Tony Stark was in his workshop, as usual. Ever since his last experience, his mind hadn't stopped churning out ideas to improve his suits.
"JARVIS, how's the simulation going?"
'89% chance of killing the host, sir.'
Tony clicked his tongue.
"Way too high. We'll have to keep trying."
One of his new projects was ambitious even by his standards: developing a suit capable of resisting mind control. But so far, no known metal offered an effective barrier against that kind of manipulation, which forced him to explore the harder path.
According to his theory, mind control worked by severing the internal connection of the mind, suppressing the regions responsible for free will and replacing them with external commands.
What if he could manually take control of those connections? What if he could reconnect them by sending energy pulses directly to the brain, to recover willpower even after it had been lost?
The problem was clear: the human brain was fragile. Too much energy would destroy it. Too little, and it wouldn't work. And the impulses had to be directed with surgical precision, without affecting other functions.
In short: it was practically impossible.
But the word "impossible" didn't exist in Tony Stark's vocabulary. He was, after all, the man who built a reactor capable of powering a city for a century with scrap in a cave.
"JARVIS, try method 36A."
He couldn't keep experimenting. JARVIS interrupted him with a notification.
'You have visitors, sir.'
"Who is it?"
Tony didn't remember having any appointments that day. Then again, he rarely remembered when he did.
'Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes.'
"Well. Those are some uncommon guests. Let them in."
Five minutes later, Steve and Bucky walked through the door. Tony greeted them with a forced smile.
"The one and only Captain America and the Winter Soldier. To what do I owe the honor of your visit?"
"Tony, you've got a great place here," Steve said, though his expression soon turned solemn. "We're here for something serious. I'll get to the point."
Tony raised an eyebrow. Steve's tone caught him off guard, but he didn't let it ruin his mood.
"Is this about another invasion?"
"Tony, we need you to hear this. It won't be easy."
Steve hesitated. Bucky stepped forward.
"I'll do it. It's about the Winter Soldier."
Tony looked at him, curious. Bucky held his gaze and went on.
"I killed a lot of people while under Hydra's control… innocent people… enemies of the organization."
Tony frowned.
"I don't like where this is going..."
"December 16, 1991."
Tony's face tensed immediately. That date was burned into his memory.
"They woke me up for a mission. Nine o'clock at night, Long Island. I intercepted a car on a rural road. The objective: recover a briefcase with super soldier serum samples. I did… but first I killed the vehicle's occupants. A man and a woman. Names: Maria and Howard Stark."
The silence grew heavy. Bucky looked down for a second, then raised his eyes again. Steady. He was ready to face whatever came next.
Tony had recognized every part of the story. He'd clung to the hope that it was just a coincidence. But hearing the names shattered him.
Without thinking, he punched Bucky. Then raised his hand, and a piece of his armor flew to him, assembling with precision. He pointed it straight at Bucky's head.
"Like it? It's a prototype" he said coldly. "But that doesn't matter. What matters is you telling me what's stopping me from killing you right now."
His hand began to glow with a bluish charge. Bucky didn't move.
"Wait, Tony!" Steve stepped in. "It wasn't him! He was being controlled!"
"And you think I care?" Tony roared.
In that moment, logic meant nothing. Only rage. Only the need for revenge.
"Tony, he carries this every day. Do you know what it feels like to wake up and realize you've killed innocents?"
The question hit deep. Tony breathed heavily. He knew exactly what that felt like.
"I'm not asking you to forgive him. Just to understand."
Tony slowly lowered his hand. The glow faded. But the pain remained.
"Get out."
"Tony..."
"Out. Both of you!"
Steve nodded. Bucky did too. They left without another word.
Tony remained still, staring into nothing. The weight of the memory crushed him.
'They have left, sir' said JARVIS.
Tony barely reacted.
"I can't think clearly… Tell me, what do you think I should do?"
'You should forgive him, sir.'
"Forgive the man who killed my parents?"
'He was being controlled. As Mr. Rogers said: "It wasn't him."'
"I know... but that doesn't change how I feel."
'More than anyone, you should understand. When you threatened him, Mr. Barnes didn't move. He was willing to die.'
Tony closed his eyes.
"I know. I've felt that way too."
'You've changed, and you've been forgiven. By many... including Miss Maximoff. I believe you should give others that chance as well.'
The memory of Wanda hit hard. The first thing he did after the Battle of New York was investigate why she hated him so much. When he discovered the story of the missile, the days trapped, the fear, the resentment… he said nothing. And still, she forgave him.
Then he thought: if that had happened to me… would I be able to forgive?
He hadn't expected to get the answer so soon.
"So I have to forgive him, huh?" he muttered with an ironic smile.
'It would be the logical choice, sir.'
"Logic…" he repeated with resignation. That same logic that had always served him, now seemed to be working against him.
JARVIS continued:
'But emotions rarely obey logic.'
Tony sighed.
"What do you suggest, then?"
He didn't know why he kept asking. JARVIS was just a virtual assistant, without feelings. But he needed an outside voice. Any voice.
'I suggest you seek emotional support.'
"Emotional support?"
He didn't need a reply. It arrived on its own.
The workshop door burst open. Pepper rushed in, her face full of concern.
"Tony! Are you okay? JARVIS called me. He said it was an emergency."
At first, she thought it was a false alarm. But one look at his face told her something was broken.
Tony stepped forward and hugged her tightly.
"I'm fine" he whispered.
Pepper didn't believe him. But for now, she didn't ask more. She just hugged him back.
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