-Infinity Heart

-Paring(s): Tony Stark/OC

-Rated: T for language and slight adult situations

-Movie-based

Disclaimer: I don't own Iron Man. The characters belong to Marvel studios and Stan Lee. I only own the OCs used


Chapter Ten:

"It's Now or Never"

"..It was always you,

Can't believe I could not see it all this time, all this time,

It was always you,

Now I know why my heart wasn't satisfied, satisfied,

It was always you.."

~It was Always You, Maroon 5

"Nothing appears to be broken, just some minor swelling." Jarvis told reassuringly, having scanned the female prodigy's hand for any damages. "Keeping it wrapped and iced should bring the swelling down by tomorrow."

"Thanks, Jarv." she said glumly, standing from the stool.

"Always at your service, madam. I wish I could have been there to seen you." That brought a small smile on her face. It had felt good to punch Stane; something she wanted to do for a long time. If she could relive it, even risking maybe breaking her hand, she'd do it again. Heading over to the couch now, Tony was found sitting, tightening one of the stabilizers gloves while staring fiercely at the television. The drive back home had been quiet with the occasionally sniffle from the young woman. They didn't bother discussing what they had learned at the party. Dirty, double-dealing was happening in the company and whoever—Obadiah, most likely but they didn't have the evidence—was doing it wanted Tony out of the picture.

When they arrived, the two changed and headed down into the garage. The place was a solace for them. Stark wasn't the one to vent verbally but instead, busied himself working. Tegan, on the other hand, wanted to scream and rave about all this terrible development. She didn't though, knowing it would just annoy her caregiver greater. She always care to his wishes before hers. So, she fumed quietly, whispering comments to Jarvis every now and then.

She leaned against the back of the couch. "Good news, I'll be able to knock Stane's lights out by tomorrow." There was no response. She sighed, gazing at the flat screen. A news report was on, talking about the devastation in the middle east at the hands of the Ten Rings. "God, he's torturing himself..Blaming himself for what's happening.."

"The fifteen mile hike to the outskirts of Gulmira can only be described as a descent into hell, into a modern day Heart of Darkness. Simple farmers and herders from peaceful villages have been driven from their homes, displaced from their lands by warlords emboldened by a new-found power."

Hayes went to sit beside the fuming Stark; she needed to get through to him. "Tony..you can't blame yourself for this. You didn't know.."

"Villagers have been forced to take shelter in whatever crude dwellings they can find in the ruins of other villages, or here in the remnants of an old Soviet smelting plant." The screen showed people fighting with weapons against members of the Ten Rings.

"There's got to be something we can do. Prove that there's double-dealing going on." the young woman sighed again, running fingers through her hair. "I could state I'm taking over. There's no injunction on me—at least one Obadiah hadn't mention—but it could be worth a try? Haah..I don't know.."

"Recent violence has been attributed to a group of foreign fighters referred to by the locals as the Ten Rings." The screen showed zoomed in video of the leader, Raza. As his face was shown, humming was heard from the glove as it powered up. The heiress glanced at the TV, seeing the man. Tony had told her all about the Ten Rings, as well as Yinsen, the doctor that saved him and died. So when she saw the image of the leader, she stiffen and a murderous rage filled her. "As you can see, these men are heavily armed and on a mission. A mission that could prove fatal to anyone who stands in their way." The Ten Rings were seen loading trucks with Stark's weapons; especially the Jericho, meaning the pictures Everhart showed were indeed true.

"With no political will or international pressure, there's very little hope for these refugees." The billionaire stood now, walking forward. He carelessly tossed the screwdriver he had been using on the counter where his espresso machine was, letting it clatter loudly. Still, he said nothing. "Around me, as woman begging for news on her husband, who was kidnapped by insurgents.." Tegan watched helplessly as he raised his arm with glove towards the hanging ceiling lights over his work benches and fired a shot of energy at them.

"Holy shit!" the female genius exclaimed, scrambling backwards and falling over the couch. It caused him to stumble but he regained his footing. A pleased smirk formed as his dark eyes took in the damage. His frighten successor peeked over the couch to see him slowly walking towards the work benches but stopped a few feet. He glanced at his reflection in one of the glass panels surrounding the door to the stairs. Facing it, he raised his arm again and the young woman ducked as he fired once more, shattering the glass, and then another and another until strolling away, satisfied.

"What the bloody hell was that about?" Tegan shrieked when he passed by to head to his desk. "I understand pent-up frustration and needing to release, but that was insane!" Tony didn't reply, just removed the glove before taking off his shirt and turning to go to the bathroom in the garage.

"W-What are you doing?"

He finally answered, "Going out."

"Going.." Grey eyes widen and she stumbled to stand before rushing to him, grasping his arm tightly. "No! Going out there, even in the safety of the suit, is suicide!"

"I can't sit by anymore, Teg." Stark told, facing her. "Part of the reason I built that suit was to get back at those bastards! Now, they have more of my weapons and I have to stop them. It's my problem and I need to solve it."

"By possibly getting yourself killed?!" the heiress questioned, "If they don't kill you, the military will. You know they're watching that place like hawks. They won't know what you are and won't hesitate to shoot you down."

The billionaire shrugged out of her grip. "I don't care. I'm going."

"Tony, if you put one toe into the Mark III," the female prodigy threatened with narrowed eyes. "I will place a virus in the system that will take you years to undo."

"Really?" He glanced at her blankly. "Childish threats?"

She nodded once. "I'm desperate and willing to degraded myself for your safety." A heavy sigh escaped him then. Tegan was as stubborn as he was and when she meant something, she meant. He had to come up with a resolve. A pitiful one, but if Tony wasn't going to be able to do what he want, he very might as well get something out of it. So, looking her straight in the eyes with a seriousness that made her step back, he bargain.

"Kiss me."

Hayes blinked, "Do what now?"

"You don't want me to leave." Stark explained smugly, crossing his arms. "I won't, if you kiss me. Right here, right now."

"Kiss you? That's all?" she raised a brow. There was something seriously odd about this request..

"Yep, a simple peck on the lips." he nodded, seeming innocent."No harm done. Or is it for you? Would it be consider unfaithful?"

An annoyed expression graced her features then. "No."

"Then hurry. Time's a-wastin'." The young woman stared for a moment before giving a huff and moving closer. She hesitated. There was no harm done in doing it..yet why did her heart beat like she just ran a triathlon?

"I'm nervous? Why?" she thought, bewildered.

"Will she really do it?" Tony wondered excitedly. Tegan met his gaze. He was waiting patiently. She leaned in, shutting her eyes. Their lips met. A simplified touch but it sent a million nerves buzzing wildly inside her like bees. The female genius pulled back, opening her eyes with a struggle. The mechanic had closed his eyes too when they kissed. They opened slowly and when they did, the two stared. She knew what category the kiss went under..

"..Tony." she whispered. The willpower that he had for many years crumbled from that one utterance. Grasping both her arms, he pulled her back in and kissed the young woman hard. She gasped in pleasant surprise and he took that as free entrance, making her melt again. Stark clumsily lead them backwards to his couch, where they fell in a heap. The two kissed hungrily and held one another to hold impossibly close as if they couldn't stand to be separated. But when Tony's hand crept under her shirt, his fingers brushing the skin of her stomach, Hayes was brought back to reality.

"W-Wait!" she gasped out, moving her lips away. "We..can't do this!"

"Why? You changed your mind?" he panted, having moved to her neck and was giving little love bites.

"Mmm..No! I still don't want you to go." Tegan said, placing her hands on his chest to push him back. "There are many reasons why we shouldn't be doing this."

The playboy stared down at her. "Okay. Name one."

"Well, there's our age difference."

"Age is just a number, babe."

"The fact that I'm your successor." she named another.

"Legally and genetically, you're not my daughter, so it's not that bad." he shrugged.

The female prodigy crossed her arms stubbornly. "I'm currently in a relationship with someone."

"I've had feelings for you since you turned twenty." the billionaire told truthfully. "But I never said anything."

She looked up at him, shocked. "..Why are you are saying this now?"

"Because I knew all those reasons. It's why I put a distance between us, and I'm sorry for that." he sighed, sitting back and running fingers through his messy hair. "Look, kiddo, I'm not good at expressing my emotions—blame my old man—but I do care about you..a lot."

"Well, you sure fooled me." the young woman noted, sitting up also. "I mean, all those women you brought—"

"..I just used them as a replacement for you." Stark told, looking purely genuine for once in her whole lifetime living with him. "During my kidnapping, I decided I needed to be truthful when I did get back home. With you, most of all. Your mother's ring gave me more strength than you think and—God, I sound so corny and sappy as hell right now. Jeez!"

Hayes burst out laughing. "Yeah, I was thinking the same."

"Why didn't you stop me?" the man exasperated.

"Because I wanted to see how long you would last."

He looked expectantly at her. "So, you get me?"

"Tony, I've been able to understand what you mean without you saying corny stuff like that for a long time. I guess that's why when we started working together on the Mark II, I was beginning to have feelings I thought were insane to have." An affectionate smile was given to him then. "I must have been reading your signs the whole time without really thinking about it."

"Tegan.." Tony moved closer to her again, reaching up and cupping her cheek.

She followed his lead, leaning in. "Yeah?"

"Can we continue where we left off now? Because that was fucking hot!" She stared, mirthless before smacking him in the middle of his forehead. The tender ambiance was ruined by Tony's arousal.. though she should have expected much.


Having changed her mind, Hayes watched from the side as Stark suited up in the refurnished Mark III. Her stomach was in knots from worry but she knew this needed to be done. The Ten Rings had to be stopped before any more lives were harmed or taken because of them.

"I'll never stop saying how amazing this suit is." she said, walking up to Tony once the installment was complete. "Love the color choice too."

His metal mask lifted, revealing a smirk. "Yeah, the all gold was a bit too 'look at me'." The young woman chuckled softly before reaching over and caressing his cheek lovingly. His eyes closed with a low sigh.

"Come back to me again."

"..Promise, Turtle." An easy smile formed on her lips and she stepped away, letting him take off then. When he was gone, Tegan grasped her mother's ring and said a silent pray.


In a destroyed village not too far from Gulmira, refugees ran screaming for their lives as armed Ten Rings and bombs attacked them. Some were killed mercilessly while others were rounded up like cattle. The young men were lined up and executed as their wives, children and other refugees unfortunately watched. The one orchestrating this small assailant group was Raza's second-in-command—the terrorist that Tony has first met and told the reason of being kidnapping.

"Hurry it up. Put the women in the trucks." he shouted orders in their language, "Stack the weapons here. Clear all the houses. Faster. Faster." Just then, a man and his family were shoved out of hiding inside a house and lead towards on the trucks. But the father would not join them for the second-in-command said, "Grab that dog. Put him with the others."

He was separated; his family crying out for him as he was lead to the executing line. But his son managed to slipped the attackers and ran to his father. The man broke free and grabbed his son, telling him to return to his mother and sister.

"What the hell is this?" the terrorist commander questioned with annoyance, grabbing the boy and tossing him away. He then shoved the father to the ground, kicking and stomping on him several times before walking away. "Shoot this dog! You're all incompetent."

Right when the helpless man was about to be shot, a strange sound was heard above, making everyone stop and look. Tony landed beside the father and his shooter. The startled terrorist fire at him; his bullets ricocheting off the suit. He was punched in the stomach and sent flying through the air. Using his hand stabilizers, Stark shot two terrorists by the executing line behind him and another by the crates of Stark Industries weapons. He turned and raised both hands to the attackers by the truck filled with women and children. But they were using some refugees as human shields, shouting out threats to kill them if he fired.

He slowly lowered his hands. Inside his mask on the screen, targets were behind constructed for hostiles only for use of his miniaturized shoulder guns. Several bullets simultaneously fired, killing all the terrorists before any could even react. The women and children stood with shocked amazement. The son rushed towards his father again and the two embraced with relief. As for the second-in-command, he was hiding in a house nearby, trying to call Raza on a satellite phone. Suddenly, the suit's arm punched through the stone wall next to the man before grabbing and pulling him roughly through. The terrorist commander was tossed on the ground in front of the refugees.

"He's all yours." the genius told before flying away. He flied to Gulmira where the Jericho was. Having found where the missile was, he was readying to destroy it when struck down by a tank from below. No damage was done to Stark, even though his impact caused a huge crater in the ground, leaving the suit only greatly tarnished. He just came out of the hole when another missile fired from the tank. Quickly pivoting his body, the missile skimmed by and allowing him to fire a small but destructive one from his arm. He walked away as it exploded hugely behind him. The terrorists in the area that had seen him shot a spray of bullets to halt the suit. Tony gave them no attention as he focused on targeting his stolen warfare weapons and then destroying them as planned while the destruction took at the bad men too. Unfortunately, Raza had not been among them but he arrived in time to see the chaos. Work done and proud of himself, Tony hurried out of there to return home.

But little did he knew, the military had indeed been watching and saw the whole via satellite from Edwards Air Force Base. They were in a frenzy now, trying to find out any information on the foreign object and who gave the commands to set it loose.

"Wasn't Air Force!" stated a subordinate.

"We got the CIA on the line?" the first-in-command questioned.

"I've got Langley on the line. They want to know if it's us."

"No, it definitely is not us, sir!"

"It wasn't Navy."

"Wasn't Marines."

"I need answers! Can I please get eyes on target?" their superior demanded before asking a female subordinate, "Get me Colonel Rhodes from Weapons Development down here now!" Luckily, he didn't have to wait long for said person to come and wasted no time in telling this sudden odd event. "We ran ID check and cross-referenced with all known databases. We have nothing."

"Any high altitude surveillance in the region?" Rhodey asked.

"We got an AWAC and a Global Hawk in the area."

"So this thing just appeared out of nowhere?" he inquired, perplexed by the whole situation. "How come it didn't show up on the radar?"

"Got a minimal radar cross-section, sir."

"Is it stealth?"

"No, sir, it's tiny. We think it's an unmanned aerial vehicle."

The commander glanced to the other man, concern. "Colonel, what are we dealing with here?" That he couldn't answer but had a notion of where this thing might have came from; just needed confirmation first.

"..Let me make a call."


"What did I tell you, Teg? Everything went great!" Still flying, Tony called the young woman hoping to ease her worry. But it didn't help much. Though he couldn't see her face, there was a pause before she spoke and he knew she had been rolling her eyes.

"True, but I still think you're not quite out of the clear yet."

"Aw, come on. Don't rain on my parade." he teased lightly.

"Someone has to be the realist in this relationship." she replied with an unseen shrug.

The man raised a brow, grinning a bit. "Already accepting the idea of being in a relationship with me?"

"Wha-? Well..I mean-!" Hayes stammered, suddenly flustered. She cleared her throat before uttering, "..That's classified at the moment."

"Will you go over the details when I get there then?"

There was a pause. "..Maybe." A smile in her tone. Before he could happily reply, another call came. The male genius answered while keeping Tegan on the line. She stayed silent so not to interfere.

"Hello?"

"Tony?"

"Who's this?"

"It's Rhodes."

"Sorry, hello?" he pretended not to have heard.

"I said it's Rhodes." his best friend stressed.

"Speak up, please."

"What in the hell is that noise?" he questioned. It sounded similar to someone blowing air into a speaker.

"Oh, yeah, I'm driving with the top down." Tony lied through his teeth.

"Yeah, well, I need your help right now."

"It's funny how that works, huh?"

"Yeah. Speaking of funny," Rhodes began, unamused. "We've got a weapons depot that was just blown up a few clicks from where you were being held captive."

"Well, that's a hot spot." Stark responded, sounding suddenly short-winded. "Sounds like someone stepped in and did your job for you, huh?"

The Colonel's eyes narrowed with suspicion "Why do you sound out of breath, Tony?"

"I'm not, I was just jogging in the canyon." his friend answered smoothly.

"I thought you were driving."

"Right, I was driving, to the canyon, where I'm going to jog." The billionaire mentally cringed, realizing how 'up to something' he seemed from that floundering response.

"You sure you don't have any tech in that area I should know about?" pressed Rhodey.

"Nope!" On Rhodes side, they had finally got a locked on visual of the suit at last.

"Okay, good, 'cause I'm staring at one right now, and it's about to blown to kingdom come." Sure enough, two fighter jets appeared behind Tony.

"..That's my exit." he said, ending the call while quickly turning to the left to lose them. But the jets stayed on.

"I hate to say it at a time like this," the young woman spoke now; her tone frantic. "But I told you so!"

"Yeah, yeah! I know, smart ass!" He hated it sometimes when she was right..


Oh no, we're getting close to the end now! There should be two or three more chapters left. Though I might do a sequel involving around Iron 2 but we'll see. ^ ^

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