January 1st, 2000
He felt content.
For the first time in his life, he felt sure about his actions. Even though he was likely to get arrested.
It was illegal to mate in someone elses hotel room without permission, wasn't it?
Eh, didn't matter. He still had his soul bonded mate, that was all he needed.
He walked through the lobby, ignoring the glaring eyes peering into his soul. Tony had warned him this might happen after they told a few reporters. The tabloids are not kind to people Tony loved.
Loved. Was that the right word for it?
They had bonded, and had mind blowing after sex in the upper villa. They had performed the right actions, and may be expecting pups soon. But technically it had only been a night.
He certainly loved Tony, he would have to ask the other about their stance for the relationship. But first, he needed to find his resting mate something to eat.
While he would have preferred to have prepared their first meal himself and prove that he's a good provider, he supposed the hotel catering would have to do for now. After last night he would not let his little light go hungry, especially if he really was pregnant.
Observing the breakfast options, Aldrich began to fret. Breakfast should be perfect, but he had only met Tony yesterday. Unfortunately, his favorite foods hadn't been in their immediate mindsets. Though, that did sound like something Tony would do.
"Ugh, ugh, fuck! That's it, right there. Oh! OH! I FUCKING LOVE WAFFLES~!"
Yeah, definitely something he'd do.
"Need help?"
Aldrich turned to the suddenly there man. First thing he noticed was the thinning spot spider-webbing his forehead, he would likely be bald within the next few years. Next was the business-esque way he held himself. Like a predator, sizing up his prey. His features seemed oddly familiar to Aldrich, and a sense of animalistic fear coursed through him in the presence of this wolf-man.
The lion eyed him, a fake smile contorting his features sickly. He looked at Aldrich thoroughly, as though looking for something to make him seem contrive. And maybe he was.
Aldrich didn't want to stay and find out.
"No thanks, just looking." He made his way to a different table, counters covered in every food imaginable. Now, he didn't want to grab anything that Tony wouldn't like, or that he was allergic to, so maybe some fruit? Apples, grapes-
"He likes chocolate chip pancakes drenched in syrup, and cold pizza. If you wanna get him to gag on his own tongue, go ahead and give him that. Though, if you want to be kinky with him, try strawberries."
Aldrich froze, turning towards the man again standing next to him incredulously, "I'm sorry?"
The man shook his head, "You should be, you little shits have caused me quite the headache."
He didn't know how to respond to that, so instead he just continued to gape at the frustrating man.
Tired of the small talk, the man's grin swerved manic, shark-like. "Obadiah Stane, co-owner of Stark Industries. Tony's business partner." He plucked a grape off the plate Aldrich had been preparing, a growl biting viciously with his next words "And you're the sorry son-of-a-bitch who's decided to start fucking my best engineer."
It wasn't a question, but a statement. Aldrich cleared his throat. Now he recognized this man. This was the guy who made all the tough business decisions for Tony's company, the man he trusted to run his company when he had- 'other'- things to do.
The man who could make or break this for him.
Bursts of laughter exploded from the man's mouth, chuckles reverberating from the ceiling. "Ah, I'm messing with you. Trust me, I've stopped caring about Tony's "suitors" by now. I'm just glad you're not with the military this time, god; that was a disaster last time. Though, I didn't know he had a thing for cripples." His hand disappeared into his jacket briefly, before reappearing with a cigar, "So, how serious are you about this thing you have with my Tony?"
That was a test. He was quizzing his morals. His anger. His protectiveness.
Challenging his territory, scouting out the competition.
And man, he was good at it. Already, his inner alpha was raging at the blasphemy this man was letting spew from his mouth. Perhaps he was being somewhat possessive, but dammit, he'd only been mated a day and already someone was questioning his ability as a providing alpha. Not only that, but he was essentially threatening him. Everyone who knows alphas and omegas know that you do not threaten an alphas territory the day after a bonding. It was unethical and got several of people injured in the past.
He blinked, realizing he had been glaring at the other man, who was now staring at him condescendingly.
Putting on the fakest grin he could manage, Aldrich put out his hand to the man. "Aldrich Killian, CEO of A.I.M. Tony and I are soulbound, so I think our relationship is very serious." The lions hand wise like a vise in his own, squeezing his grip tightly. Aldrich was positive that the other man was envisioning his right hand around his throat.
"Congratulations!" Immediately, the man's cold expression melted into a warm look. Shocked at the complete change in demeanor, Aldrich could only gape at him as the man wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "Sorry about that, but I had to know you were true in your intentions. Tony is like a son to me, and I don't want anyone taking advantage of his omega status. You understand, right? Can't have someone manipulating my poor, sad little Tony. That would kill him, and we can't have that."
Something in the way he said that gave Aldrich pause. His words were sincere enough, but the underlaid meaning felt vicious and loathing. Almost as if... But no. No, he was just being ridiculous now. If Tony trusted this man, than he should trust him.
But he still couldn't shake off the feeling of dread...
None the matter.
"Thank you, it means alot coming from someone so close to my Tony." He shuffled away from the food trays, back towards the lobby. He didn't trust this man to be anymore near his maybe-pregnant mate's nuritionment. "I'm guessing you came over here for a reason? Or is this where we part ways? Because I have an omega to get back to, if you would be so kind as to excuse me."
"Of course, of course. I just wanted to know when I can bring the paperwork by, then I'll be on my way."
His steps stopped, pivoting to face the balding alpha again, "Paperwork?"
A sharp smirk marred the man's features, as he walked quickly back to where Aldrich was standing. "As you know, omega's don't exactly have the luckiest break in life," He drops his head and gives it a small shake, "least of all an omega in big business."
"W-What are you saying?"
"Tony is going to lose everything, because of you." The friendly demeanor was gone, replaced with that of a serial killer eyeing his latest kill. The blatant emotion dripping from the man's face made Aldrich sick. He knew that look, the one so many people cursed him with day after day. One that destroyed him each time it was glared his way.
Disgust. Pure, hatred-filled disgust.
"How? No, thats wrong," He was trying to make sense of everything. This was crazy, he wasn't a bad thing to Tony, he was... he was...
'You've got me, I've got you. Yeah?'
When he stepped towards the man again, he tripped over his limp, falling face first onto the floor. Mocking chuckles danced in the air above him, and he tried to hide his face away from the humiliation surrounding him. Around him, others couldn't control the peals of laughter from permeating from their beings. They the crowds of romans, he the sacrificial lamb.
"As Tonys alpha, you become the main controlling interest at Stark Industries. All our profits, our hard work, goes to you." A sad smile came over his face, as he nudged Aldrich's limp with his pristine boot. "And after the stock brokers and military see that a disabled man is selling them their weapons... We'll lose everything. He'll lose everything."
"No, I- There has to be something I can do." For Tony, he'd do anything, "What if I could fix this? Heal my flaws."
That seems to stop the man for a moment, confusion oozing out of him in waves. "What?"
"If I could fix it, fix me, then Tony and I could have a chance?"
He continued to stare in confusion, tilting his head and biting his tongue, as though in deep thought.
He never got his answer.
A woman wolf dared to approach them, as their conversation seemed to reach a small lull. She seemed familiar, with her serpent smile and large sly eyes. Something about her just screamed predator, from the way she flashed her teeth, to the wicked heels no doubt pinching her feet dreadfully. On closer look, it was clear that she was here for Obadiah, not Aldrich. Which was fine, he didn't want her anyway.
"Obie, I need to talk to you," She whined, hanging off the older man's arm like a lemur, "the hotel service is being mean to me again. Make them stop~!" She tugged irritably at his arm, pouting when he continued to ignore her. Instead she turned her sights to him.
"Hi, pleasure to meet me. Hee! My name is Maria, but you probably already knew that. I'm, well, I'm not very well known right now, but this story is gonna put me on the map!" Pausing she eyed him up and down, disinterest plainly written on her features, and faced her real interest.
Interest for however long he's useful, that is. Aldrich isn't naive enough to believe that she has any intention to stay with him after he's delivered what she want's to her. But then again, he probably know this. In fact, he's probably thinking the exact same thing.
"It's a shame, isn't it?" She frowns, a look of pity decorating her face. Fake pity, he knows. Beasts like her rarely ever feel sorrow for the creatures they destroyed. "Poor Tony, must suck waiting your entire life for your missing half, then ending up with someone screwed up. I'd almost feel sorry for the guy if he wasn't such a complete asshole."
He bit back the growl itching in hi throat, closing his eyes against the raging protective urge to attack anyone who dared insult his omega. She had managed to completely annoy him, and he'd only known her less than five minutes.
Obadiah seemed to catch on to his struggling emotions, as he whispered something close to her ear. Shock and horror slapped on her face faster than he had thought possible, and she now set her pitying gaze on him.
"I'm sorry, I-I didn't know you were him." She paused, and Aldrich hoped she would leave it at that. Of course not. "But come on, why would the great Tony Stark want a ugly, broken, useless alpha like you? I mean, I can't help but feel a little sorry for the guy. I'm sure you're a great man and all, but really, you're the complete opposite of a worthy specimen."
Obadiah hissed "Maria..." at her, but it was half-hearted. After all, he thought the same thing, right?
Did Tony? Was he just making the best with a bad situation?
Did he see him as nothing but a tragedy, a sacrifice Tony had to lay down because, 'hey! Lifes a bitch?'
No, Tony wouldn't see him like that. Tony was good, and beautiful and perfect...
And he was broken. Broken and ugly.
His glasses fell down his nose as he glared at the ground, tears welling up in his blue eyes. If he was going to do this, it would have to be now.
"If I-" He had to stop, his throat constricting on the words he couldn't bear to say because of how much they hurt. "If I left for a while, to find a cure for my disabilities, would you take care of Tony?"
The man nodded.
Aldrich left him behind, tear tracks running down his cheeks.
He would return one day, better than he ever was.
Then he and Tony could be happy.
Content.
He checked out of his room, ignoring the rude worker, and made his way out, lingering gazes following him from shadows.
It was better this way.
With that thought he fell into his car, and went back to his mundane lifestyle, leaving behind the one person to ever bring light to his blackened life.
June 8th, 2013
Old wolf tribes believed that humans were angels, gods come down in suitable vessels to mate and reproduce to form the perfect offspring. Scientists today believed that mankind was at the top of the food chain. The ultimate predator.
They're wrong.
Mankind is a weak, worthless, greedy, species.
He gazed out the floor to ceiling windows lining the walls of his office, room silent except for the newscaster vocalizing on the television. Preaching some idiotic prattle about the outside world, no doubt. As though any of that nonsense mattered.
It didn't, none of it.
There was a different, new advancement on the plane, something that would conquer over the pathetic insects crawling on the planet. Squishing them, like the bugs they were. Those who accepted the change would be welcome to their beautiful vision, those who refused would be disposed of. Simple as that. There was no room left in their new country for lessers.
He would form a world where everyone is strong, everyone was flawless.
Everyone was perfect.
Aldrich rubbed a hand over his face, blinking down into his glass. Scotch, on the rocks. Normally he couldn't stand the taste of alcohol, but today he craved it. Needed the burn, the torture wrecking his throat in the most painful way. Itched to inflict some sort of self-harm to himself, feel the gaping ache in any other place.
Any place other than where it currently was.
He missed his sunlight. His unevolved bloom.
His precious omega.
'You've got me, I've got you. Yeah?'
He had seen his partner struggle over the years. Watched as he was kidnapped with no way of finding him, other than to continue his work in hopes that it's complete in time. Then a masked man began parading around Miami, always close to Stark Industries. The military were complete imbeciles, and could not put two and two together, but he did. Though, and he laughed at his own foolish jealousy later, he thought that 'Iron Man', as the tabloids had come to call it, was Tony's new mate. After he'd come out to the public, Aldrich had to commend Tony for his fabulous piece of weaponry.
Then the old bald man died. Again, no one seemed to connect the fact that Obadiah Stane died right after Iron Man was seen fighting a larger metal death machine on the freeway outside of SI. Not to mention the fact that the 'Iron Monger' was never mentioned by his omega at the press conference.
He was there through Hammer, and Vanko, wanted to hold his omega close when he had found out he almost died.
Either it was kept very well, or American school teachers were being overpaid for educating.
But he didn't, because it was yet to be complete.
Then the Avengers happened.
He clenched his teeth and glared at the ice in his glass. Heroes? Ha, that rag-tag group of misfits didn't deserve to be on a team with Tony. But, if Tony liked them, then he would give them a chance. He shouldn't have.
They didn't try to stop Tony from sacrificing himself again. Aldrich nearly revealed himself then, but he didn't.
It wasn't ready yet.
But now it is.
He watched as his mate put himself in harms way over and over again. No self-respecting alpha should be shocked, shocked, that their omega was still alive.
And yet, here he is.
Employees worried for him, even though that's all they were. Tools, to be used and left to rot away in a shed. They would never accomplish the pure amount of complete perfection that he was, because they were bare to begin with. While he himself had his mind, which made him far superior than the scum he willingly forced himself into association with.
His worshipers, begging for forgiveness and the healing powers of a god among men.
And he did work magnificent miracles.
"Reports are coming in live from Avengers Tower," Aldrich looked up for a moment, then turned back to the window. Just what he needs at a time like this, more lies and demeaning words disgracing his lost mate's reputation.
"Apparently, heroic figures Tony Stark aka Iron Man, and Steve Rogers aka Captain America, have something they wish to tell the public. Our onsite reporter, Maria Teyo, has more on the events. How's it looking out there, Maria?"
A new voice expends from the speakers, one that irritates Aldrich's already frayed nerves. God, he had hoped this woman would have died by now. While she wasn't particularly old, he assumed that someone would have put a bullet through her deceiving, cruel mouth by now. Lead would look so good blooming red on her forehead. Like a priceless rose, offered for taking his own.
His beautiful, flawless little rose.
"Why would the great Tony Stark-"
"Thanks Susan. I'm here outside of Avengers Tower in New York City, the site where all the Avengers reside, awaiting an important announcement from the two well known heroes, Tony Stark and Steve Rogers." There is a brief pause, "I'm getting news that the duo are on their way to the podium right n- Oh there they are!"
He took another quick glance towards the television, where Tony and a blonde man in a plaid shirt had appeared where there had been nothing before. Aldrich knocked back his drink, looking away from the painful sight. Tony looked just like he had last time, albeit slightly older. Still his amazing, gorgeous omega. His missing piece, to an almost complete puzzle.
Tony spoke into the microphone first, unless Captain America just so happened to sound exactly like him. No, no one had a voice like Tony. His was angelic, and should be praised by any who are blessed with its spiritual tune.
"Hey America! No, not you Cap. How's everybody doing? You sir! Yes you, how are you? Good? Awesome." Aldrich chuckled, loving his ridiculous omega's antics. He missed that. He missed all of it.
He missed his soulbound, so much.
His Tony.
"I know that all of you have personal lives to get back to, facebook can only be held off for a small period of time, am I right? So I'm gonna make this short and sweet." He took a deep, audible breath, psyching himself up for something, "Steve and I plan to become mates. Bound in blood."
His head snapped in the direction of the television, suddenly very interested in the people on the screen. Cheers and questions blocked out what Tony continued to say, but he didn't need to hear it. The blonde man (definitely alpha) had stepped behind Tony, resting his palms on his hips possessively. As though he had some sort of stake to HIS omega. How DAREthis meaningless filth think, let alone touch, what rightfully belongs to him. True, he wasn't around during those last few years, but Tony should know better than to go around fucking whatever he can get between his legs.
No, no Tony had nothing to do with this. Aldrich was sure of it.
He had stayed away, let his mate live his life without the hassle of a disabled lover. He'd left, and watched over the years as his omega, his love, whored himself out to any person he could get his hands on.
He had plans, goals he would achieve for them. Extremis fixed his eyes and his leg, enhancing him to perfection. Tony was supposed to take it, and become the epitome of perfection. They would have children, all enlaced with the serum in their DNA. They would bring forth a new generation, and not be brought down be the flaws human children are born with.
They wouldn't have the handicap of their father.
Now this alpha was blurring his vision, clouding it with improbability and uncertainty.
All those years waiting, would be a complete waste of time.
Glass shatters, and blood drips out from between his fingers. Extremis acts quickly, encasing his hand in an orange glow and healing the cuts. His eyes meet the blue pair on the screen, growling at the smug bastard who just wouldn't stop touching HIM!
Stop.
Please.
Stop.
STOP!
Lunging the distance between his desk and the offending electronic, he jabbed his finger right over where the blonde's face was still smiling, satisfied. Sizzling hissed the air, as the screen melted beneath the tip of his digit, taking with it the conceited blonde asshole. But it also took Tony.
Why did everything always take Tony?
"Want an ugly,"
He walked back toward his desk, ignoring the still smoking appliance behind him. Instead, he reached for his buzzer.
"Yes, Mr. Aldrich?"
"Broken,"
"Get me a meeting with Stark Industries, right away."
"Of course sir, will that be all?"
"Useless alpha-"
"Yes, thank you, Tami" He took his finger off the button, waiting until the buzz went silent.
He'd already lost his omega to society once. He didn't plan on making the same mistake twice. Tony would be his, fully and perfected, even if he had to kill America's golden boy to get him. The plan for his family would not be swayed, this was just a slight divet to the initial outline.
Nevertheless, Tony would be his.
"Like you?"
One way, or another.