The rest of the day was gone in a blur. He outlined a year of captivity, keeping it similar to the one he had said almost a decade ago in front of many of the same people. He re-established himself in their eyes, showing that he didn't simply abandon his position, how he would once again be part of SI and even had ideas to start a new line rolling out. He didn't wait for questions, far too busy for that.

Once that was over, he headed to his privet Jet which took him, Nebula and Gamora straight to the UN conference. Every Government was on alert and every Superhero had been given notice to be prepared. The infinity stones weren't mentioned. On the flight he had made small talk with his guests, finding out about their lives, and telling them snippets of his.

He was impressed at how they had overcome their upbringing to help others. But that brought them back to the Tower, sitting around in the common room, Thai and Chinese food spread over the coffee table. Rhodey was having his own talk with the Military and wasn't currently there. Right now Tony was teaching Nebula and Gamora paper football to pass the time.

Tony flicked his piece of paper at Nebula, who instead of keeping her goal, grabbed the paper from the air,

"Oh wow, you don't need to do that. You just uh… need to hold position, okay your turn," Nebula flicked hers at Tony it was slightly wide, "Yeah, like that is was close, try again," She eyed Tony. Gamora was sitting at the table watching, keeping an eye on Nebula. Tony didn't want to think what Thanos would do if they didn't succeed first time, Nebula straightened her ball and tried again, "See, that's a goal, we're now one apiece," Nebula looked down at Tony's goal and looked back at him.

"I would like to try again,"

"Go for it," Tony passed the football back to Nebula. Gamora had a small smile on her face and even Loki seemed to be smiling. Tony couldn't really tell as he was inhaling the Thai food too quickly. Nebula flicked her paper, it once again landed in Tony's goal, "And… you've won. Congratulations," Tony held his hand out for her to shake, he looked at it and cautiously shook his hand, "Fair game. Have fun?"

"It was fun," Nebula agreed, making Tony smile,

"Great, who's next? Or shall we play something different,"

"Peter always told me about a game called Monopoly, what is that?" asked Gamora. Tony had picked up over their conversations, that Peter and Gamora were involved in some way. Tony wasn't very non-technology-based guy, but when the Avengers spent time there, he had gotten some board games,

"I think I have that somewhere, but –" before he could finish a monopoly set appeared on the table, Tony glared at Loki, "I hope you didn't steal that," Loki placed a hand over his heart, his other still full of Thai,

"I would never," Tony shrugged, wasn't much he could do about that now,

"Right I'll read the rules then we can have a game, yeah," Gamora was looking as excited as he had seen her and Nebula seemed to like playing games with no consequences, it was nice seeing them loosen up. Before opening it though he took another mouthful of food, mirrored by the others. His mobile that was sitting on the table burst into a rendition of ACDC's back in blank. He reached to get it, but a dagger beat him to it, causing the music to cut off with a pitiful whine. He looked up and meet Nebulas eyes, who had apparently reacted with reflex. Her eyes were wide, with something similar to fear, that wouldn't do, "Hey don't worry about it, I have plenty. Fri, can you put the call forward,"

"Course Boss," Nebula withdrew the dagger, still looking apprehensive, but relaxed back into the couch,

"Er…hi? Is this Stark? It's Peter… Quill,"

"Oh, yeah Quill, What's up?"

"Oh we were just about to leave, we wanted to check in with Gamora…and Nebula,"

"Sure they can hear you,"

"Really? This decade is awesome! So yeah, bye guys, we'll see you later,"

"Goodbye Peter." Said Gamora fondly, "we're about to play Monopoly,"

"No fair. When I get back, I'm playing with. Don't steal my girl, Stark,"

"I'm sure she would stab me if I tried," laughed Tony. Gamora and Peter were defiantly and odd couple, but it worked,

"That's Gamora," They could hear the smile, "see you later then," the call ended, and Nebula looked at her sister,

"He is very strange. The tree would have been a better choice," Tony laughed, and grabbed the rules,

"Come on Rock of Ages, You're playing too," Loki leaned forward, and they all got ready. Tony chose the Iron – it's funny come on! – Loki took the hat, Nebula the dog and Gamora choose the ship. Tony ended being the banker because he was the only one who had actually played before.

Tony was rolling on the floor laughing as Loki flipped the board. Nebula was looking incredibly smug and Gamora was cleaning her knives, which would have looked sinister if Tony hadn't had a house thrown at him when she landed on his square.

"Okay, Okay," Tony tried to say before dissolving into another fit of laughter,

"I will stab you Stark," threatened Loki - or tried to -, it was severely unthreatening with the pout,

"Sorry. I think that's enough Monopoly for today,"

"I don't understand how Peter likes this," grumbled Gamora,

"It was fun," declared Nebula,

"You won by far, of course you thought it was fun," laughed Tony. He came second so he didn't mind. Being a businessman helped, he had no idea how Nebula did so well. "I've got to make a call, why don't you decide on a Movie? Friday can help,"

"Why not, this evening has been enjoyable so far," agreed Loki,

"Aww, I knew you would love me, we hit it off so well last time,"

"I can still throw you out of a window, Stark,"

Tony laughed at that, falling back onto the sofa, watching as the others pulled themselves together, when he saw a look in Loki's eye. "Everything okay?" Loki directed his eyes at a side room and Tony shrugged then nodded. "Be back in a sec," he told the other two, and followed Loki out of the room,

"While I was stuck in that cell, I could tell that something was off about your companions. A type of magic was woven through there minds, it was a lot less in you Cornell and my brother, but it seemed to be heavily influencing Rogers," said Loki out right, not one to beat about the bush.

"How do you know that" asked Tony, trying to slow his thoughts that kept on returning to one spot. Wanda. It had to be.

"I am very experienced at Seidr, a type of cosmic magic. I can easily identify and find the source of other magic users. Would you happen to know who this magic user is?" Tony nodded hesitantly. Did this mean they had all been manipulated against him? If they had, did it make it better? Sure, he knew Wanda hated him, but to do that was horrific. Though really what was he to expect from an ex-hydra member. He suddenly realised that Loki was waiting from an answer,

"Wanda Maximoff. I'm sure it's her. She wasn't at the compound today though, I have no idea where she is," Loki furrowed his brow, thinking.

"I can only advise you to be careful. That kind of magic can only be stopped on its own, it should wear of your teammates soon enough," silence fell between the two of them, Tony awkwardly moving from foot to foot, knowing that this information will be plaguing him for a few weeks.

"I've got to make a phone call, why don't you head back into the common room and choose a film with Nebula and Gamora, Friday can help you," said Tony, blatantly changing the subject and pulling up another mask. Loki easily saw through it but accepted that the conversation was over and left the room. Tony leaned back against the cool wall, and simply took deep breaths. He always knew that something had been off. When the Rouges had first come back to the US, they had been mostly amiable with him, even Thor and Bruce had been happy to hear his side. For a while at least, then they had all become more and more hostile. Being able to see it from this new perspective, it couldn't have been natural. But Tony had been too busy freaking out being around rogers to really notice properly, not until it got really bad.

But he hadn't been lying, he did need to make a phone call, so he kept a mask firmly in place before clearing his throat.

He had meant to call Peter after the Conference as he would have been noted about the attack as he was a registered hero with the Accords. However he'd been caught up with talking to his… hell he would go as far to call them friends now. It wasn't to late yet though,

"Mr Stark?"

"Hey Pete, I'm sure you've heard?"

"Uh, yeah. Are there aliens really staying with you? Are we actually gonna get invaded cause that's kinda awesome well not completely awesome but y'know aliens it's so amazing!"

"I get ya," laughed Tony, he hadn't laughed so much in ages.

"Wait, Stark? As in TONY STARK," a new voice came from Peter's end,

"Yeah. That's Ned my best friend," Peter told him, It was always good to have someone to confide in,

"Hey Ned," Tony said.

"Oh my God! Tony Stark talked to me," Tony rolled his eyes,

"Peter, if it's okay with your Aunt, you can come round to the tower, bring Ned If you want,"

"Really that's great!"

"Yup, I know, I'm great. But I'm calling to say that if Aliens do actually come, you are not to join in. There are plenty of people who can help us, I don't want you getting hurt,"

"But Mr Stark- "

"If you won't do it for me, do it for your aunt," silence

"Fine," was the begrudging reply,

"Thank you. See you tomorrow if you're allowed. Night,"

"Night Mr Stark," Tony slipped his phone back in his pocket and headed back to the common room. Peter was a good kid. But he was much like him with his sacrificial nature, and if Tony had to work on his he would help Peter too.

"So what've you guys chosen?" he asked as he came back in. Noting the lower light and a frozen beginning screen, aww they waited for him.

"We have chosen Star Wars," said Nebula, Tony giggled to himself. Yeah, show the Aliens Star Wars.

"Friday told us to start on The Phantom Menace," added Loki. Both of them acting like Loki hadn't just told Tony that his team was being manipulated against him. Or well, Loki didn't know that but Tony sure as hell did.

"Great! The prequels are awesome! We're gonna have to marathon them now," Tony sat back on his spot on the couch and the movie began. Tony smiled at the screen, feeling oddly peaceful.