A/N
Yiddish to English
Sviti - sweetie.
Hebrew to English.
דבש - Honey.
Italian to English.
Mostra gli artigli - show your claws
rimani qui. Non strappare il laboratorio mentre non ci sono. - stay here. Don't tear up the lab while I'm gone.
Tesoro- darling
Bellissimo- very beautiful.
All these translations are from Google Translate.
Italics are thoughts of an Avenger other than Tony. Tony's thoughts are in bold italic.
"What I tend to keep secret about my childhood is that two people who I cared for more than anyone else and they were Ana and Jarvis. Peggy and Maria are a close third with Obadiah coming in fourth and Howard fifth.
There are several reasons why I keep this to myself.
Firstly, I lost the top two on that list at fourteen and secondly I don't think anyone has ever cared about me that much. Although if I'm honest, I was scared that they only stuck around because they were paid to or maybe because of some misplaced loyalty to Howard, that's stupid right? I know that's stupid because they made it very clear that they loved me."
Searching for the source of adult Tony's voice, the Avengers were all stumped when they couldn't see one through the twisting colours around them.
When the whirl of colours cleared they found themselves facing a child Tony, seemingly a year or so older than he was in the Circuit Board memory, managing two experiments at once.
The first seemed to be an explosive for SI judging by the plan that had been drawn out and the chemical concoction bubbling on Bunsen burner on one side of the desk.
However, the second was the one he seemed to be paying most attention to.
Twisting one of the gears in the small device he reached up and grabbed a small pair of teaser's and pushed it in with a small click.
Ana's going to love this.
But then the bubbling sound became more violent from the other end of the table and they all felt a sharp stab of alarm.
Damn. I forgot to check on the explosive model.
Grabbing the newly made device Tony dived around the back of the desk just as the chemical exploded.
Pop!
Shards of glass and a thin layer of smoke flew in every direction.
They were suddenly very grateful for their incorporeal nature but they still couldn't resist flinching when the glass flew through them.
Thank God sir made it behind the desk. Relieved Vision let out a smile as Tony's small head peered upwards with his hair slightly singed.
"Ooh Jarvis is going to be pissed."
He observed cringing at the sight of the smoke and the indent's in the desk.
"Why?" A new female voice asked.
Whipping around Tony startled and threw his hands behind his back.
"Ana what are you doing here? I was just doing an experiment and it kind of-"
"Exploded on you," Ana smiled, " I can tell."
They could see why as Tony's appearance was a dead giveaway. Despite the ash smeared across his face Tony only smiled and kept his hands behind his back. Narrowing her eyes at him, she moved forward smiling cheekily.
"What have you got behind your back sviti?"
"Nothing," Tony answered too quickly and avoided her eyes, clearly this Tony hadn't mastered lying yet.
"Tony." Awkwardly, he opened his hand to her. The others all moved forward to see a half made pocket watch. It was gold and embroidered with roses with the Yiddish word אַנטי meaning auntie embedded on to the centre right above the Jewish Star of David.
Brightly smiling Ana looked to him. "Tony I..."
"Open it."
She flipped the lid back and saw several photographs of herself, Jarvis and her mother. "I was preparing this as one of the things to give you when Hanukkah starts, it's not finished yet but I managed to add pictures in of you and your favourite people and I-"
"Whoa Tony these aren't all my favourite people. You missed yourself you big dummy."
Gaping as a blush coloured his cheeks, Tony was speechless for several minutes, Ana smiled at him knowingly.
"Eer...what about this one then?"
"I love it." The small photograph was of Tony holding his hands up in a peace sign standing by Jarvis who looked very prim and proper outside a science fair.
"Come to bed Sviti," She kissed him on the cheek before whispering, "otherwise I'll tell Edwin you are down here at 4am again and exploded something." Her eyes glinted mischievously as Tony smiled at her.
"You wouldn't."
"Ok you got me but you need to get to sleep דבש."
"OK then," Tony good naturedly rolled his eyes as he placed the watch on the side and followed her upstairs.
"Come on J you can do better than that."
Watching Jarvis get thrashed by Ana on the mats a young, bruised and battered looking Tony lent against the door frame.
"Sir, what are you doing walking? Shouldn't you be in your chair?"
Tony meant to make a dismissive hand gesture but judging by the pained look that flitted across his face he seriously regretted it.
"Idiot," Ana hissed shoving the wheelchair under him.
"I'm not weak. I'm fine."
"Sir, you dislocated both arms, broke both wrists, dislocated 3 toes, cracked 2 ribs and gained a broken leg 3 days ago. Sit down."
They all stared. What had happened to him?
Regretfully, Tony lowered himself into the chair. "Sorry J."
Smirking a little Tony continued. "It was worth it to watch you get thrashed by Ana though."
"You should come to every one of our spars then," commented Ana whilst unwrapping her hands. "Don't deny it Edwin," She turned then to Tony crouching down to his eye level. "Come when you're better unless you can wheel here."
"Ooo I haven't tried any tricks in this thing yet. Thanks for reminding me Ana."
With that Tony spun out the doorway on his new wheelchair while several of the Avengers chortled. "No." Jarvis ran after him whilst Ana chortled. "Young sir, don't be irresponsible!"
Nostalgically smiling Ana tutted and walked after them. "Let him have his fun Edwin don't be a killjoy."
Wandering into Tony's lab Jarvis looked around the area.
"Young Sir, it's tea time," when this gained no response he continued. "Ana's made Cholent with chicken and beef, your favourite."
At this the sound of purring was heard and a line of fur tapped him across the face, looking up Jarvis startled and made a very unmanly noise.
A small very furry ginger cat stared at Jarvis through dazzlingly unnatural green eyes; its ears peaked forward in interest.
"Oh, you startled me." Jarvis smiled as he reached his hand out to it. "Has Master Tony been caring for you little one?"
"No I made him." Tony dived out from under his desk where he had been hiding all along and smiled cheekily.
"This isn't a real cat?" Wide eyed Jarvis beamed at Tony.
"No J, Amico mostra gli artigli." With that the cat produced claws of not keratin like they had expected before but pure steel.
"Friend Anthony was very talented even then." Thor's expression was filled with pride. "He was much like my brother in that respect."
Clint snorted nastily unable to resist that dig. "Doesn't that tell you something?"
"I do not like what you implying Friend Clinton," Thor expression turned thunderous. "It is not right to say derogatory things about friend Anthony who isn't here to defend himself or my brother who died saving me."
Clint instantly became regretful while the others became sympathetic. "Sorry man, I didn't know."
Twirling the hammer through his fingers, Thor stared at it and began to speak.
"None of you were to know. No one asked apart from friend Anthony after I heard about the Accords and I signed. He asked how I was and about what had happened. I told him what had occurred on Asgard," Thor stopped briefly. "It took me by surprise how sympathetic and understanding he was."
The others digested this as the memory resumed.
"Young Sir, can he wait down here while we go to dinner? We can show Ana after we eat."
"Sure Jarvis. Amico rimani qui. Non strappare il laboratorio mentre non ci sono."
The lab went dark as Tony followed Jarvis out of the room.
"13 year old male, gunshot wound to the stomach, BP 155 /97."
Dragged along with Ana and Jarvis behind the nurses the Avengers were shocked to see a teenage Tony lying on the bed.
All of a sudden they found they could no longer move when the nurses stopped both Jarvis'.
"Wait here please."
Ana clasped Jarvis' hand as they stared after him, both misty eyed.
"Come on Edwin. He'll make it, our boy is strong."
Soothingly, she guided him a chair in the waiting room at Shield before Peggy and Maria rushed in.
"How is my tesoro?"
Worried Maria made a beeline for the Jarvis's and stared intently at both of them, trying to gauge their reactions.
It became apparent quite quickly that Edwin couldn't talk, staring instead at the dried blood speckled across his hands. Ana reached forward and clasped Maria's hand.
"We don't know yet sweetie," Ana's voice was soft and comforting as she looked across then at Peggy who was trying to disguise her worry. She directed the next sentence at both of them. "Our Tony's a fighter, he'll pull through."
Observing Maria's distressed face, Ana pulled Maria into a hug, Peggy kept her eyes however on Jarvis, seeming deeply concerned for him.
Murmuring something about washing his hands, Jarvis quickly got up while Peggy went to follow him. ("I'll follow him; I haven't seen him like this since you got shot Ana." Ana grimaced at the memory that statement brought up. With her arms still full of Maria, she nodded to Peggy who swiftly sped off after Jarvis.)
A few moments later Peggy returned, Jarvis in tow with reddened and raw but clean hands, his eyes also looked considerably redder but no one commented on it.
This was perfectly timed as the nurse came through at that moment.
"Friends and family of Anthony Stark can come through, now. He should make a full recovery although he is still unconscious at the moment"
They all got up apart from Peggy.
"Margret?" Jarvis questioned her, perplexed like the rest of them why she remained seated.
"Go now Jarvis, Ana, and Maria we all know how much he means to you." She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "Someone has to wait for Howard to come back from dealing with the shooter."
Jarvis opened his mouth to protest but Peggy cut him off.
"He's important to me too but he needs you more at the moment."
Jarvis nodded at that, his expression conveying how grateful he was for her thoughtfulness as he grabbed Ana's hand and walked through the doors.
Maria smiled stiffly before walking after them.
Once she was alone, Peggy let her expression show how upset she really was at the whole situation; she leant her head backwards and stared at the ceiling.
Several minutes later they saw Howard enter and bite his lip anxiously.
"Pegs, how is he?"
Lifting her head back up Peggy gazed at Howard who looked decidedly worried for his son and decided to put him out of his misery.
"He'll be alright Howard," Reassured, Howard allowed himself to fall back into the chair behind him, "He's still out of it though."
"That's...that's good," Recovering from his earlier anxiety and subsequent relief, Howard continued cockily as his mask slid up. "Of course he's alright. My boy's not going to be taken down by a puny bullet, let's go Pegs."
With that he gestured to her to follow him as they vanished through the doors.
"Fuck!"
Swearing angrily at himself both in Italian and English, Clint felt Tony throw the tool he was using across the room.
Clint sighed before looking down at the mass of twisted metal and fur on the desk.
He only just recognised it as the robot cat he spotted with Jarvis earlier in this series of memories. Blimey what the hell had happened to that cat?
It looked nothing short of wrecked.
Experiencing, sadness, anger and defeat, Tony shut his eyes.
"Tony," ignoring the door opening as well as the voice behind him, Tony bit his lip harshly.
"Oh Tony, what happened?"
Despite feeling Ana wrap an arm around him Tony remained staring at the cat.
Lie. Young Tony's voice echoed in his mind making Clint curiosity and concern peak.
What are you hiding Stark?
"We were playing on the stairs; he fell from the ceiling, down the stairs and into the tools. I've tried fixing him but it's useless..."
Clint could see his world blurring before it went dark, he could feel Ana's arm around him as she rubbed his back
"I know you did the best you could sviti."
Lights flashed in front of Scots face almost dazzling him as he was led away from the press who circled him like vultures with blinding brilliant smiles.
"Mr Stark, how do you feel? Are you proud of your son he...?"
"Howard, your son seems to be following in your-"
"…Creating an Engine at such a young age, you must be proud, Mr Stark. What are we to expect in the future from-"
"Tony how are you feeling little one?"
A microphone was shoved near his mouth as the reporter bent down to his level.
"Proud, I guess. Most normal kids can't make this kinda stuff but I love making things..."
Trailing off Scott suddenly noticed how many of the reporter's eyes were now on him, feeling rather nervous now, he blushed and looked to the floor.
This seemed to open the flood gates, they loomed over him and began to ask many rapid fire questions, all at once.
He had to admit that even as an adult Scott knew he would have trouble dealing with that Lord knows how Stark managed.
Even as a superhero and an ex thief he was used to staying out of the limelight be it because of his profession or the fact that he wore a suit.
This was completely alien to him.
"Don't crowd the poor lad," At the hand resting on his shoulder, Scott looked up at the tall rather intimidating bald headed man smiling at the press it was Obie, dad's business partner. Thank God.
He looked to his other side and he saw his dad give him a side wink as Obie led him inside.
"Tesoro, he is bellissimo." Jumping over her, Amico perched himself proudly on her shoulder Maria beamed at the cat and then Tony.
She spun around on the piano stool she was sat on to face him.
"Well I'm sure he'll get me first place at the contest," Amico preened at that and Tony snorted at him.
"Don't tell him that it'll go to his head," Amico meowed indignantly at her before smiling as Tony tickled his chin. "I promise you Tesoro I'll come to see you this time."
Worry and excitement crawled inside them.
"Are you sure you're alright to go? You were ill a few days ago..."
"I'm fine now tesoro."
Young Tony looked over her before smiling widely once more.
"Then it'd be great to see you there."
Purring Amico liked her cheek and rubbed his head against her.
The next time Natasha opened her eyes she found she was at a rather extravagant birthday party.
Trapped in Tony's head she found that she couldn't sweep her surroundings as she normally would do but from what she could see she was surrounded by streamers, flashing lights and people of varying ages.
"Hello General Gilligan," Thank God Peggy said that I couldn't remember his name for the life of me.
Natasha turned to smile gratefully at Peggy who just winked at him in return.
"Mrs Carter-Sousa," The General nodded politely to her before smiling at Tony and pulling a small box from behind his back.
"Happy Birthday Tony,"
Taking the small box from the kindly General, Natasha felt Tony's hands flare up in discomfort, aggravating wounds that were spread across that area of hands. Despite this Natasha was confused to feel Stark's increasing vehemence of his thoughts and it was becoming difficult to endure.
Drop it. DROP it. DROP IT NOW.
"Thank you General," Tony smiled up at the man as he ruffled Tony's hair and disappeared.
Once he was satisfied the man had disappeared he snuck off to a deserted room, forgetting that Peggy would follow him. He placed the gift down on the table next to him before tugging down a bandage from around his palm.
Inspecting the bleeding wound, it was clear to both herself and Tony that the pressure had aggravated it substantially.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
It felt like Tony jumped out his skin by the way he jolted out of his position then.
"Aunt Peg, I um it's not that bad really. I didn't think it would get this sore."
Peggy's face turned stern and stubborn as she looked over her godson.
"I'll get the first aid kit. Stay here."
Natasha felt foreign feelings of warmth, embarrassment and love bubble up inside her from Tony as he leaned heavily against the table by his gift.
What would I do without you Peg?
