In Marvel With Unique Skill Great Sage (MCU)

Rhodes gave Lemu a polite nod, then leaned close to Tony, lowering his voice. "So… who's she? A pretty girl you left behind in Afghanistan all those years ago?"

Tony arched an eyebrow, clearly unamused by the implication, but he decided not to delve too deeply into explanations. 

With a light pat on Rhodes's shoulder, Tony answered, "She's, uh… a local hunter. Got captured by the same terrorist cell. We escaped together. And—actually—'she' is probably male?"

He gestured to Lemu's old-fashioned fur coat. At first glance, Lemu certainly looked like someone who might have come from a remote mountain village—if you didn't notice the pale-blue hair and unnervingly calm demeanor in a crisis.

Rhodes nodded, though skepticism flickered across his face. He wasn't one to pry, especially not right then. Stark was alive, and that was more than enough good news for the moment.

….

A few moments later, the group boarded the helicopter. Rhodes took a seat across from Tony Stark, chattering away about everything that had happened.

"We've spent months unsure if you were even alive but still combed every lead. Yesterday, we picked up traces of an explosion and went to investigate. On the way, we ran into a Ten Rings convoy and ended up in a firefight."

He paused, letting that sink in before adding with a smirk, "Naturally, we won."

"Then, early this morning, we suddenly received a short-wave radio message. It contained only a set of coordinates—yours. Strange, don't you think? Care to shed any light on it?"

Lemu's gaze flicked warily between the pilot and one of the U.S. soldiers sitting opposite him. Including Rhodes and the pilot, there were five people on board. If push comes to shove, I can handle them… he thought.

Before Stark could speak, Lemu jumped in, "Because Tony Stark is a genius. Not only did he build an exoskeleton suit from scratch to help us escape, he also used the leftover parts from the Ten Rings base to assemble a makeshift transmitter—though it burned out after one use."

"An exoskeleton suit? A transmitter?" Rhodes narrowed his eyes at the pair.

Just then, Stark slapped both palms together with an emphatic smack, making everyone on board jump. He grinned from ear to ear, a triumphant gleam in his eyes.

"Hah! What can I say? I'm a genius. Geniuses do what average people can't—like dismantling a terrorist stronghold or building a working transceiver out of scrap metal. Ask anyone; I was making circuit boards at four years old!"

Rhodes frowned, clearly baffled by Tony's excitement. Why's he so keyed up all of a sudden?

By the time they arrived at the U.S. military base in Afghanistan, the tension had eased—but not completely.

Throughout the trip, Lemu's true identity and abilities remained under wraps. As long as Stark stayed quiet, no one would suspect that there was an inhuman existence among them.

Naturally, Rhodes sensed that Tony and Lemu were hiding something. There were far too many odd details to ignore—like how some "Afghan hunter" could speak fluent English without a trace of an accent.

Still, Rhodes trusted his best friend enough not to press. Besides, Lemu looked harmless enough, despite the pale-blue hair and odd attire.

At the base, army medics gave Stark a quick patch-up. While he was being tended to, Lemu explored the area.

To him, it felt like stepping into a new world—helicopters, armored vehicles, anti-aircraft missiles, and even two F-22 Raptor fighter jets. High-tech machinery everywhere he looked.

For someone who had lived—or respawned—as a slime in an unfamiliar universe, it was both exciting and intimidating at the same time.

….

Security at the U.S. base was strict, with armed personnel watching every nook and cranny. 

Yet, thanks to Tony Stark's connections, Lemu was allowed to wander freely—until he tried to get his hands on any live ammunition. That was where the line was drawn.

A more timid soul might have hesitated, worried about crossing boundaries in a military stronghold, but this slime-turned-human knew the power of acting confident—even brazen. 

The result: he strolled around the base unimpeded, passing under the noses of guards who barely gave him a second glance.

He also noted something curious: his appearance drastically lowered most people's guard. A tilt of the head, a slight pout, a big-eyed look of innocence—he found these gestures could spark sympathy or even mild guilt in others.

It helps that most people are suckers for a pretty face, Lemu mused, remembering how a well-timed doleful look got him waved past an armed checkpoint only minutes earlier.

After Tony's injuries were patched up, he, Lemu, and Colonel Rhodes boarded a plane bound for sunny California. More than ten hours later, they arrived at a spacious airport where two individuals awaited them.

One was Tony Stark's personal assistant, Pepper Potts—nicknamed "Pepper."

The other was a broad-shouldered man who served as driver and occasional bodyguard.

Pepper's name might suggest a spicy personality, but in truth, she was the opposite. Beneath her sharp, professional exterior lay a warm and caring disposition. 

She wore her blonde hair tied back, complementing the tailored women's business suit she'd chosen for the day.

As Tony stepped off the plane, Pepper's eyes shone with relieved tears.

He gently shook off Rhodes's supporting arm and walked over to her, scanning her face.

"You're crying? Mourning a long-lost boss?"

Pepper smiled through her tears. "I'm just… so happy you're okay. And I hate job hunting."

Tony's lips quirked up in a soft grin. "Yeah, well, your vacation's over."

Pepper peeked around him and noticed Lemu standing there. For a moment, she took a steadying breath, calming the surge of emotions from seeing Tony safe. Then she managed a gentle smile for Lemu. "You haven't introduced us. Who's your friend?"

Tony raised a hand, gesturing for everyone to head toward the waiting car. "It's… complicated, Ms. Potts. We can talk about it later."

Lemu and Pepper exchanged small waves—an unspoken greeting—before the group made their way to the vehicle.