billionaires | one of these things isn't like the other✨

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one of these things isn't like the other✨

Tony had actually done pretty well tracking down the totem-bearers and convincing at least some of them to help him put down Thanos for good. Without ever meeting him, he somehow already knows Behrad will be the glue for this operation, and after everything Zari told him he desperately wants this to go well. Behrad is visiting his family because their superhero group actually gets vacation time, as Sara explains to Tony. Being able to harness time itself does have its perks, or so he would assume. Strange always looks miserable, but there's a lot to unpack there aside from the time stone.

Anyway, that's how he ends up being dropped off in a really nice neighborhood sometime in the 2030s and wondering how long he's been dead in the present. Hopefully, they won't find him as recognizable as Zari had. He buzzes at the gate of their McMansion, remembering all too vividly that portion of his life where he lived in a gated community. It doesn't seem to jive with totem girl, but she did say the family changed completely after her sacrifice.

"Singing telegram for Behrad Tarazi," he deadpans, waving at the security camera and holding up the bouquet of flowers in his hands to show whoever is watching he isn't a threat.

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It is going about as well as all family visits go. Behrad is trying to enjoy himself, Zari is either miserable or over the top with her fans/team, and their parents are in the middle. They are in the middle of another awkward dinner when security tells them someone is trying to get in looking for him.

Behrad is intrigued enough to leave a really good meal to find out (after he antagonizes his sister about it.) Zari's team is a lot less impressed. The head is actively trying to convince Behrad not to go out there to no avail. Tony will notice one of them leaving their post to watch as a young, lanky man comes to meet him at the gate.

The resemblance is pretty much immediate. He shares the same dark hair and strong cheekbones as that version of his sister. The rest is night and day. His colorful print shirt immediately sets him apart from Tomaz's plain clothing. Behrad is all smiles and gentle curiosity as his long legs close the difference quickly.

He waves at Tony once he gets close, eyes narrowing as he tries to place Tony. The truth is most of Tony's career took place prior to his birth. He doesn't recognize Tony immediately even while being inspired by him. After all, isn't Behrad just another engineer turned superhero? The iconic red armor or anything Tony would have written or created would get more of a reaction than the man himself.

"B here." He offers a little mock salute. "I am not sure I can get you in to deliver it. Paul does not like uninvited guests." He shrugs like he has no idea why anyone would be so protective of a former child celebrity mostly because he really doesn't. "So what brings you by Casa de Tarazi? You know. Really." He doesn't even seem offended. Behrad is just riding this encounter out.

With the celebrity security he's all too familiar with waiting in the wings, the last thing Tony is expecting is for Behrad to come out here to greet him alone. He really is every bit as brave as Zari claimed him to be and he finds himself smiling a watery smile to see the other man unharmed although he's never met him before. It surprises him actually how emotional he suddenly is and he all but smacks Behrad with the flowers center mass in an attempt to put some distance between them.

"If you're sure you don't want to hear a haunting rendition of Row the Boat Ashore." Tony lifts an eyebrow, hoping he's holding it together. It would be really weird to not only show up here, but to also burst into tears his first time meeting Behrad. "This is about your sister from another mister... uhh, well whatever, it's an imperfect metaphor, but does that mean anything to you?"

A beat.

"Also we're going to need your wind bracelet to save the world."

Behrad blinks in surprise as the flowers smack him in the chest. This is weird even by his standards because this has to do with him. This kind of unhinged behavior is reserved for Zari's followers. He turns back to wave off whichever guard of Zari's is just waiting tackle this poor guy before turning back to Tony.

The younger Tarazi waits with a surprising amount of patience to see what Tony wants. His eyes narrow, head tilting in curiosity as he goes on. Behrad's cool guy persona almost cracks at the mention of a sister except he very much shares a father with that one. That little crack quickly smooths over.

"So... no. The only sister I have very much shares a mister with me. I can help you with the saving the world if we clear it with my captain. We kind of have a pact not to do crossovers anymore." He peeks past Tony as if expecting a bunch of unpleasant weirdos to be lurking behind him. "You're not affiliated with Green Arrow, Supergirl, or the Flash, right? We especially don't crossover with them. They're pretty awful to us when we hang out. You can quote me on that." Behrad nods definitively. He really can't with Oliver Queen's bad vibes anymore. He brings out the worst in even the nice heroes.

His eyes widen even if, in retrospect, it shouldn't be surprising that there's another Zari. Heck, the Zari he met told him this could happen. Tony skips over it for a second in order to move this along a bit.

"Cap Lance? She's the one who gave me a lift. Traveling through space and time is much greener than I expected." There's a beat before he's circling back, though he hopes he's exuding 'refuses to be rejected' energy even while nervously glancing at the security to assess if he's about to be tackled. Maybe he should've brought Happy after all. "I do have a green guy, an alien, and a fast guy with jokes, but let's table the crossover discussion for the time being. Where's big sis? Is she here right now?"

Edited (sorry i'm too tired to be tagging yet here we are) 2022-08-30 03:51 (UTC)

Behrad nods at Tony's point. It had been greener than he expected too. The mention of Sara does a lot to validate his patience with Tony. It really makes easier not to get offended when he asks for his sister. She is a Legend now. It would make sense to bring her along for the ride.

It does nag at him that Tony knows she's the elder one of the Tarazis. He doesn't think he mentioned that. Maybe Ava might have. She is an oversharer. "She's with our folks. We're just wrapping up dinner. Want to grab a to-go box before we go save the world?" He jacks his thumb towards the house. "We'll just say you're a professor at my business school."

"Business school, huh?" Tony looks Behrad up and down and ends in a shrug. "That checks out. Lets go get our bag... of rice."

Suddenly, he feels anxious, and not just because the guards are eyeing him up again. He is probably going to freak out when he meets this Behrad's Zari and he's already trying to stay the panic from clawing up his throat. He leans over to tap Behrad on the arm and give secret service a cheeky thumbs-up before following the man back to the house.

"They're a barrel of laughs."

Behrad does a doubletake, but doesn't skip a beat in punching the code to let Tony in. "Mildly offended by that, bro." He can tell Zari's team is pissed. He doesn't care since he really doesn't get they're a necessity. They're just a tool to keep some buffer space between Zari and her zealous fans in his eyes.

He stays close to Tony while guiding the man to the house entrance. "That's celebrity culture for you. They're probably worried you're here because your 12 year old daughter wants a selfie with Dragon Girl." He rolls his eyes. "Not sure what year you're from but, in ours my sis is kind of a big deal."

"Wait, do you actually go to business school?" he attempts to confirm, looking down at his slapdash business casual and being disappointed that he probably does resemble a lame business professor right now. "I usually dress way better than this JSYK..."

The rest is even more curious... So the air totem bearers went from the on-the-run-in-a-dystopian-nightmare Tomazes to the rubbing-elbows-in-2030s-Belair Tarazis because of Zari's sacrifice play? If only his plans ever went that well.

"I'm sure she would if she were twelve yet - my turn to be offended - and if I let her on social media which is a big fat Never." Still, the 'kind of a big deal' thing earns a dim smile. "She and I will get along famously then." Dad jokes are essential when you're actually a dad OK.

"I am enrolled in business school. Do I go? Ehhh..." He waves his hand back and forth. The rest actually does have Behrad flailing a little. He actually didn't peg Tony for a dad right off the bat. In all fairness, the only decent father he ever met was Mr. Heywood who Nate talked down on until the very last minute.

"Whoa! Sorry, I was stereotyping. We don't get a lot of parents in the Legends' circle." He explains. Behrad quickly adds some more context. Tony will get some serious whiplash once they get Z back on the ship if he doesn't prepare him now. "Well, you're not actually meeting my sister. She does Dragon Girl with our parents. She's totally cool with kids if that helps. Adults kind of love or hate Dragon Girl so you know. Measure your expectations."

"I say this as a guy who lost track of how many degrees he had a long time ago... College is a scam. Oh, I probably shouldn't say that too loud."

He puts a finger to his lips as they enter the house, absorbing the 'warning' he was just given about this Zari. Again, it sounds strangely familiar.

"And I was offended because I don't feel old enough to have an eight year old, let alone a twelve year old... though Morgan does love actual dragons so maybe I should play it safe and get an autograph."

Behrad doesn't argue the scam part. He has picked up art, engineering, and culinary arts for fun. Zari picked up all the skills she needed for business and fashion very much outside of college. As far as he can tell Zari largely has a degree by coincidence. Julliard largely seemed like an excuse to practice with actual actors. Behrad gets off that weird tangent and back to the present. He is not quite getting the drama as a young guy. There is one thing he does want to note before they go in.

"Yeahh... she's the actual mother of a dragon. You're gonna want that autograph." Behrad suggests seriously as he opens the doors to their dining room. Zari is predictably on her phone so her face is largely covered. The difference is immediate and striking even without seeing her perfectly done makeup.

Her hair is honey-colored versus dark. She's wearing a flowery, feminine sundress. Her nails are expertly curved now and covered in light pink polish. She peeks up from her phone as Behrad gets their parents' attention and Zari's. She glances up from her phone with a carefully neutral mask that gives away nothing. She does stare at Tony just long enough that at least her brother clocks that Zari knows who this is.

She did learn business outside of college largely by studying the greats like Pepper Potts so yeah. She recognizes Tony Stark as her eccentric husband instantly. Zari knows better than to say anything. She just lightly pushes her straight hair back with one hand while listening to her parents question Behrad. She watches her little brother start his lame explanation with a subtle eyeroll and steps in. His lame excuses are going to get them both busted one of these days... or really her. She already knows the totem-napping will be pinned on the kid they like the least.

"Mamaan, Baba... you don't remember Professor Potts? Behrad is always talking about him." Zari glances between the two parents with a smile that wouldn't be out of place outside a magazine. Unlike the Zari he met, her voice is high and sugary sweet.

She raises a perfect brow at Tony. "Are we still on for that interview? Z Nation would love to hear what it takes to succeed in the world of business." She rises to her feet, heels clicking as she heads to Tony. Clearly Zari isn't waiting for an answer. Roll with it!!

Tellingly her parents seem to check out once it's clear this involves Zari though not without a comment from Mom in Persian about abusing her brother's connections for a silly app.

It is jarring, but she's so different he has to stop comparing at a certain point and just enjoy the ride. He's barely processed the real dragon part before she's off to the races making up a whole performance out of wholecloth for her parents. Tony looks a tiny bit shellshocked, but mostly delighted as he smiles widely and nods for them.

"Prof Anthony Potts at your service Mamaan, Baba," he introduced himself like any douchey professor would at some pretentious school these people would send their prized son to. Yes, he recognizes a few of those words and yes, he's judging them for hating!! "You have some pretty kickass kids here; I'm sure you knew that already, right? Sorry to crash your party, but I need Behrad for an assignment... and I did promise the Dragon Girl a podcast episode."

He goes over to stand next to Zari, nudging her companionably as he adds, "We're still on if you have that autograph for my girl, Z." Then lower so her parents can't hear, "Potts was a nice touch. I like it."

Edited 2022-09-04 02:50 (UTC)

A small crinkle in her eyes shows that Zari is pleased by how her scene partner is performing. Behrad gets a happy nod when he goes to quickly grab a box to go before their mother can use it as an excuse to pry. Her mother's comments are as always left unaddressed in public.

"Anything for a devoted fan. Just make sure to leave her shoe size with my assistant Les-Lay. I think she's going to love the new line of dressy sneakers." She waves her hand to flourish the statement. She gently takes Tony by the arm to lead him out. "Morâghebe khodet bâsh." Zari offers sweetly to each parent. At least her father thinks to return it. Her mother is still trying to reproach Zari with her eyes.

Zari's voice drops softer, but never loses that higher pitch as she leads Tony further away. "One of us actually knows something about business history. Is this a Legends thing? I thought Pepper Potts' husband pretty famously had superfriends."

He nods, somewhat starstruck himself though he doesn't know her by reputation. Behrad had warned him, and yet it's still extremely impressive to watch Zari in action. The whiplash too of the sheer opposite way he met the original Zari hasn't even totally sunk in yet, but he's caught watching them flee the scene and sensing the familiarity of it. Superfriends is about right, isn't it? He's never had a secret identity himself, but it looks exhausting just by this one snipet he's witnessing.

"Again, love being addressed that way. But no... well, I'm roping them into it, this is kind of an 'all hands on deck' thing. More of a totem thing though, at least, that's how it started out." Tony allows himself to be lead by the arm, waving at her parents as they make their escape. "Sorry to crash your party, it was great to finally meet you! Behrad is... a pleasure to have in class."

He waits until they're out of sight to roll his eyes at her for that one, only for it to morph into a sweet smile when Behrad looks his way. He then mouths to him, 'You owe me.'

"Wait, that shoe thing was real, right? Dressy sneaks sound adorable."

The slight widening of her eyes is the only tell this Zari gives. The totem is supposedly lost forever. Emphasis on supposedly. Zari has never been quite convinced. She knows even a full blown gasp wouldn't be clocked by her parents. They're already gossiping in earnest about Behrad being a pleasure in class.

"Very real. They're my newest baby." Zari reassures Tony sweetly. Some of her authentic voice slips in once she finally addresses the totem situation. "Your daughter is getting those shoes once you explain to us what your connection is to our family totem." Her eyes narrow. Behrad looks ready to sink into the floor. Surprise! He doesn't like conflict. This Zari at least is infinitely more reasonable when looking for answers.

Behrad wasn't kidding about his sister effectively being Harvey Dent. He should tame his expression, but he's honestly delighted about it. She reminds him of Pepper in all the best ways even if he is slightly nervous to still be linked arm-in-arm with yet another woman who might deck him.

"I don't really have one other than accidentally discovering they were a thing at all. Kuasa is already on board if that means anything to you guys...? Total badass BTW, I would try to recruit her out from under you if that wouldn't be in super poor taste or whatever." He glances at B from the corner of his eye, wondering if he has an ally after name-dropping so many of the guy's friends or if he's on his own here. "Long story short, but I need the Wonder Twins powers activated on this one. There's a really bad guy who got a bunch of magic rocks and if he collects them all we're done. So here's me vainly hoping your magical rocks can beat his... it's not totally my wheelhouse, if you couldn't guess."

Behrad perks up instantly at the mention of Kuasa. He is king of the forgive everyone squad. Naturally in the new timeline he actually cared what became of Amaya's granddaughter and rejoiced the family getting a second chance to live this go around without ever knowing how that applied to him as well. "Oh I go way back with the Jiwe family. No stealing necessary. We go as a set." He starts though he looks less convinced as it snaps into place the Wonder Twins reference isn't about Behrad and whichever member of Amaya's family will be wielding the spirit totem.

He's here for Zari too. He glances his sister's way. The cool guy act melts fast as he realizes his big sister won't be sneaking in some quality time between boss battles. Tony is here to ask her to fight too. Behrad clearly isn't convinced she can handle it. It is something his sister notices right away. She stops Tony so they can argue it out.

"Z isn't-" Behrad starts before Zari drops Tony's arm entirely to grab her brother's. The argue back in forth rapidly in Farsi. Behrad is concerned about her lack of experience in the field. Is she really going to fight a bad guy in heels again? Didn't she get slashed up the last time? She isn't ready for the boss battle bad guys yet. Zari passionately argues that she's his big sister. Potts' husband asked for both of them. She'll find a way to fight. You don't need to be a superhero to be useful.

They turn back to Tony without either giving an inch. "You were talking about me too, right? You need both of us to fight magic rock guy?" Zari clarifies with a quick glare at Behrad. Her little brother quickly tacks on: "Z is with the Legends right now to hang out with me. She doesn't know how to fight. She doesn't do the superhero thing." He quickly winces as she smacks his arm. "Just answer the question, Potts."

Tony is going back and forth on if it would be unethical to record this rn even if he never posted it anywhere. He really doesn't have social media anyway other than randomly posting about cool things his daughter does - he's that kind of boomer.

"Uh.... you do know she took my name, right? Just wondering, it's really not important, but. Actually, I wouldn't mind a rundown of how this thing works? Can you both do totem-y stuff at the same time or is it, like, taking turns??" Just then Tony remembers something else that seems relevant. "Oh, also. One of you wouldn't happen to have an in with that wizard guy on the ship who keeps saying he'll never help...?"

Zari only responds to Tony's question with a flat look. It really isn't important! Quickly both siblings exchange a look at Tony's follow-up. The truth is neither of them thought to explore it. Behrad is honest enough to admit this much: "Hypothetically we could both wield it. The Jiwe ladies exchange their totem depending on where it's needed most. They've never tried to wield it together." He glances Zari's way. Zari betrays some of her nervousness by crossing her arms over her chest, but with a small nod admits she's open to trying.

Behrad is willing to let her do that much before circling back to Tony's other question. "You mean John? He always says that. You just have to wear away at him like water hitting beach on the sand." Behrad grins at the sweet metaphor as Zari rolls her eyes.

"I'll talk him into it. There's no way he can resist my effortless charms." She flips her hair, easily shoving that moment of vulnerability away. Her brother is clearly skeptical. "Have you even had a single conversation with him since you came on the ship?" Zari shakes her head, but doesn't seem the least bit concerned about that. "I convinced 51 million people to listen to me. I can handle a guy who wears the same outfit every day." Zari glances back at Tony and winks. "I've got your back, Potts. He'll be on the team in no time." You know. That one her brother doesn't want her on. The one she is swiftly becoming an MVP for.

He picks up on Zari's nerves, but he can tell she's eager to help as well. Trying to keep his reaction neutral, he tips his head and points out, "That could be useful, strategically, I mean... this guy is a serious big bad, we need all the distraction we can get. Emphasis on big. And bad."

And she definitely seems like she would be distracting to a figure like John Constantine, even after his own brief meeting with the man-wizard. There were a few too many parallels to his old life for him not to pick up on.

"I like Z's chances better, sorry B... He seems like the type to like shiny things." Another wink is tossed Zari's way as they start to leave the compound to Paul's intense chagrin. "Speaking of, that guy should really lighten up. He would love my head of security, actually. They're both wound a little too tight. Do you think he would like Downtown Abbey?"

Edited (adding dumb things) 2022-09-17 15:51 (UTC)

Behrad doesn't bother hiding how nervous that makes him that his sister is supposed to be distracting bad guys. He clocked already Constantine is plenty distracted by her but, he's not going to point that out. The last thing they need is Ava loudly recounting John's history to his sister for the supposed sake of being a good BFF.

Zari preens under the praise and trust. She cutely frames her face with her hands and keeps walking. Paul tries to signal that whoever showed up is very much not clear. Zari waves him off like this is a minor issue.

"Don't mind him. He still thinks expects danger around every corner. I know any friend of Behrad is perfectly safe." She states loudly on the way out. "We'll set up a playdate with B. Maybe they'll all learn to chill out together over the classics." She remarks sweetly as her brother glares at her.

"Are we hitting the Waverider or your place?" Behrad chimes in sounding none too happy about this. Either way the wrist holding the time courier is up and ready to go.

Tony squints at the little device, somehow missing that was a thing. "Kind of didn't know that was an option when I dragged your cap here," he admits, crowding into Behrad's space to get a better look at the time courier. "Will she be salty if we ditch her?" Because now it's him who wants the shiny new thing, as cool as Big Green Time is.

"Saltier than baseline, that is."

"Yeahhh she probably figured you would want to steal one of yourself and change the timeline. It happens a lot." Behrad admits without sounding too put out by it. Charlie had been pure selfishness. Most other cases made perfect sense to him. He doesn't resent people for trying to fix something that's broken when that's kind of his whole deal as the ship engineer.

Zari quickly chimes in. "Please, she barely sticks around the ship. We're totally okay to ditch her." Behrad tellingly doesn't contradict his sister. "Just give me a time and place. I'll smooth it over with Sara later." B promises gently.

"That tracks... technically, my team has one of these too. Our wizard never lets us play with it though." Tony wrinkles his nose, but then nods, it will be easier to bring them up to speed back at his lab. Although he should probably warn them about Z1 first?? Maybe. "2020 in the SHIELD bunker. I don't think it has an official address... but hey, before you wind that thing up, I should probably tell you about the other totem master I met." He's tellingly staring at Zari when he says it.

The siblings exchange a look. Neither of them can guess why he's looking at Zari. Of the pair she is the one who has the least to do with the totem. Zari is the first to speak up about it. "Okkaayy. We're listening. Who is the other totem master?" She crosses her arms across her chest defensively. For whatever reason she feels a shiver down her spine like maybe she does know who it is. Weird.

"Well... how to put this delicately?" He makes a show of thinking about it for a moment although mostly performative. "She's you before all the Kardashian vibes."

Tony shrugs, thinking that's the best he can do to warn them before turning back to Behrad.

"OK, do your thing. You can meet her too, I'm sure she'd like that." A beat. "Or punch you. That's kind of her signature greeting, unless I was just special."

Neither sibling gets it. They both narrow their eyes, nose scrunched up in confusion. For all their estrangement and grievances with each other, it is clear they are close in the way that counts. Zari is the first to speak up. "Okay... so basically you met an ancestor who was like me as a ten year old with no friends." She points out bluntly as she waves her hand to prompt Behrad to do the thing.

He rolls his eyes and opens the portal without further delay. They both step through. Behrad looks around the lab with interest. "Nice... very retro." It sounds like a compliment when Behrad says it at any rate.

"Think... closer than that," he counters vaguely before steeling himself to step through the portal. "Anyone else always think of Willy Wonka when that happens?" Tony asks on the other side with an involuntary shiver.

Tony glances around to see if anyone is lingering, but they seem to be in the clear as he slowly leads them toward the totem on the far wall with palpable hesitance.

"Thanks... I think. Who doesn't love a throwback?"

"Ok~ay." Zari rolls out dramatically. She feels a little uneasy as she steps through. Tony's pace isn't doing much to reassure her either. Behrad is always taking his time so he doesn't pick up on the social cue here the way his sister does.

"Throwbacks are our thing." He points out casually. The younger Tarazi wastes on time getting off track. He is already wandering away from the totem to look at some other shiny thing here. Zari meanwhile picks up the pace as they get closer. It's as if something or rather someone is drawing her in. She stops just short of it and reaches out to touch the item. It flashes brightly as if in greeting and flies into her hand.

Zari does the only sensible thing a person can do in this situation: scream bloody murder and drop the totem. RIP Tony's hearing.

Tony's eyes fly open wide when the totem zooms into Zari's hand, but then they light up like Christmas morning. However, his soft exclamation of "cool" is instantly drowned out by her blood-curdling scream.

"And they call me dramatic... I already had tinnitus, you know, but thanks for the encore." He rubs at an ear with one hand as he goes to scoop the necklace up tenderly with his other. "Hey, girl. You okay in there?"

The soft glow of the totem answers Tony's question. It telling doesn't reject him the way it has others. While it's warm to the touch, it's in a more comforting way; like it's spending time with an old friend. They're all fine in there. Well. Mostly. Tomaz is definitely with him on the screaming.

The siblings outside are still all drama though. Behrad sprints over to his sister looking both deeply concerned and maybe a little uncomfortable. The totem reacted to his sister the way it did him once upon a time. It wants to be with her. It recognizes her. He instantly feels insecure about it.

Zari Tarazi is still freaked out. She snaps immediately at Tony. "Oh, I'm sorry! A necklace flew in my hand and I'm supposed to just be cool about it?!" The anger is quickly replaced with fear. Zari looks down at the necklace. It's like she's no longer in the room anymore. Her gaze is devoid of anything because even without touching the totem, the connection between the two women draws Zari in to experience a life she never lived.

She can hear herself shouting that it's her totem. For a brief second, she sees a pale woman who looks possessed snarling angrily at her. The scene shifts again. She sees a beautiful African woman at her side. She feels such love towards this perfect stranger as she explains it's like Behrad is with her again. Her heart is suddenly heavy with grief, guilt, and longing so powerful it could destroy her where she stands if she let it.

"Behrad..." It doesn't sound like her. The voice is too deep and harsh. Zari Tarazi doesn't have a reason to sound so devastated while speaking her brother's name.

Whatever connection going in is quickly broken by her younger brother grabbing onto her shoulder because yeah this is getting freaky for him. "Right here, Z." His sister glances at him in open relief and falls into an unusual silence afterward.

Behrad keeps holding onto her shoulder protectively as his sister sorts through something he doesn't understand any more than she does. "So you found the family heirloom, huh? That's cool. I think it likes you." It all sounds very friendly, but there's a tense undercurrent as Behrad tries to figure out if they're in danger here and from what exactly.

He tilts his head, letting her get it out the same way as he had with Tomaz. It's too fascinating for him to allow himself to be distracted with trading quips now. Holding the totem aloft, he allows it to find its rightful owner again as he somehow recognizes that Paris Hilton lite is no longer the one driving the ship.

"Don't freak out. Nobody freak out." He's mostly looking at Behrad when he says it though his gaze keeps flicking back to Zari-1. "...But this is still really neat. Sorry, it is."

Tomaz takes it carefully back into her grasp. She isn't really sure how she made it to the outside. One minute she's floating outside of totem to see herself and Behrad, the next she's in a living body again. It's strange how only now she can really perceive the difference between being a spirit within the totem and a living, breathing woman.

She looks up to meet his eyes, wet and completely humbled. "You actually did it. You kept your word." This Zari sounds like she can scarcely believe it. She had trusted him. Things never work out so neatly for her. She had assumed he'd fail through no fault of his own. Tomaz shifts her attention to her brother. She looks so uncertain about what to do. It's one thing to long for someone, but it's another to finally get them back. She doesn't even know what to say. He doesn't remember what they went through together. He can't give her the absolution she desperately craves.

"Behrad, I..." It's now Behrad finally catches on. When he meets his sister's eyes and no longer sees Zari looking back at him. He doesn't freak out. Behrad looks at Tony with a wave of righteous anger he rarely has in him. "What did you do to my sister?" He asks with a quiet fury. He is already plotting the next move. He needs to call Gary or search the timeline for a point where they know where John is. He'll fix this and help beat up Iron Man once it's done without asking him to forgive first. He won't. Not when it's Zari involved. For all the bad blood between them, he loves her so much. Losing her would destroy him.

Tomaz quickly reaches up to make Behrad look at her. It's no easy feat. She realizes quickly this version of her brother is taller. He's older now. "I'm right here, Behrad. Please. I know this is a lot to take in, but I'm your sister. He is our friend. Tony brought us back together." She sends a quick look in Tony's direction. "Tell him."

His eyes widen as he realizes he's probably getting punched again and takes an unconscious step in reverse.

"I mean... not exactly." He mostly kept his word, he thinks, but the rest...? He keeps Behrad's eye contact though he isn't sure how to answer him at all, and Z wants him to explain it. "Maybe we should all - " He gesticulates to the totem in an effort to ask Tomaz to do her weird I dream of Jeannie thing. "Your sister's okay. We're all going to touch the rock so we can see her and talk together. Count of three?"

Tony is hopeful as he holds his hand out for the totem and hopes Behrad will do the same rather than laying him out.

She looks disappointed until it hits her that Tony wouldn't get this. Tomaz nods even while already hating the idea of going back. She knows that Behrad is angry. He needs to see her other self to understand no one is in danger here. "I'll take you to... me. I promise this didn't hurt her. I didn't even mean to do it." Tomaz explains desperately. Behrad doesn't react or rather holds back the urge to lay out Tony here and now. He can't hurt whoever is wearing his sister's skin. Tony? He definitely can.

"John Constantine is my friend. He is a nasty piece of work to anyone who hurts his friends. If Zari and I don't make it back to the ship, he'll send you both to Hell. Literally." Behrad threatens without ever breaking contact with Tomaz. She winces but doesn't respond to that. She grabs Tony's hand and trusts Behrad will follow her lead. "Three." They touch it together.

Her spirit violently crashes into the couch as if the totem was trying to punish her for her misstep. Behrad manifests more cleanly and doesn't waste any time running up to his frantic sister to pull her into a hug. The ancestor who had been comforting her quickly retreats elsewhere. "That could have gone better," Tomaz admits as she goes to check on Tony.

"One of these days I'm going to have to meet this Harry Potter guy you keep threatening me with," Tony says while allowing Tomaz to help him to his feet from where the totem had dropped him on the floor unceremoniously. It does seem a bit like they annoyed some ancient stuff he'd really rather not think about. He shrugs a shoulder her way before turning to observe the siblings' reunion. "This still counts on my IOU tab, right?"

Not like he thinks he'll ever finish repaying the people he's wronged, but this seemed neater than the way things usually go for him. At least no one new is dead... okay, so it's a tragically low bar.

"Now maybe you get why I had trouble putting this into words...?" Hopefully, they'll forgive him too and he'll be three for three. A new record, actually.

Tomaz nods, rolling her eyes a moment later more out of habit than an annoyance. Behrad is here. She is counting this as a solid win even if any apology she could make would be pointless. He doesn't know her. It stings way more than it should.

The Tarazi siblings eye both of them warily. Zari is the first to say something. "Yeah, you weren't kidding. It's me dressed as a twelve-year-old boy. I even have the entitlement down! Consent isn't a big thing where you come from, is it?" She asks sharply. Getting kicked into the totem while someone hijacked her body is the worst possible first impression.

Tomaz looks away because accident or not, she'd been tempted to stay. It's only Behrad's rejection that made her stay on the mission. "Yeah, I probably deserve that. Look I can explain everything and then I am going to need you to listen to him." She jerks a thumb in Tony's direction. "As far as I can tell from listening in, the world went from one egomaniac killing everyone in sight to another. I didn't sacrifice my existence so that my family could die all over again. We need to work together on this." That earns stunned silence from the pair. Good. Tomaz is sick of the guilt trip already. She glances at Tony. "You up for explaining your problem after?"

"And here I thought we were building rapport..." he murmurs, nodding at the flanneled Zari. If there's one thing he can handle, it's a speech. No promises on how it will be received, but here goes nothing. "That was actually my bad, I didn't know bringing you near the totem would Freaky Friday you two, hand to God or whatever deity it is you guys... anyway. That's not important right now. This world is facing a serious threat and the only reason your ancestor here, however she chooses to dress, is willing to help is because of Behrad. So - wondertwins - you're our only hope. I'm sure you're sick of hearing that, but it's why everything is happening so much."

"It's God." Zari corrects tensely. Forgiveness quickly is plain to see on the sibling's faces, especially after Tomaz nods at the unspoken question. It had been a genuine accident. It's not like they can see how truly tempted Tomaz is by it. She gestures for all of them to join her on the sprawling furniture arranged around the room. The siblings join after exchanging a look. Neither one of them is used to being anyone's only hope. Behrad especially is surprised they're not having this chat with Sara or John.

"He's right as much as it pains me to admit." Tomaz points out snarkily. It's a cover and comfort. Being mean is a way to dodge her grief. The source of it is across from her. She stares at him before giving something real. "The truth is up until recently Tony Stark was the man who ruined our lives. I come from a version of the timeline where Ultron killed off most of humanity. He was only interested in sparing metas or people who were special in some way like us." She swallows thickly. "People who were chosen for a higher purpose." She stares straight at the younger Tarazi to make her meaning impossible to miss.

"Behrad couldn't accept a world where people died because a robot decided they didn't have any value. I wasn't a fan either no matter how much he tried to force us to change our minds." Her eyes glaze over as she recalls some of the cruelties she endured. She'd been an easy person to make an example out of as someone old enough to remember life before Ultron's reign. She's grateful Behrad had been spared imprisonment unlike her. Death had been kinder in so many ways. "Eventually we started fighting back. Behrad used the family totem and I got really good at turning Ultron's machines against him. He was the hero and I was the sidekick. I was happy to follow his lead." That part clearly shakes the siblings. Out of the two, it's plain to see which of them was a natural leader.

"Eventually, Ultron found us. We got our parents out but, Behrad he..." Her eyes well up with unshed tears. "You were killed. Our parents were killed before I could catch up to them. I couldn't accept it so I decided to the only way to win was to destroy the game. I joined the Legends and started hacking history bit by bit. It took a lot of time, but I found a point where I could safely change how the story goes. I made a world where Ultron loses the Battle of Sokovia. I made a world where we grow up free together this time." A soft laugh that borders on a sob escapes her mouth. Go figure she didn't get to live it. "Guess history didn't like me screwing with it because now you're both going to have to fight again. Different bad guy, pretty much the same plan." She looks to Tony for confirmation. "Your guy is wiping out as many people as he can to make the world a better place, right? I can only get so much here."

It really sucks hearing the Ultron rundown again, but he stays silent and allows her to fill in the Tarazis without interrupting. Only when emotion seeps into her voice does he turn his wild gaze on her in empathy.

"Not my guy this time," he points out helpfully with a sharp sigh through his nose before continuing. "But that's the gist, yeah. He thinks half the people means more plentiful resources and a better experience for all involved, allegedly. And his rocks are shinier than yours, but if we stop him before he collects 'em all I think we stand a fighting chance."

Only once he's done does he turn that kicked puppy look to the siblings on the other couch. It is kind of funny how fast he and Zari got through their ish, meanwhile the one from his timeline he'd immediately connected to now seems like she'll never trust him again in just as short a span.

"If you and the other totem bearers are willing to help little ol' me, that is."

Somewhere in the horror story, the siblings end up holding hands like they're kids again.

(Tomaz fails to hide completely how much it wounds her to see someone else enjoying the relationship she longs for with Behrad.)

It sounds like a nightmare. Some parts are simply hard to accept. Behrad as the big hero? Zari as his faithful sidekick? They both suppose that is the dynamic they are in now. They can only hope it doesn't end nearly as tragically because it doesn't even need to be a discussion. Neither have ever been good at ignoring a call to action when it counts.

It doesn't change how on guard they are. It's difficult not to feel sorry for someone who went through such a terrible ordeal and essentially died at the end of it. Tony is a more complicated matter for Zari at least. Behrad, while cautious, is always the more forgiving one.

They exchange looks once Tony speaks up. Despite all the drama and disagreements, for now, they are perfectly in sync with what they should be doing as a unit. Zari is naturally the one to speak up. "We're in. Morons and shiny weapons are a pretty dangerous combo. I can talk the rest into it." It doesn't matter that she never met them before. This is where she shines.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

one of these things isn't like the other✨

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