Transformer in MCU

Downey drove his car from the suburbs back into New York City. The city was still as vibrant as ever, with towering buildings scattered everywhere. On the streets, pedestrians hurried by, each preoccupied with their own affairs.

This was the norm in New York. If you wanted to live in this bustling metropolis, keeping up with its fast pace was essential. 

No matter what happened, whether it was a crisis or a celebration, New Yorkers' daily lives would continue on, unbothered.

As Downey navigated the streets, he noticed something a little out of the ordinary. A large crowd had gathered up ahead, their attention focused on something happening in the middle of the street.

A gaunt, wiry man stood on a makeshift stage, looking as though a light breeze could knock him over. 

Anyone watching would think a single punch could send him flying. But despite his fragile appearance, the man was giving a speech, loudly proclaiming that he was the strongest mercenary in the world and boasting of his illustrious achievements.

"Have you heard of Mechanic? That mutant who's been all over the news lately? That's my defeat!" the man declared boldly, his tone confident and self-assured despite the absurdity of his claim.

People in the crowd scoffed, exchanging looks of disbelief. Downey, watching from the back, felt his face darken as he realized this guy was talking about him.

"You don't believe me? Just a little while ago, I took him down. I barely broke a sweat!" the thin man continued, making exaggerated gestures as he spoke. 

"I only used one hand, and he was down for the count, unable to fight back."

The man coughed violently for a moment, and it seemed like he might hack up his lungs right there on the stage. Still, he kept going, clearly enjoying the attention.

Downey, now thoroughly irritated, slipped into the crowd and joined the chorus of mocking voices. He pinched his nose and yelled out, "And what happened to that mutant after you beat him?"

The thin man perked up, spotting an opportunity to embellish his story further. "He ran off, of course! I punched him so hard he didn't dare show his face again. I've been protecting the good citizens of New York ever since."

The crowd was clearly not buying it, laughing and cursing as the man tried in vain to convince them of his supposed greatness.

"You don't believe me? Hire me then! I'm offering a 20% discount right now!" he shouted, but the crowd's response was even more mocking.

Downey noticed two police officers standing off to the side, watching the spectacle with amused expressions. He walked over to them and asked, "Is this guy even allowed to do this?"

"Technically, yes," one of the officers replied with a shrug. "It's not illegal. He's got a permit for this kind of thing."

"Yeah," the other officer chimed in. "Protests, speeches, all that stuff—if they get the permit, they can go for it. We're just here to make sure things don't get out of hand."

Meanwhile, the thin man's desperation was growing. "Okay, how about a 30% discount? No, 40% off! Hire me, and I'll protect you!" he shouted, but no one was taking him seriously. 

Some people in the crowd had apparently encountered him before, and they quickly averted their eyes, embarrassed to be seen anywhere near him.

Downey couldn't take it any longer. He slipped through the crowd, quietly pulling out the piece of vibranium he'd been given by the Brotherhood. 

He waited for the perfect moment, and when the thin man wasn't looking, Downey gave him a solid whack on the head with the metal.

Smack!

The thin man's eyes widened, and he stumbled, froth forming at his mouth as he collapsed to the ground. 

The crowd erupted into cheers, laughing as the police officers finally stepped in to clear the scene and drag the man away.

As the crowd dispersed, Downey caught snippets of conversations from passersby.

"Are all mercenaries like that nowadays? That was embarrassing," one person commented.

"I know, right?" another replied. "The world's getting crazier every day. Just last week, I heard that the Italian mob and the Chinatown gang hired the same hitman."

"Really?"

"Yeah! And get this—the guy tied up both bosses and said he'd kill whichever one paid him less. They started a bidding war right there!"

"No way!"

"Way! It ended with the Chinatown boss winning. Apparently, he offered a few hundred dollars more. That's what saved his life."

"Wow, what a world…"

Downey couldn't help but smile as he listened to the banter. It reminded him of his old life, before everything had changed. 

Back when he was just a regular guy, working hard, delivering goods, and chatting with friends. Life had been simple, if uneventful.

But things had changed, and Downey knew he could never go back. He had stepped into a new world, one where survival meant fighting. In this world, if you didn't keep pushing forward, you would be swallowed whole.

Eventually, he made his way back to his small house in New York. It no longer felt like a home, more like just a place he used to live.

Once inside, everything was as he remembered it—small, tidy, unchanged. Yet it felt different, like it belonged to someone else now.

On the table, he noticed an envelope. The sender was marked as Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

Downey opened the letter and read it carefully. It was from Professor X, inviting him to attend the school. 

Professor X encouraged him to finish his studies and hinted at wanting to meet him personally to talk.

At the bottom of the letter, Professor X had written, "I very much hope to meet with you, Downey, and discuss our shared future."

Downey sighed and carefully resealed the letter, placing it in a box. This was an invitation from the X-Men, a clear attempt to keep him from falling into Magneto's grasp.

Professor X was cautious, and rightly so. But Downey wasn't interested in choosing sides. 

He didn't want to join the X-Men or Magneto's Brotherhood. If forced, he'd rather side with Magneto, but only because of the risks posed by Professor X.

After all, if Professor X ever decided to read his mind out of curiosity, what would happen? Would Downey survive such an invasion of his thoughts? Or would his mind break under the pressure?

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Guys how are you all? I guess I have no choice but to tell you "I need reviews".