Thomas knew he should consider himself lucky, considering his adoptive parents were kind to him. His dad never got angry with him, no matter how hard he tried and His mother was quite similar, not yelling, though he knew he could anger her.

At school he never got along with anyone so he kept to himself. Thankful the bigger boys didn't pick on him like they did the other smaller kids. It wasn't until about grade 8 that he finally shot up in height and continued until after high school. Thomas enjoyed everything in the science world though he would never admit to it. His father and one of his uncles were geniuses in the science field, but he wouldn't tell them in fear he wouldn't be able to understand their level of knowledge.

He spent most of his time in the library reading about biology mostly, though he wasn't afraid to pull out some books on physics or chemistry either. He was always a head of his classmates in those subjects and could even find things that would stump his teacher, but he didn't do that much anymore as he found out they would phone his parents about it.

His dad did find out about his extensive knowledge for science-probably due to his report cards- and spoke with the school to find something more challenging. He didn't mind. If anything it pushed him to study harder. Maybe he could get to the level of genius. His Uncle Tony would even help him with micro-robotics glad to have someone he could converse with.

He hated the conversations the other kids in his grade had. They always talked about a group of superheroes called the Avengers.

He knew about them of course, who didn't? He just hated that all the guys talked about how cool Captain America was and how the girls swoon over Hawkeye and Iron Man and Captain America. He knew it was some scam. And boy did he hate the Hulk. There was no way such a thing could exist without the whole world knowing. Of course he always argued that it was impossible for a human being to just gain height and mass in a matter of seconds. And then of course there was Thor, the demi God. Why would he care about earth and join a superhero group? None of it made sense to him so he ignored it once again as he walked through the halls of his school for the final time glad to have finally finished grade 12 so he no longer had to deal with superheroes.

He had been living in the Marks household since he was 6 and now that he was finally 18 he was legally responsible for himself so he could move out and finally be without house hold rules. Throwing his bag by the door he headed straight for his room and plopped on to his bed.

Thomas' real parents died in what the world called an alien attack on the island of Manhattan and the only reason he was still there was because the Avengers had saved the day.

The house rules his "parents" had set up were stupid, but he knew better than to cross them. No friends over, not like he had many friends anyway. Not to anger Bruce. That one he still didn't understand. Anytime his adoptive father got anywhere close to being angry he stepped out and didn't come back until he was calm. Mom always gave him crap whenever he was the cause of it but he would never admit he was trying to on purpose.

There were some mornings however that we would wake up to find a note on the table mentioning that mom and dad had been called into work for a few days. It only happened twice through the 12 years he had been living with them but it still made him think.

Bruce was a scientist or doctor and Natasha was a marital artist instructor so the thought that they had work together always left him confused, but whenever he asked Natasha would shrug it off dancing around the real answer.

Thomas loved his uncles though. They were cool, always telling him stories about assassins and discovering new elements. He couldn't put them in any order from top favourite to least, to him they were all tie at the top. Uncle Clint would always have a nerf war with him and Uncle Steve. Uncle Tony would always take him down to his lab and together they would make little robots or fly little helicopters around the building. He could always go to them and rant about his parents.

"Thomas! Dinner is ready." Natasha called, pulling Thomas out of his inner thoughts.

Hoping off his bed he moved down the narrow hallway through the apartment to the kitchen and dining room. He found Bruce sitting with his nose buried in a book as he picked at the dinner in front of him.

"Any plans for the summer now that you're finished high school? Bruce asked putting the book down focusing on Thomas as Natasha joined the two at the table.

"No" Thomas couldn't tell them he planned on move out. He knew it would start a long conversation about where he could possible go and that college and university were important for a job. Either way the end would be the same, no doubt it would end with his father having to leave and him being yelled at for upsetting his dad. Maybe that wasn't such a bad idea.

"Well whatever you decide your father and I will support you"

"I want to move out" Thomas made sure it was barely audible however by the look Bruce was giving him he knew that he heard.

"Thomas…"

"I'm 18 I can do what I want"

"Yes, but what about school? A job?"

"Bruce…" Natasha warned

"You couldn't stop me anyway." That earned him a glare from his mother.

"Why don't you tell us about your last day of classes?" Natasha said trying to change the subject.

"Nothing new..." Thomas got the hint and followed his mother's lead. He didn't feel like getting yelled at. He'd done it several times that week already and it was only Thursday. "All the other kids talking about the stupid avengers team like always."

Bruce chocked a little before recovering with. "Avengers? The superhero group?"

Thomas noticed that his parents had stopped and was now watching him carefully. What did they know?

"Tell me about them." His mother being the first to recover.

"Well, there's Captain America the leader of the Avengers. All the girls go stupid over him…" He ranted to his parents about the Avengers and for once they listened without interruptions, sharing glances every now and again, their food forgotten.

"Being an assassin does not count as a super power so Black widow and Hawkeye shouldn't be there."

Natasha opened her mouth but Bruce interrupted. "What about the Hulk?"

Thomas noticed the edge of fear in his voice, however subtle it was.

"He's stupid and not to mention completely impossible. There is no way someone could not get more than double their height and body mass in a matter of seconds. That and no one could hold back the Hulk so there would have to have been sightings long before now. I mean I know you're a complete pussy and refuse to get mad but you're just stupid…"

"Thomas!" Natasha pushed herself standing. "That was completely uncalled for."

Bruce waved her down a small smirk played on his lips. "Trust me, Thomas I have a compelling reason to keep my cool."

Thomas only rolled his eyes. "Let me guess, Daddy issues?" he saw the flash of hurt flash behind his dad's eyes and knew he hit a soft spot.

"Room. NOW."

Not bothering to argue back Thomas pushed his chair back and started for his room but sopped just out of view.

"Bruce, I'm sure he didn't mean it." Natasha had positioned herself beside him and was rubbing his shoulders.

"I just don't understand why he hates me?"

"Maybe it's time we tell him everything. Us and Steve and Tony and Clint."

"Once he moves out what's stopping him from going to Ross? Or HYDRA? We know how he feels about us. Maybe it's not a good idea."

"We're his family." Natasha took the seat next to Bruce and just held his hand.

Bruce only shook his head. "The other guy…"

"…deserves to know why he's been pushed away for so long."

"Natasha, it's not that simple. The other guy…" Bruce ran his other hand through his hair. "…I don't know what he'll do. I can't risk that. All that angry has to come out some time. What if it's all directed at him?"

"Thomas is going to find out sooner or later, it's better if it comes from us. He's old enough to understand."

Bruce sighed in defeat, shoulders slumped forward. "What about S.H.E.I.L.D?"

"They don't need to know right away."

Along pause.

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

"That soon?"

Natasha shrugged. "Why not? Might as well let him know now."

Bruce buried his face in his hands. "Fine"

Natasha pushed to her feet and moved across the kitchen. "I'll ask Tony to have the jet ready and we can go back to that island we used to test Veronica…"

Thomas just sat and watched Bruce. What were they hiding from him and why did Bruce want to keep it hidden? Something about another guy? Tony meaning Uncle Tony? Pushing all the questions from his mind Thomas moved silently down the hall to his room and quietly shut the door and stood looking out the window at the darkening sky. Watching the cars go by on the streets he almost didn't hear the sound of someone knocking on his bedroom door. After calling for them to enter he turned to see his dad with plate of food.

"I uh noticed you didn't get an opportunity to eat much before being sent to your room so I thought you would appreciate something." He put the plate down on the bedside table before falling to a sit by the foot of the bed.

Thomas sat there quiet for a bit. "Whatever secret you and mom and Uncle Tony, Steve and Clint are keeping from me, you can keep it. I don't really care."

"We…" Bruce was stumped. What could he possibly say to make him understand that this whole secret was to keep them safe? He knew it had nothing to do about keeping Thomas safe. He was safer not knowing to be honest. If Ross took him, he would give nothing away because he truly didn't know anything. That and Bruce couldn't face the idea that Thomas would have a real reason to hate him. He just ranted reason to hate every single person on the Avengers team. What would stop him from blowing their identities once they let him out? That and the thought of the dejection could be a perfect reason alone to not show him the other guy.

"I'm sorry we had to restrict you through the important part of your life and we're sorry we could never be the family you deserve, but we truly do care for you."

Thomas sat speechless as he watched his dad leave. Although he couldn't disagree that there were a lot of things he couldn't do, he never felt restricted. And as much as he made it seem like he didn't love his family, he did. Yes there were times he and his parents disagreed but that was normal. Maybe Bruce thought it happened in this family more than others?

"I just don't understand why he hates me?" Thomas didn't hate his adoptive father provided he did believe there was something odd about him, but hate was a strong word. He knew it was his dad that had persuaded his mom to adopt him. He remembered that story.

"You parents died protecting you Thomas. They were the bravest parents ever." Natasha said as she tucked him into bed. "Bruce was determined that you stayed with us so you wouldn't lose anyone else close to you. He said it was the best way to honor your parents. I agreed so that's why you are here." She kissed the top of his head. "We promise to love you like they did." He only nodded as tears fell from his eyes.

He sat up and threw his arms around his new mother's neck. "I love you mommy. Don't go away."

She smiled at him. "I won't leave until you tell me too, okay?"

"And daddy too?"

"And daddy too."

Natasha tucked him in again before turning the lights out. "Good night, Thomas"

A tear rolled down Thomas' face. Did his parents think he hated them? He didn't mean to portray that image.

He flopped onto his bed his dinner forgotten. He was up into the early hours of the morning trying to solve all the questions that had arisen in the past few hours which only lead to more unsolved questions and eventually he fell into an exhausted sleep.