This is part two of two - a continuation of chapter 18

October 19th: Before they fell (part 2)

James sat in silence for a few minutes. Suddenly he spoke up again, but much calmer than before: "Can you... tell me about that day. The day you took us away, I mean."

Tony looked down: "I don't know... I haven't ever talked about that day. I'm thinking about it all the time, however."

James watched him closely: "You said it yourself... I am old enough now, I'll be 15 in just about a month."

Tony sighed and looked at James again: "You are right after all... but what I'm telling you is not at all light stuff. If you want me to stop, say it immediately."

James nodded slowly and waited for him to continue.

Tony looked at Vision's head once again before turning to James again: "James... I know, when you come to those stones outside the lab you... in the back of your head... still hope for your parents to be out there, alive. I'm sorry, but I know they are dead. I saw it with my own eyes." He paused and took a deep breath: "We were fighting the robots Ultron controlled... I was there with Clint... the archer... and we were getting rid of the minions and suddenly I heard it over the coms... Steve... your father was screaming at something. I remember all of his words, 'Leave her alone! Fight me!'. And I knew something was awfully wrong and I took off in the direction I had last seen the others. I arrived to see... Janet, the pixie, in the rubble trying to catch her breath. Ultron was standing on top of the pile. He was fighting Steve. The shield barely scratched him since he had previously covered his whole body in vibranium. Ultron caught it with a beam of energy and he... he grabbed Steve."

Tony looked down and rubbed his temple with his thumbs: "I tried to get to them, but there were so many robots in my way - there was no chance for me... He was choking Steve and in the most malicious voice he said... he said 'Look, Avengers... you better run! I can erase your leader from existence in just one second.' Steve was trying to fight back. He was gasping for air. Ultron killed him..." Tony bit his bottom lip until it started bleeding. His voice came out louder than before: "He killed him and I couldn't do a damn thing! I froze... I heard Natasha's screams and I was just standing there... my armor protected me from the robots."

Tony took a deep breath an paused again. James kept sitting in silence. Horror was getting visible in his eyes, but he needed to know, he couldn't tell Tony to stop because that was the one thing he needed to know to feel complete somehow.

Tony managed to pull himself together and looked at James again: "The next thing I know is... I started shooting at Ultron's minions again and slowly I was getting closer to him. Your mother was... she was off guard. She knelt on the floor next to... next to your father. Ultron was standing over her and she was crying... she suddenly turned to me and I could see in her eyes that she knew she was going to die now. She said and I could hear it crystal clear: "Tony, run and get them. Go and take care of James for me." Ultron was just grinning and he shot her with a beam of energy and Natasha... Natasha fell to the ground... not moving... not... not breathing."

James couldn't meet Tony's eye. He looked down and tears started running down his cheeks. He didn't want Tony to see, but he couldn't hide it. Tony felt bad for the kid, the young man since it was somehow his fault and he stood up from the chair. He rose from the chair and crouched down: "Do you want me to continue or is it enough for now?"

James quickly covered his eyes and brushed the tears away: "I... Thank you, Tony. Now I at least know. But... can we please continue on a different day?"

Tony nodded: "Of course."

James now looked at his mentor again: "Can I ask you a question?"

A little bit surprised Tony nodded once again: "Yes... what is it?"

Hesitantly James started talking again: "If they all died and you left... what is going on in the real world now? Since this place is not real..."

Tony opened his mouth to answer but closed it again. He overthought his answer again and then eventually spoke up: "Ultron is now ruling over the world. There are only a few places where he isn't controlling everything."

James shook his head: "But why do we keep sitting around here then? We need to help the people!"

Tony smiled a sad smile: "We can't... you need much more training before you can face Ultron... all of you."

Sighing James stood up: "That is kind of unfair to the people..."

Standing up again too Tony answered: "You are just like your father, James... every time I look into your eyes I feel like Steve is looking at me. And I remember that Natasha told me to protect you. If we go now, we will fail. If we go, you and your siblings will die and I can't let that happen."

Carefully James nodded: "I see... I'm sorry, Tony."

Tony put a hand on his shoulder: "Don't be... it's fair to ask questions. But James... when you return to your bungalow tonight and you meet the others tomorrow, don't tell them about it. Torunn's father is still out there, but he is king of another realm, he is not responsible, but she might start thinking that if you tell her... and Azari and Pym are just kids, especially Pym. They are too young."

James nodded slightly: "Yeah... right... I promise, but someday you will talk to them about it too, right?"

Tony looked at James intently: "Yes... I will do that, but I have to wait for the right moment."

James nodded once again: "Thank you again, Tony... Good night then."

Tony hugged the young man briefly before stepping back: "Good night, James. You can come and talk to me anytime if you need to."

He ran his fingers through his red hair before turning and starting to walk away: "I'll do that..."