Ben brought Victor to a room in Reed's lab and put him on a bed there. It had become a habit that people, mostly other super-heroes, wanted Reed's advice if their powers went hay-wire and so the Fantastic Four had installed a few rooms for their 'patients'. Grimm called Sue and Johnny, and as soon as they arrived Ben explained that they had a new patient in their little hospital.

"Reed called, he will be here momentarily with Tony," said Sue fiercely, "I hope this wasn't your doing, Victor."

"For once it wasn't me, Susan."

"As much as I want to vet our mortal enemy back into health, my dear sister – unfortunately I've got a date! See you!" Johnny left before Sue could reply.

She sighed and looked at Doom, and her gaze was firm. "Unlock your armour, Victor, Ben and I will have a first look, as soon as Reed arrives he will see to your injuries."

He hesitated; after all he wasn't keen on exposing himself. But you wanted to come here, they know you better than anybody else – and every one of them has already seen your face, like it or not. "Okay," he said more shyly than he had intended and gave the requested command to his armour.

Slowly, very slowly he pulled one piece of armour after the next from his battered body. His broken leg hurt so badly when he pulled his boot away from it that Victor almost threw up, but he gritted his teeth and pulled through. Finally, he was stripped to his underwear, the last piece of armour was his mask. Sue simply handed him a bathrobe with a hood and discreetly looked the other way while he pulled the mask from his face and covered it as well as he could with the hood from the bathrobe. Ben on the other hand didn't avert his gaze, and yet Victor didn't feel humiliated.

"Quite a beating you took, Doom, somebody I know?" remarked Ben as he vetted Victor's leg expertly. Who would've thought that this brute was able to perform such a delicate task? Susan took care of his mistreated left hand. It had been ages since somebody had touched him and it felt strange to say the least. Strange and pleasing, I'm pathetic…

"It was a collapsing building, but the mastermind behind it was Armin Zola," said Victor curtly. He was reluctant to discuss his recent efforts to redeem himself.

xxxxx

Reed stepped into the room; he was looking as full of expectation as ever, there was an air of never-ending boyish curiosity about him. Back at college Victor had despised Richards for the way he got enthusiastic about every piece of science but over the years he had realised that it was envy that had spurred his dislike for Richards. Science as well as magic had and will always be a means to an end, nothing more, I was too driven to see the beauty in an algorithm or the elegance of a structure… but as I grew older I learned to appreciate the aesthetic pleasure of technology.

"I've brought Tony with me, he is stable – thanks to your efforts, Victor – and should recover in the next few days. Now let me have a look at your injuries." Reed stretched himself half across the room and examined his 'patient'.

"So, let me get this right, Victor von Doom actually saved somebody? What a revolting development!" rumbled Ben. "What's next? Galactus opening a kindergarden?"

"Actually there were three people saved by Victor, Peter Parker, Tony and a woman named Sophie Linder," said Reed absently while he used a bio-scanner to vet Victor's lung.

"I stand corrected," murmured Ben.

xxxxx

After the treatment Reed and Sue left to have a look at Tony who was apparently lying in the next room, Victor wasn't surprised that Ben had stayed behind. Grimm is the only pragmatist in the Fantastic Four, and he is smart enough to mistrust me.

"So," began Ben, "what's this about? And don't give me your usual crap." He closed in on Victor and crossed his arm.

"It's about flexibility, Grimm. And about anticipations that turn us into decals of our former self."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Victor hesitated shortly. "I once had a vision… for my country and my people. But look at me now… Our eternal struggle has almost turned me into a raving madman with an obsession about Richards."

"Really? 'Almost'?" interjected Ben, but Victor chose to ignore the comment and continued.

"You should know what I'm talking about, Ben. You were a decorated pilot with a keen intellect as I would presume, before you became the Thing, and yet you fulfil the role of the mindless brute with the golden heart. Don't you ever tire from that?"

"Yes, I do. There are days when I just want to smash everything around me, but you already knew that, didn't you?"

"Yes, but my point is, that I don't want to lose the last shred of my sanity, and so I decided that I want to change something. Do not mistake my efforts for superficial redemption… I cannot be redeemed, but at least I can make sure that I don't suffer anymore because of my choices in the past."

"It's always about you, isn't it?" Ben snorted.

"Of course, but to quote you: You already knew that, didn't you?" Victor gave Ben a half-hearted smile. Hm, it is still strange to express emotions with my face.

"Do you know what the sad thing is, Vic? I actually believe that you mean it – but I don't think that you can change. It's only a matter of months until you pull out your weapons of mass-destruction and go all Doom over our asses again." Ben went to the door and turned around a last time. "But we will be there and stop you, as always." Then he left.

Victor's face distorted into a grimace of anger. The audacity! Grimm thinks that he knows me better than I myself! Damn his eyes! Doom… I'm not so fickle! Victor grabbed a writing pad from the table next to him and started to write with haste. I will show him that nobody should underestimate Doom!

xxxxx

There were only hazy shadows when Tony opened his eyes, he mumbled: "Who is there?" One of the blurs came closer, the man in the bed begun to smile when he recognized Reed who was holding a scanner in his hand. "How come that you're always bending above me when I wake up, Reed? One could think that we were lovers, darling."

"Hmmm, yes…" replied Reed and fiddled with his device. Then he realised that he had been in his 'science-place' and looked like he was caught in the act. Reed put the scanner away. "I'm sorry, Tony, did you say anything?"

"What he meant to say is 'How are you feeling?'" said Sue, she was standing on the other side of Tony's bed. He rubbed his eyes and blinked several times. The haze disappeared.

"Considering that I body-switched twice, was electrocuted, tortured with a drill and shot… surprisingly well," he replied with a lopsided grin.

"Another Thursday, then," rumbled Ben as he entered the room.

"But it's Saturday," said Reed and had a confused look about him, he even checked the calendar on his tablet.

"It's only a figure of speech, Reed." He is so adorable! Or was it adorkable?

"Right… yes, I got that," replied the slender scientist without convincing anybody in the room. "Well, I ran all checks, you're going to be alright, Tony. A couple of days rest and you should be your old self." Reed smiled at his friend.

"Excellent! Thank you Reed! While I'm staying here we could work on our projects, I've thought about the problem with the energy-feedback in the transponder…" Reed was immediately fascinated and had almost gleaming eyes when he heard that Tony was getting ready to do science with him, but they were interrupted by Sue.

"I won't tell you to take it easy, Tony, I know you too well, but my dear husband has neglected to tell you that you owe your life to Victor. Without him you would've died before Reed could have reached you." She placed her hand on Tony's right shoulder and stroked him softly. "It was a close call, and I'm glad that you're still here."

Well, I had a couple of close calls, but it's the first time that I got saved by the villain. Hmm, twice actually, but while he just wanted to get to Sophie the first time… Did Doom really change? He could've just stood by while the 'peasant' died. "I… Thank you Sue, perhaps I should thank him."

"Good thing he's just next door," rumbled Ben, "you're on sick leave together, Tin Can."

"How come?" asked Tony frowning.

"Victor has sustained heavy injuries, bruised rips, a broken leg and a punctured lung. He had lost so much blood that he was in need of medical attention – but of course he wouldn't go to a regular hospital," explained Reed.

"Well, he didn't look too good in Zola's hide-out… Do you have any word from Sophie? How is she doing?"

"I don't know, she was taken to a hospital. I was told that she only needed a blood transfusion to get better… but I will make inquiries," replied Reed and left the room to make calls.

"Steve sends his regards, Tony, he will come visit you as soon as possible, but there is still business to take care of… it seems that the police commissioner doesn't understand why the Avengers didn't simply take down Victor for good," said Sue and handed Tony a glass of water.

It seems that I've missed the grand finale. "What happened anyway? Doom surrendered, didn't he?" He took a sip of water from the glass standing on his nightstand, the cool water felt incredibly good in his dry throat.

"The situation escalated after you were shot by a stray bullet, the police opened fire and well, Victor summoned demons from hell," explained Sue.

"Of course, what else?" replied Tony. "It seems that I left the party too early…"

"But before anything could happen Victor made the demons disappear, so that you and Sophie Linder could get medical attention."

Huh, look at that, only Doom would use hell-spawn to restore peace and quiet. "You didn't mention Peter, I hope he is alright?"

"Yes, I am – thanks for asking!" Spider Man entered the room with a large bouquet of flowers. "How come that nobody mentions my heroics in all this? Scandalous, simply scandalous!"

Ben laughed and padded Peter roughly on his back.

"Since when do you bring flowers when I'm sick, Peter?" asked Tony.

"Hmpf, they're not for you but for my new best friend – Vic! But Carol asked me to give you this." Peter handed Tony a cute puppet with curly hair and a pink dress. What the…?

"Victor will be annoyed…" began Sue but Peter interrupted her.

"Of course, that's the point!" And with that Peter went to the next patient.

xxxxx

Spidey barged into Doom's room and yelled: "Vic! How are you doing?" Peter was surprised by the sight in front of him: Victor wasn't wearing his usual garb, but a white bathrobe. It seemed almost unimaginable to think of Victor von Doom without picturing him in his armour. He appeared strangely vulnerable, lying in a bed, only covered by a simple robe. "I brought you flowers since our first date was such a blast!"

"I'm not in the mood for your humoristic attempts… leave," replied Victor and turned his head slightly away from Peter while pulling the hood down. I should've kept my mask on… but I was… I am so tired of it. Victor put down the writing pad and rubbed his temples.

"No need to be such a sourpuss," said Peter and placed the flowers in an empty vial, "I just wanted to thank you for saving my butt out there."

"You said your piece, you can leave."

"Nope, you haven't answered my question – how are you doing?" Peter saw that Doom's bloody armour was lying next to the bed, the mask of top of it. "Do you want your mask? I could…"

"No!" Victor almost yelled and then cursed under his breath for losing his composure. "No, and I'm fine. If you have any respect for me, then go away."

"Aw, you should know by now that I don't respect anybody. I stay!"

"Shall I call upon my legions of undead to remove you?"

"Aaaand… I'm out. Bye-bye, Vic!" Spidey exited the room and returned to Tony.

xxxxxx

"Sheesh, he is in a foul mood," Peter complained as he entered Tony's room and approached Sue and Ben who were standing next to the bedside.

"Strange, usually Vic is all about flowers and rainbows," grumbled Grimm and stamped away. Reed skilfully stretched himself over Ben as he entered the room.

"Ms. Linder is alright, Tony."

"Great, I should call Laura to tell her that Sophie is safe now," Tony reached for his mobile phone and dialled Laura's number. Reed and Sue announced that they would be back later and left. Laura was of course relieved and thanked him for his help – Tony gave her a short account of the events and hung up quickly lest Laura could go to Sophie.

How strange to tell somebody that they owe their loved one's life to Doom… I wonder what his next move will be? Perhaps I should check on him… and ask him about the puppet.

The pain-killers were working pretty well, but Tony still had to struggle a little to get up. He limped to the door next to his and knocked softly, then he opened it and peeked inside. Victor was writing something on a writing pad and ignored him, several sheets of paper were lying across the bedside. Tony limped closer and took a seat in a chair that was standing on the right side of the bed.

Victor sighed. "First the Spider and now you… Had I know that I would be pestered like that I would've chosen to bleed to death in my private chamber."

"My my, aren't you a ray of sunshine…" Tony took out the puppet with the shrill pink dress and threw it on Victor's bed. "Isn't that what you wanted? To be molested by the likes of us?"

Doom picked up the puppet and looked at it thoughtfully. "Perhaps… but I want to keep my dignity if you don't mind, I won't degrade all my previous decisions – which were mostly based on pragmatism – by embracing all conversations and contacts you're so 'kindly' offering me. On the contrary, I'm offering you my good grace and not the other way around." Victor put the puppet on his nightstand and continued to write.

"Sure, you're a gift to mankind, Victor, but do you really think that it works like that? You're the one who is lonesome, beggars can't be choosers."

Victor stopped his writing. Drat, I can't even stare at him because I'm not wearing my mask! Averting my gaze like a schoolgirl! But no more!Victor slowly turned his head towards Stark and eyed him up, fully aware that the other man could see his mutilated face. "Doom never begs, you would do well to remember that!"

Tony didn't flinch at the sight of Doom's destroyed face, after all he had worn that very face himself. "Stark doesn't react well to threats," he said in his best Doom-imitation.

"Doom doesn't appreciate being mocked!"

"Stark doesn't care!" Finally Tony burst out laughing.

To his surprise Victor joined in. "It sounds really silly to talk in the third person, doesn't it? I'm actually trying to fix that."

"Well, at least you can pull it off – look at me, it sounds ridiculous if I'm trying to talk like that."

"One of the perks of being the scourge of the free world," replied Victor surprisingly playfully.

At this moment Reed stepped into the room and absent-mindedly nodded toward the two men. "Evening, Sue told me… oh, what are you working on, Victor?" And with sparkling eyes he looked over the formulas Doom had written down. "That's… amazing!"

Tony knew from experience that Reed was about to go into his little science-world and interjected: "Reed, what did Sue say?"

"Fascinating! Victor, that seems to be a working cure for Ben! It's so simple and effective!"

What? Doom can actually accomplish what Reed couldn't? On the other hand he could transform Sharon Ventura and Desmond Pitt, perhaps he discovered the key to reversing the effect?

"Bah, of course, D… I also included a genome sequence that would allow Grimm to change at will. It was simply a matter of splicing the DNA with the appropriate…" Before Victor could end the sentence Reed hugged him with all his might – he even wrapped his arms several times around his former nemesis. "Let go of me, you insolent…"

"You did it; you are granting a member of my family their deepest wish!" Reed laughed and even had tears in his eyes. "Victor, you don't know what it means to us! What it means to Ben!" Reed rushed out of the room, Tony could hear him calling out to Sue and Ben.

Tony looked at Doom questioningly. Why did he…

Victor smiled quietly. "Richards is the only one who always reached out to me, even when I was at my lowest… It was long overdue."

"So… you're officially one of the good guys now, at least for the time being," said Tony while scratching his head, "do you want a deep conversation about your motives and your regrets – with the occasional witty abuse from both sides – or do you fancy a game of chess in steely silence?"

"I guess we could insult each other while playing chess, two birds with a stone, don't you think, 'peasant'?"

"Of course, 'Tin Can'."

There is no way I can lose.

There is no way I can lose.