Chapter 65 - Ch 64 - A Night Out

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The soft glow of the workbench illuminated Pepper Potts' focused expression as she delicately adjusted the finishing touches on her creation. In her hands was a small, intricately designed decoration—crafted from Tony's old Arc Reactor. She smiled, satisfied with the result, and placed it in a sleek box just as the sounds of machinery and banter echoed from the next room.

In the workshop, Tony and Seph stood shoulder to shoulder, with JARVIS's voice guiding them through the design process for the Mark III armor. The holographic blueprints hovered before them, showcasing sleek lines and advanced modifications.

Tony gestured animatedly, his hands cutting through the air. "We'll add gold accents here. You know, to make it pop. And maybe adjust the shoulder plates—they're a little bulky."

Seph raised an eyebrow. "Gold accents? What are you building, a suit or a trophy?"

Tony smirked. "Why not both? You know what they say—look good, feel good, save the world better."

"Right. Because aesthetics are the first thing terrorists notice when you show up in a flying tin can."

"Tin can?" Tony clutched his chest dramatically. "I'm hurt, Seph. This isn't a tin can—it's a masterpiece."

Seph laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, genius. What's the next step?"

JARVIS interrupted, his voice the perfect blend of polite and amused. "Might I suggest revisiting the propulsion system, sir? The altitude issue in the Mark II is still unresolved, despite the…gold accents."

Tony groaned and snapped his fingers. "Right, right. Back to propulsion. You're killing my creative streak, JARVIS. But you're not wrong. Alright, Seph, try to keep up."

Seph rolled his eyes but stepped closer to the holographic blueprint. His expression sharpened as he scanned the design, his mind clearly working a mile a minute.

"Actually," He said, pointing at the hologram, "if you adjust the airflow ratio here—see this section?—Smooth out the surface tension around these panels by cutting down the drag coefficient, and you could reduce the icing issue entirely. No overhaul required."

Tony blinked, his fingers frozen mid-hover over the controls. "I'm sorry, what just happened? Did you—you just solved the icing issue?"

"Looks like it," Seph said, throwing him a casual smirk. "You're welcome."

Tony held up a finger as if he needed a minute to process. "First of all, where the hell did you learn that? Second of all, are you trying to upstage me in my own lab? Because there's a rule about that somewhere. I feel like I wrote it down once."

"I read," Seph replied with a shrug. "You know, books, articles, the occasional rocket science handbook for fun."

"For fun." Tony gave a sharp, incredulous laugh, pacing away like he needed to reassess his entire worldview. "I spend decades mastering this stuff, and you're over here, casually spewing NASA-level aerodynamics while I'm debating gold trim. Unbelievable."

"I'm full of surprises," Seph said nonchalantly, hands tucked in his pockets.

Tony whipped around, pointing dramatically. "Too many surprises, and it's starting to feel personal." He turned to the ceiling. "JARVIS, make a note: Seph is officially more than just a glorified bodyguard."

"Duly noted, sir," JARVIS replied, with a subtle trace of humor.

Tony narrowed his eyes at Seph but couldn't suppress the grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "Fine. Stick around, wise guy. But don't think you're stealing the spotlight. This is still Stark's stage."

"Of course, Tony," Seph replied innocently, pulling up another schematic. "And if you're very good, I'll let you take credit for my fixes. Again."

Tony stared at him, speechless. Then he cracked up, pointing as he walked back to the workstation. "Alright, smartass, let's fix propulsion. And no more showing off. That's my job."

"Keep telling yourself that," Seph called after him, grinning as Tony waved him off like a flustered performer exiting stage left.

Later that evening, Pepper entered the workshop, holding the sleek box. "Tony?"

Tony turned, a wrench in his hand. "Pep, we're in the middle of genius over here. Can it wait?"

Pepper ignored him, walking up to Seph. "Actually, this is for you." She handed him the box.

Seph raised an eyebrow, opening it to reveal the Arc Reactor decoration. The soft blue glow reflected in his eyes as he studied it. "This is… incredible," he said, his voice sincere.

Pepper smiled. "I thought you deserved something for keeping Tony in one piece. Besides, it's a reminder that even outdated things can still have value."

Tony snorted. "Nice jab, Pepper."

Seph laughed, holding up the decoration. "Thank you. It's… meaningful."

The holographic display in the workshop shifted to reveal a live feed from a buzzing event at Stark Industries headquarters. The opulent setting was awash in soft golden lighting, highlighting the elegantly dressed guests mingling around a central stage where a grand podium stood.

Camera drones hovered around the room, capturing the atmosphere of celebration and opulence.

A striking brunette in a tailored red dress, holding a sleek microphone, came into focus on the screen. Her dazzling smile contrasted with the slight mischief in her eyes as she turned toward the camera.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'm Christine Everhart, reporting live from Stark Industries' Annual Innovation Gala. An event synonymous with cutting-edge technology, dazzling personalities, and—dare I say it—a hint of extravagance." She gestured around, emphasizing the luxurious decor and elegant crowd.

She lowered her voice conspiratorially, leaning closer to the camera. "But tonight, there's one glaring absence that's hard to ignore. Tony Stark, the man whose name is plastered on nearly every wall of this building, is nowhere to be found..."

Tony groaned, his eyes narrowing. "Oh, for the love of—"

He muttered something under his breath and turned to Seph. "Alright, change of plans. We're going to that party."

Seph blinked, skeptical. "We? You're going to that party. I'm staying here. Someone has to keep an eye on your genius project."

Tony waved him off. "Relax, JARVIS can handle it. Besides, you're my bodyguard. What kind of bodyguard lets his genius boss go to a party alone?"

"One who enjoys peace and quiet?"

Tony smirked, stepping closer. "Come on, Seph. It'll be fun. Mingle, eat overpriced appetizers, watch me bask in their awe."

"Fun for you. I don't exactly have a closet full of designer suits for this kind of thing."

Tony grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Say no more." He clapped his hands together. "JARVIS, fetch one of my suits for our friend here."

Seph sighed, already regretting agreeing to this. "You really don't know the meaning of subtle, do you?"

"Subtle's boring," Tony replied. "Now, suit up. We've got a party to crash."

As Tony headed toward the exit, he tossed a final instruction over his shoulder. "Oh, and JARVIS, don't wait up. Keep the assembly line running. Mark III will be waiting when I get back."

"Understood, sir," JARVIS replied.

Seph adjusted the freshly tailored suit, casting a glance at Tony. "You owe me for this."

Tony grinned, spinning on his heel. "I'm Tony Stark. I always pay my debts—sometimes even in cash."

Seph shook his head with a wry smile. "This is going to be a long night."

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