Chapter 124: Thick Tension

[Third Person's PoV] 

"Friday, set a reminder," Tony said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "When we're older and Star possibly invites us out for a drink at a bar, remind me to decline. Who knows? The next time I wake up, I might find one of my kidneys has been sold on the black market." He shot a sharp glare at Star, his frustration bubbling to the surface.

Star sighed heavily, clearly exasperated. "Like I said before, Tony, your recovery was my priority above everything else. I didn't know the full extent of your condition or how bad your injuries were at the time. It was an honest mistake, and for that, I sincerely apologize. I let my guard down."

Tony scoffed, turning his head away as if the sincerity was too much for him. "Ugh, stop sounding so genuine. It's making it hard for me to stay mad at you," he muttered, his disgusted expression softening just slightly.

With a sigh, Tony shifted his focus to his ring. "Friday, any luck tracking them down?"

"Sorry, boss. No luck. It seems they've upgraded their tech since the last time we encountered them," Friday replied calmly.

"Well, that's just FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!" Tony shouted, throwing his hands in the air as he shot up from the bed. "OF COURSE THEY HAVE! WHY WOULDN'T THEY?"

"Tony, you're still injured," Star began, her tone concerned. "I really think it's best if you—"

"This is where you zip it, Star!" Tony interrupted, motioning for her to be quiet as he paced around the room, ruffling his hair in frustration.

Star was taken aback by his sharp tone but decided to let it go, sensing how on edge Tony was. She remained quiet for a moment, though a question lingered on her mind.

"There's something I don't understand," Star ventured cautiously. "Why do they need your blood? Do they have some kind of quirk that allows them to harm you through a connection with your blood?"

Melissa, sitting quietly nearby, glanced at Tony, unsure. "Should we tell her?" she asked, her expression uncertain.

Still pacing, Tony waved her off without a word, signaling her to go ahead.

Melissa turned back to Star with a slightly awkward expression. "Well, you see... Tony developed this serum. It's enhanced everything about us—our strength, our intellect, everything. It even has the power to upgrade quirks."

Star's eyes widened in shock. "You created something like that? That's incredible. But... what are the side effects?"

"That's the thing," Melissa continued. "There aren't any, at least none we've discovered so far. That's why it's so groundbreaking. Tony took the serum himself, and he gave me one as well."

Star's expression grew serious as she processed the implications. "So, now that they have your blood, they could potentially reverse-engineer the serum. If they take it, they could become even more dangerous than they already are..."

She mumbled to herself, a solemn look crossing her face. "How could a simple mistake spiral so out of control?"

Melissa stood up from her seat, stretching her arms. "I need a bath. I'm sweaty, and we've got that meeting with the President in a few hours."

Star immediately stepped forward, her expression firm. "Oh no, you don't. You need rest. Both of you do. I'll handle the meeting with the President while you recover."

Tony scoffed, turning to face Star. "Yeah, no. We're going. That's the whole reason we came here, remember?"

"Look," Star started, her voice calm but insistent. "I understand you're angry—"

"Angry?" Tony snapped, his voice rising with each word. "Angry doesn't even begin to describe what I'm feeling right now!" His hands balled into fists, veins bulging at his temples. "I'm not going to just sit here, twiddling my thumbs, while there's a bounty on the President's head. That means he's still a target, which means I've got something to take out all this frustration on."

"Tony, you're injured," Star pressed, stepping closer. "You'll be a liability, especially in your current state. You're not just a danger to yourself, but to others. That's why I'm suspending your internship until you fully recover."

Tony's eyes narrowed dangerously as he turned to face her. "Then who am I supposed to take all this anger out on? You? You're the one responsible for all of this, after all."

Star's face hardened, her tone taking on an edge. "Are you threatening me right now? I let the first few incidents slide because I understood I was in the wrong. But I won't have you talk to me like that, young man. I'm still your superior, so watch your mouth."

Tony stepped closer, his fists clenched so tightly that his ring began to glow in response to his rising emotions. "You're only my superior because I allow it," he growled. "Why don't we take this outside and see who's really the superior one here?"

Star didn't flinch. She squared her shoulders, her eyes narrowing in return. "It seems I've been too lenient with you. You've gotten far too arrogant for your own good. As your mentor, maybe I should give you a lesson on how to dial that arrogance back. A lesson one on one on Humility"

"You said it yourself," Tony replied, his voice low and simmering. "The internship is suspended. So right now, we're just two people, face to face, working out our problems. And we both know Americans understand things better when we settle them with our fists."

Melissa's frustration was palpable as she appeared beside them, wedging her hands between Tony and Star to force them apart. "Alright, that's enough from both of you!" she snapped, her voice carrying an uncharacteristic sharpness.

She turned to Tony, her hands pressing lightly against his chest to keep him from advancing further. "Tony, I get it. You're angry, and so am I. We both trusted Star to take care of us, and we ended up in this mess. So trust me when I say, I completely understand how you're feeling right now."

Her gaze then shifted to Star, her tone softening but still firm. "And you, you're an adult. So act like it. I can see you're already beating yourself up over what happened, and Tony lashing out at you isn't making it any easier. But you're still responsible for keeping things professional and mature. You're the Number One Hero, a role model. So be one."

Melissa's eyes darted between the two of them, sensing the tension in the air. "Both of you are letting your emotions run wild, and that's not going to solve anything. I think it's best if we all take a step back, cool off, and give each other some space before we say something we can't take back."

Star's face softened as guilt flashed across her features. Melissa offered her a small, compassionate smile. "Star, I think it's best if you leave us for now. We need some time alone to sort things out."

Star nodded, her shoulders slumping as she bowed her head slightly. "I'm sorry for how I acted. I should be setting a better example for you both, and instead, I've only made things worse. I sincerely apologize."

Melissa acknowledged the apology with a nod, her eyes understanding, but Tony let out a bitter scoff from the side. "Yeah, you should be sorry," he muttered as he turned and walked off.

"Tony!" Melissa exclaimed in exasperation, watching him walk away.

"What?" Tony shot back, grabbing an apple from a tray of food. "You don't expect me to apologize, do you? I don't have anything to be sorry for. I meant every damn word I said."

Melissa sighed, rubbing her temples. "Tony, I'm not asking for an apology, but could you at least try to meet her halfway? She's extending an olive branch."

Tony tossed the apple into the air, caught it, and took a bite, settling down on the couch. "Well, she can stay halfway if she wants. Doesn't mean I have to."

Melissa opened her mouth to say more, but Star raised a hand, cutting her off. "It's fine," Star said quietly, her voice laced with defeat. "I understand. He's still upset. I'll give you both the space you need."

As she turned to leave, Tony called after her, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Don't let the door hit you on the way out."

"TONY!" Melissa yelled, her patience wearing thin.

Star paused but shook her head, closing the door quietly behind her without another word. The tension that lingered in the room was thick, heavy, and far from resolved.

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