Chapter 5: Dreams and a Nightly Encounter
Since I'm in a relatively good mood - except for the stupid headache that won't leave me alone *grumble* - I'm so nice to present to you chapter 5!
BTW: Thank you guys for all the reviews! I love to read them and know that you like this story! (^_^)
A giant blue figure with red eyes was sitting in front of him and instead of feeling fear at the sight; he felt happiness and satisfaction.
"You did well today little magician! I never would have believed that our races could fight together but here you are and showed me otherwise!"
He felt himself grinning. "Well giant, maybe we did a step to a different future together through this battle and I would be honoured if I could count you to my friends."
"…You really are different from the others of your race… The honour would be mine, little magician."
"Well then I hope to see you again." He held out his hand, forgetting the consequences this could have for him and the blue giant reached for it, forgetting too. Their hands touch and his armour begins to crumble, they hastily let go. "I'm so-" The apology sticks in the giants throat as they both see the exposed flesh turn blue before return back to it original colour.
He gives the giant a panicked look, not wanting to comprehend what just happened but his brain giving him the answer nonetheless. The giant just stares back at him. "I won't tell as long as you don't want me to little magician."
He gets out a pitiful sounding "Thank you my friend." and vanished in a puff of red smoke…
Angry voices… his own and somebody else's…
He's falling… darkness everywhere and his own core tears at him… Where is he? …Who is he?
Blinding light… disorientation… A woman kneels before him… "I am Maria and who are you?"
"Tony!"
Tony awoke with a start and a silent scream on his lips, his hand had unconsciously gone over his arc reactor while the other was grabbing his hair as if he wanted to rip it out. He never had such clear dreams about what he assumed was his before (but how? He had already been an adult in these memories!) and to think that he had feared of dreams of the torture he had gone through… Somehow this dream had been just as worse as one of torture and caves would have been but Tony couldn't really say why…
Tony practically jumped out of his bed to quickly changed his clothes and made his way to his workshop.
"Is everything all right, sir? Your heart rate is extremely high, should I awaken Mr Hogan or Mr Yinsen?"
Tony jumped at Jarvis' sudden words and quickly shook his head. "No… no that won't be necessary, J. I… I just need to do something to sort my thoughts."
"…If you say so sir. I will ask Dummy to make you some Hot Chocolate then."
A small smile flitted across Tony's features as he heard these words. "Thanks Jarvis."
"For you always sir."
Coulson didn't know why he had woken up at such an ungodly hour but woken up he had and he could tell that he wouldn't be able to find some sleep again before he found out what had woken him up.
Coulson put on some of the clothes Stark had lend him (since it had already been to late to drive back to his own home) and silently wandered the slightly illuminated hallway.
"Can I maybe help you Agent Coulson?"
The sudden voice startled Coulson and he turned around on the spot searching for the source till he remembered that Stark had mentioned an AI as the 'housekeeper'.
"Uhm… No thank you…"
"Jarvis, Agent Coulson."
"No thank you Jarvis. I just couldn't sleep anymore."
"… Maybe you would like to spend some time with sir who is currently in the workshop."
That surprised Coulson, why would Stark be awake? …Of course, nightmares about his captures were surely keeping him awake. Should he go and keep him company or should he leave the younger man alone? But then again no one should have to shoulder something like this alone.
Decision made Coulson turned around and went into the direction of the workshop.
"I think that is a good idea. Thank you Jarvis."
"A pleasure Agent Coulson."
"…Call me Phil."
If the AI had a face, Phil was sure he would be wearing a smug smile on his face now.
Tony was fiddling around with a new smart phone design but his heart wasn't really in it - the dream still fresh in his mind and the Hot Chocolate forgotten beside him. Suddenly he threw the part he had in his hand away so that it smashed in a wall but it didn't bring him any satisfaction seeing it crumble into pieces. Instead these pieces reminded him of the crumbling armour of his dream and blue skin beneath…
"For whatever reason you threw it at the wall, I don't think the phone was to blame Mr Stark."
Tony whirled around, nearly crashing into the desk and stared at Agent Coulson who was standing in the doorway. How had he gotten in? Jarvis, of course…
As the Agent stepped closer towards Tony, he saw that he wasn't wearing his suit but instead one of his Black Sabbath shirts he had given the Agent, jeans, he was barefoot and his hair was slightly rumpled.
Not wanting to be caught staring Tony turned back around and took the now cold mug of hot chocolate into his hands. "Do you need something Agent Coulson? Or do SHIELD Agents nowadays not sleep anymore?"
"Some do but others prefer to stroll through the darkness."
"And you belong to the later category? Just my luck…" The last part Tony mumbled into his mug as he took a sip – and grimaced. He always preferred warm Hot Chocolate and not cold one, especially not when the cold drink reminded him of the coldness in his dream. A metallic arm nudged him into the side and Tony turned to find Dummy with a fresh steaming mug. A small smile graced his face and he patted Dummy's head in thanks as he took the mug.
"Thanks buddy."
Dummy took the mug with the cold hot chocolate (and what kind of paradox was that?) away and Tony revelled in the feeling of the hot mug in his hands while trying to ignore the Agents presence (who had watched the scene without a comment).
After a minuet of silence Tony sighed and gave up. "Are you going to stand there all day or are you going to sit down Agent Coulson?"
Not needing further invitation, Coulson walked around the table and sat down opposite from Tony, eyeing the engineer curiously (who would have thought that Stark would drink Hot Chocolate after a nightmare instead of alcohol?) without looking too curious.
"…Do you want some too?"
Startled Coulson asked "What?" and this earned himself an isn't-it-obvious-look but Tony elaborated nonetheless. "Hot Chocolate, do you want some?"
"…Yes please."
"J?" "Dummy is already making another mug for Phil."
"'Phil'? How come you are on first name basis with Agent Coulson after not even a day and I'm still 'sir'?" Tony asked with a whiny voice and Coulson could swear that the AI would be smiling if he could. "Phil offered himself that I should call him so and I call you 'sir' since you are my creator. …But be assured, it is meant as a term of endearment when I say it."
The first true smile that Coulson saw from Stark broke out on said man's features as the AI said that and Coulson couldn't help but think that Stark look good when he was smiling like this.
They sat till the sun rose up in the sky together in the workshop, sometime talking – about little things like favourite food, colour etc. – or just sitting in silence – Tony rebuilding the phone he had shattered and Phil (yes they had decided to call the other with their first name) just watching him while sipping on his Hot Chocolate (which they always got new supply from Dummy when their mugs ran empty).
Yinsen and Happy found them like this once they walked into the workshop to look for Tony and try to coax him into eating breakfast.
Tony was explaining to Phil on what course he wanted to take the company now that they were finally out of the weapons business. Every now and then Phil would make suggestions and Tony's face would lit up like a Christmas tree in excitement and tell Jarvis to 'keep it in mind'.
Yinsen and Happy felt bad to interrupt the obvious harmony between the two but they still would get Tony to eat something solid and maybe Phil could help them persuade Tony…