Chapter 4:

A Request From a Hawk

JARVIS has been fully installed into the FBI system. A job well done, if you ask Tony. It was a small distraction from the growing tension in the Avengers team after The Captain decided to throw a random apology at his face. Why does The Captain always make his time at the FBI so complicated? Tony will never know.

Still, his AI now has access to everything Ironman. Tony was giddy. He could work a lot more efficiently now. He sat back and typed JARVIS a list of commands for him to run in the background while he 'pretended' to get a break through on the case. This was going to be so much fun for him and very educational to the Captain and his crew.

After JARVIS confirmed his acknowledgment of his Tony's commandments, Tony set to work on his new prototypes he had going for a new form of computing. Most of the tech he used at home is too advanced for real society so he has to come up with ways simplify them to make it public consumable. This step was one of Tony found most loathsome but knew it had to be done. If he wanted to make sure he was ahead of the game he had to keep up with the ongoing demand. New models, new gadgets, new everything.

"Hey Tony," a familiar voice spoke up beside him. Looking up he smiled as Bruce placed a hot cup of joe in front of him before taking a seat directly to his left. He leaned back and watched Bruce fiddle around and begin typing his credentials into the computer he stationed himself at. Everyone at this agency are way too into their work but that is why they save so many lives doing it. Which made it more frustrating that they were wasting time and resources on a hacker who did not harm anyone but those who deserved it.

He should know, he was Ironman. A secret he would like to keep out of the hands of the FBI. Thank the lord they trusted him enough to believe he was not the man behind it all. Now, he needed to figure out a safe place to have his 'hide-out' be 'discovered'. It was not going to be easy. He needed to make it look believable. Leave just enough information that would peak the Avengers interest while not giving away too much was never an easy task. Tony was a genius for a reason, right?

"Sup Brucie-bear," Tony smiled at his only friend in the building other than his AI. That is kind of sad.

"I was analyzing some of the data yesterday," Bruce started which made Tony very nervous, "and I noticed something. Every time Ironman hacks or at least attempts to hack since I try to ward him off he only goes for machines that are issued by Hammer Tech."

And why wouldn't he Hammer Tech was just plain awful in every way. Tony could destroy their machines in seconds and he has just to prove a point. Bu alas they FBI refused to switch because they think he would try and access restricted files. They were right but at least he would not use that data to sell out his country like he knew Hammer did. Tony had to set up extra security around Ironman's files in case another hacker ever tried to get into the FBI and try to get information about him. He had to keep himself safe even within the confines of the FBI.

"Interesting," Tony commented, "wonder why? Maybe he finds their tech seriously lacking like I do. I mean come on the tablets this agency uses is like five models behind the StarkTab."

"I don't disagree with you there," Bruce chuckled, "guess us techies all hate Hammer Tech. If it helps you sleep at night, all my personal technology is comes from Stark Industries."

"Thank the Lord," Tony put his hand on his heart, "you would have hurt my soul if you did not. A big insult to my creations, Buttercup."

They both heard the sliding doors open behind them so they turned their heads to see another familiar but not so friendly face, "what can I do for you Barton?" Tony asks turning himself to fully face the man.

"Uh," Barton blinked not really expecting to get his attention immediately. Seemed like he had a whole speech planed out. Tony smiled encouragingly but Barton took it as a challenge and scowled at him. Seriously what is up with this team of people?

"Does your kids want the new generation tabs cause I can get them for you if you like, at a discounted price of course. I do need to make a living," Tony prompted making Barton blink again. Dang it seemed like he was catching the hawk off guard a lot. So much for the guy who sees everything.

"I need help," Barton grumbled shuffling his feet a bit. Tony knew it was not FBI related at all. Maybe he was not hear for him but for Bruce?

"Sure, Legolas," Tony started to get up to leave trying to give the two teammates some privacy.

"Where you going?" Barton glared taking a step towards him.

"About to salsa out in the halls," Tony replied with a smile that seemed to help ease the hawk's glare.

"I need your help," Barton clarified realizing that he may have been unclear as to who he was addressing.

"Oh goodie," Tony replied skipping back to his chair and got comfortable. He loved office gossip, especially FBI gossip.

"So, I need help in tracking the coordinates of a guy," Barton began, "it has to be totally off the records."

"Why? Did he take your last piece of fried chicken? I swear it was Thomas from two cubes down who took it," Tony informed him. It was true and plus he wanted Thomas to get his ass-whooped by Barton. It was always fun to unleash the Avengers onto the other agents in the building.

"Really? I will look into that but no," Barton raised an eyebrow at the discovery before schooling his features, "it's...this man. He was reported KIA but there was no body to confirm it. I just...I can't not live with myself if I don't at least try to bring him home whether it is in a body bag or not. He deserves to be buried here with his family."

"I need a face and maybe a name," Tony requested. He did not know why he was taking up this project but he knew what it was like to have lost a friend and be unable to bury him, "it does not have to be his real name. Just the name he is most likely to go by if he is trying to low on the radar."

Barton looked genuinely surprised that Tony was willing to help him. He knew this was not totally going to get him out of Barton's do not like list but it was a step. They have a lot of history of bad memories together. It was going to be hard especially since Barton was half-convinced that Tony betrayed him. They were not even friends or anything so Tony could not understand how he could classify him sleeping with his girlfriend at the time a big no. She had told Tony she was single and taken him back to her place. He knew he should have insisted on his...long story short, Tony had broken the bro code that he was not even aware was even active between him and Barton.

"I will send it to you in a classified envelope by the end of the day," Barton replied standing up from his seat. Tony could tell the man was shaking like he was anticipating a fight but got none. It was an obvious sign of PTSD that has gone unresolved. He knew because he watched Rhodey suffer from the same thing.

Well that crossed off two more people off his list. Tony had decided that this mission he was going to change their views of him. If he could get them to trust him explicably than they would never allow anyone to suspect him of being...well him. He would get away with being Ironman.

"You sure you want to do this?" Bruce asked him. He knew by doing this Tony would be breaking like a dozen international laws but he knew that once Tony made up his mind there was not going back.

"Don't worry about it Brucie-pie," Tony smiled seeing a message from JARVIS that everything was complete. Tony had full access to the FBI files on him. Time to wreak havoc on the investigation but not too much because he still needed the Avengers for his plan to work. Hopefully he can pull it off.

Tony stood in an empty building trying to space it out in his head. How would he set up the fake base of operations without giving them too many clues. He knew how Tony Stark would set up the space but he needed to be as far from that image as possible. Easy answer, Ironman was a neat freak.

It was easy. He set up everything in such a manner than every paper was in place and every screen was meticulously cleaned thrice. After setting up everything he planted the much needed evidence into files and into an organized file cabinets while setting up a few folders on the servers of both old projects as well as a small dip into new ones that he was not going to pursue to make it more believable. After getting the info in there he set up all the signature Ironman security protocols on the devices but made them very lacking so the FBI would not have a hard time cracking them.

He realized that he could use this to his advantage. They would think he contributed enough and the FBI would ask him to leave. This meant he could also fall off the grid as Ironman to give the FBI a little time to both digest the information as well as sweat about what his next move was. It was important that Tony made them feel that Ironman was gone before coming in at full swing again.

It was how he was able to constantly out of their hands. That and their dependence on Hammer and his fucking company and technology. This stupid organization really needed to get their eyes checked.

One it was all done, Tony walked down the steps from the base camp towards the exit of the building. He used an old manager office in a building bought out by a third party company that had no ties to Tony or SI in the slightest.

Satisfied with his work Tony went home. There he found both his son and a plain but thick envelope waiting for him. Tony picked up his son, gave him all the affection he could in such waiting for Pete to begin fussing at him for the overload of love before turning his attention to the envelope.

"Dada, S'ar 'ak," Peter insisted waving his hands in front of his father's face. Tony chuckled momentarily forgetting the heavy package in his hand. Taking Peter to their favorite spot on the couch, Tony turned on their show allowing his son to get distracted. If Peter saw him not watching he would smack his arm and demand him to keep his eyes on the screen. It made Tony feel wanted even if it was for a short time. Eventually everyone got tired of Tony and it was bound to happen with Peter sooner or later. He just hoped for the latter.

Opening the envelope he pulled out a folder with the FBI initials on it and opened it to the first page. The man looked familiar to Tony but he could not really place him. That was until he read the name,

"Phil Coulson."