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Previously:

Ed was compiling a list on whether or not she should trust Tony with the repair of her automail arm. So far, she had:

1) Doesn't like me or Steve. Reasons unknown.

2) Is good with technology, robots, and everything mechanical.

3) Owns/partially owns a company. Where did Obadiah fall in this? Apparently, he is close to Tony but Tony is still hiding things from him. So… trust issues?

4) Tony wanted to be more responsible. For him and for the company.

5) Post traumatic stress. What had happened? Reason for trying to be more responsible?

Will Ed finally trust Tony or will all this go up in flame?

2 days until deadline

6) An annoyance? Usually but… not always. Why? Refer to 1)

I sat at the edge of the pool, my legs crossed in front of me, leaning my head in my hand. I didn't particularly make any progress on my decision making concerning my arm and on trusting Tony.

It had been refreshing the other day when Tony had let me look around his lab and we hadn't fought. Even this past morning, when we had crossed paths in the kitchen, we hadn't been at each other's throats. Yes, insults had been exchanged but… I didn't feel they were malicious….

It was quite a change!

And, surprisingly, he hadn't brought up the lost box. Something I was thankful for. After leaving the lab that day, I had headed straight to my room and slammed the door shut, laying on my bed for better part of the day. I had tried to distract myself by reading on the tablet but I couldn't exactly remember what I had read… It had all been a blur.

At least no one came to check on me.

I thought about all that as I stared out into the ocean. By the pool, thankfully, I still had a nice view of the sunset that was partially covered by clouds of reds, oranges, purples, and pinks.

I had needed to be alone, in my room, for a while to sort through my jumbled thoughts. Having someone there would have been more of a distraction than a help.

However… I also missed the pestering of someone who cared…

Al… Winry… Steve…

Bucky…

They wouldn't have left me alone long enough: someone would have tried to distract me, to get me to talk it out.

On this side of the Gate, in this year…

No one would do that.

It hadn't stopped me from glancing at the door from time to time, expecting someone to walk it.

I breathed in deeply the salty ocean air, pushing those thought to the back of my mind as I leaned back, stretching my legs out in front of me, taking in the last rays of sunshine for the day, letting the wind rustle my hair.

I wonder if I would be needing to cut my hair this time around or if I could let it grow out. Even though having short hair was practical, I missed it being long. Even my braid, I –

Movement caught the corner of my eye and I glanced in that direction, my eyes widening as I spotted Tony of all people making his way towards me.

With two white, square boxes in his hands.

"You hungry, Short Stuff?" he asked, holding up a box and I felt my eyes widen even more. I wouldn't be surprised if my jaw had dropped.

He had brought me dinner?!

"Don't give me that look," he stated, dragging a lounge chair closer to where I was sitting with his foot before flopping onto it. "Blame Pepper. She apparently thinks we don't eat and need to be reminded to do so."

He handed me a box and I just noticed then the chopsticks sticking out of the top.

"She had mentioned something along those lines," I said as the smell hit me and my mouth watered. "What is it?"

Tony opened his box, already poking around with his chopsticks. "Chinese food. Lo Mein to be exact."

I nodded, not exactly understanding what that was but it did smell good so that was enough for me. I placed my box further away on the chair that Tony was sitting on, using it as a table as I opened the box with one hand and grabbed the chopsticks. Not only did it smell good but it looked good too!

We ate in silence and I took the time to savour each bite, each one tasting better than the last. Maybe not eating lunch – again… – may have had an impact on how I viewed this dinner but I didn't care. What I had thought the other night still stood: the food had gotten so much better 60 years in the future!

However, unlike the dinner with Pepper, this dinner had a heavy air of awkward silence over it. We had had better conversations compared to when I had arrived and, I guess both of us didn't want to go back to the insults and yelling again. Well, I knew I didn't. That just left me wondering what topic may be safe enough to bring up.

"You haven't swum here yet, have you?" wondered Tony suddenly, his eyes fixed on the pool.

Alright, he found something at least. Not the best subject but it was at least something. I shook my head, pointing to my right arm with my chopsticks. "Hard to do with a metal limb," I replied between bites. "I'll only swim if it's shallow."

Tony nodded as he continued to eat, still eyeing the pool as he frowned slightly. Almost as if he was thinking about something. What exactly… I wasn't going to ask. One things at a time.

However,… "How about you? This is your pool. Do you swim often?"

He shrugged, taking a large bite of food. "Used to," he mumbled, his mouth full. "Been too busy these days."

I hesitated a moment on actually asking the question but, he did seem a little more open and I had been done to his lab. Also, if he was anything like Howard about his projects, he would possibly just talk my ear off about them. "What have you been doing that's been keeping you busy?"

He shrugged, poking at his food some more. "A project," he finally replied. "Doing an update on a prototype I had come up with… overseas."

I nodded. Apparently I was wrong… He didn't talk my ear off but, I was almost surprised by how forthcoming he had been with his answer. Or how… vague he had been. But at least it was a start. The last part sounded almost hesitant but I knew better than to push for an explanation. Instead, I settled for, "Ok, is it going well at least?"

"Dum-E has doused me with a fire extinguisher while testing it but he shouldn't do it again. He's been warned he may get donated to a community college."

I snorted at the story, trying not spit out the food in my mouth. When I managed to swallow, I was still smiling as I turned towards Tony. He was studying me and, surprisingly, had a small smile of his own.

"You sure you're 19?" he asked, pointing to me with his chopsticks in a vague motion. "You haven't magically gotten younger going through that gate?"

"I'm technically 83 years old. Probably best to respect my elders," I replied quickly with a tilt of my head.

Tony chuckled at that, turning away probably to hide his smile. "Older but not wiser," he added, going back to his food.

"Definitely not in 2009…," I agreed with a sigh. "I'm still amazed at how much has changed. And yet…"

"History does tend to repeat itself," said Tony softly.

I scrunched my face at those words, not disagreeing with him.

"Well, since you reminded me of your advanced age, not only can I call you Short Stuff, but Grumpy Old Man fits well too," said Tony before taking a large bite of food, sending me an amused smirk as he did.

This time, I didn't hesitate in flipping him off.

At least it got a chuckle out of him.

7) Keeps information private. Good at deflecting. Still sociable. Can he be trusted to tell to whole truth or just part of it? Is point #7 positive or negative in all this…?

1 day until deadline

"Have you decided yet, Short Stuff?" wondered Tony as he entered the kitchen, heading for his usual morning coffee.

"I still have a day," I replied, just barely managing to bite my tongue before I called him a name back.

Tony, however, seemed to have noticed and he rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Alright, humour me, what could possibly change in one day?"

I shrugged as I took a bite of my toast, swinging my legs as I sat at the kitchen island like usual. He was presenting me with an opportunity so… I might as well take it. It may be the biggest hesitation I had with this whole situation. He may not have wanted to answer it the first day I arrived but, since we had been on better terms, maybe, just maybe… "It may not change but, since things have been going better, you could tell me why you hate me."

Maybe that was a little blunt…

Tony had had the pot in his hand when I had asked that question and he paused, staring at it for a moment. "'Hate' is a strong word," was his surprising response.

I slowly put my toast down, not having expected this turn of events. The 'maybe I'll get an answer' was getting better by the moment. "Fine," I slowly said. "Why you don't like me. Did something I do in 1945 have an impact on you today?"

"You know," Tony had long since left the coffee pot as he turned around, leaning against the counter, "you're asking very personal questions. We aren't there yet, Short Stuff."

"I don't know where 'there' is or what that expression means but, I admit, they are personal. But you personally don't like me, we've established that from the moment I landed downstairs. And yet… I somehow need to trust you with my arm."

"Your broken arm that's hanging uselessly at your side," he pointed out with a quick gesture of his hand. "The one that no one else can possibly fix."

"You say that but –"

"I know you've done your research on today's prosthetics and on robotics. Can you honestly tell me you saw anything out there similar to what you have? Or that someone else could possibly begin to understand how your arm works?"

I leaned back, stunned. He – he knew I researched that? Had…? Did he have access to what I looked up on the tablet?

"How – how the fuck do you know that? Have you been going through my things?" I asked, wracking my brain to think of what else he could have possibly gone through. I didn't have much but it was still mine.

Fine, the tablet was given to me by Pepper but, if I didn't have it with me, it was in my room.

My journal, on the other hand…

"I don't snoop, Short Stuff," replied Tony, crossing his arms.

"Then how the fuck did you know I researched that?" I asked, my voice lowering as I felt my anger begin to boil.

He shrugged, not seeming bothered by my tone. "I had JARVIS monitor what you've been looking for. It's not snooping."

What. The. Fuck…?

"You've been what?"

"It's not –"

"BULLSHIT it's not! What happened to privacy?!"

"Like when you tried to search for information on Pepper without her knowledge?" he snapped back and I visibly flinched.

He knew about that too? But then…

"But I didn't find anything on her," I slowly said, staring at the island top, my mind processing piece by piece what… "I didn't find anything. Unlike when I looked up any of the Howling Commandoes. Yet JARVIS had been able to show me so much more than anything I could ever have found by myself." I lifted my gaze then, glaring at Tony. "You – you must have somehow been blocking my searches," I finally realized.

Not only had I been thrown into the future, I was at the mercy of someone who could control nearly EVERYTHING I had access to!

And I was losing whatever control I supposedly had on my temper.

"If you did block her information," I continued, my voice rising as I jumped off the chair, "why the fuck would I trust that you'd be the only person who could fix my arm?! You could be lying to me! Hiding information! And I wouldn't even know!"

"I hid Pepper's information because that's her personal life," snapped Tony and I clenched my fist at his admission. "Everything else though, you had access to!"

"Really?!" I yelled out, not believing a word he said, "and how am I supposed to believe that?! You –" I stopped, realization hitting me all too suddenly and… it fucking HURT. "Is – is that why you've been NICE to me the last few days?! Just so that you could get your hands on my arm? So that I could trust you?!"

Tony looked visibly stunned by my outburst but I didn't care. I had lost EVERYTHING too many times and this, this was the final straw.

"You know what you motherfucking asshole, you –"

"Not again! Stop it!" Pepper quickly placed herself between us, looking exasperated at she glanced between us. "I thought it was going better! What happened this time?"

I continued to glare at Tony, my thoughts reeling, unsure of what to believe anymore. He purposely blocked information on Pepper and had access to anything I researched. How was I supposed to tell if he had somehow manipulated any other information I could have seen or not seen?

How the fuck was I supposed to trust this asshole anymore?!

Without a word, I turned heel and stormed away, ignoring Pepper's calls.

I needed to get out of here.

8) A FUCKING LIAR!

Thank fucking damn this whole fucking property was so fucking huge…

FUCKING ASSHOLE!

I couldn't believe it! How could I have been so naïve? How could I not have realized that that ASSHOLE could hide – could monitor, could decide! – what information I had access to!

History does fucking repeat itself! I had seen it in Amestris! I had seen it during the war on this side!

And now this shit!

I yelled out as I kicked a nearby bush, angered not only with that asshole but with myself as well!

This is what I get for trusting someone I didn't know!

And that FUCKING GATE! Another stupid decision on my part for thinking It would have dropped me with an ally the second time around! It probably wanted to toy with me, see me suffer, be confused! I wouldn't put it past It!

Sick son of a bitch!

Another shrub received the same kicking treatment before I stopped walking, breathing deeply as I clenched and unclenched my fist.

As much as I would be more than happy kicking every single bush, shrub and whatever else that asshole had on his stupidly large property, I needed to figure out my next move.

Even though my first instinct was to run and get as far away as possible from this house… A part of me wondered if I could truly find someone to fix my arm out there. As of yet, I hadn't seen anyone else with prosthetics like mine, during my research or when I had gone out with Pepper.

But that cycled back to possibly having information blocked by that asshole…

My best bet may be Peggy… I still remembered her address when I had…

Fuck… Would that have been modified too?

A large boulder got a few good kicks as I growled out.

Everything is fucked up!

With a last growl and kick, I continued my way through the property, rubbing my face harshly.

Fine, fine! For argument's sake, even if Peggy's address was indeed correct, I still needed to somehow CROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

Maybe I should have had asked JARVIS for her phone number… Maybe then I would have figured something out with her on how to travel all the way there…

My walk had brought me to the edge of the property, on the cliff side facing the ocean. Had I really been gone that long? It was hard to tell behind the large clouds but it seemed like late afternoon. I spent hours wandering around the property and was no where closer to figuring out what my next move would be…

Fucking great…

I sighed heavily as I glanced around, wondering what to do now. I still didn't want to return to the house even though my stomach was almost begging me to feed it. My stubbornness, though, kept me heading in the opposite direction. And that was…

Wait.

There was a hidden staircase on the side of the cliff, dug into the rock, that led down. Maybe there was a beach at the bottom? If so…

Might as well go see. It would be better than continuing to kick things of nature up here.

As I started climbing down the stairs, my mind wondering back to the ridiculously large and annoying dilemma I had. Any other time, I could just have packed up and left. But… Where would I go? What could I do to even get money?

So much had changed that I would probably get taken advantage of.

And… the only thing of value I still had was my silver pocket watch. Yes, it could get me a good chunk of money but… It was the only thing apart from my automail that I still had from Amestris.

Someone would need to pry it away from my cold, dead hands.

Amestris… It had been three years and I was still stuck on this side. Even worse, I had a broken automail arm.

But I did miss them.

I had reached the bottom of the stairs and onto the beach. I breathed in deeply the salt air, my mind remembering everyone I had left back in Amestris.

A part of me wondered if it was even worth making any more connections on this side. I had lost pretty much everyone from the first time and this time…

I felt betrayed.

That was the feeling I couldn't pinpoint for hours but it was clear as day now that I realized it. I had wanted to trust Tony more than wanting to distrust him. I had wanted to give him a chance, a chance no one was really giving him to do the right thing.

But why did I want to?

He was insulting, sarcastic, tried to be charismatic while…

Oh fuck…

I rubbed my face once more, not believing it.

If I had compared Steve to Al the first time around, this time… I was comparing Tony to MUSTANG of all people. And, thinking back, this hadn't been the first time I had compared the two of them!

No shit we didn't exactly get along!

Unbelievable!

I could have compared him to ANYONE else and it just had to be Colonel Bastard!

The only silver lining in this was that I had yet to call Tony a 'bastard'… Worst part about comparing them was that, even though the Colonel had been a SERIOUS pain in the ass for YEARS, I… I still trusted him at the end of the day

So… Did that mean something similar for Tony?

Fuck…

Unbelievable…

I am going around in FUCKING CIRCLES!

I…

I slowed down, spotting two men standing around, on the beach, some type of large, oval boards stuck in the sand not far away. They had spotted me as they waved, already heading in my direction.

Shit… How far had I –? A quick glance behind me told me that I had walked a good distance away from the hidden stairs and Tony's house. I probably wasn't even on his property anymore.

And I wasn't in the mood to deal with people, especially two older men in skin tight outfits who hung around a beach in this weather… The wind was picking up and my ports were starting to hurt, clear signs that a storm was on its way.

"Hey, man!" called one of them slowly, doing a wide wave. "How's it hangin'?"

I blinked, stopping, not sure if I understood his question. Because there was no way of hanging anything out here…

"I was just leaving," I said, already taking a step back. "Didn't mean to bother you…"

"Nonsense, man!" called out the other man with a hefty laugh. "We just finished surfing! The waves were just right!"

I blinked, not sure what he meant by surfing. But, he had mentioned something about the waves, so… that meant they were in the water. Why the fuck would they do that? The waves were getting crazier by the moment.

"Do you surf, man? You have the build for it!" said the first man, giving me a once over.

"No thanks, I don't particularly care for the ocean," I replied, taking another step back.

"But you're on the beach, man!"

"Best part of it!"

"It's actually better further that way!" He motioned behind me with a vague wave of his arm. "Beach is nicer!"

"But that's private property, man!" said the other one and I began getting a weird feeling about this conversation. It felt a little… forced…

"The kid came from there!" countered the first one, before eyeing me carefully. "Maybe you could put in a word for us!"

Oh fuck… I quickly shook my head at that suggestion. "No, not a good idea. I'll just get out of your hair and –"

"Wait, you came from Stark's mansion?"

I froze.

I came from… WHERE?!

No, it can't be the same Stark. It must be a common name. Must be because…

Tony… Stark?

Would he be…? He – he would have reason to hide that, no…? But… WHY?! Why –?

"He'll be useful."

The man's voice and tempo had changed drastically. The look in his eyes had changed. Both men's statures had changed.

How did I JUST notice they were completely DRY?!

I took a quick step back as the closest man lunged at me, his outstretched hand slipping just to my left. Shit, shit, SHIT! I stumbled back several more steps, cursing out the wet sand under my feet. This was not the best place for a fight!

He kept up with me, reaching out once more and I knocked his arm back.

This was not good.

I had thought these were two random, lost men on the beach but, the way they moved and the way they acted portrayed something more…

Fighters.

I backed up again, trying to get into my fighting stance but the wet sand at my feet as making it difficult and I cursed under my breath, lifting my arm to swat another punch away.

The other men then decided to step in as well. I ducked under his outstretched arm while the first one swung a punch and –

DAMNIT!

I forgot about my broken automail.

I couldn't block the first man's punch and it hit home on the side of my head. I staggered back, cursing loudly, spotting the men lunge towards me once more.

Fucking shit!

I made a large swipe with my automail leg, connecting with one of their sides. He yelled out, colliding with the other man. That gave me a chance to back up even more, feeling the remnants of waves breaking at my feet as I tried to ignore the throbbing in my head.

What the hell did these assholes want with me?!

And what was so special about Tony?!

By then, I had finally managed to get into a semblance of a fighting stance as those men straightened, approaching me from either side. Damn my broken automail… This would have been so much easier if I had both my arms to defend myself against two men.

"Such an uncooperative brat," grumbled one of the men, glaring at me as he cracked his knuckles.

"So I've been told," I snapped, flipping him off.

That seemed like the cue for them to attack me. They came at me simultaneously and, as I defended myself while throwing in some of my own punches and kicks, I had to constantly remind myself that I couldn't use my right arm.

I had never realized how often I relied on my automail until I couldn't use it in a fight…

Ducking under another punch, I slammed my body into the man, pushing hm several steps before he found his footing and held his ground. I growled out as I tried to trip him but another wave crashed nearby, loosening the sand under my feet. I tried to regain my balance but, with the receding water, the sand moved even more. With my shaky footing, I pushed away from the man, stepping back once more.

And I fell flat on my back, my ankle having twisted on the moving sand and I hit the ground hard, gasping out.

Just as a wave washed over me.

This cannot be happening, damnit!

I choked on the salt water, pushing myself up and –

I got shoved down by my left shoulder, my head remaining under the water and I felt more pressure on my stomach. Asshole was pinning me to the ground!

Fucking shit!

I kicked up, hoping to reach him but it was damn hard not being able to see anything! I could only guess where –

My leg got stepped on, heavily and I cried out.

That didn't help with the water situation.

Finally, the wave receded enough and I coughed out, feeling water drip out of my nose. Such a damn horrible sensation!

"So what were you doing at Tony Stark's mansion?" asked the man over me, leaning in close.

This can't be happening… I coughed out once more before spitting in his face and swinging my only functioning fist at his head.

Even though he was disgusted by the spit, he still managed to lift his other arm quick enough to block my attack before grabbing my wrist and pinning it to the sand.

His other hand left my shoulder and went to my neck…

"I don't know a Stark," I managed to gasp out just as another wave washed over me.

I don't know if it was because of the hand around my neck but it felt as if I was under there so much longer than before…

And when the water did pass…

I was choking on it and the lack of air.

"Such a brat, a little liar," snarled the man. "There's only one public way of getting here. And unless you somehow snuck past Stark's security system, you came from the house. So, answer the question! Because if you aren't any use to us, you'll be swimming with the fish!""

Fucking… Shit…

My vision was growing dark around the edges but I knew I couldn't just give up! I struggled some more against the men and –

Another wave washed over me, catching me by surprise and filling my mouth and nose with more salt water.

Not good. Not –

The pressure around my neck and the man's weight vanished and I gasped, sucking in air –

No! That was more WATER!

I rolled over coughing, nearly retching as the water dripped out of my mouth and nose. I shuddered at the feeling, heaving some more and it just wouldn't stop.

The more air I tried to get in, the more I felt the water still in my mouth and nose enter my windpipe and I choked, coughing some more.

It was an endless cycle until…

I just threw up.

"Jeez, Short Stuff…"

I barely heard whoever said that as I leaned my head against the cold, wet sand, spitting out the last of the bile.

At least I could breathe better…

My nose scrunched heavily as the smell hit me suddenly. Maybe it wasn't better to be able to breathe if this was what I was –

I was yanked back by the scruff of my sweater and I cried out in surprise, falling back on my ass. Who the fuck?! Why –?

Oh…

I blinked as another wave crashed where I had just been laying, thankfully washing away the remnants of the content of my stomach. Thankfully, I had been moved because the waves were getting more and more violent and that one would definitely have crashed over me.

I finally realized the pull on my sweater just as it was released. Who…? I blinked, wiping the hair plastered to my face away, feeling sand scratch my skin as I did so. True… I had placed my face in the sand…

I used my sleeve to remove a chunk of sand and water away as I turned my head, trying to spot who – who… My eyes widened at the sight of the two men, unconscious further away, trapped in some high-tech, fancy looking net.

Who had…?

My eyes widened. What…?

Tony.

TONY of all people was standing not too far away, shouldering some gun shaped weapon as he stared down at me.

What. The. Fuck?!

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