Monster in cage

Days passed and not much happened ...until next week.

"What!"

"you guys are going to marry at Expo?" Max exclaimed, hearing the date and place of his sister and Tony marriage.

"Yes, that will be perfect location, a place where new ideas emerge and that place where our new life unfold" Tony said grandly, while Max thought of Vanko, he already knows he and Justin are working together and at Expo that Hammerhead will introduce some bots.

"Is there any problem?" Pepper asked looking at Max face.

'yes there is , unless someone's not going to freeze whole New York for ruining her special day' Max thought inwardly but replied with a smile " Nothing, I just thought it's too fast" 

"It's late actually " Tony said and Pepper nodded.

"okay, do it" Max said while thinking of solution.

Honestly, he is more afraid of this Dragon couple than Vanko. It's almost as if, after consuming the Dragon-type Devil Fruit, they developed anger and emotion issues. When he asked the system why, the answer was the prideful nature of Dragons, which they inherited after accepting the Dragon bloodline from the Devil Fruit.

"okay, I will leave it to you" Tony said with a smile.

"huh?" Max looked at him incredulously.

"I mean don't you want it?" Tony asked.

Max thought for a moment and then nodded, "very well leave the wedding planning to me" 

"And I will ask Selene and Sunset" Pepper said and Max and Tony nodded.

Soon the preparations begin from both sides, with Max coming up a beautiful solution for the Stark Expo event.

The bachelor's party went wild with Tony getting drunk and sleeping with a bunch of beauties, Just sleeping as Max made sure of that.

And the day of wedding arrived.

***

"If others see you they might think you are the groom" As Max was checking himself in the mirror, Pepper voice sounded from behind.

"What are you doing here?" Max asked, noticing Pepper wasn't getting ready.

"I wanted to talk to you," Pepper replied, her voice tinged with a mixture of uncertainty and urgency, as she made her way to the balcony. Max followed after, and they stood in silence until Pepper finally spoke.

"What do you think of Tony?" Pepper asked, her gaze fixed on the vast expanse of the blue sky above them, a hint of vulnerability in her eyes.

Max looked at her,  "Prideful, lusty, arrogant," he answered honestly, his tone reflective.

Pepper let out a soft chuckle, but there was a happy smile on her lips as she listened to Max's assessment.

"But he is someone who will die for his loved ones," Max continued, his voice softening with a hint of admiration.

Pepper's smile grew, a mixture of affection and understanding. "I know. That's why I love that drunkard, lusty, arrogant, prideful bastard," she confessed, her words filled with both fondness and amusement, matching her brother.

Max laughed, the tension easing slightly as their banter brought a moment of joy to their conversation.

"I wonder how it would be if Mom and Dad were here for this special day," Pepper said quietly, her voice tinged with sadness as a tear slipped down her cheek.

Max felt a surge of empathy for his sister, his heart aching at the sight of her tears. "They would be proud of you, Sis," he assured her, his voice gentle as he moved closer to her, offering comfort.

Pepper leaned into Max's embrace, seeking solace in his presence as she clung to him, her tears flowing freely now.

Max felt a pang of sadness. This was the first time he had ever seen her cry. Even when their parents died, she never shed a tear, at least not in front of him, so as not to make him feel Sad. Yet here she was, crying now, and he felt powerless to help her.

"Don't worry, they are watching you from heaven," Max whispered, his words filled with reassurance and love as he held his sister close.

Pepper nodded, her gratitude evident as she found solace in Max's embrace, feeling a sense of peace wash over her despite the ache in her heart.

They held each other for some time, finding comfort in the silent bond between them, until Pepper finally released Max, a small smile gracing her lips.

"Thank you," she said softly, her voice filled with sincerity.

"Anytime," Max replied, his own smile mirroring hers as he offered his sister a reassuring nod.

Pepper nodded in return, a sense of gratitude filling her heart as she turned to leave the balcony, feeling lighter somehow after sharing her burdens with her brother.

Max watched as Pepper retreated back inside, a pang of concern lingering in his chest. Then, with a sigh, he turned his attention to Elisa, who had been hiding nearby.

"You can come out now," he called out, 

Elisa emerged from her hiding spot, her expression a mix of apprehension and sadness. "Is there nothing you can do?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Max's features hardened, a coldness seeping into his tone as he replied, "Do you think I would have let her feel sad if I could do anything for her?"

Elisa's face paled at his words, realizing her mistake. "I never meant to mock you," she stammered, her voice trembling with regret.

Max looked at her trembling, not wanting to sour his mood any longer he asked , his demeanor softening slightly as he regarded her. "What are you here for?" 

Elisa quickly composed herself and handed him a drive. "Hammer tech is successfully hijacked," she explained, 

Max took the drive and inserted it into his watch, the nanobots within it springing to life and executing the program contained within.

As the sequence activated, Max felt a sense of satisfaction wash over him. "You can go now," he said, dismissing Elisa with a wave of his hand.

Elisa nodded hastily, her relief palpable as she swiftly vanished from sight, leaving Max alone with his thoughts once more.

Max's gaze lingered on his watch, his thoughts consumed by a mixture of determination and an unsettling darkness. "Don't worry, sister," he murmured, his voice laced with a chilling resolve. "Now, no one can steal your happiness as long as I am alive."

A coldness settled over him, his features hardening as he spoke. Unbeknownst to Max, a storm of suppressed emotions and pent-up aggression surged within him, unleashed by the sight of a single tear falling from his sister's eyes.

Lost in the depths of his own turmoil, Max remained oblivious to the brewing tempest within him, unaware of the dark depths of his own psyche that threatened to engulf whole world if even a single harm were to done on his sister.

Yet, in that moment, such thoughts remained buried beneath the weight of his love for his sister. For Max, there was no greater purpose than ensuring her safety, even if it meant burning the whole world for her.

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Just returned from a trip,

btw leave a review for my new novel "Strongest Extra Survival" 

Its original and I would love to know my mistakes, So help me by giving it a review.