(A/N) Okay, so how do you guys feel about an argument between two Starks? Yes, Howard is still alive. He'll be important later on. Yeah, this'll probably be a bit over dramatic. Depends on how you see it.

"What if it's fake?!"

"What if it isn't?! This was from NICK FURY, Dad!"

"I know that!"

"The why won't you let me go?!"

"Because you're not old enough!"

"I'm 15, for God's sake!"

Pepper Potts watched the argument like it was a tennis match. This wasn't going anywhere. After the message about the Avengers Initiative was concluded, Janet left to discuss the letters with Jean and Logan. Pepper arrived 10 minutes later in the middle of a screaming match between the two Starks. Twice she attempted to stop them and twice she was rudely told to shut up.

"I know! Don't you think I know that?!"

"Then trust me! Why can't you trust me?!"

"Because you're a kid!"

"But that doesn't define who I am, Dad! I was the one who made the Iron Man armor!"

"After you got captured by the Ten Rings! Honestly, Tony, it's like I can't go anywhere without you making a complete mess of the company! AND YOURSELF!"

"I only do that because you won't let me do things beyond getting you your damn coffee!"

"I don't understand how you work, Tony, you know pretty damn well as to why I can't trust you!"

"What?!"

"You heard me! All of your parties and destruction, I can't go through all of that trusting you, Tony!"

"Dad, if you would give me more freed-"

"NO! Tony, the point is that that you don't deserve the freedom!"

"Dad, SHUT UP!"

"No Tony! The point is that you can't be trusted with big things!"

"That isn't the point anymore! I want you to understand!"

Okay, that was different. It shocked Howard into silence. For a few minutes, the only sound being heard was the heavy breathing of both the Starks as well as loud honking outside the Malibu street. Tony was glaring hard into his father's face. Howard narrowed his eyes. Pepper began to feel the worry pulling her down suffocate her. They have never stared at each other with such venom.

"Understand what?" Howard hissed.

Tony's eyes suddenly widened slightly, burning with a different fire. Pepper saw this. He wasn't angry; not anymore. He was just... sad.

"I want you to understand that I'm not the irresponsible person who was fucking kidnapped by terrorists! Not anymore! I'm Iron Man! I can take care of myself! Can't you understand that?! Out of all people, can't you understand me?!"

Howard stood there, staring at the scorned eyes of Tony Stark. Finally, he spoke, his voice soft but at the same time hard like the suit of Tony's armor.

"You're not Iron Man. You're a kid in a metal suit. You may seem strong, but your full of weaknesses. You aren't leaving, Tony,"

Tony's expression morphed into one of complete shock. He then steeled himself and ran out of the room. Pepper had a hand over her mouth, eyes wide. They stood in silence. When Pepper had finally managed to compose herself, she slowly shook her head, speaking in a stern tone.

"Mr. Stark, you have to listen to Tony. If you can't learn to understand him, he'll be all alone; you promised you'd never leave him alone,"

With that, Pepper left, heading in Tony's direction. Howard sighed. He fell back onto his couch, eyeing the forgotten messenger on his living room floor. He then proceeded to pick it up and restart the video from SHIELD.

"Hello, I'm Nick Fury, Director of SHIELD, and I would like to talk to you about the Avengers Initiative. Now, if you are anyone other than Anthony Edward Stark, I would like for you to please leave the room," - (That was why Janet and Howard fled to the living room) The video paused. Howard stared down at the button. Did he dare? 20 minutes of contemplation later, Howard let out an angry groan and hit play.

"Okay. So assuming you are now alone, I want to recruit you to Marvel/DC Highschool, a boarding school for different people;special people. We want to bring together a group of remarkable "Avengers" that would be willing to lay down their lives for the safety of our earth and the protection of our people. Over the past few years, we learned that we are not only not alone, but that we are hopelessly, hilariously, outgunned. I heard a few months back that you were a genius. Believe me, it isn't just self-proclaimed on your part, Stark. You're also not that bad in the physical department. Knowledge. Strength. We need that. We need you. Send us a reply via the Messenger. We'll be waiting, Stark. You're not alone."

Howard felt his heart clench and his mind go blank.

"You're not alone."

He put his head down in his hands. Not alone? He was. Because he couldn't even give Tony the time of day to try and understand him. To make sure that he wasn't alone.

Tony slammed the door to his room and let out a frustrated scream. He then proceeded to throw over everything in his path. Once completely spent, he fell back into the clutter that was his room.

"JARVIS?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Make sure no one gets into my room. Lock all possible entrances."

"Right away, sir."

Tony sighed.

"You're not alone." Fury had said.

What a liar. So far, he hasn't met anyone that's gone through the hardships he faced before. Then he gets an opportunity to go to a school full of those people, and his father, the one that he wanted to confide in the most, was the only one stopping him. He frowned, looking up.

Into the face of Virginia "Pepper" Potts. He recoiled, letting loose a shrill shriek. Pepper immediately freaked out. They stood there, screaming at each other for a good ten seconds before Pepper regained her sense.

"Relax, Tony! It's just me!"

"I know!"

She froze for a split second before yelling out in frustration and promptly smacking him in the back of his head. With a broom.

"OW! What was that, Pep?! And where did you get that broom? HOW did you get in here in the first place?! JARVIS!"

"Yes, sir?"

"I thought I told you to lock ALL the entrances!"

"I did."

"Then what's SHE doing in here?!"

"She was already in before you gave me the command."

"Well, then get her out!"

"I can't, all entrances are under lock and key."

"AHHHHHHH!"

Tony flopped down onto his bed, which so happened to be the only un-cluttered area. Pepper watched his back rise and fall as he breathed. Silently, she stepped over his mess and sat down next to him. He mumbled something into his pillow that sound distinctly like 'Just leave me alone to die, Pep'. Pepper scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"You're not going to die, Tony."

"Might as well,"

"Now why's that?"

Tony propped himself up on his elbows to stare at her properly.

"'You aren't alone,' , That's what Fury said. He told me that I was needed, that I wouldn't be just the kid in iron. That people could look past my mistakes and weaknesses and see me as someone strong. But I live with someone who only sees my flaws."

"Tony-I-You need to give your father time to unders-"

"Like he gave me time? He doesn't trust me, Pep, you just heard him yell. He doesn't trust me, he doesn't understand me and he's my father for God's sake!"

"Tony-"

"Ya'know he's never told me he loved me? Not once?"

"I-No. No, I didn't."

Tony sighed. He rolled over so that he was facing the ceiling. The look on his face was contemplative rather than depressed or even angry.

Pepper fought hard not to lose herself right then and there.

"Tony, I'm sorry."

Tony looked at her an gave a small smile.

"Don't be,"

Pepper smiled back. He wasn't entirely happy, but at least he smiled, right?

"Oh, and sorry for smacking you with a broom."

Tony snorted.

"Yeah, where the hell did you get that, anyway?"

"I... Ya'know what? I honestly don't know."

They both shared a laugh. JARVIS, however, has the best timing in the world and chose this moment to interrupt.

"Sir, there has been a security breach. It seems my protocols are being overridden,"

Almost exactly after J.A.R.V.I.S. spoke, Howard Stark burst through the door. Tony immediately steeled himself.

"What do you want?"

"Look, I'm sor-"

"Dad, you don't have to apologize. I know I can't be trusted and I guess I can live with that. I don't want you yelling at me and all that, and an apology is unneces-"

"I want to give you permission, Tony."

Tony nearly fell off of his bed in his haste to get up and look at his father.

"What?"

"I want you to go to Marvel/DC. I haven't been through what you've been forced through, therefore, I can't understand you. But the school has kids like you. Kids that go through problems of right and wrong or strengths and weaknesses. They can understand you more than I ever can. I'm sorry I can't give that to you, so I'm letting you go. I don't ever want you to be alone."

Tony looked at his with wide eyes and a completely shocked expression. Pepper bit her bottom lip in anticipation and Howard began to worry slightly. Then, Tony spoke in a very calm and serious voice.

"Are you fucking with me?"

Howard let out a surprised huff of laughter as he cast his son an incredulous look.

"I'm not kidding, Tony! I'm telling the truth!"

"How do I know that? 20 minutes ago, you said that you couldn't trust me!"

"I know. But 15 minutes ago, I realized my error,"

"You looked at my messenger, didn't you?"

"Well, it helped. But the point is, I don't understand you, Tony. But others can. Remember when you were 5? I made a promise,"

"You... said you'd never let me feel alone. Ever,"

"And I won't. Maybe I can't do that, but the people at this school can. I can't say that I'm completely on board with this, but I made you a promise. And I'm intending to stick by it."

Tony grinned slightly. His dad wasn't close to understanding, but he was getting there. And he was trying. That was what mattered to Tony. Not knowing what else to do, Tony got up and hugged his dad. Howard froze in place. They never hugged before. There were hands on the shoulder and pats on the back. There were compliments and encouragement, but never hugs. Then, Tony spoke.

"Thanks, Dad,"

Howard was shocked out of his stupor and huffed a laugh. Pepper grinned widely.

"Just clean your room and we have a deal,"

(A/N) Ahhh... Yeah, I don't even know. XD