Long time, no see, eh?

Well, if you're following me as an author, you'll notice that I've written quite a bit in the meantime.

Word Count: 1,020

Tony - JARVIS - Butterfingers - Tate - Tori - YOU/U - Dummy/DUM-E

Relevations

After my letter, the Fantastic Four were surprisingly willing to help.

(I knew that some with fire powers can't be that bad.

Dummy, I am afraid that is not how that works.

Do I look like I care?)

Johnny raised money for Xavier's—just the fuel costs for the X-wing were enormous, not to forget about the food, clothing and equipment for the students—Ben went to demonstrations in favor of mutants with his girlfriend, and Susan held galas, helped out at the mansion whenever there was time, and wrote many articles about the most pressing issues. Things that required a lot of research, like teens being thrown out of their own homes or people being fired from their jobs. There were a lot of issues in this world and she started thinking and speaking about most of them.

(I like her. She's trying her best.)

As far as I could tell, Reed never really did anything in that direction. Must've been too busy inventing wormholes or something.

He wasn't the only one who had been busy, though.

Stane had started trying to increase the number of military contracts the company had, even if it went against my explicit wishes. But Pepper prevented this. She was the best worker one could wish for, honestly. She was competent and networked like nobody's business, punctual and could get almost everyone to do what she wanted.

Me being the living example.

(If she can get you to do what she wants, then there is no one that will not work for.)

Another thing that came up during that time was the so called 'cure' for mutants. And boy, that sure caused a lot of trouble.

Suddenly the lines between the fronts began to blur; the X-Men actually agreed with the Brotherhood.

(I seriously thought that this would break the laws of the known universe.)

It was a great disaster on so many different levels.

One of them was quite personal. There was a part of me that wanted nothing more than get the cure and be free of all of his secrets.

On the other hand, my abilities had connected me to a lot of wonderful people. If not for them, I might never have gotten to know my family at Xavier's. I might have never noticed the MiB and met J or I might not have been in that club and spotted Blade.

I might still have met Happy, Pepper, and Rhodey—who apparently got promoted for dealing with me—but so many things would have been different. Who knows how that might have ended, really?

My abilities had influenced so much of my life, were those few positive aspects really worth it?

(Most certainly not.

I agree!

You wouldn't be able to talk to us anymore.)

I was not really considering it anymore, but two calls made my decision a lot easier.

One was from Scott. My older, more often than not annoying, brother in all but blood.

JARVIS picked up the cal for me and Scott spoke before I could say anything"I know your secret, Johnny. Or should I say Tony?"

I had been planning to tell them ages ago, but I kept putting it off. I was afraid of their reaction. Afraid that they would be angry that I lied to them. "Scott, I-"

"Stop it, kiddo. I understand why you didn't tell us. Don't get me wrong, we're still mad at you, but we get it."

(That could have gone so much worse.

I know, Butterfingers. I can barely believe it myself.

I can. They've always been really nice.)

Our conversation didn't stop there. We continued talking about a lot of things, like the fact that if I were to be seen getting the so-called cure, it would be disastrous for all parties involved.

Apart from prejudiced gits, of course, but they were the one party that should not get any more advantages.

"Don't worry, Scott. I won't be getting it."

"That's great to hear, buddy."

(I strongly agree.

Same, Dad!)

The other call I got was from Aunt Peggy.

"Listen here, son," she started as soon as I had accepted the call. "I get that this might seem tempting for you, but don't you dare actually go and get that thing they're calling a cure. Not only is that thing essentially forcing you to be someone you're not, it can't possibly have been tested extensively enough. There are just too many mutations out there for that. There's no knowing what might happen. Promise me you won't be getting it, Tony, or I'll come over there and make sure of it myself."

"Aunt Peggy?" I questioned. "How do you even know about that?"

"I run a secret agency, sweetheart. I've know for years. I was just waiting for you to tell me on your own. Just like I am waiting for your promise right now."

(Aunt Peggy is awesome!

She sure is, brother.)

"Don't worry, Aunt Peggy, "I answered, a smile of relief on my face. I hadn't even known—at least not consciously—that I was worried about her reaction, but she had never disappointed me so far. "I didn't intend to do so. Not really. I've thought about it, but it really doesn't seem worth it."

"Precisely. I was afraid that your father-"

I flinched. "Can you please not call him that?"

"Howard, then. I was worried that he had caused a near suicidal level of self-hate, but that does not seem to be the case."

The sad thing was, that I wasn't certain she was right.

"Hey, Tony," Rhodey dropped into my room, holding the newest Mario Kart game. "Stop moping. It's that time of the month again. And don't you dare make that joke."

"I didn't say anything;" I replied, raising my arms in front of me.

Rhodey shook his head. "You were thinking it. That's already enough."

I smiled. "You know me too well."

"That's right. I do." He, too, started grinning as he said that.

(Rhodey will always be my favorite uncle.

Wait, when did we decide that? That's news to me.

I prefer Uncle Scott, personally.)

Genna: I did...after seven months...

Guest: I finally did! Better late than never.

dragongirl: Well, it wasn't soon, but at least I did update.

Like this? Guess who wrote an Android!Tony story a few days ago? It's called 'Made Out Of Iron'.

Please tell me what you think!

~Marvelgeek42