Chapter 2: Dream

Thanks for the reviews! Those really made my day! Cool so here it goes. The next chapter… sequence… series… sauna… WHOOO!

Disclaimer: I don't own a zip.

Tony couldn't remember anything but the extreme fear he felt when he was shoved into the water. That man, Sam, wanted him back so badly… but he still said goodbye like, "Come back Tony. But I'm going to shove you into the water first."

The icy water slammed into his face and the cold seawater pushed into his nostrils. His nose and shuteyes burned from the salt and cold water. Tony rose to the surface and sputtered shaking violently from the sudden cold. He felt his heart beat painfully against his ribcage. Tony glanced up from where he was pushed off of and blinked the water out of his eyes.

The building was actually a dome. It wasn't big like the football stadium but more as a small warehouse dome. He could remember the high top white ceiling dome. So that dome was the headquarters for whatever. But what was up with the "chosen one" nonsense?

Tony pulled himself out of the water and, while shivering like child, hailed a taxi.

...

Tony was pondering about the peculiar sight that was before him at the dome. It was strange, and he felt more at home there than at the Rhodes house.

"Tony?!" Roberta ran up to him. She firmly grabbed his shoulders. "Why are you wet? What happened?!" Tony swallowed and closed his eyes. He needed an excuse and he needed one fast.

"I... I was walking down the sidewalk at North Boulevard. Um... I remember seeing the sunset and I really wanted to watch it. So I went to the beach." He paused as if he was trying to remember, but he was trying to get a better excuse. "I was standing on the docks when someone hit me. I wasn't allowed to turn around. I was jumped by maybe 3 guys. They took my money and pushed me into the water."

Roberta crossed her slender arms across her chest. "How did you get home…?" That was easy to answer.

"I got in a taxi." Before Roberta could ask about money he quickly added, "I just told the cab driver that I was Tony Stark and he drove away." Roberta seemed satisfied with the answer.

"Alright. Go clean up. I'll get you some dinner."

...

After a nice warm shower, Tony walked into his room as he toweled down his wet hair. The seawater was totally bad for his hair.

As he walked in, Tony yelped and grabbed his towel even more tightly around his waist. "PEPPER!" Pepper looked up at him and blushed so red her hair would have been jealous

"Oh god. Tony... I... Uh..."

"CLOSE YOUR EYES PEPPER!" He screamed. Pepper's eyes widened as she forgot the important step. She clasped her small hands over her eyes. But secretly she was peaking.

She watched Tony slip on his red boxers (though thankfully he didn't remove his towel), and pants. But then, when he went for his t-shirt, Tony exposed his well toned back. But there was something off about it.

Pepper carefully examined through her fingers and saw a small red mark on his back. It was on the small part of back, at the bottom (her favorite part probably). She removed her hands and squinted to get a better look. The red mark was in the shape of a adult male hand.

"Tony..." He turned. He was clutching his shirt in his hands. She noticed them tremble slightly.

"Yeah?" She got up from the bed and walked up to him. He took a step back as she pressed him against the wall.

"Turn around." She hissed through her teeth. Tony shot her a puzzled look.

"What for?"

"JUST DO IT!" She screamed. Tony jumped and hesitantly turned around. He rested his forehead against the cool sky blue wall.

Pepper stifled back a gasp. Sure enough there was a hand mark on his back. It wasn't very visible but it, no doubt, was there. Without thinking, Pepper let her fingers linger over the hand mark. She gently traced the fingers and the palm.

"Pepper..." Tony grunted. She paused and let her fingers hover carefully over the handprint. She noticed his back quiver and contract. "Please stop touching me." She was taken back. Pepper stepped back and felt warm blood seep into her pale cheeks.

"I'm sorry. I just... I saw this hand mark on your back. I didn't think I was making you uncomfortable." Tony had already put his shirt on. He was avoiding her eyes but eventually he focused on her.

"It wasn't uncomfortable." She looked up at him, surprised to see a painful expression. "It... Your fingers really burned. They hurt when you touched me."

"What?" Pepper let her arms fall to her side in shock. She was being gentle though! She made sure she was. She was always gentle actually.

"It felt as there were nails in my back. And I had an experience close to that." Tony placed a hand on his chest.

"But Tony. You know I'm gentle. I... I didn't mean to hurt you." Tony stepped towards her and grasped her shoulders.

"You didn't know. And neither did I. Those men, that jumped me at the pier, hit me hard on my back. I remember that." Tony said lying through his teeth. Sam did say not to tell anyone about this, or else they could die. And he didn't want Pepper to die.

"You should get an ice pack for that." She replied. "I can get one for you." Tony nodded but grabbed her wrist before she left the room.

"Don't tell Roberta about my back. Just say you wanted the ice because you just wanted some." Pepper nodded and ran out the room.

...

"Hey Roberta!" Pepper squealed. Roberta looked up from the stove and smiled.

"Hello Pepper, what are you doing?" Pepper had reached into the ice box in the refrigerator. She clasped her hand around a couple of ice cubes and pulled them out.

"I want ice cubes. I don't know why. Just wanted some!" She smiled sweetly and quickly changed the subject. "What are you making?"

"Macaroni and cheese. It's Tony's favorite." Pepper considered that.

"Why don't I take dinner to him?" She asked. Roberts raises an eyebrow.

"Why? Is he okay?"

"What? Oh! Yeah! He just fell asleep." Roberta nodded and grabbed a blue ceramic bowl from the cabinet. She grabbed a spoon full and quickly poured the creamy yellow pasta into the bowl. She placed a spoon in the bowl and handed the steaming bowl to her.

"There you go." Pepper grabbed the bowl in one hand and placed the ice cubes in a zip lock bag. Grabbing a few paper towels she started towards Tony's room.

When she walked in she saw him on the floor clutching his head. "No. No. I won't. I can't. No! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Tony shouted blindly. Pepper placed the bowl and bag on a near by table and raced to his side.

"Tony!" When she placed her hand on his back she pulled it back. His back was burning. She quickly pulled his shirt over his back and noticed the red handprint grow brighter. Heat was illuminating on his skin! Pepper scrambled to her feet and engulfed the ice bag in her fist. She pushed the bag on his back and watched as Tony sighed in relief.

"What was that?" Pepper whispered into his ear. Tony panted and shook his head.

"I... I... Don't know... Pepper."

…

That night was spent quietly. Pepper and Tony were both equally shocked about what had just happened. Pepper had left early and wished him a speedy recovery, but the whole time she was obviously freaked.

The next morning Tony sat in his bed and carefully examined the bright white card. He ran his thumb across the phone number and the address. He stood up quickly, grabbed his phone, watch, and wallet and headed out the door.

Tony decided not to take his armor. It was best not to risk any confiscation as well as some slip of identity. Instead he grabbed a taxi and drove back down to the beach.

The sun burned against his neck, as he shuffled towards the tall dome building. He wasn't afraid but he didn't know what was going to happen once he was inside the building.

As he approached the large gray door, he looked behind him one last time, breathed in, and pounded his fist on the door. He could hear the knock echo down the hallway until he heard the faint sounds of footsteps. When he heard the door open, he stepped back and bit his bottom lip.

Today Sam was wearing a red suit that nearly blinded Tony. He had a darker shaded red as his undershirt. This dark, leather, red shoes gleamed back at him. And sure enough his dark brown hair was greased back. Sam smiled, his smile stretched from ear to ear.

"Tony! Oh my boy! It is so good to see you! I had a feeling you would return." Sam stepped back for Tony to enter. When Tony didn't move, Sam reached out and with his ring encrusted fingers, tugged Tony in. The door shut behind them.

"I'm not here for more of that stuff." Tony mumbled.

"Oh please. Don't mumble! I hate mumbling. I won't have a clue what you would say!" Sam clasped his hands behind him.

"I can do whatever I want Sam. You're not the boss of me." Sam made a tsk- tsk sound.

"But Tony, like I said before, I am your Master. There is nothing you can do but obey me." Tony stopped and turned on the man. He balled up his fists.

"You are NOT the boss of me." He repeated. "I won't allow you to do whatever you want with me! I'm not a toy!" Sam placed a firm hand on his shoulder and led him down the red hallway. Yesterday it was a white hallway, but today everything was red.

"I don't want to hurt you Tony. I am the boss of you. I am your Master, leader, ruler, and you are my servant. You do what I tell you."

"I am not your SERVANT!" Tony yelled. He tore himself away from Sam and threw a punch at his face. Instead Sam grabbed his fist and twisted his arm behind his back. Tony yelped.

"I am everything that you don't want me to be Tony." Sam said pulling Tony closer to him. His lips were right next to his ear. Sam let his arm go. Tony gently massaged his wrist.

"You know what? You're a psychopath. A creeper, a stalker! I'm out of here." Just as Tony was about to turn, two bodyguards, still dressed in black, popped up behind him.

"I don't think so. You two… bring him." The bodyguards lifted Tony by his shoulders and literally dragged him along.

"NO! NO! NO! THIS IS INHUMANE!" Was all Tony shouted repeatedly.

The guards took him to a deep red room, which was so evil, that Tony stopped yelling and gulped. This was freaky. Really freaky. Sam removed his suit coat, placed it on a red chair, and started undoing his cuffs around his wrist.

As he pulled them up on his forearm he said, "Take his shirt off and tie him to the bed. I need to teach this boy some discipline." Sam cracked his knuckles and watched as one man held the screaming Tony and the other pulled off his red shirt. The guard tossed the shirt onto the floor and grabbed both arm, while the other grabbed his feet.

"LET ME GO! LET. ME. GO!" Tony flayed around, but those hands were strong. He was panting as he buried his head into the red pillow. This couldn't be happening. All he wanted was answers about the red mark on his back and why it burned so much, and now he was being tied down against his will.

Suddenly Tony shivered at the sudden cold fingertips on his back. "I see you have the burn mark. I didn't think it would happen so suddenly." Sam whispered. "Never the less, it's time to teach you a listen for disobeying me Tony."

Tony felt a firm cold palm press onto this back, and world blacked away.

DUN DUN DUN! I'm making Sam sound like a man that really is evil, but loveable at the same time. And not to mention gay… I got that idea from a movie. Skyfall 007! Fabulous movie by the way! Okay so review please!