(MCU) Forged Reality: Chapter 13 - Why?!

Chapter 13 - Why?!

Summary: A haunting memory resurfaces, leading to a moment of unexpected vulnerability, trust, and a growing bond that may change everything.

"I'm sorry. I'm not sure what you are talking about," was the only response Tony could give.

Her fists clenched, and the female Avenger frowned at him before asking with a raised voice, "You knew what they would do to you, and they offered you freedom, so why did you refuse?!"

Tony leaned back in his chair while keeping his eyes locked on her as he answered, "Well, there was the fact there is no way his offer was real. He would kill me the moment he had what he wanted from me. That's to say I had about a week left to live as it was, so I didn't see the point of giving them what they wanted." Tony paused as he looked away from her and added, "Well, then there is the main reason. I had no intention of letting those monsters get any more of my weapons, no matter the cost."

The magic user seemed to form tears in her eyes as she spoke quietly, "You never wanted others to be hurt by your weapons. You were willing to die for the safety of everyone else."

Tony just shrugged. "No need to be so dramatic about it. I never wanted to get into weapons to begin with. All I ever wanted was to leave a better world behind. Howard used to tell me a safer world is a better world, and the only way to create a safe world is to keep everyone else in check with your own power."

Clint snorted out the word, "Bastard."

Tony chuckled a little. "Yeah, Aunt Peggy never seemed to agree with his opinion either."

"It couldn't be how the story ended." Everyone looked at Pietro confused. "I mean, Tony's still alive, so they didn't kill him, and he came out of it with an Iron Man suit."

Everyone looked back at Tony, looking forward to the rest of the story. Tony sighed before saying, "Fine, fine. So yes, they tortured me for a couple of days, but I still refused. That was when Yinsen talked some sense into me. I pretended to submit to their request and then used all the resources to create the first Arc reactor, and from there I used it to power the first Iron Man suit. I escaped, built the more advanced model of my armor, used it to get rid of all my weapons in the enemy's hands. Stane tried to kill me again, I fought him, he died, and so on."

Tony felt exhausted as he finished telling this story. He knew he kind of skipped a lot of important things toward the end, but there was barely strength left in him to keep going; maybe another day he would tell them more.

"There is more," the female Maximoff whispered.

Tony tried to hide his exhaustion, but he had no intention to keep talking about the past anymore; those days only served to increase his anxiety, and Tony had to work very hard to reach the level he is at now.

So instead, he shrugged and said as casually as he could, "Of course there is; the life we are living... there is always more trouble waiting around the corner."

It was only when the room descended into silence that Tony began wondering if what he said was the wrong thing.

Clint's voice called out, "Tony, are you okay?"

Tony could feel his heart rate picking up, his breathing became hard to control, and his thoughts were getting foggy.

The memories were catching up to him; everyone looking at him for answers began to feel too suffocating. Tony quickly stood from his seat and said out loud in a voice that sounded very distant to him, "I... I need the restroom for a moment, sorry."

With that, Tony left the room as fast as he could without being suspicious, or at least he hoped he managed to do that.

He wanted to get to the bathroom and just lock himself away until either everyone left or he got over whatever it was that was coming over him.

Unfortunately, his body began to shake too badly, and his vision was blurring further every passing moment.

He managed to notice the kitchen on his left and reached the sink before his legs finally gave up on him, and he was forced to slide down to the floor, his back leaning against the cabinets under the sink.

He wasn't sure in what direction his head was pointing because by that point his vision was completely black. All he could feel was his brain buzzing as if a host of bees was flying around inside his head; his chest began to ache with the rapid breaths he was taking.

Just before his hearing went to hell as well, he thought he could hear footsteps coming closer to him and someone calling out to him.

But right now, all Tony could see was outer space; air was nonexistent for him, and still, when his eyes landed on the familiar scene of an alien armada advancing toward Earth, he tried to breathe as hard as possible. The breath stuck in his throat deprived him of the pleasure though.

Even the buzzing in his head began to dull slowly as Tony realized distantly that he was about to pass out.

Then all of a sudden, the scene in front of him was hidden by screens that dropped out of nowhere. Even the buzzing began to grow weaker by the moment, as if someone was chasing the bees away.

The ache in his chest began to ebb away as well, thanks to the fact his heart rate was slowing back to the safe zone far faster than any other panic attack he had.

Tony wasn't sure when he closed his eyes, but with the pain mostly gone now, he tried opening them up.

It took a moment for his blurry vision to sharpen back into focus. When it did, Tony was staring into a pair of eyes that had scarlet color circling around them.

He was so mesmerized by the view that it took him a moment to notice the fingers pressed to the side of his head.

The woman in front of him blinked, and when her eyes came back to view, they were green again, and the warmth of the fingers was gone.

Maximoff was on her knees, now leaning further away from Tony and handing him a glass of cold water with her other hand.

Tony was still catching his breath and had a hard time speaking, so he just reached for the glass and began to drink slowly.

As he drank, Maximoff looked away with an ashamed expression on her face and spoke quietly, "I'm sorry I used my powers on you; you probably despise them after what I did to you."

By the time Tony finished the water, his mind was already back in full gear. He gave the woman a small smile. "Of course not." Her gaze snapped to him, her eyes wide. "Powers are just like weapons; it all depends on who wields them. Take Cap, for example—Hydra was led by a super-soldier too. The last time you used your powers on me, you were a different person; now you are trying to be better, and that's one heck of a way to use your powers. So, thank you, Ms. Maximoff."

Tony was surprised seeing tears coming down from her eyes and was surprised even more when he heard her whispering, "Wanda... Call me Wanda."

Tony felt a little awkward with both of them sitting on the floor, one of them in tears, and ironically, it wasn't the one that just recovered from a severe panic attack.

Tony grunted and began lifting himself back to his feet while saying with a teasing smirk, "And here I thought we weren't friends."

Once Tony was on his feet, he offered his hand to Wanda. She stared at it for a moment before grabbing it, allowing him to pull her to her own feet.

Wanda wiped her tears away with the back of her hand before smiling back at him, "I think I heard enough to change my mind."

Tony's smirk turned to a genuine smile. "Then call me Tony." His smile then strained a bit, and he asked, "Umm... the others..."

Wanda tilted her head before realization passed her eyes, and she smiled kindly, and damn if Tony could ever guess she was capable of such an expression, especially in his presence. She then said, "Laura wanted to follow you, but Clint mentioned it's usual for you. Laura rounded on him immediately and started giving him some kind of a lecture. The kids and Pietro are just staring at them and laughing."

"Huh." That's all Tony could find himself saying before he tilted his head and asked, "So why are you here?"

Wanda looked down as she spoke gently, "I could feel your panic attack; it was... intense. I couldn't just ignore it."

Tony felt his heart skip a beat at her last comment. He smiled widely and put a hand on her shoulder. "Well, will you look at that? Hawkeye does have good eyes. He was right; you are definitely hero material."

Wanda's eyes shone, and Tony was worried for a moment she would start crying again. But her face quickly turned into one of worry as she asked gently, "How often do you have those attacks?"

Tony winced. It's not something he wanted to talk about, not even if he was now friends with her. He forced a smile on his face and began saying, "That's nothing to be worry..."

"The truth, Tony," Wanda cut him off with a dry look and a firm tone.

Tony sighed and turned his back to her, his head reaching toward the edge of the sink to lean on it. "They are better now. After New York... I had them every day; now they mostly come when the memories resurface."

Wanda's face remained worried as she tried to ask carefully, "Can you tell me what they are about?"

Tony turned to her with a raised eyebrow, and he asked, "Couldn't you tell when you read my mind?"

Wanda frowned and let out a bitter laugh. "Do you think Hydra would train me to read and influence thoughts? They were too afraid of what would happen if I used it on them." She shrugged and returned to speak casually, "I can sense feelings and manipulate others; that's how I triggered your panic attack back in the base and how I pushed calm feelings to you now. But when it comes to mind manipulation, that's about my limit."

Tony blinked. That does make a lot of sense. Hydra wouldn't train an agent they couldn't control with lies, and there is the fact the men actually responsible for her parents' death were visiting her constantly; it wouldn't do if she could see into their minds and figure it out. Tony had no idea how he didn't see it before.

Wanda cleared her throat, drawing his attention back. Oh right, there was still the question she asked. Well, Tony figured if it triggered him again, Wanda would be able to use her powers, so he began speaking, "Do you remember the New York battle and how I passed through the portal in the end?" Wanda gave him a wry nod. "Well, what we fought on Earth were just the scouts. The aliens had armadas waiting to attack, and they will. Just because we took their portal cube won't stop them."

Wanda's jaw was hanging open before she closed it. She was quiet for a long moment, and it looked like she was piecing a lot of pieces together in her mind before she looked at him and said, "That's why you keep funding the Avengers."

Tony could just nod tiredly. "It's not my ideal situation either, but they will be needed. Without them, this world will not stand a chance."

Wanda looked doubtful and asked, "Are you sure Rogers is the right man for the position?"

This time Tony hid the wince he felt taking over his body, and with a forced smile said, "Steve has some... outdated ideals, but he knows what he is doing." Tony wanted to believe it; he really did.

Wanda frowned and looked away. Tony wondered why she looked so uncomfortable before she took a deep breath and said, "I wasn't sure if I should tell you this, but when you were..." She gulped a little. "Dying. For some reason, Rogers and Romanoff were against the idea of using the Extremis to save you, and I think I felt relief coming off Rogers when the agent said you were about to die. And since you left the compound, Rogers and Romanoff are running around and planning something."

Tony closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. He leaned back toward the sink and tried to shake off the sting he felt in his heart. Even if he had thrown him out of the team, he hoped Steve still saw him as a friend, but he was willing to let him die, and he would feel relief. Tony just couldn't believe it. Captain America would never wish someone would die, would he? Far less a teammate.

Tony shook his head and decided to focus on the last part of what Wanda said. "I'm starting to get the same feeling. I wish I knew what they are up to, but I will have to wait until they are not my problem anymore."

Wanda still looked uncomfortable and said with a small pout, "I would really prefer not to be a part of a team he is in charge of, and so would Pietro."

Tony gave another heavy sigh. "I can't really tell you how to feel, but the Avengers are your community service, so I'm afraid you're stuck with it. But I tell you what—stick around Rhodey; he always knows what the best thing to do is."

Wanda seemed a little down by the first part of his answer but was thoughtful about the second part. She nodded in agreement and with a small smile.

Tony then remembered something. "Oh, can you do me a favor?"

Wanda tilted her head but still nodded. Tony looked down a little as he requested, "Can you please keep an eye on Vision? He is still young, and it would be for the best if he were around people he should trust."

Wanda blinked in surprise before smiling and giving him a wide smile. She was about to turn away when she froze, a small blush on her cheeks as she asked meekly, "Would it be okay if I... I mean Pietro and I visit here often?"

Tony smiled and spread his arms. "My house is your house. Feel free to drop by any time."

Wanda gave him another brilliant smile that set Tony's heart racing for some odd reason.

After she turned and left the kitchen, Tony began following her back toward the living room, but what she said about Steve was still sitting heavily on his mind and gave him a really uneasy feeling. He wished he could look deeper into what the man does without alerting him or Natashalie, but for now, he would have to settle with following their expense reports.