AN: Switches to different POV's a bit just to give more perspective, hope you enjoy.

Chapter 2 – The awkward Mechanic

Ok, so in the past week the Avengers had defeated Reindeer Games, saved Manhattan from a nuclear bomb (ok maybe that was only Tony), fallen unconscious during Sharwarma (again, only Tony)… and said goodbye to two demi-gods. So to put it all in one nutshell: Yep just your average week.

"TONY GET UP" Pepper yelled
"Why its only 8?"
"You have the Avengers press conference today, remember?"
"Oh right that, yeh sure I'll be up in 2 secs" he groaned into his pillow and in times like this words could not describe how much it sucked being the only publically available Avenger. "Ugh I hate life" he whined.
"Get up Tony and wear something smart." Pepper replied chucking a pillow at him. Making him jerk upwards and walk off to the shower muttering something along the lines of… "Stupid Capsicle so much for team leader" and "Spy my ass."

Pepper just chuckled and went to get things ready for Stark, when he had finally dressed and replenished his coffee levels they headed out.
"Wait you were meant to take your pain meds at 7"
"Nah" Tony shrugged.
"Tony there meant to help you get better, do you not want to get better?"
"Oh calm down, the bruised ribs only tickle a bit now" he snorted.
"Don't laugh what would have happened if they had broken, or if you fractured your skull or something! What if you had died!" she asked hysterically
"… Then you would be living the most boring and ordinary life ever" he pulled her into a hug, it would seem Pepper had been bottling up her emotions again…

"I'm so happy you're here" she sniffled
"I know, I know" he replied keeping her in the warm embrace
"And you are such an inconsiderate jerk"
"I know- wait what?" Pepper pulled away laughing as she pulled away from Tony's shoulder, he smiled gently.
"Oh your shirts all damp now," she noted picking up her Stark pad to distract herself. After a few more awkward silences Pepper sprang up.
"Now stop distracting me we're going to be late for the conference"

"Damn it you still remembered?" Tony moaned his master plan had failed once again.
"Do you think I'm that stupid Stark?" Pepper laughed her eyes less puffy then before as she began to walk towards the lift only to turn around and realize he hadn't been following…

"What's your real name!?"
"Do you think I'm that stupid Stark, I'm not going to tell you," the conversation replayed in his head.

"Tony? Tony, hey stop being childish, if anything I'll just make the press conference longer" she teased snapping her fingers, but Tony still remained blank. She walked towards him and tried again.
"Tony what's wrong?" and after still no response she cautiously poked his ark reactor causing him to gasp as if he had been holding his breath.
"Jesus, don't do that" he puffed finally coming back to reality
"Tony what happened?" she asked now concerned.
"Oh nothing, just thinking. You know with the whole genius thing it's sort of in the job description" he responded his breath still a bit shaky, Pepper looked unconvinced so he put on his best award winning smile.
"Come on Peps why are we slacking? Are you trying to make us late for the conference" he teased but his usual sarcasm was absent. He wasn't sure if Pepper noticed or not but he was glad when she didn't point it out, instead turning to lead him off.

…oOoOo…

"Mr. Stark is it true the Avengers initiative is actually a publicity stunt? Mr. Stark what happened to Loki? Where have you teammates gone? Are you gay with Captain America? Is Thor a god? Are you-"
"AHHH SHUT UP" Tony yelled instantly silencing the reporters as millions of cameras blinked in the background.
"Even if any of these questions did make sense do you really think I would answer them?" Tony looked around but none of the reporters said anything, "First off no the attack wasn't a publicity stunt, if you thought it was maybe next time you should try using your eyes. Next why do you even need to know it's none of your business! Also has none of it occurred that my girlfriend is sitting right next to me, do you really think she would let me steal Captain America's 95-year old virginity!
As for Thor have none of you actually read the myths? So I don't know maybe he is God it's up for your speculation not mine." He finished downing his glass of water, silence still remained intact until finally a male reporter put his hand up.

"You better have a valid question…" Tony glared but the reporter continued

"So is it true that Loki gave birth to a horse?"
"Are you serious?" Tony gaped, seriously what the hell was the press smoking?
"No more questions" Tony stood up and walked over to the car and shut the door. "Mr Stark is done for today" Pepper stated before also standing up and opening the car doors.
Tony shuffled over allowing her some space to get in so she could shut the door and silence the swarm of reporters with the sound proof barriers and tinted windows.

"I hate press conferences" Tony said and Pepper nodded in agreement… "Happy, take us back to Stark tower please.

And that is why the next day Tony forced the Avengers to move into Stark tower because he simply 'could not/did not want to deal with another conference like that'. The others didn't really mind because free food and free company was the most desired thing on all of their lists even if they weren't willing to admit it.
Sure the council disagreed once they found out but who cared?

…oOoOo...

"Hello there how can I help?" Mylo stared at the questioning receptionist, was she talking to him? Never mind just keep walking he reminded himself as he plodded forwards until he reached a doorway to a Stark industries office block.
A doorman blocked his path "Hello sir may I see an access pass?" Mylo struggled to yank the fake ID from his jeans but he eventually managed to show the man who then stepped back to let him through.
It wasn't too hard from there as all Mylo had to do was follow some directions, so he carried onwards until he found a lift. But of course it only led up to the office floors of Stark Tower so Mylo pressed the highest floor available.

After he had stepped out of the lift he encountered a maze of corridors but he already knew where to go so he didn't care. He made sure to look around corners not particularly because he had to, more because he didn't want to have any more social interaction. He'd had enough of that for one-day thank you very much!

And so he twisted through the hallways until he managed to reach his destination, in less time than he thought (because he didn't have to worry about the cameras). And so he entered the location. Which turned out to be a small store cupboard containing an already laid out simple blue overall, a baseball cap to lower onto his face as well as a mechanics tool box. Just to look the part.
Inside, too his relief, there was also a tiny slip of paper with more directions scribbled messily on it.

So putting on his disguise he started to read through the list and he carried on with his task.
Eventually he turned to find the entrance to a private lift that led up to the Avengers Rec room, the Avengers themselves probably had some cooler entrance to the living quarters but it would look a little strange if a mechanic used them. So once more he pressed the button and the lift began to carry him upwards he began to get a horrible twisting in his stomach.
A fluttering hope that no one was there and that everything would go to plan so he could just get out of there…

And to Mylo's luck, for once everything seemed to be fine, once the lift doors had opened he had made his way to the entrance hall.

Sir, may I assist you?

"Ahh" he yelled and it took him a while to realize it must have been Tony Stark's AI he had been briefed on.
"Err no thank you, I'm just here to check up on the energy meter" he squeaked, damn why hadn't this been taken care of? He wondered so he reached for his phone and rang it as discreetly as he could he began to ring.

After the second trill she picked up, "Sup Mylo"
"Shhh" he whispered, "I think Stark's AI is watching me, I thought you said you disabled it"
"What Jarvis? Oh yeh I disabled him, what do you think of me!"
"Then why did it just speak to me?" he asked but he already began to form his own answer.
"Duh, that was me" the British voice spoke, confirming Mylo's suspicions.
"Ugh I hate you"
"No you love me really, haha what is this voice… I'm so posh now go polish a horse, peasant"
Mylo rolled his eyes again, "Just give me some directions already"
"Fine, go left through the 2nd door which I've opened for you, it will lead you to the Avenger's main kitchen. You know what your welcome"
"Thanks Jarvis" he smirked
"Shut up Milly and get to work"

He sighed, stepping into the rec room, no one was present, so far so good… He wondered round a little bit before he reached the kitchen unit noting a suitable location for the pinhole camera.
So taking it out of his toolbox he picked up the tiny device before instantly dropping it about 5 more times as he tried to attach it to a cupboard door. He hated the fiddly gadget, why did he even have to install it anyway?

When he had finally managed to attach it he moved on to his main assignment, "Ok I'm really sorry" he added before setting to work on the kitchen device.
Then after the deed was done he packed up his stuff, the Avenger's were meant to be out for the day at SHIELD, some meeting Fury had set up for them. But he heard the sound of clicking heels oh god he wished with all his might those stilettos didn't belong to Natasha Romanoff…

"Hello Ms Potts"
"Oh hello Jarvis"
Mylo who was slightly relieved but still annoyed, cursed under his breath and began to stride towards the exit managing to reach the high tech door. But it didn't open when he swiped it, "Now's not the time" he muttered angrily.

"Here let me help you with that" Pepper smiled as she slid her key card lifting the heavy metal. He looked back curiously but ran as soon as he caught her eye.

That was strange she thought but suddenly she heard laughter from the hallway behind her.
"Oh there you are Peps" Tony smirked entering the room with the rest of the hero's trailing behind him.
"Oh your back, how was your meeting?" she grinned back
"Don't even go there" Clint and Tony sighed
"Even spangles almost fell asleep" he waved causing Steve to frown, "I was just tired" he defended.
"Whatever, anyway so how was your day Ms Potts" Tony smiled, for the first time in the last 5 hours, he was actually interested.
"Well everything was fine actually, apart from that mechanic who came in… he sought of ran away when I opened a door for him but I don't know" she shrugged.

"Ahh of course he ran away, you're scary!" he nodded sarcastically picking up a Stark Pad and beginning to tap away. Not noticing Pepper's proceeds until she finally passed him smacking his head for good measure.

Sir I think you should see this.
"Ok, I'll be in my workshop"
Tony continued grinning, "Try not to miss me"
"Ah and why would we do that?" Pepper asked her eyebrow quirking up.
"Oh don't lie" he smirked walking down the stairs away from view causing Pepper to pout. Oh how he loved winding up women…

AN: Just realized that my introduction is kinda slow to start with but I promise that things will start getting quicker in the next chapter where Tony gets his comeuppance, barista style. Please leave some feedback so I can see what to do in the following chaps...