Masks break sometimes
“What is going on?” slipped in and out of Tony’s thoughts like a mantra the whole drive there, among others along the same line of thought. Suddenly Nick Furry appeared. He didn’t have time to wonder why, before Furry started barking orders.
“Colonel Rhodes, Stark follow me,” he said and let them into a private and soundproof room. This did not help Tony’s ever-growing curiosity but he complied nevertheless. Out of the many many situations that he had been listing in his head throughout the drive here, of all the problems he could have possibly imagined, never in a million years, did something like this even remotely cross his mind, well nothing close to this.
Of course, there were still times when he couldn’t help but think about them, nights he still woke in a cold sweat in the arms of Pepper, or Rhodey, or Peter. Times he opened his eyes and realized he was on the floor, or in a room, and didn’t know how he got there. It was frustrating and confusing and, it hurt. It made him feel hopeless, and useless all over again. No matter how much his family assured him otherwise, there would always be a small part of him somewhere in the mess he was that couldn’t be convinced otherwise, days he wished it would just stop, and some when he wondered if it ever would. It killed him waking up to see the people he loved so scared, so worried and afraid.
He’d gotten better, he hadn’t felt like that in a while, hadn’t even thought of them in months, that had to be a record. All that progress all that opening up and dealing, with his emotions. (something he hated with a passion ) came crashing around him. He stared blankly at the couple sitting in front of him, unable to do much more. For good reason to because what he was seeing wasn’t possible, the people he was seeing, his-
“your parent's time Traveled” someone was explaining in the background cutting through his thoughts. He couldn’t focus, he didn’t, he couldn’t. Was a phone ringing? It felt like it was ringing right in his ears. Rhodes was the one coherent thought he was able to form. There he was his honey bear, Tony had his arm in a death grip like his arm was the only thing holding him to the earth, and as far as he was concerned, it was. Rhodey didn’t seem to mind, simply allowing His best friend to almost decapitate his hand, he needed the support right now. He needed something to hold onto, while his world was turned upside down, and he would be there, he would be his anchor. It hurt him but there wasn’t much else he could do as he watched his friend unravel, gaping in horror and shock at the sight before him. In all honesty, he couldn't blame him. Did no one else see this? Why wasn’t anyone helping? Someone say something already goddammit!
“ Anthony?” Howard finally chocked out. Tony who had gained some composure back, seemingly decided that detached and disinterested was the way to go, threw his sunglasses on and in a flippant manner said
“ yup in the flesh” and then turning to Furry, “ I assume you called me here to house them until you fix this, and possibly for me to fix this” all this said so casually it almost even tricked Rhodey, almost. He knew his best friend better than that.
“Well yeah, they should stay at the tower, until we can get ahold of strange, and he can send them back. Until then try not to disclose too much information, it might affect the timeline.”
“Alright Eyepatch!” He said winking at Furry, who grimaced at the nickname. Time Travelers follow me. I’ll show you where you’ll be staying till the wizard gets here.” With that, he started walking in the direction of his car deliberately avoiding acknowledging Howard and Maria, for as long as possible. The couple in question were dumbfounded, for different reasons and, it showed because the second they left the building-
“Anthony my dear boy!” Maria exclaimed. Wasting no time bounding up and hugging her boy. He seemed much more mature than the current Anthony, who was, she put it was, going through a phase. She was so proud that he’d grown up well and appeared to be over that little episode in his life. Howard, however, had a very different reaction to his son, and it wasn’t a good one. “ ANTHONY how DARE you to disrespect me, I am your father, and what is the name of all that is good and holy is going on?” He started to rant, about what? Tony wasn’t really listening. It didn’t seem like he was stopping anytime soon, that was until he caught sight of the car. Howard couldn’t help but admire the sleek silver-white Sudan. He couldn’t tell what brand, but it looked expensive so, he concluded he must have bought it. He started raving about how successful he must be in the future and, how are stark weapons doing, and how Anthony you better have not damaged my company the whole way to the tower. Tony just broke.
“Tony, It’s TONY and you are NOT my Father.” That shut Howard up real quick and he was fuming, but silent the rest of the ride. However, he was stunned to silence, when he saw the gigantic tower with Stark on it. There was an undoubtedly smug expression in his face the whole way up the elevator, and Tony was hit again with a barrage of questions when they entered the common room. The second she saw them Pepper made her way over to save Tony, and Howard turned his questions on her. She turned around and, in a sickeningly sweet voice said,
“Sorry no, information is to be disclosed”. It was very clear that she was not sorry in the slightest. Ignoring Howard she turned and turned to Maria. From what Tony had told of her, she was a lovely woman. So quickly took Maria to the guest room, and left Tony and Howard to talk it out. It would be healing to Tony, she concluded. Besides if it went wrong they did have Wanda, who, could wipe memories, and she probably would have to. It’s not like they hadn’t before. I mean if she had a dime for every time Wanda had to use her powers because of Peter, she’d have, well she’d have about as many dimes as there were kids on his decathlon team. That was a story for another time, for now, she left the two men to sort it out. They were both probably allergic to emotions, and this might be a disaster, but either way Tony deserved closure. I mean How bad could it be? The answer? Very.