BANG BANG BANG
Just as the officer was about to employ more severe measures to intimidate Gul, the interrogation room door was abruptly knocked from the outside, forcing the officer to pause and open the door.
Tony Stark entered, his brow furrowing slightly at the dimly lit room, clearly displeased with the environment. Nevertheless, he strode confidently to Gul, removed his sunglasses, and fixed Gul with a penetrating gaze.
"Just a kid after all. Tell me, why do you harbor such animosity towards me? We don't even know each other."
Influenced by residual emotions from his body's previous owner, Gul couldn't suppress a surge of hatred upon seeing Stark. Normally, Gul would have had a favorable impression of Stark from films and media.
Sneering, Gul responded, "Of course, you wouldn't know me. You don't care about the lives of those who die because of you."
Stark was visibly taken aback, "Lives lost because of me? Your relatives?"
"My parents were killed by a car you carelessly tossed aside."
"Um, I’m sorry... You mean?" Stark frowned, not recalling an incident where he had thrown a car that resulted in fatalities.
"Too many deaths to remember, huh? So many that you can't recall when you last killed someone?" Gul taunted, struggling to maintain his composure due to the intense emotions left behind by his body's original owner.
"Perhaps I have fought terrorists, but I've never harmed innocents." Stark's expression hardened, suspecting Gul might be the child of a terrorist he had once neutralized.
"Innocents? My parents were caught in the crossfire during your battle with that brute. What crime did they commit? Driving by Stark Industries on the wrong day?" Gul's voice rose in anger, straining against the handcuffs securing him to the chair.
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Realizing how Gul's parents had died, Stark's face reflected guilt. He opened his mouth to speak, but words failed him momentarily. "I'm sorry, kid. I never intended for that to happen. I did provide compensation—financial, at least. I understand money can't replace family, but I did what I could."
"Compensation? I've never seen any of it," Gul scoffed, his anger abating slightly. "I lost my parents, struggled to survive, and now face eviction from my home, left to wander the streets without any means to live."
"Since I have nothing left to lose, why not take down my enemy with me?" Gul's defiant attitude was clear, masking his desperation.
Stark's eyes widened at Gul's words. "Happy, I need to know what happened. Now. Why does this kid say he can't survive? Why is his home being taken from him? Where did the compensation money go?"
Stark barked at his rotund, loyal bodyguard, Happy. Stark's anger was palpable, veins bulging on his neck. He couldn't believe someone would dare embezzle from him, the renowned Iron Man. The notion that someone had both stolen compensation meant for a grieving child and sought to ruin his life enraged him deeply.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Stark looked seriously at Gul. "Rest assured, child. What is rightfully yours will remain yours. Your home will always belong to you. I promise, on my name as Iron Man. You can go home now. By the time you get there, everything that belongs to you will be returned."
"Mr. Stark, but he..." the officer began, only to be cut off by Stark's icy glare.
"Do you have an objection to my decision? Are you planning to incarcerate a child when the victim, myself, does not press charges?" Stark's tone was severe.
"The keys."
"What?"
"The keys. Release this child from these cuffs immediately. My lawyer will be in touch." Stark's mood was foul, and the officer found himself cowed.
"Mr. Stark, I—"
"The keys."
"Yes, sir."
Stark took the keys to unlock Gul's handcuffs himself. Happy, despite his concerns, reluctantly stood back at Stark’s stern look, ready to act if necessary.
As Stark unlocked the cuffs, he noticed a thin, bleeding cut on Gul's arm.
His expression darkened. "Did your police force harm this child?"
"No, no, Mr. Stark. He cut himself during the attempt on your life. It wasn't us."
"But you left him here without any medical attention. This will be noted by my lawyer," Stark snapped.
The officer blanched, knowing there would be serious repercussions.