A/N) Thank you for the reviews so far! I may have to up this story to an M but I'm hoping I can keep it as a T. Please heed the warning for this chapter. If people would prefer this to raise to an M, please let me know.
WARNING: There is touching of exposed human organs.
PART TWO: THE BREAKING OF TONY STARK
Chapter Two
Experimentation
They tortured him for hours every day until he blacked out. They persisted with one question only: "What is your name?"
Tony always refused to answer. He never said a word.
He tried so hard not to scream but they were quite imaginative with what they tried. It was always a group of Chitauri: different ones each day that inflicted pain upon him.
Tony's body hurt all over.
And he was still naked.
God, he missed his wardrobe. Just a pair of pants would have been nice.
As he woke once more from slumber he expected to find himself surrounded. The surprise was, was that he wasn't. Tony was alone.
How long have I been here?
Tony had long since lost track of time. It felt like he'd been here weeks at least but without knowing whether they had day and night cycles, Tony was unable to judge exactly how long it had been since he had flown through the portal and right into their grasp. As well as the continuing torture, they didn't feed him either but kept him hydrated by dabbing a wet cloth on his lips every so often and every few days gave him a cup to drink from. It didn't really help his thirst but it ensured he continued to survive.
I wonder if I will ever see food again? God I want a cheeseburger.
Tony longed for his favourite takeaway food; a good old American cheese burger. As he lay on the table, his stomach grumbled. He was in pain from never-ending hunger.
On a semi-regular basis – Tony calculated about once a week – a group of Chitauri would free him from the table he was chained to, force him to shower, and then manipulate his arms and legs to avoid muscle wastage, getting him to walk around a small section of the ship to keep his strength up. He didn't have enough strength to fight back whenever they did this. The first time he had attempted it, he'd been sorely punished for disobedience. He'd learned to value the time they allowed him off the table. It allowed him to renew his mental strength preventing him from falling apart the next time they tortured him.
He had lost weight though. If he ever saw himself in the mirror again, he was sure he wouldn't be able to recognise himself.
Then he heard footsteps outside his cell and the door swung open.
Tony braced himself for the group of Chitauri to surround him and begin making him scream and bleed. He was, however, surprised when the Other appeared in his vision.
Worry instantly filled his gut, killing any hunger Tony may have had.
The Other reached out and patted Tony's hair, stroking it as if he was a prized pet (though to be fair he probably was).
"Do you know how long you have been in our care, human?" the Other asked, dragging his fingers down Tony's face.
He wouldn't answer. Tony made no movement to indicate he had heard. It probably wasn't a wise idea to antagonise him.
A hand grasped his chin tightly, twisting his head around so he was forced to look into the hood of the Other, into the dark, shining eyes of his captor.
"In your Earth time, you've been in our tender care for three months."
Tony tried not to feel fear or react to the comment. The hand squeezed his chin.
"You are being brought before Thanos, the Dark Lord, who desires information from you. It would be wise if you told us before you are brought before him. If you think you have known pain thus far then you are sorely mistaken," the Other hissed menacingly. "We are taking our journey slow to give you the chance to save yourself… Now… do yourself a favour and tell us your name!" The Other released Tony's chin.
Tony glared at his captor. Mustering what he could, Tony spat at the Other. "Fuck off."
"Insolent human!" the Other raged. "There is no harm in a name!"
"Yes… there is!" answered Tony. Angering the Other further seemed to be the only thing he was good at. It wasn't like he had anything better to do.
"Then tell me why your name will harm you?" the Other asked, curving its fingers around Tony's face.
Tony kept his lips shut. He wasn't even going to dignify the Other with a response.
"You don't know why, do you?" the Other purred.
The hand moved down to Tony's chest, where the arc reactor was embedded in his chest.
"What is this piece of metal in your chest?"
It was a new question. Tony felt weary. "Just decoration," he managed. He was certain his captor wouldn't believe him.
"Then you won't mind if I remove you of it." The Other reached forward to grasp the reactor.
"No!" Tony shouted.
The Other's carefully hidden eyes peered out from under its hood, watching Tony's expressions change from stubbornness to fear and back to stubbornness again. "Why shouldn't I remove it if it is just a decoration? You have no need for items of pleasure. You won't need them again." The Other leaned in close.
"Your breath stinks," muttered Tony, trying to turn his head away but the grip on his chin was too tight.
The Other moved fast, its hand grasping the Arc Reactor.
Tony felt a tug and the Arc Reactor was twisted in his chest. "No!"
"Your name first," the Other hissed.
It was still powering the magnetic field in his chest but if the Other lifted it out, the pieces of shrapnel would begin moving towards his heart. His heart would be shredded and he would die.
A part of him did want to die. After all, he was never getting back home again. He was trapped here. Having the Arc Reactor removed would be one sure way to kill him. It would be painful but it would be over soon… The thought was tempting.
"No." Tony valiantly denied the Other the information he needed. Bye Pepper. I love you.
The Other pulled the Arc Reactor out of his chest.
One hand was still on his chin, and Tony closed his eyes. His chest hurt, throbbing and aching all at once. He knew the pieces were beginning to move forward, to sink in towards his heart, getting ready to pierce the chambers, and take his life…
And that was when a metallic voice sounded in the room jerking Tony's eyes open in horror.
"WARNING: CARDIAC ARREST IMMINENT!"
The Other pierced Tony with an arresting gaze and he shoved the Reactor back into Tony's chest, twisting it back in place.
Damn it! Tony cursed in his own mind.
The Other's hand moved from Tony's chest to his neck, squeezing. "Did you really think we didn't have ways of monitoring you in here?"
Tony couldn't reply. The metallic hand of the six-fingered Other was practically cutting off his air.
"You belong to our Master, human. You will only die when he wishes it!" The hand squeezed tighter on Tony's neck. "We can take you as close to death as possible, especially with monitoring in place to ensure you do not end your own life!"
Tony whimpered as the Other squeezed his throat tighter. Spots danced in his vision. They didn't want him to die but they were doing a damn good job of making him feel like they were going to kill him.
The Other released his throat and Tony coughed, gulping in air, moving his body as much as possible within the chains holding him in place.
"I know you will not answer us…" The Other's hand curled around Tony's chin, forcing his prisoner to look at him. "But I think I know what the device in your chest does. After all… no human has one… You are unique…"
Tony swallowed, the fear settling in the pit of his stomach.
The Other's hand moved to the Arc Reactor again, gently caressing it. "If you are unwilling to say I will have to experiment…"
Tony stiffened.
The Other noticed. "You're frightened. Why not tell me the truth of this device?"
Tony looked away, refusing to speak.
The Other wasted no time in twisting the Arc Reactor, causing Tony to buckle in the chains. Lifting it out of its casing, the Other turned the device over in his hands to examine it. Tony lay there in intense agony as his chest screamed at him through the pain.
It started as pinpricks before it spread across his chest and down his back. His heart beat increased and then decreased as the part of the Arc Reactor acting as a pacemaker was withdrawn. Burning pain in the centre of his chest… He was struggling to breathe.
Tony whimpered.
The Other's fingers were at the hole in his chest. "I could touch your heart, human… You are so vulnerable to me like this." The fingers prodded along the lining.
Tony twisted his head from side to side. He could feel the Other's fingers inside his chest, sliding closer to his fluttering heart. "No… No…!"
His chest was hurting. His breath hard to come by… Where was the voice that alerted the Other to Tony's imminent death?
Then…
"WARNING: CARDIAC ARREST IMMINENT!"
The Arc Reactor was placed back inside his chest, restoring his heart to a normal rhythm. The aches in his chest reduced until they were completely gone. Tony lay there, gasping for air, trying to steady his breathing as the Other watched him, fascinated by his prisoner's weakness.
"We could do this all day," suggested the Other, stroking Tony's face.
Tony whimpered. He didn't want to. He really didn't want to.
"All we require is a name… Just one name." The Other's voice was seductive and suggestive. Tony nearly gave in.
But he didn't.
"No…" he whispered in return, sounding weak. He didn't care. He just couldn't give in.
The Arc Reactor was taken out for a third time.
And the cycle repeated itself.
By the time the Other had experimented removing the Arc Reactor for a further five times, Tony was at his wits end. The Other was fascinated by how removing the Reactor caused Tony's body to fail. The handy sensor in the room that alerted his captors to whenever he was close to death prevented them from letting him slide too far from them.
His chest was in constant agony and his breathing was irregular, despite his heart being paced by the pacemaker. The effects of having it removed quickly one after the other was taking its toll on him.
Tony was moaning from exhaustion. He had tried to fight back but the bonds keeping him tied to the table were unbreakable.
Sweat adorned his face and Tony knew he couldn't keep this up much longer. He felt weak and tired. Repeated attempts of having the arc removed was surely going to kill him eventually. There was only so much trauma his body could take.
The six-fingered hand moved to hover over the Arc Reactor once again, gently stroking it. "This truly is a fascinating object… Its power feels different… We could scan you and find out exactly what causes your heart to fail when I remove this device." The hand moved to Tony's scarred cheek. "However it would be easier for you to tell us. Either way we are going to find out."
Tony pressed his lips together. No, he wouldn't. He couldn't.
"Or your name would suffice."
Tony turned his head away. Refusal was the only thing he had left to use. His defiance kept him strong but he knew his will to stay strong was crumbling with each passing moment. The reasonable part of his brain was already arguing with him about his decision to keep on resisting.
The Arc Reactor was removed once again.
Tony's heart became irregular and he started to shake as pain blossomed across his chest. He struggled to draw breath whilst lying on his back. It was becoming quicker and quicker each time before the Arc Reactor needed to be reinstalled. The Other's finger was tracing the metal inside his chest, slowly moving down towards his struggling, but still beating heart.
"No…" Tony whimpered.
The Other paused in its movements, watching his prisoner carefully. Then he proceeded to trace his finger further into Tony's body, getting closer to his heart.
The warning came again, prompting the need to return the Arc Reactor to its casing. Tony wasn't given long to recover before it was removed again and the Other's hand was once again inside his chest, tracing the inside of the casing.
And then Tony felt it.
A finger brushed his heart, as it continued to flutter, first faster and then slower and faster again.
Fear flooded within him and Tony closed his eyes. He couldn't do it. He just couldn't…
The finger seemed to press deeper into the surface of the organ and Tony felt his heart flutter. He felt sick to the stomach and tears leaked out of his eyes.
"WARNING: CARDIAC ARREST IMMINENT!"
The Other withdraw his hand and replaced the Arc Reactor.
Tears were streaking down Tony's cheeks. He didn't care now. He felt violated. He couldn't get the feeling out of his chest of the fingers touching his heart.
"You liked it when I touched your heart, didn't you?" the Other whispered, close to Tony's ear. "Would you like me to continue?"
Tony just continued to sob. He was lost in the horror of what was being done to him. Of the methods they used and how far they were willing to go to get him to talk.
The hand descended again, twisting the Arc Reactor out of its casing, removing it. The fingers were inside, tracing the edges of the metal casing inside, slowly descending towards his heart once more.
"Tony!"
The Other paused in its movements, glancing at his prisoners tear-stained and fearful face. "What did you say, human?"
Tony laid there, his eyes fogged over from tears. He couldn't… but he'd already said it…
The hand continued to move down the casing.
"Tony Stark!"
The Other stopped. "Say it again."
Tony blinked his tears away, struggling to breathe. "Tony Stark." He turned his head away, shame roaring through him. "My name is Tony Stark."
The hand was removed and the Arc Reactor returned to its place inside his chest.
The Other leaned in close to Tony's face, gripping his chin tightly in three of its fingers. "Tony… Stark…"
Tony shivered at his name being spoken by the Other. It felt wrong and it frightened him.
"That wasn't so hard was it?" The Other caressed his face. "Now, perhaps you have told us your name, you will tell me more about this device in your chest… Or will I have to touch your heart again?"
Tony stilled; his breathing heavy as he watched the Other's hand touch the Reactor again. He couldn't do it, not anymore. Not if they threatened him with this each time they wanted something. It was his breaking point. "No… don't."
"Then tell me…" the Other urged. "Or I will feel your heart flutter underneath my fingers again."
Tony closed his eyes. He never wanted to feel the Other's fingers on his heart again. But he knew if he didn't speak then he'd have no choice in the matter. Fighting back the urge to vomit at his cowardliness, Tony let himself speak, breaking that tiny bit more as he revealed the secret behind his Arc Reactor.
"It keeps me alive…" Tony turned his head away. He didn't want to see the monster forcing him to speak. "There are pieces of metal close to my heart. The Arc Reactor prevents them from moving forward and piercing it. It's too dangerous to remove the pieces. The Arc Reactor also acts as a pacemaker to keep my heart in rhythm." He swallowed, still feeling sick to the stomach. He'd just betrayed himself. "There. Now you know." He felt tears welling up in his eyes again.
He couldn't cry. He couldn't… but Tony did.
The Other moved away from him, finally lifting his hand away from Tony's chest. "This has been a very enlightening experience. Thank you, Tony, for being co-operative."
Tony felt the chains on his hands and ankles loosen. Surprised, he found the Other had released him from the chains that had strapped him down to the table. Feeling weak and utterly mortified over what he'd done, Tony barely moved, just continued to breathe as tears continued to slide from his eyes.
"We will return for more questions soon…" announced the Other. "As a reward for your co-operation, you have been released from your chains. Use the time wisely to rest, Tony Stark. This is only the beginning of your torment."
Tony heard the door to his cell open and the Other left, leaving Tony laying on the table, cold and naked, but with his arms and legs free.
Now he was alone, the tears came freely and he wailed out-loud. Not caring that they were monitoring him, probably watching him right now. He turned to the side, finally rolling, into a protective ball. His arms wrapped around his chest, with his left hand touching his Arc Reactor.
"There's no point…" he muttered to himself. "Even if I could…"
He could end this by removing the Arc Reactor but Tony was sure they'd stop him if he even tried. He expected there would be guards nearby who were on duty who could respond to the monitoring system if Tony was close to death. They'd chain him again and he didn't want that.
Realisation struck that he was in a dead end. He could do nothing to help himself apart from lie there and wait for the Other's return.
He lay in his cell, curled up in a ball upon the flat surface he had been chained upon, and waited for the pain to begin again.
To be continued...
Please let me know what you think!
Tony's situation is getting worse but he did reveal his name and the purpose of the Arc Reactor. This was a terrifying chapter to write personally, especially with the Other touching Tony's heart. Not entirely sure how realistic that is, or if its even touchable through the arc reactor but I really wanted to terrify Tony so I hope this works.
There is worse still to come but it is necessary to show Tony's torment. Hopefully everyone sticks with this story until we get past this and onto the next part of the fic.
More next week!
Until then,
the-writer1988
