Destroyer Through The Multiverse Ch 14

Tatsuya settled into his new routine as Tony Stark's part-time bodyguard. The days blurred together, filled with press conferences, lab visits, and the occasional impromptu party. He worked alongside Happy, learning the ins and outs of protecting one of the world's most famous men.

Despite the demanding schedule, Tatsuya never forgot his primary role as a SHIELD agent. Director Fury's requests for detailed reports on Tony's activities came regularly, but Tatsuya provided only the barest essentials. He felt a growing loyalty to Tony, and the idea of betraying his trust didn't sit well.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the Malibu coastline, Tatsuya made his way down to Tony's basement workshop. The glass doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing the cluttered space filled with half-finished projects and holographic displays.

"Mr. Stark?" Tatsuya called out, his eyes scanning the room.

He found Tony hunched over a workbench, his back to the door. As Tatsuya approached, he noticed Tony's labored breathing and the slight tremor in his hands.

"Tony, are you alright?" Tatsuya asked, concern creeping into his voice.

Tony straightened up, turning to face Tatsuya with a forced smile. "Just peachy, kid. Nothing to worry about."

But Tatsuya's sharp eyes caught the movement as Tony hastily shoved something into a drawer. The brief glimpse was enough for him to recognize the familiar glow of an arc reactor core.

"Were you changing your reactor?" Tatsuya asked, stepping closer.

Tony's facade cracked for a moment, surprise and worry flashing across his face before he schooled his features back into a neutral expression. "Just some routine maintenance. Nothing exciting."

Tatsuya frowned, not buying the casual dismissal. His gaze dropped to Tony's chest, where the arc reactor glowed through his thin t-shirt. That's when he noticed something alarming - faint black lines spreading out from beneath the reactor, like dark veins creeping across Tony's skin.

"Tony," Tatsuya said, his voice low and serious. "What's really going on? Those marks on your chest... they weren't there before."

Tony's shoulders slumped, the weight of his secret visibly pressing down on him. He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a long sigh. "It's nothing you need to worry about, kid. I've got it under control."

But Tatsuya stood his ground, crossing his arms and fixing Tony with a determined stare. "With all due respect, sir, I don't think you do. Whatever this is, it's clearly affecting your health. As your bodyguard and... as someone who considers you a friend, I'm asking you to tell me what's wrong."

For a long moment, Tony just looked at Tatsuya, his expression unreadable. Then, something in his eyes softened. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"

Tatsuya shook his head. "Not a chance."

Tony sighed again, gesturing for Tatsuya to take a seat. He pulled up a holographic display, showing a complex molecular structure. "What do you know about palladium?"

Tatsuya's brow furrowed. "It's a rare metal, used in some electronics and... in your arc reactor core."

Tony nodded. "Gold star for you. The problem is, palladium isn't meant to be in constant contact with human tissue. The core that's keeping me alive? It's also slowly poisoning me."

The gravity of the situation hit Tatsuya like a physical blow. He stared at Tony, his mind racing to process this information. "The black lines... that's the poisoning?"

"Bingo," Tony said, his voice tinged with bitter humor. "Turns out, being a superhero comes with some unforeseen health risks."

Tatsuya leaned forward, his concern evident. "How bad is it? Is there a cure?"

Tony's laugh was hollow. "If there was, don't you think I'd have found it by now? I've tried every element, every combination. Nothing works as well as palladium without killing me faster."

The irony wasn't lost on Tatsuya. The very thing keeping Tony alive was also leading to his death. He thought of all the worlds he'd traveled, all the advanced technology he'd seen. There had to be a solution.

"There has to be something we can do," Tatsuya insisted. "Some alternative we haven't considered yet."

Tony's eyes met Tatsuya's, and for a brief moment, the billionaire's carefully constructed mask slipped. Tatsuya saw the fear, the frustration, and the bone-deep exhaustion that Tony had been hiding from everyone.

"I appreciate the optimism, kid," Tony said softly. "But unless you've got some miracle cure hidden in that fancy camera of yours, I'm running out of options."

Tatsuya felt a pang of guilt at the mention of his camera. If only Tony knew the truth about his abilities, about the worlds he'd seen. But revealing that secret could have consequences far beyond this immediate problem.

Instead, Tatsuya reached out, placing a hand on Tony's shoulder. "I may not have a miracle cure, but you're not alone in this, Tony. Whatever happens, whatever you need, I'm here to help."

Tony's expression softened, a genuine smile replacing his usual smirk. "Thanks, Tatsuya. Just... keep this between us, alright? The last thing I need is Pepper or Rhodey worrying more than they already do."

Pepper introduces "Natalie Rushman" to Tony as his new assistant.

Tony, intrigued, asks Natalie to step into the boxing ring with Happy.

Happy, overconfident, prepares to spar with Natalie.

Natalie, in her business attire, calmly enters the ring.

Tony and Pepper watch from the sidelines, Tony clearly interested in Natalie.

Happy throws a punch, which Natalie effortlessly dodges.

In a swift series of moves, Natalie takes down Happy, pinning him to the mat.

Tony and Pepper look on, shocked and impressed.

A few days passed, and Tatsuya stood quietly in the corner of Tony's expansive living room, his eyes scanning the space for any potential threats. It was a habit he'd developed over years of being Kamen Rider Decade, one that served him well in his new role as Tony's bodyguard.

The sound of heels clicking on the polished floor caught his attention. Pepper Potts entered, followed by a striking woman with auburn hair. Tatsuya's instincts kicked in, assessing the newcomer with a practiced eye.

"Tony," Pepper called out, her voice carrying a hint of exasperation. "I'd like you to meet Natalie Rushman. She's my new assistant."

Tony looked up from where he was sparring with Happy in the makeshift boxing ring. His eyes lit up with interest as they landed on Natalie. Tatsuya suppressed a sigh, recognizing the familiar gleam in Tony's gaze.

"Is that so?" Tony said, stepping out of the ring. He circled Natalie, his gaze appraising. "And what makes Ms. Rushman qualified for such a... demanding position?"

Natalie met Tony's gaze evenly, her posture confident and composed. "I assure you, Mr. Stark, I'm more than capable of handling any challenges this role might present."

Tony's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "Is that right? Well, why don't we put that to the test?" He gestured towards the boxing ring. "Care to step in with Happy?"

Pepper started to protest, but Natalie was already moving towards the ring. Tatsuya watched her closely, noting the fluid grace of her movements. There was something about her that set off warning bells in his mind, but he couldn't quite place it.

Happy, still catching his breath from his bout with Tony, puffed out his chest. "Don't worry, I'll go easy on you," he said, a hint of condescension in his tone.

Natalie simply smiled, stepping into the ring with calm assurance. Tatsuya moved closer, his curiosity piqued. He positioned himself near Tony and Pepper, who were watching the scene unfold with a mix of amusement and concern.

Happy raised his fists, bouncing lightly on his feet. He threw a playful jab, clearly intending to give Natalie a light workout. What happened next made Tatsuya's eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

Natalie moved with lightning speed, dodging Happy's punch with ease. In a blur of motion, she grabbed Happy's arm, twisted, and used his own momentum to flip him onto his back. Before Happy could even register what had happened, Natalie had him pinned to the mat, her knee pressed firmly against his chest.

The room fell silent. Tony's eyes were wide with shock and admiration. Pepper's mouth hung open in disbelief. Tatsuya, however, felt a familiar tension coil in his muscles. He'd seen moves like that before, but not from any ordinary personal assistant.

As Natalie released Happy and helped him to his feet, Tatsuya's mind raced. Who was this woman really? And what was her true purpose here? One thing was certain - there was more to Natalie Rushman than met the eye, and Tatsuya was determined to find out what it was.

Tony is impressed and asks Pepper if he could have one, but she answers no, as in the Iron Man 2 movie. Tatsuya then talks to Natalie and asks if she is a SHIELD agent. 

Tatsuya watched as Tony's eyes lit up with a mix of admiration and mischief. The billionaire turned to Pepper, his expression reminiscent of a child asking for a new toy.

"I want one," Tony declared, gesturing towards Natalie.

Pepper's response was immediate and firm. "No."

Tatsuya suppressed a smirk at the exchange, his attention still focused on the enigmatic Natalie Rushman. As Tony and Pepper continued their banter, Tatsuya made his way towards the newcomer, who was helping Happy up from the mat.

"Impressive moves," Tatsuya said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp. "Not exactly standard training for a personal assistant."

Natalie turned to face him, her expression neutral but her gaze calculating. "I believe in being prepared for any situation, Mr...?"

"Kadoya. Tatsuya Kadoya," he replied, offering his hand. As they shook, he noticed the slight calluses on her palm, consistent with frequent weapons training. "I'm part of Mr. Stark's security detail."

Natalie's smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kadoya."

Tatsuya leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Let's cut to the chase, shall we? Are you a SHIELD agent?"

For a split second, surprise flashed across Natalie's face before her composure returned. She regarded Tatsuya with newfound interest, her voice equally low when she responded. "What makes you think I'm associated with SHIELD?"

Tatsuya's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Let's just say I recognize the signs. Your combat skills, the way you carry yourself, the fact that you appeared right when Tony Stark could use some... extra supervision."

Natalie's eyes narrowed slightly. "You seem well-informed for a security guard, Mr. Kadoya."

"I could say the same about you and personal assistants," Tatsuya countered.

For a moment, they stood in silence, each assessing the other. Finally, Natalie spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "If I were a SHIELD agent, hypothetically speaking, I'd be curious about how you came by such information."

Tatsuya's smile widened. "Let's just say I have my own connections. The question is, what's your real purpose here?"

Before Natalie could respond, Tony's voice cut through their hushed conversation. "Hey, you two done with the secret agent roleplay over there? Because I've got some actual work that needs doing."

Tatsuya and Natalie exchanged one last loaded glance before moving to join the others. As they walked, Tatsuya couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just stumbled upon a much larger game. Whatever Natalie's - or SHIELD's - true intentions were, he was determined to uncover them. After all, he had his own mission to consider, and he couldn't afford any unexpected complications.