"Hang on a minute." Steve frowned as he thought about Daniel again- something about him looked familiar. "I think Daniel looks familiar to me... Wait he was one of the Pallbearers at the funeral. Wasn't he? Being?"

"Yes, he was the old man with white hair carrying the back of the coffin." The Being nodded,"her death had a wider effect on your team than you know Captain."

"On Tony, you mean." Natasha spoke up appearing pensive, "he appeared upset when I told him about Peggy but he insisted that he didn't know her very well and that I should go to you, Steve. He said he'd handle Ross until we all got back." She paused briefly before frowning to herself. "It was obvious now that he was lying about Mrs Carter-Sousa when he sent me off. But Stark has a scarily good poker face and at the time- I didn't."

"You are quite right Miss Romanoff," the Being nodded to her but their face was closed off.

"Sorry for the interruption Illuminate, but before you start the next set of memories... I gotta ask, how did that woman get bullets that could tear through a bulletproof vest? Aren't those really hard to get? She must have had an investor." Peter asked, stopping once he saw Rhodey and Visions faces suddenly become furious. "Am I missing something?"

"Based on past actions, motive and ability, both I and Mr Rhodes seem to have concluded that it was Obadiah Stane who helped this woman's attempt on Sirs life." Vision stated in a tight voice.

The Illuminate gave a small nod to confirm their suspicions.

"I shall give you some time to digest this in private." The Being clicked their fingers and disappeared.

"God fucking damn it!" Rhodey swore, "That makes it three times! Three! If I could bring him back from the dead, I'd kill him myself. Thank god, Tony already killed that bastard."

At the level of animosity present in Rhodes voice, they really didn't doubt him.

"Obadiah Stane tried to kill Mr Stark three times?" Spider-Man spoke up alarmed. "I mean he was a creep and I got a bad feeling about him, but trying to kill him! The News said if I remember rightly that he died in a small aircraft crash. If Mr Stark killed him why wouldn't the public know that?"

"It would be bad for PR if it came out that the CTFO of a company tried to kill off its CEO. Then the CEO killed the CTFO, there would be a media outcry and SI would be destabilised. It was also a painful situation for Mr Stark and one that he did not wish to discuss with the World." Vision pursed his lips in an expression of displeasure that announced what he felt about that. Mr Stane had never had to answer for his under the table dealings and the public still think that Mr Stark was the one responsible. This misunderstanding caused a rift between Mr Stark and Wanda that he had found hard to navigate and he had tried to rectify a few times. Wanda didn't wish to talk about him and Vision didn't wish to upset her.

"Why would Stane want to kill Stark? Wasn't Stark leading the company and its weapons manufacturing? Why is Stane so important anyway?" Wanda asked.

Stark got hurt because of his father's weapon not his own. It's not like he had to see the name 'Stark' on the weapon that shot him.

I still hate him but he was a child at the time.

Like I was when the name 'Stark' tore my life apart.

"Did you not read Starks file?" Natasha's eyes narrowed dangerously at Wanda who shook her head, Natasha then turned to Steve. "Isn't it meant to be mandatory for new recruits to read the personality profiles and the backgrounds of our existing members?"

"I did make her read everyone's," He faltered a little under Natasha's hard glare, "Apart from Tony's. His bomb tore apart her life, Natasha! I didn't want to make her read about him if she wasn't comfortable-"

"Not comfortable?" Bruce asked in an incredulous voice. "Are you hearing yourself right now? Stane dealt behind Tony's back for years and you didn't think Maximoff should know that."

"That doesn't prove that he didn't sell those shells that killed my parents. That left me and my brother sat next to one for two days waiting for it to blow us up!" Wanda hissed back, desperately holding onto her rage and resentment whilst blocking any doubt from her mind. "He didn't care what happened to his weapons then and his carelessness cost me my family! He still made Ultron, Pietro is dead because of him!"

"I helped make Ultron too, or did you all conveniently forget that when I left?" Bruce growled at them all before glaring back at Wanda. "And we all know that you helped create Ultron too now, don't forget that!"

"All I did was encourage what was already there. Stark is twisted and Ultron is that twisted part expressed." Wanda snapped back, Scott interrupted her awkwardly.

"Um guys, the Being is back."

At this everyone became silent, but the tension remained like a elephant in the room that everyone refused to talk about.

"So now I have given you privacy to think things over, are you ready to continue?"

Getting a series of silent nods as an answer, the illuminate clapped its hands, as the world swirled around them.

Tony's new living space had nothing short of the best of everything money could buy, with books strictly about science and engineering, lining the shelves that curved along the personality void, plain white walls. However, the new things seemed cold and unfamiliar giving the room a unwelcoming feeling.

Despite this being only a few months after Jarvis's death, they saw that Tony's appearance had changed substantially; it was clear that he was beginning to lose some of his boyish charm and gain a more handsome shape despite this, his eyes appeared dimmer and lined with faint blue circles which showed that he had been having trouble sleeping.

At this moment, they could tell he was feeling bored as he flicked the bullpoint pen between his fingers and scanned through his old AI plans.

I've got to make something.

What if I just - no that wouldn't work.

His eyes periodically flickered to the mobile phone on the opposite side of his desk.

He grinned widely as it rang and plucked it from its place.

"Oh hey Obie."

"Tony, my boy how are you settling in?"

"Great. It's ah...the work is riveting. Something is challenging me now and it's great- weird but great."

"I'm glad that you like the work at least but Tony, you've got to make the most of this. You can't just shut yourself off from other people because of what happened with the Jarvis's."

"How did you- no we aren't talking about this. We are done here."

"Tony, you did all you could. People die everyday, it was just bad luck that Jarvis died in front of you-"

"Goodbye."

"Tony!"

Tony cringed as Obadiah's annoyed reprimand came through the phone just before he cut him off.

Ooo I'm going to get in trouble for that later. I know I was being rude but fuck him for bringing up the Jarvis's, he knows I don't like talking about that.

Tony could still see the impression of Jarvis's central heterochromatic eyes which had strands bright grey exploding outwards from his pupils into a sea of light brown. The moment that their light died kept replaying, over and over...

Glancing at the clock hanging on the wall, he spotted that it was 11:30pm but where his thoughts were going, thanks to Obadiah's attempt at comfort, he knew sleep would either be fruitless or filled with nightmares.

Screw sleep. I'll sleep when I'm dead.

He dragged himself up and made some ,rather generously spiked, coffee and pulled his old book out with plans for the AI in and stalked towards a padlocked door that was near his desk.

A string of gold flew across their vision and they found it to be several hours later as the next day was almost beginning; he was now in the lab and had notes strewn around him like planets orbiting a sun, this circle was only broken by a rather large bit of machinery in front of him, vaguely recognisable as DumE.

"I always loved watching Anthony work," Thor smiled "it reminded me of when I watched my brother practice magic. I think he and Anthony would've been close comrades had Loki defended Earth not try and invade it."

"FUCK."

The burst of the loud obscenity from Tony made Clint give a short startled laugh as Tony kicked the offending robot that electrocuted his hand.

Everyone hissed slightly as the phantom pain now went through his foot as well as his hand, the others watched Tony intently.

"You dummy," The robot's eye blinked open to the amazement of Scott who pointed this out to the others as well. However, this went unnoticed to Tony who continued ranting at himself. " Stupid Dummy," The robot stopped, seemingly blinking, before continuing to wheel silently over to his creator. "Really thought that would work didn't you? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid."

Staring up at his creator, DUME waved a metallic claw waved across his face.

"GAH!"

Panicked, Tony flung a screwdriver across the room at it, on instinct DUME whirled away.

"I didn't mean to do that." Grimacing, he patted the bots shaking claw, "God I'm such a Dummy sometimes."

The bot beeped at the mention of his name and his claw lifted slightly to look at Tony's face.

"What? DumE?" Beeping again as an affirmative and waving his claw up and down the bot whirred at he took note of the room.

Tony looked at his notes on the floor.

I did it.

I don't have to be alone anymore.

"Hi I'm Tony, I made you - woah don't touch that-"

DumE, who had been clicking his claw at some of the bright chemicals littering the shelves in the lab, made a unhappy noise in reply and visibly dropped.

Tony scanned the lab looking for something safe for his new friend to play with, before his eyes settled on an obnoxiously yellow stress ball with a smiley face on.

"Small bounces only, break anything and I'll dismantle your motherboard." Tony commented lightly, leaning back onto the sofa in his lab and smirking as DUME inspected the ball.

Walking alongside Tony in a deserted hallway, they all paused when he heard a malicious voice and a grunt of pain.

"You need to be put in your place nigger. What makes you think that you have the right to stand up to me?"

Tony peered around the corner of the corridor to see a teenage black boy, which they recognised as a young James Rhodes, being pushed up against the locker by a bully with dyed blonde hair called Tiberius Stone.

"You were bullied?" Steve looked to Rhodes who smiled bitterly.

"Being black in the 80's didn't exactly make me the most popular kid in MIT, let's just put it that way."

"You think you're above me?" They could hear the amusement and the mocking note in past Rhodey's voice (they all quickly agreed to call the teenage version of him James's to avoid confusion.) "I knew you talked out of your ass a lot of the time but even I was impressed by the amount of shit you spewed then."

Clint sniggered before outright laughing at the look spreading over Tiberius's face.

"Oh Man, you just owned his ass." Sam smiled and laughed as he high fived the current counterpart of his friend.

"I agree with you man. Being racist really? I didn't think you could sink any lower Ty. Get with the times." Unimpressed, Tony walked boldly out into the hallway and crossed his arm across his chest.

"Ah, look who decided to join the fun. Shouldn't you still be in preschool Stark?"

"Well I got bumped up a few grades." Tony shrugged nonchalantly, "Don't be petty just because I'm smarter, Ty."

"You wish kiddy. I bet you're just here because daddy footed the bill. Now why don't you run along and play with your toy robots. Chocolate and I were having fun before you showed up."

"What a prick." Clint muttered vindictively.

James's fists clenched and Tony's nerve finally snapped, he pulled out something very long, thin and metal from his bag and held it out in front of him as a red laser from the device shone straight at Tiberius's head.

"Is that meant to scare me Stark? Am I meant to be afraid of a red laser?" Tiberius raised one eyebrow as he chortled cruelly.

"Oh I wouldn't be laughing if I were you." Tony's voice became soft and very dangerous, it actually made Tiberius stop. "You see this little gadget here is something I'm helping Howard design for the military. This laser focuses on the pain receptors in the area it's pointed. It activates when it starts to buzz. That's when you really have to worry. Apparently, the pain is so intense that it causes you to pass out. So I would think twice about carrying on your bullying ways if I were you. Now run before I decide not to be so forgiving."

Tiberius blinked, looking from Tony to James, who seemed completely flabbergasted, before flinging his bag over his shoulder and running away.

The older Rhodey snorted as he watched Tiberius run. "Wuss."

"Are you alright?" Concerned, Tony grabbed James's things that were littering the floor and shoved them into his bag before holding a hand out to pull him to his feet but he had already got to his feet.

"Yeah, man I guess I owe you one." James smiled then raised an eyebrow. "Were you really going to hurt him with that thing?"

"Nah." Tony laughed and admired the device briefly. "It was really just a laser and a buzzer melded together. I just wanted to frighten him off. Tiberius has always been a coward and I can act quite well, being born in the spotlight has its perks."

"Wow that was some act." James sounded awed as he grinned at his new friend. "I'm James Rhodes."

"No," A grin curved across his mouth. "What you are is a massive Rhodey for allowing Ty to pick on you like that. But I'll stay with you to find a teacher, who incidentally, you should've gone to before you tried to be brave."

"The phrase is Rodney not Rhodey." James replied in a droll voice that made Tony smirk.

"I know." Tony winked at him then his smile dropped suddenly.

Oh shit. He's trying to be my friend.

Tony's tone and expression chilled several degrees as he continued. "Mrs Bassfords room is down there, she should still be up. See you around Rhodes."

"Tony what-?"

Pivoting on his heels, he ignored James and strolled briskly down the corridor in the opposite direction with his bag slung over his shoulder.

"What the hell was that?" James asked an empty corridor, the Avengers could say they shared that sentiment as they watched his new friend disappear into the darkness.

They found themselves stood next to James, who scanned for somewhere to sit, clasping his lunch in a small bag, he smiled once he spotted Tony sat alone and silent amongst the bustle.

James confidently strode up and placed his lunch in front of Tony's, taking the seat opposite him.

"Hey again. Man, you look tired."

"What's it to you?" Tony asked in a hard voice, his eyes were similarly cold and ringed with dark purple and blue bags. "We aren't friends."

Tony leant back and shrugged before biting into an apple on his plate.

"You seem like a nice kid and you kind of saved my ass from Stone-"

"You're here because you think you owe me. I get it. Debt cleared." Tony looked back down at his food, plonking the apple back on his plate and picking up his coffee; appearing briefly surprised when James didn't move. "That means you can go."

"No. Yesterday before you suddenly shut off you seemed like a nice kid so I don't get the whole 180 mood-"

"Stop." Tony held out a hand, stopping James in his tracks; he pinched the top of his nose and scrunched his eyes together briefly before he opened them again, they had hardened. "Just stop. Whatever you are trying to do, to get from me now, it's not going to happen."

"What the hell kid? I'm not trying to get anything."

"Ha! Sure. You know who I am and you don't want money, gadgets or weapons plans?" Skeptically, Tony raised an eyebrow at Rhodes, analysing him as he leant back in his chair.

"Loki and I experienced this in Asgard," Thor observed the scene unusually quiet and reflective. "Children of Men of power often do especially as they can be used for their own merits."

"No. No. Man, I don't know whether to feel horrified you think that'd be the only reason someone would want to be your friend. Or offended that you'd think that of me." James frowned.

I wonder how long this 'friend' will last?

"You have no idea what you're getting into there Rhodey." Tony smiled but it was shaky one.

My last friends died.

"I think I have an idea. You are talking to me after all." James grinned back. "You were a scary son of a bitch. I think Stone almost pissed himself."

At this Tony lent back his head and laughed.

"Look it's the wunderkid!" They looked at the two girls slightly in front of them, each with short denim shorts on, whispering among themselves and staring at Tony who was oblivious, a short distance away.

Rhodey stiffened when he recognized the taller girl nearest to him with dark brunette hair as Sunset Bain, Tony's first girlfriend.

"Oh no not her." Rhodey glared at the memory version of Sunset giggling with her friend, internally bracing himself for what he was about to come.

"Who?" Steve asked but all he got in reply was a lot of annoyed hand gestures from Rhodes as the Being had seemingly silenced him.

"Oh my god! He's adorable, isn't he 16 now?" The shorter blonde girl asked, alternating between smiling at Sunset and Tony who was now talking to James in the corridor.

"Yes. He's the son of my dad's competitor Howard Stark." Sunset practically drooled, "He is pretty fit isn't he? I've met him a few times at one of those silly charity events Howard's wife runs. Between you and me," She leaned into her friend as she whispered in a hushed voice, the others all moved closer to hear."Dad wants me to steal some of Stark's new designs. It was hard before to keep up with one Stark. But two? Forget it. Dad wants me to get close to Tony to do this. I think it would be pretty easy. I mean he'd be mad to pass this up." She gestured to her slim hourglass figure and waved goodbye to her friend, who wished her luck.

Stalking into the corridor with her head held high, she feigned falling right next to where Tony and James were stood. Tony stooped quickly and caught her around the waist, righting her before quickly bringing his hands away.

"Are you alright Sunset?" Tony asked while James paused, feeling awkward.

"Yeah, I'm ok." Her hands lingered around Tony's arms as she bit her lip in a flirtatious manner. "Sorry for almost falling into you there, Tony. I often find I'm a bit clumsy around people I like."

Grinning, Tony pinked as they felt warm feeling pool in their chests.

Oh my god Sunny likes me! Me!

James smiled cheekily upon seeing this.

They all knew he was going to tease him for blushing later.

"Before I fell over, I was going to ask if maybe you'd like to go out with me this Saturday at 11?"

"Yes, I'd love to. " Tony grinned back, turning scarlet as she kissed his cheek.

"Meet me by the Galileo block."

"I'll - I'll look forward to it."

With that Sunset turned around and strolled away down the corridor, Tony stared after her and held a hand to his cheek, smiling brightly.

"Huh. I think I'm smitten."

"I think so too," Tony jolted at James's voice apparently not realizing that he had spoken out loud. "You were both making gooey eyes at each other for that whole encounter. It was sickening."

"Sure platypus, sure. Some of us have lectures now, so we'll have to continue this later, bye!"

"We will Tony! This is payback for what you were like with me last time!"

"Why can't you just accept that I'm not ready yet?"

"It's been weeks Tony! Weeks! Almost a month, and we still haven't done it yet. When I got with you I didn't think I'd be dating a child-Don't you trust me?"

"I'm not a child! I'm sixteen and yes of course I-"

"It doesn't look like it!"

"Sunny-"

"No! You say you love me but if you really did you would do this for me." Hissed Sunset, Tony stared at his feet and the others began to feel extremely uncomfortable.

She moved across the room and glared at him.

"I do love you. I've never done this before."

Perplexed rather than angry now she raised her eyebrows incredulously.

Shrugging, he gave a one sided smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Despite the rumours, I never had a girlfriend before you. I guess I wanted to save myself. For someone special- I don't know- it's a big step. I guess I was just nervous. I'm not now. You are special to me, ok? I do trust you. You're my girlfriend and I want to make you happy so if you still want to do this then let's do it."

Her expression turned softer as she moved back over. She straddled him before she leant in, kissing him heavily in an almost feral fashion. Inexperienced, Tony's eyes widened in surprise at the gusto she was putting into the kiss as he struggled to respond, keeping his hands still on the lower her back. Her hands pawed and teased his shirt off him before pulling away briefly.

"Trust me Tony, relax. I'll do all the work ok? Just follow my lead. I'm going to make this so good for you."

She leaned in again and her hands trailed downwards, they were thankful that memory changed when it did.

Both Sunset and Tony were sat side by side on her desk before Peter felt Tony stand up stood up, he deduced that this memory was soon after the first as either side of his neck felt very sore a lot like he would imagine large hickies would feel like.

However, Sunsets marks on her own neck were fainter and certainly wouldn't feel very sore if the light small circles of green and red were anything to go by.

"Where are you going?" She stared almost accusingly up at him, with a vice like grip around his wrist.

"I can't stay here forever, you know." He commented lightly before becoming slightly annoyed. "Sunny, I need to go. I have designs to complete and I'm meeting Rhodey in half an hour. You know I'll be back tomorrow."

"You're always working. I'm curious to see what you work so hard on all the time." She purred, her hand squeezed uncomfortably tight around his wrist as her fingers absentmindedly traced patterns in his skin.

Peter suddenly felt very wary of her as Mr Starks advice to him before his date with Gwen echoed in his head. "Don't let her push you into things like sex if you feel you aren't ready or if you are saving yourself. If she starts acting manipulative or controlling, ditch her. You don't need toxic people in your life."

"Just weapons designs for SI, Howard doesn't like me showing anyone-"

"Tones," her hand curled around the side of his face, forcing Peter to look directly into her eyes while he felt the other wrapped around Tony's shoulder. "This is me you're talking to. I'm not going to tell anyone what you are working on, especially not my father. I would never ever betray you. I love you."

"And remember, the 'do this for me because I love you' is the oldest manipulation tactic in the book. Don't fall for it. Look, I'm sure this Gwen girl is nice but be wary ok kid?"

Walking up to her door Tony paused as he heard Sunsets vindictive voice come from inside.

"I know he's so naive. Daddy, he actually believes I love him."

The majority of them inhaled sharply. They had been expecting it but feeling Tony's rage, sadness and betrayal felt like a fist to the stomach.

"He's going to show me the plans after tonight. Don't worry he's smitten. Yeah, I totally played him. He's head over heels for me. No he is, he let me take his virginity. We won't have to worry about a thing, I'll steal his plans tonight. Oh- I have to go. Yeah he's due here soon. Bye."

Upon hearing her click the phone off Tony waited a few moments, collecting himself, then he walked through the door.

"Oh hey, Tones you're early." Sunset turned from the mirror and smiled brightly, flicking her dark brown hair back over her shoulder. "What do you think?"

Smirking, she stroked a hand down her figure hugging yellow dress embroidered with gold and a plunging neckline, gold dangling earrings adorned her ears and a delicate necklace hung around her neck.

The necklace I got her for our month anniversary.

It was all a lie.

"You look beautiful." They all noticed that the sad thing was that she really did; her makeup was done simply, highlighting all her natural beauty in her face, it seemed to bring attention to her sharp high cheekbones and large chocolate brown eyes.

"You know this is all yours tonight. If you think the dress is beautiful, you should see what I have on under here. Shall I give you a sneak preview?" She grinned saucily and licked her rouged lips.

"No." He answered curtly while looked away from her and instead looked at her feet

"Tones, what's wrong did something happen?" The fake concern they heard in her voice made him want to cry but he didn't, she crouched down in front where he was sat and lifted his head up with her hands. "You seem upset."

"I heard you before on the phone." Sunset stiffened and her hands dropped. "I heard everything."

"Oh. You did, did you?" Sunset's concerned expression melted and warped into a cruel sneer, "You really thought this, what we had, meant something didn't you? You were so easy to manipulate, I flattered you, said a few nice meaningless words and made your dick very happy for a few months. I had a goal in mind, I wanted what was in your head." She tapped his forehead causing him to stiffened in anger and glare.

"You make me sick."

Laughing, Sunset stood up. "I don't care what you think of me. It was just sex Tony. I thought you were smart."

But I loved you.

Lost for words they all stared at her, Tony jumped up, they glimpsed a very wounded expression on his face as he ran for the door.

Stupid. Allowing yourself to be hurt like that. They watched him continue to sprint then skid to a stop infront of his door when he finally reached it and fumble in his pockets for his door key. 'It was just sex Tony.' Sunsets cruel mocking voice echoed in their heads. Tony suddenly stopped and went rigid.

But before I left Peggy said that I should save that act for someone I care for-

"You were so easy to manipulate." Sunsets voice hissed in their heads.

That belief was so easy to manipulate.

It's a nice belief to have but it's too easy to use against me so it has to go.

After all it's not like I have a bad body is it?

Lot's of people actually think I'm quite handsome.

That could be a part of mask now too. To not to care any more, where or with who I-

He choked on a sob cutting off that thought before it could finish as he slammed the key into the keyhole and opened the door.

"Jesus, Tony." James stared wide eyed at his best friend sprawled over the floor surrounded by at least 5 empty beer bottles that they could see, at his friend's voice Tony turned his face to the side and grinned so wide his face looked like it was going to split in half.

"Rhooooodey."

"Looks like you don't need my break up supplies then." James dumped his six pack by the door and sat on the bed opposite where Tony was laid on the floor.

"Sourpuss." Tony grumbled before pulling himself up, so he was sat against the wall, "I've been drunker."

"That's nothing to be proud of, you're only 16."

Tony raised an eyebrow in response, muttering something in response that no one could understand.

"Tony, she's a bitch." Sighing, James plucked the bottles nearest to him off the floor and aimed them into the bin. He then turned back to his friend with a serious expression on his face. "You can do better believe me."

Tony smiled, cocking his head to one side as he watched James pick up some more bottles. "Watcha doing?"

"I'm cleaning up your mess so you don't stab yourself in the foot or hurt yourself if you slip on one of these."

"Aww, you care about me." Tony fluttered his eyelashes at James.

"Sometimes I wonder why, it's like I'm your nanny or something." James snorted while he dumped the remaining bottles in the bin.

"And I care 'bout you too. You're my Rhodey- Wait, you aren't going to leave here alone are you?" James who was going to the door, turned back around at Tony's sad voice and Tony hastily backtracked suddenly appearing a lot more sober.

"It's fine. I don't care. You can go. I'm fine. I'll-"

"I can stay, you dork. I'm going to get you some water."

"Oh, pfft... Alright then. I can keep you company if you're really that lonely Rhodey." Smiling, James moved to the sink on the other side of the room and grabbed a glass.

Beaming, Peter walked offstage dressed in a light black gown drawn in around the waist with gold tassels paired with a black cap with a long tassel hung from it too.

His newly obtained summa cum laude certificate was clasped in his hands and brass rat was perched proudly on his ring finger. He rushed from the podium and away from the other graduates after the awards ceremony to see his parents, Peggy and Daniel waiting for him.

"MIT summa cum laude graduate with not one, not two but three doctorates! I knew you would go far but that's impressive." Daniel smiled proudly and Peter felt him clap Tony on the shoulder and squeeze gently. "Good job kid, although I guess I should be calling you Doctor Stark now."

"Tony's fine. I'm not a proper Doctor anyway." Tony grinned at him and returned the gesture before looking to Peggy.

She wrapped him in a hug and pecked him on the cheek. "I'm so so proud of you Doctor Stark."

After a long moment she pulled away and looked up, sharing a meaningful glance with whoever was behind Tony and pulling away.

"You came." Peter felt Tony grin at his father cautiously.

"Of course I did. Obie is handling things for now so I... I wanted to say well done. Maths, Electrical Engineering and IT doctorates...you aren't a proper doctor, but it's still good Anthony." Howard's lips twitched up into a small smile.

He's proud of me.

Peter felt a warm feeling flicker in his chest like a candle as Tony impulsively and without warning, Tony wrapped his father in a hug.

Howard went rigid.

The warm feeling went out.

Abort Hug.

Bad move.

What was I thinking?

Those thoughts were really similar to Peter's when he hugged Tony for the first time, the 'not hug moment' as Tony dubbed it.

"Da-Howard I'm-" Tony was about to pull away but he stopped when he felt Howard forcibly relax and two warm large hands rested on his back.

Oh.

Click.

They both twisted their heads to see Maria smirking behind a camera.

"Don't apologize. Your mother is a little minx. She's been taking photo's this whole time." Howard replied in a light voice as they pulled away and laughed, uncaring of the small clicks continuing to go off in the background.