The desert sun blazed mercilessly as Alexander and Tony Stark trudged through the sand. Tony's Mark I suit groaned with every step, steam hissing from its joints. Stark's breathing was heavy, his sweat-drenched face a mask of exhaustion. Yet his determination kept him moving, each step a defiance of the impossible odds stacked against him.
Alexander followed a few paces behind, his coat swaying in the dry wind. His pace was steady, his posture relaxed, but his mind was a storm. His advanced Observation Haki flared periodically, sweeping for potential threats, yet his thoughts lingered on the man in front of him.
Tony Stark. The man who would become Iron Man. He's right here, in front of me. Not in a movie, not in a comic. Real. Alive. And struggling to survive.
Breaking the Silence
Tony finally broke the silence, his tone laced with irritation. "Alright, mystery man, time to spill. Who are you, and what the hell were you doing in the middle of the desert?"
Alexander smirked but didn't answer immediately. "Call me Alex. And let's just say I was in the right place at the right time."
Tony stopped, turning his bulky visor toward Alexander. "Right place at the right time? Sure. That's not vague or suspicious at all. Let me guess—you just happened to dodge bullets and wipe out a convoy of armed terrorists with your bare hands?"
Alexander shrugged, his smirk growing wider. "Pretty much."
Tony groaned. "Great. My knight in shining armor is a comedian. Perfect."
They resumed walking, the awkward silence stretching between them until Alexander finally broke it. "You're Tony Stark," he said casually.
Tony gave him a sideways glance. "Wow, you cracked the case. Who doesn't know that?"
Alexander chuckled. "It's more than your name. You're a genius, a futurist, and the CEO of Stark Industries. You've built an empire with your mind. But you've also made mistakes. Big ones."
Tony stiffened slightly at the comment, but his tone was dismissive. "And you're here to give me a morality lesson?"
"Not exactly," Alexander said, his voice calm. "I'm just saying, you're not just a weapons dealer. You've got the potential to be something more. To actually make a difference."
For the first time, Tony was silent. His mind raced, though he refused to let it show. After a moment, he muttered, "You sound like my dad."
Alexander smirked. "Maybe your dad was onto something."
Tony let out a dry laugh. "Yeah, sure. Just me, my suit, and my new cryptic best friend wandering the desert. Sounds like a fairytale."
"More like the beginning of a legend," Alexander said, his tone steady and sincere.
Tony glanced at him, his expression softening slightly..
The Arrival of Help
As night fell, the faint sound of helicopter blades echoed in the distance. Tony stopped in his tracks, his body sagging with relief. "Finally."
Alexander had sensed the incoming military convoy long before it appeared on the horizon. His Observation Haki had detected the faint life signatures, steady and purposeful.
The helicopter descended, its floodlights cutting through the darkness as soldiers poured out. Among them was Rhodes, his face a mix of relief and disbelief.
"Tony!" Rhodes shouted, running toward his friend.
Tony smirked, his exhaustion barely masked by his dry wit. "Hey, Rhodey. Miss me?"
Rhodes shook his head, helping Tony out of the suit. "You're lucky to be alive. Who's this?" He gestured toward Alexander.
Alexander stepped forward, nodding politely. "Alex. Let's just say I found Stark wandering in the desert and gave him a hand."
Rhodes frowned, clearly suspicious, but didn't push further. "Well, you've got my thanks, Alex. Let's get you both out of here."
Back to Civilization
The helicopter ride back to the airfield was quiet. Tony slumped against the seat, his eyes half-closed, while Rhodes checked on him periodically. Alexander sat across from them, his arms crossed as he stared out at the vast desert below.
As they neared the airfield, Tony opened his eyes and looked directly at Alexander. "You're sticking around, right?"
Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Why? You getting attached already?"
Tony smirked weakly. "Maybe. Or maybe I just want answers. You've got skills I've never seen before, and I'm not letting you vanish before I figure you out."
Alexander chuckled. "Fair enough. I'm not going anywhere."
The helicopter touched down, and the trio stepped out into the chaos of flashing lights and reporters shouting questions. Rhodes helped Tony navigate through the chaos, while Alexander stayed back, watching the spectacle with an amused smirk.
This is where it all begins, he thought.
The Debrief
Once inside the secured compound, Tony was immediately whisked away by medics and handlers, but not before shooting a look at Alexander. "Don't disappear," he said firmly.
Hours later, Alexander found himself in a sleek, minimalist conference room. Tony entered, looking freshly cleaned but still visibly tired. He tossed a drink onto the table in front of Alexander before sitting down across from him with his own.
"Alright," Tony said, leaning back in his chair. "Now that I'm not dying of dehydration or dragging a hunk of metal through the sand, let's talk. Who are you, really?"
Alexander sighed, swirling the liquid in the glass. "I already told you. My name's Alex. I was in the desert, saw you needed help, and stepped in."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "And that's it? You just happened to be in the right place at the right time, armed with superpowers and some vague knowledge about me? Forgive me if I'm not buying it."
Alexander leaned forward, his smirk fading. "The truth is… I'm not from around here. Let's just say I've got my own complicated story."
"Not from around here?" Tony asked, frowning. "What, another country? A spy?"
Alexander paused before replying. "More like another universe."
Tony blinked, then laughed. "Right. Another universe. And I'm the Queen of England."
"Believe what you want," Alexander said, his voice steady. "But let's just say I know enough to help you. And trust me, Stark—you're going to need help."
Tony studied him for a moment, his mind clearly racing. Finally, he shrugged. "Fine. You can stay. But if you're sticking around, you're going to work for it. Starting with explaining how the hell you managed to cut through a jeep like it was butter."
Alexander smirked. "Deal."
The Press Conference
Two days later, Stark Industries was abuzz with reporters, photographers, and employees. The press conference was being held to announce Tony's return, but Stark had other plans in mind.
Alexander watched from the side, standing inconspicuously near the back of the room. His arms were crossed, and his sharp eyes scanned the crowd. The tension in the air was palpable.
Tony stepped up to the podium, his usual charm replaced with a more serious demeanor. He leaned into the microphone, pausing for effect as the cameras flashed.
"I never got to say goodbye to my father," Tony began, his voice calm but deliberate. "I never got to tell him I loved him. I never got to say that I understood why he pushed me so hard. I didn't realize it at the time, but everything he did was for a reason."
The room fell silent.
"For years, I've been blind to the consequences of my actions. My company built weapons—tools of war that have been used to hurt people, to destroy lives. And I didn't care. I was too busy living in my own little bubble, thinking I was invincible."
Alexander leaned forward slightly, watching Stark closely.
"But that's over," Tony continued. "Effective immediately, Stark Industries will no longer manufacture weapons. We're shifting our focus to technologies that help people—not harm them."
The room erupted into chaos. Reporters shouted questions, and employees exchanged stunned looks.
Rhodey stepped forward, trying to calm the crowd, but Tony raised a hand, silencing them.
"This isn't up for debate," he said firmly. "This is my decision, and I stand by it. If you have a problem with that, you're free to leave."
Alexander allowed himself a small smile. This is the Tony Stark I knew was in there.