I need to think of something that set him off. Maybe the death of most of the Younger Avengers or something...
I can see a smaller story, told through the eyes of Tony, about what the world is now, and how it fell to this, told in pieces. Then we flash back to now, and then when Tony finally make contact with someone other than Steve, everyone is shocked, because Tony had died.
...and present Tony is either a clone or an LMD or someone stolen from another universe who doesn't know it, having been kept in isolation.
Or, broken!Tony is kept as a pet, but Steve wasn't the one who broke him. Instead of Registration, asking supers to sign up to be at the government's service, the government went the other way. Stamford didn't happen, instead, the New Orders accidentally uncovers the skrull invasion on live tv, swinging public opinion to the side of the superhumans. The government instead, get the supers into the lab by convert means.
Tony Stark is 'disappeared', and by the time the Avengers found him, he's very physically and psychologically broken. Tony can't use his extremis anymore, though it still automatically heal him, something the sadistic guards had took advantage of. With some public support, Steve overthrows the elected government after the scandal comes out, and keeps Tony as a pet.
Like, story told through Tony's narrative, he's in Steve's room, and he overhear conversations Steve has outside, a harsh contrast to how gentle and patient Steve is with Tony because Tony is now broken
Pepper Potts stood to her full height, and grind her heels into the carpet. "Steve, you can't just keep him hidden away like this, he needs professional help."
"I don't think he needs anymore people poking at his head."
"It's not like -"
"He was shaking, the moment all of them started looking at him. I'm the only one he's comfortable with right now."
AU of your evil AU / pet!Tony is just magically delicious
I can see a smaller story, told through the eyes of Tony, about what the world is now, and how it fell to this, told in pieces. Then we flash back to now, and then when Tony finally make contact with someone other than Steve, everyone is shocked, because Tony had died.
...and present Tony is either a clone or an LMD or someone stolen from another universe who doesn't know it, having been kept in isolation.
Or, broken!Tony is kept as a pet, but Steve wasn't the one who broke him. Instead of Registration, asking supers to sign up to be at the government's service, the government went the other way. Stamford didn't happen, instead, the New Orders accidentally uncovers the skrull invasion on live tv, swinging public opinion to the side of the superhumans. The government instead, get the supers into the lab by convert means.
Tony Stark is 'disappeared', and by the time the Avengers found him, he's very physically and psychologically broken. Tony can't use his extremis anymore, though it still automatically heal him, something the sadistic guards had took advantage of. With some public support, Steve overthrows the elected government after the scandal comes out, and keeps Tony as a pet.
Like, story told through Tony's narrative, he's in Steve's room, and he overhear conversations Steve has outside, a harsh contrast to how gentle and patient Steve is with Tony because Tony is now broken
Pepper Potts stood to her full height, and grind her heels into the carpet. "Steve, you can't just keep him hidden away like this, he needs professional help."
"I don't think he needs anymore people poking at his head."
"It's not like -"
"He was shaking, the moment all of them started looking at him. I'm the only one he's comfortable with right now."
"You don't have the time he needs."
"Every free moment I have, I spend it with him."