Chapter Four

Happy and Pepper frowned as they entered Tony's Malibu home to find a slender blonde man leaning idly against the bar waiting. The man was 5'9 with a lean, lithe frame and supernaturally bright blue eyes, loose curls falling over his shoulders and half-way down his bicep. Wearing a tight long sleeved shirt and baggy sweats, he hardly looked dangerous. If anything the duffle bag at his feet made him seem like a college kid heading over to a friend's house for a sleep over. It was only his eyes that gave away the danger. Cold, almost glacial, and sharp as they narrowed on them.

They stared at him, stunned.

Tony had the best security system in the world, second only to the Pentagon, for this man to have made it inside without them being alerted meant he was very good. It was only the softening of the blonde's eyes as he looked past him that saved him from Happy's gun.

"Brian!" Tony exclaimed happily, pushing past his tense friends to rush over to the man and Happy made an aborted attempt to grab him and pull him back to safety.

"How'd you get in? How'd you even know where I live?"

'Brian' smiled softly, the ice in his gaze thawing as he looked upon the SI CEO.

"Your JARVIS let me in after I convinced him I meant you no harm. And you are not an inconspicuous man, Mr. Stark. I looked for the most technologically advanced house."

Tony grinned and Pepper frowned. " JARVIS wouldn't let you in without Tony's permission." She argued and the blonde nodded.

"You caught me. I snuck in through the ceiling." He replied calmly, as if speaking about the weather. Tony blinked and shook his head while Happy stepped forward and placed a protective hand on his boss' shoulders.

"Who are you?"

'Brian' tensed and looked up at his, something dangerous flashing in his gaze before it was covered by a friendlier expression.

"Brian O'Conner. Tony and I met in Afghanistan and he offered me a home. You must be Ms. Potts and Mr. Hogan. He spoke a lot about you both."

Tony flushed lightly, and turned to the blond with a worried gleam in his dark gaze.

"Pep, Happy, This is Brian. He's gonna be staying here for a while."

Pepper frowned. "Tony you barely know him! For all we know he could be a killer or press or-or something!"

The billionaire scowled darkly. "I know him well enough to know he's staying here." He replied, voice brooking no arguments. "He saved my life, and I can never repay him for that so if I can provide him a place to stay I will. Is that clear, Ms. Potts?"

Her jaw clenched and defiance burned in her eyes even as she gritted out an affirmative. Brian placed a hand on his shoulder to placate him, a darkly amused smile playing on his lips.

"Well, are you going to show me where I can stay, Mr. Stark."

"Tony."

Brian tilted his head curiously and the genius sighed. "My name is Tony, Kid and if you're gonna stay here that's what you're gonna call me."

A tiny smile flitted across the assassin's chapped lips. "Alright…Tony."

Returning the smile, he led the younger man to a guest room close to his own.

"This room is your to do with what you will."

Blue eyes widened in astonishment, their owner shaking his head.

"This is too much, Tony. Way too much. I can't take this."

Tony frowned sternly. "You can and you will. I told ya, Brian, I'm gonna help you start over."

His friend stared at him wide-eyed as if he couldn't believe he was real. Then he nodded.

"Thank you." He whispered hugging him.

"No problem, kid." The billionaire replied, heart aching at the broken tone of his friend's voice. Fuck, what had life done to this kid?

No matter, he would fix it. No matter what it took.

"My brothers and Sisters, today I call you all here to make a wonderful announcement," Malik began, an uncharacteristic smile on his lips.

The gathered assassins frowned at his behavior. How could he smile so soon after the announcement of Altair's death? After all he and his wife were closest to the taciturn Master Assassin. They were the only ones the guarded man allowed past his walls. It seemed dishonorable that he would disregard his death in such a manner. As if reading their thoughts he continued to speak.

"Only months ago, I announced the death of our dear brother Altair Ibn-La-Ahad on the presumption that he had been killed during his mission."

They all bowed their heads in remembrance, only for them to jerk up when he continued.

"However, our brother still lives! Only last night I saw him in the flesh. Exhausted and pained, but alive."

"Where is he?" Silili asked tearfully, her eyes full of relief and Malik smiled softly.

"Altair has been told to rest. The Templars tortured him for information, probably much more than he told me. Our brother needs to take this time to heal and this we shall grant him."

A mischievous smile crossed his lips. "Although, I don't suppose he will be opposed to phone calls."

As one the assassins smirked then began to laugh in joy as it sank in.

Their brother was safe.

He was home.

Brian smiled softly as he finished unpacking his things and putting everything away, still unable to believe how nice Tony was being to him. His new bedroom was a large airy structure with huge bay windows that faced the ocean, and a creamy white color scheme. It was beautiful and he couldn't be more grateful if he tried.

Taking a seat on his new bed, he reflected over the events of the past four days, one thought surfacing in his mind over and over.

He was free.

Free!

No more torture and agony. No more listening to Yinsen and Tony's pained screams and feeling his heart break for them as the Templars forced him to watch their sessions.

No more!

He was finally-finally-free.

It was something that he had long accepted as a pipe dream of his traitorous mind and everlasting hope.

A broken laugh escaped his lips against his will and he pulled his knees up to his chest trying to force back the sobs that wanted to follow it and failing. For nearly an hour he sobbed in relief of his escape and grief that Yinsen wouldn't see it, never noticing when he slipped into exhausted oblivion.

Tony grinned triumphantly as her stared at his computer screen, taking in the fruits of his labor. It was finally done, and he could finally make good on his promise to give Brian a new life.

Brian O'Conner no longer existed. Now there was only Brian Stark, heir to Stark industries and his adopted younger brother.

Now all he had to do was show the blond and explain it to him.

"How's he settling in, J?"

The AI hesitated. "He cried himself to sleep, sir. But he seems to like it here."

Tony sighed. Figures the kid would grieve when he was alone. From what he'd seem while working over the kid's records seemed like he'd only ever had himself to grieve with.

His chocolate eyes hardened.

Never again.

He may not be a great father figure, but damn if he wouldn't be an amazing big brother.

TBC…