Tony didn't know.
But now, he knew there were at least two.
Wanda's hands were already glowing with a dark red light, and Pietro's body leaned forward slightly, preparing to sprint.
The air in the garden grew heavy, like the oppression before a storm.
Thor walked out of the house, still holding a coffee cup in his hand.
Seeing the standoff in the garden, he frowned.
Loki also walked out, leaning against the doorframe with arms crossed over his chest, watching quietly.
Mavuika walked over from the other end of the garden, still holding a watering can in his hand. Water droplets dripped from the spout, leaving dark marks on the slate ground.
He walked between Wanda and Tony and stopped.
"Wanda." His voice was calm and gentle.
Wanda's eyes didn't leave Tony. "He should die."
Mavuika looked at her. "...Perhaps, but it shouldn't be today, and even less should it be here."
Wanda's hands trembled slightly. She knew Mavuika was right; she knew that taking action here would destroy everything built over the past month.
But her hatred had been suppressed for too long.
Pietro stood beside her, saying nothing, but not making a move either.
He looked at Mavuika, then at Tony, a complex and struggling light in his eyes.
Mavuika put down the watering can, walked up to Wanda, reached out, and gently gripped her glowing red hands.
"I've known Tony for many years," he said, his voice very soft, audible only to Wanda.
"He has done wrong, but he is also making amends. The factors leading to war are diverse and cannot simply be blamed on any single person."
Wanda's hands trembled slightly in Mavuika's palms. She could feel the temperature of Mavuika's palms—warm, but not scorching.
"I don't ask you to forgive him," Mavuika continued, "You have the right to hate him, but today, here, do not make a move, because this is not the place for you and him to settle scores."
Wanda was silent for a long time.
Then, the red light on her hands slowly extinguished.
She pulled back her hands, took a step back, lowered her head, and stopped looking at Tony.
Pietro also withdrew his leaning body, but didn't sit down, just standing beside Wanda like a silent fortress.
Tony stood on the slate path of the garden, looking at the two young people.
His expression was complex—there was guilt, fatigue, and something he rarely showed, something nearly humble.
"I don't know your parents..." he began, his voice hoarse, "but I'm sorry."
Wanda raised her head and looked at him. "Is an apology useful?"
Tony was silent.
"Can an apology bring my parents back to life?" Wanda's voice was trembling, but she didn't cry.
"Can an apology stop the war in Sokovia? Can an apology bring back all those people blown to death by your weapons?"
Tony lowered his head. "No."
Wanda looked at him for a long time.
Then she turned and walked toward the house. Pietro followed behind her. When he reached the door, he stopped, looked back at Tony, and glanced at him.
His eyes were complex. He said nothing and followed Wanda into the house.
The garden quieted down. Thor stood on the steps holding his coffee cup, his expression serious.
Loki leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest, quietly watching all this.
Banner stood by the iron gate with an awkward expression, not knowing what to say.
Tony stood in place, lowering his head. The high spirits he had just felt had dropped significantly.
Mavuika walked over to him and patted his shoulder gently. "Go inside and have a cup of tea."
Tony raised his head and looked at Mavuika. In those brown eyes, there was a rare, nearly fragile light.
"Mavuika, I — —"
"I know," Mavuika interrupted him. "Go on in."
Tony nodded and followed him into the house, with Banner following behind. As he passed Thor, Thor patted his shoulder without saying anything.
In the living room, Wanda and Pietro sat on one side of the sofa, sitting very close with shoulders touching.
Wanda's hands rested on her knees, her fingers still trembling slightly.
Pietro's hand rested on her shoulder, patting it gently, as if comforting her, and also as if comforting himself.
Tony sat on the opposite sofa, with Banner sitting beside him. Mavuika went to the kitchen to make tea, and Thor and Loki also entered the house, sitting down in their respective seats.
No one spoke. In the living room, there was only the sound of water coming from the kitchen and the soft clinking of cups and dishes.
Mavuika came out carrying a tea tray and poured a cup of tea for everyone.
When he handed the tea to Wanda, Wanda raised her head and glanced at him.
In those eyes, there was still lingering anger, but with a bit of something else—gratitude, or perhaps a certain trust.
Mavuika said nothing, simply placing the teacup in her hands and gently patting the back of her hand.
Holding the teacup and feeling the warmth coming from the cup wall, Wanda gradually calmed down.
Tony picked up his teacup, took a sip, and put it down. He looked at Wanda and Pietro, remaining silent for a long time.
The atmosphere in the living room remained heavy, but it was no longer as hair-trigger tense as before.
Tony put down his teacup, took a deep breath, and forced himself to pull away from that heavy mood.
He turned his head to look at Mavuika, a weary smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Mavuika, my coming this time is to tell you some good news."
Mavuika raised an eyebrow. "Good news?"
Tony nodded, his eyes lighting up. That near-fanatical light belonging to a genius scientist reignited on his tired face.
"Banner and I have been researching a project for the past few months. A project that can change the World."
Banner sat beside him and also revealed a smile, although that smile looked somewhat weak on his tired face.
"Tony, are you sure it's appropriate to talk about this now?"
Tony waved his hand. "Why isn't it appropriate? I came to share good news, not to bring trouble."
He turned to Mavuika, his tone becoming excited, like a child eager to show off a new toy.
"We are researching a brand-new intelligent system—not an auxiliary-type artificial intelligence like Jarvis, but a more advanced Guardian with autonomous consciousness that can think and make decisions independently."
Mavuika's brow twitched slightly. "A Guardian?"
Tony stood up, gesturing with his hands, his speech becoming faster and faster.
"Imagine a system that can monitor global threats in real time, automatically allocate resources, and make pre-judgments before disasters occur. It won't be disturbed by emotions, won't be swayed by interests, and won't have bureaucratic delays. It will — — protect this World."
He paused, a proud arc lifting the corners of his mouth. "I call it — — Ultron."
The living room fell silent for a second.
Thor frowned. "Ultron? Sounds like a villain's name."
Tony's smile stiffened slightly. "...That's not a villain's name. That is — — never mind, the name doesn't matter. What matters is that it's almost finished."
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