UNKNOWN GUEST

#130 Junior Stark

The automatic door slid open as soon as I stood in front of it, and I stepped inside. A calm, familiar voice greeted me, "Welcome, Jason."

I looked around the expansive hall, finding it quiet and empty. "FRIDAY, where is Mr. Stark?" I asked, scanning the room for any sign of him.

"He is meeting his doctor. You can wait; he'll be back soon," the AI replied, her tone as neutral and polite as ever.

I nodded, sighing softly, and made my way over to a plush couch in the center of the room. But as soon as I settled into it, the couch shifted beneath me, causing me to jump up, startled. "FRIDAY, why is it moving?" I asked, glancing around as if the furniture might transform at any moment.

The AI's voice echoed smoothly through the hallway. "Mr. Stark has designed the furniture to adjust for maximum comfort."

I let out a small laugh, nodding. "Of course he did," I muttered, amused. I sat down again, and the couch automatically readjusted, the headrest moving until it was positioned perfectly under my neck. It was oddly satisfying, but somehow a little unsettling too.

I huffed, marveling at Stark's unending love affair with technology. He never missed a chance to innovate, even in the smallest things.

As I was getting used to the strange, automated comfort, I heard a tiny voice call out from behind me. "Oh, hey, redhead."

I turned around, my eyes widening in surprise as a little girl with light blonde hair bouncing around her shoulders walked up to me, her small frame exuding an air of curiosity and confidence that was impossible to miss. She stopped right in front of me, arms crossed, raising a perfectly arched eyebrow.

"You're Jason, right?" she asked, tilting her head ever so slightly, assessing me like a miniature investigator.

I chuckled, nodding. "And... you must be Morgan." Her eyes sparkled a little as she heard her name, and she took a seat across from me, a small but serious smile on her face.

"You know my parents?" she asked, her tone polite but guarded, as if she were trying to gauge whether I was a friend or just another stranger.

"I do," I replied, smiling warmly. "I call your mom 'Aunt.' Aunt Pepper." She raised her eyebrow even higher, clearly surprised.

"Really? So... you must be close to them," she said, watching me with newfound interest.

I nodded again. "I am."

I had to remind myself to breathe. Seeing Morgan at this age was like looking through a window into a different world. She was so young here, so full of life and mischief.

In my time, Morgan was older, always the one pulling little pranks on me whenever she visited, sneaking up to flick the back of my head, always laughing as she ran away. She was just like my friend Nate—endearing, annoying, and fiercely loyal. Despite our age difference, she'd become a close friend, someone I trusted and admired.

But as I looked at her now, my heart clenched, remembering the last day I'd seen her in my time. Her smile, her warmth... and then, the terrible memory of Red Hulk tearing through everything, that awful moment when she'd been caught in the crossfire.

I remembered the crushing pain as I watched helplessly, the truck slamming down, taking her with it. The sound, the image, it was all too clear, too painful.

I blinked hard, shoving those memories back, forcing myself to focus on the present. I wouldn't let that happen—not here, not now. Whatever it took, I'd make sure Red Hulk never had the chance to wreak that kind of destruction, never had the chance to shatter this family, my friends, and everything I loved.