Chapter Text
Tony’s lungs gasped for oxygen as his senses came alive again, he heaved deep breaths of air that felt thick with pollution and waste. His eyes opened slowly adjusting to the darkness that surrounded him. It took a few seconds before his eyes were able to make much out, but the smell was probably indicative of that he wasn’t anywhere particularly pleasant.
His mind ran through the events of what was likely the past 30 minutes but felt closer to an eternity ago now. His body tensed as he remembered the snap, the pain that had coursed through his body, he had died right? He knew that’s what was supposed to happen, he remembers being surrounded by his teammates as he faded away, so if he was dead where was he now?
“Maybe Hell by the smell of it.” He whispered to himself
His senses focused as he looked up between buildings towards a sky that was either covered by clouds or smog. He felt below him to the cold, slightly damp (hopefully not damp for the reasons he was expecting) floor. His eyes finally focused as he looked around. He seemed to have ended up in a long grimy alley. His ears could hear shouting from the nearby buildings and gunshots which seemed to ring from multiple directions around him in far too short intervals.
“Huh, guess I died and went to Hell,” he murmured with a sigh.
“FRIDAY, any read on this place?” he asked expecting a quick answer, however all that followed was the same ambient noise of wherever in the world he had ended up.
Tony quickly checked his body for the iron man suit not expecting to find anything, and to his disappointment (but not surprise) he was correct, the iron man suit was gone along with FRIDAY. He felt along his chest where the arc reactor used to sit and only found the clothes he had been wearing under his suit with none of his tech anywhere to be found.
“Great, just great.” He mumbled with a drawn-out sigh.
After spending a few more seconds sulking on the floor morning the loss of his suit and arc reactor he braced himself to stand. He expected pain, some lasting consequence from using the infinity stones. Instead, his body just felt unused, his muscles seemed to awaken with his intentions stretching as his compressed joints moved after what felt like a lifetime of being still.
Following a few cracks in his bones and what was enough effort to make him ready to lay down again (God he was getting old) he found his way to a sitting position. He looked around the alley from his new perspective, and it was grim. The buildings on either side were dilapidated and covered with such a plethora of spray paint he was convinced that’s the only way they were being held together. He looked down to the puddle he was resting in still unable to tell if it was water or something else entirely. Regardless of the answer he certainly didn’t wish to be sitting in it anymore.
He braced himself against the floor the cold seeped into his hands as he used them to push himself upwards. He found his way to his feet feeling slightly uneasy like a baby giraffe. His body wobbled like he was learning to walk again for the first time. He took a second to stabilise before finally setting off out of the alleyway biding it quick goodbye and a not at all fond farewell.
As he emerged from the alley the streets were more illuminated with streetlights every few meters, they didn’t seem well maintained as quite a few were off and others flickered in a way that made Tony question if he was in a low budget horror movie.
The additional lights didn’t do much to ease the heaviness of the air. Most of the people of wherever he had ended up in moved quickly. They kept their heads down and their eyes seemed stiffly glued to whatever direction they were moving never straying far from the quickest path.
Some loitered around eyes hungrily taking in whoever passed, Tony had seen types like them before, gang members, criminals, people wanting to impose their power. He resented people like them but currently had no way to put them in their place. The kid probably would if he was here, the thought hit him so suddenly he nearly stopped walking. The last thing he'd seen was Peter running toward him. Then the ash. Peter had the ash too? Had that happened? Or was it just Tony’s ash blocking his eyes? No. No, Peter had survived. The avengers bought him back and Tony sacrificed himself so the kid could live. He had to have lived. Because if Peter hadn't survived…
Tony cut that thought off, entirely unwillingly to think about what that could mean for a second more.
He instead decided to keep moving, if that’s what the citizens did that was probably what was safest. Tony began attempting to navigate himself through the city, his eyes scanned boarded up shops and avoided the gaze of some more threatening resident.
He found a few people along his way that looked normal enough to ask where he was, but he was only meet with startled stares or cold looks never quite getting a straight answer although he did from one older gentleman get a rather creative (and seemingly drug fuel response) about how this whole city was a divine test.
Despite one answer making him begin to seriously question the reasonableness of his theory this was Hell he was getting frustrated by the lack of answers currently available. What kind of a place was this that no one would even answer his very simple questions?
As he pondered what was wrong with this place he stumbled upon an open store. The storefront was covered with graffiti and the glass had tape and tarp over where it looked like it had broken before. It certainly wasn’t a store Tony would typically enter but there didn’t seem to be many other options. He looked through the glass that remained and saw a typical convenience store selection of products. His stomach growled at the thought.
He quickly ran his hands over his pockets to find that he had no cash currently available. But the idea of getting off the streets (even just for a few minute break) and the hope of the store clerk finally giving him a straight answer on where he was encouraged him enough to tempt him inside.
He entered with the chime of a bell overhead, which he found surprisingly charming for a neighbourhood like this. His eyes scanned the store it was pretty small all things considered only a few isles with limited variety of products. It had what people more optimistic than him would call ‘charm’. The floor was dirty like it hadn’t been cleaned in a few to many weeks. The whole shop had a smell of mildew that permeated every crevice, he would usually find it unsanitary but honestly accepted it as a welcome change of pace from the smell outside.
His eyes scanned the shelves taking quick notice of how different it was to what has used to. The brands all varied with different names he couldn’t recognise. It almost felt uncanny and alien. Like someone had taken the vague idea of brands and had just assigned random names to random things. A Hershey’s bar had seemingly been exchanged for something called Marshal’s and Nerds were now called Jocks. He quickly moved along from the strange candy isle to inspect the rest of the store.
His eyes landed on a newspaper with ‘Gotham Gazette’ along the top, he didn’t recognise it. The headlines were about ‘The Batman’ taking down a ‘Mad Hatter’ which Tony snorted at. He was honestly shocked he hadn’t heard of this, a vigilante who dresses like a bat?
“How absurd, though I guess I’m not one to judge.” He mumbled as his mind strayed.
He didn’t recognise anything, it got to him he took a second to examine it in his mind tossing it around. everything was close to what he was used to but far to different. His mind raced for possible explanations perhaps some strange art piece he stumbled into? As he stood stuck in thought only one possibility stood at the forefront.
He had died when he snapped his fingers, he had died and ended up somewhere else entirely.
An alternate reality?!
He sucked in a sharp breath and moved further towards the back of the store he didn’t know what to think about this, but he knew he needed more proof needed to take a real solid look at something he understood inside and out. He found freezers lining the back walls as expected. He moved to the side of it, it seemed outdated clunky, the company on the side was nothing he recognised. The whole thing was off, close to his universe’s technology but definitely different.
As his mind was engulfed in what this means, he heard the little bell on the door jingle bringing him back for a second. He started to pull his thoughts together and get ready to get back on the streets when he heard shouting from the front of the store. He peaked his head around the isle watching as two men with ski masks and backpacks held the employee at gun point.
Tony stopped for a second, it had been a long time since he was this powerless. No suit to protect him, no one to call to save him, no Happy or Pepper to come to his rescue. Damn these robbers make him think about the absence of anyone who cares about him in this universe.
He steeled his nerves. He had already died once today worst comes to worst, what’s one more time? Not like anyone here would care he was gone.
With that depressing though being thoroughly ignored for the time being he manoeuvred his way to the side of the store as he walked slowly through the isle getting closer to where the robbers were. As he neared the one on the left turned around spotting him. In an instant the gun was on him.
“Stop right there!” shouted robber two (who he had elected to be robber number two based on how his voice was shaking and he could barely hold the gun straight). Tony walked towards the man slowly; he spotted an umbrella stand beside the door. He moved closer with his eyes trained on the robber and his back to the stand.
“Stop moving or I’ll shoot.” The guy heaved a breath “I’m serious you know!"
“Yeah, yeah don’t worry I believe you.” He said, he was trying to appease number two, but it was possible his tone came off condescending.
Tony reached behind him grabbing an umbrella with his right hand as he placed his left hand in front of him attempting to calm number two.
“Just shoot the guy.” Growled number one (at least if Tony died here, he would die knowing he at least gave them the correct numbers).
Two’s hands wobbled as he pointed the gun towards Tony’s head. Tony tightened his grip on the umbrella getting ready to swing when suddenly the glass besides him shattered. It flew across the room as all eyes landed on the intrusion. Tony was stunned into silence (a very big accomplishment).
His eyes landed on the man beside him. He was tall must have been about six foot and had two handguns pointed at the robbers and an expressionless red mask. Before Tony had the chance to inspect the guy further gun shoots rang out as both robbers fell to the floor groaning in pain.
“Jesus Christ, don’t you think shooting them is a bit much?” he muttered mostly to himself seeing as he had come to expect everyone in this city to ignore whatever he said.
However Red Mask Guy justified his question with a response
“They are non-lethal rounds. And usually, the people I save are more grateful and less concerned about their attempted murderers’ injuries.”
The Red Mask Guy turned around looking Tony up and down before his eyes landed on the umbrella still firmly in Tonys right hand that he hadn’t let go of yet.
The man took pause for a second before laughing
“That was your plan?” He heaved a breathy laugh “You were planning to fight two-armed men with an umbrella?”
The Helmet Man at hearing the situation repeated out loud doubled down on his laughter. Fiddling with a pair of handcuffs he placed on number one’s wrists and secured him to the counter.
“What would you have me do, plus that one’s hands were shaking so bad I would be shocked if he could shoot a whale from point blank.” Tony said pointing to number two (who was still curled on the floor in pain from getting shot).
“Oh god your gonna have to do better than an umbrella in Gotham,” he said flashing his guns in front of Tony’s face before putting them back in holsters.
“God, what is with this city and guns?” was all Tony could think to reply.
“Not from here, are you? Everyone in this part of the city knows to carry a gun.”
“yeah well if you could point me out of ‘this part’ that would actually be astoundingly helpful.” Tony replied a little indignantly to Helmet Man’s taunts.
“Geez you really aren’t from here; well, I don’t want to be the one who inevitably finds your body in the morning based on those survival instincts.” He said pushing the door open and gesturing for Tony to follow.
Tony’s first thought was should I really be following a stranger? But he had no reason not to trust the guy, and he also had no way of knowing how else to get out of this place. So, despite his hesitation he followed the guy out sparing a glance for the robbers.
“Should you tie number two up?” Tony asked curious as to if Helmet Man was really that bad at his job.
“Hmmm,” he murmured thoughtfully. “You said his hand were shaking and he’s young, let’s just hope he learns his lesson this time if not I’ll send him off if I see it again.”
Tony was shocked anyone who seemed to be as comfortable with guns as this guy was so keen on second chances, but he decided to keep these thoughts to himself.
As he followed the man, he saw the guys who had previously looked at every passing person like prey cower as Helmet Man passed, he seemed well known and not at all liked.
“What is your name?” Tony asked trying to get this conversation towards some helpful info about the world he found himself in. “you know in case I want to tell this story and need the name of who saved me.”
“Red Hood.” The man replied. (Which Tony thought was a stupid name because he was wearing a helmet, not a hood) Red Hood waited a beat before continuing. “How did you end up in Crime Alley, honestly I’m surprised based on your lack of knowledge that you even made it to that store.”
Tony was insulted but firstly had to take a beat to consider ‘Crime Alley.’
“Seriously you guys have a street called ‘Crime Alley,’ you’re basically setting it up for failure.”
“Well obviously it’s not actually called that” Red Hood sneered in response with a tone that seemed indicative of an eye roll that Tony could only imagine behind the man’s helmet.
As they walked the city seemed to come more alive (even if only in comparison to Crime Alley), Red hood stopped where at the edge of a street.
“This is the end of my turf, and I don’t particularly want to deal with any of the bats. If you want a hotel head that way, and if you can’t afford it homeless shelters will be closed for the night but there’s a park that way where no one should bother you otherwise there’s some abandoned buildings by the docks that most people avoid if it gets to cold tonight but don’t tell anyone I told you.”
“Right,” Tony responded taking in the instructions laid out to him.
Tony turned around wanting some clarification on where the docks were, but Red Hood had disappeared already. “Typical, just typical.”
He hesitated for a second on where he should go before he began walking towards an area which seemed more industrial taking in the sights of the city.
The people he passed now seemed less tense even if only by a little, and made some attempt to conceal their guns unlike the people of Crime Alley. The city itself also seemed more alive. The buildings when not covered in graffiti took on a rather gothic style of architecture that would look beautiful on a sunny day.
As Tony’s eyes scanned the buildings, he caught sight of a black blur flying through the air between them. “Huh, they really do have a Batman.”
The sounds of the city were eventually mixed with the sounds of nearby water as he found what he assumed Red Hood was talking about in the form of a row of warehouses majority of which seemed abandoned.
Tony was not particularly keen on sleeping in any of the warehouses. They seemed to offer minimal coverage for an indoor space with many having an array of bullet holes through the thin walls. Tony sighed to himself wishing he was back at his cabin on the lake and not in some dodgy warehouses near a river that smelt worse than the city itself.
He resigned himself to walking along the docks till he spotted a warehouse that was relatively intact, he walked up to it nearing the door till he heard talk inside. He stopped in his tracks and turned to the side where he saw some windows. He moved closer and peaked into the warehouse. It had a group of about 12 people some moving about and others passed out. He could see a collection of needles piled up in the corner. His heart ached just a little, these people were young, to young to be out on the streets on their own. But Tony couldn’t do much of anything. He peeled himself from the window walking to another warehouse in the distance.
He neared this one which seemed to have more bullet holes than the last. Learning from the previous time he found a hole on the side of the building and peaked through it.
At first, he couldn’t see anyone but before he could move to go inside, he heard whispered conversation.
“What is all this crap anyways”
“It’s that psycos who just got sent to Arkham’s and best not ask to many questions, Mask doesn’t like people who asks questions.”
“What if the Bats finds out”
“Keep your mouth shut and they won’t”
Tony knew this was trouble, at the very least he knew Batman was a hero (vigallente?) in this city.
Whatever illegal dealings were happening there Tony wanted no part in. he ducked his head and walked away quickly. He doubted that conversation was for outside ears and didn’t want to find out what would become of his outside ears if he stuck around.
He walked further this time, not because there weren’t some promising ones but because he didn’t want to be seen around gang dealings.
He spotted another warehouse which seemed like it at the very least wouldn’t collapse from a strong breeze which was enough for him to take a look.
“Surely third times the charm” he said mostly just to encourage himself. He peaked through some of the holes he could find, ensuring no one had claimed this space before him. After he felt relatively certain he wasn’t about to end up contributing to the smell of death radiating from the river he began manoeuvring his way inside. The front door was bolted shut but after a lap of the building he found a window that he pushed up allowing himself to enter the space.
The air inside was stale like it had been trapped inside for quite a while, and the patterns of dust coating every surface also contributed to his assumption that it had been a long time since anyone had come here.
He moved through the open space finding a pile of cardboard boxes in the corner his eyes swept the rest of the warehouse for anything useful before deciding cardboard bed was perhaps his best choice.
He moved the cardboard, so it gave a thin and very uncomfortable layer between himself and the floor. He sat down on top of it staring towards the celling which stretched up high with only support beams intercepting his view.
His body curled into a ball shape trying to gain some warmth in this solitary and cold city. For the first time all day he wasn’t in survival mode. It was just him, silence and his thoughts.
The cold only served to remind him how far from home he truly was, there was no comfortable bed to return to here, no Pepper next to him, no Morgan to tuck in and say goodnight to. His eyes stung as he looked towards the celling.
He was Tony Stark if anyone could sort this out it was him. He let his eyes close choosing to focus on the ambient noise around him instead. Gunshots echoed in the distance “God, do these people ever sleep.” He murmured before his mind drifted allowing him some rest.