Chapter Text
1981
It was a miserable night.
Rain lashed the windows, and the thunder rolled ominously overhead. Some would later say it was a fitting tribute to events that unfolded that day.
The man in the study was oblivious to the weather as he waited anxiously in the study for the news of the birth of his son…and it would be a son.
Sipping from his glass Howard Stark continued to pace the room, as above him the best doctor’s money could buy hurried to help bring forth the heir to the Stark Empire. How long did it take to have a baby?
Irritated he just getting ready to go see for himself when a knock came. “Enter,” he called barely managing to reign in the agitation in his voice.
One of the doctors appeared around the solid oak door, “Mr. Stark,” he said formally before entering.
“Well?’ the other man demanded no patience for this.
“Congratulations, you’re a father.”
Howard Stark’s lip quirked ever so slightly, “The sex of the child?” he demanded turning back to refill his class.
“Boys,” the doctor announced rocking back on his heels.
Nodding smugly the owner, and founder of Stark Industries paused full glass halfway to his mouth. Spinning on his heels he pinned the doctor with an intense stare.
“Boys?” he repeated belatedly.
Nodding the doctor’s lips quirked ever so slightly, “Congratulations Mr. Stark, you have twins.”
-#-#-#-
1996
“Eddie this is a terrible idea,” Tony fussed pushing his glasses up his nose.
“Oh my god when did you get so lame?”
Tony Stark huffed crossing his arms, as his brother rolled his eyes.
“Don’t answer that you were born boring.”
Done with the conversation Edward Stark swung out the window and onto the tree outside. Anthony Stark nervously watched his twin brother.
“Come on Tony, are you going to be a coward all your life?”
Huffing he nudged his glasses up one more time before swinging out to join his brother. Laughing the pair shimmed down the tree, and raced across the lawn heading for the street.
“Where are we even going?” Tony panted keeping pace.
“Claire Dennis’s, it’s her sweet sixteen tonight,” Eddie waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Tony sighed, “If you’d put in half as much effort into school as you did girls and parties, you’d be smarter than me.”
Eddie groaned as the rounded the corner out of sight of the mansion. “No one is as smart as you brother, and I’d hate to meet the person who was.”
-#-#-#-
2002
“Happy Birthday big brother!” the jubilant voice in the other end was somewhat slurred and distorted over the spotty line.
“Happy Birthday Eddie,” Tony returned, a little ashamed he’d almost forgotten today was their birthday. Time seemed to get away from him in this place.
“So we’re 21 now, and that means….” His brother trailed off meaningfully.
Tony held back his sigh, he knew what Eddie was after. He wanted a promise he was coming home, his tour was up…only Tony had decided to stay on, he just hadn’t told his twin yet.
“Eddie,” he began gently unsure where to start.
There was a long pause of static before he heard the small voice, “You’re not coming are you.” It wasn’t a question; he already knew the truth.
Tony closed his eyes, “No,” he confirmed needlessly. The litany of colourful curses at the other end was impressive.
“Goodamit Tony you don’t have to do this!” he was yelling now, “Their dead…he’s’ dead!”
Tony rubbed his eyes tiredly, “Yes I know,” he said calmly, as his twin vented and raged.
“You have nothing to prove Tony, to anyone!”
Tony felt that familiar pain in his chest when he thought of the last time he’d seen his father alive, screaming in rage as he vowed he would disown him.
“It’s not about that,” Tony said, unsure he’d ever be able to adequately explain to his brother the bond he had formed with his fellow Maries. That he felt that things were simpler here, he wasn’t anyone. He was just Tony.
“Lieutenant?” A voice called before his Sargent’s head popped in the tent, “We leave in 5 Sir,” he said and Tony nodded in acknowledgement.
“Eddie I have to go…” there was more colourful curses.
“Listen…just don’t get dead ok? Promise?”
Tony was unable to help the smile that pulled his lips, “Happy Birthday little brother.”
-#-#-#-
2008
Was this what it was like to die?
Tony Stark wondered idly as he started up into the too hot sky. He chest ached horribly, and his skin blistered and peeled. He should be dead…why wasn’t he dead?’
Coughing weakly he closed his dry eyes and apologized to his brother. He wasn’t going to be able to keep his promise. He was going to die here alone, in this godforsaken desert. By all rights he should have died when his squad had been ambushed. He’d just been living on borrowed time.
Grinning crookedly, he threw an arm over his eyes, at least he’d taken some of the bastards with him.
The sudden whirl of chopper blades started him from his thoughts, as surely he was hallucinating the black huey setting down near him. Using the last of his energy he rolled to his knees staring in disbelief as a man identical to himself leapt off the chopper and ran for him.
He was still in shock as he felt tight arms around him, and his brother yelling at him over the din of his rescue. “I knew you weren’t dead…I never stopped searching.”
-#-#-#-
“It’s goddam dangerous Tony!” Eddie Stark stood toe to toe with his brother identical dark eyes glaring at one another. Neither willing to back down.
“It’s who I’ve become Eddie…this is what I was meant to do!” Frustrated the other man grabbed metal shoulders.
“But it’s crazy! A suit made of metal? Powered by obsolete technology? I mean it’s insane!”
Tony grabbed him back, not backing down.
“It’s a chance to do something Eddie, to be…to be…” he trailed off.
“A hero…” his twin finished for him.
Nodding Tony squeezed him tighter, Edward searched eyes once so like his own. They were haunted and shadowed, changed by an experience he could not fathom. His brother had returned from the desert a haunted man, with the physical and mental scars to prove it.
Sighing in defeat he rested his head against his brothers, “Just don’t get dead alright?”
-#-#-#-
“What the hell did I tell you!” Tony felt his helmet release as he started dazedly up at his brother.
“Don’t get dead,” he wheezed feeling his heart struggling to beat normally once more.
Eddie ran a shaky, bloody hand through his hair, “Yeah, remember that,” he mumbled helping Tony to sit up the suit creaking ominously.
Tony sighed it was going take ages to get the dents out, “Eddie! Tony! Are you two ok?” Pepper Potts was picking her way through the rubble.
“Fine Pep,” they said in unison, before looking at one another, “Jinx.”
“I was so worried!” and she did look worried, dirty, and worn out.
Tony nudged his brother rolling his eyes towards her meaningfully. Taking the hint Eddie stood patting him on the shoulder. Without a word Eddie Stark pulled Pepper close, kissing her soundly.
Tony watched grinning shaking his head, “Come on, need to throw water on you two?” he teased.
Eddie took his time ending the kiss.
Blushing Pepper breathlessly smiled, “That all Mr. Stark?”
Tony’s laughter trailed off as he groaned in pain.
Eddie rolled his eyes, “We better get him out of here, before the press shows up.”
Nodding Tony allowed them to help him shakily to his feet, “It wouldn’t go over well, after all Lieutenant Stark died in Afghanistan.”
-#-#-#-
2010
“I’m so sorry Eddie,” he whispered, trying to swallowing down his own tears.
“No,” Ed replied firmly eyes liquid but dry.
Tony chuckled weakly, “There’s nothing we can do Eddie, it’s going to kill me…or I take it out and the shrapnel kills me.”
Grunting Eddie began to pace the lab, “There has to be another way.”
Tony sighed, “I’ve tried every possible known element, there is nothing I can replace it with.”
Edward ignored him frowning in thought, “JARVIS everything we got on the arc tech.”
Tony wheezed audibly, as he struggled to join Ed at the computers. His brow was furrowed as clever fingers manipulated the data with ease tossing aside this and that. Tony grinned, Ed liked to play the dumb brother but Tony knew better; his twin was just as clever as he was.
“It’s unfinished tech,” Ed muttered eyes narrowing in thought.
Tony shrugged, “Was until I miniaturized it and put it in my chest.”
Ed wasn’t listening, something had lit, “No it’s still unfinished look!” He hurried away from the computer to the mess of stuff on the far side of the lab. He stood before the scale model of the original Stark Expo, working quick his pulled a render off it throwing it up.
Frowning Tony squinted, trying to process with his fevered mind.
“Look Tony look!” Eddie was manic as he pulled him close, Tony’s knees buckling as they both tumbled to the floor.
His twin held his overheated body close, “Look Tony,” he whispered in his ear.
Hazy dark eyes looked up at the spinning orbs, “A new element…” he whispered in disbelief.
Edward Stark chuckled holding his twin close, “Not today Tony…” the tears finally slipped from his eyes, “You’re not dying today…”
-#-#-#-
2012
“Tony I really need those design’s, I have an investors meeting tomorrow, and they are not going to appreciate another….” Edward Stark trailed off as he finally caught sight of his twin.
“What are you doing?”
Tony Stark sat cross legged before the large console screen, eyes wide behind his oversized glasses. “Did they announce some new Captain America doll?” Eddie mumbled as he strolled over.
“Action figure,” Tony corrected absently, “And no something way better than that.”
Curious the other leaned into his twin squinting at the screen, chuckling Tony handed him his glasses, “Stop being so vain,” he teased.
Ed sniffed, “You may not care what you look like, but I have an image to uphold. Now what the hell is this? A nature show? “
“Oh my god look!” Tony pointed to block of ice on the screen, as someone in a lab coat walked by.
Frowning Ed leaned closer… “Is that…” he trailed off eyes widening as his brain finally processed what he was seeing.
“Yes!” Tony hissed in excitement, “It is!”
Dumbfounded Eddie looked at his brother, identical features wearing a look of excitement and eagerness. “But how?”
Tony arched a brow, “How did I find out? Or how did they find him?”
Ed turned back to the screen, “Both.”
“Well one was easier than the other. SHIELD just contacted Stark Tech Securities to see if it was possible to get past their security.”
Snorting Eddie raised an eyebrow, “How long did it take you?”
“30 seconds but I was eating at the same time.” Laughing he handed the other back his glasses.
“So while you were in there you happened to stumble across a feed showing a block of ice with Captain America inside?”
“Basically,” Tony affirmed looking back. Ed shook his head at the rapt look Tony was giving the screen, “He’s alive you know,” the other continued. “They’re thawing him out but he’s alive.”
Eagerly he looked at his twin, “Captain America is alive.”
Edward Stark bit his lip, suddenly very worried. Tony has always had a rather large obsession with Captain America. He owned every bit of memorabilia there was going, hell he even had a tattoo of the shield on his shoulder. If there was a bigger Captain America fan Ed did not want to meet them.
Sighing he leaned into his twin watching the feed, unable to shake the feeling that this would change everything.
-#-#-#-
Steve tried his best to not let his jaw hang open as he looked out across the bridge of this so called Hellicarrier. He was still having a bit of a difficult time adjusting to the sheer scope of technology of this time.
“We’re been working in conjunction with Stark and Iron Man to get this thing running.” Fury was explaining to Banner.
Steve perked up a bit hearing the names. He had been given far too many files since he’d awoke, but the Stark family had been a familiar name that had stood out. Howard, had been a friend during the war, and apparently after the war he’d had two sons. Steve had had a hard time imaging Howard as a father to identical twin boys, but he’d been very eager to meet Edward and Anthony.
Edward had taken over the company following in his father’s footsteps, while Anthony had joined the military rather young, at eighteen. Steve had been intrigued; why would a billionaire’s son join the military? Not to mention he’d already felt a kinship with Anthony.
He’d been sad to learn that Howard had died in an accident some time ago, and that Anthony had been killed in action in Afghanistan in 2008. He held a certain empathy for Edward Stark; he knew what it felt like to lose everyone you cared about.
“Sir we have a hit…” Steve was started back into the present, and Fury was all business, “
“Where?”
“Stuttgart Germany.”
The SHIELD Commander was suddenly looking at him intently, “You’re up Cap.”
-#-#-#-
Steve finally felt like he was back in his element. Catching his shield, he looked so called ‘god’ over; he didn’t look all that impressive. Breathing hard he gave as good as he got, he was not going to let this….
His thoughts trailed off as a blare of what he thought was music caught them off guard.
Looking up Steve watched in awe as a man in metal dropped from the sky. Firing off a warning blast he stood bristling with weapons. Straightening Steve joined him slowly, “Iron Man,” he said trying to keep the curiosity form his voice
“Captain,” came the fuzzy somewhat distorted voice.
-#-#-#-
“You did what?” Edward Stark stared in disbelief in at the man in metal before him.
“I fought with the mythical Norse God of Thunder.”
Ed could only blink, “Are you ok?” he finally asked.
“Bruised but alive, but Eddie that’s not the best part.” Anthony was all but hopping foot to foot in his eagerness.
“I met him! Like the real him…the real deal! And he is way better looking than the posters, and the propaganda.”
Eddie pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, “Please try not to act like a teenager with their first crush.” Ed wasn’t sure how he knew, but he could almost tell he was pouting behind his helmet.
“Come on, Fury wants us on the bridge,” moving towards the door Edward paused, “No asking him for an autograph either.”
“But I…” Anthony trailed off looking at his metal feet.
Ed relented, “Maybe after you know you guys save the word.”
A breathy chuckle came from the helmet, “Ok.”
-#-#-#-
The pair navigated the passages to where the others were already waiting, Tony watched as his brother almost transformed before his eyes. Turning into the impressive, genius, billionaire, playboy CEO of Stark Industries.
Tony set his shoulders falling in behind him.
“Iridium what do they need Iridium for?”
“Stabilizing agent,” Edward answered swaggering into the room. “The rest of the raw materials, Agent Barton can get his hands on pretty easily.”
A thought occurred to Tony, “Only major component he still needs in the power source. A high energy density to kick start the cube.”
Ed turned to look at him thoughtfully, “Does he need any particular kind of power source.” Steve asked curiously.
Tony instantly smiled at him behind his mask, he looked really...cute when his brow was furrowed in thought.
“He’s got to heat the cube to a hundred and twenty million Kelvin just to break through the Coulomb barrier.” Another voice answered.
Tony turned to study the curly headed man, recognizing him immediately; Bruce Banner.
“Unless they’ve figured out how to stabilize the quantum tunneling effect,” Eddie was musing.
“Well if they could do that, they could achieve heavy ion fusion at any reactor on the planet.” Dr. Banner returned.
Edward was smiling and Tony was rolling his eyes, “Finally someone who speaks English.”
Steve snorted, “Is that what happened?”
Tony couldn’t help the giggle that bubbled up, fortunately his voice modulator made it sound more like a manly chuckle the giddy sound of a teenager in the throes of their first love.
Still Ed pinned him with a warning stare before turning back to the other man. “It’s good to finally meet you Dr. Banner, I’m Eddie Stark.” Throwing a thumb over his shoulder he pointed to Tony, “That’s my bodyguard Iron Man.”
Tony waved awkwardly, “Hello.”
Steve was looking at him again, and he suddenly felt the biggest loser on the planet.
“Well if the pleasantries are over I was hoping you’d help Banner find the cube Stark.” Fury was interjecting,
Tony could see the eagerness in his brother as the pair hurried off, Steve moving to follow and Tony bringing up the rear as he gave himself a mental pep talk.
-#-#-#-
“This bad…” Steve muttered staring out through the hull of the ship into the wide blue sky.
“You’re telling me, need to get the super cooling conductor system back online, clear out the debris-“
“English!”
“Get over to the control panel and tell me what relays are in the overload position.”
Tony half listened and Steve muttered his way there, as he huffed and strained to get the debris cleared out.
“Got it!” he finally called.
“Great! What does it look like?”
There was a brief pause, “Well it appears to run on electricity.”
Tony grinned widely heart beating faster, “You’re not wrong.”
-#-#-#-
“Iron Man… that’s a one-way ticket,” the soft voice cut in over the frantic voice of his brother.
“I know,” Tony whispered quietly as he headed for the hole in the sky. Tony turned off the com from the Hellicarrier and Eddie screaming at him.
“Sorry little brother,” he said to himself as he passed into the deep fathomless space.
Gasping he watched as the nuke detonated on target, closing his eyes he fell backwards. Hoping they would close that godforsaken hole…
Tony woke with a start, sweat soaked and panting.
Shaking he ran a trembling hand through short dark hair as he tried to steady his breath, in and out, he puffed trying to calm his mind.
Six months on and it was the same damn nightmare. He almost wished he still dreamed of that godforsaken desert, or the painful ad hoc surgery that landed him his mechanical inlay…anything but the endless empty silence of space.
Rolling out of bed he padded into the bathroom, splashing water on his face. Breathing finally returning to normal he leaned on the porcelain as he looked into the mirror. Dark shadowed eyes started back at him. It had been six months since they had saved New York, six long months since he had seen them…seen him….
They had sent Loki packing and Steve has driven off into the sunset, planning to see the country. Banner and vanished, and Barton and Romanov has returned to SHIELD. Tony had felt suddenly terrifyingly alone.
Sure he had Eddie and Pepper, he would always have them…but they had each other, and he knew a third wheel when he saw one, been one most of his life. Everyone always remembered Ed Stark, his twin laudably forgettable.
Eddie tried to include him, but there was only so much he could do in the suit. He spent most his time working and designing for Stark Industries, and far more time gamming then he should.
Absently he rubbed at his scared chest, the steady blue pulse a comforting light easing his mind. Sighing he pushed off the sink and heading for his lab, knowing he would get no more sleep tonight.