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Previously: Tony had done a test flight with his suit as Ed watched from the workshop. Even with the icing problems, Tony didn't think it went that bad. Ed disagreed.

Next day - Mid-November 2009 - In the workshop

I was browsing on my tablet on an internet site Pepper had suggested as I looked over some choices of desks for my room. Apparently, Pepper had heard about the idea and had been all for it. Well, considering she HAD seen the state of my room with the scattered papers so it may be one of the reasons.

After getting over the ridiculously high prices of several of these and being reminded of inflation – not for the first time – I was trying to decide one that looked reasonable and had a cost that didn't send my heart rate skyrocketing.

Ever since crossing over, it was a reality check going from nearly endless State Alchemist funds to penny pinching for the simplest of things in the 1940s. I was still not used to the amount of wealth Tony had and how he – and Pepper sometimes – easily spent it.

"Made a decision yet, Short Stuff?"

I looked up from my tablet to see Tony settling in amidst a circle of screens, a bag of ice pressed to his shoulder.

"Not yet, still looking," I replied, readjusting myself in the seat on the only couch in the workshop. "And what about my arm?"

"You are not patient, are you?"

"You should know that answer by now."

I saw from the corner of my eye Tony roll his, sighing as he turned on the television on the wall. "I'm running tests on it. Stop asking."

Like that was going to happen.

And the look I sent Tony said as much.

He just ignored it.

Shaking my head, I went back to looking at the selection of desks. Oh, that one looked inter… Nope. That one was so fucking expensive compared to all the other ones. I was not going to order that one! WHY was it so damn expensive?!

"J, notes. Main transducer feels sluggish at plus 40 altitude," stated Tony matter-of-factly and I paused in my search. I hadn't looked up from my tablet but I was… I tried to hide a smirk. I was eavesdropping. Well, he was sitting only two meters away! "Hull pressurization is problematic. I'm thinking icing is the probable factor."

"A very astute observation, Sir," replied Jarvis and I snorted. Shit, that would give away my eavesdropping… "Perhaps, if you intend to visit other planets, we should improve the exosystems."

I briefly glanced towards Tony who was sending me an annoyed look before he continued his conversation with JARVIS. "Connect to the sys. co. Have it reconfigure the shell metals. Use the gold titanium alloy from the seraphim tactical satellite. That should unsure fuselage integrity while maintaining power-to-weight ratio. Got it?"

"Not really," I replied, not having understood half of those words while JARVIS said, "Yes."

"Wasn't talking to you, Short Stuff. No interruptions. Grown ups are talking."

I just flipped him off.

Thankfully, JARVIS began talking at that point, "Shall I render using proposed specifications?"

Tony sent me a look before saying, "Thrill me."

I focused back on my tablet, trying to remember which desk I had been on and I had panicked upon seeing how much it –

"– Tony Stark's third annual benefit for the Firefighter's Family Fund has become the place to be for L.A.'s high society."

I glanced up at the television seeing a reporter on a red carpet as finely dressed people filtered past, men in full suits and women in floor length gowns. That looked like a VERY fancy party.

And… Tony organized this…?

When?

"JARVIS, did we get an invite for that?" asked Tony, making me frown in confusion.

She just said it was HIS benefit. Why would…? Oh, company. His name but –

"I have no record of an invitation, Sir," replied JARVIS.

"– hasn't been seen in public since his bizarre and highly controversial press conference," continued the reporter and a picture from probably said press conference appeared. Tony… did not look all that great…

Why was his arm in a sling?

"Some claim he's suffering from posttraumatic stress and has been bedridden for weeks," added the reporter. "Whatever the case may be, no one expects an appearance from him tonight."

Oh. Those words. That challenge. Just a brief look at Tony, at the glint in his eye and that smirk, already told me he was going to prove her statement wrong.

Even thought he wasn't bedridden – last night's test flight was an example – I couldn't exactly rule out posttraumatic stress.

Not that I truly witnessed anything to prove it.

I couldn't DISPROVE it though considering he hadn't left the house save for visiting Peggy.

"The render is complete," stated JARVIS, drawing our attention away from the news coverage of the benefit.

"A little ostentatious, don't you think?" said Tony as he studied what was on the screen before swivelling his chair away.

"What was I thinking? You're usually so discreet," said JARVIS, sarcasm clear in his voice and I chuckled.

How could he just be a machine? There must be something more to JARVIS than they were telling me…

"What's ostan… oftenta… whatever you said?" I asked as I pushed myself up and headed towards the cluster of screens. That was when I saw an image of the suit of armour…

Completely coloured in gold.

"That's…"

"Ostentatious," finished Tony, sending me a smirk. "Gaudy, pretentious."

"So much gold…," I mumbled, eyes wide before turning towards Tony.

He was staring up at me, his gaze going from my head to the sweatshirt I was wearing, back to my head and then… to a car, one of the few that hadn't gotten ruined.

"Tell you what," stated Tony suddenly, "throw a little hot-rod red in there."

I blinked, looking down and then at the car, understanding after a moment what just happened. I couldn't help a satisfied smile spreading at the idea that the red I was wearing influenced his decision.

"Yes, that should help you keep a low profile," said JARVIS, once again with sarcasm. Even though Tony didn't answer, a small smile also appeared on his face as I chuckled. "The render is complete."

Both Tony and myself turned to look at the new suit with the red added amongst the gold. And that red… it reminded me a lot of my old coat, the one I hadn't seen in…

Years.

That thought sobered me up quickly and my smile disappeared.

YEARS…

I sometimes managed to forget how much time had passed but, when I did remember, it usually felt like I was struck with a brick wall. One that kept me on this side, that I couldn't break to get back HOME.

"Hey, I like it," said Tony as he stood. "Fabricate it. Paint it."

Thankfully, it looked like he hadn't noticed my change in humour…

"Commencing automated assembly. Estimated completion time is five hours," explained JARVIS.

"You coming, Gracia?" asked Tony as he neared the staircase, finally looking in my direction.

I pulled my gaze away from the suit of armour, away from the memories it was digging up, glancing towards him in confusion. "Go where? And why are you calling me Gracia?"

He sent me a look before glancing towards the television, the one still showing the people walking along that red carpet towards the benefit.

Damn, I had been right about that reporter setting a challenge.

"Hell no," I replied, shaking my head fervently. "And definitely not as your supposed psychologist, Gracia." And… Not with the guilt that could come with pushing aside getting back to Amestris with going out to a party.

"Your loss," said Tony with a shrug. "Don't wait up for me, kids."

And he left.

I glanced towards the red and gold suit of armour one last time, taking a deep breath before leaving the workshop as well.

I had work to do.

Later that night

I rolled onto my stomach, readjusting my position on the couch as I laid the tablet on the cushion. I stretched my back as I continued to read up on dark energy wondering for half a moment what time it was.

Not that it really mattered though: I was only somewhat tired but I was invested on this 'energy' and wanted to finish what I had started.

Or get as far as possible before I fell asleep.

It was a good distraction from decoding the transmutation circles. I had spent hours on them until my eyes lost focus. Knowing now that I didn't need to hide them as much from Tony had been a relief and it allowed me to focus on research more than hiding the circles from prying eyes. However, spending so long on them, trying to come up with explanations as to the changes done to the second transmutation circle – never mind figuring out HOW those changes were made, that was for another time – was mind numbing and I needed a change of pace.

And so, dark energy took over.

Maybe it could help!

Well… honestly, I had no idea but it was fascinating!

Maybe it could be harnessed. I hadn't exactly got to that possibility yet but, if I were to use a circle, it needed power.

Leaning against my folded arm, I continued to read, scrolling through –

The front door slammed shut, making me jump in surprise.

Was that Tony?

I pushed myself up and craned my neck to see that I had been right. Tony was… Was he shuffling across the hall?

I sat up straighter and was just able to make out a blank stare on his face before his back was turned to me.

"Hey! What happened?" I called out but he just ignored me and kept walking towards his bedroom. What the hell…?

I slowly sat back down, thinking over what had just happened. Since arriving, I had never seen Tony that… unresponsive. He always had something to say, some snarky response. Well, most of the time. But, at the moment, he looked out of it.

Like he was lost in thought.

Not in any good thought though like when he was working on his suit or on my limbs. At those times, he was focused: I could see it in his eyes. That was the Tony had I grown used to seeing.

The one who had just passed though…

I glanced in the direction Tony had gone, debating whether or not to follow him. He was a private person and he probably wouldn't want me around. Even if I was there, would he even bother telling me what was wrong?

I probably wouldn't…

But…

I groaned, rubbing my head angrily, messing up my hair.

Fine. Fine!

Quickly standing, I followed in Tony's footsteps. I had never been in his bedroom nor anywhere near it since it was on the opposite of the side house and…

And I never really had a reason to go there.

Tony never entered my bedroom. If he came near it, he just stood at the doorway, never stepping inside in so… I didn't enter his.

I continued down the corridor before coming to… Why the fuck was there no door to this room? I slowed to a stop at the entrance, hesitating for a moment. I probably shouldn't bother him but…

Something had happened during that benefit and had affected Tony.

Badly.

I faintly heard some more shuffling in the room growing fainter before water began flowing.

Alright, Tony seemed fine enough to take a shower if I guessed correctly.

"Tony…?" I called out, slowly entering the bedroom and glancing around.

He wasn't there and… not much else was there either. This room was as bland and lacked almost any décor much like the rest of the house. The only place in this entire place that seemed to have any personality was the workshop downstairs.

Maybe… That's where Tony could truly be himself.

This house was just a front.

Maybe.

But, for now, I… I could just head back to the living room and wait. Tony would most likely head to his workshop once he showered and the only way to get there would be through the living room. Then I could probably try again to –

I jumped at a loud bang coming from the bathroom. That sounded like a body falling… Fuck…

"Tony!" I called out, walking in the direction of the bathroom. "What happened? Tony!"

There was no answer and I was just at the edge of the wall that seemed to separate the main room from the bathroom. Who designed this place anyway?

"Tony! Hey!"

Still nothing.

Shit… I grumbled, shifting from one foot to another. "JARVIS? Is he alright?" I asked, glancing up to the ceiling.

"I cannot tell, there are no cameras in the bathroom…," came his response, almost sounding worried.

Well… Fine! "Tony! I'm coming in!" I called out loudly to give him some warning before I poked my head inside.

Damn… This was a fancy bathroom, easily twice the size of mine.

I refocused, scanning the room as I went further inside, spotting the shower and… and…

Fuck…

"Tony…" I sighed, hating to see someone usually so strong looking… like that.

I spotted a pile of towels and grabbed all of them, heading towards the shower, trying to ignore the pang I felt upon seeing Tony's state.

He was curled up on the floor, in the corner of the shower, shaking.

Leaning in, I turned the water off before dumping all the towels except for one to the side and unfolding the one I still had in my hand.

"Tony," I said softly before swinging the towel and draping it over his shoulders the best I could.

The man jerked, pressing himself further against the corner and that made my insides churn. This was not the Tony I knew… Grabbing another towel, I draped it on his bent legs before grabbing the rest of the towels and holding them close as I slid down against the wall, sitting next to Tony.

"Hey," I began softly. I knew I wasn't good at comforting people but… I couldn't just leave him like this. "Are – are you hurt?"

I was basing myself off what Bucky and Steve had done in the past, how they had comforted me and I hoped it worked on Tony as well. If not, I was going to be at a loss on what to do…

There wasn't any answer from Tony.

I sighed softly, taking another towel and tossing it open. After a few tries, I managed to have it unfolded enough to bring to Tony's damp head.

However, the moment it brushed across his head, he jerked away from so badly he hit the other wall and remained pressed against it.

"Ok, nothing with the head," I murmured, lowering my hand and trying to think this situation through.

Why react for the head? He was fine with the other towels…

I needed to put that question away for now though because my action seemed to have made Tony's condition worse.

"Hey! Hey, can you at least hear me?" I tried, noticing his ragged breathing and how he was pressing a hand firmly against his chest. "Tony?" There was still no answer or reaction from him… "Shit…"

Come on, think what else could I do?

Well, from what Steve and Bucky used to do was they tried holding my hand, offering me physical comfort. However, I didn't think Tony was one who really appreciated physical contact to begin with. I usually wasn't either so that solution was ruled out… Just his reactions to towels had been bad enough…

This was ridiculous! What would help Tony out in this? He hadn't seemed to have had trouble when I had woken up from my nightmare in front of him and Pepper a month ago. Even on the airplane! He had known what… He…

Wait…

Could it be he had known what to do because it would work on him…?

Well, I had nothing to lose.

"I was reading up on dark energy. You've probably heard of it, like any other subject I've brought up. Are you going to rub it in my face?" I paused, eyeing him for a moment but there wasn't any reaction. Alright, keep going. "Well, I wasn't in the mood to hear your insufferable smugness anyway. So, dark energy. That concept hadn't even been a thought in someone's mind back where I come from. Heck, space travel and anything to do with the universe wasn't a big area of study either so I guess it went hand in hand. But… the universe expanding? Constantly? And getting faster as it expands and that dark energy being a part of it? It truly is amazing how far ahead scientifically you guys are."

I glanced in Tony's direction and, after a moment, noticed that there was a slight improvement in his breathing pace. That was a good start but he still hadn't looked anywhere near my direction so… I was going to have to keep rambling it seemed.

"And, of course, reading up on dark energy brough me to that Hubble Constant, which, ironically, isn't a constant… Who came up with that name? And, even when they found out it wasn't constant, that it's value is in a RANGE of numbers, why didn't they change it? What's wrong with changing the name?"

Once more, it seemed to be getting better. Probably occupying his mind with something else helped. Maybe that was why there were so many projects downstairs not including the suit and my arm…

Alright, just keep going…

"But, that was just a part of the information on dark energy. There are so many tangents to it and… well to anything these days. I had somehow gotten on the subject of Vikings in general after a few too many links. I think it had something to do with the Viking program from NASA in the 1980s for –"

"1970s and it was for Mars, Viking 1 and Viking 2," said Tony softly.

I took that response from him as a good sign but tried no to react to it. I just needed to keep talking normally. "Fine, 1970s. And yes, Vikings to then reading up on Mars and this notion of 'Martians', creatures that live on a seemingly inhabitable planet. Well, inhabitable for humans anyway."

"Am I to truly believe that you think aliens exist?"

"I come from a parallel world that you can't reach. How hard is it to believe something exists on a planet humans COULD reach?"

He finally leaned back, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling, looking…

What's that bluish glow?

It wasn't the same type of glow as my alchemic sparks but a constant soft glow that was coming from… somewhere on Tony. I couldn't make it out without being overly obvious that I was searching for the source.

Why did he bring something glowing with him in the bathroom? To take a shower none-the-less?

"So, you're telling me I've been harboring an alien all this time?" he wondered softly.

"I prefer dimensional stowaway," I replied which earned the smallest of smiles for… about two seconds. Then the smile disappeared but I noticed that he no longer had a glazed expression on his face.

Even though he hadn't actually looked at me since I had sat down.

"Do you want me to continue talking about dark energy? Or maybe about the Vikings that –"

"The company – my company – has been double dealing under the table," said Tony suddenly, cutting me off. I turned towards him, noticing his eyes closed as he took a deep breath. "Obadiah is selling weapons to the enemy and fueling battles. All for profit and I didn't notice."

Oh shit…

Fucking shit…

Tony's reaction when he came home made a LOT more sense now. The betrayal of someone in Stane's position, with his relationship to Tony…

My fist clenched tightly as I thought of very satisfying ways of kicking that creepy asshole to a pulp. I hadn't particularly cared for him before but now…

He'll have a very solid acquaintance to my automail leg for sure.

I took a deep breath before asking, more calmly, "Can't you fire him? Isn't it illegal for him to do that? Can you have him arrested?"

I just got a scoff from Tony. "He's the one who filed the injunction to get me out of my own company and I don't have any proof of his double dealings."

"Fucking asshole," I grumbled, kicking out at nothing just to get my pent-up anger dispersed in some way. My hand went to my hair and ruffled it furiously, trying to think of something to do.

However,… In this world, so far in the future, I didn't exactly know what options were even available…

"What are we going to do about him then?" I finally asked, glancing towards Tony as I rested my head on my hand.

"We?"

"Truth be told, I have been itching to kick his ass for a while now."

Tony shook his head, leaning back. "He's my problem."

What the…? "You're telling me I CAN'T kick his ass?" I asked, frowning.

"I'm telling you the best thing you can do is stay out of it."

My grip on my head began shaking a it tightened, something inside me bubbling to the surface. Stay out of it?

STAY. OUT. OF. IT?!

Tony finally glanced towards me and he did a double take. I didn't know what he saw but…

But…

"I am NOT staying out of this!" I growled out, shifting onto my knees to face him. "He's an asshole! He has HURT you! And you're telling me I can't –"

"I told you, he's my problem!" cut in Tony, pushing himself off the wall.

"I'm not sitting back AGAIN to… to…"

What…?

What's – what's that?

My eyes had been drawn to that same bluish glow and they drifted down to Tony's chest where…

Isn't that what had been powering the suit yesterday?

And it's EMBEDDED in his chest?!

That scar tissue around it… It wasn't as old as mine.

When – when had that happened?

How had it –?

Tony covered the glowing circle with his hand, saying at the same time, "My eyes are up here, Short Stuff."

Even though those words were probably meant as a joke, the tone almost sounded as if he was sighing. I watched as he massaged the embedded piece before meeting his gaze.

We stared at each other for a moment before I took a deep breath, leaning back and raising an eyebrow.

I didn't want pity from anyone because of my limbs so Tony wasn't getting any from me for… whatever that was.

"So, I wasn't the only one keeping secrets," I finally said, cocking my head to the side.

That made Tony smirk, shaking his head. He shrugged the towel around his shoulders off as he wrapped the other one around his waist before standing.

"What is it" I asked, following suit, my eyes going once more to the blue glow of that circle.

How deep did it go?

Why is it there?

"Let me put some clothes on first," answered Tony, stepping away and crossing the bathroom. "And you change out of those wet ones before you ruin my furniture."

I groaned out loud enough for him to hear me even as he was leaving the room. I then huffed, making my way out of the –

I stopped suddenly as Tony was standing on the other side of the imaginary divider between the bedroom and the bathroom.

I waited a moment with both of us not moving or saying anything until I placed a hand on my hip and snapped, "What?"

Tony opened his mouth, closed it, opened it once more before shrugging and saying, "Nothing."

He walked away and, even though I was initially confused, I couldn't help but smile as I left the room.

Not long after, with both of us in new clothes, we were back in the workshop and Tony had finished explaining what that glowing circle was. He had called it an 'arc reactor' and it was, simply put, an electromagnetic with palladium in it that kept shrapnel from entering his heart.

Shrapnel…

"What bomb went off?" I asked, eyeing the glow that was now visible from under his shirt, a sign that he had been intentionally hiding it all this time.

Well, I couldn't be mad at him about that considering how I had been hiding my limbs and my gender from him and from others.

"Who said it was a bomb?" he replied with a confused look.

"You seem to forget I PARTICIPATED in a war. Hearing the word 'shrapnel' and even seeing it was normal…"

Tony wasn't meeting my gaze as he stared just to my left for a while. I just leaned back and waited, not wanting to push him into answering.

He never really had – except for getting Pepper to ask about my automail – so I wasn't going to.

Besides, Pepper wasn't here.

"It was my own bomb, a Stark Industries bomb fired by… not American soldiers," he finally replied.

Oh fuck… My insides churned at that… "One that Stane sold?"

Tony didn't answer and he still wasn't looking at me. I was going to take that as a 'yes'… That was a lot to digest. Something that he had created was used against him, had hurt him…

When Tony finally did move his gaze, it went towards the television. "JARVIS, what's happening in Gulmira?"

I frowned in confusion at that change of subject. "What are you talking about?"

The television turned on, showing a reporter standing in front of a line of people walking down a rocky hill, all looking tired and haggard heading… somewhere. I glanced at Tony who was staring intently at those images before I focused on what the reporter was saying.

"The 15-mile hike to the outskirts of Gulmira an 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."

My eyes widened at her words. Still in the future this… Even though I wasn't completely surprised, a part of me wondered if the fighting would ever stop… The images changed from the villagers to men standing around beat up trucks, carrying large and dangerous looking guns. I glanced at Tony but he hadn't moved, sitting overly still as his gaze was locked on the television screen.

"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," continued the reporter as the scene changed and it began showing the inside of some abandoned building and shots being fired from almost all sides. "Recent violence had been attributed to a group of foreign fighters," the image changed again with several men running across the street, guns raised as one in particular stood to the side, smoking a cigarette, "referred to by locals as the Ten Rings."

I noticed from the corner of my eye Tony tensing at that point, seeing his fists clench tightly. Even though he remained still, his entire body was so tense, I was surprised he hadn't begun shaking. And that was because of… was it the fighting? That man? The name 'Ten Rings'?

I felt like I was missing a large chunk of information…

The scene on the television changed once more, showing men unloading a truck with… What the hell was that thing? It stood almost two meters tall with what looked like – like missiles attached to the top of it.

Many missiles.

What type of weapon was that? Who built –?

My eyes widened.

Oh fuck…

Oh FUCK.

"As you can see," said the reporter, "these men are heavily armed and on a mission. A mission that could prove fatal to anyone who stands in their way. With no political will or international pressure, there's very little hope for these refugees."

All those weapons…?

All the ones used to terrorize those villagers…?

But…

I glanced towards Tony who still hadn't moved, who was still just as tense.

He had reacted before the images of the larger weapons. Were the guns his company's weapons too? But… That man…

Shrapnel near his heart.

That press conference with his arm in a sling.

Post-traumatic stress.

Overseas.

He had told me he had been overseas.

Gulmira. Those men.

They were overseas.

Had – had he been there?

"There's very little hope for these refugees, refugees who can only wonder who, if anyone, will help," finished the reporter. I don't know if she had said something else before that and when I had tuned her out but…

"What exactly happened before I landed here?" I asked softly, still staring at Tony. He didn't move. He didn't react. "What. Happened?"

He stood suddenly and walked away from the couch, pacing around the desks quickly but he didn't seem like he was searching for something in particular. I took a deep breath before standing and following him, my confusion turning into irritation.

He could at least tell me SOMETHING!

"Had you been over there?" I called out, weaving my way through the desks towards him. "When you said you were overseas, were you there?"

"Drop it," snapped Tony and I stumbled to a stop in surprise.

What the hell had happened? We had been communicating and sharing damn well these past few weeks. I thought we had been fine in the bathroom! What was with this wall that just shot up between us?!

However, his reaction did give me the answer I was looking for.

Tony had been there.

Maybe not in Gulmira but it had something to do with those so-called 'Ten Rings'.

"Listen, I know –"

"No, you don't! I said drop it!" Tony was nearly yelling at that point.

I shook my head, trying again. "I do! I was –"

"You shouldn't have been! They shouldn't have let you!"

Let me…? He couldn't be serious…? "Let me… what? Be a part of the fight? Be in the war?" Before Tony could yell at me again, my anger flared up and my voice was the one that was raised. "You think anyone LET ME be there? People were trying to keep me AWAY from the fighting! And yeah, some shit happened which, if you stopped fucking interrupting me, makes me probably the only one who does know what –"

"Then you know to drop. It."

We stared at each other for a long moment, both of us frowning intensely, breathing deeply, neither backing down.

But…

"Fine," I spat, tossing my hand in the air. "Fine. Don't tell me what happened. Tell me what the fuck you're going to do instead."

Tony shook his head, walking away. "I'm going to make things right. They're my problems. My mistakes."

"And how are you going to do that?" I asked in annoyance, following him one again. "Are you going to…?"

We had stopped in front of… the new suit, the one that had been built during that party Tony had attended.

"What are you going to do?" I asked, looking up at him but… I didn't need an answer. That intense look in his eyes as he stared at the suit clued me in enough.

He was going to Gulmira.

I glanced back at the television but the news coverage had changed to something else by now.

The reporter, she had said… The word 'fatal' had been used. No one else was helping the refugees and Tony was going to go there with just that damn suit?

"Is there anyone you could call for backup?" I asked, already having a feeling what his answer would be.

"I don't need backup," was his expected response.

This conversation was beginning to sound eerily familiar and I didn't like it. "Bullshit you don't. Your suit may be advanced but they have advanced weapons. Ones you created if I'm guessing correctly."

He didn't deny or acknowledge that statement as he picked up the gauntlet piece. "This will be enough."

"You can't go in there ALONE! Fuck, wait a day for my arm to be functional and I can –"

That finally got him to turn towards me, pointing the gauntlet in my direction. "There is NO WAY I am letting you anywhere near that battlefield. I am going alone, in the suit, with JARVIS integrated into it. End of story."

"You can't be serious! I can –"

"No! You are not stepping foot on that soil to fight."

"And you think you're going there ALONE?! You can't –"

"I can and I will! End of discussion!"

I growled out, my fist clenching tightly. "You are acting all too much like Steve right now, you know that?!" I knew it was the wrong thing to say to him but I didn't care at the moment. He was stubbornly wanting to do this alone, just like when Steve had wanted to storm the Hydra base alone, when he didn't want me to be on that FUCKING train mission and – and the airplane…

My rage and guilt were bubbling to the surface, making my entire body tremble. Seeing at how furious Tony looked as he clutched the gauntlet tightly didn't help the situation.

"Get. Out. Of. My. Lab." He uttered each word much too carefully, not moving his eyes from mine.

"Fine." I uttered right back.

Finally looking away, my movements were stiff as I turned heel and walked towards the staircase, feeling Tony's still fuming gaze at the back of my head.

As I went to close the glass door, I saw him still standing there, still clutching that gauntlet tightly and a wave of anger boiled over inside me. He didn't understand. He didn't WANT to understand.

And I was done trying.

I slammed the door so hard, the glass rained down in a shattered sheet.

The whole time, I didn't look away.

Not until the last of the glass had hit the floor.

Then, I climbed the stairs, determined to not look back.

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