A/N: Author's note at the end. VERY important.
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Tony woke up slowly. He blinked, and saw the outline of someone in front of him; felt heavy objects holding his wrists in place, and something a lot heavier wrapped around his leg. He felt his heartbeat increase, and could hear an unidentifiable voice talking.
He blinked, hard. He could make out an outline of someone's face now. It was a doctor or nurse with blond hair and blue eyes. She waved her hand at him, saying words he couldn't hear.
He blinked. This time, the lady was gone. But it felt like only a second since she was there. How could she of been gone so quickly? In her place was the professor. He could see him talking, and he looked almost panicked. He tried with all his might to understand him, but he blinked once again, and he was gone.
This time, it was Director Fury.
The Director was sitting in the chair across the room – ironically enough – with a magazine, blocking his entire face. Tony closed his eyes before the Director could notice him. Something told him that Nick Fury wasn't here for a social visit.
He carefully began assessing himself. There was something heavy upon his leg. That leg was elevated slightly, so it was most certainly hurt. There was something moving on his other one. The only thing he could think of was that it was making sure circulation was running through his leg. He felt slight discomfort on his hand which was probably an IV.
Lastly, he felt pressure on his wrist. He tried to move his right hand, but it was held in place by… restraints…?
Realization struck him. The bastards had him restrained to the hospital bed!
At first, anger flooded through him, but he quickly realized that the anger was blocking something else.
Fear.
What did this mean? Was he going to be held captive by SHIELD? Was this what the Professor was trying to say to him?
"It's useless you know," Fury said, slowly turning a page of his magazine. Bastard. "You're not getting out of this one, Stark."
The words that he so often relied on were stuck in his throat. Getting out of what one?
It came back to him in a second. The plane ride, his powers… crashing. No doubt someone told him that he was a mutant.
"Telekinesis, huh? Pretty big power for someone to hide for most of his life."
"Not hiding it," Tony said, his mouth moving before he could even process what he was saying, "only delaying what any god forsaken government agency would love to do to me."
Fury let out a deep chuckle. "Really? And what would SHIELD do to a mutant under Professor Xavier's care?"
Tony's fear increased. If the Professor was willing to show that he was a member of the X-men, it meant that he was fighting SHIELD over who owns responsibility for him.
He was a consultant of SHIELD, but a legal member of the Avengers. But, for all intent and purposes, SHIELD owns the Avengers. Iron man therefor was owned by SHIELD… but was Tony Stark, mutant, owned by SHIELD? The Professor claiming him meant that Tony Stark, his own person, was with the X-men.
This conclusion came to him in less than a second, and even though he was practically chained to a hospital bed with maybe one of his biggest enemies sitting across from him, he flashed his famous Stark smile at the Director.
"Good question," Tony said, still smiling, "whatever could SHIELD do to an X-men without causing huge problems against SHIELD?"
The Director's left eyebrow rose. "Is that a threat?"
"No," He said, shaking his head almost sarcastically. "Not a threat."
"Says the man restrained in a bed."
He shrugged. "Says the man with telekinetic powers who could easily get out of these restraints."
The Director sighed. "I knew your stupid ass was going to get us into trouble." He muttered. "You're leg has already been healed."
"What-" Tony asked. How the hell was that possible? Did another mutant heal him? Was that even possible?
"Don't look at me," The Director replied, "The doctors said they set your leg, and poof, you got a perfectly healed – One hundred percent workable - leg. Something about your abilities. More like voodoo magic to me."
The Director paused to let that sink in. It really didn't. "Mind explaining that one to me, Stark."
"Umm… I'm awesome?" He answered. He knew enough not to reveal too much to the Director. But even he didn't know about the healing factor. How could he have not noticed that? Then again, the only time he was seriously injured was in those caves, and it's not like a healing factor could push out pieces of shrapnel.
And, thinking back on it, he really shouldn't of survived most of the stuff he's been through.
The Director doesn't give him time to ponder more on it. "The cast was left on to make sure you were actually healed."
Tony could practically taste the lie. The cast was there to make sure he couldn't run. "And the handcuffs?"
Fury shrugged, "A precaution." He leaned back in his chair. More lies. "Unless, of course, you do something stupid with your gift."
"Me? Stupid? Fury, you wound me."
"Cut the sarcasm out. Look Stark, I'm gonna put this into nice and simple terms so that big head of yours can understand: We own Iron Man. Being a part of the Avengers means you work for us."
"But-"
Fury waved him off with his hand. "Yes, and the Professor has every right to take you under his charge." Tony could tell that Fury was angry about this. Good. "But that doesn't mean that Iron Man is free of charge. That suit has nothing to do with you, no matter how many times you state that."
Tony's temper flared. "The suit is mine therefor; SHIELD can go kiss my ass."
"Your suit is what makes you an Avenger. Go with the X-men and we have full access to it."
Tony's eyes flashed. "So this is what this is about." He said lowly, almost muttering to himself. "You want me to stay with the Avengers."
"Stark, we don't give a rat's ass about you." The Director replied, answering him with not one hint of sympathy. Like Tony ever expected that. "We want that suit, plain and simple."
Tony scoffed. Nothing was plain and simply with SHIELD, especially with Director Nicholas Fury. What Fury wanted was Tony's complete cooperation.
"But," Fury said, as if thinking aloud. "You could just walk away without Iron man. There would be no hassle – hell, I'd even say we wouldn't bug your mansion – if you give us the suit."
Did Tony even want to walk away? The Avengers may have not become a real team yet, but he was starting to like the group of misfits.
What was Fury's play here?
"Really, Nicky boy?" He responded sarcastically, "Like I would ever give it to you."
"I really can't change your mind?" The Director said, getting up from his seat. Tony tensed. "There's nothing I can do to make you leave Iron Man with us?"
Tony narrowed his eyes at him. "No, there's not."
Fury sighed. He leaned over Tony, his hand snaked around the cloth handcuff. "We can't let you leave." He said, "But we do need you to complete this mission."
Tony looked him square in the eye, challenging him. "I don't need a government agency like you tell me what to do."
Before Tony knew it, the hand cuff was ripped off him and, from Fury's pocket; a metal was slipped on his wrist.
Too late, Tony whipped his hand away from the director. "What the hell!" Tony yelled, attempting to pry the metal band off with his still restrained left hand. It didn't budge.
"It's a mutant tracking device." Fury said, now walking away from him. "It registers when you uses your power, and sends out light shock of electricity. The more you use your power, the worst the shock gets."
"What the hell! This is illegal! I could call the freakin real government and report your stupid ass!" Tony was breathing heavily, adrenalin racing through his veins. This couldn't be happening.
"And then the world would know of Iron Man's secret, and you don't want that, do you?" Fury asked sarcastically. "We can't have one of the world's heroes be the bad guy, can we?"
Shocked at how well Fury thought this well, he didn't answer. Instead, he began to take off the other restraint and attempted to get out of the bed, only to realize that the cast was still on.
"Dammit." He muttered, ignoring the smirking Director.
"Call the freakin' doctor, Fury." He said lowly, "And get this freakin' cast off my leg."
"Promise to be a good boy, Stark."
Tony nearly growled. No way was he going to answer that.
"You will work with the Avengers, and you will continue to help the X-men. Or…" Fury said, pressing the nurse call button. "We take you back to S.H.I.E.L.D and take you're suit. Only I can take off that tracker, Stark."
It's a god damn tracker too! He wasn't going to be able to do anything!
Tony looked away as a doctor was brought in to take of the cast. The doctor was hesitant to enter the room due to the Director and his patients stare off.
"You win this round, Fury. But don't think I will let this slide."
Fury only smirked, and turned to leave the room.
As the doctor removed his cast, Tony began to think of a way to get out of this.
He couldn't think of one.
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A/N: So short. It's not fair to you guys. I'm sorry for the incredible wait. Ugh, things came up that I really needed to deal with, and that got in the way of my writing, which is really disappointing.
BETA: What also got in the way was picking a beta. My god you guys are the BEST! I think I got… fifteen or so request in all. Jeez! THANK YOU! But now, I forget who asked. I'm horrible, I know. If you are still interested, don't be afraid to PM me. PLEASE!
Update time: Oh god, should I even bother. Now I don't even have A WORD written for the next chapter. I think I'm gonna have to give you guys more chapters like this, with only five pages.
POLL: Actually, you guys decided that: Would you rather wait LONGER for a bigger chapter OR shorter chapters in less time. A POLL will be up later tonight to see what you guys want.
THANK YOU AGAIN MY AMAZING READERS! THE RESPONSE FOR THIS IS OVERWHELMEING, AND I'M SO GLAD YOU GUYS LIKE IT! THANK YOU THANK YOU! You're guys are amazing. Have a great day!