In a dimension separate from the multiverse were the domains of concepts like time, infinity, eternity, life, death, and many others all independent and separate yet interdependent and inseparable.
And in that confusing and chaotic domain, the 'concepts' were celebrating especially 'Death' because after a long time 'Life' had taken form.
"You are back," said the mistress softly, if she had a face you would see the pure joy radiating from her.
"I am" replied the voice of a man as he took form. He had slightly tanned skin and gold hair his face looked both young and old and he was missing his left arm. which did not go unnoticed by the mistress.
"Where is your arm?" asked the mistress in worry/curiosity/panic.
The man took a deep breath and looked at her and let it out.
"'He' is currently with one of the candidates of a particular branch," said the man with a smile.
"I am sorry," said the mistress hanging her head down after all she was the one to 'kill' him.
"Don't be, I was being stupid and you did what you had to do" smiled the man as he gave her a friendly one-armed hug.
"It's been so lonely," said the mistress as she hugged him properly and started sobbing.
" I am sorry too, you know for being stupid." said the man as tears started to form on his face.
(A/N:
...
...
...
WHAT THE HELL AM I WRITING?)
A Few hours later.
The two entities had had a heart to heart and had finally calmed down.
"Are you going to meet him?"
"No, It's not time yet." said the man shaking his head.
"Really?" asked Death surprised.
"Yes, but I will meet with the candidate, after all, it would be bothersome if he got too attached".
"Ho... Then I better get mine ready as well" replied the mistress.
The man blinked.
"Hasn't he suffered enough?"
"Not yet, not until he breaks" replied the mistress with a joyous tone so different from the one she uses to speak with him.
"He won't break you know. You cursed him as such"
"I know which is why this is fun"
He sighed feeling pity for a certain merc with a mouth in some cases without one.
Tony after a long day of trying to distract himself from his paranoia which was not made any easier by his adoptive son and his new 'friend' or his colleague suffering through an identity crisis was finally on his bed next to his girlfriend/partner/CEO/whatever-you-call-someone-who-is-in-pepper's-position trying to get some much-needed shut-eye when he found himself in a white space.
He cursed.
"While I appreciate a change of company, I hope I won't have to hear you cuss the whole time you are here Anthony," said a man getting Tony's attention.
Tony took one look at the man.
"Is this some sort of a Night show?" was the first words out of his mouth.
The man or Zhyttya burst out laughing.
"While I would love to host one there aren't many beings that can make up the audience. I am Zhyttya you can call Z. I brought you here so we can talk" said Z with a smile.
Tony relaxed a little.
"So what does the God of life want with lil' old me? also, do you have something to drink? I could use one"
"Let me correct you on one thing. I am not the god of life. I am a representation of life itself. Gods can exist without their domains however I cannot." said Z as a bottle of expensive whiskey with two glasses appeared on the table in between them as well as the surroundings changing from white space to starks private bar from one of his mansions.
"As for what I want with you let's say you are as much of a part of me as the stars are part of the sky and as you can see I have forgotten a part of myself," said Z as he lifted his stump of a left arm.
Tony was silent for a few minutes and then took the bottle and drank most of it.
"Between the two of us whose order will he prioritize?"
"His survival"
That caused stark to visibly relax. He was about to speak but he was cut off.
"Life desires freedom and hates being confined and controlled no matter the reason it is being done so. I hope you remember that, Anthony," said Z with a serious look on his face.
Tony nodded.
"What do you need me to do?"
"Let go of your fears, Anthony, and give the Idiots that are going to threaten your family a mean right hook 'Kay?" said Z with a smile
And Tony saw a familiar ceiling and felt a weight on his chest that was not pepper's hand. He looked at his chest and screamed. Which woke up his girlfriend and caused Aron to blast through the walls in his technomorph form weapons blazing as he scanned for intruders.
"There is no threat. and you are healthy. why did you scream?" asked Aron as he stared at the couple who were covering themselves with a blanket.
"Aron. Back to your room young man, you are still grounded" said Pepper.
"Sure, Just a minute." Said Aron as he merged with the building fixing any damage he had caused and then retreated into his room transforming back into his human form.
Pepper then looked at Tony who was taking deep breaths trying to calm himself down.
"What happened?"
Tony just looked at her and dropped the blanket covering his upper body to reveal a well-chiseled and toned chest of a warrior and the Arc-reactor was missing which he was holding in his other hand.
"Your chest..." Pepper asked in a mixture of surprise and shock.
"I met a God, Pepper. I met the God of Life" said Tony in a disbelieving tone.
pov: Pepper.
Tony looked like he was trying to convince himself when he said that. He looked vulnerable as if everything he has ever known was crashing down in front of him and he was not able to do anything about it.
I hugged him and started rubbing his back trying to calm him down. He was no good like this and I hated seeing him like this.
"Shh, I am here. It's going to be okay, We will figure something out" I whispered into his ear trying to calm him down.
He let go of the arc-reactor and hugged me back burying his face in my shoulders. He was trembling in fear.
I kept trying to calm him and finally, after 30 minutes he stopped and started kissing my neck. I stopped him with a slap to the back of his head.
"Tell me what happened".
Pov: Third person
Tony told her what happened as they got dressed and moved to the hall.
Instead of telling her about just the god of life he started with his talk with the Ancient one and everything he saw and encountered and ended with his somewhat of a conversation with Zhyttya.
Pepper was silent for a few moments and then smiled confusing him.
"It was a good thing you met Zhyttya then".
"How so?"
"What were you planning to do with Aron?"
"...fair point but it was for his good"
Pepper was about to argue but she was interrupted by JARVIS
"Sir, I just found out Aron has had access to the internet for the past 4 hours."
Tony paled.
"What did he do? What is he doing now?"
"He wrote books and he is sleeping"
"He wrote books?"
"Yes," said Jarvis bringing them up on the window.
"'World peace for dummys', 'How to become a Domicile', 'The Ethics of experiments', 'The scientist's code of Morality', 'How to create an interstellar empire', 'Why different countries are necessary', 'How to live with other species, 'A Dummy's guide to Religion', 'Why Religion is necessary and its substitutes', 'How to create a Legend', 'What to do when you suddenly get superpowers', 'The perfect country'...Just how many more are there?"
"60 more such books are circulating throughout the internet and many people/organizations are trying to find him but he has covered his tracks perfectly even I would not have been able to catch him if he hadn't left the 'door' open to come to your 'aid'," answered Jarvis.
"Still think it's a good idea to let him stay on earth?" asked pepper with a raised eyebrow.
Tony sighed.
"I will think of something. Jarvis..."
"... book an appointment with the hospital Tony is getting a complete checkup and I am taking him myself. Oh and also cancel everything for today" completed Pepper.
"Yes, Miss potts"
Tony looked like he was about to protest but stopped when he looked into her eyes.