Tony Stark - Boldly Astray
Tony Stark - Boldly Astray
The Quinjet's engines hummed softly as we descended, its sleek body touching down on the grass just outside the large mansion that served as the enemy base. I could feel the confidence surging through me, my Iron Man suit securely fastened around my body like a second skin.
"Piece of cake." I muttered under my breath. The side door of the jet opened and we made our way to the gate.
"Alright, team." I called out. "According to Loki, the guards will be changing right about now. We can waltz right through the front door."
"Tony, don't you think this is all too easy?" Clint asked, his voice tight with unease. He looked around cautiously, no doubt scanning the area with those sharp eyes of his for potential threats.
"Relax, Barton." I replied, shooting him a reassuring smile. "Loki's got our back. And you know what they say: fortune favours the bold."
"Or the foolish." He retorted dryly.
As we strode through the now unguarded entrance, I couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. This was what we were born to do: protect the world from those who sought to harm it.
"Piece of cake." I whispered again, more confidently this time.
The moment we step into the dimly lit mansion, I can feel the tension in the air, thick enough to slice with a knife. But me? Nah, I'm cool as a cucumber. After all, this kind of situation is practically my bread and butter - and I do love me some buttered toast. As I take in the grandiose interior, it's hard not to admire the exquisite, albeit gaudy taste of whoever decorated this place. The chandeliers alone could probably fund a small country.
"Where are we supposed to go?" Clint's voice cuts through the silence, pulling me out of my musings on the finer things in life. His eyes scan the surroundings warily, ever the cautious one. He looks like he's ready for anything, but at the same time, his jaw is set in that way it does when he's worried about something. Or someone.
"Follow me." I reply nonchalantly, already striding towards the direction I know we need to go.
"Wait, how do you know where we're going?" Bucky's question comes laced with confusion and disbelief, and I can't help but chuckle internally as I glance back at him. His dark hair falls over those piercing eyes, which currently hold a healthy dose of suspicion.
"Relax, Barnes. If there's one thing you should know about me by now, it's that I always have a plan." My voice is steady, confident.
"Tony's right." Steve interjects, giving Bucky a reassuring look. "He always has a plan."
"Alright." Bucky concedes with a shake of his head, falling into step behind me as we continue through the mansion. "Lead the way, Stark."
"Always do," I reply, smirking as we move forward.
The rhythmic pounding of my footsteps echoes through the empty hallways, each stride propelling me forward with a newfound clarity. My head is clearer than it's been in ages, and for once, I feel like I have a purpose. This energy – it courses through me, urging me onward.
"Tony, slow down!" Thor's low voice cuts through the air, but I don't heed his words. Slowing down would mean giving in to the fog that threatens to reclaim my mind, and I can't let that happen. Not again.
As the Avengers trail behind me, I can almost sense their confusion. They're used to following my lead, trusting my judgment implicitly, but this must seem strange to them. Even so, they don't question my actions. At least not yet.
"Can't stop, big guy." I call back to Thor, too loudly, without breaking stride. "We've got places to be, things to do." I know I sound flippant, but it's the only way I know how to cope with the relentless drive pushing me on. I need a destination, something concrete to focus on.
Thor huffs, clearly annoyed by my evasive response. "This is not like you." He says, concern lacing his voice. "We should regroup, discuss our next move."
"Trust me." I insist, although I'm not entirely sure I trust myself. The energy within me surges, almost like it's trying to respond to his concerns. It pushes me, nudging me onwards in the right direction.
"Fine." Thor grumbles, reluctantly following my lead. "But if we end up getting lost or ambushed, I reserve the right to say 'I told you so.'"
"Wouldn't expect anything less from you, Thunder God." A smile tugs at my lips despite the situation.
Thor scoffs. "Thunder God? That's your worst one yet."
I glance back at everyone briefly, they all look.... concerned. I carry on.
I don't know where this energy is leading me.
A sudden, familiar voice pierces the air, stopping us in our tracks. "Wait!" Loki calls out, his long strides bringing him within our reach much faster than I anticipated. He appears slightly breathless, sweat glistening on his pale skin. His green eyes burn with an intensity that betrays his urgency.
"Loki!" Thor exclaims. "You are okay!"
Loki ignores him. "Tony, where are you going?" He asks, his voice hushed and cautious. "There's nothing through here except lounges and a couple of bathrooms!"
The momentary pause, combined with Loki's words, allows the fog to begin creeping back into my head. No, I can't let it gain control again. I need to keep moving. We all do. The fog is pulling me forwards, tugging at me like a relentless current.
"Forward." I say, my voice sounding strange even to my own ears. "We need to go... forward." My words tumble out clumsily, not quite making sense to the others.
"Tony, what are you talking about? You're not making any sense!" Loki's concern is palpable, but I can't afford to stop now.
"Can't... explain." I grit out, frustration mounting as I struggle to verbalise the urgency that courses through every fiber of my being. "Just... trust me, please."
Loki hesitates, clearly torn between his concern for me and his desire to trust me.
I could feel the fog of uncertainty clouding my thoughts, but something kept pushing me forward, and I continued. It was as if an invisible force guided my steps towards that door at the end of the hallway. The metal handle gleamed under the lights, almost begging to be turned.
As I reached out for it, Steve's hand shot out, grabbing my wrist and stopping me just inches away from it. He fixed his piercing blue eyes on me, his expression a mix of concern and sternness.
"Tony, you're not thinking clearly." His words held a weight that made my chest tighten.
Irritation flared within me. "And what makes you think that, Captain?" I retorted, shaking off his grip.
"Since when do you trust these... instincts?" He replied, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "We need to be sure before we walk into potential danger. You're being reckless."
"I'm alway reckless."
Steve frowned. "No, no you're not. Not with other people's lives. Impulsive, yes. But not reckless."
I sighed, rubbing my temples. In truth, I couldn't explain it either. My mind raced, trying to rationalise the situation, but every thought seemed to slip through my fingers like sand. I glanced back at the door, feeling its pull once again.
"Steve, I swear, I have a gut feeling about this place. We need to go in there." Desperation laced my voice. I hated not having a logical explanation, but I couldn't ignore what I felt. "You've always been the one to trust your instincts. Why can't you trust mine?"
He hesitated, doubt creeping into his gaze. "Fine." he finally muttered, uncrossing his arms. "But if anything goes south, we're pulling out immediately. Understood?"
"Crystal clear, Captain." I replied with a nod.
As we walked through the door, I noticed a man standing in the dimly lit room. He looked unassuming, with an air of mystery about him. "Hello." He said, his voice calm and measured.
My head throbbed suddenly, as if someone had flipped a switch inside my brain. The room came into sharp focus for a moment before dissolving into a foggy haze. A jolt of pain shot through me, causing me to wince. I could feel sweat beading on my forehead, and my heart raced.
"Tony, are you alright?" Bruce asked, his concern etched on his face.
"Stark what's happening?!" Loki hissed.
Steve turned to Loki, whispering something that caught my attention. "Loki, you're supposed to be pretending to side against us."
I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. My mind felt like it was clearing, and everything suddenly made sense. The Avengers – they were dangerous. They had to be stopped. Loki, the God of Mischief himself, was dangerous too. But then again, so was I.
"Tony, what's wrong?" Steve asked, clearly alarmed by my laughter.
"Nothing's wrong, Cap." I said with a smirk, feeling the power of my newfound clarity. "In fact, everything's just as it should be."
"Are you sure?" Steve asked, still worried.
"Positive." I replied, my sarcasm dripping from every word. "Now let's get down to business, shall we?"
The man in the room nodded, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. Steve and Clint exchanged uneasy glances, but they followed my lead. I couldn't shake the feeling that something big was about to happen – and for once, I wasn't afraid of it.
The tension in the room prickled against my skin as I took a deliberate step forward. My armour contracted in on itself until it was gone, and as I took another step forward, my hand found the serum in my pocket.
"Tony, what the hell are you doing?" Steve's voice cut through the silence.
The serum felt cold and heavy in my hand as I pulled it out, its metallic sheen reflecting the dim light of the room. My fingers tightened around it.
"Tony." Bruce pleaded, but I shook my head.
"Here," I said, handing the serum into the man's grasp.
"Finally."