[Western Crossover] New York's Bankruptcy and Second Career

The main story and bonus chapters are complete! The whole novel is being revised.

Blurb

This New York is so, so unlucky.

On Earth 2222, New York is widely known as a peaceful, cozy city with no superheroes. The biggest crime it sees each day is a robbery.

And then it was invaded by aliens.

That's a tough one to judge.

As it faced annihilation with tears in its eyes, that arms dealer stepped in front of it.

In that fatal moment amid the flying flames, New York broke a taboo for the first time and appeared in those beautiful caramel-colored eyes.

Afterward, it took human form and served a sentence in an unfamiliar universe. It stumbled through everything it did, and its coworkers were always finding fault with it.

At least that familiar, radiant soul kept watching over it, so life wasn't too bad.

Tony had a dream.

In the dream, his parents were delayed by a snowstorm. At Christmas dinner that year, under Maria's pressure, his father Howard awkwardly told his son, “I love you.”

He attended the funeral of his godfather, Steve. The old wounds of the war years had broken down the super-soldier's body. The first Captain America died on the eve of the year 2000, while his beloved Peggy kept uncontrollably remembering the dance they shared in 1945.

Bucky was the coolest uncle. He took Tony out to flirt with girls, and even when he had only one tooth left, he still couldn't give up drinking. He remained a lifelong bachelor into old age. Whenever Tony ran away from home, Bucky would somehow run into him, then take him for a spin in his beat-up pickup truck, driving it like a bat out of hell.

The dream was so beautiful that, for a while, Tony didn't even want to wake up.

But life had to go on.

He hugged his lover beneath the warm covers, buried his face against their neck and shoulder, and told them the story.

“Thank you.”

He leaned in and kissed their forehead.

“I love you.”

[Silly Divider]

Tony had a million FUCKs he'd like to say.

He'd finally fallen for someone and for a city.

Did it matter that the city wasn't human? What mattered was that he'd never dreamed he'd be treated as a substitute.

All that boundless tenderness was only because he resembled someone else.

Tony, aka Iron Man: ???

Excuse me?

Are you sure you're talking about Stark, the superhero, billionaire, playboy, genius scientist, philanthropist, and arms dealer...?

He was more shocked and confused than angry.

Even if the person his lover had a crush on was himself from a parallel universe... Sure, that made sense, but it still wasn't okay!

He wondered if the city had taken a hit to the head. It was a reasonable suspicion, considering accidents could happen at any time, like that explosion or some wormhole that crossed time and space.

When he challenged the city, the culprit only giggled and lifted its head to kiss his chin.

“Every Mr. Stark is amazing, but the one I love is you!”

Tony: ...

Tony shrugged, then hugged New York close.

As it turned out, nobody could resist someone who was so direct. Not even him.

After thinking it over for a long time, I decided that only the affection of an entire city could be worthy of my Iron Man.

Iron Man is the best. No arguments.

Upcoming pure romance: My Stand-In Chat Job Got Me Tangled Up with a Big Shot

Upcoming Western Crossover: The Superhero Kids' Guide to Making Their Dads' Lives Miserable

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Theme: Don't give in to fate. Have the courage to be yourself.