Early Winter Routine (Part 2)

As social animals, humans always tended toward conformity. Whatever environment a group found itself in, its members would inevitably be changed by it. Stark felt this deeply now.

Peter and his childhood sweetheart Gwen were lovey-dovey every day. Ever since Gwen had officially confirmed their relationship some time ago, the two had begun going on dates two or three times a week.

Spider-Man had not yet reached the stage of meeting his future father-in-law, but lately he had practically been bubbling over with happiness. Every day, they could hear him excitedly talk about some little gift he had received from his girlfriend, or which dish at which restaurant they had visited had been especially delicious.

Stark had to admit that even if the details Peter talked about were childish, and the restaurants they went to were roadside stalls that a tycoon like Stark would never possibly visit, every time he heard Peter describe them, he could fully feel Peter’s happiness.

Besides Peter, thanks to Strange’s big mouth, the story of Schiller and his wife became increasingly detailed after being passed around by so many people, and increasingly tragic and beautiful as well.

Originally, it had only been information Coulson obtained while conducting a routine investigation into Strange. But how could he possibly keep such huge gossip to himself? The next day, Natasha and Nick heard an extremely realistic and detailed version from Coulson.

Strange’s few short words had been fleshed out into a story by the genius agent Coulson. By the time it reached Natasha and Nick, Natasha, being a woman, was greatly interested in this sort of romantic love story. Her distinctly feminine sensibility added even more romantic details from her imagination, making it seem all the more real.

As for Nick, he was a skeptic. Once he learned of this, he was bound to investigate it.

And sure enough, his investigation uncovered some clues.

He found that the consultation fees S.H.I.E.L.D. and Stark had paid Schiller had originally remained in one of Schiller’s American accounts. But recently, Schiller had transferred that large sum into an international account in Switzerland. After that, Nick could no longer trace where the money went. He guessed that Schiller might have used it to sustain his wife’s life.

Some time ago, Schiller had told everyone he would be leaving for a while. In fact, Nick had wanted to track him then, but even though S.H.I.E.L.D. agents cast themselves out like a net dragged through water, they still could not find the slightest trace of him. Nick believed Schiller had most likely used magic to go to his wife.

Nick had always believed that to be a good agent, one needed not only meticulous logical thinking but also the ability to make imaginative leaps. Many times, a careless flash of inspiration could bring unexpected changes to an operation.

With all these factors combined, Nick became nearly certain of it.

He believed Schiller’s wife might not have been American, because he could not find any record of such a missing woman. Schiller might have met her while studying abroad. After they fell in love and married, she may have developed a disease that could not yet be cured but would continue to worsen. Combined with the cryogenic technology Schiller had mentioned to Strange before, Nick guessed that Schiller likely possessed some form of technology that could freeze someone forever, preserving his wife and preventing her illness from worsening while he continued searching for a cure.

Nick saw more than tragic love in this story. He had always wanted to recruit Schiller and make him fully side with S.H.I.E.L.D., to work for them. If S.H.I.E.L.D. could make some progress in treating his wife, Nick believed S.H.I.E.L.D. would soon gain another powerful arm.

Thus, Nick also obtained information on various neurology experts, intending to see who might be qualified to solve this problem.

If Schiller had heard Nick’s thoughts and learned of the story he had imagined, he would definitely have applauded the King of Agents. Wasn’t this the love story of Mr. Freeze Victor and his wife?

Mr. Freeze’s story was good. The next second, it became mine.

When this story later reached Stark’s ears, he naturally assumed Nick must have obtained conclusive evidence. Thus, he too believed that Schiller had indeed spent years seeking a cure because of his wife.

This fact was already quite shocking to Stark. After all, throughout his years of growing up, most of the people he had encountered were drunken, debauched scumbags much like his father.

But the more devastating blow came from Captain America Steve.

A few days earlier, Stark noticed Steve had stopped going on morning runs, so he went to ask Schiller what was wrong. Schiller said Steve had been in a bad mood lately.

Stark was delighted. Captain America being in a bad mood meant Iron Man was in a good mood.

When Steve returned, Stark had intended to mock him mercilessly. But Steve looked utterly haggard at the time, while Schiller wore a grave and sorrowful expression. Peter barely even dared to breathe.

During the days without Pepper, Stark had been drifting from place to place, and he had finally learned a little about reading the room. Seeing everyone like that, he swallowed all the words in his stomach.

Afterward, he went to Schiller again and asked what had happened to Steve, but Schiller merely shook his head and told him to ask Steve himself.

How could Iron Man possibly take the initiative to ask Captain America?

But Stark’s overly vigorous curiosity eventually led him to Steve.

Then, from Steve’s own mouth, he learned of the romantic love story between him and Peggy, one that spanned an entire century.

A weak and helpless new recruit had entered boot camp and met a dashing female officer who cared for him in every way. After that recruit became the famous Captain America, they faced life and death together, each the other’s perfect soulmate. Even after a century had passed, Captain America remained steadfast: only Peggy was his perfect dance partner.

But the ending of that romantic tale was heartbreaking. A few days ago, Steve had seen Peggy lying in a hospital bed, terribly aged, and heard from the Doctor that she likely did not have long to live.

He saw that the photo Peggy had kept of him was not of the strong Captain America after receiving the serum, but of the timid, frail Steve who had just entered boot camp and was bullied everywhere. Since being transformed into Captain America, Steve had not cried until he nearly passed out like this in a very long time.

He truly was on the verge of collapse. He had even irrationally rushed into Nick’s office and asked whether there was any special serum that could keep Peggy alive.

But unfortunately, in the end, Steve could only accept that ending in unbearable pain and helplessness.

This story shook Stark even more deeply, because according to Steve, his father Howard had been involved in the entire story and had once been friends with Peggy.

It could not help making Stark wonder whether he was a little too different.

When it came to women, Stark certainly did not lack them. Magazine models, party girls, Hollywood starlets—Stark changed them every day, sometimes even several in a single day.

But when it came to dating, to true love, Stark thought back and found his mind completely blank.

From childhood to adulthood, he had never had a relationship worth mentioning, one that could resonate with his friends in the same way.

First love? He seemed to remember something. Stark tried hard to think, but still had to admit that he had mostly forgotten it.

Peter and Gwen were sweetly devoted to each other. Schiller and his wife were separated by life and death. Captain America and Peggy had missed each other across time.

And Stark, surrounded by these people, could not help using his genius brain to think hard about why he was different.

"Pepper’s been looking at me strangely lately." In the S.H.I.E.L.D. cafeteria, Stark, Schiller, and Peter sat at the same table eating. After Schiller threw Stark out, Pepper could only leave him in S.H.I.E.L.D.’s care. Stark was extremely unwilling, but if he did not go, he would have to sleep on the streets.

"Strangely? What kind of strange?"

"I’m not joking. I’m serious. Her expression—I can’t explain it. A little worried, a little relieved, but also kind of sympathetic."

"I should really let you do my job. You can read that much from a look?"

Stark waved dismissively. "Please, I’ve seen at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, women. You can tell exactly what they’re thinking from their eyes. Tell me, what’s wrong with Pepper?"

"That depends on what’s been going on with you. Has anything happened to you recently?"

"What could have happened? I’m doing great."

Schiller put down his fork and snapped his fingers. "Jarvis, can you analyze whether your master’s recent behavioral patterns have changed in any way?"

Jarvis beeped twice. Stark rested his chin in his hand as well, waiting for his intelligent butler’s answer.

"According to analysis, you have declined eighteen invitations from the opposite sex within one week. This is the only aspect that differs from your usual behavioral patterns…"

In an instant, Stark saw an expression on Schiller’s face that was almost identical to Pepper’s.

"Damn it, I’m not…"

"You don’t need to explain. Hmm… if you’ve come around, then congratulations. If you’re no longer up to it…"

Schiller shrugged. "…then all I can say is, you had it coming."

Schiller knew that in the comics, this guy was a total womanizer. Not even counting his first love Meredith, whom he had been forcibly separated from, and the ill-intentioned Bane, Gamora, Captain Marvel, Wasp, Spider-Woman, and She-Hulk—he flirted with them, slept with them, then ran off afterward.

"I’m not…" Stark put down his utensils, braced both hands on the table, and said, "I just think they aren’t all that great…"

"Then who was it that never stopped talking about a yacht full of beauties?"

"Fine." Stark deflated like a punctured balloon. "I’ve never even had a proper relationship. You people are always talking in my ear about dating, love, those romantic stories."

"I used to think they were everything. Sexy, charming, brief, and full of passion. What’s wrong with that?"

"But yesterday, Peter actually said his girlfriend was willing to listen to him talk about how he made those machines. The two of them actually talked about that for an entire afternoon!"

"Actually, we still hadn’t talked enough. The next day, we went to the exhibition hall again, the one at Stark Industries. The machines there were unbelievably cool. We walked around all day and didn’t even get tired…"

Under Stark’s murderous glare, Peter silently stuffed his mouth full of sandwich.

"…Fine. No one has ever been willing to listen to me talk about those things. They’d rather hear Hollywood gossip, rumors from designer shows, what new clothes are coming out for winter or spring. Why would anyone want to hear me talk about how to build armor?"

"But you really want to talk about those things, don’t you? In your eyes, armor is much better-looking than those designer coats."

Stark pursed his lips. Right now, he looked exactly like someone eaten alive by jealousy.

"But there’s no use telling us about this. You need to talk to Pepper."

"But she doesn’t understand armor either, and she’s already very busy."

"Like I said, as long as you talk, she’ll definitely be willing to listen."