Chapter Text
September 17, 1978
"Once upon a time there was nothing; no animals, no people, no earth, nothing at all. That is until God decided that there should be life. So he made himself an imperfect world and wached as their lIves played out. However, they werwnt able to live on their own. Too many dangers. His children were being wiped out by their own foolishness.
He then created a new batch of beings in his image: they were to watch over his new precious children. They were perfect, perfect little soldiers. Too perfect.
God sent a group of his winged children to be with the humans. Surprisingly, the seven of them came back different. Humans were enchanting and eye opening to God's angels. The angels came back a bit more human like than they were to begin with.
Each had a personality and God was amazed at their transition. He then sent down anot her group but to his dissapointment, nothing happened. It seemed only his original bunch were affected by the humans way of life. They absorbed his imperfect children's thinking and just overall personalities. God was ecstatic.
These seven were always the strongest out of the bunch, God observed. They were his most loyal and his fiercest warriors. His archangels. They would outrank all of the others and they would be his most trusted.
The humans helped them realize their roles and what they needed to be protecting at all costs. They gave them a sense of empathy, love, and understanding. Or at least most of them.
However, the change wasn't all good. His land-bound children were majorly flawed and the angels didn't just absorb the good. They got the bad too. His seven now contained a part of humanity God didn't particularly like and while that wasn't so bad with some, it was with others. Especially one.
The angel had absorbed the humans pride. With this the angel decided the humans were beneath him and his father. The angel hated the humans and wanted the power to destroy them. He rebelled against his father and family for power.
His brothers rose against him and his followers. They won and the prideful angel was banished to a lower realm. Hell. Lucifer was unable to return to his home and locked away from the humans.
God felt deep sadness towards the loss of his son and quickly looked toward the remains six. They were all affected but nothing like Lucifer. But some worried him..
In hope to prevent more losses, he deemed anything against human protect a sin. With sin came punishments and disgrace. The angels would have to learn to control their darker side.
As time passed, God saw the inevitability of his precious archangels corruption, just like his poor Lucifer. He knew it was going to happen sooner or later. So he devised a plan-," Maria Stark took a drag of her cigarette and glared at the butler sitting with her offspring, "Why the hell am I reading this bullshit anyway?"
"Master Anthony's therapist said it would do good for him if his mother would read to him," Jarvis replied easily.
"He's fucking mute Jarvis," she took a gulp from the amber liquid situated in her grip, "what does it matter if I read to him or not if he can't fucking speak? Why can't Howard do it? I've got more important things to do than sit here."
Anthony began to cough as he inhaled his mother's cigarette smoke directly, Maria merely glared in offense towards her sons interruption.
"Master Stark had work to do and told me not to interrupt, "Jarvis sighed as he picked up Anthony pulling him out of Maria's line of fire.
"I've got no time to babysit an invalid Jarvis," she seethed and threw the book on the ground, "you do it."
Anthony waved at his mother's retreating form miserably. Luckily no tears this time, it hurt Jarvis when Anthony cried silent tears over his detached parents.
For a rich child, Anthony had nothing. He could have anything money could buy but nothing it couldn't.
He deserved better, or at least Jarvis always thought so..
"Anthony what would you like to do for the time being?"
Anthony grinned at him and nudged out of his arms. He immediately went towards the book abandoned on the floor and gingerly picked it up. He was a gentle child, especially for an eight year old.
"What do you say Anthony?" Jarvis asked as Anthony handed him the book. Anthony had never said a word in his eight years of life and it appalled everyone. There was nothing wrong with him, he was just a late bloomer. His parents didn't think so, they didn't want anything to do with their dysfunctional child.
'Please,' the boy mouthed with small smile and Jarvis rubbed a hand through his unruly hair. Anthony got that from his father.
"Would you like to sit up here with me?"
The boy nodded enthusiastically with a wide grin stretching across his chubby features. Jarvis couldn't help but smile as he picked up the boy.
"Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Ramiel, and Cassiel were to be kept away from his flawed creations. His angels could do so much good but they could do so much evil if they were corroded by their own 'hearts'....," Jarvis read aloud.
Christmas 1983
Not a word. Thirteen years old, and no peep from Tony Stark.
His mother said Anthony was too classy for her son, Tony would suit.
You know what else there was nothing of? Presents. No presents on Christmas for Tony Stark. His parents were too drunk to remember to even try to pretend that Santa was late.
"Bad kids don't get presents," Maria spit out as she dressed herself for another charity gala. That was where she found joy in her life, or at least that's what she screamed at Tony. She seemed to genuinely care for them and who they were for, but that feeling was never carried onto her own son.
Tony wasn't a bad kid. He sped through the grades at an unnatural speed, at thirteen he was already a senior in highschool. He never did any bad and always took care of his constantly intoxicated parents.
"Only good boys get presents," she glared as she picked up an armful of presents for the random children on the streets, which was the feature presentation of this gala. Tony thought she might have remembered this year... nope. Instead they were for kids she had never even met. Why didn't she love him? Why did she like those brats better? He was her own god damn son!
He narrowed his eyes into slits.
"I read to you, that's your god damn present you little brat," she walked to the door.
'Once,' he mouthed at her back with a fallen expression. His mother had his fracture heart under one pristine heel, and she was grinding it into dust.
He caught up to her and tugged on her skirt in hope... of something. Maybe it was a second chance...
She ripped herself out of his small hands and watched as his eyes widened.
"What the fuck do you want?" she looked down at her heart broken son, "Are you gonna say something? You damn mute. If not go cry to someone else, these poor kids need me."
She blew it...
Poor Tony. He snapped.
"I NEED YOU TOO!" He exploded and gripped his head tightly. His eyes were wide and the candles around him flared up impossibly high.
They burned scorch marks into the walls behind them and Maria screamed dropping the presents. The boxes cracked and dented at her feet... if he wasn't gonna get them, then neither were they...The candle fire slid easily from the sticks and across the fabric surfaces until they engulfed the beautifully wrapped boxes at Maria's polished feet.
Jarvis came running from around the corner just as the fire dissipated as the boxes crumpled to ash.
Their job was done.
Maria was panting and watching her only son with horror painting her expression. Her entire body was tense and trembling with fear and panic.
Tony dropped his hands like nothing happened," Merry Christmas mother..., " he whispered.
He didn't remember what happened. It's blank. But Maria sure did.
She never did look at her son the same again.
Jarvis was delighted Tony actually spoke, despite the mess. He bought him a new circuit board for Christmas.
Howard swears up and down he had heard a distinct horn being blown just as Tony's scream penetrated the house.
They kept that night to theirselves, Maria didn't go out that night.
That night many things had started, Tony began to talk...but it was selective and he went through lengthy periods of not speaking periodically. Tony began to cause trouble, no longer was he the quiet obedient little boy.... Tony began to act strange at odd moments and he was very attracted to fire.... he had never been burned....
Nick Fury had his eye on the boy.
May 6, 2010
flick....flick....flick...
"...tony...."
flick.....flick.....flick.....flick
"....tony?"
flick....fli-
"Tony!"
His head snapped up, too forcefully he might add, towards his fiery personal assistant. She better be glad she was the best damn assistant in the world, he didn't put up with this kind of treatment with anyone else. Besides Rhodey.
"What Pepper..?" He groaned as he rubbed his neck, he cracked it.
"Stop flicking the damn lighter," she ordered briskly as they waited in the airport. He was off to Afghanistan for a weapon demonstration for the damn military.
He never understood why he had to do these things. They always bought his merchandise without question so why must he show it off? He's not against showing, quite the opposite actually, but he was too busy to be flying off now. Obie could only handle the business for so long before Tony got fidgety. He trusted Obie, but he'd rather be there in case something went wrong.
"Entertain me then," he whined with a grin as her lips tightened up into a frown.
"Why do you have that anyway? I thought you quit smoking years ago."
"I did."
"And?"
"And what?"
"Why do you have it?"
"Have what?"
"Don't you dare play games with me Tony," Pepper glared darkly as she tapped her expensive nails on the desk. He bought her those... he thinks.
"You don't like games?"
"Tony," she warned.
"Fine fine," he yawned," you're no fun, you know that? Games are great-"
"Rambling."
"Gotcha. Anyway I've always had this lighter. Howard actually bought it for me."
"And you kept it?" She raised one finely plucked eye brow incredulously.
"Yeah, that is weird isn't it? Well anyway it was one of the few things he actually paid attention about."
"Lighters?"
"No, I've just got an affinity for fire. It's soothing."
"Yeah until you get burned."
"I've never been burned before."
"What?" She sat up straighter, "you're lying."
"Nope," Tony grinned just as the intercom came on and called that his private jet was ready, "I guess we will have to finish this if I get back."
"Don't joke about that Tony," Pepper rolled her eyes, "I'd really rather not have to worry about the paper work that'll come with your death."
"Ouch," he grinned, "that hurt. Right here," he pointed to his chest.
"Just go and be safe," she smiled.
"Always am," he saluted her and walked to his jet.
As always the crew kissed his ass. He was paying their paycheck after all.
He didn't drink this time, he didn't need Rhodey jumping down his throat today. Plus he drank enough last night to last him the next few days.
When he arrived he was greeted with suspicious looks and conniving stares. He didn't like military bases, he only came foe Rhodey and exchanges. Other than that it was a big NOPE on his part. They didn't like him except for his money and his brain; he just didn't like them at all so it's even.
"Tony," Rhodey grinned when Tony approached.
"Rhodey," he wrapped his arms around his long time friend, "it's been a while."
"Only three months."
"Only?"
"Oh no have you gotten too attached to me? Huh, never thought I'd see the day-"
"Yeah I think it's time for me to take my leave-"
"Oh stop it Tones," Rhodey laughed, "I was just kidding."
"Is there anyway I can persuade you to let me head home, I really don't see a purpose in this little exhibit. They all know my weapons are the best on the market."
"You know how this goes."
"Can't we just skip it this once?"
"You ask everytime."
"And each time I hope I get a yes. Have my goals finally been reached."
"No."
"Damn."
"Ready?"
"No," he mocked.
"Oh shut it," Rhodey rolled his eyes and slapped a hand on Tony's shoulder," just go ahead and get it over with."
He did. Very flashy. It was pretty good. The missiles were sold like candy and now they traveling again. Tony got separated from Rhodey so it was a bit awkward at first until the soldier asked for a picture.
"No gang signs please," Tony joked with the soldier as the picture was taken.
All hell broke loose.
The ground was exploding. No missiles were being shot at them. Fuck.
The soldiers were dead and he didn't know where Rhodey and his car was. All by himself it seemed. He grabbed a gun and tried to do something but gave up. He picked up his phone instead.
OBIE. UNDER ATTACK. PLS HELP. SOS.
The text was just sent as the giant missile landed next to him. It literally had his name on it. Great way to go out Tony. Pats for Tony...
He watched as the missile exploded and sent him sprawling backwards and onto his back.
Suddenly his chest was warm and....wet. He lifted his shaky hands up and ripped his shirt back. Red was quickly devouring his tanned skin and black vest. His hearing was long gone and his vision was swimming and growing dimmer. He was fucked with a capital F.
Pain. The worst pain he's ever felt in his life. That's what he woke up to. Hands were literally inside of his fucking chest and all he could do was grunt and scream his panic.
He could feel the man's fingers pushing through the muscle lining his chest. He let out a yell when he heard the high-pitched rumble of a saw. A fucking saw. It was going straight for his chest.
He tensed and tried his best to thrash but his movements were slow and felt like lead. Not to mention he was tied down. He pleaded with the man as it got closer, or at least he tried. He fumbled over his words due to the pain and shock.
The saw kept coming.... and coming... and coming... until it reached his sternum. It cut like butter. Never had he seen a bone be cut so easily and.... excruciatingly. The sounds of his bone being sawed made him gag and the smell of his own blood was revolting. And everywhere.
And he thought there was alot of blood before. This image put that one to shame. Blood was steadily pouring out of a hole in his chest, down his rib cage, and splattering on the flood.
blip...blip.....blip.....blip...blip..blip
'Please stop,' he thought to himself, 'just let me die...'
He heard a painful scream just as he zoned off. It wasn't him.
May 10, 2010
Next time he woke up again, he was on a bed and it was fucking cold. He panicked and sat up. He almost toppled over in the process, too much blood loss the voice in his head said.
His chest... holy shit his chest! He started ripping at the bandaging around his chest in a fury. Wires? He tugged on one as horror dawned of his face.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a voice called out just as he was about to rip out the entire mechanism in a fit of desperation.
He felt his body tense when he tried to turn towards the voice; pain erupted through his torn, and missing, muscles and skin. He almost tore the stitches...
He quickly retracted with a drawn out whimper, "sonovabitch....!"
"You must be more careful Mister Stark," the man commented calmly from his position beside the fire.
"What.....," he gasped, "did you do...?"
"Saved you."
"I'm connected to a.... Car battery..."
"It's keeping the thing in your chest operating. I assume you know about magnets and electricity, yes?"
"Of course I do."
"Okay good. It's keeping the shrapnel from plunging into your heart Mister Stark. When the weapons exploded, shards were implanted in your chest. You nearly died."
"Why do you care if I die?"
"I don't," the man shrugged as he stood up, "but they do...."
Suddenly a loud crash erupted from the doors at the... front? Back?... of the room. Tony couldn't really tell right now.
Loud booming voices began to file in and the doors were slammed open by the guards on either side. He didn't understand them but the man beside him seemed to...
They began to argue and point at Tony. Hopefully it was all good things...
Finally they left, only slightly disgruntled, and Tony immediately turned to the man.
"I told them that if they wanted our help, you needed painkillers and antibiotics. We don't need that hole in your chest to become infected..."
"Help with what?" Tony narrowed his eyes.
"Jericho," the man sighed and Tony cocked his head, "they want you to build them their very own Jericho missile.... that's why your here... to do what you do best for free...."
"And if I refuse to build for terrorists?"
"They'll kill us," the man stated simply.
Tony sighed and ran a dirty hand through his hair, "Name?"
"What?"
"If we are gonna work together I need a name..."
"You're actually gonna build it?" The man asked in horror and Tony glared.
"Hell no! I'm getting us out of here and I'll need your help."
"Yinsen.... my name is Yinsen."
"Nice to meet ya Yinsen, call me Tony," he grimaced as he sat up. The fucking thing was heavy in his chest and weighed down his heart. A little suffocating but hey, he was alive.
May 23, 2010
Needless to say, soon his chest was ravaged by infection. Quite frankly it was disgusting. It was greenish and oozing and... just over all gross. The original surgery was nothing compared to this pain. Plus infection is followed by fever and shakes and chills and weakness and.... a whole bunch of other things. Absolutely terrible.
Poor Yinsen though, he had to put up with Tony's whining and whimpering ass. He took it like a champ. He fed him and gave him water and sometimes even wiped the excess dirt off him.
Tony was a mess. A blubbering annoying mess when he had an infection. It overrode his genius and, dare he say it,.... stupid.
"Open up Tony," Yinsen sighed with a handful of shitty pills their captors brought for Tony. They didn't work.
"I'm gonna die," Tony mumbled through half-lidded eyes," aren't I?"
"If you haven't died yet, you're more than likely to survive. You seem like a pretty hard man to kill, " Yinsen shoved the pills down his throat with water, "plus, considering the time I put into reviving you, I'd be very disspointed if you died from a mere infection."
"Mere?" Tony laughed," it's looks like I'm rotting away, I'd hate to see what you think is major then..."
"Don't be a baby."
"Shuddap...." he mumbled drousily.
"You got a family waiting for you?"
"Family has been dead since I was seventeen," Tony whispered with his eyes shut, "not much of one anyway to be completely honest..."
"For a man who has everything, you have nothing," Yinsen observed as he wiped the sweat off of Tony's head, "fever has risen..."
"I feel like death..."
"I'm sorry to say but you don't look any better..."
Tony opened one eye, "why is your hand covered in bandages....?"
"I don't really know," Yinsen sighed as he observed his own hands, "one moment I'm cutting through your manubrium and the next I'm screaming. All I saw was a stark white light...-"
"Heh...Stark... Stark white..."
"Yes ha ha," Yinsen rolled his eye, "anyway, I must burnt my hand on the sparks or something."
"Ouch..."
July 8, 2010
Eventually the infection dissappeared and the terrorists were wanting their weapons. Now.
Gasp!!... splash.... splash.... Gasp!!!
Tony really won't ever look at water the same again... he never realized how painful drowning was. Especially when they didn't allow you to pass out...
"Time!!!" He would scream with what little oxygen he could gather, "I need time!!!"
They'd dunk him under for a bit. Laughing amongst themselves as Tony thrashed in the bucket for air; Tony sought the air they were so easily expelling in their amusement over his attempts at survival.
Mother Fuckers...
"If you....," he panted glaring as water dribbled along his overgrown beard, "if you want the damn missile.. you gotta give me time to actually build it!!! Drowning me sure isn't gonna do shit!!"
They laughed at his poor attempts of persuasion, but in all seriousness..
He. Needed. Fucking. Time.
Dunk. Deeper this time... longer. He's was pulled up right as his vision was closing in.
Yinsen finally jumped to his rescue this time and Tony was dropped to the ground. He began to vomit a brown tinted liquid... water wasn't clean here. He was surprised he didn't get sick from that...
The assholes finally left after a brief... violent... conversation with Yinsen. Oh! And one more kick to Tony's stomach.
Luckily he had no food in his stomach or it would have gone everywhere...
"You don't have much Tony... but I got you a little time."
"I don't need alot... thank you," Tony coughed and looked up with a weak smile. However his eyes showed and iron will and determination.
Yinsen swore he saw some fire in those amber eyes..