…The Iron King…

/Warning/: This chapter contains, cursing, sadness, angst, maybe a little bit of violence, sad Steve, and poor Tony! All reviews are appreciated.

P.S: This is an Alpha/Beta/Omega dynamic story, it's also a Medieval story with Viking Tony ^o^

"Character talking"

"Character thinking"

…Flashbacks…

Chapter 20

Anton felt like he just took a plunge into the freezing ocean…

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…

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"He was just a brat when I met him…" The older man said not paying attention to the Alpha whose breath left his body, as he started to shake when his eyes traced the familiar pattern that carved itself in his mind-eye for decades. "Nearly twenty of age, traveling with his mother to return back to his village… a free spirit who smiles with pure joy at the thought of his beloved waiting for him back home… all innocent and young like any other kid his age, not burdened by the darkness of the world…" A smile of nostalgia took over the older man's face.

Anton's breath was held in his throat as he curled around himself forming a tight ball; body shaking and eyes unseeing as he tried desperately to bring back the air into his lungs that seemed to have been locked. Shivers wrecked his body as his mind drew blank; statics and silence filled it as he found himself hiding in his study in one of the corners shivering from the coldness seeping into his body (And since when did Anton arrive at his own home when he was sure that not a few minutes ago he was in old man's Philips's presence?) Anton doesn't know what happened… all he knew is that his body was refusing to inhale any air as the dark spots danced before his vision.

"His name… his real name, was Stefán Róaldr…" The older man hummed, unaware of how he sold Anton's fate, unaware of the breath that rushed out of his lungs and how his hands shook… unaware that he did nothing but opened the gates of Hel that Anton tried to close for years upon years of pain…

That was wrong; it was wrong; so, so wrong! This was a lie! Stefán was not Steven! It couldn't, shouldn't, impossible! Stefan was supposed to be home (Wherever his home was) he was supposed to be home with his family… with his mate and children and loved ones… living his life happily and forgetting about the stupid Alpha who fancied him but was too weak to be of use to him… Stefán was supposed to be home… he wasn't supposed to be held a prisoner to be tortured day and night; he wasn't supposed to be forced into marrying the Hydra King and losing his innocence to him, only to end up falling pregnant and end up losing most of the children he considered his own… Steven was… Steven…

"A young lad, with big dreams and hope, returning back home to marry the love of his life… a caring man... a peaceful Alpha who crafted the pendant you hold in your hands and declared it his heart to give to the brat…" Philips stated, sighing as he leaned on his pillow, eyes closed as tiredness surrounded him, unaware of the labored and hitched breath Anton was letting out as he tried to contain himself so as to not break down in front of the old Beta more than he already did. "But those dreams all burn to ashes and the once joyful lad grows up to be a jaded warrior… all of that because of that bastard Johann who attacked the village they took refuge in that night…" Anton shook, horror taking over his face as his mind started to piece the pieces and play every possible scenario that might have happened to Steven in Johann's clutches; his eyes were wide and unseen, and his skin lost its parlor, taking a color similar to white as all of his blood seemed to drain from him.

No, no, no, no, no, no; NO! Stefán was not supposed to be Steven, he wasn't supposed to be and it wasn't supposed to be the other way around either! Stefán was supposed to stay in the past, a ghost that should be forgotten and be over with; an Omega who was supposed to have moved on and lived happily with his family while forgetting about Anton; an Omega who wasn't supposed to witness the cruelty of the world and suffer from it… Steven was supposed to be Anton's future… Steven was his future and his chance at happiness! Steven was Anton's future, the same as Anton hoped to be for Steven's… the two of them were supposed to move forward and build a new life for themselves and their children without the ghosts of the past and dead lovers weighing them… Steven was supposed to be his future, his future; his future, his future! Steven was never supposed to be his past that returned to haunt him like this!

"For years to come… Steven would hold into this pendant like it was a lifeline… gathering his strength and courage from the fact that his beloved was out there waiting for him… even if he moved on… Steven was content to know that he was alive out there and living his life… only to…" Philips never managed to finish his words, stilling in his place when his eyes caught Anton and noticed the state the Alpha was in. "Why are you…?" The older man asked, not that Anton managed to hear him; his blood was rushing through his vein and deafening him. "…it is you… you…?" Was what Anton managed to piece from Philips whispered, whose eyes widened and shock crossed over his face when Anton all but stumbled to stand up and try to run away on shaky legs, dropping the pendant while ignoring the older man's shouting as he ordered Anton to wait.

Harsh gasps were heard as Anton tried to bring the air into his lungs, shaking as his body felt as cold as ice, causing him to curl even further around himself as he clutched his hands into tight fists… so tight that his fingernails left their impression in the palm of his hands and nicked him to allow a few drops of blood to escape from him. A whine left his throat, and Anton shuddered, barely feeling the noise as it left his throat that felt like sandpaper. He can't breathe… he can't breathe, he can't breathe, he can't breathe; he can't breathe! Anton's mind shrieked at him, trying to force his body to take a few precious breaths of air before he lost consciousness.

Steven… how can Steven be… Steven... how did Anton not see it?! How did he not see that Steven was Stefán? How was he so blind that he just shrugged off the many similarities and continued on with his life and did not question himself about his fascination with the Omega when everyone knew that no one caught his fancy for decades? How was Anton so blind that he didn't see? Anton didn't see, he didn't see; he didn't see! He didn't, didn't, didn't; didn't! And because of that, the Omega Anton sower to protect with all of his life had suffered because of his ignorance!

It was his entire fault… it was his fault… Steven's suffering… was his fault...

Dark spots danced in Anton's vision, and choking sounds can be heard as he tried to calm himself but failed in doing so. Years… Steven had suffered for years because of him… he suffered for years because Anton wasn't smart enough to feel that something was amiss when his betrothal didn't return home… instead of believing in his instincts that told him Stefán would never back from his words; Anton chooses to believe in everyone else in the village as they laughed at him and jeered, accepting their words as truth when they told Anton that his mate had found someone more worthy than he would ever be.

Years… and Steven was forced to be stripped from everything he ever knew… his home… his parents… his innocent… his name… all because Anton was too busy making a name for himself instead of searching for his mate… leaving the Omega he loved suffering under the monster that took everything from them… the monster that took away their future from them…

Years… for years… Stefán suffered and Anton was drowning in nothing but anger and doubt… not even questioning Tyber when he came to them holding the information that no one thought would achieve to gain the upper hand against Johann… for years… Stefán lost a child after a child because Anton was the true monster who left him in the Hydra king's clutches when he asked for his help… when he asked for Anton's help…

Years… Anton took and took and took… gaining the glory and fear from the path he painted in blood, hoping to get Stefán back for being worthy… unaware that he gave Stefán nothing but pain and misery in return… taking from the Omega everything he didn't know he could take… and to make the matter worse, Anton ended up mocking him and forcing him to work as a slave of a sort all to abase his ego and force him to give up the only family that stood up by his side when Anton abandoned him in Johann's clutched…

How… how can Stefán look at him and forgive him when Anton took everything away from him? How can Anton dare to make his intentions of courting Stefán known when Anton had done nothing but accuse the Omega of breaking his oath and marrying another when the truth was so different and much darker? How did Stefán accept him back once more when all Anton had given him was nothing but pain and humiliation? How? How? How? How Stefán can forgive the person who destroyed his life daily for more than a decade and a half and discard everything that Anton had done to him even now? Was it because he knew about Anton? Was it because he still loved his past self and thought he could convert him to it? Did he even know who Anton was?

"Foolish Alpha, are you here?"

How? How can he look at Steven (But he was Stefán now was he not? Steven was Stefán… but then why would the Omega refuse to be called by his birth name and continued to use the name, Steven? Does he think that Anton was not worthy of knowing his real name even now?) Without the realization of his sins weighing him down? How can Anton look into Steven's eyes without breaking down in front of him and begging for forgiveness? How?

"What… Foolish Alpha, what is going on?!"

Steven was Stefán… Steven was the Omega that Anton fell for and wished for his love even when he knew he didn't deserve it… Steven was Stefán… the Omega Anton loved and held dear to his heart both in his past and the present… Steven was Stefán… and Anton doesn't know if the Omega would agree to be in his future much longer if he knew who Anton used to be and what he became.

"Do you hear me you Foolish…!"

How? How could Steven accept him back when would realize that the kind and gentle Alpha he left behind turned into nothing but a monster? One of the Alphas that Stefán always scrunch his nose at and declared them nothing but bullies and nuisance; how can Steven look at Anton with any love or interest when he realized that the Alpha who killed all of his children and destroyed his life, was the same Alpha he planned to have his future with, the same Alpha who was going to father their children once upon a time?

"Anton!"

The familiar voice screaming his name, pierced through the haze Anton found himself in, causing him to raise his limp head to notice how Steven was kneeling in front of him, looking so scared as he gazed at the Alpha who was shaking so badly as he tried to gasp for breath… and why would Steven give him such scared and concerned look when Anton did nothing but give him pain and humiliation?

"Anton… what…? Anton!"

Anton managed to only hear a few words as Steven (Or was it Stefán? What is the name of the Omega now? What does he truly wish to be called?) Seemed to get frantic as he shook him, and then check him over when Anton seemed unresponsive to his calls. Dark spots danced in Anton's vision, but still, he couldn't turn his eyes away from Steven, whose eyes showed fear at how Anton was acting (And why would Steven feel any fear? He shouldn't feel that emotion ever again; he should be happy that Anton was getting his just punishment and rejoice at the pitiful sight of him instead of showing concern) Steven's gentle hands, on Anton's cheeks caused the Alpha to blink his eyes trying to focus and reassure the Omega that he was alright… that Steven didn't need to worry about a worthless Alpha who brought him nothing but pain in the past decade or so… before Anton dared to say any of that, darkness claimed him, that he barely felt it when he slumped forward…

The last thing Anton heard was Steven crying out in shock…

The next time Anton woke up… it was dark…

Anton could only groan as consciousness finally returned back to him; his head was pounding causing him to hold his whine of pain as he tried to gather himself enough to open his eyes and study his surroundings. When Anton finally managed to get himself under control, he opened his eyes; gazing around the blurry place as it slowly filtered and sharpened to inform his pounding head that he was in his room sleeping on his bed.

The weight on his forehead caused Anton to furrow his brows and raise his hand slowly to touch his forehead, blinking his eyes when his hand came in contact with a piece of cloth. Lowering his hand, Anton gave a shuddered breath as the events that took place this morn were remembered; a sob trapped itself in Anton's throat as he closed his eyes tightly, trying to control himself so as to not start sobbing like a small child who was abandoned by his parents. The shock had long since left Anton's system, leaving a gaping hole for pain and despair to crawl into it and wreak havoc on Anton's already questionable mental state.

"You are awake…" A tired voice whispered causing Anton to turn to the side, his breath stilling when his eyes fell on Steven, who was sitting on the chair next to his bed, gazing at Anton with a tired but relieved look on his face. Anton couldn't master to let out a noise other than a shuddered breath as his eyes took in Steven who looked like he spent the night awake, with the dark rings under his eyes and the wild hair pulled in a loose ball… and maybe Steven had if counting on how dark everything around him and the burned out candles on the nightstand.

"Ste…" Anton whispered before he stopped himself, gazing at the Omega not knowing what to do or say… should he call him by his name or his real name? Should Anton tell him what he knew him and who he used to be? What was Anton supposed to do in such a situation when the earth became the sky and the sky became the earth and everything he knew and believed became nothing but questionable facts? Anton wondered if Steven knew who Anton was or if the old man had told him what took place between them.

"I thought you were dying…" Steven whispered suddenly, his words stilling Anton and forcing him to focus on the Omega who was clenching his jaw tightly while gazing at him; the scared tone that Anton managed to detect under Steven's causal and uncaring voice cause his heart to twist, in his chest, especially when Steven let out a stuttered breath before he took the piece of cloth from his forehead. "I thought you were poisoned… that the Stone clan…" Steven's words trailed before he shook his head and twisted the cloth, draining it from the excess water before turning to Anton. "What happened?" Steven ended up asking, his words causing Anton to swallow and close his eyes tightly, trying to calm himself before he fell into the rabbit hole once more.

Anton opened his mouth before closing it, swallowing several times before opening his eyes to gaze at Steven who looked concerned… openly showing his emotions and a vulnerable part of himself to Anton when the Alpha didn't do anything to deserve such a look. "Once upon a time…" Anton whispered after a long period of silence passed between them that Steven almost lost hope of him answering; Anton couldn't help but wonder if he was doing the right thing by telling Steven this… should Anton shut his mouth and hold this secret with him to his grave continuing to make Steven believe that the Alpha he loved was out there living his life with his family as the kind and gentle Alpha he always was, or should Anton tell Steven the truth and break his heart and trust in Anton when he discovered that the Alpha he used to love became nothing but a monster that killed his children and destroyed his life?

"Once upon a time…" Steven repeated back gently, his hand was gentle as it flicked Anton's forehead to snap him out of his daze before he put the clothes on his forehead; the action brought a small smile on Anton's face, despite the tears that wanted to roll done his face, because if nothing else, this move reminded Anton of when he was a child, and Stefán's dam would scold him for getting into fights while flicking his forehead.

"Once upon a time… I was nothing but a weak brat… who spent his days and nights avoiding fights and daydreaming about living a calm life…" Whispered Anton, his words bringing an amused smile on Steven's face even when his brows furrowed in confusion, but he let Anton talk, not interrupting him, even when that wasn't the original question he asked. "At that time, no one thought I was worth knowing... a weak Alpha who spent his days in the forge creating ornaments instead of weapons… a weak Alpha who preferred to solve everything peacefully instead of fighting… that was why I was not known by any name other than Volundrsson…" Anton can see the moment the amused smile left Steven's face as he gazed at Anton, trying to gauge if he was joking or not; when Steven realized that Anton was telling the truth his face paled while his eyes widen as he gazed at Anton with disbelief and shock. "Then I met him… Stefán Róaldr…" Out of anything that Anton could say to bring horror into Steven's face, it was calling him out by his name that caused the Omega to choke as he all but jump off his chair, his eyes not leaving Anton's face as horror was evidence in both his face and scent, looking as if Ragnarok had started.

"No…" Steven crocked after what felt like ages, the one word that he uttered, broke Anton's heart, causing him to swallow the tears as he sat up on the bed, wanting to head to Steven and calm him down. "NO!" Steven screamed his hands rushing to cover his mouth as he leaned on the wall behind him, gazing at Anton like the Alpha had told him his worst nightmare… and in a way Anton had… Anton wondered at that moment if he should have kept what he learned a secret, not telling Steven about what he used to be if only to spear him the heartache. "You… you are lying… he… he is…" Steven stuttered, his breath picking up as he gazed at Anton, making the Alpha bite the inside of his cheek so tight that he tasted blood when he saw the tears gathering in Steven's eyes. "…Please… tell me you are lying…" Steven pleaded, causing Anton to close his eyes tightly trying to gather his barriers before he throw the furs away, standing on shaky legs.

"I forged a pendant of Yggdrasil for him…" Anton continued, leaning on the chest at the end of his bed, opening it to get the small box there, hiding deep under the furs and clothes; swallowing at the harsh inhale Steven let out when Anton turned to him with a small chest holding the pendant not daring to open the chest even when he knew it would prove his claim. "And we promised each other that when he gets back, we will-" Anton couldn't even continue as Steven snapped and ordered him to shut up, causing Anton to bite his lower lip and look at Steven, who was shaking with tears running down his face, gazing at Anton with wide eyes that held equal pain and horror in them; it was the tears that undid Anton, having never seen the stubborn Omega cry since knowing him… only once, and that was when the Stone clan had shown themselves and rubbed Steven's loss in his face. "Stefán…" Anton's voice cracked as he called out to the Omega's name, taking a step forward only for Steven to flinch and back away, the action freezing Anton in his place as he gazed at the Omega who was holding his sobs and shaking his head.

"You are lying!" Steven ended up screaming, his hands going from covering his mouth to his hair to tug on it. "He is dead, he is dead… he is dead!" Steven snapped, his eyes wild as they took Anton; his words stilling the Alpha forcing him to open his mouth to tell Steven that he was alive, only for him to close it shut when he noticed how agitated Steven was becoming. "And even if he was not… he would never…" Steven hissed before stopping the words from leaving his mouth, but that didn't mean Anton didn't understand what the Omega meant… 'He would never be like you!'… left unsaid but it rang loudly in Anton's ears.

"I thought so too…" Anton whispered, his words bringing nothing but tears and pain into Steven's eyes (And should Anton continue to call the Omega Steven or should he acknowledge the truth knowing that the reason the Omega was this agitated was because of him) as the Omega slumped on the wall behind him, not being able to control the sobs that left him anymore; Anton swallowed, his heart breaking with every sob of pain Steven let out, knowing that the reason of all the pain was him from the start. "Ste-" Anton started only to be cut by Steven.

"Do not…" Steven hissed, regaining himself enough to stand on shaky legs wiping his tears away, glaring at Anton with red-rimmed eyes, that held so much despair and anger that Anton froze still in his place, waiting for the Omega's next move, and not having the will to object… Anton should have kept his mouth shut… he should have kept this secret with him to his grave… he should have never told Steven and continued as it was… "You…" Steven opened his mouth, but only one word left before his lips trembled and he bite his lower lip hard; swallowing, Steven shook his head before turning away, leaving Anton standing in the empty room, gazing at where Steven stood not a few seconds ago, feeling empty and helpless as the small chest in his hand fell to the ground…

Anton should have kept his mouth shut…

Steven walked fast (He didn't run, because Steven never runs from anything… he never runs, never, never… ne…) trying to hold himself as to not breakdown where everyone can see him; he tried to appear uncaring and strong even when he felt his life had been flipped upside down, even when his mind felt like it was blank and came into screeching halt… even when his heart felt like it was about to stop from how much pain and hurt Steven was feeling at the moment.

Steven walked with no direction in mind other than putting as much distance between himself and the Alpha's house, trying to regain his breath after he felt like his lungs were conspiring against him by refusing him air. Steven walked, gazing left and right at the empty and dark streets, his mind was a mess as he tried to make sense of what the king had told him today…

He was a liar…. A liar! Steven was sure the Alpha was a liar… it was impossible, impossible; impossible! The Iron King cannot be him… he can't be him! A stupid notion like this was the same as saying that sky was green and the ocean was red… the Iron King cannot be him… Steven shuddered at that, coming to a halt as he clenched his fists tightly, running one of his shaky hands through his messy hair before turning around, changing the direction of his destination into one he knew would bring him the answers.

'He would never be like you!'

Steven wanted to scream at the king, he wanted to scream at him for bringing such a silly and absurd notion when the Alpha was nothing but a warlord who made himself known through the wars he won and the people he killed… he wanted to scream at the Alpha for daring to try and soil the reputation of the only Alpha Steven truly loved, with blood and death… because how dare he…

'I thought so too…'

Was the Alpha's response to the words Steven wanted but couldn't scream… words that stilled Steven in his place and made him shake at the thought of the Iron King being… him… the thought of the person who took and took and caused his pain (Even if it was unintentionally) being him… was enough to make Steven sick.

The Iron King can't be him… he just can't… no matter how much the words and the evidence he told… no matter how broken the Alpha was when he uttered Steven's true name… no matter how much… Steven can't… no, he refuses to believe that the Iron King was the same person that Steven promised to marry when he was young. He refuses to believe that the person he decided to marry and have a new life with was the same one Steven dreamed about marrying and having children with.

Reaching his destination Steven all put pounded on the door to be granted entry, not caring about what the person on the other side would snap at such annoyance at this time of the night. "Who in the name of everything holy is pounding on my door at this hour?!" A shout was heard from the other side of the door before it was pulled open, and Nicolaus appeared, glaring harshly at the person on the other side; only for his glare to disappear when his eyes caught the sight of Steven, and what a sight the Omega was making if the concerned and worried look on Nicolaus' face was anything to go by.

"Did you know?" That was the only thing Steven demanded as he shouldered his way into Nicolaus' hut, ignoring the concerned look sent his way as the Alpha closed the door behind them; trying to placate Steven who looked agitated, only to be at the end of a murderous glare that made even the 'Fury Of The Seven Seas' flinch.

"Know what?" Nicolaus decided to ask instead, moving slowly as he tried not to act as a threat to the agitated Omega that looked like he wanted to rip the Alpha's intestine and fashion a noose out of it to choke him with it; something that wasn't far from what Steven was thinking as he all but snapped the name 'Volundrsson!' causing Nicolaus to furrow his brows in confusion before tilting his head to the side. "Anton?" Nicolaus repeated in confusion, raising his brow when Steven growl and send him an angry and accusation look. "What did the fool do to anger you this time? I thought you two have made up…" A snarl cut what Nicolaus was about to say almost making the Alpha jump as the Omega advanced slowly at him.

"You knew! You knew the Iron King was him!" Steven shrieked, feeling angry and a little betrayed at the thought of Nicolaus knowing that the Iron King was his betrothal without telling him… but thinking about it, Steven knew that he didn't give Nicolaus any chance to talk about Volundrsson and would have shut the conversation before it started.

His words only caused Nicolaus to be confused for a few seconds before his eyes widened and his jaw fell on the floor, gazing at Steven with disbelief as if he couldn't believe what he was being told. "You… you did not know?" Nicolaus whispered, his breath hitching and his face paling as he gazed at Steven who was shaking harshly (From anger or shock, Steven doesn't know anymore, all he knew is that Steven was one step from breaking down and starting to cry as he did in the Iron King's home) "Oh… Gods… you do not know…" Nicolaus sat on the stool behind him, shock dominating his features as he gazed at Steve who leaned on the wall behind him, sliding down as his strength seemed to leave him…

So it was true…

"Anton?" Someone called his name, causing Anton to scrunch his nose, opening his eyes slightly before closing them shut once more when the morn's light nearly blinded him. "Anton?" This time, his name was followed by a gentle hand shaking his shoulder, causing Anton to grit his teeth and open his tired and puffy eyes, trying to glare at the person who dared to disturb the meager amount of sleep he managed to gather after he spent last night crying himself to sleep like a babe. "What happened?" That was the gentle question that none other than Jamti asked as the Alpha looked at Anton with great concern and distress that caused Anton to scrunch his nose.

Anton moved, biting the inside of his cheek harshly when his back cracked informing him that sleeping on the ground in the corner of his room while sitting was not a good idea, to begin with; it was only after Anton woke up and Jamti repeated the question for over ten times that Anton had it in him to whisper. "Stefán Róaldr…" Anton could see the emotions flickering over Jamti's face before they settled on anger mixed with concern; his friend no doubt was thinking that Anton was blowing up his chance of happiness with Steven by bringing the ghost whose name should not be muttered; before Jamti started his spill of how Anton should move on and forget about the Omega who brought him nothing but heartache, Anton opened his mouth to say. "The Queen is Stefán Róaldr…" That made Jamti's mouth click shut, and for his eyes to widen, both in horror and disbelieve, and when the words Anton spoke finally made sense, Jamti paled his legs giving up on him bringing him to the ground as he gazed at his friend who once more curled into a tight ball, shaking as tears threatened to slip once more… feeling like he was once again a child who had no one in the world…

Anton never felt as lost as he did now…

So what do you think?

Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

Finally an update!

And Steve and Tony finally knew!

You know I was divided between making Tony keep his knowledge a secret or making him tell Steve… the story wrote itself by itself so the choice now is out of my hands…

Sorry for the late update, but you know, life and all that jazz related to college… on another note… I am taking a little break from writing so I may not be able to update any of my stories until the beginning of February at the earliest, mainly because my finals are starting meaning I would barely be able to breathe let along write… so…

Wish me luck!

Read and Review

And tell me what you think…

Nazaki-Sama