Welcome to Etherium
Returning to Etherium feels like coming back home. A real home, not the Tower or the Compound. Tony finds it surprising how happy he is to be back here, considering he was here only seven times.
Some could say that Etherium is his own Wakanda. It's a fully cloaked Island in the middle of the Tyrrhenian Sea, protected with heavy artillery, weapons, energy shields, and an army of Iron Legionaries. It's safe to say that it is even safer than Wakanda, plus it is still part of Italy, so if necessary, Tony can always ask for help and the Italian Government will gladly provide, just like they did when Etherium was firstly set up.
Originally, it was supposed to serve as an only safe house if Alien Invasion came, but The Island prospered so well, that some Stark employees from Italy moved there permanently along with their families. Even some Italian Politicians moved there or visit at least once a month, they even call it the New Eden of Earth.
Pepper once asked if Tony planned to move to Etherium permanently once and he hesitantly replied "No." The Avengers would never move to Italy and he wanted to stick close to them, but if Pepper asked again, Tony would probably say "Yes." without a second thought.
Perhaps he will stay this time…
When Pegasus lands in the hangar bay, the kind people living here immediately rush to greet their "Boss" and their friends from SHIELD. Surprisingly, everyone in Stark Industries, no matter if they are from America, Europe, or even Asia, gets along incredibly, even if Happy is annoying everyone with security IDs.
"Glad you are alive, Boss." Happy greeted, clapping Tony at his shoulders, immediately as Tony walked down the ramp from Pegasus, with Friday and Karen by his side, followed by everyone else. "When we couldn't find your body we feared the worst..."
Tony laughed and hugged Happy, shocking the man a bit, but after his shock passed, he hugged Tony back. "This beauty, got me out before anything could harm me." Tony motioned at Friday with a fond smile, while Friday rolled her eyes with a smile on her face. "Enough about us. How is the situation around here? Everybody happy and safe?"
"Of course!" Happy exclaimed with a laugh, dragging them with him forward so the others could step out of Pegasus. "We have everything and far more. Heck, I would say we are probably the most advanced Town in the whole of Europe!"
"That wasn't my intention," Tony said, sheepishly looking down. "I only wanted to keep our Employees safe if something bad happened..."
"That was a compliment," Friday told him, playfully bumping into his shoulder. "Accept it. You deserve it."
"She is right." Happy noded, pointing in the distance at the small, yet one of the most advanced cities in the world. "All of this has been your doing. You might say that Iron Man is your greatest creation, but I think this is it. You created a home for all of these people, including me."
"So you plan to stay here permanently," Tony concluded, looking at Happy.
"Yes." Happy answered without hesitation. "I got together with the Kid’s Aunt and we kinda figured out that America is too chaotic to start a life together."
Peter who has been walking closely behind Tony and The Girls immediately started to choke on nothing, making Karen awkwardly pat him on the back, while Friday just rolled her eyes at the display.
"I'm happy for you." Tony praised and Happy nodded in gratitude, before grimacing and looking at Tony with a serious facial expression.
"Pepper will be happy to see you." Happy said and from the corner of his eye, Tony saw Friday freeze and look uncomfortable for a moment, before she quickly shrugged it off and walked over to Karen, whispering something to her that made the younger AI look confused.
"Mhmm. I will be happy to see her too." Tony said before pausing. "But not in the way you think, Buddy."
"What do you mean?" Happy asked, looking confused while Friday suddenly looked more interested than before, clearly listening in on their conversation, even when she was trying to mask it.
"I think that when Pepper said "Break," I think she just didn't want to hurt my "feelings". I think she meant it as a definitive break up," Tony said, looking forward and giving some people they greet him on their way a smile and nod. "And I'm fine with that. I had a lot of time to think over these past few hours and I realized that I am not the same man I was before... If I can still be called that."
"What?" Happy questioned, looking confused but also a little sad. He liked Tony and Pepper together, but if they don't love each other anymore then they don't love each other anymore. Plus, Pepper responded in almost the same exact manner as Tony did when Happy asked her the same question.
"Nevermind..." Tony shrugged it off, shaking his head. "Where is Rhodey? Is he alright?"
"He is the central base with the others." Happy answered, looking at Tony with a concerned look. "He has been helping me with the security around here as much as he could in his current state. The therapy with Helen Cho is helping him, but it's a slow process."
"Take me to him," Tony said determinedly.
****
Tony doesn't get why The Avengers are following behind them like lost puppies, but he doesn't really care as long as they don't speak. He suspects it is probably because of the "warm welcome" they got from everyone present. Honestly, if somebody started throwing fruits and different kinds of things at him, he would simply go leave and never return, but The Avengers doesn't have that kind of option right now, Sadly, and Tony was kindly begged to house them till the UN can retrieve them.
He would still refuse, but then President of Italy and Tony's dear friend begged, and Tony likes his daughter's cookies way too much, so he hesitantly agreed. Friday being the vengeful lady she is gave them the shittiest house she could find in the whole Etherium.
Some people quickly suggested that they should just stay on board Pegasus, but that simply wasn't an option, as Pegasus is currently under heavy maintenance and slight remodeling.
Surprisingly, Karen grew a bit fond of Yelena Belova and Tony honestly can't say anything bad about the Blond Widow, he actually kinda likes her attitude as well, so she along with Hope and Lang, was housed in a better area. Fury tried to guilt-trip Tony into giving them a better house but call him bitter and vengeful, Tony doesn't give a fuck and will rather give a better house to someone who didn't stab him in the back or leave him to die.
Peter is naturally going to live with May and Happy, much to the teenager's dismay, as he still doesn't like the fact, that his hot aunt is dating someone.
The Kid even considers it worse than the whole Alien Invasion!
When they finally enter the central base, Tony imidietly smiles at the sight of James Rhodes and Stephen Strange. "Hello, Boys. Missed me?"
Back when they were still stupid kids only in their early twenties, Tony, Stephen, Hope, Rhodey, Sharon, Christine were a group of friends who did stupid shit and later got in a lot of trouble. Christine and Rhodey were the "responsible ones" of their group, who got dragged along in the trouble, but even they had their "funny moments".
"Tones." Rhodey grinned, wheeling to him and giving him a quick warm hug. "I knew you are still alive. You are simply too stubborn to die."
"You know it Sourpatch." Tony winked, walking to Strange and shaking his head. "Hey, my awesome facial hair brother. What are you wearing, Stephanie? Did you join cult while I was out?"
Strange rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "I am of Sorcerer Supreme of Earth, Tony. The ropes and Cloak." Stephen adds when his Cloak flies from his shoulders and checks Tony out. "came with the job."
"What is this?" Tony questioned, not taking his eyes from the Red flying cloak.
"That is The Cloak of Levitation," Strange said, looking at the Cloak with faundles s as it flies towards Friday and Karen, who both awkwardly wave at it. "It's basically a sentient magical Cloak that allows me to fly."
"Cool!" Karen cheerfully exclaimed, hiding a bit behind Friday, who is looking at her with unreadable expression on her face. It almost looks like Mother who is shielding her child from potential danger.
"Magic," Tony repeated in disbelief. "You are joking, right? Magic isn't real you- " Stephen forms an Orange shield around his arm, making Tony imidietly shut up while Friday's jaw drops. "Magic is real. Dammit, I owe Thor 60 bucks..."
"Thank you for thinking about Me and Christine in your contingency plan." Strange smiled in gratitude and Tony silently wonders if they are back together, he kinda liked them together. "I hope you don't mind I took a dear friend of mine with us." Strange then shakes his head and chuckles."You could say Wong is my Rhodey."
"Is he a Wizard too?" Friday questioned with clear curiosity, as she softly pats the Cloak of Levitation on its back.
"Yes."
"Awesome! I would like to meet him later." Tony exclaimed, clapping Strange at the shoulders. "Anyone who can keep up with your annoying ass is already my friend."
"Wong is currently with our other Sorcerers talking about the Sanctum in New York. We masked it with our Magic, but it's still in grave danger of being discovered." Strange said with pursed lips."And it takes one annoying ass to know another one, Stark." Strange snarked back, smirking when Tony rolled his eyes before he looked at Rhodey with a pained look on his face.
"That," Tony said pointing at the wheelchair. "Will have to go."
"Tones..." Rhodey sighed, shaking his head. "I have been on physical therapy for months. I'm afraid this isn't going away. It's impossible to fix."
"You should know by now, Rhodey-Bear... I laugh impossible in the face." Tony smirked, waking towards Rhodey and taking his hand in his, before looking him directly in the eyes. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes," Rhodey answered without hesitation, slightly confused by where Tony is going with this display, along with everyone present.
"This might sting a bit," Tony muttered and before Rhodey could ask what he meant, a gauntlet materialized on Tony's suit with a small pointy dagger and he cut Rhodey on the palm of his hand, before cutting himself and pulling Rhodeys hand in a handshake as if they were Indians.
For a moment, everybody is too stunned to say anything, but then Tony's eyes start to glow electric blue and dark, unnatural veins appear on his arms, traveling to his face, as he grits his teeth in what everybody suspects is pain. Blood starts coming out of Tony's nose and Rhodey tries to pull his hand away, but Tony's grip is too strong, and Rhodey is a few seconds away from panicking and trying to shake Tony from whatever trance he is in, but then he feels it. He feels his legs and he can't help himself and gasps.
The veins from Tony's face start to retreat to his hands until they completely vanish and Tony's eyes turn back to their natural brown. He immediately hunched forward and coughed out bits of blood, as Friday kneeled to him, observing him for any signs of lasting damage, while Strange also moved behind him, probably acting on his old Doctor instinct.
Rhodey shakingly stands up, looking at himself in shock as everybody gasps and Tony breathlessly smirks. "Welcome back, War Machine."
"How did you do this?" Strange eventually asked, moving to Rhodey and looking for any signs of illness or anything.
"The Nanites in my body instantly fix any sort of damage done to me while also restoring the originally damaged cells," Tony said, rising to his full height as Friday supported his weight. "I just transferred a part of them to Rhodey and controlled them into fixing his Spine and then return back to me."
Strange looks at Tony with disbelief clear on his face, as Christine Palmer entered the room in a hurry. "That would make you ageless and practically Immortal."
"Yes." Tony nodded with a smug smile while the others loudly gasped in shock, making Rhodey glare at them, ready to kill them with only his eyes, but one look from Friday stoped him, as she mouthed him “later”
Tony is practically Immortal.
The Avengers, who didn't dared to say a word during this whole exchange, suddenly feel really scared and uncomfortable. None of them had doubts that Tony was a genius, but achieving immortality is something that none of them would even think was possible, much less with only technology and not with some fancy super serum.
"Tony." Christine greeted with a small smile on her face, giving a quick hug before turning to Stephen in alarm. "Her state is getting worse... Helen isn't sure how much longer the Cradle 3.0 can keep her alive."
"Who are you talking about?" Tony asked, feeling shivers on his spine.
****
When Tony met Sharon Carter for the first time, she was only a week old baby. They grow up together, formed something similar to a bond that could resemble siblings, but as they grew older they distanced themselves. Tony was too invested in Stark Industries and Sharon focused on her career as a field agent.
Nonetheless, Tony stayed a bit overprotective of her, so when Christine told him that Sharon is lying half-burned to dead with a severed leg in the Cradle, he kinda freaked out.
The Technical team should be happy that Friday was present to block his connection to the tech around them because it would be a pain in the ass to fix...
After the whole Civil War fiasco, Sharon was kicked from the CIA and agreed to work for Pepper, despite being on partly Steves's side. Pepper justified it with Sharon being only living Tony's relative that he has left so the others accepted her. Then the Invasion started and Sharon was determined to help so she borrowed Pepper's Rescue Armor and joined the fight, despite not knowing how to fully operate the suit. The Rescue Armor was also just a prototype and wasn't designed to fight Alien Invasion, so when a Chitauri Tank hit her more than six times she got hurt and it took a good hour till Happy managed to retrieve her.
Luckily for her, Tony is back and he won't let her die or live looking like Vader shortly after his swim on Mustafar. While Tony dislikes Super Soldiers and Super Serums, he will gladly make the exception and save her life.
Extremis has been stabilized ever since Tony cured Pepper. Tony also somehow got rid of the "hot" part of the serum, so Sharon won't turn into a fire demon, but she will be a lot stronger, faster, more agile, and durable, even more than Rogers.
Speaking about the idiot... Rogers demanded to see Sharon as they have a "thing" going on, and he justifiably ended up knocked out on the ground, if there is one thing Tony won't allow in this world it is Rogers touching his Little Sister.
Tony will have to have "the talk" about her taste in men later...
"So, what's the verdict, Docs?" Tony asked, looking at Helen, Christine, and Strange with smugness because he already knows the answer. "If it helps calm your minds, I used a small dose of Extremis when I got the Arc removed and Friday also used it on me during my.. Upgrade. It works perfectly."
"We can see that." Strange muttered, looking over Christine's shoulder at the notes in her hands. "But how will this help with her brain damage?"
"Extremis fixes everything." Friday quickly interjected. "Even brain damage. Ms. Carter will be exactly like she was before... Just slightly more powerful."
Tony smiles at Friday in gratitude before all of them look at Christine to have the final word, just like they used to when they were young. Christine eventually nods her head and sighs. "It will work."
"Alright," Helen said, walking towards The Cradle with pursed lips. "Begining administration of Extremis 3.0 into the Cradle now."
For a few moments nothing happens, but then Sharon's whole body is covered by orange veins and her leg starts regenerating in a really gruesome way, making Tony mentally praise himself for not allowing Peter or Karen in. He wonders why he feels so overprotective of the Teenage Boy and his Youngest AI. He was always overprotective of his own, but not like this...
Tony stares at Sharon's fully regenerated body and smirks when she opens her eyes.
They were glowing orange.