for a future where he would continue to be a vampire. While also being around them.
Maybe a suit that could block sun? Or a diet based on blood? Everything was considered while also speaking about how magic could be used in the science and Yinsen putting his ideas on the table.
While they were talking and trying to find out ways to help Barton, he suddenly remembered of one person.
"Right, right," Liam agreed, nodding to Yinsen before shifting his gaze to the holographic projection of Barton's full body after he became a vampire. "But that's not all. There's another key person I believe can tip the scales for us."
"Oh? And who might that be?" Tony was intrigued.
"Maya Hansen." Liam paused for affect as he looked at Tony.
"Maya Hansen… doesn't ring a—wait—nope. Still nothing. Sounds kinda familiar though." Tony replied as he took pride of knowing good scientists around. Of course he believed that if he didn't remember someone, than that person wasn't important at all.
Yinsen turned from the screen he was scanning and gave Tony a look that hovered somewhere between amused and exasperated.
"Switzerland. Conference. The same place where I met you and you ignored me." Yinsen said with a smirk.
"Yinsen, how many times I have told sorry about that? Okay that's it. Your act of sneaking champagne away from my stocks is taken away." Tony was incredibly annoyed that Yinsen brought it up again for no reason.
"You understand me wrong Tony. You met Maya there." Yinsen said.
"Did I?" Tony was still clueless.
"Yeah, I am pretty sure. You and Maya, you know... ended up leaving the party together. Young, sharp, very driven. She presented on early-stage Extremis theory on the plants. Ringing any bells?"
"Switzerland… Extremis… Wait—oh no. That Maya?" He rubbed the back of his neck. "Did I—?"
"Yes," Yinsen said simply. Tony looked mortified for half a second before quickly putting on his classic defense mechanism—a smirk.
"Okay, okay, so maybe I left the party with her. But in my defense, I was trying to support emerging talent. I am very supportive."
"I would love to see how Pepper would react once she came to know that another of your former lover might come to join us." Liam said.
"I don't approve of her joining at all." Tony vetoed.
"I am sorry, but it's not upto you. If she proves to be helpful, we will need her." Liam said.
"I will be the judge of that." Tony said as he got up to leave for the lab. Liam could see that Tony had fear if Maya joined them but Liam also knew that he wasn't selfish enough to kick a someone out if it could help him alleviate his guilt.
Because Liam for sure could see the guilt. In fact, just like Tony, Liam had guilt too. He was just better at masking it than Tony.
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