Summary: Finale of The Monster Within
Warnings: Body horror, tentacles, angst and then fluff
Word Count: 3,361
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A pair of claws block the way of your escape, turning around to see Tony in his partial Nex form. His eyes were slowly diluting into a black color, ears pointed. You still trembled in position, hoping not to get attacked again. Tony retract his claws back to his hands, coming back in his natural human form.
You were just quiet, after knowing what Tony really was. You only wanted to know about that. From the days of your doubts and suspicions, it came to be true. Tony was a Nexerian all along. You felt like to breakdown in tears, and regret for leaving like this. Tony walks towards to give you a hug, comforting you by his warm embrace. Trembling while hugging him back, Tony kissed your neck to calm you down.
"I know, Y/N.. but.. if I told you that I was a Nexerian, y-you'll leave me be. I'm sorry if I didn't tell you this but.. I-I love you. I love you so much.. but d-don't leave me." Tony clenched his eyes and tried not to burst in tears. Feeling bad, you lifted his face gently, facing to wipe off his tears. Tony opens his eyes, to look at yours, letting his pain out.
"I love you too, Tony. You think I'm going to leave you? Because of a little risk you took? Just not to save mine but, many lives of women out there? How can I be more glad and thankful for that? Of course, I might had an outburst and said so much, but it doesn't mean anything to you. Whatever you might be, I accept that. All that matters, is for who you are, and what you've become."
Tony grabs your hand over his cheek, and stares at you with his upset eyes. After a little heated moment, you finally were back together. For the long awaited moment, Tony brought his lips to yours, kissing them. It was a long one, but full of feelings and affection for each other. Tony felt so complete, when he did fell in love with you. But, to keep you protected, he never said about it.
"I mean, who knew I was really going to fall in love with a Nexerian?" You gave him a smirk, making him chuckle.
"Really? So now you're gonna admit Nexerians are hot as hell?" He replies, darkening his eyes.
"Not one like Adam Williams." You mentioned the Nex, that kind of disgusted Tony.
"Nope, I don't want to impregnate a million women."
"Wait, but.. didn't you be a playboy in your past? Wouldn't that had lead you impregnating women by accident?"
"It's because, I'm a hybrid. I could be a Nexerian with those urges but I'm more human than you think."
"More.. human? Is it cause, one of your parents were a human."
Tony sighed. "Yup, my mother, Maria Stark was a human. But, my dad wasn't. He was a Nexerian too."
You widen your eyes in surprise. "Howard Stark was a Nexerian?"
"There are many things that you don't know about me, love." He laughs, and sits on the couch beside him. "I think you won't be ready to know about my past."
"No, i-it's not that!" You quickly seat yourself next to him. "I want to hear it, how you used to live and.. everything that happened.."
"Alright.. my dad, being a Nexerian, was a heavy one to handle. We never had good relationships. Reason being, as I told I think more human than the other Nexerians. My mom, who was a human, she taught me how to control my own abilities. I itself never knew what I was.. until.."
- Flashback -
Tony was about eleven years old, when he was playing with the butler, Edwin Jarvis, whom he also named after his AI. Maria Stark looks at his son, being happy and cheerfully enjoying with Jarvis. She was so glad, that Tony was now social. Suddenly, he stops, and glares at his nails. Maria noticed her son looking distressed, so she steps down and looks over Tony.
"What's the matter honey? Why you stopped?" Maria asked.
"Mom.. why my nails are growing so quick?" Tony examines his nails. "I just cut them off.."
Maria sighed and shakes her head. "Don't worry dear, it happens. Being a part of your dad can be difficult."
"My dad? But you told me I'm a human like you.. who he really is, mom?" Young Tony said, raising an eyebrow.
"You'll get to know about it soon when you grow up." Maria kissed Tony's forehead. "Okay, now go to your room, it's late."
"But I want to play with Jarvis!" Tony whined.
"Tony, you even haven't eaten anything today. After finishing lunch you can go play with Jarvis again.
"I'm always for sir's satisfaction, ma'am." Jarvis smiles.
Tony then leaves the playground to the dining table, where lunch is already served. Howard was actually away for a business meeting, so he couldn't come, so it was just him and his mother instead.
"Why dad always stays away from us?" Tony asked, while playing with the spoon.
"He's a busy man, dearie. We can't disturb him during the time of work." Maria replied, serving him food.
"I always see him, he's away for work but never for us." Tony shook his head. Maria did knew the pain of his father being away, so she made sure that he won't feel any lonely as possible.
"Your dad will be back again, even if he goes out, it's for the best of us and everyone, okay? Now finish up, it's getting cold." Maria changed the topic so that Tony can eat his lunch.
It was evening, and little Tony was busy in playing with his toys, mostly of a Captain America figurine trying to knock out the other toys as bad guys.
"I am Captain America! And I'm going to kill you evil Germans!" While playing, Tony suddenly felt hungry and wanted to grab a snack. He steps out of the room, and sees Jarvis in the kitchen, washing the dishes.
"Jarvis? Do you have something to eat?" Tony asked, while gently pulling the butler's coat.
"Oh, I think there are chips and chocolate in the cupboard next door, you can have them, sir."
"Thank you, Jar!" The young boy hugged Jarvis and he finds out the items and rushes into his room. Jumping on his bed, opening the pack of chips and chocolate, he started eating them one by one. Finishing the packet, he continues to eat up the chocolate. Tony didn't realise while eating the cocoa substance, he was feeling dizzier but still hungry.
A hunger for no food, but.. something more bigger?
In mid-way of eating the chocolate, he tried to focus but he started seeing the visuals of human flesh and tentacles, and passed out on the bed. Everything went a blur, as Tony fell asleep, and got unconscious for a while.
He then suddenly sees himself waking up around a damp wasteland, all alone. Getting up, to see a clear view, he saw a lot of human bodies whose fleshes were ripped out. Much to Tony's horror itself, he didn't had the strength to move. Nor mom, dad or Jarvis was there for him. Trying to walk foward, and passing through every single dead body, to enter a dark cave. Tony didn't had a flashlight, so he had to enter without it.
"Y-you're strong, Tony.. you're strong." The young man steps in the rocky cave, extending his hands to make sure where the walls leaded to. It was so dark, that it was super impossible to look around and accidentally step on something obnoxious. But, the cave suddenly started growing brighter, but including screams and shouts. It trembled him, not knowing what is going on. There, he also heard a stab with gutteral groan, the moment he grows more close to the light. When he reaches at the end of the cave, his eyes meet over a strange being with pointed wings, devouring a human. It was entirely dear, as the creature continued to eat it's flesh.
The young was sure disgusted yet horrified, but as Tony stepped a little back, and broke a twig, the creature got alerted and stopped eating. Knowing he was busted, the creature turns around and faces him, much to the boy's shock.
It was a Nexerian. But, why the face looked like his, but more grown up?
The scene switches to a pair of tentacles, and then to Tony opening his eyes. He wakes up inside his home, in his room on the bed. Finally realising it was a nightmare, he sighed in relief. He then continues to eat the chocolate bar, but after taking a few bites, his attention went towards to his hands, which were gently bulging, as if something was trying to get out. Same it was felt on his face, and Tony panicked and his breath heaved. It hurted as they tried piercing out his skin, as the young boy stormed inside the bathroom, and looked at himself in the mirror.
Tony started wailing and cry in fear and pain, as his face and hands started to rip off tentacles from his body. He started screaming for help, and cried tears.
"MOM! JARVIS!" He screamed out loud, as both of them noticed Tony's scream, feeling he is in trouble.
"Anthony!" Maria called in worry, running outside her room. Jarvis also quickly approaches Tony's room, but see that he wasn't in there. Then, the screams from Tony come from the bathroom, as they begin to bang the door.
"Tony! Tony are you okay? Is something wrong?" Maria banged the door rapidly, but he kept on screaming.
Back to the bathroom scene, Tony was backed off by the tentacles, pinning him on a corner. There, they began extending throughout the walls, covering him entirely.
Poor Tony was still screaming, for help. "Mama! Papa!" He kept wailing for help, but before anything can be done, he was engulfed by the tentacles, completely.
"Jarvis, open the door!" Maria said in panic.
"Madam, the door is locked! I am trying to budge through it, but it's not opening!" Jarvis replied.
"Let's do it together!" Maria and Jarvis charge over the door, forcing it to open. When they apply enough strength, the door finally opens, while the two look for Tony. Jarvis first catches the attention of what actually happened, his face in horror.
"Madam.." Jarvis called Maria, and as she turns around, she gasps and covers her mouth in shock.
She sees a ripped cocoon on the corner of the bathroom wall, along with a running shower behind the curtains of the bathtub. There, it was a more huge figure, as if it grew up. Maria slowly walks near the curtain, and removes it, revealing a full male body, with the familiar face Maria cherished for, scared as it balls itself while washing the cocoon substance away.
"Hey, hey, sweetie.. sweetie.. it's okay.. it's okay.. it's me." Maria comforts his son, who had grown up unexpectedly.
"M-mom? W-what did just happen to me?" Tony asked while quivering, his voice was much deep and mature now. He had now a strong, masculine body, signifying he has become into a full adult.
"Darling.. y-you just.. had experienced a rapid growth of maturity."
"But mom, y-you told me I was a human! I c-couldn't grow quicker i-if I was one? I hadn't got a chance to live my childhood! What did I do to deserve all this!" Tony wept.
Maria and Jarvis hold sad faces. They do know who Tony really was, but of course, he never had to face all of this. All of a sudden, Howard comes from the door, seeing the commotion. He steps close to see a look at his son, from an eleven year old kid, to an entire mature adult.
But, to Tony himself, he was still a kid by mind.
Maria notices Howard next to her, and gives the head shake that now things have to be revealed now.
"Son.. you've now grown up." Howard steps close to Tony, still in the bathtub. "You're an adult Nexerian."
Tony got to know he wasn't an human. He was a Nex. Looking at himself, feeling full powered, his fingers could not grow nails so longer than he expected. His body color started changing, into pale blue, and eyes dilated to a black color. He looks at his parents, sobbing that what he had become. Maria hugged the grown child, who kept on crying because the experience he had was traumatic for sure.
"Don't worry, Anthony. Even if you're a grown adult, you will still be our little Tony we knew." Maria also started crying tears, knowing his son had changed. She too cannot face the moment when Tony entirely became an adult. She knows that Tony is a hybrid so he'll get over through the Nexerian desires.
The scene then switches to Tony's room, where everyone was there with him, covered with a blanket.
"Sorry that.. I never told you about this.. but it was the best for you."
"Best?" Tony got mad. "You think not telling me who I am, is safe? Dad, you know I had faced a nightmare before this happened. T-the Nexerian.. was it me? Did it destined me that I'm made to kill people?" His eyes started filling tears, and Maria helped her son to calm down.
"No, Tony it's not it.. please. You'll not murder people." Maria replied. "You are a hybrid so you'll have less urges to murder people, because of your human emotions."
"But what if, I didn't get to control them? And I really killed a person?"
"It will not happen. Trust me." Maria hugged Tony tightly, comforting him.
"But if those urges still attack you son, remember. It's just the Nexerian instinct. It will happen. It doesn't matter if you even kill a human." Howard explained.
"You mean that you want Tony to kill humans? Are you crazy, Howard?" Maria defended. "It doesn't mean if you're a full Nexerian you'll give him your bad habits!"
"We'll see. If he submits to those urges or not." Howard leaves the room, and Maria sees Tony casted down, looking upset.
"Don't worry, son. You'll not kill anyone." Maria whispered in his ear, and kissed his face. She kept on hugging him, meanwhile Tony was still lost in his emotions.
He did grow up quick, but at what cost?
- Flashback End -
"When I grew up after my cocoon stage, mom did help me to control my urges. Like, when you're hungry and crave for flesh, not to attack the person, and when you're an adult Nexerian, you also have the need to mate. For that, we Nexes try finding a suitable Nex or human who's healthy and doesn't suffer from any disability. If they find out they're facing any problem, they straight reject it." Tony continues his story, while you carefully listen.
"Mom and dad passed away, in a car crash. And I was all alone, to control my Nexerian urges. No one knew how many times, when I was a playboy, I had almost threatened many lives of women.. by almost impregnating them." Tony looked so desperate, for what he used to do.
"The reasons why I became a hunter is that.. maybe.. as if I'm killing the monster within me. I never wanted to be this way, you know? But it doesn't help.. never.." Tony breaks down in huge tears. "Maybe if there is a chance, I'll end this suffering if I kill myself-!"
"Tony! Look at me." You make him face to your direction, staring at his sad, teary eyes. "You're not a monster, alright? You are brave enough to face every single problem that occured in the span of your life. I understand your trauma.. but, giving up will never be the answer." You wipe off his tears.
"I'll always be there for you. No matter what." You smile at him, and pecked his lips, with pure love. Tony weeps onto your shoulder, hugging you tighter. Finally, he got a chance to vent out his feelings to someone who can understand him.
Even after his parents were gone.
After calming down, he wipes off his tears and sniffs, all better after the painful story he explained to you.
"Are you better now?"
Tony nods. "Yeah."
"But.. if I ask.. what's with the chocolate? I assume that, after eating that you grew up."
"Nexerians actually consume chocolate to increase their mating urges. Like the day when you fed me that, I did had those little feelings about me.. uhm.. you got that right."
"Oh that's why the gunshot from the movie saved me." You shrug, and look at Tony, all amused.
"Uhm, yeah. Kind of.." Tony cleared his throat. "But, I was still controlled, you know?"
"Yeah, yeah.. I know, Nexie." You roll your eyes.
"Did you just find a new name for us species?" He smirks.
"Hmm hmm! Nexies is what I'm gonna call you all. Like you!" You hug his arm, and then wraps you in his strong arms, pulling for another hug.
"I love you, Tony.."
"I love you too, baby." Tony kissed your forehead, and cuddled you tight.
"Say, who thought I would fall in love with a Nexerian? Also, being cute and hot at the same time?" You chuckled.
"Really? I'm hot?" He raised his eyebrow.
"Yup. You are, Mr. Stark." You teased him, that caused him to darken his eyes.
"Oh really? Then why not we spend the entire day talking how much we love each other?" He flashed a grin, trying to be cute.
"Why not!" You cheered.
After that day you realise, falling in love with a monster didn't seem bad at all.
- Days Later -
Tony was in his bathroom, trying to expose his entire Nexerian form. Along with his wings which flapped in air. He touches the mirror, embracing himself to his monster inside.
"I know I'm a kind which hunts down humans. But, as mom said, I have to adapt to it."
You step in the room, and suddenly looked at him in his entire Nex form. Instead of being scared, you were amused.
"Woah.." You said, surprisingly. "So that's how you look in it?"
"Y-yeah, I do. But, I know I look ugly like this." Tony rubbed his hair, nervously.
"Ugly? Come on, you look more hotter in that look, dang!" You smirked.
As you said that, Tony's eyes darken, and tilted his head, giving a seductive smirk. He started walking close to you, realising you made things worse.
"Oh no, oh no you're now turned on, don't you?" You too started backing up, but Tony grabbed and pinned you on the wall, licking his lips.
"I'm hot? Is that what you feel?" He plays with the flick of your hair, and you grow more nervous.
"U-uhm, y-yeah? Now what are you gonna do about it?" You raise your eyebrow.
He sighs. "Well, if there was ever a chance to show how Nexerians mate with humans, I can show you an example~"
"Will you impregnate me?" You said, jokingly. "I'm not right now prepared to have another hybrid baby in our house.
"Then I'll make you~" And by that, he smashes his lips onto yours, pulling into a passionate kiss. Of course, you were in love with a Nexerian, but that didn't matter to you.
Because you loved the the monster within him.
The end.
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Finally, I'm finished with this series too! Thank you so much for liking, commenting and reading it till the end, this has got to be one of the strangest ideas I've ever done, because it was mainly inspired from an alien movie called "Species".
Though, I can't say Nexerians are fully aliens, but having similarities to them, it's just an inspiration guys, don't worry, ahaha.
Anyways, thank you again for liking the story! I hope you enjoyed it! <3
Signing out,
- Khushi, zhe author ♡