It is a terrible thing to wake up in wet clothes. It is even worse to wake up with every inch of you wet. This worse case scenario becomes even more upsetting when you wake with tiny stones digging into your back and rubble all around you.

Well. Howie thought to himself. At least I'm not dead.

He pushed himself up, looking around at all the mess and carnage. He could see parts of his house, a statue Tony bought ages ago here, a painting Pepper brought from her apartment there. Everything that made up his home was sprawled out and he had no idea how he survived it. He looked down, seeing his feet still in the water and wondered how long he had been submerged.

Howie sighed, pushing himself to his feet. Tapping his metal foot against the ground, he pulled off his useless sock and trainers. He looked around, then looked up, wondering if anyone was looking for him. Wondering if it would be a good thing if they were.

He started walking, dodging between the broken remains of his house. He kept his eye out for something to help, scratching behind his ear when he realised there was likely nothing. His hand tapped his ear, and he smiled slightly. The ear piece was still there and a little bit of water shouldn't stop an AI.

'JARVIS? FRIDAY? Anyone on?'

'Hello sir.' A female voice filled his ear. He'd never been happier to hear a disembodied voice. She sounded upset, which strangely made Howie happy as he hadn't been sure if he'd programmed the emotions in correctly. 'I'm so very glad you're awake.'

Howie laughed and ran a hand through his hair. 'I'm glad too, FRIDAY. Now, is there anyone around?'

'Several, sir.' FRIDAY said. 'Helicopters above the cliffs. I believe they are looking for you. I'd hide among the suits, sir.'

Howie nodded, running for what was left of the garage. Only seven suits had been stored in Malibu, but he managed to tuck himself between Marks II and IV before a light shone on the beach. He stilled his breathing as he heard people shouting, footsteps nearing his location.

'See anything?'

Howie froze at the voice, refusing to let them find him.

'Nothing. If Tony or the boy are alive, they're long gone.'

'They won't be happy up top.'

'Then you have to tell em.'

The voices grew faint. Whoever the people were, they were leaving. More voices appeared then, probably dozens, people coming to scrounge Stark tech from the beach.

'FRIDAY.' He whispered. 'Sort out a deterrent.'

'Of course, sir. Right away, don't move.'

He didn't know what she did but someone screamed. Hidden under the suits, he smirked. It was terrifyingly fun to be kept safe by an AI who had a protective streak a mile wide. When Tony had designed JARVIS, he had been making a butler and a security system but when Howie made FRIDAY, he had some how managed to make himself a new mother.

'Are they gone?'

'Yes, sir.' FRIDAY said, sounding slightly vicious. 'But I would wait a moment, there are still people on the cliffs.'

Howie nodded, thanking her under his breath. 'Do you know who they are?'

'No, sir, I'm sorry.' The AI said, sounding genuinely apologetic. 'I have managed to connect to your neighbour's CCTV but I cannot enhance the images.'

'It's alright.' Howie said, slumping down where he lay. He had barely just woken from unconsciousness but he was terribly tired. 'Wake me when the coast is clear.'

'I would go now, sir.' FRIDAY said. 'The longer you stay here the more likely you are to be discovered.'

Howie nodded, pushing the suits off him and looking around. The beach was slightly emptier than before and several things were on fire. He shook his head, smiling at his AI's deterrent.

'Sir, I believe there is something you might need, over by the cliff side.'

Howie nodded, making his way quickly to the cliff. He had to jump over several large pieces of debris, frowning when he saw parts of his house just discarded on the sand. He made it to the cliff, searching around for something that FRIDAY might have meant. His right foot hurt slightly, bare to the elements but he continued.

'Go up, sir, and to the right.' She sounded happy, like they were just playing a game. 'Just follow the path.'

Howie smiled slightly, looking at the cliff side. There was a small path marked in, barely visible but definitely there. He stayed close to the cliff, shuffling along as he climbed. Finally, about half up, he found what he was looking for; his backpack, half open but untouched by water.

He instantly began rummaging around, smiling at the contents. His glasses were still in there, explaining how FRIDAY found it, plus most of his clothes. He pulled on some shoes, his glasses, a new shirt and his hoody, keeping the hood over his head. He looked down at his still wet camo trousers, wishing he could change but knowing he couldn't walk around in shorts. He checked the suit parts, finding both boots and one of the gloves. The rest must have fallen out but at least the photo album was still there. He pulled it out, looking at the first page, where his mother's note was stuck.

He ran a finger over the B at the bottom, looking across at the neighbours house. With the glasses on, he knew FRIDAY was looking at him.

'Hey, Fri. I've got a favour to ask.'

'Of course, sir. Anything.'

Howie looked down, taking a deep breath. 'I want you to find my mum.'

Pepper looked across the ocean, taking a deep breath. Maya had given her a card, giving her a place to meet. It was a hotel in Malibu, a rather famous one that Tony had taken several girls to over the years, just to show off. She would head over there later and drive Maya to a less well known place so they could talk. Pepper didn't want to be paranoid but it didn't hurt to be cautious about it. Her house had just been destroyed.

Pepper bent down, picking up Tony's helmet and holding it close to her chest. She walked forward slightly, looking over the cliff edge. She saw a flash of movement down on the beach and her eyebrows shot up. She turned to the people behind her, members of Stark Industries Security.

'Can you send some one down there? To look for Tony and Howie?'

'Of course, Miss Potts.' One of them smiled kindly. 'Two of our crew are already on the beach.'

Pepper nodded, looking downwards. The official report was that both Starks were dead and the news was already talking about who would save America now, what would happen to SI, etc. Pepper had mostly ignored the reporters but it seemed to be everywhere. Everyone knew she had lost them and she didn't even have JARVIS to comfort her.

Taking a deep breath again, she watched the SI workers scanning the beach, carefully stepping over the rubble. Her face dropped when, after scanning everything with Stark Tech, they turned away with lowered heads, clearly having found nothing.

'Miss Potts.' The same worker said, moving to her side. 'Reports say looters will be here in a bit. Do you want us to get rid of them?'

Pepper looked down. It was her house but none of the statues, artwork or anything else seemed important anymore. 'No, its fine. The only thing that worries me is the suits, but they're only coded to Tony.'

The man nodded, looking down. People had already started to swarm the beach, picking up whatever they could carry. He nudged Pepper when one of the suits set on fire, firing off weapons in every direction. Pepper looked up, the corner of her mouth curling upwards slightly.

'Will that be all Miss Potts?'

Pepper nodded slightly and the worker waved the rest of the crew away. They all left, a few of SI's longer running employees stopping to squeeze Pepper's shoulder before they went. She managed to lift her head to nod at each of them, holding Tony's helmet closer as they went.

She looked down at the helmet, slowly slipping it onto her head. She watched as the screen lit up, scanning her face.

'Stark Secure Server. Retinal scan verified.'

Pepper's entire face lit up when Tony's voice played in her ears. She could only hope he had Howie with him.

'Pepper it's me. I've got a lot of apologies to make and not a lot of time, so first off. I'm so sorry I put you in harm's way. That was selfish and stupid and it won't happen again.'

Pepper laughed gently, shaking her head. She knew Tony couldn't keep that promise but it was still nice to hear him say it, nice to hear him say anything.

'Tell Howie I'm fine.'

Pepper's laugh cut off, the light leaving her eyes. He didn't know.

'Whoever attacked us might still be after him, so make sure he stays safe, stays hidden. Tell him the suits are at-'

Pepper took the helmet off, throwing it down the cliff. She didn't want to listen anymore, didn't want him to talk when he didn't know what happened to Howie and she couldn't tell him anything.

She didn't know where Tony was, or if he was hurt. All she knew was Howie had fallen without a suit and was probably dead.

Howie was dead tired. His legs hurt, his arms were weak at his side and he couldn't get rid of the static in his ears.

'FRIDAY, find me somewhere to sleep. No where special, somewhere I wont be noticed.'

He had been walking for hours, too scared to get on public transport in case someone recognised him. His metal leg had become water logged, making it harder to move but he couldn't stop to fix it. He had to keep going, had to reach somewhere safe.

'Sir, there is a police station ahead. I'd turn left now.'

He did so, wanting to avoid anywhere with authority. He couldn't risk it, people could be looking for him and he could be delivered to the people who blew up his house. No one had come to help when they were attacked, so Howie felt it unsafe to trust anyone.

'There is a railway station ahead sir. You can sleep there.'

Howie rolled his eyes slightly but had to admit it would be a great place to rest. Every time he had gone to the station as a child, he had seen multiple people sleeping on the platforms, despite his dad's company donating billions of dollars into homeless shelters and charities for them. Nothing they did seemed to do much but they kept donating. With a cruel irony, he was now needing their help to hide.

He had tried to contact his father three times to no avail. FRIDAY had been unable to find him or patch through to JARVIS. She said the other AI was likely offline, which was no help for Howie. He would have to do everything with just FRIDAY's help. Not that the AI wasn't useful, but she was still a prototype and not as useful as his father's computerised butler.

He found himself in the train station and decided to sit down, pulling his leg out of his hip and putting it in his bag. He took the spare shoe and placed it in front of him, moving the bag around so it was held against his chest as he laid down. He tied the laces of the spare shoe to the one still on his foot and placed his glasses and hand in the bag. It scared him slightly how easily he turned himself into a beggar.

'Friday. Wake me up in forty minutes or if someone tries to steal my stuff.'

'Yes, sir.'

He closed his eyes, curling up around his bag. He winced at the static in his ears, trying to move around so he couldn't hear it. He pulled the comm out of his ear, holding it tight but the noise didn't stop. He whimpered slightly, desperately trying to get to sleep. Still wincing, the noise only getting louder, he closed his eyes, trying to force himself to sleep. A moment ago he had been so tired he thought he was going to collapse and, now he was lying down, it seemed like he was wide awake.

About fifteen minutes later, he managed to get himself into an uneasy sleep. He tossed and turned as he slept, images plaguing his sleep. Images of his house breaking around him, off being left in a dark room to die, of falling through space and the portal growing big enough just in time.

He sat bolt upright, breathing heavily. He looked around, his eyes widening as he looked. He was in a field, with no city around. He scrambled to grab his glasses out of his bag, putting the comm back in his ear as he stammered.

'Fri, Fri, what's going on? Wh-where are we, did we get kidnapped?'

'No, sir. I would have alerted you if such a thing were to happen.'

'Then what...what happened? How did I get here?' He was beginning to panic, multiple possibilities running through his head, none of them good. There were so many people who could have kidnapped him without being in the same room, magic and mutants making anything possible.

'Sir, I am searching for the station's CCTV. Please calm down.'

Howie breathed heavily, trying to still his heart rate. He put his hand over his eyes, counting back from ten in Russian, like Natasha had taught him. When he was finished, he opened his eyes again and scrambled to stand, pressing his back to the wall that had appeared behind him. He almost fell over, balancing on one foot and he reattached his hand and leg as quickly as he could. He was in an alleyway, how did he get to an alleyway.

'FRIDAY...what is happening?!'

'I believe the relocation is linked to emotional state, sir. We seem to be moving each time your pulse gets over 140 beats per minute. Calm down sir.'

Howie breathed heavily, keeping his eyes open this time. He didn't want anymore random changes of setting. 'Okay. Have you got the footage yet?'

'Yes, sir. It'll show up now.'

Howie had to focus his eyes, closing the left one so he could easier watch his right lens. A video flashed up, showing him curled up on the ground, several people stopping to put money in his shoe. In the alley, Howie bent down to grab the money, stuffing it in his backpack.

On the screen, Howie tossed in his sleep, his face pinched up. As the sleeping boy began to whimper, his hand turning white as it gripped his bag, something formed around him. Once the shape, pure black, circular and fading out at the edges, had fully formed around Howie, the middle changed, showing a field and Howie fell through it, landing softly. The portal stayed for barely a second before disappearing.

'Seriously.' Howie said, staring as the image disappeared. 'You think I did that.'

'It's very possible you have the X gene, sir. It may have only just activated.'

Howie nodded, stunned. He narrowed his eyes, holding his hands out. As he concentrated, a small gap in the air appeared above his hands, disappearing as soon as Howie lost his concentration. The bigger ones must have been an involuntary reaction. He tried again, several times, managing to get slightly better results each time but nothing like he had done while panicked. With a grin on his face, he turned to the entrance of the alley.

'All right, Fri. Where are we?'

'Tallahassee, sir. About twenty minutes from your mother's house.'

Howie nodded his head sideways. The AI had predicted it would take him days to reach Tallahassee and he had made it in less than six hours. He was liking his mutation more and more each second. 'Well, how about that. Lead the way.'

Directions popped up on his glasses and Howie moved through the streets, heading for the house shown on the screen. He headed through the neighbourhood, noticing the increasing amount of 'For Sale' signs as he got closer to where his mother lived. He stopped outside the house, two stories and quite big. He walked past the gate, steeling himself as he knocked on the door.

The woman who opened the door glared at him, her green eyes boring into his. Howie held out his metal hand for her to shake with her purple one.

'Hi, you must be Clarice Ferguson. My name's Howard and I'm your son.'