This will be sightly occ, It may seem dark but i have a really hard time thinking that tony isnt in constant pain from the arc reactor in his chest. I also think that with Howard Starks drinking, Tonys abuse may have been past mental. I do have every intention of this having a happy ending, but this is my first time writing a fic that will be more than one chapter. If you liked it please let me know. Im really new at this and if there is something you may want to happen in later chapters please let me know and i will see what i can do to fit it in with my extremely tentative layout for the story. This chapter may seem short, but i promise they will be longer im just trying to set up the story

The argument in the Hellicarrier was a shock to everyone's system. No one would even guess, ever fathom what all Tony Stark had been through. Least of all Steve. He didn't mean to set off the screaming match with the genius billionaire playboy philanthropist, but watching him saunter around the Hellicarrier like he was the most important thing on this earth was something that he could not let go. They had been asked to help save earth and all Stark could think about was himself, trying to show off to Bruce with how fast he could hack S.H.E.I.L.D. This was not what they were there for. So standing in front of the Billionaire caused something in him to just snap.

"You really think so much of yourself don't you? You think your special; you know nothing about war, nothing about pain, nothing about having a team! And here I was looking forward meeting the son of Howard. You aren't half the man he was!" Steve growled

"I know nothing about war? Me! What you got bullied when you were a kid, you grew up, got the super serum and now your perfect. Now you get to stare down your nose at me thinking you are so much better. Newsflash Cap, you're the one who hasn't seen war, you are the one who thinks the world revolves around Captain Fucking America; everyone should be just as self-righteous as you right? No Cap, get out of your fucking bubble." Tony sneered as he slowly walked up to cap, still standing a step higher he looked him in the eye. "Let me tell you a little secret about Howard Stark, the man you hold up to being the most amazing man ever. The Man you think I should be like. I would put a bullet in my own brain before I become anything like that man! You remember his help on the serum, making you strong, I remember a drunk man stumbling home from one of his business meeting, walking through the door, fist already curled up waiting for me. I remember the man who destroyed the engine I built from scratch when I was 8 because it didn't go over 80 mph. I remember the man who was my living nightmare. Welcome to the real word Cap, not everyone is as perfect as you."

"Don't you DARE say those lies about Howard, he was a good man, I can't imagine him doing anything like that. Don't drag his name through the mud just because you need a excuse for everything you've done!" Steve exploded

Tony looked like he had been slapped, his eyes widened for a moment before all his walls slammed down. Poking Steve in the chest he growled out
"Would you like to see the scars Steve? Do you want me to take off my shirt, show you the belt scars? Hum? How about the Cigar burn marks? Name a scar any scar, and I will show you Cap. But I'd just be wasting my time wouldn't I, no matter what I say no matter what I do you won't believe a word I say." Taking out his sunglasses from the pocket of his Jacket he snapped them over his eyes in a quick motion that had been practiced for years. "I guess it's a good thing I don't give a fucking about what you think."

Walking out of the room casually if only to prove a point, he felt the jolt of the explosion sending him flying. Realizing what happened, he scrambled to feet, running to get his suit. Steve already yelling commands for everyone.

As the battle For New York is in full swing, everyone forgets about the argument between the great Tony Start and Captain America, and everyone just for those hours can forget about the newly exposed dark side to Tonys life.

Until its over, until Tony is falling, and Pepper isn't answering the phone and all he is left to do is reflect on his life. The only thing keeping him grounded is the ever constant pain from the reactor buried in his chest. Something he has learned to mostly ignore, to stuff into the very back of his mind so he can function. But now as he falls, he feels it every inch of the cold metal inside him, every sharp pain. And he thinks about how he got here, how maybe if he had been less of a fuck up for Howard he wouldn't have the reactor, wouldn't have the suit, wouldn't have had the booze. But he knows he's lying to himself, no matter what he cant change who he is. And he wouldn't, not the torture, not the nightmares, not the reactor, because it opened his eyes to the destruction his weapons was doing to the word. All the lives he has saved with the suit. And even though he is falling, and he knows he isn't gonna make it this time. He regrets nothing. Not really. His last thoughts before letting the darkness consume him was of his dad, maybe he would be proud of him now.