Chapter Text
“Hey! Oh crap! Hey, man! Are you alive?”
Tony grimaced as a voice rang a bit too loudly in his head, jarring him out of his semi-conscious state. At least he was too cold to feel the pain anymore. He tried to open his mouth, but honestly, he was having a hard enough time breathing in enough oxygen to keep his lungs going, much less form actual words.
“Wow! Okay, so, still alive,” the voice said in a frantic whisper. “Need to figure out… isn’t there a… Crap! Okay, wait! Got it!”
The pressure on his chest gave way and Tony’s eyes popped open at the sudden intake of air. All he could see was blurry, a sort of fuzzy, purple color. Huh. He wasn’t even fond of purple. Red was a better color.
“Sure thing, buddy,” the voice said softly. “Red’s nice. Unless you’re talking Corp, and then it’s not so good. Lucky for you, I’m a Star Sapphire. Hold on, I’ve almost got you out.”
Tony felt a sharp tug at his hips and a huff of annoyance.
“For hearts long lost and full of fright,
For those alone in Blackest Night.
Accept our ring and join our fight,
Love conquers all with violet light!”
The purple color flared bright, making Tony close his eyes tightly and suddenly he felt the armor shift and release him completely. Gentle hands moved over his chest and he began to panic.
“Hold still, man,” the voice said firmly. “I’m not a healer, but I can at least slow the bleeding until we get you to one.”
Tony drew on what little strength he had left and fumbled until he could grasp the wrist of the person leaning over him. “H-Helen Ch-Cho,” he stammered. “D-d-doc-tor.”
“Okay, pal. Hang tight, okay?”
The last thing Tony noticed before succumbing to the darkness edging around his vision, was the scent of ozone.
* * *
The incessant beeping was annoying. Tony tried to slap at whatever it was making the noise, but his arm didn’t move. He groaned and forced his eyes open so he could tell whoever was laying on it to move, only to be confronted with a mop of dark curls on one side and a mass of red hair on the other. Looking down he realized he was lying on a hospital bed. An IV was in his right arm and there were several nodes attached to his chest. His eyes almost bugged out as he stared at his chest.
His scar-free, but very sore, chest.
“WHATTHEHELL?!!”
Immediately the two people on either side of him startled and jumped up.
“Tony! Oh my god! You’re awake!” Pepper shouted, tears already forming and streaking down her face.
“Don’t move!” Bruce ordered, pressing a call button with one hand and checking Tony’s pulse with the other.
“Boss! You’re alive!”
Tony turned his head and spotted Happy on a plastic chair behind Pepper. Beside him, in a wheelchair was Rhodey, looking relieved. “Um… can someone tell me how I got here?”
“That would be Barry,” Bruce said.
Tony frowned as he tried to sort through his memories. He recalled something about sapphires, but nothing about berries.
“Star Sapphires,” an unknown voice said. “And it’s Barry, not berry.”
Tony looked over and blinked a couple of times. “Ummm...”
The guy looked like he was barely legal. Tall and lanky, he had brown hair, big green eyes, a smattering of freckles across his cheeks and neck and he was wearing a purple zipper cardigan over a white button-up. The guy lifts one hand, a large silver ring with an amethyst center on the index finger, in a brief wave.
“Hi.”
Tony looks the guy over one more time, slowly. “Helllloooo, nurse,” he cooed. Tony grinned as Pepper and Rhodey rolled their eyes and Happy and Bruce blushed. The stranger seemed to choke on air for a second before nervously rubbing the back of his flushed neck.
“Ummm, I’ll just… uh, go get… doctor… or nurse...” the guy stammered before sliding out of the room.
Tony looked at Pepper with pleading eyes. “I can keep him, right? I almost died, Pep. Doesn’t near death get me Get Well Soon gifts or something?”
“Tony, I say this with all due respect, love and admiration,” Rhodey began, wheeling himself closer to the bed. “No more drugs for you.”
* * *
So, turns out, Tony did get to keep him. Kind of.
Barry Allen. That was his name. Apparently he was a hero from a different world, sent to this one after his release from something called the Speed Force. In Barry’s world, he had been granted the power of incredible speed after being struck by lightning and thrown into a wall of chemicals. For years he fought alongside other heroes until something called the Crisis. In order to save multiple worlds Barry was forced to use his powers to destroy an anti-matter gun, but in doing so, ran so fast he essentially destroyed himself.
The Speed Force, a sentient non-dimension (Barry’s words), chose to reward him for his sacrifice by returning him to life. However, they couldn’t return him to his world, because it would negate his sacrifice, so he had been moving from one reality to another, living multiple lives, always doing what he could to protect those worlds. It was the last world he had lived in that gave him his new power set. While struggling to defeat someone called Darkseid, Barry was given a ring from the Star Sapphire Corps, a celestial force that granted him incredible abilities, powered by his ability to love.
Again Barry gave up his life to help defeat the Apokoliptian. Now, he was on this Earth. According to Barry, he had been traveling around Russia, trying to get a feel for this new world, when his ring had drawn him to Tony. When Tony asked why him, Barry had smiled slightly and said ‘the ring senses a deep well of love in you’.
It was Pepper who offered Barry a home in the newly renamed Stark Tower. Tony, Bruce and Rhodey all encouraged him to accept. Barry reluctantly agreed, mostly because he had nowhere else to go, but insisted it was only temporary. He would stay only until Tony was healed and back on his feet, since the ring was urging him to stay close to the engineer. Whatever the reason, everyone was grateful. Pepper, Rhodey and Bruce wanted Barry close because they knew he was powerful enough to protect Tony. Tony just wanted Barry close. How could he not? Barry was beautiful, strong and heroic.
Once they were all settled into the tower (Pepper, Happy and Rhodey, included) Tony immediately got to work figuring out a way to get his oldest and best friend back on his feet. For the first couple of days he tempted Barry into the lab with him, but that quickly turned out to not be such a great idea.
His plan had been to impress Barry with his genius and skills, but it turned out that Barry was extremely intelligent, as well (god, what a turn-on that was!) but his interests leaned more toward chemistry and biology. Areas of Bruce’s expertise. By the end of the week Tony was forced to watch as Barry and Bruce got closer and closer (on the other side of the lab), geeking out over formulas and organic compounds.
Between the guilt of Rhodey’s injury, the anger and betrayal from his former team and his inability to attract the attention of someone he was attracted to, Tony quickly sunk into a deep funk.
“Hey.”
Tony jumped slightly, one hand immediately going to his still healing chest in an obviously defensive motion. He forced himself to relax before turning to face his guest. “I’m putting a bell on you,” he grumbled. “I’ve had enough people sneaking up on me to last a lifetime.”
Barry smiled before perching on the stool beside the work bench. “Sorry. Friday did announce me, though.”
Tony shot a disgruntled look toward the nearest camera, even though it wasn’t his girl’s fault he had been lost in thought. “So, I thought you and Bruce had left for lunch.”
Barry tilted his head as he continued to stare at Tony. “That was four hours ago, Tony. What’s wrong?”
“What makes you think something is wrong?” he hedged.
Barry had the audacity to roll his eyes as he held up his hand, showcasing the ring. “I can feel it, Tony. You’re hurting.”
Tony waved a hand in the air. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Seriously, I’m fine.”
“Nope.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Am not.”
Tony sputtered, amused despite himself. “Am not?” he repeated. “What are you? Five?”
Barry grinned widely. “I’m rubber, you’re glue...”
“Stop!” Tony snorted. “Just stop! You’re ridiculous!”
Barry giggled (god, how was that so damn hot???) before settling down and studying Tony carefully. “You’re sad,” he said softly. “I can sense it, Tony. If you don’t want to talk to me, which is fair since we don’t really know one another, please talk to someone. I’m worried about you.”
“Hard to get to know someone when they spend all their time with Bruce,” Tony mumbled under his breath.
Barry’s eyes widened slightly. “Are… are you upset with me? Oh, crap! Am I keeping you and Bruce apart? I’m sorry! I, uh, I didn’t know you two were… um, that you and Bruce…” A dark blush crept up Barry’s neck and cheeks. “Oh god! I’m cockblocking you!”
Tony snorted again. More like Bruce is cockblocking me, he thought to himself. Or at least, he thought he was thinking to himself. Right up until he saw Barry’s eyes widen and his jaw drop. Tony froze and frantically tried to figure a way out of the situation.
Unfortunately, Barry moved before Tony could. He stood and took a step closer to Tony. “Are… are you… interested... in me?” Barry mumbled in a hushed tone.
Tony stood, which only shortened the discrepancy in their heights by a few inches and gave as nonchalant a shrug as he could. “You’re cute,” he hedged.
A smile spread slowly across Barry’s face. “You’re adorable,” he countered.
Tony caught the gleam of interest and hope in Barry’s eyes and began to relax. “Adorable? I’ll have you know I’ve been named sexiest man alive multiple times,” he pointed out playfully.
Barry gave him a disbelieving look. “Hmm. I don’t know about that. Have you seen Dr. Strange? He makes that cloak look good.”
Tony fake gasped. “Blasphemy! I have the better goatee!”
Barry bit back a grin, eyes sparkling. “Plus, he’s tall.”
“I’m fun size!” Tony argued.
“And quite commanding,” Barry said faux-innocently. “I bet he’s a take-charge kind of guy. Probably doesn’t even ask for dates, just issues a command to show up.”
Tony gasped as Barry turned and began walking toward the doors. “Oh, so that’s how you want to play this?” he called out. Barry sent him a wink over his shoulder. “Fine!” Tony yelled as Barry reached the elevator and pressed the button to call the car. “Seven pm! Dress nice!”
The elevator opened and Barry stepped inside, turning to face Tony. “Yes, sir,” he said cheekily just before the doors slid shut.
Tony stared at the doors blankly for several seconds before a clearing throat drew his attention to Bruce. When had he arrived?
Bruce chuckled softly. “I’ve been here the whole time.”
“I asked out loud?” Tony mumbled.
Bruce laughed again, nodding. “And just so you know, Barry and I are just friends. I’m very happy for you both.”
Tony fought (and lost) against the blush creeping up his neck. “Shut up, Brucey-bear. I have a date to plan.”