AN: Alright everyone welcome to Chapter 1 of Watching Iron Man. I am going to try to do most of the MCU movies. Some of you may have read this on AO3 and if you have then you'll know its not on that site anymore. I've actually been suspended from AO3 for continuing to publish this story but I'm not going to let that get to me.

We'll see how long this story lasts on Fanfiction. After that, I'll probably try somewhere else. LOL But for now enjoy this story.

EXT. RURAL AFGHANISTAN - DAY 1 FROM UP HIGH: a U.S. Military convoy worms through a barren vista. ROCK MUSIC swells as we drift down and enter the center Humvee.

Tony didn't want to see this. He'd some his damndest to bury everything that had happened to him. He'd erased any and all information from both SHIELD and the US government leaving only the barest of information.

It was no one's business but his own and now he had to sit here and relive every mistake. Every life he'd ended, all the pain he'd caused.

Bucky had glanced at Stark only once and immediately away when he'd felt the guilt. He was felt more like himself than he ever had before. He'd never truly be the way he once was but at least he felt halfway human. But not even Wakandan doctors could stop the memories, and every time he looked at Tony he saw them again. He had no right to be here but the man, Strange, hadn't given any of them the option and Bucky owed T'Challa everything so here he was.

Barnes knew next to nothing about Stark except that he was Howard's son. Steve got touchy whenever the genius was mentioned his blue eyes going big and round and hurt like a kicked puppy. It said something for how close the two must have been. The two must have really hit it off when they met, been fast friends. It would explain a lot about what he'd observed at the airport and the bunker in Siberia.

At the very least it was his chance to learn. And he did appreciate the man's music taste.

Steve was paying apt attention to the screen. Tony never talked about his past. Steve felt it was completely unfair as the whole world seemed to know Steves story but the only thing in Tony's file was Natasha's report on him and information about the Iron Man suit. Plus if he focused on the movie than he didn't have to focus on the man in the room. It had taken all his self-control not to approach Tony at once. He'd been practically glued to the crap cell phone since he mailed its twin to Tony praying for a phone call. He wanted nothing more than to apologize, to explain, to make things right. But the man was like ice. Steve had made his bed and now he would have to lay in it.

Natasha was seated next to Clint and Wanda the only two in the room who had welcomed her with hugs. Steve had been too busy mooning over Tony from afar and the soldier had tensed up the minute their eyes met and she knew he remembered her and that it would not be wise to mess with that. Tony had ignored her as he did with all of them. His words still rang in her ears like a slap to the face and she for once had not the courage to try and approach him.

Clint felt only guilt. He'd chosen his side. The archer had always trusted Cap implicitly and he and Tony had always had this friendly rivalry. It had started out as something simple even fun. Sam had called him out on holding his punches and he was right. But then prison had happened. The raft. Clint had lost himself to the guilt over what he'd just done to his family, how Wanda had been treated, and he'd taken every ounce of it out on Tony. It was scary how easy they had fallen apart. Clint didn't know how it had ever worked or if it was even possible that they could work again. Strange seemed to think so. He'd called them a family, what a joke.

None of them could see how this could change anything.

INT. HUMMER - CONTINUOUS 2 Three Airmen, kids with battle-worn faces. Crammed in there with them is a Man in an expensive suit, who looks teleported from Beverly Hills. He is, of course, genius inventor and billionaire, TONY STARK. In his hand is a drink tumbler of vodka.

Bruce glanced over at Tony for the first time since he'd been transported back to earth. It honestly hurt to see him, one cursory glance and Bruce could see how thin he had become, barely a shell of what he used to be. He owed Tony more than he could ever repay. The man had been the first one who wasn't afraid of Bruce he accepted him, teased him, tested limits. It was freeing and exasperating in the way only Tony could manage. And then Ultron. Bruce felt the guilt of leaving Tony to take the blame for something he'd had a hand in even if it wasn't his choice to leave.

TONY: I feel like you're driving me to a court-martial. This is crazy. What did I do?

Steve couldn't help the small twitch of his lips. He missed Tony's voice.

TONY Oh, I get it. You guys aren't allowed to talk. Is that it? Are you not allowed to talk? Hey, Forrest!

Steve opened his mouth to chastise the man for his words but he couldn't get any actual sounds out and he closed it again.

Natasha rolled her eyes but there was a small sparkle in her eyes.

One Airman grins, fidgeting with his orange NY Mets watch.

JIMMY No. We're allowed to talk.

TONY Oh. I see. So it's personal.

"You make them nervous," Rhodey spoke up. Probably one of the only ones in the room not afraid to speak up. He shook his head at Tony. "You used to be really intimidating, anytime you showed up at the base to see me, way back when, all my men would freeze up. You were a big dog in the military."

"I'm sorry 'used to be intimidating'. I am Iron Man. What's more intimidating than that?"

"It's not the same." Rhodey teased and Tony scoffed loudly.

RAMIREZ I think they're intimidated.

"See?" Rhodey smirked, "Oh very mature, stick your tongue out at me again and I'll grab it." He threatened.

TONY Good God, you're a woman.

The others try to compress laughs.

TONY (CONT'D) I, honestly, I couldn't have called that. (after silence) I would apologize, but isn't that what we're going for here? I saw you as a soldier first.

Thor chuckled. He'd been unusually quiet up until that moment but Tony suspected the god had been through something none of them could understand. The black empty socket seemed so out of place on the usually boisterous man.

Now he held himself differently. Tony almost couldn't place it until he looked to his left and his eye caught T'Challa and he realized Thor held himself like a king now.

RAMIREZ I'm an airman

TONY You have, actually, excellent bone structure there. I'm kind of having a hard time not looking at you now. Is that weird? Come on, it's okay, laugh!

The twitch on Steve's lips turned into a small smile and Sam was the first to notice rolling his eyes at the Captain.

JIMMY I have a question, sir.

TONY Please.

JIMMY Is it true you're twelve for twelve with last years Maxim cover girls?

TONY Excellent question. Yes and no. March and I had a schedule conflict but, thankfully, the Christmas cover was twins. Anyone else? You, with the hand up.

"Ok, are you even real?" Scott spoke up finally getting over his nerves to look incredulously at Tony. The man raised an eyebrow at him.

"Seriously, who are you?"

"Aw come on."

"Don't be mean Tony." Rhodey whispered and Tony resolutely ignored him.

PRATT It's a little embarrassing.

TONY Join the club.

PRATT Is it cool if I take a picture with you?

TONY Yes. It's very cool. I don't want to see this on your MySpace page.

Clint snorted "Good god how long ago was this?"

"2008." it was Rhodey who replied. "It took Tony a while to get over MySpace and into Facebook."

"I liked the fun backgrounds Honeybear."

Tony Please, no gang signs, No throw it up, I'm kidding. Yeah, peace. I love peace. I'd be out of a job with peace.

Wanda crossed her arms. She tried not to let her anger rise at those words but she couldn't help herself. He hadn't been cruel to her, but she and Stark had never had the greatest of relationships. And his words on the screen were like a slap in the face.

The soldier in the passenger seat seems to be struggling with the camera.

Tony braced himself he knew what was coming and it hurt to see the soldiers smile, to know they'd been killed because he'd chosen to ride with them. The funvee he'd called it.

PRATT Come on, hurry up. Just click it. Don't change any settings.

A MASSIVE EXPLOSION rocks them. Through the windshield, the Humvee ahead of them erupts in a fireball. Tony is flung aside.

"Shit." Bucky whispered. Steve mirrored his words. All eyes were glued to the screen as the scene unfolded.

The Airmen are instantly in battle mode.

RAMIREZ Contact left! Contact left!

TONY What's going on? What have we got?!

The female soldier steps out and is immediately shot down.

Sam flinched.

PRATT Jimmy, stay with Stark!

JIMMY Stay down!

TONY Yeah…

The soldier is also gunned down.

The room was dead silent all humor gone. And Tony closed his eyes but he could still see it all happening behind his eyelids burned into his skull. He chanced a glance over at Barnes. He wasn't sure why but he wondered at that moment if the Soldier ever closed his eyes and saw Maria Stark burned behind his eyelids.

JIMMY Son of a bitch!

TONY Wait, wait, wait! Give me a gun!

"Can you even use a gun properly?" Natasha wondered, she'd never seen Tony hold a weapon other than operating the Iron Man suit.

It was the first time she'd addressed him and Tony was distracted enough he forgot he was ignoring her.

"I was raised in the weapons industry. I designed guns, of course, I knew how to shoot them."

Steve glanced at Tony curiously. He'd never really thought of things that way and he wondered how good a shot the genius was. He tried picturing Tony still as a statue aiming his gun and firing shot after shot. It was almost unbelievable. Tony was always moving always rambling.

"I'd pay money to see that," Clint spoke up. "You against Natasha. I'd say against me but that would just be completely unfair."

Tony wanted to deny the man but he was physically incapable of turning down a challenge. "It's on."

T'Challa looked between the two but kept his face impassive despite the amusement he felt. Dr. Strange had come to him privately and had shown him what the Avengers had once been. T'Challa had no trouble believing that they had been a team. For all their supposed differences the king of Wakanda had seen something in all of them, even in himself. It was almost easy to believe in something as ludicrous as the Avengers.

JIMMY Stay here!

An EXPLOSION cuts him off. Tony looks around.

"Don't do it, Tony. Follow orders for once in your life." Steve muttered under his breath so softly only Bucky's enhanced hearing could pick it up. The man glanced up at his friend briefly and wondered if Steve even realized he was talking out loud.

Tony's window blows in, spraying glass and shrapnel. He scrambles for the door.

"Damn it." Steve clenched his fists and it seemed as though everyone agreed with that sentiment.

Bucky felt a familiar sensation squeezing his chest as he watched Tony endangering himself. But he couldn't quite place what it was.

Tony ducks, scampering along. He spots an M-16, picks it up, but the weapon is burning hot. He drops it, moves on when- Something thuds in the dirt near him. He spins and we - SNAP ZOOM TO: an RPG, revealing its pedigree, "USM 11676 - STARK INDUSTRIES."

Wanda wanted to feel justified. She wanted to feel pleased that Tony Stark had felt her pain. But all she felt was worry. The witch told herself it was because of vision. If Stark died he'd be devastated. Yes, that was all it was.

Just as we suspect it's a dud, it DETONATES and - Throws Tony back, shredding his suit and revealing his body armor underneath.

"No." Bruce almost lurched out of his seat but Thor laid a hand on his shoulder reminding Bruce that it was not real, just a memory of the past. He looked over at Tony just to reassure himself and the green guy who really liked his 'Tin Man'

Blood seeps through. Over the chatter of SMALL ARMS FIRE we - FADE TO WHITE:

Rhodey had a grip on Tony that was almost painful; though Iron Man was grateful for it because it kept his attention focused on Rhodey and not on his memories.

Rhodey hated seeing this. He could still remember the pain of losing Tony of not being able to find him. Searching and searching not knowing whether he'd ever find Tony and scared of the possibility that they might find him too late. All he could do was hold tight to his friend and brother.

INT. INSURGENT CAVE - AFGHANISTAN - DAY 4 Tony snaps awake. He's tied to a chair, bloody rags covering his chest. Two Insurgents flank a DV camera. Behind Tony - A line of armed hooded men and a banner showing ten interlocked rings. The Leader, a huge Choori knife in one hand, reads rhetoric (in Dari) for the camera.

"Damn that's so fucked up" Scott breathed out.

Sam was looking at Tony in a new light. How many vets had he helped through PTSD who had gone through similar tragedies? Not once had Sam ever made that connection before but now he felt stupid for not even considering...

"Did you know about this?" Steve asked Natasha. The former redhead nodded

"Fury debriefed me personally, it's a long story. I don't know everything but I know about this."

"How did I not know?"

"Because it's Tony Stark, Steve. If there's something he wants to keep from you, he will."

The scene cuts out and turns black, the words 'IRON MAN' appearing in big gold letters.

AN: So I've taken the bold parts of the story from a free online script. The original script is not very accurate when it comes to the actual movie as RDJ and the cast seemed to really like improv LOL seriously the script was more of a guideline than an actual movie script.

So well I've tried to make sure most of the scenes follow the movie you might notice a few do not. Its really time consuming to write out the entire movie by watching the movie and pausing every five seconds to type. So I used the script for most of it and did correction where they were most needed. So if some scenes don't match up this is why.

If you have any issues with that... You try typing out the movie and see how you like it; then you're allowed to complain.

I think that about covers it for the information you need to know. Enjoy my story I'll be posting the next chapter on Monday or Tuesday at the latest.

Also please review! I do enjoy constructive criticism.