Chapter 1
Tony Stark was found in Siberia by Vision, one day after the fight against Captain America and The Winter Solider. It was a miracle that he was still alive.
He had broken ribs, penetrated lung, and his chest started collapsing.
His chances at survival were pretty much non-existing. According to Doctors, he had only few weeks at most.
So…Friday, decided to take matters into her own hands. She refused to allow her Boss die. She used Tony’s Mark 43 and picked up Extremis from Tony’s workshop and injected him with it.
This version of the virus wasn’t as strong as the original. After Tony managed to cure Pepper, he played with Extremis and modified it in hopes to maybe use it for medicine later.
He managed to completely remove it’s fire aspect and danger of blowing up. In a theory, it would grant the user the power of technopathy.
It was a ridiculous, that’s why Tony eventually scrapped the whole idea. until it worked…
When Tony woke up two days later, he felt… different.
It didn’t take him long to figure out why.
When he saw himself in the mirror, he almost passed out again. He looked as if he was only in his late twenties or early thirties.
He almost forgot how hot he was, when he was still young. The bags from under his eyes were all gone and he looked a lot more healthy. His grey hair was also gone, but, the biggest change were his electric blue glowing eyes.
He was still confused and flinched in shock, when Friday started talking in his mind. She quickly calmed him down and confirmed what he already knew about Extremis.
Tony could now feel Friday in his mind. It surprised him, because, she almost thought and felt like a real human being. She was also in a shock or distress, it felt like she was actually crying...
She is still so young, Tony quickly reminded himself. She must have been scared out of her mind when she lost contact with Mark 46.
He doesn’t know how, but he used Extremis and found Friday’s code, then he hugged her, tightly. At first, she was confused as to what was hugging her code, but when she realized that it is Tony, she quickly relaxed and returned his hug.
They stayed like that for a few minutes before the doors opened and in came… Pepper Potts.
“Pep…” Tony whispered softly in hopeful manner, but the look, she gave him, made him stop.
She looked dangerously pissed. Of course, in his moment with Friday, Tony completely forgot about everything that happened.
Pepper started shouting at him, and in that moment, the loud noise made him wince. Friday tried her best to comfort him and distract his thoughts, but it wasn’t really working.
Pepper continued to yell at him for the next 20 minutes, before she took a few calming breaths and apologized for shouting. Tony would’ve believed her if he didn’t sense Friday’s feelings as Pepper smiled at him softly.
He started having doubts about his and Pepper’s relationship, if they even have one at this point.
After all, they are on a “break”.
He stayed in hospital for another week until someone else, beside Pepper, was allowed to visit him.
He used this time to learn how to use and control the Extremis properly. He now had direct link to the Internet and Friday had to help him in order for him not to get overwhelmed by all of the data.
He created some blueprints for his new Iron Man suit, because this is what Tony does. He always upgrades himself after the fights, so the same way, that he was defeated with, cannot be used twice.
He also contacted Helen Cho and with her help, inspected Rhodey’s spinal injury. It turns out, that it wasn’t as bad as Tony believed. There was still a chance, that Rhodey could walk one day again. So he created some Leg Braces, that would help his best friend get there.
And finally, before he was released from Hospital, Vision brought Rhodey for a visit. Rhodey was still recovering from his surgery and couldn’t be there when Tony woke up, even when he wanted to be.
Rhodey tried to joke that Tony looked good and young, but it didn’t really make anybody feel better.
“So you can control technology”
“Yeah…”
“And you look like you only just left puberty”
“Hey!”
“God, this is the end of the times” Rhodey jokes and Tony laughs a little.
When Tony was finally released, he moved into the Compound, as Stark Tower or Avengers Tower, was in process of being sold.
After a few days, he met with Peter Parker and they talked a bit, about science and tech. Then Tony and Happy dropped Peter at home.
"You making a movie?" Tony asked intrigued as Peter was vloging at his phone.
"Yeah, he is, i've told him not to, I will erase the memory card" Happy answered from the front seat, while Peter looked at him shocked.
Peter shakes his head in denial, making Tony laugh "hahah, it's okay Kid, come here let's take a video for your aunt"
Peter happily moved closer towards Tony, handing his phone to Tony.
Tony puts it in selfie mode, pressed the record button "Hey May, how are you? I hope you're still hot" making Peter glared at him after making choking noises.
"Mr. Stark, you can't say that!" he said
"Okay, okay, edit that out" Tony laughed and started recording again
"Hey May, how are you? gee, May, this kid, amazing, he blew my mind away in Berlin, he is amazing"
After that recording a video for Aunt May, Tony stated "Oh by the way kid, you can keep the suit"
Peter had been recording again all the conversation and slowly he lowered his phone, shocked "I can keep the suit?" he asked shocked
"Yeah, sure thing kid, i'm not letting you run around with that onesie" Peter laughed
Tony leaned towards Peter and Peter hugged him back
"Not a hug kid, not there yet" Tony stated "just opening the door for you"
"Oh, yeah, sure" Peter said embarrassed and go out of the car.
Tony told Happy to get Peter's luggage while he explained somethings for Peter. Happy arrived with Peter's suitcase, grumping angrily.
"I can take that Happy" Happy after hearing this, dropped the suitcase and go to the car.
"Will you call me for the next mission?" Peter asked Tony "Whenever will it be?"
Tony froze, he didn’t know what to say. Ever since he got out of the hospital, he focused on assisting Rhodey with his recovery and completely ignored both Ross and The UN Council.
Rogers apparently freed his half of the team from Raft. Tony already knew this as Rogers also sent him an “apology” letter that wasn’t really an apology letter. More like “You were wrong, I was right” kind of a letter.
The truth is… Tony is having doubts about the whole Avengers Initiative. The Team was build to protect the world from threats the world could handle on it’s own. They weren’t supposed to become Steve’s little task force in hunt for his robocop bestie.
Tony notices that both Happy and Peter are looking at him, concerned. Something about the look in Peter’s eyes makes him confess all of his doubts.
Neither Peter or Happy say anything while he was explaining. When he was done and proposed that Peter sticks to being only “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” Peter nodded and went outside the car.
Then he turned and looked directly to Tony’s eyes “You know… It isn’t a crime to take some time for yourself, Mr. Stark. Don’t waste your life just on, this…” He says and goes inside while Tony is looking at his retreating figure with wide eyes.
Don't waste it… Don't waste your life,"
Even more doubt comes running inside Tony’s heart.
What would Yinsen say if he saw him now?
Tony thought back to their conversation about family. He thought that… The Avengers were his family, but clearly, that isn’t the case.
He still a man who has everything and nothing…
The final nail on the coffin came almost a week later. Pepper, practically dragged him to Board meeting. Tony can only think fo himself that he doesn’t want to be here.
He isn’t really listening to what they are discussing. He hears something about “Avengers Civil War” loosing Stocks and Iron Man, but in his mind, he is again, debating about everything in his life.
He talked with Rhodey, Vision, Happy, Friday, Peter and Harley and came to realization that he is waisting his life.
The public opinion is split, some are supporting Rogers, some are supporting Tony and some are somewhere in between.
The media practically bombarded Tony with questions. They keep asking “When will The Avengers return?” or “How are you going to fix everything?”
Ross wants Tony’s head on silver plate after Tony didn’t come to capture his old teammates when Ross ordered it.
Pepper is treating him like a child and keeps ordering him around. She even threw a tantrum when Tony went to save Spider-Man as Iron Man.
He feels like he is drowning from all of that pressure.
He wants it to stop.
Tony is brought out of his thoughts as Friday gently nudges him in his mind. Every member of the board is staring at him and Pepper is visibly glaring.
“Were you even listening?!” she yells and Tony lets his eyes travel around all of the board members before his eyes meet Pepper’s.
Then he simply stands up and goes for the exit. Immediately, Pepper is in his way with unimpressed look and crossed arms.
“Move” Tony says, quietly looking her straight in eyes
“No, you can’t…” She starts to protest, but Tony is having none of it.
“YES I CAN” He snaps and his eyes glow electric blue. Pepper shocked, with opened mouth moves out of his way.
He mentally smirks to himself as he walks past her and slams the doors in her face. He is outside the building, heading towards his car, when he speaks again.
“Friday?”
“Yes, Boss?”
“I’m done.”
“Protocol New Beginning? Friday ask in almost pleased and hopeful tone.
“Yes, let bots, Rhodey and Vision know. Move everything to Mansion outside San Francisco.”
“Already done Boss”
Tony smiles slightly as sits into his car and drives away from Stark Industries.
He made his choice.
He is done.