Batman’s Son in Marvel

Tony Stark was a narcissist, arrogant, and a playboy. He had plenty of shortcomings, but beneath the surface, he was sensitive, emotional, and—above all—kind. After listening to Adam introduce the events surrounding AIM and Killian, Tony couldn't help but agree with Adam's plan to strike back.

Of course, he wouldn't let it show.

"Even so, this kind of matter should actually be left to the police. I'm just an ordinary rich man," Tony said, attempting to feign indifference.

Adam saw through the act instantly and looked at him with mock disdain. "I don't believe you haven't been secretly working on armor at home. Besides, you've probably borrowed a lot from my designs already."

Tony froze, briefly ashamed before indignation took over. "Hey, kid! What do you mean? What does it mean to steal a teacher! My armor was obviously developed by myself!"

"So, you admit you're studying armor," Adam said, smirking.

"You…" Tony was momentarily speechless, his temper flaring. He wanted to end the call right then and there. He had, in fact, borrowed a few design concepts from Adam's suit, but the rest of the work was his own. And besides, scientists didn't steal—they built upon ideas! How could this kid slander him so casually?

"Honestly, how far has your armor research gone?" Adam asked, his curiosity piqued.

In the original timeline, Tony took plenty of detours and even got himself seriously injured while developing the armor. But after seeing Adam's designs, there was no doubt Tony would have improved his own approach significantly.

"No comment," Tony snapped, clearly annoyed.

"Fine, I won't push. But I'll just remind you—don't forget to consider freezing issues with your suit. If it gets too high up, it'll freeze solid," Adam said in an almost casual tone.

Tony's expression shifted immediately. He hadn't forgotten that incident. He nearly died testing the armor because of that oversight. Luckily, no one had figured it out yet—or so he thought.

"Are you in or not?" Adam pressed. "The people behind this are connected to the terrorists who kidnapped you. I'm pretty sure most of Stark Industries' weapons in their hands came through AIM."

Adam wasn't going to let Tony walk away from this fight. While he could certainly take AIM down on his own, doing so would draw attention he wasn't ready for. Governments and organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D. might start viewing him as a threat.

He needed someone to take the spotlight, and Tony Stark was the perfect candidate—an attention-loving billionaire with strong government ties. Nick Fury would never suspect him.

"Adam, I need time to consider this," Tony said after a brief silence. "According to the information you provided, their bases are located in urban areas. If we act rashly, we might cause civilian casualties."

For all his arrogance, Tony was no fool. He understood the risks of engaging such a well-connected organization, especially one operating near civilian populations.

"Do you think I'm that stupid?" Adam countered. "I'm not talking about leveling cities. The targets are secret bases conducting illegal human experiments. We hit them quickly, cleanly, and quietly. I'm not looking for a war—I just want to shut these monsters down."

Tony hesitated.

"I'll even send you the darknet addresses linked to these facilities. Investigate them yourself if you don't believe me," Adam added.

"Fine. I'll look into it," Tony finally said, though his tone remained guarded.

Adam didn't realize Tony was already suspicious of him. Saving him from the desert had been a little too convenient, and Tony wasn't the type to overlook details. While he appreciated Adam's help, he wasn't ready to trust him completely just yet.

Seeing Tony's hesitation, Adam decided to drop another bombshell.

"Actually, this problem has everything to do with you," Adam said with a smirk.

"What do you mean?" Tony asked, suddenly wary.

"You tell me," Adam replied, sending over a file as he spoke. "Remember the 1999 Berne Conference in Switzerland? You stood up a guy named Aldrich Killian and spent the night with Dr. Maya Hansen instead. Does that ring any bells?"

Tony winced. "I think I remember something like that," he admitted, clearly embarrassed.

"Killian is one of AIM's leaders, and Hansen is one of their top researchers. Killian's been obsessed with you ever since, keeping tabs on you and your work. Do you think he's interested in a friendly reunion?"

Adam didn't give Tony a chance to respond before continuing.

"Because I saved your life, my family's Wayne Tower was bombed by Killian's men. And this is just the beginning. Do you really think you're not involved in this?"

Tony stared at the screen in silence, his expression hardening.

"Now, are you in or not?" Adam asked, his voice calm but firm.

There was no turning back now.

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