Okay so this chapter is going to introduce the complexity of how I want my take on Iron Man 3 to go. I'll admit it's more focused on Rebecca, but only because I want to incorporate her in a different way as well as a realistic way in terms of how the movie played out. I'll still include all the elements of the movie and everything because I thought it was perfect, but again, this is my take appropriation of the story and I hope you guys like it. If you want anything particular included or an input on how I should go about this story so far, PM me or leave me a review, I welcome all criticism in any form, just keep in mind I'm a seventeen year old and not a professional. Thanks! (Chapter might be a bit long, sorry)

Some people call me a terrorist. I consider myself a teacher. America, ready for another lesson?

A severe anxiety attack. It didn't seem right to Tony. He had never experienced anxiety before, but Jarvis was always right. He had been having lunch with Rhodey and talking about the military and a certain terrorist threat that had been in the media the past few days when he had been asked to sign something for a child. Everything was fine, until they all mentioned the same thing. New York, Aliens, The Avengers. Tony's heart almost beat out of his chest as his breathing became rapid, and there was only so much more he could take until the little kid whispered into his ear, How did you get out of the wormhole?

Everything started spinning then, and Tony had to get outside to his suit. He couldn't go anywhere without it these days, and as soon as he was close enough, he collapsed inside of it, ignoring all the stares he was getting as he fell to his knees.

''Jarvis, check everything,'' he breathed deeply, trying to steady himself. ''Vitals, everything, t-the heart, check it all.''

That's when he had been informed of what he was experiencing.

''Tony?'' Rhodey ran outside and hurried over to him. ''Come on man, this isn't a good look.''

Tony shook his head, pushing Rhodey's arm off him.

''Sorry, I gotta split.''

Tony hadn't had the best night either. When Pepper arrived home from work, they had managed to get into an argument which led to Tony telling her how he was struggling lately. He told her everything. About how he couldn't sleep, his nightmares, how scared he was, and she was there for him the whole time. Pepper was one of the greatest things that had ever happened to him, and tonight had proved that.

Tony had managed to go to bed that night with Pepper after she had encouraged him, but after a few hours, the nightmares returned as they normally did. Tony was whimpering in his sleep and shaking as his memories flooded his mind, but when Pepper tried to wake him up, the Mark 42 suit had attacked her, holding her down onto the bed until Tony shut it down. They were both so shaken up, and Tony didn't know where to begin explaining.

''I...I must have called it to me in my sleep.'' he breathed deeply as Pepper turned on the lights. ''I'll just...I'll re-calibrate it.''

Tony turned over to see Pepper getting up from the bed with shaky hands. She had never expected to be so afraid in her own home, the suits were getting out of control. Pepper knew he was struggling and he couldn't help the nightmares he had, but she couldn't focus on anything but the thought of the suit trying to attack her.

''Don't...don't go...'' he pleaded sadly.

''I'm gonna sleep downstairs, tinker with that.'' she told him with wide eyes, still shaken up and trying to catch her breath.

Tony watched as Pepper left the room and he soon collapsed back onto the bed as he tried to steady his shaky breathing. His chest was heaving and he couldn't calm himself down. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see were the images of New York, the Chitauri, the wormhole. He hated this. Not only could he not sleep, but now he had hurt Pepper and scared her which is the last thing he ever wanted. He needed to control himself, he couldn't keep doing this.

You know who I am. You don't know where I am, and you'll never see me coming.

Pepper woke up in the morning on the couch in the living room, tired after her sleepless night. The previous night had been traumatic, but she knew it wasn't Tony's fault. She needed to help him through it, she wouldn't let him do this alone. She sat up on the couch, pushing her blanket to the ground as Jarvis turned on the morning news as usual.

Over the past few days, there had been attacks all over the country, mostly bombs, and due to the breaking news that was flashing over the television screen, something similar had happened overnight. A man had been threatening the country with his violence for days now, videos of the destruction being shown all around the world. His name was the Mandarin, and he had only just begun.

''Morning,'' Tony walked out, standing next to Pepper on the couch with a sympathetic look on his face.

He hated himself for what had happened last night and he just hoped it hadn't scared Pepper too much. He didn't mean for the suit to attack her, he didn't mean for any of it to happen at all and he especially hated that it was all because of him and the fact he was constantly in fear of what might happen. But now Pepper knew, and he was glad that he had told someone.

''Hey,'' she smiled, gesturing for him to sit down next to her. ''You okay?''

Tony sat down and put his hand around her waist out of habit, holding her close to him as he nodded his head.

''I should be asking you,''

''I'm fine,'' she leaned her head on his shoulders. ''But we have to do something about this, okay? I don't want you hiding things like that anymore, you don't have to do this alone, I'm here.''

Pepper looked up at him with a sincere look, rubbing his shoulder affectionately. Tony was lucky to have her. He dipped his head down to press a kiss to her lips before the television made a high pitched crackling noise, causing them both to look over with wide eyes at the image.

It was the same man that had been broadcasting for days now. The Mandarin. Tony had been aware of this man what he was doing, but it was growing worse every day. Images of the man with a long beard, his face shaded with glasses, flashed onto the screen as Pepper and Tony watched on, wondering what was going on now.

''True story about fortune cookies.'' The man's menacing voice echoed through the living room. ''They look Chinese. They sound Chinese. But they are actually American. Which is why they're hollow, full of lies, and leave a bad taste in the mouth.''

The next images on screen were of a movie theater being blown up. Flames soared and rubble was blasted across the street in what looked like a terrorist attack.

''My disciples just destroyed another cheap American knockoff, The Chinese Theater.'' he spoke proudly. ''Mr. President, I know this must be getting frustrating, but this season of terror is drawing to a close. But don't worry, the big one is coming. Your graduation.''

The television blurred back to the regular image of the news, but Pepper and Tony sat there in silence, their minds lingering on what they had just seen. The Mandarin was getting out of control, his threats weren't just words anymore. As they sat together on the couch, the phone ringing broken their silence and Pepper took a moment to answer it, wondering who it was.

Tony remained on the couch thinking about what had happened. This man needed to be stopped, but he didn't know if he was the man for the job anymore. He couldn't even leave the house without having an anxiety attack, he couldn't defend his country when he felt useless.

''Tony...''

Tony looked over to Pepper who had wide, worried eyes, and her hand trembled with the phone in her hand.

''It's Happy.''

''Is it working?''

''Slowly. It'll take a while, we can't let her wake up yet.''

Rebecca's arms burned as if acid were being poured over them and it ran all over her body to her core. She didn't know what was happening to her, but she knew the pain was real. It was excruciating, and she couldn't move.

''What do we do now?''

''She'll wake up soon.'

As if on cue, Rebecca's eyes fluttered open to a dark room. Her vision was blurry for a moment as she adjusted to where she was, and then all her attention was on the contraption was inside of. She was restrained into a machine with tubes in her arms and injections feeding straight into her veins. She couldn't move because of how tight her restraints were, but she couldn't stay still, her body was on fire.

''Stay calm,'' a man's voice came from beside her. ''If you panic, you'll scare yourself. Take a few deep breaths.''

Rebecca closed her eyes and focused on maintaining her breathing, trying desperately to stay calm. Her body felt like it was a ball of flames and her skin was melting, but when she looked down, there was no sign of anything. Everything seemed normal on her body, but something was definitely wrong. The last thing she remembered was screaming as her car rolled onto it's side and slammed into the road.

How am I still alive? she thought, remembering how bad the accident was. How come I don't feel any pain? Where am I?

The man walked out in front of her then, folding his arms with a grin plastered on his face. He looked happy with whatever was going on, as if he was proud of what he had done to her, although she still remained clueless what was wrong with her. His hair slicked back as it always was, his expensive suit straightened out perfectly as he looked up at her.

''Killian,'' she gasped.

''Please, call me Aldrich,'' he smiled. ''I think you deserve that after what you've been through.''

''What the hell did you do to me?'' she asked, looking down at her arms which felt like they were still burning.

''You were in pain, you weren't going to make it,'' he explained. ''I helped you, and soon enough you'll be stronger than ever.''

At first, what he was saying didn't compute to her. She knew she was lucky to get out of that car accident, but she must have gotten injured somehow, there was no way she walked away without a scratch. Killian had helped her, but she didn't know what that meant until she thought back to the project he was working on, the virus capable of reprogramming DNA. Rebecca looked at him with a horror in her eyes.

''No...'' she shook her head in disbelief.

''It was the only way.'' Killian smiled as if he had planned the whole thing to work out this way.

Rebecca shook her head, trying to wake herself up from the nightmare she hoped she was enduring. She didn't know anything about this virus apart from the fact it could tap into a person's DNA cells and change them, and that the side effects and repercussions were unimaginable.

''You gave me that...that virus?'' she asked with a loud voice, showing how angry she was.

''I saved your life,'' he corrected. ''You should be thanking me. Without Extremis you'd be dead.''

Killian turned over to the man standing behind him, watching on loyally with his arms folded.

''Eric, I think it's time for the stage to begin.''

The man nodded his head and walked over to Rebecca, inserting a new vial into the machine hooked up to her arms. She fought against it, but it was no use, she couldn't move. Her arms burned like hot metal was being held to them, and she couldn't help whimpering in pain.

''You see, it's so much more than just a simple alteration to DNA cells,'' Killian explained as Eric walked away. ''I'll prove it to you.''

''Why are you doing this?'' Rebecca asked.

''You seemed convinced that Extremis was doomed. That it wasn't worthy of being associated with Stark Industries. Me? I'm an example of Extremis, I am a living embodiment of it's success, and soon enough, you will be too.''