Chapter 33: TS X
Tony groaned, rubbing his aching muscles as he glared at Dave. "You could've at least warned me how painful it would be," Tony said, still catching his breath.
"I thought you were smart enough to figure it out," Dave replied with a smirk, casually sipping his drink.
Rhodes, still tense, signaled his men to lower their weapons, though they kept a wary eye on Dave. "Tony, are you sure you're okay?" Rhodes asked again, not fully convinced by Tony's earlier hand signal.
Tony nodded slowly, still wincing from the lingering pain. "Yeah, yeah... I'll live. But this 'enhancement' better be worth it."
Pepper, who had been quietly watching the whole exchange, finally holstered her gun and crossed her arms. "Is it over? Are you two done?"
"Yes, n—"
"Great, now tell me what this enhancement thingy is all about," Rhodes said, cutting off Dave mid-sentence. His tone was sharp, impatient, and filled with suspicion.
Dave's eyes flashed briefly with irritation, but he controlled his temper and simply shrugged. "Just as the name suggests—enhancement. Tony's body is now more robust," Dave said casually, waving his hand like it was no big deal.
"Robust how?" Rhodes pressed, narrowing his eyes.
"Stronger, faster, tougher—his body will regenerate quicker and adapt to hostile environments more efficiently. Essentially, it's making him better suited for... well, anything you throw at him," Dave explained.
Tony, still recovering, shot Dave a wary glance. "And the catch?"