After everything that happened with the Accords, the airport battle that media refers to as: a Civil war between the Avengers, and Siberia, Ross and Rogues breaking out of the Raft – Tony sunk himself deep into work. The only coping mechanism that was left. He didn't want to drink, he had only one woman in mind for the rest of the eternity and she wasn't with him on speaking terms, so… Work.

Rhodey's new exo-skeletons were his highest priority. Then Stark-Industries. Then everything else. His To-Do list was thankfully endless. Still – there were improvements on the suits and even weapons of his former team-mates, but… He didn't want to think about it. Tinkering made him feel 'self' again. He did it since he was a little child. He built his identity and self-worth on ability to create mechanical stuff.

As Natasha described him in Shield's Recruitment assessment for Avenger Initiative, he had: textbook narcissism. Yeah. How else would he survive in the spotlight since he was born? You need some traits where you can hide. So nobody gets the 'real' you. Where nobody can hurt you.

But when he tried to let people be close to him, they have the tendency to betray him or leave him. To his surprise, sometimes even both. He didn't want to think about Obadiah, Pepper, Natasha or Steve. Bruce. Clint. And who knows where Thor is and he liked the big fella. He still had Rhodey.

Speaking of which… It was later in the night when Rhodey's phone displayed familiar name and number. Burner phone designated just for few occasions. He answered without questioning her potential motives.

"Hi, Tasha."

"Hi, Rhodey. Am I disturbing you?"

"No, not at all. So, how's life treating you? Need anything from the Compound?"

"No, thank you. The Quinjet that Tony repaired was enough. I was actually going to ask: how are you? How is it going?"

"Well, not running yet, but I will get there. Flying in the suit is better option anyway."

"I'll bet. So – what's new?"

They talked for an hour as old friends casually catching up. They exchanged information's about Rogues, Vision and his longing for Wanda, and even explaining the concept of doors and walls to him. They laughed and nearly cried, but the one person they cared about the most - was treated by silence. Neither one of them didn't know how to say it.

After mentioning Siberia, when Natasha explained Steve's side of story, Rhodey was speechless. Tony didn't talk about it. Only the way he got home with King of Wakanda. Rhodey have seen the bruises, the gesture of pain in Tony's face when he breathes in too deeply, but Tony never said his part of story. He's got these tendencies. Most members of his team, nor S.H.I.E.L.D. don't know much about Afghanistan either. About what he went through. Or what caused the Wormhole. The nightmares. The panic attacks. Only Bruce, Pepper and Rhodey knew. Although Natasha was smart. She could read in people. So after the awkward silence, there came the dreaded question.

"How… How is Tony?"

"Nat. It's… Complicated. You know him. He buried himself into work."

He tactically didn't mention anything else. She knew how he is, well, was, when he is "working into exhaustion." Not eating, not sleeping, and not coping so well. And Natasha knew. She wrote that in the Assessment, too. Prone to self-destructive tendencies…

"Is he talking to Pepper yet?"

"No. But they will. They just need more time. To reflect. To look back and forward."

"Yeah, no doubt about that."

After short pause where Rhodey could hear the hesitation in Natasha's voice, she found the courage.

"Do you think a visit from me would be a bad idea?"

"He could really use some more real friends."

She knew what he meant.

She took the Quinjet and flew from temporary stay in safe-house to the Compound. She liked it there, because she felt like home she never had. It was three in the morning, when all systems, including F.R.I.D.A.Y., were welcoming her there. She wasn't intruder. She slowly walked into the R&D lab, which Tony occupied in this late or early hour.

Truth to be told, she wasn't expecting such a smooth entrance. And most definitely she wasn't expecting this sight of Tony. He was hunched over some prototype. He was so thin. His bone structure was more visible than ever. The healing cuts and bruises on his face made her feel sad. She knew the story. And she was here & now for another part of her family that needs mending. After her latest adventure in Russia, Budapest and Red Room, nothing seemed impossible in that area. And she was the relentless one, right?

Even when she was sure that F.R.I.D.A.Y. must have informed Tony about her presence, he didn't seem bothered. So she came closer to him and softly said his name.

"Tony?"

He almost freaked out, but he did catch his breath and quickly hid his trembling hand below the work table. He tried to straighten his posture and find the confidence in his voice, but it didn't go so well.

"What do you need?"

"Nothing. Just wanted to see you. See how you are doing."

He wanted to say some snarky comment, pretend the narcissist behavior, anything. Nevertheless he was so tired. On the deepest levels of his soul. So he just stared into her eyes. And it told her everything.

Natasha wanted to hug him on the spot, but wasn't so sure about it. She replayed their last conversation in her mind. However everything else happened. Acts that spoke louder than words ever could. He and Rick Mason managed to get her the Quinjet. Then they freed Rogues with Steve. Followed by the letter and burner phone. She knew that Tony and T'Challa, and Shuri were talking on regular basis. Even Rhodey was the interpreter about Rogues to Tony.

They just never opened about the hard part. Feelings. Hurting each other with words. After a while, Tony spoke first.

"You know, in my life, I was never really sure who to trust. And when I did, it went wrong. And even with the Genius within me – I didn't figure out – what the hell I did wrong."

Natasha was a little bit surprised about this first encounter they've had, yet didn't show it on her face. She, again, took into consideration his state. The sunken eyes, visible dehydration and exhaustion. Under-weight. And she felt responsible. And with all her heart and soul, she wanted to make him feel better. She knew there wasn't an instant cure, but it felt like an opportunity.

"I know it sound very much as a cliché, but sometimes it isn't your fault, but it's the other people."

Tony just smirked and dug his head into his shoulders, starring into the floor. So, she continued.

"Tony, I know most of us weren't treating you right. We didn't have the chance to truly understand you motives. And to be honest, you weren't making it easy either. Nonetheless we had no right to take advantage of it. I know how is it hard not to show any weaknesses, to play hard, be strong under any circumstances. But I want to tell you, that I am going to try to be a better friend. That I really want this family, this Avenger thing to work. I am sorry for all that happened. I just… I just I want you to be okay. And I do anything in my power to prove it to you."

Tony took his stare from the floor and looked into the ceiling, stopping the tears by covering his eyes with his hands. Natasha froze on the spot and gasped, when she saw a gashing red burn scar on the back of his left hand. It was so fresh, but burnt, so there was even no blood running. It must have been causing him excruciating pain.

When Tony wiped his tears into the side of his shirt, he still saw the horror in Natasha's face. So, he just casually looked on his hand and said:

"Just a little welding accident. Had worse."

Natasha composed herself and with a softly spoken: "May I?"

Tony just made a smirk that basically meant "whatever," so she carefully took his hand into hers and studied the burnt wound that will definitely leave a nasty scar. Among many others on his body.

She examined it closer and looked Tony into his eyes again. This time, he looked ashamed.

"I just like the idea of pain I can control, you know?"

She knew. She knew exactly what he meant. Why he was dealing with his pain like this. The Idea of him suffering for pain that caused other people. And that it needed to stop. Right now. Right here.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y.?"

"Five steps to your left, on the wall just around the corner, miss Romanoff."

"Thank you, F.R.I.D.A.Y."

She stood up and found exactly what she was looking for. Fully equipped first aid kit with everything she needed, including ointment and burn coat. She came back to the work-desk and started treating Tony's wound as delicately as she could. Meanwhile Tony asked:

"Why are you so nice to me?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Well, it's me. Everybody has something."

"You understand me on a deeper level."

"And that is?"

"You know what I did in Red room. And never held me responsible for it. You know there is red in my ledger that I can't wipe out however I try."

"You were manipulated into it, threatened on life, and you were a child. Innocent."

"And you were Merchant of death."

"I did that on my own free will. You didn't. That is different."

"I don't think so. You were born into it. It was you legacy. It's not much choosing in that. Most of all - I see the drive in you. The guilt that's eating you alive. The way you punish yourself and think you don't deserve happiness. That's why. I understand. I am the same on that level. And most of it all – I care about you."

"Natasha, the Red room, S.H.I.E.L.D., everything between – I am sorry. I am sorry you had to go thru this. Nobody should have."

"Yeah, I took care of that quite recently… And I feel the same about you. Now, your hand is patched up and - so will be everything else. Just not as easily, I guess. And here, take this Tylenol, drink some water and you will go to sleep, okay?"

Tony was in awe. The pain of his now freshly bandaged hand was deafen by the fact that a world famous deadly assassin was leading him to his own room on the Compound, so she would put him to bed. For one moment, he started to think that everything is a hallucination of his sleep deprived mind. Playing cruel joke on him. And when he was lying down, covered up by the blanket and Natasha was saying Good night, he said:

"Nat?"

"Yeah?"

"I miss the red hair."

"Me too. But they will grow back. Everything will be just fine. I promise."

With that, Tony fell asleep. She promised. And after all that happened – he wanted to believe her. Everything will be just fine. He could rest for a while.

And tomorrow, he has to ask F.R.I.D.A.Y. for the footage, if this was even real. He wouldn't believe it.