Chapter Text
Tony looked around the misty landscape, confused as to where he was.
He frowned, trying to figure out where his location was but she saw a figure that was beginning to take form of a person he barely recognised.
Richard Parker.
Tony felt his heart stop before he almost growled in anger. “Richard.”
Richard blinked in surprise but sighed. “I’m sorry, Anthony.”
“You kept my son from me!” Tony yelled, not even bothering to keep his anger in check.
“We wanted to!” Richard argued, and Tony wanted to tune him out.
But Richard was the only other sound in this strange landscape that was oh so unfamiliar to him. There was no way to tune him out without Tony being locked away with his own thoughts.
“Then why didn’t you?” Tony’s voice had dropped into a broken whisper.
Richard tried to figure out what to say and knew that he had to tell the truth. “Honestly, I don’t know. There was a feeling that we all had, to keep Zayden with us. I can’t name it, if I could I would.”
Tony blinked. “Where are we?”
“You’re avoiding the point, Anthony.”
“No, where are we? Then we’ll carry on this conversation that is one hundred percent not over.”
Richard waved his hand around. “This is the dream landscape, where people can visit in their dreams but only when someone wants to talk to them. You can speak with a living person but you need to have a liaison that is dead to communicate with each other.”
“Sounds difficult to wrap your head around.” Tony muttered.
“Says the person who created a new element because he was dying.” Richard raised an eyebrow but tried to crack a smile.
Tony scowled at Richard, eyes narrowing. “What do you want, Richard?”
“I want to tell you that Zayden has an extremely difficult choice to make, involving his family.” Richard said. “We might’ve raised him, but this past year has been extremely difficult on him and his mind is in a fragile state.”
“The torture and the stones?” Tony asked, not wanting to know what Richard meant but still wanting to know.
Richard folded his arms and raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think you want me to tell you. I’ll tell you this though, Tony. You and Pepper now know the truth of who he is. He is your son, and he is your responsibility. When the time comes you have to decide something for him that he wouldn’t make himself.”
“Wouldn’t that just make him hate us even more?” Tony asked, only seeing this as a way to push him away from Peter-Zayden. “Also, what name should we call him by?”
Richard sighed and looked away as his brows furrowed. “I…Zayden. Call him Zayden. He may hate it, but it is his name. He is a Stark and a Parker and a Potts.” Richard’s blue eyes sparkled. “Remember this Anthony. He does love you, but his mind is fragile and his mind will not clear until the things around him change.”
“Change? How?”
“I cannot tell you, but soon you will realise what it means. That is when you and Pepper step in to help.” Richard said nodding simply. “It’s something that will shake whatever he is going through from him. And it will help everyone in the end.”
Tony looked confused. “Why do we have to wait to help him? He’s our child!”
Richard nodded. “I know, but believe me, Zayden will need you to stay away before you can help him.”
“What will we do then? What is the clue that Peter needs our help?” Tony pressed.
“You will figure it out. You’re his father, and you will know exactly what it is. Just pay attention to his words and analyse them as best you can.” Richard said as he began to fade away.
“Wait!” Tony yelled. “You mean that we will still talk with him?!”
He got no answer but was jerked back to the land of living as he stared around his bedroom with a sharp inhale. Pepper shifted and rested her head on Tony’s chest, hand resting on his shoulder to keep him down.
Tony blinked as his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting.
Richard’s words echoed in his mind and managed to slip from Pepper’s grasp. She grumbled but remained asleep.
Tony left his room before speaking quietly. “Friday, who is awake?”
“Colonel Rhodes is awake on one of the balconies.” Friday replied. “Do you want me to lead you to him?”
“Yeah, sure…Go ahead, girl.” Tony nodded.
Soon enough, Tony found Rhodey leaning against the railing. Tony joined his best friend and stared out across the grounds with him.
“Rhodey…” Tony began, sounding unsure and uneasy. He knew he had to apologise for his words but struggled to figure out how to say it.
“I…I’m sorry.” Tony whispered, not being too annoyed with showing his emotions to Rhodey as they had been friends since they were teenagers. “I…”
Rhodey, bless his knowing heart, broke in. “Don’t beat yourself up about it, Tones. I accept your apology.” His best friend placed a hand on Tony’s shoulder before noticing the panicked, worried and stressed look on his face. “What is it?”
“It’s about Zayden…”
“He does love you and Pepper.” Rhodey said. “He told me himself.”
Tony blinked and looked at him with wide eyes.
Rhodey was shocked by the look in his eyes that were bright with tears.
“I saw and spoke with Richard.” Tony whispered. “I don’t know how, but I saw him in my dream. He explained that Peter…Zayden is going to do something and I can’t help him.”
“What do you mean?” Rhodey asked, noticing the panic rising in his chest at the tone of his best friend.
Tony groaned. “I don’t know, but…Richard said I can’t help him directly, and can only step in when I know I can. And, I don’t know what he means!”
Rhodey grabbed his friend and they both fell to the ground. Tony sobbed into Rhodey’s shoulder.
“I don’t know what to do, Rhodey.”
“You’re a genius, Tones. You can figure it out.”
Tony sniffed and closed his eyes.
Richard came into his view once more.
“Tony, not everyone is who you think they are. Someone will push Zayden into doing his mission, and you must do something about it.”
“I won’t push him away! You know this!” Tony cried, not realising he was yelling it out in real life and worrying Rhodey.
“I never said who it will be.” Richard whispered. “You have to trust your instincts and Zayden, and then things will turn around.”
Tony jerked away from Rhodey’s grip, tears beginning to slip down his cheeks.
What was Richard hinting at? What was happening to Peter? What was going to happen?