Chapter 3: Yinsen and an Announcement
Tony is now 30 years old for those that are interested. I wanted him to be younger (don't worry the others are also around his age and those that aren't I will tell you).
Why? Why had he let himself be convinced by Stane of all people that it would be best if Tony personally presented the new Jericho missile? …But now it didn't matter anymore, what happened can't be reversed as much as Tony would want it to. A Stark missile had landed near him and exploded, someone had cut him up, done something to him and it was only a miracle that Tony was still alive and even more that he hadn't gone deaf after such an explosion near him.
He woke up in a cave, hung up on a car battery and greeted by another man whose calm presence was soothing to Tony's panicked state.
They grew close during their captivity together, like brothers – a feat that only two other living people had achieved, namely Jarvis and Happy Hogan (he and Pepper were close but she would never understand Tony, Happy was the only one besides Jarvis who knew about Tony's magic abilities and Jarvis full abilities).
After being tortured, Tony pretended to agree to their demands and built and armour together with Yinsen who had promised to come with Tony when they finally got out of the cave. And getting out they did!
Tony – in the armour and with a little help of his magic – burned the place down while Yinsen always stayed behind him. Finally they flew out of their personal hell and Tony tried to cushion the fall for Yinsen with his own body. They still got bruises and cuts on them but at least they were alive.
Tony used his magic to scan the area they had landed in for live signs but was disappointed to find none.
"Come on Tony, we should move. It does us no good standing here under the desert sun." Tony nodded and together they slowly trekked through the desert.
It felt like days but in reality it probably weren't, when they finally heard the noise of a helicopter. Tony and Yinsen let out relieved laughs and stumbled a few steps before their legs gave up under them. Tony used his last strength to wink with his hand while Yinsen just smiled at the younger man.
The helicopter landed and a man – slightly older than Tony – ran towards them, instantly going down to his knees and hugging Tony.
"Next time you drive with me."
Tony who couldn't say anything without starting to sob just nodded and Yinsen slowly rose to his feet. The other man drew away from Tony and eyed Yinsen suspiciously. "Rhodey, meet Yinsen. Yins meet Colonel James 'Rhodey' Rhodes."
The suspicion reduced itself drastically and Rhodey stood up – while helping Tony upright – and held out a hand to Yinsen. "Nice to meet Yinsen."
Yinsen took the offered hand and shook it. "You too."
Together they flew back to base where Tony and Yinsen where treated or more like Yinsen was treated by the Doctors of the base and Tony only let Yinsen treat his wounds, not wanting anyone to see his new 'addition'.
After that they were fed and questioned, they remained vague about the method of their escape and Tony almost cheered out loud when they told him that he would get a plane ride back home – Yinsen came with him since there was nothing more in Afghanistan to hold him there.
Rhodey came back with them to America, not wanting to let his friend out of his sight just yet and wanting to know what really happened out there.
The flight was mostly silent except for the few words Tony and Yinsen exchanged in Yinsen's mother language (which Yinsen had taught Tony) about Tony's plans when finally back home, such as finally shutting down weapons manufacturing – and fuck what everyone else says, he waited far too long with that already.
When they landed, they were greeted by Pepper and Happy, both looking relieved to see Tony alive. They got something to eat and immediately called a press conference.
Stane, as expected, wasn't happy when Tony made the announcement and tried to shut him up (which obviously didn't work on Tony) and the press was having a field day with the announcement. Surely they would search for new possibilities to throw Tony's reputation even more into the mud then they already had, through looking only at the negative facts.
Rhodey turned his back to Tony since he was a military man and at that moment he couldn't understand Tony's decision even though Tony had tried to explain his reasons.
Pepper who had known of the idea already still seemed shocked by the suddenness of it while Happy and Yinsen who both stood in the background looked like proud big brothers and Tony was sure if Maria and both Jarvis were here they would be too.