The Man with no Heart (Tony Stark) - ON HOLD

Running away

After my eyes spotted Rhodey, running to me, I cannot even describe what went through me.

Relief, for sure.

He was alive.

He found me.

I would go back home.

For Pepper.

All the strength that I did not know I have vanished completely as I let my body lean to him. And I could not do anything else.

I guess they carried me to the jet.

I kind of dropped out. I only have a few memories of those first moments.

I remember a very much softer mattress.

And I remember tons of voices around me.

"Shut up! Let's all calm down!" I could hear Rhodey, sitting next to me "Tony... hey, I have water here" he whispered, slapping my face gently

It was worse than when you are drunk. My head was spinning around, and, adding to the pain and exhaustion that took over me, it did not help, at all.

"T-Thanks" I mumbled

"THAT'S A BOMB!" someone yelled

"WHAT IF IT IS NOT?!" another spoke

"Tony" Rhodey spoke again, closer to me "Just tell me what the hell they put in your chest. What the hell is this?" he said in panic "Is this a bomb, dude?"

I smirked "N-No... I..." I breathed "Hmmm, d-don't take it off!" he suddenly panicked

"Easy, Tony. We are just scared for you, ok?"

"N-not a bomb. No..." I mumbled "I-I built it..."

"Alright he's delirious, we should really get to our base as soon as possible and..."

"Shut up!" Rhodey yelled "Or do you even doubt he's able to build this?"

"In the middle of the desert? I do."

"I... it's an a-arc reactor" I mumbled "It is... k-keeping me alive"

"What?" Rhodey stared at me

I sadly smiled, closing my eyes "I t-thought you gave up l-looking for me"

He squeezed my hand "Never, Tony." He spoke

The honesty in his voice made me tremble. What did I ever do to deserve his friendship?

"Rest, now, Tony. In the basement I'll get a doctor to check up on you"

I could not find the strength to reply. I just let myself have the best of sleeps.

When I woke up, despite the slight pain, I felt a fresh and... clean? I did not have to move to see, I could feel I had an IV. Immediately ripping it off, I gently sat on the bed.

"Easy, Tony. And you really should not have ripped that off."

It was Rhodey

"Hate IV's." I mumbled

"The doctor said he never saw anything like that." Rhodey whispered "Even your blood tests showed crazy things."

"Palladium, a few other elements might be..."

"No, you don't need to explain something I don't get, Tony" Rhodey approached me "Just tell me what happened" he worriedly spoke "What the hell did they do to you?"

I looked down "Uh... not much... I..." I stammered "I was hit by of my own bombs and..." I then explained what happened and why I had the arc reactor on me. I told him how Yinsen helped me and how they wanted me to build another Jericho.