Destroyer Through The Multiverse Ch 13

Tatsuya Kadoya sat at his desk in the bustling SHIELD headquarters, poring over intelligence reports on potential threats. The hum of conversation and the clatter of keyboards filled the room, creating a steady background noise. Just as he was about to delve into a particularly interesting file, his phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen. Pepper Potts.

"Tatsuya, it's Pepper," her voice came through, tinged with a mix of urgency and fatigue. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."

"Not at all," Tatsuya replied, leaning back in his chair. "What can I do for you?"

"We've got a bit of a situation here. The press has been relentless ever since Tony's announcement, and Happy's been stretched thin trying to manage everything," she explained, the strain evident in her tone. "I was wondering if you could help out as an additional bodyguard for Tony. Just part-time, alongside Happy."

Tatsuya paused, considering the request. His mind flashed back to the night he had saved her from Obadiah Stane’s clutches. He remembered her determined eyes and unwavering courage.

"I can do that," he said finally, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

"Thank you so much," Pepper sighed in relief. "We really need someone we can trust right now."

"I'll head over as soon as I wrap things up here," Tatsuya assured her.

"You're a lifesaver, Tatsuya," Pepper said, genuine gratitude in her voice before she hung up.

Tatsuya stood and gathered his belongings, notifying Coulson of his temporary assignment. Coulson raised an eyebrow but nodded approvingly.

"Tony Stark's always attracting trouble," Coulson remarked with a smirk.

"That’s why I'm here," Tatsuya replied with a grin.

Arriving at Stark Industries, Tatsuya found Happy Hogan pacing near the entrance, his face lined with stress but brightening at the sight of him.

"Tatsuya! Good to see you," Happy greeted him with a firm handshake. "Thanks for stepping in."

"Happy to help," Tatsuya replied earnestly.

Together they navigated through the maze of reporters and photographers clustered around the building's entrance, their cameras flashing incessantly. Inside, Tony Stark sat behind his desk, looking remarkably unperturbed despite the chaos outside.

"Tatsuya!" Tony exclaimed upon seeing him. "Joining us for some babysitting duty?"

"Just making sure you stay out of trouble," Tatsuya responded with a wry smile.

Tony chuckled, clearly appreciating the humor amidst the tension. "With you and Happy around, what could go wrong?"

As they settled into their roles, Tatsuya felt a sense of purpose wash over him. Guarding Tony Stark wasn’t just about protecting one man—it was about safeguarding someone who could change the world for the better.

And he intended to do just that.

Tatsuya follows Tony around, protecting him from the press and reporters when they drive toward Tony's house. Tatsuya talks about Tony's defense against the senate hearing and compliments Tony.

Tatsuya Kadoya followed closely behind Tony Stark as they made their way through the throng of reporters and flashing cameras. The cacophony of shouted questions and the strobe-like effect of camera flashes created a disorienting atmosphere, but Tatsuya remained focused. His eyes darted around, assessing potential threats while maintaining a composed exterior.

As they reached the car, Happy Hogan opened the door, allowing Tony to slide into the backseat. Tatsuya quickly followed, closing the door behind him. The car's interior provided a brief respite from the chaos outside.

"Quite a show out there," Tony remarked, glancing at Tatsuya with a smirk.

"Seems like you're used to it," Tatsuya replied, his tone light but his eyes still scanning their surroundings through the tinted windows.

Happy navigated through the press, and soon they were on their way to Tony's house. The drive offered a moment of calm, and Tatsuya took the opportunity to speak.

"I watched your defense at the Senate hearing," he began, breaking the silence that had settled in the car. "You handled yourself impressively."

Tony turned his head slightly, a curious expression on his face. "You caught that, huh?"

"Couldn't miss it," Tatsuya said with a small smile. "Your arguments were solid. You turned their questions back on them and maintained control throughout."

Tony's eyes sparkled with a mix of pride and amusement. "I had to remind them who they're dealing with."

Tatsuya nodded. "You showed them that your technology is in capable hands. It’s not just about power—it's about responsibility."

Tony leaned back in his seat, his expression thoughtful. "Responsibility... That's a word I've been hearing a lot lately."

"And for good reason," Tatsuya added. "What you're doing is important, not just for you but for everyone."

The weight of Tatsuya's words hung in the air for a moment. Tony seemed to mull them over before responding.

"Coming from you, that means something," Tony finally said. "You’ve seen firsthand what this technology can do—for better or worse."

Tatsuya met Tony's gaze, understanding passing between them. "That's why I'm here—to help ensure it's used for the right reasons."

Happy pulled into Tony's driveway, and as they exited the car, Tatsuya remained vigilant.

This was the first time Tatsuya saw Tony's house, and he was impressed by it. He could not help but compare it to the apartment he had recently bought. This was the rich life Tatsuya thought. Tatsuya, Tony, and Happy hung out and drank some of Tony's alcohol collection.

Tatsuya stepped into Tony Stark's expansive Malibu mansion, his eyes widening as he took in the sleek, modern architecture and breathtaking ocean views. The sheer scale of luxury dwarfed his modest New York apartment, reminding him of the vast differences between their worlds.

"Make yourself at home," Tony called over his shoulder, heading straight for the bar. "Mi casa es su casa, and all that jazz."

Tatsuya followed, his gaze sweeping across the open-plan living area. The clean lines and high-tech gadgetry seamlessly blended with the warm California sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows.

"This is quite the place," Tatsuya remarked, running his hand along the smooth surface of a nearby countertop.

Tony grinned, already pouring amber liquid into crystal tumblers. "It's not bad, is it? Happy, you joining us?"

Happy nodded, loosening his tie as he settled onto a barstool. "Don't mind if I do, boss."

Tatsuya accepted the glass Tony offered, inhaling the rich aroma of aged whiskey. He took a small sip, savoring the complex flavors as they rolled across his tongue.

"This is excellent," Tatsuya commented, raising his glass in appreciation.

Tony clinked his glass against Tatsuya's. "Only the best for my new bodyguard slash SHIELD liaison slash mystery man."

Tatsuya chuckled, relaxing into the easy camaraderie that had developed between them. As they drank and chatted, he found himself genuinely enjoying the company of these two men who had unexpectedly become a part of his life in this world.

The conversation flowed freely, punctuated by Tony's witty remarks and Happy's occasional dry observations. Tatsuya listened more than he spoke, filing away bits of information that might prove useful later.

Tatsuya, Tony, and Happy drink merrily. Tony notices Tatsuya bringing a camera and asks about it.

Tatsuya savored the smooth whiskey, feeling its warmth spread through his chest. He watched as Tony and Happy bantered, their easy friendship evident in every quip and shared laugh. The tension from earlier seemed to melt away in the comfort of Tony's home.

As Tatsuya reached for his jacket, his hand brushed against the familiar shape of his magenta Polaroid camera. The movement caught Tony's eye.

"What's that you've got there?" Tony asked, his curiosity piqued. He leaned forward, peering at the camera in Tatsuya's hand.

Tatsuya hesitated for a moment before pulling out the camera. "It's just an old Polaroid," he said, trying to sound casual. "I like to take photos sometimes."

Tony's eyes lit up with interest. "A Polaroid, huh? Didn't peg you for the retro type." He held out his hand. "Mind if I take a look?"

Tatsuya handed over the camera, watching carefully as Tony examined it. He knew the camera was more than just a simple Polaroid, but he couldn't reveal its true nature.

"This is a unique model," Tony mused, turning the camera over in his hands. "I don't think I've seen one quite like this before. Where'd you get it?"

"It was a gift," Tatsuya replied, the half-truth coming easily to his lips. "From my father."

Tony nodded, a flicker of understanding passing across his face. He handed the camera back to Tatsuya. "Family heirlooms are special. You must take some interesting shots with that thing."

Tatsuya smiled, relieved to have the camera back in his possession. "I try to capture memories wherever I go," he said, thinking of the distorted images, glimpses of the worlds he'd traveled through.

"Well, how about capturing a memory right now?" Tony suggested, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Come on, Happy, let's give our new friend something to remember us by."

They take a picture, and when Tony and Happy look at the picture. It was distorted

Tatsuya hesitated for a moment, his fingers tightening around the camera. He knew the risks of using it in this world, but Tony's enthusiasm was infectious. With a small nod, he raised the camera to his eye.

"Alright, gentlemen," Tatsuya said, framing the shot. "Say 'Iron Man.'"

Tony threw an arm around Happy's shoulders, both men grinning widely. The flash went off with a soft click, and the familiar whir of the Polaroid mechanism filled the room. Tatsuya plucked the developing photo from the camera, shaking it gently.

As the image began to appear, Tatsuya's stomach tightened. He could already see the telltale signs of distortion creeping in at the edges. Before he could pocket the photo, Tony snatched it from his hands.

"Let's see how we look," Tony said, holding the picture up to the light. His brow furrowed as he examined the image. "What the...?"

Happy leaned in, his expression shifting from curiosity to confusion. "Boss, is that supposed to look like that?"

Tatsuya peered over their shoulders, his heart racing. The photo was a mess of warped lines and blurred colors. Tony and Happy's faces were barely recognizable, stretched and twisted as if seen through a funhouse mirror. The background seemed to swirl and shift, defying the laws of physics.

"I've never seen anything like this," Tony muttered, turning the photo this way and that. "Is your camera broken, Tatsuya?"

Tatsuya swallowed hard, his mind racing for an explanation. "It's an old camera," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Sometimes it acts up. I can take another if you'd like."

Tony shook his head, still staring at the bizarre image. "No, no. This is... interesting. Almost like some kind of abstract art." He looked up at Tatsuya, his eyes sharp with curiosity. "You said this was a gift from your father?"

Tatsuya's heart raced as he watched Tony scrutinize the distorted photograph. He knew he had to act quickly to deflect suspicion.

"Yes, it was a gift," Tatsuya confirmed, keeping his voice steady. "My father was... an experimental photographer. He liked to modify cameras to create unique effects."

Tony's eyes lit up with interest. "Experimental photography, huh? That's fascinating. I'd love to take a closer look at this camera sometime. The tech behind it must be pretty advanced to create distortions like this."

Tatsuya tensed, realizing he might have inadvertently piqued Tony's curiosity too much. He needed to steer the conversation away from his camera.

"It's just an old hobby of his," Tatsuya said, reaching for the photo. "Nothing too special. How about we focus on your security arrangements for tomorrow's press conference?"

Tony reluctantly handed the photo back, his gaze lingering on the camera for a moment longer. "Right, the press conference. Almost forgot about that circus."

Happy jumped in, seemingly relieved to be back on familiar ground. "We've got the usual security measures in place, boss. But with all the attention you've been getting lately, we might want to consider some additional precautions."

As Happy outlined the security plans, Tatsuya breathed an internal sigh of relief. He tucked the distorted photo into his pocket, making a mental note to be more careful with his camera in the future. The last thing he needed was Tony Stark becoming too interested in his camera.