They only managed to finish the prequels before Tony decided that he at least had to go to bed. While 2 wasn't exactly bad for him, the next couple of days would need him at his best. So when Friday woke him up at 7 telling him about a scuffle in the common room downstairs, Tony was beyond surprised. He hastily pulled on his clothes (along with his nanos) and headed downstairs. He had not expected to find Doctor Strange chilling in his Tower, keeping the three others away with what Tony guessed was Magic. He hated Magic.

"If more magic people keep on popping up, I'm going to have magic-proof my Tower," he muttered. Tony was not an early riser; it wasn't his thing. "Is there a reason you're trespassing in my home," he asked louder.

"I'm here as three of your teammates decided to break into my house yesterday,"

"I'm not a part of the team. Also that doesn't answer my question,"

"You're interested in the infinity stones, why?"

"Okay, why don't you let my friends go, and then we can have a chat." He felt amazing when none of them disputed his claim of friendship.

"If I let them go, they'll stab me," Tony scoffed,

"I doubt it. Anyway, Loki could escape anytime so the fact that you're unstabbed…" he left the sentence hanging. Strange looked closer at Loki and Tony glanced at Nebula and Gamora who both looked like they would love to stab Strange. He just shook his head. The golden light that was keeping them still vanished, and Strange turned his attention back to Tony,

"The infinity Stones?"

"Right, yeah. Evil Alien is coming to Earth, we're rounding up the infinity stones so that he can't get them first." Strange narrowed his eyes,

"You want me to give you the stone," Tony waved him off,

"No, I'm sure you can protect it. Knowing that you have it is good though, 'cause that means we don't have to travel half way around the globe to pick it up,"

"Very well, I'll leave you to it. I was contacted about Thanos, so I will see you then," with that, he opened a portal and vanished through it. Loki was looking at Tony with a frown.

"You keep saying you are no longer part of the team, what happened?"

"I told you, Rogers and I had a fight," Tony said wondering over to a coffee machine in the kitchen (this one wasn't set to decaf), fiddling with his shirt sleeve. Loki had told him about the torture he went through with Thanos though, it felt unfair to not tell,

"I have told you many things, surely it is only fair," Tony squinted at Loki, he couldn't read minds could he. He grabbed his coffee and collapsed onto the couch he had last night.

"There was a lot legalise involved, basically the accords were proposed so that the UN controlled supers so that they couldn't just wonder around into any old country."

"How exactly did that cause you to fall out?"

"I chose to sign. Rogers did not."

"And?" Tony took a long sip from his coffee,

"And it progressed from there. That's how Rhodey got paralysed. Rogers ran off with his old war buddy and we were tasked with bringing them in when they ended up killing people. Rhodey's suit got taken out and he lost his legs basically."

"That is fair," Nebula, "Rhodey is a good friend,"

"He is. Wilson – an ex-avenger – told me to meet with Rogers and his buddy as a friend. I did. Found out that his buddy killed my parents and he had known for ages and hadn't been told," They all looked pretty pissed at that,

"I hope you avenged yourself," Tony shook his head,

"I don't blame Barnes, his war buddy. He was brainwashed at the time, but he's better now. I wasn't thinking straight then though, so I attacked him. Rogers ended up disabling my suit and left me for dead in Serbia,"

"I thought you were friends," growled Loki, looking like he wanted to stab Rogers. Actually they all did. How did Tony manage to make three stabby friends in a day? That was a record.

"So did I," he mumbled into his mug. Savouring the burning in his mouth,

"What about the rest of your team,"

"They all sided with Rogers,"

"That is not how a team works, we would never do that to each other," stated Gamora.

"We need to avenge you," nodded Nebula, Tony looked up startled,

"Whoa, I mean thank you for caring but it's okay, I've got over it,"

"You're one of us now Stark, we look after our team," added Loki. The look in his eyes was back, did he think this was Wanda's fault too? Was it? Tony blinked at Loki, caught off guard by the genuine protectiveness in his voice. Well that brought tears to his eyes, he cleared his throat.

"Thank you," Trying to lighten the mood, he added, "why don't we finish Star wars?" Nebula looked at him with narrowed eyes,

"Star Wars is good, that is acceptable,"

"But this isn't over Stark," Tony knew it was a Saturday, and a thought came into his head,

"Would be okay if I invited a… friend of mine over and his friend? They'd really like to meet you,"

"Sure," shrugged Loki, already fitting in with humanity, Gamora and Nebula nodded. Unlike him, Peter was an earlier riser. He knew that from all the voice messages Peter had sent him. So he sent Peter a message. He replied quickly with a

sure

and

Aunt May's okay with it.

It would take a while for the kid to arrive. So Tony discussed details with his friends about things they hadn't understood about the prequels. He was glad that during that they all relaxed slightly, looking slightly less stabby. Tony didn't envy Rogers next time they met.

"Boss, Mr Parker and his friend just entered the elevator,"

"Who is he?"

"Peter's a super kid. He helps out around his neighbourhood, good kid. He had an internship at my company for a bit."

"Mr Stark?"

"In here kid," Peter and Ned entered the room, Ned's eyes were wide, while Peter had been around a few times before, so he wasn't quite as star struck, "Peter Ned, this is Loki, Nebula and Gamora. Don't worry about Loki, he was brainwashed during the Battle of New York. Guys, Peter and Ned," Ned was staring at him while Peter waved

"Hi, it's awesome to meet you guys,"

"We're watching the Original Trilogy, you guys want to join,"

"Sure," Tony was pretty sure Ned spent the entire first move staring at him with his mouth open while Peter asked question after question to Loki, who he was closest. Loki looked slightly bemused by this but was more than happy to listen to Peter and answer his questions. Tony was having continuous updates from Bruce though out the films – who had direct contact with the Guardians ship -, apparently with the equipment the Guardians ship had, it hardly taken any time for them to get to the Collector and back again. However one text made him uneasy.

Got Stones.

Being followed.

Should be back soon.

It was at the end of the second movie, when Tony decided it was time they headed to the compound. He really didn't want to interrupt the game of snap Peter had started with Gamora or Ned who was asking Loki and Nebula how close actually space was to the Star Wars movies, but they could be in danger soon.

He was glad the kid and his friend got on with Tony's friends. If they survived this – and they would, Tony had too much to lose for the first time in a long time – he would have to invite them around. "Sorry to interrupt, but we have to get to the compound. You don't have school tomorrow so if you're free, you should come round and we'll finish them,"

"Aw, Mr Stark,"

"Sorry Pete, but we've got work," Peter probably noticed something in his tone, and he turned to Ned,

"Let's catch the bus, we can go to my house," the boys left with only a few more questions.

"Keep an eye on them Fri,"

"Will do Boss," Now that the kids were gone, everyone was on high alert.

"What's happened?"

"Nothing yet, but the others are getting closer to us, and they think they're being followed,"

"Shit," cursed Loki quietly, "I suppose that means Thanos will be near," Tony nodded.

They all got to one of the cars and headed back to the compound. Hopefully for the last time – not in a dead way, in a, he can relax at the Tower with his friends, kind of way.