Chapter 6
Howard's air-conditioning system really was top-notch. Within minutes, the room no longer smelled like a toxic waste dump. Charles, unfazed by the mess, picked up Li Ji to check on him, only to set him down moments later with a slightly troubled expression.
Howard immediately noticed. "Charles, you look like you just bit into a lemon. What's wrong?"
"We should talk outside," Charles said, glancing around at the others in the room.
Without another word, the two men stepped out.
---
Howard leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Alright, spill it. You look like you've seen a ghost. There's nothing wrong with Gage, is there?"
"Nothing like that," Charles reassured him. "Physically, he's perfectly healthy. If I had to nitpick, I'd say his hair is a bit too thick, and the tail might prevent him from being an Alpha-level mutant. But aside from that, he's not just normal—he's exceptional."
Howard frowned. "Then what's with the dramatic pause?"
Charles hesitated before answering. "Gage is… odd. You know my powers, right? I can connect with anyone's mind, break through any mental defenses. But when I tried to reach Gage, I couldn't. It's like there's a wall, and I have no idea what's on the other side."
Howard narrowed his eyes. "So, what? You think he's some kind of super-mutant? Dangerous?"
"I don't know yet," Charles admitted. "That's the problem. I can't even tell what his mutation is, let alone if it's a threat."
Howard exhaled, shaking his head. "Let me make this simple for you: if Gage ever shows signs of being a danger, I'll call you first. Until then, he's my kid, and I'll raise him like one."
Charles sighed but didn't argue.
---
On the drive home, Howard tapped his fingers against the dashboard. "Jarvis, what's the best baby formula on the market?"
"Sir, studies suggest camel milk from the Middle East is one of the most suitable alternatives," Jarvis responded smoothly.
Howard chuckled. "Great. First a mutant kid, now exotic milk. What's next? Raising him in a desert?"
Meanwhile, in the backseat, Li Ji was having his own crisis.
'Rich family? That tracks. People with private armed forces usually aren't broke. But these names… Jarvis? Howard? Did I get stuck in some alternate reality Avengers fanfic?'
He stared out the window at the cityscape. The buildings, the cars, the clothes—it all screamed the 1960s.
'Wait a minute…'
The realization hit him like a brick. He wasn't in some backward area. He was in the past.
'No way… I actually time-traveled?!'
Overwhelmed, Li Ji did the only thing he could—he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.
---
The moment they stepped through the door, Maria Stark's eyes zeroed in on the baby in Howard's arms.
"What the hell is this?!" she shrieked. "Howard, don't tell me this is—this is your lovechild?! With what, an orangutan?!"
Howard braced himself. "Maria, let me explain—"
"Oh, you'd better," she snapped, hands on her hips. "Because unless you can prove this kid isn't yours, you're sleeping in the lab for the next six months."
"Dad has a kid?!" Tony Stark, barely out of elementary school, came barreling into the room. His school bag hit the couch with a loud thud as he ran over, eyes wide with excitement. "I have a little brother?!"
Before Howard could say anything, Tony reached out and pinched Li Ji's chubby cheek.
"Wow, he sleeps like a rock."
Li Ji's tiny hand shot up instinctively, grabbing Tony's fingers.
Tony grinned. "Not bad, kid. You got a decent grip."
Howard, watching the scene, suddenly frowned. "Tony, don't be rough."
"I'm not!" Tony protested, tightening his grip just slightly.
That "slightly" was enough to make Li Ji wince.
"Tony!" Howard barked.
Maria swatted Tony's hand away. "What is wrong with you? Don't bully your brother!"
"He didn't even cry," Tony pointed out.
Howard's frown deepened. "That's exactly what's bothering me." He studied Li Ji carefully. "Why isn't he crying? Does he not feel pain?"
Tony's face lit up with scientific curiosity. "Oh! If his pain nerves are defective, can I study him? I've been trying to build a bionic nervous system for my robot project!"
Li Ji's eyes snapped open.
'Oh hell no.'
A second later, he let out a wail so loud it startled everyone in the room.
"Wow, wow, wow!"
Tony flinched. "Okay, okay! Forget I said anything." He grabbed his school bag. "Geez, I was just curious. I've got a date with Leya anyway."
Maria sighed. "That girl again? You're too young for this."
Ignoring her, Tony marched off to his room.
Howard turned back to Maria. "Speaking of responsibilities, can you bathe Gage? He, uh… had an accident on me while I was doing his paperwork."
Maria's eyes widened. "And you didn't mention that earlier?!" She snatched Li Ji from Howard's arms, wrinkling her nose. "Ugh, and what's with this tail? Is it atavism? Did his parents abandon him because of it?"
Howard hesitated. "It's possible… He's a mutant. Whether it's atavism or a genetic mutation, I'm not sure."
Maria studied Li Ji for a moment before sighing. "Alright. Go fill the bathtub—twenty centimeters of water, temperature between 35 and 40 degrees. Get two towels—one warm, one dry. And we don't have baby soap, so pick some up tomorrow."
Howard gave her a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am."
---
Meanwhile, in Maria's arms, Li Ji was processing a new revelation.
'So this really is the Stark family… Iron Man's family…'
His gaze flickered to a wall calendar.
His tiny hands clenched.
'Holy—! I'm in the damn Marvel universe?!'