At last and early update! Thank you Agnomen Loki for your kind review and thank you to the new followers I greatly appreciate it. This isn't a heavy chapter.

Italics=Nightmare

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Chapter Twelve

"Dear Brutus the fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves."

Weeks had passed and nothing had changed in regards to the separation. Tony had kept to themes was too far for even the mighty to cross.

There had been silence breathtakingly so. His assumptions all the while heartbreaking and deserving proved true. He wasn't wanted back and neither Jarvis nor the truth could tell him different. He had thought for a moment before the meeting that he was wrong when he left that his sight was blinded by the past's thick veil. He regretted these thoughts for so long he had only known the emptiness and solace of being alone. He was aware of all the conversations that went on around the house whenever he was discussed. Jarvis had alerted him when he was pried for answers. A simple 'mister Stark is currently sleeping or eating' whatever would get them off his back. Luckily he had an equipped lab for this scenario.

"Jarvis, what is the spreading rate to the other organs and its projected progression?"

"It will slowly envelop the small intestine within the end of the month if you do not regularly keep up with your treatments. At this rate there are only four months until it will envelope the whole body."

"We have discussed this I can make my own decisions."

"Sir, the others are getting rather restless without any visits up stairs. If you wish to silence them you must make an appearance."

"Fine then set up one round of treatment while I am gone."

"Right away."

As much as he'd hate to admit it he needed Jarvis and this therapy. He didn't want to live but yet he couldn't stand this pain. The therapy had taken a toll on his appearance, gone were his brown locks and tan skin. His hair was loosing volume and he took to shaving it before going up and covered as much skin as he could to lessen the appearance of skin and bones. After twenty minutes of taking in his new appearance he decided to face his fear. A slow strenuous journey up the metal stairs proved to be harder than before. Drawing a shaky breath he opened the door to the kitchen. Conversation stopped all eyes on him.

"Hey Tony, I like the new look," Steve always one for small talk.

"Thanks." He guessed it was dinner as they were gathered over the table serving themselves Chinese food. A false smile flitted over his exhausted face.

"Here sit we always ordered your favorite, just incase you're hungry." Bruce remarked observing his every move.

"I can't I've got to finish this project before it gets too late. Thank you anyway." Dumb excuse he thought, they would know he was lying he never went to bed early.

"Alright well if you change your mind it'll be in the fridge."

He turned slowly a large part of him wanting to flee down the stairs as quickly as he could. Knowing it would not be wise he took a leisurely pace but quick enough not to hear their mindless chatter.

Something was definitely wrong; there was no longer any chance of denial.

"What changed?" It was a question present on each one of their minds. What had caused this new person? In all honesty they knew the answer was something far greater then they knew.

"We need to fix this; it can't go on for much long. Something is wrong with him don't deny it. Before it's too late," Thor was the voice of reason for once and he wasn't wrong.

"Sir the treatment is ready for admittance."

"Great," the sarcasm dripping in his response, unintentional but ever present in his voice.

Tony set himself up on the couch/bed hooking his arm to the I.V. one for easing the pain, one for ending it. His body burned with the medicine entering his veins while his vibrant thoughts went on idle. He settled into a blissful unawareness before his dreams took over.

The plates were cleared from the table and they were settling in for a movie. Tonight it was Batman: The Dark Night Rises.

"Shouldn't we ask Tony to join us we did see him?"

"Good idea Steve, Jarvis is Tony done with his project?"

"He has asked to be undisturbed at the moment, Agent Barton."

"Shocking," Natasha responded.

"Quit it Nat if it wasn't for him we'd be out on the street."

Maybe next time then, they had to keep a more watchful eye on their lost team mate.

He was seventeen in this nightmare but the look of his height but he remembered it all too well.

"Dad you're coming to graduation right, its tomorrow?"

"No can't you see that I'm busy I don't have time to for such trivial matters." Howard never had time for anything as trivial as his son.

"How many years are you going to try to find the dead body of a lost hero? He's dead and when you do find the pile of bones I hope it was worth it." The glass of the shattered whiskey bottle narrowly missed his head. He wouldn't show fear to his father, not anymore.

"Leave and don't ever comeback, you are nothing to me anymore." His father shouted at him as walked away from the R and D department of Stark Industries.

"Goodbye Howard."

Unsurprisingly as he looked out into the sea of proud parents and relatives he didn't see his own. There had been a glimmer of hope in his heart that his parents would show up at the very least his mother. The disappointment of reality nearly caused him to stumble down the stairs after accepting his diploma.

Jarvis stood there waiting after it was all over the only man he would listen to. This was the day he grew up.

"Congratulations Sir."

"Thank you Jarvis."

Stepping into the car he wasn't sure where he was going, he no longer had a home.

His dreams always lead to here to this very moment his life changed. It was funny when he looked at it, he was never good enough. History would always repeat and when the time came he would disappoint those he had loved.

Author's Note:

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Ciao,

Chloe