Warning: A lot of vulgar and strong language is used in this chapter. If you are sensitive to it, you are warned. Don't say I didn't warn you, 'cause I totally did.

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Tony knew he was screwed the minute he opened his eyes.

Tony hadn't meant to pass out. He was sciencing way too hard last night and time caught up to him. The man who gave Tony nightmares still today was glaring down at him in an expression that could only mean disgust and hatred.

He really didn't want to get out of the makeshift cot, but he knew he would have to. The longer it took, the longer he would have to look at this man. He sure as hell didn't want to have this man staring at him all day.

Tony trudged into the elevator. His father followed, his footsteps silent. When he reached the lounge room, he almost fell into his armchair. It was a special armchair. He bought it while drunk on Amazon. It was leather and very comfortable. He avoided the gaze of the four members of his team. Clint wasn't there yet.

Natasha immediately recognized the man, and inside, she was seething. She should have known it would be him. Of course, it would be him. She assumed it would have been one of the kidnappers from Afghanistan or even Obidiah.

Bruce had a terrible father, he knew what they were like. He had recognized the same mannerisms they both obtained, such as the ability to deflect with humor (well, Bruce stopped after the Hulk). They both hated physical contact and Tony even couldn't stand having people hand him things.

Thor, unlike what others perceive of him, was quite wise, even if he was pigheaded at moments and not quite so near the level of intelligence of his brother or friend Stark. He has lived with Loki for long enough to know that Stark and his adoptive brother were quite alike. Both hid their true feelings under a mask of snark. Thor quite liked Stark and never really assumed anything remotely horrible could have happened in his friend's childhood.

Steve and Tony didn't get along. It was like telling the well mannered Mormon to hang out with the school prankster. Just didn't work. Howard and Steve got along, though. Tony was so similar to Howard it hurt. They both flirted as normally as breathing, their intelligence levels surpassed all others, and both looked alike, with the shared dark eyes and hair. Steve would have guessed that Howard would be Tony's ghost. Tony's father died when he was 17. That has to hurt. When Steve lost his mom, it hurt.

Tony felt slightly dizzy, as in a sick way. His father was here, why him, why him, why him? He wanted to be sick, but at the same time that would show weakness and surely his father would scold him for that. Why was he even acting this way? His friends had to see their dead ghosts, but he could barely handle his? He really was pathetic.

Clint had walked in and when he saw the sight in front of him, he couldn't help but mutter "Shit." Nat gave him a look, but not a dirty one. A concerned one. Clint shared the concern. Tony was in his armchair, shivering slightly. His eyes were wide open and frightened, a sight that Clint had never seen. A tall, silvery figure was towering over his friend. He was wearing a suit and his hair was fashionable slicked back. Howard Stark.

Clint was an assassin. He knew how to read people as easy as a book. The only four people he had ever had trouble reading were Nick Fury, Natasha, his own brother, and Tony Stark. The man was so good at hiding his true feelings that even Natasha was fooled for about half a year or so. For Clint, it was a year. The guy was stubborn, snarky, and sometimes infuriating, but he was good.

Tony was slightly aware of Clint arriving, but fully aware of his panic rising. His father was going to hurt him. Sure enough, his father started speaking. "You know, I never wanted a child. I never wanted a wife, either. I just wanted a nice happy life, building weapons and helping out Steve and Peggy. But then Steve had to be a hero and landed the plane in the goddamn arctic!"

Tony shivered at the words. He always did. Howard would recall these things before pulling out the big guns. "I was never mad at him. How could I be mad at a perfect man? After that, Rebecca killed herself and Peggy and I created SHIELD. Stark Industries was becoming more and more popular. Then I met Maria.

"She was timid and way too caring for her own good. Peggy insisted I get to know her. Soon enough, I married her. She was perfect, well, until she insisted we have a child." His father made a face. "Why she wanted one, I do not know. She begged for years before I finally gave in." A dry, bitter chuckle. "Why, oh why did I agree? Out of all the things I could have done, I had to have a son as bad as you. Stubborn, ignorant, and arrogant. Suppose you got stubborn and arrogant from me."

Tony was aware that he had pulled his knees up to his chin, his arms around his legs, making himself smaller. He wanted to disappear. "You're pathetic. Look at you. A grown man, thrown to hysterics. How could I ever let you take over the company? Obi would have been better."

'Obi was a traitor.' Tony wanted to say, but the words wouldn't come out. He really was pathetic, driven to muteness from simply being yelled at by Howard.

"I spent the rest of my life trying to teach you how to be better, but you simply shrug me off. Your own father! You could have gotten into MIT much quicker if you followed my advice and learning techniques for more than a year." Tony couldn't hide the shudder. His father had taken it to be his job to teach him, and... the punishments were simply awful. No need to get into them now.

"You are useless!" He could feel the eyes on him. The hard eyes of Natasha scanning his emotions, Clint's horrified ones, Steve's terrified blue irises, Thor's careful and wise optics, and Bruce's slightly green orbs. Don't forget Howard's judging, hateful brown eyes.

Tony felt dizzy but managed to mutter "I'm glad you died. I was practically full to the brim with happiness when I heard about it, and if the Universe is just, you would be so far down in hell itself that you could never be able to crawl out." His words were quiet and shaky, but that seemed to be enough for Howard. The noise of him disappearing was so loud that the ground shook. A Jackson Pollock fell to the ground, so did a nice vase. Tony would have winced, Pepper would be absolutely livid since the vase was worth thousands, but he was too mentally exhausted to do so.

Everything was deliciously silent for a second, but it became deafening and much too loud and everyone was looking at him and he was falling down, down, down and no one was grabbing his hands to pull him from the mess, also called Tony Stark's mind. He was stuck, falling forever, never reaching an end and it was frightening him and he could feel the coldness settle in and-

Hands were on his face, a commanding voice doing its correct job, which was commanding, him to breathe. He wasn't aware that he wasn't breathing, but when he focused on it, it became impossible. He could feel his lungs begging for even a glimpse of oxygen, but he couldn't do it. He really was a failure. Not just in his father's eyes, but everyone else's, including his own, as well.

"Tony, listen to me!" The voice stuck out from the sea of other sounds Tony failed to make out. He paid attention to those found words. "I need you to take a breath in. A big one. Now." Tony tried his best to follow the instructions, but he was slipping. "Now exhale." He did so, even though it was hard. He continued to follow the directions, slowly coming back to the lounge room.

Clint was kneeling in front of him, along with Nat. Bruce was pacing, his eyes such a green that if he turned, it could leave to the destruction of Harlem (again). Thor and Steve were on either side of the armchair, both looking extremely worried but also confused.

"Tony?" He turned his slightly watery eyes over to Clint. "You okay?"

Tony couldn't find his voice, so instead, he just let the tears go down his face, a thing he hadn't done in front of people since he was 17, after the death of his mother (Howard definitely not included). He felt strong arms wrap around him, and he didn't hesitate in practically melting into them, sobbing silently. The anguish and terror and hardship of many years all went into that cry.

He felt other pairs of arms reaching, forming a group hug. Tony eventually stemmed the tears. He slowly pulled away, wiping his eyes. The team also pulled away, all standing awkwardly. Tony could have made at least 9 different jokes, but all he felt like doing was curling up in his room and making fun of people who 'understood' science. Except Bill Nye. He really was the Science Guy.

"Do we have to hug again?" Clint tried to go for a joke, but Natasha slapped him across the face. Tony shook his head. "Tony, are you sure your okay?" Steve asked, concerned. Bruce turned to the super soldier, infuriated. "Of course he's not okay! His father, the one who constantly beat him and verbally abused him and ridiculed him, came back to life to tell him what a failure he was in his eyes. We were all not okay, and Tony helped us the best he could and when it's his turn, Clint and you joke about his feelings!

"I know you never really knew your father, Steve, but I do know Bucky was like a brother to you. Imagine he constantly beat you." Steve looked stricken. "Yeah, that's what I thought. A father is someone who is supposed to be kind and loving, not the exact opposite. For 17 years he had to go through that and do you know what you two do?" Bruce was furious, his eyes dangerously green but no one could stop him. "You ask him if he's okay and joke about his state of weakness."

Bruce starts to do some breathing exercises to keep Jolly Green from making an appearance. Clint and Steve look equally shocked. Thor grabbed Tony's arm gently, but he still flinched. "Come, my friend." He murmured, and Thor leads Tony to another room. The kitchen. Thor sullenly put some cinnamon Pop-tarts in the toaster (Thor never does anything sullenly, especially not pop tart time) and brings out two plates.

"Do you wish to talk about the past events, Man of Iron?" Tony shook his head. "Very well. May I tell a tale of my childhood?" Tony nodded just as the pop tarts came out. Thor grabbed them and handed a plate to Tony. He began to recount a story of how Thor and Loki stole some horses and left Asgard for the day. Odin and Frigga had thought they were kidnapped, and Tony almost cracked a smile at the ending. Sometime during the story, Natasha had walked in, sitting next to Tony, taking most of his pop tart since he was only eating little bits.

"My friend, please know that everything that foul man said are false. You are worth everything to your Lady Pepper, and us. Never forget that." Tony nodded, for the first time believing the words.

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Hello, my dear readers. I am sorry for the wait. I fee really bad, but I lost the papers. Hadn't found them until a week ago. This is maybe the final chapter of Ghosts. I have a poll set up. The options are:

1: Add one epilog

2: Make a second series about it

3: Just stop where I'm at

Just go and do the poll. Please. It closes on Monday. I'll post the results and plans on Monday as well.

I really do hope you enjoyed this angsty chapter.