🚨 Note: This story is HEAVILY based on the series "WandaVision", so before you read this, it contains a lot of spoilers, so skip this chapter if you don't wish to be spoiled! And yes, this story will be in parts! So I hope you enjoy and, keep noticing the details!
Summary: Part 2 of "A Reality"
Warnings: Sitcoms but slowly coming back to drama.
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The Stark Residence.
Episode 2, Graduation Day.
Tony's finally an year older and graduated from MIT. In the graduation ceremony, everyone congratulated for this prosperous day as the early prodigies are finally going to shine. Tony was also one of them and his parents couldn't have been more prouder than ever.
While Tony walks into his section, he encountered someone.
Obidiah Stane.
Tony doesn't say anything but he looked as if he had no jealousies or greed. "Tony, my boy. You passed." Stane pats his back forcefully, making the graduate almost fall off.
"Hey, Mr. Stane. You should have been more careful, please."
"Oh sorry, boy. The sad part is I won't be seeing you again. Everyone will miss you for sure. Ah, I gotta leave, I gotta check on the others." Stane leaves his student, making Tony sigh in relief. Although, he was finding his one and only best friend during the special day, and yes.. he did.
".. Rhodey!"
"Tony!" Tony's best friend, James Rhodes, also in the nickname of Rhodey, was one of his best friends since childhood, and the fact is that you both graduated together in MIT. But one thing that Stark noticed and felt so shocked about it..
Rhodey was walking with crutches, making Tony worried and ran towards to support him. "Hey hey hey, big guy! Wh-what even happened? I thought you were okay yesterday?"
"Ah don't worry Tony, I am alright. Yesterday while returning home I fell from the stairs, so.. I survived but, the legs didn't." Rhodey shrugged. Tony felt something strange while he noticed that his friend got a disability, and couldn't notice why. Instead, did he remember something negative?
The scene suddenly rewinded, Tony walking in again, and seeing Rhodey again.
"Rhodey!" Tony waved, as his best friend heard his voice and turned at him.
"Tony!" This time, Rhodey was without crutches, and can walk properly. Tony hugged and did a fist bump with his buddy.
"How you doing? Congrats for your success." Tony pats his back, as Rhodey smiled.
"I'm happy.. very happy. Today this is where I'll make my family proud.. but.. I just felt something just changed in me and I-" Before Rhodey can speak anything, Tony stopped him in between.
"Uhm, let's go come on, we're being late isn't it? We'll talk everything about our life, our friendship and-"
"No, Tones it's just.. something different.. like, I just experienced.. and-"
"Boys, you're going to be late for your graduation!" The teacher called them both for the ceremony, as Rhodey shakes his head and move for the graduation.
Everyone collected at the compound for the graduation ceremony, and Tony and Rhodey happily chuckled throughout the whole moment and stood at the stage, meeting their mom and dad later. Maria and Howard were crying proud for their boy finally grown up and successful. Tony too looked at them in tears, glad to have such parents like him.
- Time Skip -
While Tony was busy with others, answering questions to the interviewers about passing the MIT, he met a familiar presence who was waiting for him.
"Hey, Stark!" A voice called him, and Tony turned around. He widens his eyes as he couldn't believe it.
"You?" Tony said in a serious way.
It was a man with blonde hair, with glasses. He too was graduated from MIT, you were right. His name is Justin Hammer.
"Congrats. You did so well." Hammer pats him in the back, making him still suspicious. Justin was basically Tony's classmate but say, as a challenging rival. He always tried to get good grades than Tony but in the end he always ended last. He was a nerd like him, but.. the different type of one, you get me?
Tony never cared for Hammer but considers him as a healthy rival. He knew that he was less threat than anything else, ahem.. except other than..
".. where you looking at?" Rhodey asked, while Tony faced one of his worst enemies than Hammer.
".. Killian." His mouth turned into a frown while he looked at his arch enemy, literally Tony felt if he could have just removed him from his existence it would have been better. He was capable of doing that but, he didn't.
As they all were nothing but fragments of his memories.
"Leave, bud. You're basically not going to see him again."
Yes, Tony might not see him again, but for what he did? He cannot forget. Killian was the reason his previous relationship with the popular girl, Pepper Potts broke, and who new the prettiest girl he loved, would ditch him to stay with that bastard himself?
There she was, with him. He also embraced her while they were talking about making their relationship close.
"Buddy, you okay?" Rhodey asked worriedly.
Tony's blood started boiling with anger and the room started to quake a bit as the objects around the room trembled. Everyone saw what was happening but Tony tried to forget whatever happened and calmed himself down, stopping the short quake. They felt it was nothing so they focused on their talking.
"Calm down Tony.. calm down.." Tony said to in his mind, and his eyes turned back to normal.
"Well, I don't really care about them anymore. I'm good." Tony fake smiles, suddenly relaxing Rhodey.
"Come on, your parents are waiting." Rhodey was about to take Tony to his parents, until then..
"Stark!" Damnit, Killian called him.
Tony turned his head slightly towards the guy he literally hated the most, glared at him but naturally. They started walking in front of him.
The way Pepper held his hand, it grew him more hurt and jealous.
"Well, it's our lucky day isn't it?"
Tony gave them a smile. "Yeah, today is actually. And supposed to be."
"Well, Tony, I swear. Killian is so sweet you know that! He literally helps me in everything and anything! Much better than you, I guess!" Pepper chuckled.
"Yeah.. I know.. like.. I was never worth for you." Tony mumbled to himself, not audible to anyone, but only Rhodey.
"What did you say?" Killian didn't hear what you said, so Tony just told something else.
"Nothing. I'm glad that you.. ahem.. are together with each. I'm happy. Do have a good relationship, than anyone else." His voice seemed normal, but it cracked the moment he could finish. He could have burst into tears but if he did that, everything he created with be changed to the worse.
"We gotta go now, come Tones." Rhodey grabbed Tony's hand and took him to his parents waiting for him in the car outside the entrance.
Tony quickly wipes his tears while his friend comforts him.
"Son!" Howard flashes a grin at his graduated son. "Hey, Rhodey. Congrats for graduating with your best bud."
"Thank you, sir. Well, I'm glad that your son has made you proud." Rhodey replied, chuckling.
"He really did. I'm so proud of him, I'm so lucky to have you, Tony."
Tony felt a warmth inside his heart, as those kind words make him happy, but he slightly frowned like his father never said that to him.
"Darling, you alright? You look kind of worried."
"Ah, no, I'm alright mom." Tony sniffed.
"Come in, we're getting late, we gotta celebrate this day at home too!" Howard tapped the car door. Tony hugged Rhodey for a goodbye, before stepping in the car and then leaving.
Tony suddenly opens his eyes seeing the light hitting to blur his vision. When he blinks three times to correct the sight, he finds himself on a deserted place. No wonder how he got here, but it startled him the moment he heard gunshots and bombs.
Everyone screamed in war cry while being attacked, they all were soldiers travelling to the base but they got under attack by some terrorists. Tony tried to survive the commotion by being careful but it reminded him of something. His breath tensed and panic increased, confused where did he even end up in. A soldier just passed out in front of him, so he quickly helps him out. He was heavily wounded, and looked so familiar.
"What's happening?" Tony asked, in worry.
"Y-you have to.. *cough* run.." The soldier passed out in an instant, and the gunshots increased. He dodged every single attack and after that, he ended up on a rock. Panting for breath and ducking for protection, he heard a sharp cling beside him.
As he turns around, he sees it was a bomb labelled "Stark Industries". He widens his eyes and tries to run off but it was too late. It exploded and blew Tony away. Then, he jerks off on his seat, to find himself back in the car. He can also see his parents back, was it a nightmare?
"Tony you alright..?" Maria asked, worriedly.
Tony sighed in relief. "Yeah, mom I'm alright.."
"You look kind of stressed my boy, are you sure?" Howard asked while driving.
"Trust me dad, it's nothing serious. Thought we had a jerk in the car." Tony rubbed his temples.
"But we didn't bump onto any speed breakers?" Howard raised his eyebrow.
"Dad, it's about mental speed breakers who come to disturb me for no reason!" Tony exclaimed, hearing the people laughing in the background.
"Well, hope that give you a bumpy ride." Howard snorts and laughs, as the people in the background laugh too.
"Dad, that's not funny." Tony folds his arms.
"Your father is just always like that Tony. Don't worry." Maria rolled her eyes, disappointed of her husband mocking Tony, while they leave for home.
-
The scene ends, another advertisement starts of a man alone in an office, being pressurized of work, and overloaded with a lot of documents.
Is stress more like a torture to your mind? You can't think what to do first? Want to feel like your totally free?
Presenting you, the Ten Rings Oil.
Rubbing it on your head will ultimately give you freedom from your everyday stress, and help you overcome your trauma!
Also, if you'd ever fear of being kidnapped, use the oil! And feel no worries!
Ten Rings Oil, forget the past, live in the future!
-
The advertisment ends, the sitcom series suddenly appeared in color. Everything in the surroundings became like it's now around the 70s. No one actually noticed what was happening but, they were more happier than ever. The Stark Residence was brighter, but not knowing time too travelled quite.. fast?
Inside the house, Maria was doing some chores along with Jarvis who was assisting her in help. Howard prepared to leave home and run straight to the office.
"Honey, goodbye." Howard kissed Maria before leaving for work. Jarvis shut the door after he left, coming back to do the current work.
"Anthony?" Maria called his son, and a deep, masculine voice filled through the hallway.
"Yeah, mom?"
"I have some snacks in the microwave, if you want to eat them come and take it!"
Tony steps downstairs from his room, completely in a new appearance. He look like he was in his 20s, as he also grew the trademark beard. He wore a white shirt and black pants, and a matching belt.
"Look at my son, such a complete gentleman he is now, isn't he?" Maria looked at Jarvis, looking at how Tony grew so much. Obviously, time passes a lot.
"You know, there was a courier boy who came in our house, they said they had a package for.. Anthony.. uhm.. An-tho-"
"Mom, let me read it, you need glasses." Tony chuckled.
Tony read the package slip, it was named as "Anthony Edward Stark". No wonder what he got but, he knows it's just a package.
"Alright mom, I'll check it out." He rips open the paper which revealed a white box. After looking inside it, he couldn't recognise the structure but pretty sure, it looked like a radio.
"It looks like a radio.. why would someone gift it to me?"
"Well, who knows? Maybe.. listening to classical music? Or some jazz and blues? Aha! Kinda like that."
".. no.. mom, but.. I already have a radio upstairs.."
"Don't worry! What if it has more songs to listen? Maybe some which your dad and I never listened?"
"I got a baaad feeling about this.." Tony rolls his eyes and takes it upstairs, but Maria stopped him.
"Wait! Darling, maybe you can try to play it here. So.. I can listen to those songs too ahaha~"
"Alright, mom." Tony kept the radio on the table.
"Jarvis, turn it on, please." Maria ordered the butler to switch the radio into power, and it glowed green. The radio started buzzing, trying to find the signal. Maria was getting excited but Tony was just curious.
It was all okay.. until then the radio started working.
"Tony? Tony can you hear me?"
The engineer suddenly stood quiet and suspicious when a voice came from the device. Maria and Jarvis suddenly felt strange that why the radio was speaking.
"Wait, how it can speak? I-is that your name, Anthony?" Maria said.
"Stark, can you hear me? Who's doing this to you, Tony?"
Tony's attention went towards an "A" insignia, realising why this radio was brought in the purpose, as panicked while his name was being called by the radio through as a communication. Before the radio could speak further, he quickly shuts off the radio, much to Maria's surprise.
"Wait, what-"
"I-it's okay mom.. I think the radio's broken. I'll fix it don't worry.. you can leave." Tony kept grab on the radio, while Maria and Jarvis leave. Tony takes a look at the model, which was proved to be sent by the Avengers. Tilting his head, he grounds his hand under the built-in radio by force, taking out it's speaker which was still functional.
"Tony? Y-you h-h-h-have t-to res-p-p-ond-" Tony slowly crushes the speaker, throwing it aside. He takes the empty shell and prepares to leave outside.
- Other Reality, the Real World -
The real world. Where people just don't live in easily and hardwork for a living. There, the Avengers existed, trying to note the case of a mysterious force field which was covered outside the Midtown city. The government immediately ordered the crew to investigate it with some military people for more defense.
This timeline, the Sokovia Accords had shattered the gang. Team Cap won, and strange things were happening since they defeated Tony and parted their ways.
"What do you mean that this strange force.. has a different world? You got to be kidding me." Steve scoffed.
"I saw it with my own eyes! T-Tony threatened me in his young state, saying to stay away from his him and his family." The one who was the hooded figure in Tony's world, named Jonathan replied with reason.
"Really? You mean an alternative reality?" Clint asked.
"Yeah, it's entirely an alternative reality where everything right there.. is a sitcom. Like, everyone is happy there.. and.. even I saw his mother calling him."
"What..? You mean.."
"Maria.." Bucky whispered. "Maria Stark, Tony's mother."
"But.. wasn't she.. murdered by you?" Sam said.
"His dad was also murdered.. but trust me, it isn't my fault.." Bucky shook his head, while Steve just comforted him.
"I know that, Buck. You aren't wrong and never be."
"But.. why would Tony do this..?"
"He's probably trying to cope with everything he went through." Natasha walked in, as the boys looked at the female superhero.
"Because of you all."
"Nat you know-"
"I don't wanna hear it! I knew that he's going to take advantage of you someday by doing this thing! You all never understand how much he weng through and it was the best of you chose peace and not violence!'
"Natasha, it's for the sake of the g-"
"Shush. Not another word, and anyway, I wasn't trying to create a conversation here thinking that everything's fixed. You ruined it all, Steve. You did." Natasha stormed out the room in anger.
"Cap, we're trying to communicate through the radio sent to the other world, but I guess it's not responding." The agent tried to contact Tony, but for some reason he knew that earlier and don't know what the upcoming threat was coming up.
"He did recieve it did he?" Clint asked.
"I don't know. He might be mad at us all, that's why he's avoiding us." Bucky thought.
"He's acting childish, god!" Steve said in anger. "Who the hell can make an alternative reality and live in it?"
Suddenly the alarms blare in the room, meaning that something was coming out of the hex. The Avengers attempt to reach the force field, getting to know that maybe Tony recieved the signal.
Meanwhile, there is you in your room, Tony's girlfriend, and future wife, depressed to know that Tony was gone for so long, that you locked yourself in the room and can't interact to anyone. You too knew the Accords had seperated everyone, and during the crippling of the group, you tried giving Tony strength that things will be okay, but.. he really gave up.
He was really broken. We can't even blame him.
Steve literally whatever did to Tony wasn't forgivable. He chose not to sign the Accords for himself for the fact that Bucky was going to be blamed on it. But, Tony too wasn't wrong. He knew he was committing a lot of mistakes throughout his life and he needed a chance to improve himself.
No wonder.. how much pain he went through that he's now in this situation.
To be honest, Captain still wasn't admitting that Tony was right while signing the documents, and leaving a huge mark on his heart isn't a way to end everything.
But it's just conflicting.
You suddenly also heard the blares of the sirens, wondering what would have happened. You ran to the compound, grabbing your jacket and looking at the hex started illuminating in between of a void. The gang grouped with each other, charging their weapons, along the military.
You just stood there like you don't remember what is happening. There, something ended up coming out, which was a broken radio. You gasped, noticing Tony had destroyed it. Everyone held glances at each, when they also saw a figure walking out to enter the real world.
It could have been none other than..
"..Tony?" You suddenly made a surprised expression, along with others, who can't believe it all.
To be continued.. in part 3!