Marvel: The saiyan

The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents quickly subdued Obadiah's goons, their training kicking in as they disarmed and restrained the guards with precision. Coulson's calm, commanding voice cut through the chaos as he barked orders to his team.

"Secure the perimeter! Nobody gets in or out!"

Pepper stayed back, clutching the lock chip tightly in her hand, her heart pounding in her chest. She watched as the agents worked efficiently, but her stomach twisted with unease. Something wasn't right.

Coulson turned to her, his expression firm. "Ms. Potts, stay close. We'll escort you out of here once we're done securing the area."

But just as he finished speaking, a low rumble shook the room. It wasn't loud, but it was enough to make everyone freeze. The hairs on the back of Pepper's neck stood on end as her eyes darted toward the massive Iron Monger suit in the center of the room.

"That sound..." she whispered, her voice trembling.

Before anyone could react, the Iron Monger suit came to life with a deafening roar. Its massive metal frame groaned as it shifted, gears grinding and hydraulics hissing. The suit's eyes glowed an ominous blue, and the unmistakable hum of arc reactor power filled the air.

"Get down!" Coulson shouted, grabbing Pepper and pulling her behind a nearby console as the Iron Monger suit lurched forward.

Obadiah's voice crackled through the suit's external speakers, cold and menacing. "You thought you could stop me? You thought this was over? Stark always underestimated me, and now you'll see why that was his biggest mistake."

The Iron Monger suit moved with surprising speed for its size, its massive arms smashing through equipment and sending sparks flying. The agents opened fire, but the bullets ricocheted harmlessly off the suit's reinforced plating.

"That's adorable," Obadiah sneered, the suit's external speakers amplifying his voice. "Did you really think your pea-shooters would stop me?"

Coulson cursed under his breath, motioning for his team to fall back. "We need heavy artillery on this thing! Now!"

The agents scrambled to regroup, but the Iron Monger suit was relentless. Obadiah raised one of the suit's arms, the built-in minigun spinning to life with a high-pitched whir.

"Run!" Coulson shouted as the minigun opened fire, tearing through the room with a hail of bullets.

Pepper ducked behind the console, her hands trembling as she clutched the lock chip. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and her mind raced with panic. She had to get out of here. 

But as the bullets continued to rain down, the console she was hiding behind shook violently. She let out a cry of fear, her heart racing as the realization hit her: there was no way out.

Then, as if in answer to her silent plea, the wall near the far end of the room exploded inward.

The force of the blast sent debris flying in every direction, and a figure emerged from the smoke and rubble, his silver aura flickering like fire.

"Shallot," Pepper breathed, relief washing over her as she recognized the silhouette.

I stepped into the room, my ki still swirling around me in golden waves. My eyes immediately locked onto the massive suit of armor wreaking havoc, and my jaw tightened.

"Obadiah," I muttered under my breath. "You just couldn't keep things simple, could you?"

Obadiah's laughter boomed through the suit's speakers as he turned to face me. "Well, well, well. The mysterious Shallot finally shows up. I've heard about you—Stark's little bodyguard, right? Or are you just another pawn in his game?"

I didn't respond immediately. Instead, I let my energy spike, the floor beneath me cracking as my power surged. "You're done, Stane," I said, my voice calm but firm. "You've crossed the line."

Obadiah chuckled darkly, the suit's voice modulator amplifying his disdain. "Oh, you're going to lecture me now? Spare me. You might be some kind of freak, but you're still just one man. And this—" he raised the Iron Monger's massive arm, the hum of the arc reactor within the suit intensifying, "—is the future. Let's see how strong you really are."

Shallot tilted his head, smirking as his silver aura flickered around him like a wild flame. He crossed his arms, his tail swaying behind his vest, studying the massive suit with a predator's precision.

"Future, huh?" Shallot said, his voice calm but laced with an edge of excitement. His eyes glinted, sharp and focused. "Well, if that's the best future you've got to offer, Stane, I'd say we're in trouble."

The Iron Monger suit loomed over Shallot, its sheer size and bulk casting an ominous shadow. But Shallot didn't flinch. Instead, a faint grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as a single thought crossed his mind 'This could give me a good fight.'

His blood stirred, his Saiyan instincts thrumming with anticipation. It wasn't often he got to cut loose, and while Obadiah was no match for him in terms of raw power, the suit's size, firepower, and resilience promised to at least make things interesting.

"Alright, big guy," Shallot muttered, rolling his neck as his golden aura flared brighter. "Let's see what you've got."

Obadiah's laughter boomed through the speakers as he clenched the Iron Monger's fists. The suit's hydraulics hissed, and the arc reactor's glow intensified.

"You asked for it!" Obadiah roared, slamming the thrusters to full power as he charged at Shallot with all the force the suit could muster.

The ground shook as the massive suit barreled toward Shallot like a freight train. Shallot didn't move, his sharp eyes locked onto Obadiah's every motion. At the last possible second, just as the Iron Monger's massive fist came crashing down, Shallot sidestepped with blinding speed, leaving only a blur in his place.

The Iron Monger's fist slammed into the ground, leaving a crater where Shallot had stood. The shockwave rippled outward, sending shards of concrete flying in every direction.

"Too slow," Shallot said casually, now standing a few feet behind Obadiah.

Obadiah growled, spinning the suit around to face him. "You're going to regret underestimating me!"

Without warning, Obadiah launched a barrage of missiles from the suit's shoulder-mounted launchers. The missiles streaked toward Shallot, their trails of smoke cutting through the air.

Shallot's grin widened. "Finally, something interesting!"

As the missiles closed in, Shallot leapt into the air, twisting his body with inhuman agility to dodge the incoming projectiles. Each missile exploded behind him, lighting up the night sky in a series of fiery bursts.

Obadiah didn't let up. He engaged the suit's thrusters, propelling himself toward Shallot with reckless abandon. His massive arms swung in wide arcs, each punch powerful enough to crush steel.

Shallot ducked, weaved, and sidestepped, his movements effortless and precise. The two combatants crashed through the wall of the lab, spilling out onto the street below.

The sound of screeching tires and blaring horns filled the air as cars swerved to avoid the battle spilling onto the road. Obadiah's Iron Monger suit landed with a deafening thud, cracking the asphalt beneath its weight. Shallot followed, landing lightly on his feet, his aura still flickering.

Obadiah wasted no time. He charged at Shallot again, his massive frame barreling through the street like a runaway truck. Shallot stood his ground, his smirk unwavering.

The Iron Monger's fist came down like a sledgehammer, but Shallot raised his own hand to meet it, catching the punch with ease. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the street, shattering windows and sending nearby cars skidding.

Obadiah's eyes widened in disbelief as Shallot held the massive fist at bay, his muscles barely straining. "How the hell...?"

"That all you got?" Shallot taunted, his voice calm. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he pushed the Iron Monger's arm aside, sending the massive suit stumbling backward.

Enraged, Obadiah fired his suit's thrusters, regaining his balance before charging again. This time, he swung both fists in rapid succession, each blow aimed directly at Shallot.

Shallot ducked under the first punch, sidestepped the second, and leapt onto the suit's arm, running up its length with blinding speed. Before Obadiah could react, Shallot delivered a powerful kick to the suit's head, sending it crashing onto its back.

The ground trembled as the Iron Monger suit hit the asphalt, leaving a massive dent in the road. Obadiah groaned inside the cockpit, his frustration boiling over.

"You're making a fool of me!" he roared, slamming the suit's hands into the ground and propelling himself back to his feet.

As he did, a car swerved into the intersection, its horn blaring as the driver desperately tried to avoid the chaos. Obadiah turned toward the car, his suit's massive arm raised, ready to swat it aside like an insect.

Shallot's eyes narrowed. In an instant, he was in front of the car, his hands braced against its hood. The vehicle skidded to a stop, smoke rising from its tires.

"Get out of here!" Shallot barked at the terrified driver.

The driver didn't need to be told twice. They scrambled out of the car and ran to safety, leaving the vehicle behind.

"Still playing the hero?" Obadiah sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "Let's see how long you can keep that up!"

He lunged at Shallot, his massive fists swinging with reckless abandon. Shallot leapt over the car, dodging the attack as Obadiah's fist crushed the vehicle beneath it.

"Careful, Stane," Shallot said, his tone mocking. "You're going to ruin the resale value."

Obadiah let out a roar of frustration, firing another barrage of missiles. This time, Shallot didn't dodge. Instead, he swatted the missiles out of the air with his bare hands, each explosion lighting up the street.

"You're really bad at this," Shallot said, shaking his head. "Did you even test this thing before bringing it out here?"

Obadiah's patience snapped. "Enough!" he roared, engaging the suit's full power. The Iron Monger's arc reactor glowed brighter, and its thrusters flared as it charged forward with renewed fury.

But Shallot was ready.

As Obadiah swung his massive fist, Shallot caught it mid-swing, the impact sending a shockwave rippling through the street. He twisted the suit's arm, forcing it to its knees with a metallic groan.

"You're out of your league, Stane," Shallot said, his voice cold. "You've already lost."

Obadiah growled, activating the suit's shoulder-mounted minigun. But before it could fire, Shallot slammed his fist into the weapon, crushing it into useless scrap.

The Iron Monger suit sparked and groaned, its systems failing as Shallot's relentless assault continued. Obadiah's confidence faltered, fear creeping into his voice.

"This isn't over," he muttered, trying to activate the suit's thrusters to escape.

But Shallot wasn't about to let him get away. With a single, powerful strike, he punched the suit's chest, cracking the reinforced plating and exposing the arc reactor within.

Obadiah gasped, his eyes wide with panic as he realized his suit was failing.

Shallot hovered in front of him, his silver aura flaring brighter than ever. "You're done, Stane," he said, his voice steady and final.

As the Iron Monger suit powered down, its systems fried and its weapons useless, Shallot stepped back, his eyes never leaving Obadiah.

S.H.I.E.L.D. agents swarmed the scene, their weapons trained on the immobilized suit. Coulson stepped forward, his expression grim.

"Good work," Coulson said, glancing at Shallot.

Shallot nodded, his energy fading as he stepped aside to let the agents do their job.

Pepper approached, her face pale but determined. "Thank you," she said softly.

Shallot didn't respond immediately. He glanced at the wreckage around him, the crushed cars, the shattered pavement.

Shallot glanced at Pepper, who was still visibly shaken but trying to maintain her composure. Her grip on the lock chip in her hand was tight, her knuckles white. She didn't say a word, her eyes darting between the immobilized Iron Monger suit and the destruction left in the street.

"Come on," Shallot said softly, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We need to get to Stark."

Pepper looked up at him, her expression conflicted. She was clearly terrified, but she also seemed relieved that the immediate threat was over. She nodded without a word, clutching the lock chip tightly as Shallot gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Hold on," Shallot said, his aura flaring briefly around him as he crouched slightly.

"Wait, what are you—" Pepper began, but her words were cut off as Shallot leapt into the air, taking her with him.

The wind whipped around them as they ascended rapidly, the city lights spreading out beneath them like a glittering tapestry. Pepper clung to him instinctively, her hands gripping his jacket as she let out a startled gasp.

"Could've warned me," she muttered, her voice barely audible over the rush of wind.

Shallot chuckled lightly, his tone teasing. "Where's the fun in that?"

Below them, Agent Coulson stood amidst the chaos, directing the remaining S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to secure the area and ensure civilians were cleared from the scene. He paused briefly, his sharp eyes following Shallot's ascent into the sky.

For a moment, Coulson's expression was unreadable. Then, with a slight shake of his head, he turned back to the task at hand, barking orders to his team.

"Get a team down here to transport Stane and the suit back to base," Coulson ordered. "And someone call for a cleanup crew. We can't leave the street looking like a war zone."

One of the agents approached, his voice low. "What about Shallot, sir? He's clearly not an ordinary civilian."

Coulson glanced at the agent, his face calm but stern. "We'll deal with that later. Right now, our priority is securing the tech and making sure the fallout from this doesn't spiral out of control."

The agent nodded and moved off to follow Coulson's orders.

Up in the sky, Shallot and Pepper sped toward the hospital. The city blurred below them, the bright lights of Malibu gradually giving way to the quieter, darker outskirts as they approached the medical facility.

"You alright back there?" Shallot asked, glancing down at Pepper as they neared their destination.

Pepper nodded, though her grip on Shallot's jacket remained firm. "I've had better days," she admitted, her voice steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. "But… thank you. For everything."

Shallot's expression shifted, the corner of his mouth twitching downward. He hesitated, then sighed deeply. "No," he said softly, his voice tinged with guilt. "Don't thank me. It's… my fault. I kinda knew what Stane was planning, but instead of stopping him, I gave you and Stark a vague, half-assed warning. I shouldn't have left things so unclear. If I'd been more direct, maybe all of this—" he gestured vaguely to the destruction they had just left behind "—could've been avoided."

Pepper blinked, momentarily stunned by his admission. She studied his face, noting the way his brow furrowed, his tail flicking slightly behind him in agitation. There was no bravado in his tone, no trace of the cocky, self-assured warrior she had seen before. This was something else—genuine regret.

"I hope you can excuse me for that," Shallot added, his voice quieter now. His head tilted slightly downward, as though avoiding her gaze.

'Can't tell her I knew the plot, of course,' Shallot thought bitterly, his mind racing.

For a moment, Pepper was silent, her mind replaying the bizarre warning Shallot had given them before all of this began. Then it clicked. "Beware of the shining head."

The absurdity of it hit her like a freight train, and despite the tension and exhaustion weighing on her, she couldn't help it. A laugh escaped her lips.

"You mean that?" she said, her voice breaking slightly as a giggle slipped through. "You call that a warning? I thought it was a joke, Shallot. I genuinely thought you were just making fun of Obadiah's bald head!"

Her laughter bubbled up uncontrollably now, the sound like a release valve for all the pent-up tension in her body. The juxtaposition of everything that had happened—the danger, the destruction, the sheer insanity of the last few hours—against Shallot's cryptic and ridiculous "warning" was too much. She laughed harder, clutching her side as tears pricked the corners of her eyes.

Shallot stared at her, his frown deepening. "It wasn't supposed to be funny," he muttered, his tone indignant. "It was supposed to be… well, ominous. Mysterious. You know, like a cryptic warning in one of those detective movies or something."

Pepper wiped at her eyes, her laughter slowly subsiding into quiet chuckles. "Cryptic, huh? Yeah, you definitely nailed the cryptic part. But ominous? Not so much."

Shallot crossed his arms, his tail flicking behind him in annoyance. "Well, excuse me for not being a walking fortune cookie. I was trying to warn you without, you know, ugh, whatever."

"Never mind," Shallot said quickly, brushing off the question with a wave of his hand. "The point is, I screwed up. And for what it's worth, I'm sorry."

Pepper's expression softened at his words, and the smile faded into something gentler. "You might not have been clear," she said, her tone quieter now, "but you were there when it mattered. You saved Tony. You saved me. That counts for something."

Shallot glanced at her, his golden eyes meeting hers for a brief moment. He wanted to argue, to push back against her forgiveness. But instead, he just gave a small nod, the weight of her words settling into his chest.

"Maybe," he said softly, more to himself than to her. "But next time, I'll make damn sure it doesn't come to this."

Pepper nodded in understanding, then glanced toward the horizon, where the glowing lights of the hospital were growing closer. "Well," she said, her voice lighter now, "if you're planning to stick around, maybe work on your delivery a little. Less riddles, more straightforward warnings."

Shallot smirked, the smallest flicker of amusement breaking through his guilt. "Noted," he said, his voice dry.

As they approached the hospital, Shallot slowed his descent, landing lightly on the ground near the emergency entrance. He set Pepper down gently, and she straightened her clothes, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"Thanks for the lift," she said, offering him a small smile.

"Anytime," Shallot replied, his tone casual.

Before either of them could say anything else, a nurse stepped out of the entrance, glancing between the two of them. "Are you here for Mr. Stark?"

"Yes," Pepper said quickly, stepping forward. "How is he?"

The nurse's expression was calm but serious. "He's stable. The surgery went well, and he's resting now. You can see him, but only for a few minutes. He needs to recover."

Pepper nodded, relief washing over her. "Thank you."

The nurse led her inside, but as Pepper reached the door, she paused and turned back to Shallot. "Are you coming?"

Shallot hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "Not yet," he said. "Go ahead. He needs you more right now."

Pepper studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But don't disappear, okay?"

Shallot gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I won't. Promise."

As Pepper disappeared into the hospital, Shallot stepped back, his gaze lingering on the entrance for a moment. Then he turned away, his tail flicking behind him as he walked toward the edge of the parking lot.

The cool night air hit his face, and he took a deep breath, staring up at the stars. For the first time in a long while, he felt… unsure. Unsure of his place here, unsure of what came next.

"She forgave me," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. "But it still doesn't feel right."

He clenched his fists, his mind racing. The fight with Obadiah had been intense, but it wasn't just the battle that weighed on him. It was the knowledge of what was still to come—the battles, the enemies, the choices.

"I can't keep holding back," he said quietly, his voice firm. "If I'm going to be in this world, I need to stop playing it safe. I need to stop letting fear control me."

The sound of a car engine pulled him from his thoughts, and he turned to see Agent Coulson's sleek black car pulling into the lot. Coulson stepped out, his sharp eyes immediately locking onto Shallot.

For a moment, the two men just stared at each other. Then Coulson spoke, his tone calm but curious.

"Quite a show back there," he said, his hands in his pockets. "You have a knack for turning chaos into something manageable."

Shallot smirked faintly. "Just doing my part."

Coulson raised an eyebrow. "Your part seems… complicated."

"You could say that," Shallot replied, his tone guarded.

Coulson studied him for a moment longer, then nodded. "Well, whatever your part is, you've got my attention. And S.H.I.E.L.D.'s."

Shallot's smirk faded slightly. "I figured."

Coulson stepped closer, his expression unreadable. "I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of each other. Until then… stay out of trouble."

With that, Coulson turned and walked toward the hospital, leaving Shallot alone once again.

Shallot watched him go, his mind racing with possibilities. The storm wasn't over—not even close. But for now, he'd earned a moment of quiet.

Turning his gaze back to the stars, Shallot let out a long breath.

"One step at a time," he muttered to himself. "One step at a time."

A few hours later,

Shallot stood leaning against the side of the hospital building, the cool breeze ruffling his hair as he stared up at the faint stars barely visible through the light pollution of Malibu. His tail flicked idly behind him, a sign of his restless energy. He could hear the faint murmur of voices and the occasional beep of hospital equipment drifting out from the building behind him.

His thoughts swirled with everything that had happened. Stane's betrayal, the destruction of the Iron Monger suit, Pepper's close call—it all weighed on him more than he cared to admit. For all his power, he still felt like a passenger in a world spiraling into chaos.

The door to the hospital entrance slid open, and Pepper stepped out. Her expression was soft, but the faint lines of exhaustion on her face betrayed how close she had been to the breaking point.

"Shallot," she called gently, catching his attention.

He turned, his golden eyes meeting hers as he straightened up.

"Tony's awake," she said, offering him a small, tired smile. "He wants to see you."

Shallot hesitated for a moment, his usual confident demeanor slipping. "You sure he's ready for visitors? I don't want to stress him out after everything."

Pepper chuckled softly, shaking her head. "If anything, you might be the least stressful part of his day right now. Come on."

With a nod, Shallot followed her inside, the sterile smell of the hospital hitting him immediately. The fluorescent lights overhead cast a stark glow over the quiet halls as Pepper led him to Tony's room.

As they entered, Shallot immediately noticed Rhodes standing near the window, arms crossed and his expression neutral, though his sharp gaze flicked toward Shallot the moment he walked in. Tony, propped up in his hospital bed, looked pale but very much alive. His arc reactor glowed faintly beneath his hospital gown, and a wry grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as he spotted Shallot.

"Well, look who decided to drop by," Tony said, his voice raspier than usual but still carrying that unmistakable Stark charm.

Shallot smirked faintly, stepping closer. "Didn't think I'd let you off the hook that easily, did you?"

Tony chuckled, though it turned into a cough that made Pepper wince. "Careful," she said, placing a hand on his arm. "You're supposed to be resting."

"Resting's overrated," Tony replied, waving her off before turning his attention back to Shallot. "Seriously, though… thanks. For saving Pepper, I mean. And, well, for stopping Stane before he could do any more damage."

Shallot crossed his arms, his gaze steady but his expression softer than usual. "Don't mention it," he said. "It's what I do. But… I owe you an apology too."

Tony raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "An apology? From you? Now this I gotta hear."

Shallot sighed, running a hand through his hair as his tail flicked behind him. "I knew something was off with Stane," he admitted. "I even warned you and Pepper—well, sort of—but I didn't push hard enough. I let my own hesitation get in the way, and because of that, you almost didn't make it."

Tony's smirk softened into something more genuine, and he shook his head. "You gave us a warning. It's not your fault I didn't take it seriously. Besides, if anyone's to blame, it's me. I should've seen Stane for what he was a long time ago."

Pepper, standing by Tony's side, placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "None of us could've predicted this," she said gently. "What matters is that we're all still here."

'Well I knew, but i honestly didn't know he would have shot Tony.' Shallot thought briefly.

Rhodes, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke, his tone measured but carrying an edge of skepticism. "You've got some serious power, Shallot. And while I'm grateful for what you did tonight, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little uneasy about it."

Shallot turned to Rhodes, meeting his gaze evenly. "I get it," he said simply. "You don't trust me. And honestly? I don't blame you."

Rhodes narrowed his eyes slightly, but Shallot continued before he could respond. "But I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm here to make sure people like Stane don't get away with this kind of crap. If that means stepping on a few toes or drawing some suspicion, so be it."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of Shallot's words hanging in the air. Finally, Rhodes nodded, his expression softening just a fraction. "Fair enough," he said. "Just don't make me regret it."

"You won't," Shallot replied confidently.

Tony, ever the opportunist, seized the moment to break the tension. "Alright, now that we've all had our heartfelt little bonding moment," he said, his grin returning, "how about you teach me some of those tricks of yours, Shallot? I mean, flying, shooting energy blasts… that could really come in handy."

Shallot raised an eyebrow, smirking faintly. "You? Train with me? You sure you're ready for that, Stark?"

Tony gestured to his arc reactor, his grin widening. "I've already got a head start. Come on, what do you say? Teach me a few things. I'll even throw in a few upgrades for your gravity chamber as payment."

Pepper groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Tony, you just got out of surgery. Can you please wait at least a week before throwing yourself into something reckless again?"

"Reckless is my middle name," Tony quipped, shooting her a wink.

Shallot chuckled, shaking his head. "Fine," he said. "If you're serious about it, I'll teach you a few things. But don't expect me to go easy on you."

Tony's grin widened. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

Pepper sighed, muttering something under her breath about "boys and their egos," but there was a faint smile on her face as she watched the exchange.

Rhodes, meanwhile, crossed his arms again, shaking his head with a wry smile. "You two deserve each other," he said, his tone half-joking.

As the room settled into a more relaxed atmosphere, Shallot leaned back against the wall. For the first time in what felt like forever, the tension in his chest eased, and a small, genuine smile crossed his face.