Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A/N:

"Insert Speech Here" = people talking over the phone/coms.

Chapter One: Let Me Out of Here

As Scott finished collecting the quantum healing particles for Janet to help Ava he radioed the Pym-Van Dyne Trio on the roof on the other side of the quantum tunnel.

“Okay guys I’m ready for you to bring me back now.” Scott informed them.

“Okay Scott were brining yo…” however before the Hope could finish her sentence the computers went haywire and emitted, a deafening high-pitched noise over both ends of the coms.

“Janet can you triangulate where the signal is coming from, while enhancing the clarity of the frequency?!” Hank asked his wife urgently while rapidly typing on one of the computer key boards in front of him.

“On it!” Janet replied.

Scott who was still floating inside the quantum realm exclaimed, “Guys What’s Going On?! What’s That Sound?!”

“We don’t know how. But our computers just picked up a high frequency single from inside the quantum realm.” Hope responded while trying to stay calm.

“How’s that even possible?”

“WE DON’T KNOW!” Janet answered at the same time Hank had exclaimed, “IT’S NOT!” This caused the former wasp to give her husband a pointed look. However, before anyone could speak again Janet finish cleaning up the frequency’s audio, and what once was a ear-splitting screeched, transformed into an agonized yell.

“WHAT THE HELL! IS SOMEONE ELSE IN HERE?!” Scott asked panickily.

“There shouldn’t be. It should be impossible we’re the only ones capable of successfully entering the quantum realm. And no one’s attempted to do so other than us since Ava’s father died?” Hank stated trying to wrap his head around the situation.

Hope stepped back from the computer when the male voice screaming came into focus. She stared at the screen in confusion, she didn’t know why but, Hope couldn’t shake the feeling that she had heard that voice.

“Scott I’ve triangulated where the signal is coming from. You need to go to these coordinates.” Janet informed the Ant themed hero.

Said hero looked down at a small screen that was clipped onto his suits belt has the coordinates Janet sent appeared.

Scott travelled to the locations the signal originated but as he got closer everything around him shook and appeared to seemingly crack apart like a glitching screen.

“Um, Hank is everything supposed to look a glitching computer screen?” He asked.

The three on the roof frozen upon hearing Scott’s question. “SCOTT GET OUT OF THERE NOW!” Janet ordered urgently.

When Scott arrived close by to the signals origin at first, he couldn’t see anything… Until he turned around.

There floating in the centre of the chaos was a man partially covered in some kind of Nano armour, their exposed skin was glowing orange, with weird tribal-like glowing blue markings covering his body and glowing blue eyes. The person’s body appeared to be glitching, much like Ava’s body when she was dying. Scott froze when his eyes settled on the blue glowing light in the middle of his chest.

“Oh My God!” Scott whispered, breathlessly.

When Hank heard Lang’s shocked whisper over the coms he pulled up the live feed from the external cameras on Scott’s suit.

What they saw shocked them all to the core, AS there on the screen before them was a man who had gone missing over a year and half ago and was believed dead.

But there in front them was…

To Be Continued…

Chapter Text

A/N:

"Insert Speech Here" = people talking over the phone/coms.

"Insert Speech Here" = AI talking over the phone/coms.

Previously: “Oh My God!”

Hank pulled up the live feed from the external cameras on Scott’s suit.

What they saw shocked them all to the core, AS there on the screen before them was a man who had gone missing over a year and a half ago and was believed dead.

There in front them was…

Chapter Two: Hallelujah Your Home

There in front of them was Anthony Edward Stark. The Infamous Iron Man himself.

“How is that possible?” Hope asked, now understanding why the voice was so familiar, as it belonged to her old childhood friend who she had lost contact with when their fathers fell out.

“I don’t know. But one thing do is we needed to get him out of their if we don’t he may get permanently get torn apart,” Janet stated. “I may not like Starks, but my wife is correct we can’t leave him in there.”

“Okay, but how do I get him out?”

There was a pause before Janet answered, “Grab one of his hands and pull using the boosters installed into your suit to help you navigate the quantum realm and we’ll bring you back.”

With that Scott guided over to the man whose eyes were know closed. Scott grabbed one of the billionaire’s hands, activated the boosters and with great effort and strained pulled them away from the chaos.

“Okay guys were clear you can bring us back.” Scott informed the Trio.

Hank, Janet and Hope were all watching the quantum tunnel in the back of the van, when there was bright flash of light and Scott and another man came shooting out.

Rolled to a stop a few feet away with the last living Stark sprawled out on top of him. All eyes were on the pair when Scott decided to break the silence, “Hey, could guys get him off me? He is surprisingly heavy for someone who’s been presumed dead a second time for over a year.

As Hope moved to help Scott however, Tony’s eyes shot open revealing that his eyes were indeed glowing blue and that it wasn’t just a trick of the camera, stood up straight in the blink of the eye.

Hope lay a hand on Tony’s left shoulder, but before she could make another move, he had turned around grabbed he wrist and flipped her over onto her back and pinned her by the next.

“Quid agis? Quid vis?!" [How are you? What do you want?!] He demanded in Italian.

“HOLY SHIT! What the hell, did he just say?!” Scott exclaimed, taking a step forward to attack, but stopped he the gauntlet on the man’s right arm disappeared, exposing an entirely metallic arm up to the shoulder beneath; only to fir it to reform one the left, aimed straight at Scott.

 Janet caught hold of one of Scott’s arms before the man could try to attack the orange and blue glowing man before them. “Scott. Stop.” Janet said causing said hero to turn his head to look at the mother in confusion. “He’s confused. He doesn’t know what’s going on, what’s happened or where he is.” Janet explained.

“Let me try.” She asked kindly.

“Anthony listen to me. You’re okay, you’re in Nork York.” Janet said calmly, when something caught her eye, on the exposed skin beneath the orange glow and blue glowing markings were scars, and it was clear as day that they were from no accident. Someone else had caused them, on purpose.

Janet’s eyes and tone softened further, “No own is going to hurt you know.”

The glowing slowly dimmed as the temperature around him cooled and the armour retracted, leaving him in the ruined under armour.

When he looked up Janet was greeted with the face of a twenty-year-old looking Tony Stark, except warm brown eyes were replaced with terrified, vibrant, violet eyes that were filled to the brim with tears.

Tony released his hold on Hope’s neck, which hadn’t been that tight in the first place, as his legs gave out under him.

Before he could collapse completely Janet caught him. She slowly lowered herself to the floor with tony partially in his arms. She looked up and meet the eyes of her husband.

“We need to get him back to the lab,” Hank said. “Hope help your mother get him in the van. Scott help me pack this equipment away,” Hank instructed as he moved and began shutting down the computers and equipment.

Scott was unplugging and putting everything away in the space in the back of the van that wasn’t taken up by the mini quantum tunnel.

Meanwhile, Hope helped her mother, grabbing Tony’s legs while, Janet hooked her arms under his and together the lifted him up and lead him across the back seat so his feet were in Hope’s lap and his head in Janet’s, who was and a hand through his dark brown hair which was oddly enough still in its usual style of a faux mohawk. However, the ends (tips) were tinted gold.

“Hank quickly,” Janet said as Hank put on his seat belt put the van in gear and shrunk it down, before he drove off.

When they arrived at the lab Hank returned the van to its normal size and climb out the door. Went over to right hand passenger door and help his wife out the door. When both Scott and Hope were out of the van Hank pulled Tony into his arms in a bridal style.

Once they were all out of the van they entered the lab, as they were walking tony turned his to the side burying it in the older man’s shoulder.

Hank looked down at the boy he had only scene in passing since he and Howard had fell out. As he looked at the sleeping face of the only Stark heir he realized that the man looked more child-like than he had in years.

They continued to walk down halls and corridors until they reached the medical bay of the lab. Hank Lay Tony down onto the bed.

Jante then came over with a change of clothes for the billion. As Janet was removing the under suit, her hand brushed over a set of scars on the small of his back that appeared to be letters on small of his back.

“Hank come over here and help me turn him over.” Janet instructed.  Once Tony was laying on his chest, Janet pulled the back of the under suit lower revealing the scars that her hand had brushed over were indeed letters. Once they were all visible they came to a horrifying realization.

There writing on the small of Tony’s back was the word ‘HYDRA’. Hope who had chosen that moment to walked was covering her mouth with both hands as she whispered, “Oh my god!”

“Star what happened to you?” She asked quietly, needing to get some air she told her parents, “I’m going to contact Miss Potts and Rhodes.” With that she walked out of the med bay.

Hope pushed the door to the roof open, and pulled out her phone, and dialled in a number and pressed the device to her ear.

When the call was answered and said, “Hello I need to speak to Miss Potts urgently.”

“Who are you?”

“My name is Hope Van Dyne, and I urgently need to speak with Miss Potts. Who am I talking to?”

“I am FRIDAY. An artificial intelligence designed and built by Dr Stark. Why do you need to talk to Boss Lady?” FRIDAY asked suspiciously.

Janet paused briefly, stunned at how human the AI sounded, before she remembered why she was calling and replied, “We found Stark.”

There was a brief silence as the call was transferred.

“Hello this is Miss Potts speaking, how can I do for you?”

“This Hope Van Dyne, earlier today we found Dr Stark.”

“… I’m sorry could you repeat that?”

“Certainly. Earlier today, Scott, my father, my mother and I found one Anthony Stark.”

“Where is he?”

“I’ll send you the location now.” Hope finished before hanging up and doing exactly as said.

When the line went dead Pepper heavily back in her chair in shock. She couldn’t believe it after almost two years someone had found Tony. ‘need to tell Rhodey.’ Pepper thought as she received an email, with a location.

Pepper instantly pulled out her phone and called Rhodes.

“’Hello Rhodey.”

“Pepper? What’s wrong?”

“Nothings, wrong. But you’ll never guess who just called me.”

“Who?”

“Hope Van Dyne.”

“Pym’s Kid? What did she want?”

“Yeah the very same. But she said they found Tony. I’ll text you the address.”

Back in the med bay, Janet had a sterilized needle in her hand, to take some of Tony’s blood to run tests on, but before she could get the needle in a hand shot out stop her, grabbing her wrist in surprisingly strong grip.

Janet’s head shot up, her eyes meeting terrified purple ones. “Tony, calmed down your safe, no one is going to hurt you,” she tried to reassure the man before her.

Tony’s brow furrowed in confusion, “Janet? Wha-“ Tony tried to say before realizing he was somewhere he didn’t recognize, and shot out of the bed discounting all wires from his body in process.

“WHERE THE HELL AM I?!” He demanded. “Tony I need you to calm down,” Janet said however, before she could continue Tony dropped to his knees screaming, gripping his head with his hands over his ears.

At that moment Pepper and Rhodey burst into the room. “Tony!” Pepper called out, running over to the engineer and kneeling down in front of him. “Tony. Hey Tony. C’mon I need you to listen to me, to my voice. You’re okay no one here is going to hurt you I promise,” Pepper finished cupping his face with her hands.

Slowly Tony raised his head to look at Pepper, who gasp in surprised when she was meet with purple tear-filled ones. But, before she could say anything else, he shot forward, wrapping his arms around her and hiding his face in the crook of her neck.

When Pepper returned the hug wrapping her arms around trembling shoulders did she realize that Tony was crying silently. Tears filled her eyes as she hugged him tighter, Rhodey came over and joined the hug when theirs meet.

As the tremors raking Tony’s body died down did Pepper realize that he had fallen asleep.

Carefully Rhodey lifted Tony into his arms cradling him to his chest as he walked over to the bed to lay him down gently.

Janet came over and found the vein and inserted the needle before removing it.

 Only when she look down at the needle instead of being filled with blood, but instead was filled with a blue glowing liquid that looked the same colour as the element powering the Arc Reactor, Janet then walked out of the med bay to one of the smaller labs to begin

 running tests on it.

 Pepper and Rhodey who were at Tony’s beside looked up and meet each other’s eyes both thinking the same thing. ‘Oh, Tony what happened to you?’

To Be Continued…

Chapter Text

A/N:

"Insert Speech Here" = AI talking over the phone/coms

Chapter Three: I Feel Chemicals Burn in My Blood Stream

Janet was sat in the lab waiting for the blood tests to finish and the results to come back; when Hank walked in carrying two cups of coffee. He handed one to Janet, “Nothing yet?” he asked.

“No most of the tests have finished I’m just waiting on the results,” Janet replied, as a computer beeped an alert in the background, signalling that the results were done. They walked over to the computer where clicked on the alert opening it up on the screen.

“What? I don’” Janet started before could continue Hope opened the door to the lab and walked in.

“Miss Potts told me to give this to you. She said that it would help you,” Hope relayed the message handing her mother Peppers phone.

“Hello Miss Janet, my name is FRIDAY an AI created by Dr Stark. Boss Lady thought that I could with anything pertaining to Bosses well bringing.”

“Okay… In that case, would take a look at these results?” Janet asked the AI slowly.

There was silence as FRIDAY uploaded herself to the computer and analysed the data before speaking.

“It would seem to sometime after Boss was kidnapped, after the surgery to implant the new Arc Reactor into his chest, that Hydra who we to assume we're responsible for Bosses disappearance; Began Experimenting on him.

His left arm which appears to a prosthetic is his actual left arm. It would seem, that a Hydra scientist deemed it a good idea to insert biotech into his left arm and other parts of his body. Then injected Dr Stark with his own modified version of the virus known as Extremis.

This What altered Bosses biology, making it seem more like a bio-mechanic humanoid. The glowing substance is, in fact, the liquefied form of the element in the Arc Reactors Core, combined with his DNA, essentially it is a substitute for human blood.” FRIDAY paused briefly to allow the information to sink.

“Extremis is also what causes his skin to glow orange and get hotter when activated. It also means that Bosses core temperature is higher than a normal human.”

Janet nodded her head, “Okay, so what was causing the blue glowing eyes and markings?” she inquired, tilting her head to one side curiously.

“That appears to be a side effect of extremis and the Hydra experiments to a dormant gene in boss’s DNA, giving him powers. The glowing eyes and appear when the powers are active, I’m uncertain about the markings.”

“Okay. FRIDAY have you managed to find any more info on what hydra did to him?” Janet asked.

“Yes, I found this file after hacking into Hydra’s servers,” FRIDAY informed everyone present in the lab pulling the file up on the screen. As Pepper and Rhodey entered the lab, seeing the AI bring up a file.

“Oh my god!” Pepper whispered in shock. She couldn’t believe the things Hydra had done even though it was vague and incomplete.

“They’re talking about him like he’s not even human,” Rhodey stated angrily. “That’s because to them he wasn’t,” Hank replied seriously. He may not have liked Howard, but he’d been wrong about his son. And he knew deep down that no one deserved to have this to them, he wouldn’t even wish this upon this upon the person he hated most.

“FRIDAY? Do you have any idea when he will wake up again?” Pepper asked, biting her lower lip.

“I’m sorry Boss Lady, but with all changes, his body has been through, along with the unknown effects the Quantum Realm had on him I can only give you a rough estimate,” FRIDAY answered.

“What is it Fri?” Rhodey asked urgently.

“Boss may not wake up for another few weeks maybe longer.”

To Be Continued…

Chapter Text

A/N:

"Insert Speech Here" = AI speaking.

Chapter Four: I’m Coming Home

THREE MONTHS LATER:

“’ony… Tony!... Wake up Tony!” came a muffled yet familiar voice cut through the fuzzy haze that was Tony’s mind waking up.

Tony’s slowly flutter open, only to be blinded, bright light causing them to close again. Slowly Tony opened one and then the other. “Pepper?” He asked quietly, confusion filling his voice as his  eyes focused on the strawberry-blond.

“Hey Tones.” Rhodey said from his chair at his bedside. “Rhodey? Wha-What happened?” Tony questioned panic starting to fill his tone.

“It’s alright Tony your safe,” Pepper reassured the confused engineer. “What happened is that after almost two years, Scott Lang, Hope Van Dyne and her mother and father found you inside the quantum realm.” Pepper finished.

It was then that the last two years came rushing back to him, “Where are we?” he asked pulling the woman into a hug.

“Where you are, is inside my portable lab,” Hank answered as he, Janet and Hope entered the room. “What he means to say is that your inside the building which houses one of the world’s most high tech labs, which has Pym-particle technology incorporated into the buildings structural design, allowing us to alter its size and easily change lab locations,” Janet explained.

Tony who had his chin resting on top of the Pepper’s shoulder, was peering over her shoulder at the three, opened his mouth to speak only to interrupted by Pepper, “No Tony you are not allowed to try and find a way to create a shrinking lab without the use of Pym Particles. In fact, you’re not allow a shrinking lab full stop,” the strawberry-blond woman stated firmly.

Tony pouted, “You’re mean.”

“I’m sorry Tones but I’m with Pepper on this one. If you had a shrinking lab we’d never see you again,” Rhodey piped up.

“Traitor,” Tony grumbled. “Sorry Boss Man, but I’m afraid this a battle that you will not win,” FRIDAY retorted not sounding sorry at all.

“Unbelievable. Your all ganging up on me,” Tony complained.

“Nice to again to Star,” Hope laughed using her childhood nickname for him, walking over to Tony giving him a hug once Pepper had let go.

 “Your dads not going to kill me when I’m least expecting it is his?” Tony asked, wearily eyeing Hank, who sighed. “No Stark I’m not going to kill you,” he deadpanned.

“Great! Well in that case… I still need to get to Malibu,” Tony stated.

“Malibu? Wha? No Tony you have been asleep in a coma for three months you’re not going anywhere,” Pepper said in a no-nonsense tone. Tony looked her in the eyes “Pepper, trust me this is something I have to do.”

Pepper could tell from the look in his eyes that this was something more than just going to Malibu. What that something was she couldn’t work out. Sighing she replied fine but at least get looked at first.”

Janet was running a hand-held scanner over a now standing up Tony Stark. She looked over the results. “Well, it would appear, that he is perfectly fine,” Janet informed the group.

Tony smirked knowing that have was perfectly fine thanks to the healing factor extremis gave him. Rhodey punched Tony’s right arm lightly, “Wipe that smirk of your face brat… looking at you makes me feel old,” Rhodey grumbled.

“Aaaww, cheer up honey bear. At least now I’m taller than you,” Tony said nonchalantly while grinning. Rhodey’s head snapped up. “Wha? Oh, COME ON!” he complained throwing his hands up in the air.

This caused Tony to burst out laughing. “The one thing I had on you and know its gone!” Rhodey complained with a huff.

“Don’t worry sour patch, it was only an inch difference,” Tony replied giving his friend a comforting pat on the back.

 “FRIDAY?”

“Yes Boss?”

“Is the quinjet 2.0 ready?” Tony asked.

“Ready and waiting outside now, Boss.” FRIDAY replied.

“GREAT! Hank don’t forget your lab,” Tony instructed, gesturing for everyone to follow him outside, and walked out the door, leaving the others in a daze. “Yeah, he’s always like that,” Rhodey informed the Pym-Van Dyne trio wistfully before following after his friend, shaking his head.

When they were outside Hank pulled out a remote and shrunk the building, he then walked over to it and pulled up a handle. “huh,” Tony said, at the sight. “Well, that’s nifty.”

“Disengage stealth mode,” Tony commanded.

Suddenly a sleek midnight black jet, with gold and red accents revealed, itself as a ramp lowered.

“Where on Earth did that come from?” Hope asked in astonishment.

Tony smirked in reply. “That, is the ‘Stealth Arc’ a jet design to transport a team of superheroes, will maintaining the speed and manoeuvrability of a top performance fight jet. It utilizes light reflector technology, meaning that when stealth mode is active all light around jet is reflected away from it, rendering virtually invisible to the naked eye,” Tony explained

“And we don’t see a thing, because he is being reflected away from the plane opposed to hitting the jets surface,” Hope stated.

“Exactly, our perception of sight is based upon light hitting a surface and said surface absorbing differentiating amounts of light, in which our eyes interpret as colour. There is the surface of the jet doesn’t absorb any light to remains hidden to the naked eye,” Tony finished, crossing his arms if his chest smugly.

Pepper and Rhodey rolled their eyes, used to Tony’s antics and boarded the jet, followed by Tony went and sat in the pilot’s chair in the cockpit, and then the others, with Hank pulling the lab behind him.

Once everyone was on board the ramp closed and Stealth Arc took off re-entering stealth mode.

As they arrived at their intended destination, a large blast door embedded into the cliff face opened revealing a hanger.

“Where are we Tony?” Rhodey asked was the jet had and landed and everyone was walking down a corridor. However, when they entered through the door at the end, they came into a room that look very similar to the open plan living room/kitchen of Tony’s old Malibu mansion.

Pepper walked over to the large panoramic window and gasped as she was meet by an extremely familiar view. “Tony th-this is…” Pepper shuttered struggling to find the right words.

“Malibu Point?” Tony finished her sentence with a question. “I know I had construction of this base started in 2014. It’s built directly beneath where the old mansion once was before Kilian blew it up,” He informed them.

“But that’s not why we’re here.” With that Tony headed down the staircase the others following (kinda like ducklings).

Tony passed the entrance to the labs, stopping in front of a reinforced adamantium door typing in ’042015’ into the keypad and a computerised voice said ‘ACCESS GRANTED. WELCOME ANTHONY EDWARD STARK’.

The opened with a hiss, inside is what appeared to be a high tech sever room.

“After the Ultron Incident in Sokovia back in 2015, I spent the better part of half a year restoring what was left of the original servers in the old mansion,” he explained and walked over to a biometric scanner.

“But I never had the chance to boot up the system, before talks of accords began.”

Tony Place his right hand on the scanner and closed his eyes and concentrated on his powers and whispered, “Please let this work”. Pepper, Rhodey, Janet, Hope and Hank watched on in stunned silence as glowing blue tribal styled markings appeared over his body.

“Please, come back to me” Tony begged quietly, as the room began to glow blue.

“For you Sir, Always.”

To Be Continued…

Chapter Text

Chapter 5: Sweet Dreams are Overrated

Tony shot awake sitting up gasping for breath. He ran down a hand down his face; taking a look around him and suddenly realized where he was.

“Jarvis?!” he called out. When he got no reply, he stood up and left the room.

Treed cautiously down the hall, the dim light blinking out and flashback on tinting everything crimson red.

“J!” Tony Cried out, as a deep haunting laugh echoed down the halls.

“whose there!” Tony took a step back feeling like a scared child.

“Frightened little one?” The cruel voice asked mockingly, the engineer could practically hear the smirk in its Tone. “Wha-what do you want?”

“Are you want to the answer to that?” The voice whispered mockingly in his ear from behind. Startled Tony spun around but lost his footing and fell onto his back, as the voice laughed once again.

As Tony put his hands underneath him to push himself into a sitting position he felt something wet against his palm. When he looked down he saw his palm was covered in blood and staggered back in shock.

With his eyes he followed the blood back to its source, and what he found caused his breathing to halt. Before lay everyone he cared about, only they were all dead. “No,” Tony gasped, his eyes filling with tears.

“Why are you going doing this?!” Tony exclaimed.

“Why?” the voice asked laughing cynically “Because you and your planet have something I need. And nothing will stand in my way.” “You can dread it. Fear it. Run from it. But destiny will arrive all the same,” The voice retorted as a figure took a step toward the frightened genius with every sentence uttered.

Tony’s gaze momentarily shifted to behind the being, when he saw the familiar sight of a portal leading to earth Tony’s panic increased.

“Your World Will Burn! And You Will Watch as Everything You Love Is Taken Away from You. And only then will I kill you.” The being snarled.

Tony swallowed thickly and whispered hoarsely, “Who are you?”

The being smirked cruelly and replied, “Everything You Fear Most!” purple flashed brightly through the darkness of space before he is falling into nothing.

Tony woke up abruptly, his scream dying in his throat.

SIR!? Sir? Are you okay?” the AI asked worry filling his voice.

“No J. No, I am definitely not okay,” Tony replied hoarsely, trying to catch his breath.

 To Be Continued…

Chapter Text

Chapter 6: Spin Me Right Round

Tony was down in his lab working on a generator that would be installed into a network of satellites that would orbit the earth. In theory once all the satellites were launched and brought online, then the generators form a particle barrier around the planet. Now you maybe wondering why he was even attempting such a thing.

Weeeeel… He may or may not have binge-watched the entire 7th season of Voltron: Legendary Defender, after not having slept for over 42 hours... And this was the result.

As Tony was soldering two wires together on a circuit board, inside his second Barrier Generator prototype; Which was a backup in case the first exploded in his during testing.

(Shut It Jarvis. That was one time, One Time!)

U rolled over to the engineer and beeped curiously. The billionaire in question started, having not heard the helper bot approached as he had been to concentrated on the task before him. This caused Tony's hand to slip, making the soldering iron pierce one of the generator energy lines, Which in turn made the entire thing blow up in his face. In retrospect he probably should have cut the power to the generator before ha had started, oh well.

Tony sat back on his stool in shock, face covered in soot and hair blown back away from his face slightly.

DUM-E beeped in alarm when he noticed the tips of the inventor's faux mohawk were smouldering with a small trail of smoke rising into the air.

The inventor immediately shot up, raising both arms up in front of him in defense. "AH, AH, AH! NO DUM-E IM NOT ON..." he called out in alarm, only to be interrupted by said bot dousing Tony in foam from the bot's much beloved fire extinguisher. "... fire," Tony finished lamely shoulders slumping and heading dropping in defeat. 

Tony wiped the foam from his face using his right hand and flung it at DUM-E; Only to get another face full of extinguisher foam, from said, bot who was chirping happily.

"That's it I'm donating you to a community college!" the engineer exclaimed, lunging at the bot only to miss when DUM-E darted away.

Tony stood up and proceeded to chase after his wayward AI child.

Jarvis started playing 'Right Round by Flo Rida' as he watched as the inventor chased the helper about around the workshop, pushing any obstacles out of the way as he went. "JARVIS YOU TRAITOR!" Tony yelled glaring heatlessly at on the hidden cameras in the workshops celling never stopping once.

Rhodey was sat with Scott, Hope, Janet, Hank, Vision and Pepper in the living room, in the underground living quarters of the Malibu base, eating pizza.

Suddenly an explosion echoed though the halls of the base originating from Tony's workshop. "Jarvis? What the hell was that?!" Rhodey demanded looking up towards the celling for an answer.

"It would appear that both DUM-E and  U startled Si, resulting in his and slipping and a minor explosion from the project he was working on," the AI replied, sounding exasperated with his creator.

Rhodey sighed, standing up before walking over to the stairs, that led down to the labs on the floor below.

When Rhodey reached the workshop, he was greeted to the sight of a foam covered Tony chasing one of his bots around his workshop. It was only when Tony slipped on a puddle of foam landing on his arse, did he realize they weren't alone, well he was alone with only his bots and AIs, anymore.

Both the billionaire and DUM-E froze, looking at Rhodey like a pair of deer caught in the headlights. 

"IT WAS DUM-E'S FAULT!" the genius exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at DUM-E. Meanwhile, said bot beeped indignantly; gesturing accusingly towards his creator.

Rhodey shook his head exasperatedly while chuckling at his he antics fondly. "Go get cleaned up. There's pizza waiting in the living room upstairs," he instructed his best friend.

At the mention of pizza Tony's eyes lit up like Christmas and was up and out of the workshop before the lieutenant colonel could even blink. "LOVE YOU HONEYBEAR!" the inventor called over his shoulder. Rhodey rolled his eyes fondly, making his way back upstairs.

"I'll just clean this mess up then shall I?" the Jarvis asked dryly, turning may be the lights as Rhodey left, the bots making their way to their Charing stations.

The irony of the British sounding AI's question wasn't lost of the War Machine pilot as when made his way to join the others.

To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

Chapter 7: Arrogance Justified, Self-Importance Amplified

T'Challa scrubbed a hand over his face and through his short hair, he was getting off having to listen to the demands and complains of the Rouges when offered asylum to Barnes in Wakanda so that they could remove the trigger words. He would never have thought that Rogers would be dumb enough to just assume that the offer extended to him and rest of the rouges whom, he had broken out of the raft. 

The Wakandan king had taken it upon himself to inform the UN where the Rouges were, and the situation with Barnes. When Roger had turned up with the offers.

Sighing T'Challa stood and left the throne room walking to his room. He was exhausted, and to be honest he'd be glad when his unwanted guests were gone; in the meantime, he'd been asked by the UN to keep them in his country until they found a much more secure way and location to hold them.

Until such a time they would remain in the palace.

And while not everyone, was happy with said arrangement least him and his sister Shuri. However, the alternative was the rouges on the lose running amuck around the globe. 

At least this way they knew where the group of international criminals were. He just wished they could see that things were just not going to go the way they thought it would, they believed that they could do and go wherever they pleased without consequence and that they were entitled to the USA and the rest of the world to pardon them from their crimes. Unfortunately for them no matter how much they were convinced that they were doing the right thing, or that Rogers could no wrong; that is not how the rest of the world saw them.

In the eyes of the people, the so-called Rouges had 'sworn to protect' they nothing more than bullies and criminals who thought themselves above the law and wanted them brought to justice.

The king was broken out of his thoughts when the hands of his younger sister slapped down onto his shoulders. "Hello Brother," she greeted happily. T'Challa rolled his eyes fondly at his sister's antics.

"oh no, what did they now?" Shuri asked when she saw the look her brother wore on his face.

A small smile made its way onto his face at the concern his sister was sowing for him. "Nothing more than usual," he replied, chuckling lightly at the grumpy expression Shuri now had on her face.

"You know we could always just feed them to the Panthers," She suggested, sounding far too pleased with the idea.

"I fear that not even they would go nears Rogers and his lot." At that Shuri burst out laughing. "Oh, that it is probably right," she exclaimed and dissolved into a fit of giggles at her brother's comment. 

"Is there something you needed Shuri?" T'Challa asked.

Shuri answered once she had finally calmed down from her laughing fit, "Yes, I came to let you know that the news covering the big Stark Industries press conference was starting soon.

In the secluded and unknown to the Rouges, sectioned off winged of the castle T'Challa had placed them in, the group of wanted 'heroes' except Steve, were sat around a high-tech, flat screen plasma TV either on the sofa, armchairs or the floor watching the news, where the SI conference started.

"Steve! You might want to come and see this!" Clint yelled towards the kitchen, where Steve was pouring himself a glass of water.

"We are here today at the conference, that Stark Industries CEO Pepper Potts announced earlier at week. Not much is known about why the conference is held. But, what little is know, we can expect that Miss Potts will be making a big announcement, and if SI's history of big announcements made at press conferences is anything to go by, you can bet its not going be anything we saw coming," Steve heard the reporter say as came and sat down on the sofa in the free spot beside the archer.

"Hello, I'd like to thank you all for coming here today. There has been a lot of speculation in and outside of the press, as to what this conference is about. Well, here today to answer that question is a very dear and special friend of mine." Pepper announced, she was stood on stage, behind a podium in a smart black suit, when lights went out.

The rouges watched in confusion not having a clue want was going on. Confusion among the gathered crowd could be heard.

"Aww, Pepper your gonna make me blush," came a voice over the speakers. Steve's brow furrowed in confusion, the voice sounded familiar he just couldn't place where he knew it from. 

There was a deep laugh as an all to familiar light appeared on stage. "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."

"SON OF BITCH!" Clint snarled at the screen, Natasha's eyes widened hands covered mouth, Sam's jaw dropped. Steve and Wanda looked at them in confusion.

"Clint? What are..." Steve, however, broke off when the conference lights came back on.

Standing in the middle of the stage was a man around 6'2ft, looked about 26 years old with golden tanned skin, violet eyes, dark brown hair that turned gold at the tips styled in a faux mohawk, in a full white suit, no tie and a brand new high tech Arc Reactor (The Arc Reactor form Infinity War) shining in his chest.

"Did you miss me?"

"Wait! That's Stark! What the Hell happened  to him?!" Sam exclaimed in shock.

On stage Pepper rolled her eyes fondly at the billionaire's antics. "I Welcome to the stage Dr Anthony Stark," Pepper said before stepping aside to allow Tony access to the podium's microphone.

"I know I've said it before, there really never has been a greater Phoenix metaphor personified," Tony said with a grin on his face, much to the crowd's amusement. Noticing a familiar blonde reporter in the crowd Tony just towards them and said, "Yes Christine." 

"Dr Stark you've been presumed dead for two years, after having disappeared from an abandoned Hydra bunkered in the middle of the Siberian wilderness. Can you tell us what happened?" the reporter known as Christine Everheart asked.

The violet-eyed engineer let out an amused huff before his expression and body language turned serious. "You the thing about that statement is that your wrong."

That caught the attention of all the Rouges who leaned forward, watching the screen intently. "How so?"

"I didn't disappear I was taken." In the silence that followed you could have heard a pin drop, so Tony continued. "At the end of a between Rogers, Barnes and myself in the previously thought abandoned Hydra bunker, the suit was disabled when Rogers slammed his shield into the armours Arc Reactor before leaving with Barnes. After an undetermined amount of time, when I was found injured and subsequently captured by Hydra." Tony turned to the CEO of his company and quietly whispered something before the redhead was nodding, and Tony was walking off stage.

"Doctor Stark will not be answering any questions and I would like to thank you all for coming, have a good evening," Pepper stated, then followed the billionaire of the stage.

The rouge sat there in shock as the news switched to a reporter. "As expected, the relation that was made here tonight was in no way what people were expecting to hear tonight. However, alongside the shocking revealing that Tony Stark is alive, evidence from an unidentified source has revealed that while Tony Stark was being held in the hands of Hydra that he very well may have not only been tortured but experi…."

The TV switched off before the reporter could finish her sentence. 

Natasha slammed the remote down onto the coffee table. Narrowing her eyes at the blonde super soldier, "What really happened in Siberia Steve?" the red-haired assassin demanded.

"Nat I already told you what happened. Tony attacked..." Before Steve could finish his sentence he was interrupted. "I swear to GOD if you lie to me one. more. time. Then I am going to make you regret it." Natasha hissed out.

Steve opened his mouth, but was once again cut off, this time by a different voice, "Stark didn't attack us unprovoked." Everyone one turned around, there in the doorway stood Bucky, with a fuming Shuri and an angry T'Challa.

The blonde opened his mouth to protest. "Stevie I swear if you say another word I will break your jaw myself," the POW snapped. Said former Avengers leader shut their mouth with an audible click. "Stark came to Siberia as a friend just as Sam asked. Once we had gotten there we discovered that the solider of the Winter Corps had already been killed by Zemo. He then played the CCTV footage from the from the road the Stark's accident accrued."

"what happened?" Sam asked, his voice filling with dread.

"The footage showed Stark's parents being Murdered by the Winter Soldier. By me," Bucky replied. "Buck it wasn't you!" Steve exclaimed, backed down, from the glare he received from his friend.

"So what?! Stark's parents were murdered. Who cares he deserved it!" Wanda snapped icily. Sam looked at her in horror. "What do you mean he deserved it. No one deserves to watch their parents be killed!" he retorted.

Natasha's eyes narrowed further, "That's not everything is it?"

Bucky shook his head. "No, Stark turned Stevie asking if he knew. Steve trying dying it before he gave in. That's when Stark attacked Steve and the fight broke out, I tried running but he was angry and my survival instincts kicked in," Bucky explained.

"You lied to me. You told me you'd tell him and I trusted you," Natasha hissed, slapping the blonde across the face before marching out.

Steve placed a hand on his reddened cheek. "What the hell man. Stark had to watch his parents deaths with their killer not ten feet away." 

"It wasn't Bucky it was Hydra! "

That's not the point Steve! He watched his parents die with Barnes in the room, of course, he's going to lash out!" Sam exclaimed. "Tony was going to kill him. I was just protecting Bucky," Steve insisted.

Sam looked at the blonde soldier incredulously, "If Stark wanted you dead, man, you'd be dead! His armour contains missiles" So no he didn't want Barnes dead hurt probably, but not dead. And even if he did that does make you right. You should have restrained him, instead of escalating the fight." With that, Sam left the Room.

Clint stood, "You were a soldier, what the hell happened to 'No man left behind'?" he asked before he followed after Sam, Bucky shortly behind him.

There was silence before T'Challa spoke. "You assured that he was fine before you left. You lied to me Captain and I do not take kindly to those who lie to my face," the king stated icily before he too turned on his heel and left, Shuri gave Steve one last glare before following.

Wanda huffed. "Who cares what they think. You did nothing wrong. Stark will be begging to have you back and giving you everything you want. He needs you, needs us. You'll see." she said.

"I hope your right," Steve replied with head in his hands meaning he missed the sadistic smirked that crept its way onto Wanda's face.

"I Am You'll See."

To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

Chapter 8: Introducing the World’s Most Deadly and Violent Relationship

Two Weeks After the Stark Reveal Press Conference:

It was early in the morning when Wade was woken around 2_AM by the sound of a ringing phone. Reaching over to the bed side table he picked up the offending device and looked at the caller ID. ‘Cold-hearted Bitch!’ it read.

“Hello, this is Assassin’s Express. This is your neighbourhood friendly Merc-with-a-Mouth speaking, how may we take your order?” The merc asked cheerfully into the phone.

“Cut the shit Wilson. Where’s Lawton?!” The woman on the other end of the line demanded.

“I’m sorry but Mr. Lawton can’t come to the phone right now. Please call back and try again later.” With that Wade hung up the phone placing it back on the bedside table, when a body next to him shifted.

“Hey, Shush, shush, shush. Go back to sleep,” Wade said softly.

Groaning the other man quickly demanded, “Who the hell is calling at this hour?” Only to bolt up straight at Wade’s reply.

“Only someone you have ‘Cold-Hearted Bitch!’ set as their contact name. But I think we all know who that is. Am I right guys?

"... Ohhhhh, wait you probably don’t cause the damn author is deciding to play the fucking pronoun game, Excuse my language. And won’t say the name of the man I’m in bed with!”

(AUHTOR: *Glares* Shut it Wade I didn’t have to right you in the story. So if you want to FUCKING STAY IN IT, SHOW SOME RESPECT!

WADE: *gulps* Sir, Yes Sir! *Salutes* please don’t kill me?

(AUTHOR: *smirks evilly* That’s what I thought *Leans back in chair & strokes pet snow leopard.

(WADE: *gulps* Please don’t kill me?)

“WHAT! Wade shut up and give my phone!” the tall brunette whisper, shouted.

“What?! No, why would I do that?” Wade asked, blocking as the other from lunging to retrieve his phone.

“Because, You just hung up on Waller! Amanda Waller!”

“Whoops?” The merc replied sheepishly with a shrug, attempting to sound apologetic and epically failing when it came out sounding more like a question.

The tall brunette flopped back against the bed with a groan, throwing an arm across his face, “I am so fucking. Dead.”

“You’re not gonna die Floyd. I could fuck your brains out if that would help take your mind off it,” the resident merc-with-a-mouth offered. Floyd groaned in disgust as he rolled over so his back was to wade, and buried his face in Logan’s right shoulder.

“Shut the, Fuck. Up. Dick-wad, some people are trying to fucking sleep,” Cable who was back-to-back with said immortal mercenary growled, pressing a dagger into the small of Wade’s back.

“Oh Nate. I always knew you loved me,” Wade said in a dreamy sigh, steering off into the darkness of the room.

“Wade if you don’t Shut. The Fuck. Up! You are going to find out what it feels like to systematically stabbed and burnt from the inside. Got it?” Logan asked threateningly in a low dangerous tone.

“Yes Dear.”

“Then go the fuck to sleep,” The metallic clawed mutant ordered in a growl, wrapping an arm around the waist of  sleeping form of one Floyd Lawton, better known as Deadshot.

“Yes Dear,” Replied again with a gulp, knowing full well that Logan would follow through with his threat if Wade Angered him enough. With that they all slowly drifted of to sleep once again.

It was later on in that same day when Logan arrived home to their loft apartment, well technically it was Floyds, but was beside the point; that he found Wade steering at the TV screen, in which was set to one of the many news channels.

“Wade, why are you making love heart eyes at the TV again?” Logan asked, setting down groceries he just brought on the dining table.

The last three times Wade a had spent the better part of an entire day steering at the screen with hearts in his eyes they ended up adding, Deadshot, the Winter Soldier and the Punisher to their relationship.

Bucky picked that exact moment to walk in from the kitchen holding a blow of plumbs in one hand, and taking a bite out of a plumb with his other hand. “Seriously?” Logan asked, raising an eyebrow at the former POW.

“That’s kinda hot,” Bucky commented, Ignoring Logan’s comment, as he watched the footage of Venom biting a guy’s head off being shown on the news and sat down on the large custom sized sofa.

“I know right,” Wade agreed, reaching a hand over to take a plumb from the blow, only to have it slapped away by the former brainwashed assassin.

“Get your own,” Bucky snapped, hugging the blow of fruit possessively close to his chest.

 Looked at the TV and sweat dropped, “Your joking right?” he asked incredulously.

“Nope,” Bucky replied popping the ‘p’.

 “Buck you seriously need to see someone about your plumb addiction. Maybe then we wouldn’t have to spend  so much money on plumbs each month,” Frank said as he walked into the main room of the open-plan apartment from the bathroom, towelling off his hair, wearing only wearing a towel wrapped around his waist.

“NO!” Wade exclaimed, wrapping his arms around Bucky’s shoulders. “We all know what happened when Ryuk went through apple withdrawal. We can’t make our precious baby assassin go through something like that!”

“Ryuk is from an anime wade he’s not real,” Frank pointed out.

“Now can you let me go?” Bucky asked breathlessly.

“NO!” Wade exclaimed petulantly in reply, squeezing the former POW tighter, only to be pried off by Logan.

“Aren’t you meant to be at work?” Logan asked curiously.

“Na, I got the day off. Where’s Nate anyway?” Frank replied, making his way to their large bedroom, where Floyd was still passed out, asleep on the large custom sized bed.

“At the school, said something about Chuck wanting to speak with him.”

“Can we bring him home?” Wade asked giving Logan his best puppy eyes.

“Ask Nate,” He replied curtly.

When Cable got back he found all his partners, Floyd, Wade, Logan, Bucky and Frank sat on their custom made sofa in front of the TV watching a movie, what movie it was he really couldn’t tell you.

Bucky paused the movie as Wade, in an as innocent tone as he can manage asked, “So how was your day honey?”

“What do you want Wade?” Cable questioned folding his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow, causing the immortal mercenary to pout.

“Can we adopt venom?”

“I’m so what?”

“Adopt him and his counterpart into our relationship,” Wade replied.

“Maybe,” Cable said taking a seat on the sofa between Wade and Logan. “Oh and Tony Stark wants to meet with all of us.”

They all looked at the time-travelling, metal armed mutant in shock. “When?” Frank asked, as he was the first to recover.

“At the school,” Cable replied. With that they started the movie again, even though Cable had missed the start.

To Be Continued...