The Bonds we Form
I've never bonded or connected with anyone before. Dad always hated me, in fact he went out of his way to avoid me. He always had some project that he was working on or someplace he had to go. It felt like I never had a father but somehow I was always in his shadow. I buried myself in so many bottles, parties, women, books and projects ...that people believe that the facade was who I really was. After my parents died, I isolated myself completely and I gave up on false connections. Little did I know that having these connections wasn't up to me. Fate had other plans for me, just because I gave up on love and bonds...didn't mean that it had given up on me. Happy had been in my life for a long time, he was over protective, traditional, old-fashioned but all around he was ok...despite his overbearing big brother tendencies. Meaning he has this incredible ability to be annoying, constantly get in the way while also being weirdly fun. Then there's Rhodey, if i'm being honest i never thought that we would be friends. I mean we have so many differences, that it feels like the list never ends. He never wants to have any fun, his always dragging his feet everytime I try to get him yo let loose. He is so professional, strict and tightly wound up…. I would have thought that he was a statue, if he didnt move and talk. With that being said, his best friend and brother I always wanted and never had. His always there when I need him and don't. He is so overprotective and overbearing, that sometimes I can't stand him but I couldn't bear to live without him. Its meant a lot to me, having him in my life and I can't even imagine not having him in my life. Pepper, words can not even express the love I have for her. She is one of the most amazing women that I have ever met. She knows and gets me in ways that no one ever has. I feel really lucky having her in my life, she is the epitome of perfection. I don't know how I got so lucky with her, I couldn't tell you why she said yes or even looked my way. It feels like a dream that I never wanna wake up from, but if I was forced to...I would spend every moment enjoying it. I've never felt this connection or bond with anyone but her. It makes me feel and act weird but I love it. It makes me giddy, I get lost in thought, thinking of her. Being with her feels special. I never knew what it was like to be or feel special until now. She has changed my life greatly in so many ways. No matter how many new friends I make, nothing compares to the three. Nothing could compare to Peppers détermination, homework and feisty side. I mean when me met I thought she was pretty, a little to quiet and shy but other then that ...she didn't really stand out to me. That was until she stormed into my office, pepper sprayed my security guards...I mean poor Happy, he never stood a chance. One of the security guards pulled on Pepper, she turned around and peppered sprayed the guy but Happy got the worst of it. I felt bad for Happy but i couldn't stifle my laughter. I burst out laughing and everyone was so confused, pepper was even more confused when I promoted her to secretary. She initially did not accept it but after months and months are trying to convince her, she finally accepted. There are so many more moments like that, as reserved and. secretive Pepper is ...she always has a way of surprising me, that's one of many reasons why I loved her. Rhodey refuses to have fun but when he does….he really does know how to have a good has these games that we play and know about. Pepper, Rhodey and Happy their the stitching that holds my heart together, their my family, the special connection and bond I feel...it makes me feel like I'm finally apart of something special. They are the only connection I cared about and I spent everyday protecting that connection.
Now I stood there listening to these people, people I met…..telling me that I had this special connection to two people I never met. I didn't tell them but I was oddly worried about these two people I never met. Pepper would chalk it up as my big heart but, i couldn't explain it. I didn't know that I could feel such a deep connection for someone i never knew. I didnt wanna tell them that, I didn't want to let them know that they were right. I mean how could a stranger know me so well, things that i didn't know…. They somehow knew everything and I didnt like that. The entire time I was thinking this, jean was staring at me. I rolled my eyes because I knew what she was doing, so I used her tactics against her, I mentally told her to get out of my head. She looked at me and smiled and I stared at her confused. I looked back at Magneto who looked irritated, you and me both pal i said to myself. He motioned to us to go inside, I was confused again...there was nothing there.
Tony: there's nothing there, what are we supposed to do exactly? Travel miles through the desert until we die of dehydration. You know you could have called or joined us on board instead of crashing our aircraft.
Magneto: it was the only way I could get you to go into my secret hideout.
Tony: what? Do you need help finding it?
Magneto: no! If you would just step inside.
Tony: I don't get it.
Magneto: Storm! Could you come out here for a second?! He shouts to the empty space. All of a sudden Storm walked out and smiled at Tony.
Storm: hello. You must be Tony. I know this must all be hard for you but,you were our only hope. I know the gang didn't exactly extract you from the situation in the best way. I told them to call you or teleport but when they get an idea in their heads.
Tony walks in and sees Gambit and Rogue playing cards. Gambit looks up when he hears footsteps approaching.
Gambit: well, well, well…..look who finally made it. You sure took your sweet as time, that's the last thing we have. ( he lights a secret and stares at Tony).
Rogue: forgive him, he grow up without manners or brains.
Gambit just glares at Rogue and then bumps Tony as he walks off.
Tony: he's nice( Tony smiles)
Rogue: don't let him bother you, his just upset about the professor and Logan. Their death really took a toll on him and now with our world being destroyed ...his lost all sense of control.
Tony: it's understandable. I just want to get this over with.
Storm: then let's get this over with.
Tony was so thrown off by Gambit, that he hadn't taken the time to observe his surroundings. The place was beautiful, it was like he was on an island full of beautiful architecture, technology and people like him. Just like he always dreamed of having, was now a reality. He stared in awe for a few minutes before joining the gang in the next room. When he entered the room it was white, isolated and quiet. In the middle stood a silver chair with a helmet connected to it, when Tony looked at the gang they were all looking at him. Were they expecting him to wear that thing? Jean just shook her head " oh come on! I told you to stay out of my head! It's an invasion of privacy! Get and stay out of my head.
Jean: im sorry
Tony: oh, so you can speak? I thought you just liked to mess with peoples head.
Jean: i said im sorry.
Tony: well, you can only be sorry if you stopped doing it the first time.
Jean: I had to make sure you were ok.
Tony: "you could've just asked" he said angrily
Jean: you lie
Tony: you know what, who cares if I lie? You have no right to invade my privacy!
Jean: I have to check on you, to mentally prepare you for the next task. Im sorry but the only way to figure out how to save this world, is by putting on the helmet.
Tony: sounds serious.
Jean: it is. Its painful both emotionally and physically. It's going to drain you and hurt really bad. I'm just trying to prepare you, I'm the only one who can.
Tony: why is that?
Jean: because im connected to both you and the professor
Rogue: and Logan (smiles)
Storm glares at her
Rogue: what? Its true!
Tony: sounds juicy. Tell me about it later.
Rogue just smiles and shakes her head
Tony: sure thing kiddo.
Rogue smile fades
Tony: did I say something wrong?
Rogue: no. It's just you remind me so much of him. Logan, I was talking about Logan. He would always make me laugh, he took care of me without being overbearing and now you are.
Tony: you don't need anyone to take care of you, your doing just fine on your own.
Rogue:(smiles) he used to say that too, funny thing is….I never believed him then and now, I cant show him the woman I am today.
Tony: im sure he saw that woman all along, you just had to believe in yourself. You had to be the one to bring her out.
Storm: wow. He does sound like Logan and the professor.
Tony: would you guys stop saying that!
Rogue: its true!
Gambit: none of that matters! No matter how much you think his like them, his not them! And his going to get our entire species killed. He doesn't care about us, his just like the other humans….he couldn't care less if we lived or died, he just wants to go home.
Tony: that may be true, I mean I do wanna go home to my wife. I mean after all it is my anniversary but I am going to help you guys anyway I can. ( he looks at gambit) and not all of us are like the humans you've encountered.
Tony puts on the helmet, he instantly sees white flashes and images and he collapses in the chair. The gang rushed to his side, they all kneel on each side of the chair. They just stare at him.
Jean: rogue, im going to need your help.
Rogue: i know. I've done this before.
Jean: when?
Rogue: another time
In Tony's mind his standing in a white room. His walking around when all of a sudden, a streak of white surges pass him.
Tony: what the?
Then another
Tony: seriously. That's how your going to introduce yourself?
Professor: I'm sorry Tony but my family is in trouble. I think that you of all people could understand that.
Tony: don't act like you know me.
Professor: that's because I do.
Logan: come professor, now you know that approach did not work on me. It's definitely not going to work on him.
Tony: and you think you know how to talk to me? I'm not a child, you don't have to sugar code it. Tell me what can I do to help.
Logan: do what you always do, let your mind guide you but don't but don't get lost in it. If you get lost, it can be really dangerous. So do what you do best and think then you can go home to your wife.
Tony: that's what I've been wanting to do since you guys busted in my house. But don't think that my heart is not in this. I didn't become a hero for the fame, I did it because I wanted to help people.
Professor X: good! Focus on that.
Tony: I don't even know what im looking for.
Logan: focus!
Tony closes his eyes, he thinks of all of the people that he saved and all of the people that he wanted to save. The people that he wanted to save, there were so many ...especially his parents. His parents, he was supposed to be with them but he got so wasted that his dad made him stay home.
Rogue: no! Tony don't think about that, just focus on helping!
Tony tries to get his mind off of his parents but he couldn't. He heard a piano playing, he had heard that song before, it was the song that his mom always played.
He walked towards the music
Logan opened his mouth to object but xavier told him with his mind to let him go.
the white room turned into his old living room. He saw her playing on the piano, Tony was by her side but he was a kid then. His mom smiled at him and he smiled back, she played the piano and sang to him. Tony smiled at the memory. He loved all of the times that his mom used to play the piano and sing to him. A tear fell from his eyes as he wished his parents were alive. There were so many things that he wished his parents saw him do. He wished that his parents could have met pepper and gone to their wedding.
The room fades and Tony is beside himself, he wanted to enjoy himself. He missed seeing his parents and now they were gone again. He was in the middle of the street, he didn't have to turn around to see where he was one thing to watch it on the screen but to actually be there ...that was entirely different.
Rogue: we need to get him out of there!
Tony shakes and his eyes start to roll to the back of his head.
Jean: I have to calm him first.
Rogue: i'm going in!
Jean: no!
Rogue: were losing him!
Storm: wait, just let me get his vitals under control. All he needs is a little shock, I can handle that.
Storm raises her hands and her eyes turn white, thunder starts to crackle in the room. She focuses her energy, so that she gives him a little tap. He stops shaking and falls out of the chair.
Rogue and storm rushes to his side.
Rogue: Tony!
Storm check his pulse
Scott rushes outside to call a nurse
Gambit: is he alright.
Rogue: now you care!
Gambit: of course i do
Jean picks Tony up using her mind and takes him to the emergency unit.
Storm and Rogue follows.
Jean: they will never find out. With this guy being here or not, I hate to doubt the professor but...this could be the end.
Gambit: well I haven't given up yet and I for one, will keep fighting until the die I die. And I'm not dead yet, so I'm gonna join the rest of the crew.
Jean smiles
Jean: your right im sorry
Gambit leaves the room
Jean: they actually bought it.
Magneto: of course they did, their heroes and were smarter. So while their distracted by illusions, we will continue trying to find a way to wipe out the human race.
Jean: (smiles) then we can wipe out all of the heroes.
Magneto: you catch on fast.
Jean and Magneto follow the gang to the emergency room. They see Tony still asleep in the emergency bed. He sees the gang surrounding him, he sees Storm checking checking his vitals. They really did care about this human, just because he was tethered to Xavier and Logan.
Pepper runs into the room
Pepper: Tony!
Pepper runs up to his bed side and sees his state.
Pepper: what happened!
Storm: he was weakened by a device, he was trying to locate an answer ...I guess he just got lost.
Pepper: is he going to be ok?
Storm: he will be fine, his body just needs to rest.
Pepper: ok. Thank you.
Rogue: (smiles) hi
Pepper: hello.
Rogue: you must be Pepper.
Pepper: you know who I am.
Rogue: of course.
Gambit: your husband won't stop talking about how much he misses you.
Quicksilver: its feels like every five minutes, he rants that he could be with you instead of here.
Storm: well, you guys did barge into his home.
Gambit: I wasn't involved in that.
Jean: the machine found you too.
Pepper: so this machine is known for finding connections.
Magneto: interesting, how did you make that connection.
Jean: yeah. How did you know that?
Pepper: tony said you guys needed him for something. He mentioned something about another universe and I just connected the dots.
Magneto: impressive but this isn't only about your connection to him ...this is about you, as much as it is about him. You see, your special too Pepper and we need your help.
Pepper: help? Me? What can I do?
Jean: tony cant do this without you.
Storm: it was written in an ancient prophecy. I discovered it on a mission I was on.
Rogue: I just saw the list on mutants and your picture was on it with Tony. Your both really special, especially to this world.
Storm: you were always supposed to be in this world.