Sparrows and Iron

Chapter 12

Tony started awake. The last thing he remembered was... Jenny! Where was she? He had sent himself into the vortex with her, both of them ending up here. But where was here?

He sat up. Looking around, he couldn't see any buildings. He appeared to be in a field, presumably still in New York... Turning, he saw Jenny lying unconscious at his side.

"Jenny."

He reached over and gently shook her.

"Jenny, come on..."

Jenny stirred slightly, then her eyes fluttered open. She frowned.

"Tony?"

"Yeah, it's me."

She sat up suddenly.

"You idiot! I told you to let me go!"

"I couldn't..." he said softly. "I'd rather die alongside you than live without you."

Jenny rolled her eyes, and Tony smiled at his own cheesiness, though they both knew he was serious.

"We'd better see where we ended up. That vortex must have been some sort of portal."

Tony nodded.

"Okay."

Helping her to her feet, Tony cringed as Jenny winced.

"Are you okay?"

"I think my wounds reopened during that bumpy ride... It was a bit like being inside a blender."

Tony looked at her back and sure enough, two large red splotches were growing where her wings used to originate.

"We need to get you medical attention. Come on."

Taking her hand, he lead her out of the field to the nearest stretch of road.

"Oh this is bad..." Jenny remarked, as they approached a gas station.

The cars and architecture showed that they definitely were not in the right place. Everything was nearly four decades old, as far as style.

"I think I know where we are, Tony..." Jenny began, grabbing a nearby newspaper. "Welcome back to 1980."

"1980? As in the year 1980? But..." he trailed off.

Jenny looked up at him.

"HYDRA tried to mess with time... They must have wanted to change the past to their advantage, but they lost control. Which is what landed us here..."

There was a slight pause.

"How do we get back? I don't know about you, but I don't really want to relive these years."

Jenny didn't say anything. She looked somewhat hesitant, as if she knew something but didn't want to say. Reluctantly, she took a deep breath.

"I know someone who can help us..."

Tony raised an eyebrow.

Jenny sighed.

"It's about time you met my father."

-Xavier Mansion, 1980-

Erik, Raven, Hank, and Charles were all gathered in the Professor's study. The old threat had finally caught up to Erik and Raven, and now it was a danger to them all.