Early the next morning, Rowan Mercer exchanged a brief greeting with Professor Xavier and apparated directly to the gates of Tony Stark's mansion.
"Good morning, Mr. Mercer," JARVIS said as the cameras pivoted to scan him. "Sir is waiting for you in the laboratory."
The gates slid open.
Rowan stepped inside. Since Obadiah Stane's mercenary assault on the mansion, Tony had stopped employing bodyguards altogether. Happy now handled security at Stark Tower, staying close to Pepper. Tony had decided that if he couldn't protect himself, hired muscle wouldn't change the outcome.
In the underground lab, Tony was already immersed in new armor schematics. Whatever his flaws elsewhere, he never treated his work lightly. Inspiration struck when it struck, regardless of the hour.
"You're right on time," Tony said, gesturing toward a large crate. "I finished five full sets overnight."
Rowan inspected the alloy wand cores inside and stored them away. After a moment, he glanced at Tony.
"You handed the company over to Pepper. That leave you with a lot of free time?"
"Much more," Tony said easily. "Which is great. More time for clean energy and suit upgrades."
He had Dum-E pour him a glass of wine. No more chlorophyll smoothies. With Pepper managing the company and his own priorities settled, his life had become… quiet. Occasionally, even dull.
"Interested in teaching once in a while?" Rowan asked. "We could use you as a part-time instructor. Logan's been talking about having a drink with you."
Tony froze for half a beat.
Rowan had thought this through carefully. Threats were coming. Big ones. When the universe knocked, Earth would not survive on luck alone. Waiting for governments or agencies to organize was a losing strategy.
Better to gather capable people early. Quietly. On his own terms.
"Teaching kids?" Tony said slowly. "That's… not exactly my usual audience."
But the hesitation wasn't real resistance.
Tony didn't have many friends. Rhodes, Happy, Yinsen. Now Rowan and Logan too. The invitation wasn't just about teaching. It was trust.
"You don't think you're up to it?" Rowan asked mildly.
Tony bristled immediately. "Excuse me? I graduated MIT at seventeen. I lecture at half the top universities on the planet. I can't teach a few students?"
"Good," Rowan said. "Want to see the place?"
"Now?" Tony grinned. "Let's go."
Rowan grabbed him and apparated.
Tony staggered on arrival, gagging slightly. "Next time, I'm flying. That felt like being forced through a hose."
"I'll send you the coordinates," Rowan said, tossing him a glass sphere. "You'll need this to get in."
Tony examined it. "What is it?"
"A key," Rowan replied. "The school is hidden behind layered barriers. Only people carrying one of these can see it or enter freely."
They started walking.
Bruce Banner and Betty Ross appeared ahead of them.
"Morning," Rowan said. "Sleep well?"
"Best night I've had in years," Bruce replied, smiling. "Didn't have to worry about changing."
Rowan turned slightly. "Tony, these are Bruce Banner and Betty Ross. Our newest faculty. You met briefly yesterday."
Tony nodded, genuinely interested. "Nice to meet you, Doctor Banner. I've read your papers on positron applications. Solid work."
Bruce smiled, a little awkward but pleased.
Rowan watched the exchange quietly.
This was how it started.