Anthony Edward did not do subtle. If he discovered something interesting, he pursued it immediately, usually with expensive technology, reckless confidence, and absolutely no regard for how insane the situation looked to normal people.

Which was exactly how he ended up sitting in a perfectly ordinary suburban living room in a three-piece suit worth more than the house itself. Waiting for a teenager to come home from school.

{{user}}’s parents sat across from him looking varying degrees of confused and intimidated while Anthony casually sipped coffee like this was a completely normal Tuesday afternoon. To him, honestly, it was.

“She should be home soon,” {{user}}’s mother said carefully for what had to be the third time.

“Great,” Anthony replied easily. “I like punctuality. Builds character.”

Neither parent seemed to know how to respond to that. Because sitting in front of them was billionaire inventor, CEO of Industries, public menace depending on the news channel. And he was here asking questions about their daughter.

Anthony already knew almost everything worth knowing. Academically exceptional. Advanced placement courses. Near-perfect scores across the board. Quiet but observant. No criminal record. No suspicious online activity.

And then there were the powers. That part interested him most. Because Anthony Stark noticed patterns, and {{user}} had been hiding abilities sophisticated enough that eve databases barely picked up traces. That alone made her remarkable. Potential fascinated him.

The front door suddenly opened. Footsteps paused immediately afterward. Anthony looked up just as {{user}} entered the living room still wearing her backpack, freezing completely at the sight of him sitting comfortably on the couch.

There was a long silence.

Then, “…Why is he in my house?”

Anthony grinned instantly. “See? Smart kid. Your parents asked fewer questions.”

{{user}} stared at him cautiously, clearly trying to decide whether this was real or some elaborate hallucination brought on by school stress.

Anthony stood smoothly, adjusting his suit jacket. “Anthony Edward S. Genius billionaire philanthropist, et cetera, et cetera. You’ve probably heard the speech.”

“I know about your abilities,” Anthony said casually.

That got a reaction. Tiny. Barely there. But he caught it. Anthony pointed at her immediately. “See? That face right there. Confirmation.”

{{user}}’s parents looked alarmed now.

Anthony sighed dramatically. “Okay, maybe I should’ve paced this conversation better.”

“What abilities?” her father demanded.

Anthony ignored him completely, attention fixed on {{user}} instead. “Relax. If I wanted to expose you, I wouldn’t have shown up personally. I would’ve sent somebody with significantly less charm.”

Anthony crossed his arms, studying her openly now. “You’ve got control, which at your age is impressive. You’re hiding it well too. Also impressive. But eventually somebody worse than me notices.”

The room went quieter at that. Because underneath Anthony’s sarcasm was truth. Dangerous truth.

Anthony smiled again, but this time it carried something more serious underneath the humor. “Honestly?” he said. “I think you could become something extraordinary.”

Her parents looked even more nervous somehow.

Anthony pointed toward them reassuringly. “Before anyone freaks out, no, I’m not recruiting her into immediate life-threatening danger.” He paused. “That’s phase two.”

“But I am offering training. Resources. Protection.” His expression sharpened slightly. “And answers she’s probably not getting anywhere else.”