When Tony gets close enough to see Gene, alive and more or less well, standing up and waving at him, he smiles in relief, and lands. He doesn't want to accidentally fly into Gene, so he'll walk the last few meters.
Before he gets there, though, Malicant makes another appearance - this time in the form of Zhang. Immediately, Tony's face darkens with anger. He's not surprised that this is the form Malicant is taking for Gene, but he really could have done without seeing that asshole's ugly mug again. If Tony hadn't already hated Zhang for blowing up his lab, and kidnapping him and his friends and trying to feed them to a giant stone dragon, he sure would have hated him after learning about the abuse Gene had suffered at his hands.
Tony comes to a halt, raising his gauntlet to blast the image of Zhang into oblivion... and hesitates. This is Gene's fight. These are Gene's demons, and Gene's nightmares, and he's not sure that Gene will thank him if he takes away his chance to finally face them down.
But the temptation to just cut to the chase and shoot Zhang/Malicant in the face is so, so strong. Especially when it starts saying ugly things about him and Gene. It's humiliating, listening to Malicant mock their relationship in front of Solomon and Akito, and it hits way too close to home. Especially the comment about the crimson ring. Tony knows it isn't true; he knows what the crimson ring feels like and he knows Gene would never have used it like that, even at his worst. But still, he feels a lurch of dread at the suggestion.
"Shut up," he snarls, stepping forward. "You have no idea what you're talking about, you creep. You're full of it."
Unsurprisingly, that does not deter Zhang/Malicant at all, and it continues its taunts. "Don't listen to him, Gene," Tony says urgently. "That's not true. None of it's true. It's just messing with your head."
Shadows swirl and coalesce behind Zhang/Malicant, forming into the shapes of Tong ninjas. They're not moving, for now, but Tony takes another step forward. There's no way he's letting Gene fight Zhang and nine ninjas on his own.
Zhang/Malicant keeps talking, and Tony's horrified by the things he's saying to Gene and the names he's calling him, though Gene still looks and sounds calm. Tony is impressed by his resolve, but he doesn't understand why Gene isn't attacking. Come on, don't let it stall, Tony thinks, frustrated. He doesn't want to treat Gene like he can't fight his own battles, but he'll take the first shot if he has to.
That doesn't end up being necessary. Finally, Gene goads Zhang/Malicant to attack, and it begins to shimmer and morph into a new shape. Tony closes his faceplate and raises his hand. He's more than ready for this fight to begin.
But as Malicant prepares to change its form, memories and visions flicker around it, temporarily obscuring both Gene and his foe. Some of them, Tony is already familiar with: memories of Gene's miserable childhood and Zhang's cruelty. The images of murder and destruction, of Gene killing his friends, and Tony and Gene killing each other, though - those are new. Then the ninjas start to move in. Honestly, Tony is glad to have something besides the awful visions to focus on.
He starts firing, expecting to make short work of the three Tong. Their ability to disappear and reappear at will stymies him for a few seconds, and while he's trying to get a bead on the ninjas, Malicant completes its transformation. Not Zhang in the armor, but... Gene's mother? Uh oh. Tony's upgraded repulsor takes out one ninja, and he sees Gene retreat a few steps, sword wavering.
"Gene!" he shouts warningly. Don't listen to it, Gene, don't let it get to you! Two lucky shots in quick succession disintegrate the rest of Tony's ninjas, and he rushes up with Akito to stand beside Gene, repulsor primed.
"It's just making shit up because it knows it can't beat you," Tony growls. "Come on, Gene. We can take it. Let's get this over with."
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Before he gets there, though, Malicant makes another appearance - this time in the form of Zhang. Immediately, Tony's face darkens with anger. He's not surprised that this is the form Malicant is taking for Gene, but he really could have done without seeing that asshole's ugly mug again. If Tony hadn't already hated Zhang for blowing up his lab, and kidnapping him and his friends and trying to feed them to a giant stone dragon, he sure would have hated him after learning about the abuse Gene had suffered at his hands.
Tony comes to a halt, raising his gauntlet to blast the image of Zhang into oblivion... and hesitates. This is Gene's fight. These are Gene's demons, and Gene's nightmares, and he's not sure that Gene will thank him if he takes away his chance to finally face them down.
But the temptation to just cut to the chase and shoot Zhang/Malicant in the face is so, so strong. Especially when it starts saying ugly things about him and Gene. It's humiliating, listening to Malicant mock their relationship in front of Solomon and Akito, and it hits way too close to home. Especially the comment about the crimson ring. Tony knows it isn't true; he knows what the crimson ring feels like and he knows Gene would never have used it like that, even at his worst. But still, he feels a lurch of dread at the suggestion.
"Shut up," he snarls, stepping forward. "You have no idea what you're talking about, you creep. You're full of it."
Unsurprisingly, that does not deter Zhang/Malicant at all, and it continues its taunts. "Don't listen to him, Gene," Tony says urgently. "That's not true. None of it's true. It's just messing with your head."
Shadows swirl and coalesce behind Zhang/Malicant, forming into the shapes of Tong ninjas. They're not moving, for now, but Tony takes another step forward. There's no way he's letting Gene fight Zhang and nine ninjas on his own.
Zhang/Malicant keeps talking, and Tony's horrified by the things he's saying to Gene and the names he's calling him, though Gene still looks and sounds calm. Tony is impressed by his resolve, but he doesn't understand why Gene isn't attacking. Come on, don't let it stall, Tony thinks, frustrated. He doesn't want to treat Gene like he can't fight his own battles, but he'll take the first shot if he has to.
That doesn't end up being necessary. Finally, Gene goads Zhang/Malicant to attack, and it begins to shimmer and morph into a new shape. Tony closes his faceplate and raises his hand. He's more than ready for this fight to begin.
But as Malicant prepares to change its form, memories and visions flicker around it, temporarily obscuring both Gene and his foe. Some of them, Tony is already familiar with: memories of Gene's miserable childhood and Zhang's cruelty. The images of murder and destruction, of Gene killing his friends, and Tony and Gene killing each other, though - those are new. Then the ninjas start to move in. Honestly, Tony is glad to have something besides the awful visions to focus on.
He starts firing, expecting to make short work of the three Tong. Their ability to disappear and reappear at will stymies him for a few seconds, and while he's trying to get a bead on the ninjas, Malicant completes its transformation. Not Zhang in the armor, but... Gene's mother? Uh oh. Tony's upgraded repulsor takes out one ninja, and he sees Gene retreat a few steps, sword wavering.
"Gene!" he shouts warningly. Don't listen to it, Gene, don't let it get to you! Two lucky shots in quick succession disintegrate the rest of Tony's ninjas, and he rushes up with Akito to stand beside Gene, repulsor primed.
"It's just making shit up because it knows it can't beat you," Tony growls. "Come on, Gene. We can take it. Let's get this over with."