A six year-old Tony sat in the limo staring emptily at the many trees flying past the window. As each bare trees flew past he longed to be home with Jarvis more and more. He's not important, not worthy, not even wanted by his own freaking-parents! Tony's just nothing. He's just brought along to these events so the Starks can keep up their stupid 'perfect family' routine, but if only...if only people could see through all those lies, and see the fake smiles, pleading eyes, and smudged make up, you'd see how fucked up it all is.

Tony took a quick glance over to his mother and Howard- he lost his father since his first broken bone. Howard was straightening his cuffs staring straight forward into nothing. Probably thinking of perfect lies to make any man envious. Meanwhile his mother, Maria, was fiddling with her diamond covered ring with a hint of a drunken glaze in eyes that will no doubt grow till she's passes out.

The car finally came to a stop a and his mother got out quickly so Howard could give Tony "the talk". The man snapped his full attention to his son and grabbed the stripped red and gold tie around his neck.

"Listen here you little shit. You will not ruin this for us! I have spent the last couple months trying to get Thomas Wayne to make this deal and I will Not have this night ruined by your stupidly. So remember, don't speak unless spoken too, be respectful, don't slouch, don't ask for anything, stay out of the way, don't wonder off, and smile." He spat out harshly watching Tony with disgust and hatred.

Tony looked straight into Howard's brown eyes with his own and gave the most painfully fake smile he could muster "Of course, father." His tone was bland with a hint of sarcasm that luckily the older man didn't detect.

"Also you know what to tell people about the 'accident'" Oh, right the 'accident' with Tony's newest robot and now the four stitches on his right hand. When will Tony learn he can never make Howard proud. It doesn't matter if it's a circus board at age four or a special machine to hold the man's scotch, Tony will always be a disappointment.

"I cut my hand in the workshop" the brown hair man gave a curt nod and left.

When Tony got out of the limo he immediately had to repress the urge to start shivering. If only Howard would him a stupid jacket or even a scarf, but no, 'Stark men are made of iron'.

'Why does the Wayne annual party have to be a Christmas one?' He thought looking at all the bright lights and greedy-happy people in disdain. He spotted Howard giving him a threatening gaze so quickly caught up and stepped into the beautiful Wayne mansion.

An hour went by following Howard, letting him introduce his son, listening him tell lie after lie of their 'perfect little family', and watching him shoot drink after drink down his throat. Tony thought he was finally too drunk to notice him slip away for a way for a few minutes.

The little chestnut hair boy walked outside and glared at all the families. The children being warmed up by their parents with real smiles and happy eyes. The worst were the parents who coddle their kids with proud expression. That reflection, that stupid, idiotic fucking reflection in their eyes that told you your worth a damn. Oh God, he hated it all.

He found a beautiful spot on a hill away from people, and could see the moon reflect off the pool below. Sitting there for awhile shivering mindlessly, daydreaming about his machine he was working on before they took him away. 'DUM-E's gonna like me when he's finished, right? What if he's gonna be as broken and useless as I am? What if Howard is right and it's just a piece of junk that will 'cause more disappointment? What if I will never stop being a disappointment? What if I won't be able to do anything well? What if I'm always worthless? What if-what if-'he started hyperventilating, tears started clinging to the corner of his brown eyes as he went in a loop of what ifs.

A jacket suddenly fell into his shoulders followed by small arms hugging him tight.

"It's Ok, it's Ok. Just breath, you safe." A young voice rambled in his ear. Tony started to calm down while the kid rubbed circles on his back. Once calm enough he turned to find who that helpful young voice belonged too. He was a young boy around seven with slick raven black hair, concerned greenish-blue eyes, and relaxed smile.

"Yeah... yeah, I'm fine kid. What are you doing way up here?" Tony asked confused as to why someone was concerned for him. He wasn't worth his care and didn't want his pity.

The kid took the spot next to Tony on the grass watching the moons reflection. "First of all, I'm not a kid. I might be older than you and secondly, I should be asking you that. Your the one in the middle of a mansion, freezing, and having a panic attack." He said with a raised brow.

The Stark kid just looked down, grasping the small jacket on his shoulders. "I just...just had to get away, you know?" The raven haired kid nodded then stood up from the ledge, and held a hand out to Tony to grab. Once he took the older kid's hand, he was hoisted up so he could look up at the one inch height difference.

Tony mumbled 'thanks' and as they started to walk away from the edge he got a great idea. "Hey, wanna go swimming."

The taller kid stared at him like he grew a second head. "You know it's the middle of winter right? And weren't you just freezing to death before I found you." Tony just rolled his eyes.

"Not to death, and come one live a little." Tony started running to the edge.

"KID!" The raven haired kid ran after him."I'M NOT A KID!" Tony yelled as he jumped off the ledge with the boy right behind. While falling he stuck a hand out to the other boy.

"TONY STARK!" Tony screamed through the freezing, whipping air.

"BRUCE WAYNE!" Bruce screamed back taking Tony's hand as they plunged into the arctic temperatures of the huge pool.