"You're not getting away with this!"

Tony resisted the urge to groan as a familiar voice echoed throughout the bathroom.

"Stark, you asshole! You- "

When Tony turned to face him, still peeing, the other lawyer yelped and jumped back, sending Tony a vicious glare.

"You meant to do that!"

Tony sighed and rolled his eyes, "Nope, you startled me." He watched as the other man rushed over to the paper towel dispenser, cleaning his shoes where he'd gotten splashed a little bit, "What do you want Mike?"

"This wasn't just some West Englewood rug sweep! The search was good! There's no chance Carter tosses it!"

"Calm down." Tony thought his head was going to hurt with the amount of times his eyes were rolling, "This is why they're calling it an evidentiary hearing."

"Why, so you can smear me? Claim that I invented some phantom witness?!"

"Did you?"

"The jaded lawyer…" Mike continued, not seeming to hear Tony, "… with no respect for the lawyer! Oh, that's so original!"

"And that's me?" Tony loved Mike's little rants. They really made his day sometimes, "Mike, I respect the law just fine, I'm not in awe of it, I'm not encumbered by it. If this great state can't meet its burden of proof, if I walk away with a so-called 'guilty' client, then it's on you. Do your job Kattan… prove that my client is guilty without a doubt."

As he moved to walk away, Mike's next question stopped him in his tracks.

"Why do you feel the need to protect scum like that?!"

Tony paused for a moment, green/blue eyes flashing across his memory along with a familiar cackle.

"Because you don't know what made them like that."

Before Mikey could say anything more, Tony stormed out of the room, ignoring how his phone buzzed in his pocket.

…..

"Wait, wait, wait, wait!" Tony's client hissed, "I thought you said this wouldn't go to trial!"

"I'm sorry, did I say that?"

"I hired you to make this all go away! What good is the Stark name if you can't use it?!"

Tony winced. He hated having his family name used against him. When he first set out as a lawyer, defying his father's wishes, he hoped to put that behind him… only to learn that his clients were only calling him because of who his Father was.

"Wrong…" he hissed, "… you hired me because we both know that you wouldn't last two hours in a federal penitentiary!" He took a deep breath and tried to calm down, "Stop telling me how to do my job… do I tell you how to commit fraud? Deny coverage to terminally ill coverage holders? Embezzle 140 million dollars? I wouldn't do that, because that's your gig… your forte."

"… I'm hearing you"

"Good." Tony frowned as his mobile started to buzz in his pocket. Pulling it out, he noticed the new voicemail notification. When he pressed listen, and held it up to his ear, his eyes widened at what he heard, just as the Baliff ordered for everyone to rise.

"Hey Tony…" a vaguely familiar voice could be heard, "…. It's Clint…. Yeah that Clint. I know you probably never want to hear from me again, but I really need your help. They keep telling me that I killed this man, and I didn't, I promise! But they won't listen to me and- "

There was a sound on the other end, almost like someone grabbing the phone from Clint and hanging up on the message.

Tony didn't know what to feel.

Clint was his first love. The cheeky circus boy who had wormed his way into his life and made him happier than he'd ever felt before. Even Steve had never made him feel like that before.

"Court is in session. The Honourable Judge Stanley Carter presiding."

"Be seated."

Tony was still staring at his phone in shock.

Why was this happening? Why now?

"Before I rule on the defence motion, is there anything either counsel would like to add?"

What made Clint call him? Surely there was someone else? Matt? He knew Matt.

"Yes, Your Honour." Mike eagerly piped up, "We would like to remove any doubt, as to the validity of our search."

"Your Honour…" Tony cleared his throat, still in shock, "… may I approach the bench Your Honour?"

The Judge stared at him for a few moments, before waving him forwards. Ignoring how Mike rolled his eyes, Tony slowly pushed himself to his feet. He felt like his knees were going to give out beneath him as he made his way over to the Judge.

He couldn't believe he was really going to do this.

"I, uh, I need a continuance."

"Absolutely not!" Mike hissed.

Tony honestly felt like he was going to snap. No, it wasn't like his mother or father died (he'd probably have a party with a latter), but there was something in the pit of his stomach, telling him that he needed to do this.

"I-It's personal…" he stammered, not wanting to appear weak in front of Mike, "… An old friend has run into a little bit of trouble and he needs urgent help… please Your Honour."

The Judge stared at him in surprise. He had been in over a dozen courtrooms with Stark, and the man had never broken face once. Never begged, never pleaded, barely even smiled really.

This was a shock.

"Here…" Tony handed his phone over, "… I'll replay the voice-message."

"I didn't even realise you had friends…" Mike muttered, as the Judge listened to the voice-mail, "… convenient for him to show up when you're about to lose."

The Judge finished listening and handed the phone over, "It sounds serious." He stated, "A good friend you said?"

"… A friend."

"Continuance granted… but only for a fortnight." The judge raised an eyebrow, "Then this trial will continue with or without you."

"Thank you, Your Honour."

As quickly as he could, and with as much dignity as he could muster, he rushed out of the courtroom, ignoring Mike's protests behind him.

…..….

"Daddy, is Clint the man in that photo?"

Tony smiled sadly at his son, as he watered the plants, "Yeah… you'd like him. You have the same sense of humour as him."

"Why can't I come with you then?"

Tony paused, "Because… I might have to work. It'll be boring."

"And you don't want me to meet Grandad Howard."

"… You are too damn smart for your own good." As Peter smirked up at him, Tony sighed, "No, I don't want you to meet Howard, and unfortunately, there's every chance he'll be there."

Peter tilted his head to the side, "Which means I should definitely come with you. You need back-up."

"Kid, I'm only going to help Cli- Barton. And then I'll be back home before you know it." Tony glanced back at his son, who was twisting from side to side, his best innocent smile on his face, "You looking for something, hmmmm?"

When Peter turned away, a guilty look flashing across his face, Tony knelt down in front of him.

"Pete? Buddy? Underoos?"

"… There's a school trip and we're going to that big science museum. Papa said I couldn't have any spends because I still owe him for the new school bag, but- "

"- say no more." Tony reached into his pocket, "How much do you need? Fifty? Hundred?"

"Five bucks Daddy!" Peter giggled, "I'm not buying out the shop!"

"Alright, alright…" Tony winked, pulling out a toffee from his shirt pocket, "Five bucks and a toffee?"

"Duh!"

Peter eagerly took the toffee, throwing his arms around his Dad's neck in glee. "Don't tell Papa, right?"

"…. Right. And don't eat it before break-" He paused when he heard the sound of chewing, "- fast."

"Mmm-hmmm!"

As Peter went to continue playing with his Lego, Tony decided to go and pack. Just as he was closing up his suitcase, he heard a familiar voice from the doorway.

"Is there anything I can do?"

Tony resisted the urge to sigh at the sight of Steve resting against the doorframe, a tight blue shirt on, along with sweat-pants. Once upon a time, he might have jumped his husbands bones for wearing that in the house, but lately… well, let's just say he had his own reasons for avoiding all contact with his husband.

Soon to be ex-husband.

"I know your parents live there, and it's been so long since me and Howard have talked and- "

"- He's not going to be your in-law for much longer." Tony slammed his suitcase shut, "Maybe you should buy a house closer to him. Oh, wait…. Him and Bucky don't get on. That does make it difficult, doesn't it?" He shouldered past Steve, "Peter will be living with me by the way, especially after that incident with Bucky last year."

"Tony…"

Tony ignored him, storming down the stairs, only to be closely by Steve.

"Tony!" The man sounded annoyed now, "You don't know anything about him! What time does school start in the morning?"

"Nine, but the teacher likes them to be in the classroom at quarter to. Happy takes him, not you remember?"

"What's his teacher's name?"

"Mister Warren."

"What night does he go to Cubs?"

"He's not in Cubs."

"Soccer?"

"Not that either, he's more my son than yours."

"Fine! What's his favourite colour?"

"Red and Blue."

"His best friend?"

"Ned. I helped them build that Lego Death Star."

"What does he eat for breakfast?"

Tony rolled his eyes, "Anything I put in front of him. Kid's like a weed, he never stops growing, because he doesn't care what he eats."

"How about the name of his doctor?!"

"You're just taking the piss now, you know that I know who his Doctor is. Banner? My best friend from college! I have his number on me all the time, which is more than I can say for you! How many times have you called me to call Bruce?!"

"All that doesn't matter Tony!" Steve growled as Tony threw his bag in the car, "Peter doesn't deserve this! He doesn't deserve to be torn between the two of us like this! What do you think will happen if you take custody of him? Are you actually willing to give up work to look after him? Or are you going to let him cry himself to sleep at night when his Dad couldn't even be bothered to come home on time?"

Leaning against the door, Tony glared back at Steve, who folded his arms over his chest.

"You're on your phone all the time when you are here and- and- "Steve shook his head, "He knows it's wrong. He needs someone who will take care of him, love him!"

"What… like Bucky?" Tony smirked, "The guy who hates kids? I've been around often enough to see how he reacts whenever Peter's in the room. I can guarantee, if you decide you're going to try and keep Peter, you won't win!"

Steve flinched back, a hurt look flashing across his face. "You can't do this Tony… Peter knows how sad I've been lately and- "

"- Sad? You're sad?!" Tony rolled his eyes, "The only thing you're sad about is that I caught you with Bucky, and now I'm taking away this 'easy' life you've grown used to!" He shook his head, opening up the car door, "I know it sounds strange coming from me, but grow up Steve. Just grow up."