VI
Tony couldn’t control his screams. When the first few lashes fell on his back, he bit his lips to stop any sounds from escaping his throat. He lost both his will and energy by the eleventh lash, knees giving out under his weight and the burning through the whole of his back.
If it wasn’t for the two Chitauri guards holding him up by his shoulders, he would’ve slumped onto the ground, into a pool of his own blood.
He felt the gaze of the titan upon him but he could not muster the strength to stay up. Silently he let the tears fall and prayed for the punishment to be over, but it kept going and going.
Nebula had been locked in her room, preventing her from stepping up for Tony, begging for mercy. She sat on her bed, hands clenching the sheets so tight and heart thumping so fast yet dropping so low to her guts that she’s going to feel sick.
She couldn’t do anything and she hated it.
When the flogging stopped, Tony had lost consciousness. His back was a mess, with barely an inch of skin untouched. Thanos stepped up to him and lifted his chin, thinking deeply. He gently moved his hands around the left side of Tony’s sweat drenched face and settled into ruffling his messy hair.
You did well, little one. You were so strong.
“Bring him to the lab. It’s time for the next phase.”
-PAGE BREAK-
Nebula woke with a start, cold sweat drenched through her suit and her breathing was heavy. It took her a while to realise that the only sound around her was the silent hum of the engine.
Anthony.
She walked up to the door and twisted the handle, not keeping her hopes up. Surprisingly, the door opened without any resistance. Cautiously, she walked up to the only place she knew that Anthony would end up at, after such a gruesome punishment, the infirmary.
She casually strode into the room, not to alert anyone. There he was, lying down on the bed, a breathing tube forced down into his throat and multiple tubes connected to his right forearm. Various different liquid was coursing into his vein while Anthony’s face was slightly scrunched up and was sweating profusely.
“Do not worry, daughter. He will be fine. He will be more than fine.” Thanos’ sudden interruption made her jumped slightly and she snapped around to face their father.
“What have you done?” She spitted with venom.
“It pains me to see him suffer, but I need to do what needs to be done. He needs to learn.” Thanos turned his gaze towards a glass tube huge enough to fit a man in the other corner of the room.
Nebula inhaled sharply as she followed her father’s gaze but bit back her retort when she saw the tears brimming in the Titan’s eyes. She knew that he cared. She knew, deep down that he made her into what she is, a survivor. Even though the journey was hard and the morals behind his parenting were skewed, she knew that it was because he cared. He did love both herself and her sister, although her sister slightly more, he still fathered them. Loved them, taught them.
She knew the way Thanos was treating Anthony was wrong, but she also understood that it was just how he expressed his love.
“He is not young, in mortal years. You can’t push him too far. He will break.” Nebula said silently, using a whole of her strength to keep the tears from falling.
“I know and I am fixing it.”
-PAGE BREAK-
The next time Tony came to, he was in a water tank.
Afghanistan.
His pupils dilated and he thrashed around, only to find that his limbs were tightly stretched out and secured by manacles connecting to the sides of the container he’s in.
Tony looked around frantically, seeing the tubes sticking out of him made sped up his heart rate and he wanted to scream only to be hindered by the breathing mask fastened onto his face.
He noted that he’s in a glass container, and he squinted his eyes to focus on what was going on outside. He paused when he laid eyes on Thanos. He silently pleaded for the titan to stop whatever was going on.
Please, I’ll be good. I’ll be good, I promise. Let me out please. Please.
As if his pleas had been heard, the lid of the container opened up and hands reached in to grab him. Or so he thought, as the alien hands reached in with a piece of black cloth and tied it around his eyes, effectively blinding all his senses.
No no no NO NO!
Tony thrashed even more wildly than before as his brain was sent into shock, not being aware of his surrounding as too much. He didn’t even know how long he was struggling before darkness claimed him once again.
-PAGE BREAK-
Metallic footsteps brought Thanos out of his thoughts and he got up to welcome the figure.
As the figure marched through the halls, his silver white armour reflected light on the walls, the blueish light humming on his chest piece shined the path he was heading towards. His eyes shined a faint blue and his short messy brunette quiff rippled slightly under the wind. His face was passive, collected where the armour only covered his chin and part of his forehead. His pace was steady as metallic boots clanked every time they met the floor. (See the armour for Superior Iron Man)
As he reached Thanos’ throne, the armour retracted into his back and he dropped onto one knee, eyes fixed on the base of the throne.
“Well done, my son.”
Tony was sent on a mission to annihilate a small backward planet. He had succeeded with ease and in style, slashing through every living organism that walked the surface of said planet, not a single drop of blood smearing his armour. Thanos had watched the whole turn of event as it unfolded from his throne, a proud smile plastered on his face.
“Rise, Anthony.”
The figure got onto his legs and looked up at the titan.
Thanos gently snapped snapped his fingers and the bluish glow in Tony’s eyes disappeared and he finally sucked in a deep breathe and shook his head, as he fell back onto the ground on his back.
“My upgrades clearly worked. The influence of the Mindstone was mild enough that it only prevents you from betraying me. So everything you did down there was of your own doing. Well done, boy.” Thanos got up and kneeled in front of Tony’s laying figure.
He tousled Tony’s hair and moved to lift his chin up, examining the much younger face. Without the wrinkles and scars from aging, Tony looked as young as when he was twenty-five. Strong but lean muscles wrapped around his body, making his frame slightly larger than how he was months ago.
Tony was silent, still reeling from the guilt of taking thousands of live. He had to do it. He feared the consequences of his failure.
Pain. No more.
“It takes time to get used to the guilt, Anthony. You will learn soon enough. Now, go rest up, you have earned it.”
“Yes…” Tony got up and made his was out of the throne room, when he heard Thanos spoke again.
“You will need the energy for the next mission.”
It sent shivers down Tony’s spine and he dreaded the moment when he will be called for again.