Tony broke the tension with his signature humor after asking the heavy questions. "So... become Earth's full-time superhero? Drag all the nukes into space? Or maybe start a dynasty—date ten supermodels and spread those Kryptoniangenes?"
Leon chuckled, ripples spreading across the moonlit pool. "The only aliens waiting out there are facehuggers ready to latch onto your ego."
"Please, I'd charm them with my repulsor tech." Tony's grin faded slightly. "But seriously. You've got this... calm about you. What's next?"
Leon leaned against the pool edge, water cascading off his shoulders. "Same routine. Breakfast at 7. Roast your fashion choices by 8. Just..." He clenched his fist, droplets vaporizing in his palm. "...with better tools to protect what matters."
Tony floated closer, wine swirling in his glass. "Tools? Lee, you are the tool. A walking celestial wrecking ball."
"Exactly." Leon's eyes glowed faintly. "And I need to keep sharpening the blade."
Splash!
Tony dunked himself dramatically, resurfacing with wet hair plastered to his forehead. "Sharp? You could split atoms with your pinky! What's next—playing mad scientist with Kryptonian DNA?"
"Like Lex Luthor?" Leon countered dryly.
The name hung between them. Tony's wineglass froze mid-sip. "You've read the comics. That road ends with Doomsday and cities in ruins."
"Lex didn't have my resources." Leon tapped his temple. "Or a genius brother to keep him in check."
"Flattery won't—wait, say that 'genius' part again?"
Their laughter echoed across the cliffs. When it faded, Leon grew serious: "I need safeguards, Tony. If I ever..."
"Don't." Tony's repulsor glove sparked as he gripped the pool edge. "We'll find Kryptonite. Build fail-safes. Whatever it takes."
Leon raised an eyebrow. "You believe me now? About multiverse travel?"
"Believe?" Tony drained his glass. "Kid, after seeing you bench-press aircraft carriers? If you said Santa's real, I'd ask him for vibranium socks."
Later - Stark Lab
Holograms of DNA strands pulsed above them. Tony spun a Kryptonian gene model, red and blue helices intertwining. "Even with samples, editing at this level..."
"...requires understanding quantum biology." Leon zoomed into a chromosome cluster. "That's why I need your arc reactor tech for cellular stabilization."
Tony froze. "You want to weaponize my life's work?"
"Opposite." Leon rotated the projection. "To keep my cells from becoming weapons."