Chapter 35: Reprise Chapters: Iron Man (Part one)

Long before Tony's birthday and before all the Mandarin and Obadiah nonsense, The younger Tony and Steve still dealt with the way they felt about one another. At that point, they were both stuck in a house together and they both felt like they were being watched. The only moment either of them had to themselves was when they were in their own bedrooms.

That was when Tony gave Steve a song to listen to. He tried to give him subliminal messages. The music was the only way that they could be ALONE. Each night he gave him a new song and it told Steve exactly what was on his mind. Tony knew exactly what he felt and he let Steve know any chance he got.

-Two months earlier-

Steve heard a knock on his bedroom door. He looked up from his sketch and he turned the music down a bit. He slowly took the headphones off his ears. Steve glanced at the time...

It was just after 2 AM. He hesitated for a moment and then stood up to see who it was. He knew exactly who it was and he wasn't sure if it was a good idea to open the door. Tony was about to turn away and retreat back to his own bedroom, but Steve opened the door before he was able to run away.

ACK! Tony cringed and did his best to act casual.

He was hopped up on Oxycontin, and he did one line of coke because he couldn't get Steve off his mind. His thoughts raced and raced until he made a mental commitment. He left his room and worked up the courage to talk to him.

"...You're up late." Steve gave Tony a simple smile and he made sure to block any view into his bedroom. Steve was stubborn and he was compelled to keep Tony OUT.

If he kept Tony out of his bedroom meant that he was also out of his head. Because he wasn't attracted to Tony Stark, and his bedroom was officially off limits.

"Same with you. Uh do you have a pen?" Tony asked and Steve stared with a blank expression. He almost laughed but Steve crossed his arms instead. He leaned against the left side of his door frame.

"A pen?" Really Tony? That was the best he could come up with? Tony was all smiles and he looked really out of it. Tony chuckled like a little devil and he poked at the wall. Steve could see that he was intoxicated. It was painful for him to watch.

The agents were supposed to clear his room of any drugs or alcohol, but Tony always seemed to have something up his sleeve. Steve knew when he used and when he didn't. He used drugs the most when he became bored or lonely.

"Haha yup. I need a pen." Tony paced several steps multiple times. Then he went back to poking the wall. Tony moved a bit closer and he leaned against the right side of Steve's door frame.

A bored, lonely, and intoxicated Tony Stark a scary sight. He was a thrill-seeker that could NOT sit still. To keep someone like that on house-arrest wasn't very smart. Steve knew that it just asked for trouble.

He didn't want to argue with Howard about it, so.. Steve just went along with it. Tony pulled himself together for a moment and spoke again.

"I can't find one anywhere! And I thought wow I have this really attractive person full of pens down the hall, so ..yeah! Hello." Tony waved as if Steve was twenty feet away.

He ignored the "attractive person" comment and he just stared at Tony. Tony swallowed and took notice that Steve ignored his attempt to flirt with him. For some reason, he felt like he really sucked when he tried to flirt with the Yankee.

Tony tried to look in his room. He wanted to take a peek but Steve got in the way of his line of sight. Steve took a step toward Tony and he looked into his eyes.

"Are you drunk?"

"MAYBE? OK forget the pen! I just wanted to ask you something important." Tony leaned harder against the door frame. He gave Steve the most alluring look he could muster up. Steve tried not to smile and he ignored Tony's obvious attempt to flirt with him.

"What is it Tony?" Steve looked down the hallway for a moment and then he forced a sigh. What he really wanted to do was laugh at him. Not in a rude way of course. Steve just found so much humor in Tony's behavior.

Tony stared up at him and he began to ramble.

"I have a couple questions actually. First one. Uhh.. did you listen to the song?" He asked his question. Steve glanced back over in the direction of his desk. Yes. He listened to the song and he got Tony's message loud and clear.

"Rebel Yell by Billy Idol? Did you listen to it yet? The second verse of the song is really what I wanted you to hear. The "what set you free" part and all the rest.." MORE LIKE EVERY WORD. Tony's attention went from a random indentation in the door frame over to Steve's shirt. He wanted to touch it and he bit his lip.

"I listened to it. Yes. I didn't understand some of the references, but I listened to it." Tony smiled because every word of the song was for Steve. He was so happy to know that he listened to it. Tony thought about the song as he stood outside his door.

"I can tell you. I can tell you all about it." Tony held his smile. He wanted to educate Steve in so many ways. Steve thought about the song and he began to feel warm. Tony's music affected him. He didn't know if it was the beat of the music? The rhythm? He couldn't figure it out. Every song Tony had him listen to had a hi-octane uhhhh intense energy to it that Steve had never heard before.

Tony held that same energy every second of his life. Steve could feel the energy from him as he stood right there in front of him. Steve 's thoughts were inward and he became too quiet. Tony asked his second question.

"Can I have my-"

"NO. You need to stop asking me that." Steve made sure to interrupt because one of the agents was stationed right outside the hallway.

"Whaa? Talk about a curve ball. You totally almost kissed me the other day." Tony frowned and Steve had a mild panic attack. Tony did not care what any of the agents heard. He kept the conversation going and he stared deep into Steve's uncomfortable stance.

"Are you even a little bit attracted to me yet?" He was currently loud and proud. Steve cleared his throat and almost held a glare.

"NO."

"Well, that's not fair at all." Tony frowned again.

"Why is that?" Steve asked a question and he regretted the decision immediately. It opened the floor for Tony say something he didn't want to hear.

"Because, I'm really attracted to you." Tony looked away and Steve took a step back.
It felt like all the oxygen in the hallway was lodged in his throat for a moment. Steve was unable to get any air into his lungs.

His eyes immediately dropped to Tony's lips. Tony noticed it and he tried to move in. UGH he wanted to shove the Yankee into that bedroom behind him and show him what the song was all about. Steve could feel it. He could feel the energy that Tony sent in his direction and he wanted it. He fucking wanted it.

He had ignored all the comments. He said no each and every time Tony asked for that ridiculous kiss. He ignored the looks Tony gave him, and he forced himself to ignore the body language. Most of all? HE IGNORED THE SONGS.

Now, Tony stood at his door and his forwardness was hard to ignore. Steve forced his eyes to close and he tried to think of a way out. His face felt hot. Steve was at a point where he wanted to be alone too. He wanted to be alone with him. The soldier struggled to resist at that point. It was because he felt so locked up. That had to have been the reason. If they were ever alone Steve knew what would happen. Wait what? Steve tried not to think.

Tony couldn't stand the silence. He gently touched Steve's hand. He tried to pull Steve toward him but the Yankee remained in place. Steve opened his eyes and he looked down at that hand.

"Goodnight Tony." Steve pulled away from him and Tony's little heart dropped to his feet.
"Aw Yankee come on. You-" Tony stopped abruptly because Steve acted on his current thought. The door to the bedroom closed for a moment and then the door opened again.

"Here you go.." Steve held a pen in Tony's direction. Tony was every shade of confused. He was frustrated and he felt rejected. He wondered why Steve always shut him out like that?! He took the pen and he turned away.

"Goodnight Steve." Jerk. Tony took the walk of shame back to his room and he slammed his bedroom door.

-back in the cave of wonder-

Steve shook the memory from his mind as he made it to the mouth of the cave. He was worried about Tony and he couldn't get him off his mind. The moment he stood out in the open he was bombarded with henchmen from the Ten Rings. They opened fire on him and he used his shield for cover.

The bullets ceased at some point, it gave Steve the chance he needed to throw that shield as hard as he could. It collided into one of the men and the sound of his scream echoed throughout the cave.

Steve used so much force in his throw, the shield almost cut the man in half. He was done. Steve was pissed off and no one was able to get in his way. He retrieved his weapon and he slammed it down on the ground. It cut through the soft stone and he used his shield to propel himself over to one of his attackers.

Steve fought them one by one. He carved his way into the cave as he searched for Tony. Howard and Fury were under fire as well, they couldn't find a safe place to land in order to help Steve out.

"If we land this thing we are going to be blown to pieces. SO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?" Fury yelled over at Howard as he readied one of the weapons that fired from the jet. It was one of the only means of defense they had other than Steve.

"Tell Steve he's got to pick up the pace! We can't stay here too long or we're dead meat." Howard looked over at that object that continued to blink and blink. They got distracted and they never acknowledged it.

"The transmitter is still blinking! Do we want to be bothered with the future right now?" Howard grabbed the device and he showed it to Fury.

"If the future me wants to send some help then SURE..why the hell not?!" Nick Fury had no patience for his older self at the moment. But they needed help.

"I got this, so see what they want." Fury said as he shot down some of the men that had opened fire on the jet. Howard activated the transmitter. As soon as he did his jaw fell open. A projection-like image came up and Howard saw three people. Nick Fury, Steve Rogers in the background, and...

"Can they hear me? HELLO?!" He stared directly at his son. Howard's heart skipped a beat as he watched an older Nick Fury and an older version of his son squabble in a projected image.

"STARKkkkk THEY CAN HEAR YOU. Just say what you need to say for fuck's sake."

"BITE ME POPEYE." The older Tony looked at the person that finally responded to the transmission. He stared directly at his dead father. Tony felt his heart sink to the floor. He rubbed at his arm and he wiped a bead of sweat off his forehead.
Tony felt like he was about to pass out. His eyes couldn't move away from his father. Tony was immediately nervous.

"Hi there. Uhm something is obviously happening to my younger self. Normally I just let it go or if it's something sexy I tag along but, this time it's no joke. You guys are going to need some help because I don't think you're going to be able to get to me in time." Howard just stared at the older image of his son. He couldn't speak and he felt a rumble beneath his feet. Howard sucked in a breath and he looked over at Fury. Tony's stomach felt like it was twisted in a knot.

"I'm going to assume that Obadiah Stane is the arch nemesis for the time being? Well, I have a feeling the future is going to come early for the baby version of me, so.." Tony had a bad feeling about his younger self. It was rooted deep in his chest and he couldn't ignore it.

Howard snapped out of his shock and he focused on his son.

"Steve went in the cave below us to get Tony or, well you.. and we're under attack. SO any help you guys can give us would be - " Howard heard something explode beneath them. It caused a rift beneath the jet and they were knocked off course.

Tony froze for a moment and he touched his chest. It freaked him out to hear his father's voice. He watched as a ghost spoke before him. He tried to clear his head. Tony knew that was the absolute last thing he needed to focus on.

"AY AY LISTEN TO ME! You two need to get out of there. The other Steve will get the younger me out. Probably faster than you think. He's good at that. I need you to get your hands on some things because you are going to have to put something together RIGHT NOW. Ok!?" Tony needed his father to focus on something completely different.

He had a feeling that what happened in his time was going to occur to his younger self at a different age. Tony had to take that precaution seriously because if they weren't prepared for it his younger self was going to die.

"DAD. I NEED YOU TO MAKE SOMETHING. Right now. So stop with the Die Hard "save the president" plot line OK!? You need to make something magnetized. Get your hands on a song magnet and a shit ton of medical supplies. Think of something like a miniaturized magnetic chest plate!"

"WHAT PRESIDENT?! WHY?! You're still a damn lunatic we are going to get blown apart!" Howard argued and raised his voice as Tony looked back over at his Steve. HIS YANKEE NEEDED TO HELP HIM! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Tony wanted to bite his dad's head off already.

It was as if no time had passed between the two of them. Steve saw the frustration and he took it as a call for help. He stepped between Tony and Fury. Steve needed to translate Tony's words and help Howard understand.

"Howard? You need to listen to Tony. He's trying to make sure you are ready in case something happens to his younger self. You need to make something that has a very strong magnetic pull and you have to make it now." Steve explained and Howard stared at the two.

The words from the other Steve soaked into his brain. When Tony spoke to him his mind just wandered on and on about the older image of his son. He wondered if his son still hated him, and he wondered how the Tony in front of him grew up.

"You also need to gather all the medical supplies that are around you. Understand?"

Steve's clear words put the situation into perspective for Howard and he started to build something in his head."

"I'll use the neodymium magnets that are attached to the fuel line. Fury will handle the medical supplies." Those were the strongest magnets that came to his mind. He had to make his way to the fuel line and he knew it would to take him some time.

"FURY let's get out of here until Steve needs us to move in." He took off to the core of the jet. Howard was gone the second he said what he did. Tony and Steve both breathed in a deep sigh of relief. They looked at each other and Steve had a questionable look on his face. Uhhh whut?

"Magnets on fuel?" he didn't have a clue and he was overjoyed once Howard got straight to work.

"They add magnets to fuel lines. Strong magnets placed on a fuel line increase gas mileage and they are supposed to reduce emissions." Tony explained and Steve just nodded his head.

"Ah. Good to know." Steve gave Tony a warm smile. Tony closed his eyes because he felt a wave of anxiety. He didn't feel as doped up as before but he was convinced the worst wasn't over. He remained on the transmission in order to help his dad if he needed him. Tony still had to process the conversation he just had with his dead father.
...yeah he'd wrap his head around that at some point.

Back inside the cave, the younger Tony struck Obadiah with the back end of a type 81 assault rifle. It was manufactured by his father's company and Tony saw it as a fitting end for the SNAKE that was in front of him.

He hit him with it over and over. Each blow to his face was met by another. The Mandarin gave Tony the strength and energy to continue his attack. He fed his young mind anger after each assault on the older man.

After a while, the weapon in his hands didn't cause Obadiah enough pain. Tony wanted him to hurt more. He dropped the rifle and started to strike his face with his bare hands. He heard one of the men say something to the Mandarin. He said something about someone being inside the cave.

Tony focused on only one thing. He held a heated rage in his heart and he wanted Obadiah to die. It got to a point where Tony couldn't tell if the blood on his hands were his own or from Obadiah's raw beaten face.
The Mandarin addressed the issue that was outside Tony's focus. He sent more men after the person that hunted through the cave. He didn't fear any person that Howard Stark sent to rescue his son. S.H.I.E.L.D. was a band of idiots in his opinion.

The man walked up to Tony and he made him stop his constant attack on the lifeless Obadiah. The power of the ring compelled Tony to stand up. He dropped his hands to his sides and he stared off at the wall.
Obadiah was lifeless and still. Tony knew that he killed him but he felt no gratification from it. The Mandarin had a direct link to Tony's thoughts.

"Are you not satisfied? Here, kill one of the men that brought you here. He hurt you as well didn't he?" The Mandarin wanted Tony's hands to be soaked with blood and violence. It was such a contrasted image for him to see.

He made one of the chessmen drop to his knees. Tony didn't even look in the person's direction. Obadiah didn't die slow enough. He didn't feel enough pain. HIS DEATH didn't match the level of hate and anger Tony had within him. His mind became obsessed with the thought.

"You are both destruction and creation. I want your hands to do both. Destroy this one little prince.." Tony went to do as he was told. But something flew by him and it made him turn his head. He looked over like an emotionless doll.

He saw a shield slam right into the Mandarin.

The impact of the shield caused the man to collide into the stone wall beside them. The man that smelled like spices and smoke used one of his rings. He disappeared in a cloud of dust. Tony felt the pain return to his body.

The Mandarin lost his focus and it absorbed the strength he gave Tony back into the ring on his finger. A sharp pain branched up Tony's legs. His body collapsed and he became fatigued like before.

Steve caught him and he broke the chain that was around his waist. The Mandarin regained his stance and he stared at the man that came to Tony's rescue. He thought the man was a bold sight to be seen. Obidiah was supposed to bring Captain America to him as well. The man was a beacon of strength and had a ferocity that the Mandarin was smart enough to recognize. He knew that if he engaged in a battle with him he would not win.

His eyes immediately went to the shield that the man held at his side. It adorned the patriotic colors red, white, and blue. The Mandarin's mind wanted to twist the ideology that the shield was supposed to represent.

"So you are what S.H.I.E.L.D. has to offer me?" He wanted to put a giant anarchy symbol in the middle of that shield. He also wanted to have his image contrast just like he did with Tony.

Steve got a good look at the Mandarin. He attached the shield to his back, picked Tony up, and immediately headed out the way he came. He gave the man no response...

Steve started to haul ass out of that cave. Tony's pain had returned completely and the way he was being held made it worse. Tony gripped Steve's uniform. His arms tightened around him and he started to show his discomfort.

Steve noticed that Tony was in pain, he found a safe place and he set him down. He propped Tony up against the wall and he used his body as a barrier. He held Tony up because he was unable to stand on his own.

"I can't.." Tony mumbled what he could and he hid his face against Steve's chest.

"Are you alright? Can you walk?" Steve glanced behind them and then he looked back at Tony.

"I can't. They.." Tony looked down at his hands. He saw all the blood and he gasped loudly. Holy shit he freaked out.

"I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO ALL THAT. I didn't. Obadiah and those fucking men.." Tony started to tear up. He murdered someone. Tears fell down his face and his words got caught in his throat. He had to stop and catch his breath.

Steve pried off one of his gloves and he wiped the tears off Tony's face.

"STEVE I murdered Obi.." Steve stopped the words as they tried to reach his mind. He hugged Tony close regardless if they were still under under a heavy threat. They could be attacked at any moment. The contact hurt Tony. Everything fucking hurt.

He felt like he had to explain himself. Steve could tell that Tony was in so much pain and he just barged into a pretty horrific scene of death. Tony beat Obidiah's face into nothing.

"I tried to get here sooner. I'm so sorry Tony."

"It's all my fault. I kept making him angry.."

Steve silenced Tony immediately. He gently gripped one side of Tony's neck. His strong hand massaged just underneath his hair line. Tony welcomed the touch and he immediately felt relaxed.

He wanted to hold onto that crisp, clean shirt that Steve always wore. But he wore a kevlar like uniform and Tony couldn't hold onto it. So he wrapped his arms around the Yankee's neck. instead.

Steve stepped closer and it looked like they were wound together where they stood. He reeled Tony's lips to his and they locked up in a tight embrace. Steve knew that they needed to leave. It was stupid for them to stand in some dark corner of a cave and kiss but...
Tony needed it and he hungered for the kiss to continue. The cave was hot and muggy. The air around them suffocated him and Tony felt like he was drenched with sweat. He moved backward and pulled Steve even tighter against him.

He felt the damp wall behind him as he was pressed up against it. Tony grabbed at Steve's face and he gasped when he felt the mask instead of skin. Tony opened his eyes and he looked at the Yankee.

Obadiah's blood stained the part of Steve's pale skin that wasn't masked.

He kissed his lips again and Tony could taste all the dirt and sweat that covered the small part of his face that was exposed. He knew that Steve had fought hard to get to him..

"ROGERS? We had to relocate so let us know when you have Tony! We haven't heard a thing from you and we're kinda freaking out!" Tony heard Nick Fury's voice from the ear-piece that was attached to Steve's mask. Tony took in a deep breath as Steve put some distance between them.

"We've gotta go. Climb on my back. I'll carry you out that way and here." Steve took his shield off his back and turned so Tony could climb on. He adjusted the strap that was attached in order for Tony to wear it on his back. Tony was going to be exposed while he ran so he needed him to have some form of protection.

Steve placed the shield onto Tony's back, he tightened the strap that was across his chest, and then he stopped all movement. Steve stared at Tony. He finally took in the image that was before him.

He knew immediately that Tony had been mistreated. When he saw him last he had only one bruise. The mark that he left on his neck. Tony still only wore a pair of shorts. The bruises that covered the inner parts of his legs and the grip marks on his arms and his neck said it all.

He had been raped. Steve knew it and he tried not to think about it. Tony was out of it. He didn't notice Steve as he stared. Tony wanted to pass the fuck out.

"Tony let's go home." Steve's voice snapped Tony out of the daze he was in. Tony knew that they had to leave but he feared the pain. He didn't want to tell Steve, but Tony couldn't open his legs enough to actually stay on his back. Tony tried not to cry as he climbed onto Steve's back.

It hurt Tony no matter what way he traveled. Steve ran out into the open and he headed out of the cave.

"FURY I HAVE TONY. Tell me where to go!" He touched the ear-piece and spoke to Nick Fury. Tony held on for his life as Steve headed in the direction he was told to go. He felt dizzy and Tony wanted to throw up.

He heard coordinates being listed and Tony tried to stay coherent. Gunfire, explosions, more gunfire, more explosions. All of the shit he heard around him was crazy. Tony was still in disbelief that all the madness around him was just because he was Howard Stark's son.

"You young man are going to be a prisoner to that for the rest of your life. You will never be safe with your ability to create."

Tony recalled the voice of the Mandarin. He forced his eyes to close and he altered his grip around Steve's neck. Tony drifted away...

A close explosion caused Steve to fall forward. He fell down hard and it caused Tony to lose his grip. The two became separated and before Steve could get back to Tony something blew up right in-between them.

The Mandarin's men were on a relentless attack. He changed his mind and he wanted that beacon of American freedom captured. The Mandarin wanted that walking-talking American flag captured by any means necessary.

He also refused to find another engineer, he knew that he would not find one with a brain that rivaled Tony Stark in his lifetime. He just needed to further manipulate the young prince. Steve heard Tony's loud scream as some shrapnel from the blast ripped right through Tony's chest. He got up and ran to him. Steve could see where his chest had been pierced. Blood began to spill over the wounds and Tony started to touch his chest.

He couldn't even comprehend that he was hurt. He studied the blood and he felt Steve as he sank down to his side.

"TONY'S BEEN HURT. I AM ON MY WAY. BE READY TO LEAVE RIGHT NOW." Steve yelled into the mic as he scooped the injured Tony out of the dirt.

Howard did not have the time nor the tools to make anything that his son described. All he had at his disposal were two very strong magnets that he pried off the jet's fuel line and duct tape.

Tony was in the middle of talking his father through exactly what happened to him when Obadiah tried to have him killed by the Ten Rings. The conversation was cut short. Tony felt the same exact pain rip through his own chest. He almost toppled over and Howard almost died from the shock.

"HOLY SHIT! AHHHH THAT IS A PAIN I NEVER WANTED TO FEEL EVER AGAIN. He's been hit HOLY FUCK!" Tony fell into the seat behind him and he gripped at his chest. It was an intense pain that he tried to breathe through.

Howard had no idea how long it took, but Fury helped get Steve and Tony into the jet. The pilot took off the moment he was given the word and Steve set Tony before Howard. Everyone was scared out of their minds as they looked at the bruised and broken Tony that was out cold on the floor.

"Don't you die on me kid! I swear I will kick your ass if you die before me." Howard moved Tony into a better angle so he could actually do what the other Tony instructed. His adrenaline kicked in. Howard threw that sling off his arm and he ignored his own wound.

He knew he was no cardiologist. Howard was no heart-surgeon like the person that saved the other Tony. All he could do was stop the blood and place the magnets where they needed to be. He needed them in order to hold back the shrapnel as it dug its way to Tony's heart.

Steve was covered in dirt and sand. He tried to catch his breath as he watched Howard help Tony. It was almost as if he expected the situation? Steve looked around the jet for something to place beneath Tony's head.

It was the only form of help he had. He found several towels that were in the bathroom within the jet and he rolled one of them up. He put it under his head and he gave Howard the rest. Howard used the towels to clean up the blood, he covered the wounds and got to work with the magnets and the medical supplies.

Steve was mentally and physically exhausted. He was shot a few times but the wounds were partially healed. The transmission between one world to the other was still open. Steve finally noticed it and he stared at the projection. His eyes happened upon the older version of himself and his jaw fell open.

...the other Yankee? And he looked at the older Tony as well. The older Steve felt him. He glanced in his direction. They stared at each other. The older Tony was in pain as well? Steve struggled to understand the possibility of that. They continued to stare at each other. The younger Steve stepped away and he forced his focus back to Tony. He pushed himself to turn away and the older Steve understood. Steve did not want to be distracted with the image.

He focused on Tony and nothing else.

Chapter END
Thanks so much for reading.