Hello all!

Bit of a later update than I had planned for... This chapter was difficult to write, partly because my brain wasn't letting me write it. In the end, I had to rethink this chapter, which has resulted in this chapter having a title change too as it was originally 'Tony Unleashed' now it is 'No Control', so, erm, yes you shall see!

As a result of the change of plans and narrative at the last minute, this chapter is shorter than I intended it to be and probably a lot less epic than you were all expecting so I'd like to apologise for this in advance! My creative brain made me do it...

I hope you still like it!

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

No Control

Wednesday 30th May 2018

Sanctuary II

Fizzling with crackling energy Tony stood there, a slight smile on his lips as he watched Thanos observe him. The Titan seemed shocked by his appearance, of the glowing masses of energy circling Tony's entire body, the power pouring from his fingertips.

"How is this possible?" Thanos seemed genuinely shocked by Tony's ethereal appearance. "You're human…"

"Maybe everything you know about me is all a lie?" suggested Tony, keeping his palm trained on Thanos, knowing full well the Titan was now wary of him, perhaps even hesitance in attacking him. His body was still crackling with energy. He tipped his head to the side.

Thanos' expression changed to one of derision. "No. There is more to you than meets the eye. The memories we uncovered when we forced the barrier down in your mind, showed a suffering a normal human being could never have survived."

"What memories?" Tony paused wondering what Thanos meant. Was he referring to Afghanistan?

Thanos didn't reply, only stood there scrutinising Tony, his eyes moving carefully as he studied his prisoner.

"What memories do you mean?" Tony tried again, allowing frustration to come into the lilt of his voice.

"Memories after death, Tony Stark," explained Thanos. "There is a barrier in your brain, one we broke down. It appears it unleashed memories that have been hidden from you, yet still reside within you. These powers you have must be tied to these memories I saw. We've watched you for a long time. Never before have you exhibited such power." The Titan stepped menacingly forward. "Do you even know how to control this energy?"

Tony cracked his knuckles. He hoped he would be able to. He was still crackling with energy, the glow surrounding his whole body, not fading even though he didn't feel like he was using his powers. "It doesn't matter if I can control this energy or not, all it matters is that I can beat you with it." His cockiness would be sure to anger Thanos, hopefully, goad him into making some mistakes of his own.

"You won't," smiled Thanos. "I wonder what your future daughter would think of you now?"

Tony's nostrils flared. His whole body flickered brighter than before. "Don't you dare mention her again!" His palm, which had remained trained upon the Titan, flared brighter and a beam of energy shot out of his palm, startling Tony by its sudden appearance, and causing Thanos to just about successfully evade it.

Tony stared at his fingers, wriggling them as he watched the multi-coloured glistening energy circulate around his body. His head was fuzzy, almost buzzing, and he wasn't sure if it was something to do with his powers finally unleashing or whatever Thanos had done to his brain about a barrier. His curiosity was sated. Tony wanted to know what this barrier was for, why did he have one in his brain?

To protect you.

The voices were back. Tony nearly scoffed at their attempt to help him now but he held back. He couldn't afford to be distracted. Thankfully they didn't say anything more.

"You didn't mean to do that, did you?" Thanos smirked, watching Tony his eyes glistening with amusement at his foe's reaction to the beam of energy that had been unleashed.

Tony got into a defensive position. "I think I meant to do it." The trouble was he didn't seem to know how his powers had activated, nor did he know what he was doing. Thanos had been about to kill him when he'd threatened Morgan and Tony's anger over it appeared to have activated his powers. He'd succeeded in pushing Thanos away from him, using the strength that he hadn't had before. And just now Morgan had been brought up again and his involuntary reaction had been to protect her, even if she didn't currently exist yet.

Morgan…

His eyes widened as realisation hit.

He wanted to protect his loved ones. He'd sacrificed himself to ensure Morgan's life could continue, even if it meant she would never remember him. He'd been given a second chance and he was doing everything in his power to ensure Morgan didn't have to face the horrors of the world he had. And yet, despite his efforts, Thanos still threatened her. Even if he managed to kill Tony before she was conceived, Thanos intended to still bring her into the world with the Infinity Stones. And he could not let that happen.

Thanos had destroyed Nebula's life. He was not about to do the same thing to Morgan.

"I will not let you do to my daughter what you did to yours!" Tony's eyes flared angrily and the glow surrounding his body shined brighter.

"We'll see about that."

Closing his eyes, Tony took a deep breath, allowing himself a sense of calm, where he thought of Morgan and the moment she had been born and his promise to her – I'll protect you always - before he reached out and stepped back, even as Thanos swung for him in his moment of vulnerability.

Tony moved fast, enhanced by his powers, grasping Thanos' arm, seemingly stronger than the Titan himself, and pushed back against him. Gritting his teeth, Tony snarled at him. "You don't know what I'm capable of!"

"Neither do you, Stark," stated Thanos. "Your anger is fuelling these powers you have. You are incapable of controlling them, giving me the advantage I need against you."

Glaring at Thanos, Tony denied him an answer. He was right though. He could sense he didn't know how to properly use them without giving in to his anger and he felt certain that following that route was not the path he was supposed to tread. But if he had these powers how was he supposed to use them? The voices did not seem to be in a mood to help him now, despite their advice earlier, and this was the time he would need it!

Cursing his misfortune at the inappropriate time his powers had decided to show themselves, Tony sought for a way to escape, knowing Thanos would have taken all precautions necessary to prevent his prized prisoner from escaping.

Thanos' next words threw him off guard, so unexpected they were. "Tell me, what was it like to die?"

Tony paused, surprised by the question. He was alert to any attack. Ebony Maw was still unconscious on the floor so he didn't have to worry about him, it was the Titan he had to be concerned about. Dying had been terrifying. He'd known he was leaving his loved ones behind and that had hurt worst of all. But he'd died knowing he'd saved them, even if it meant he'd never see them again. He'd held on just so he could see Pepper one last time, so he could see her face as the light left his eyes…

Panic started to rise within Tony and his heart began to pump faster as his mind became trapped in the nightmare of what death had felt like, the memories tearing into his brain, distracting him…

…which is exactly what Thanos wanted.

Taking advantage of the situation, Thanos leaped for Tony, reaching out but at the last moment, Tony drew himself out of the memories and the feelings engulfing him and jumped out the way, floating into the air, away from Thanos' attack. His body was glowing brighter as he tried to control his movements.

Could he… fly?

Tony twisted in mid-air, trying to lower himself to the ground.

"Clever," smirked Thanos. "What other abilities do you have? The more you show me, the more I can assess you."

Tony swallowed. "You won't be able to keep me prisoner."

"I can and I will. There is no way for you off this ship. You may cause havoc upon it with your uncontrollable abilities but I will still win. I will still detain you once again."

Tony somehow doubted that. Despite Thanos' assurances that he thought he had the upper-hand, Tony recognised he was the one who did. He couldn't control his abilities, nor figure out how to properly unleash them but there had to be some element he was missing and if he could figure out what it was, he would be unstoppable. Not knowing how to use his powers was his advantage, he'd be able to surprise Thanos with random attacks.

His outbursts seem to be linked to his emotions.

That had to be the key he was missing.

Tony grimaced. If he survived this and managed to return home he'd have to take time to learn how to use his powers. At the moment it was guess-work. Anger did seem to be the key emotion that enabled him to let loose bursts of power.

He was still floating in the air, hovering gently, and the ethereal glow around his body just that tiny bit brighter.

"We could learn much from one another, Tony Stark," said Thanos quietly.

Tony scoffed. "No, we can't. We may be similar in some aspects but in others, we are completely different. There is no you and I. There are only us as enemies." He raised his hand again, pointing it at the Titan.

"And Ebony too," stated Thanos calmly.

"Wha-?" Tony tried to turn in mid-air but something struck him from behind and he went flying, hitting the wall with a sickening thud and he fell back to the floor. "Ow." He hadn't noticed Squidward recover.

The glow around his body seemed to recede.

"Interesting…" mused Thanos, standing in front of Tony's upside body.

Rolling over, Tony climbed to his feet so he stood in front of the Titan, fists clenched at his sides, a look of pure loathing decorating his face.

"No powers now, Stark?" Thanos reached forward.

Tony raised his hands to block Thanos but the Titan grabbed him by the skull, picking him up and allowing him to hang in the air. He struggled but couldn't free himself. The glow around his body was gone. God-damn it, why did it have to disappear when I need it?

The fact he had no true control over his powers was frustrating.

Thanos squeezed his skull. "I could kill you right here, right now."

"Do it then," spat Tony, grabbing hold of Thanos' thick arm, scrabbling at the fingers that clutched his head tightly.

Thanos started to squeeze and Tony winced as pain rocked through his head. He knew his skull would crack if Thanos kept up the pressure. Closing his eyes, Tony attempted to pull back the pressure but couldn't.

"You wanted me to kill you, Stark, and I will," said Thanos.

Tony grimaced. He probably shouldn't have baited him but at the moment he was focused on trying to stop the intense pain running through his skull. He was sure by now hairline fractures were starting to form as the Titan increased the pressure.

He was feeling hot again, the warmth spreading from his chest and Tony opened his eyes to see his body alight once more and he twisted in Thanos' grip and punched the Titan square in his jaw. The resulting punch shook Thanos and it was enough to force him to drop Tony, who landed on his feet, holding up his burning fist.

"I'm strong too. Care to test me again?" snarled Tony. Knowing he had a chance to beat down Thanos while he had this sort of strength at his disposal, he launched an attack, raising his fists again, kicking out at the Titan as he rushed him.

He threw Thanos back with a single kick to the gut.

Impressed, Tony swivelled on his feet to face Squidward. "Care to take me on?"

Ebony Maw snarled at him.

Tony smiled and raised his fist only for him to be shot in the back and he fell face forward.

His powers faded once again. Damn it!

"If you insist on fighting us then we will make sure you cannot use your powers. It seems you lose control each time you are injured," said Thanos, approaching Tony from behind. "You cannot keep this up." Behind him were hordes of gathering Chitauri.

Shit. Tony swallowed. He knew what was about to happen.

They intended to attack him with a larger force, keep him distracted so he wouldn't be able to reactivate his powers.

"We will find out what you did with those Stones, Stark," threatened Thanos. "You will only die when you have given me everything I need to know."

"Yeah, I'm not in a giving mood lately," replied Tony, shaking his head. He cast his gaze around. He could feel the warmth in his chest again, hovering just out of reach. What did he have to do to be able to use his powers? This was the time he needed them!

"Let's see how you handle my army, shall we?" Thanos asked. He slid back through the ranks, Ebony Maw following him, allowing the Chitauri to encase Tony within a circle.

"Do not kill him. Injure or maim if you must but I want him alive. His brain is too important to be ruined permanently." Thanos raised his arm and brought it down, stepping back as the Chitauri surged forward at Thanos' command.

Tony desperately searched for a way out. He could surge through them, probably kill them all with his powers but his problem was that he didn't know how to use them, and right now he couldn't get them to work. His body was still vibrating with untapped energy and he could sense his powers hovering just out of reach, he just wished he knew how to use it without looking like a novice who had no idea what he was doing.

Tony cast his gaze about, watching as the Chitauri advanced. He wouldn't be able to take them out all at once unless he was able to maintain some semblance of control with his powers and keep them going if he was injured.

What can I do? He thought furiously. The one thing he wanted most in the world was to get out of here before Thanos invaded his mind again.

You can escape…The voices were back.

How? He retorted angrily. In case you hadn't noticed I'm surrounded!

You have the Space Stone.

The answer came to him in a flash at the moment the voices said those words.

He could escape. If the Space Stone could create portals to travel between great distances… does that mean I can too?

His powers were linked to all of the Infinity Stones, he just had no way to control them efficiently to be much of a threat towards Thanos just yet, especially since they came with an 'off' switch.

Closing his eyes, Tony thought of home, of his family. Of the people who waited for his return back on Earth, and as he thought of Pepper and her warm eyes, he felt a tug in his chest. Home. I want to go home.

He opened his eyes just in time to see the Chitauri warriors leap at him as he disappeared in a flash of light.

To be continued...

Please let me know what you think!

I think it is a far more interesting idea that Tony cannot fully use or control his powers yet though he can access them. He has to learn how to use them and them unleashing whilst a prisoner of Thanos is just circumstance.

The whole Tony Unleashed thing which was supposed to be in this chapter will not happen just yet... We've still got a way to go with this story!

Next chapter... we move back to the Avengers Compound as Natasha regroups them in the event of Tony's kidnap, and more importantly, will Tony make it home?

I think I'm working the late shift next weekend on Sunday so I hope to post before I leave for work so it will be earlier than my usual update time.

Until then,

the-writer1988