The funerals seemed to blend together with continuous glares and angry comments people throw his way. They all end the same too- with him stumbling home and drowning himself in pills.

While most of his days were filled up with going to funerals, the rest was spent trying to fix his brace- which he didn't make much progress with- and having Friday read him the new additions to the Accords.

He had written an appeal for the financial amendment but re-reading the Accords as a whole, he realized there was so much more he had to change. Currently, the Accords were very harsh in taking away the rights of superheroes- it was very clear why the Rogues had disagreed with them. Though, Tony thought, he didn't remember the Rogues ever sitting down and reading the whole document, but maybe he was mistaken.

Since all his focus was on the Accords, he almost missed it when Friday read out an alert about Rhodey's funeral. While he knew he would not receive an invitation, he had Friday watching the internet for any mention of it. The alert had come from a private source so he doubted many would be in attendance, therefore Tony decided he would risk it and attend.

He thought getting dressed that day would be the hardest thing he had to do, and then he thought walking into the funeral would be the hardest, but being yelled at publicly by Rhodey's mother was definitely the hardest thing.

He arrived early to the funeral, hoping to not come into contact with anyone- which he didn't. Upon entering the main room where the funeral was to be held, he was pulled forward by a large picture of Rhodey in the front. It was him in his uniform, looking not happy but not sad either. Tony hated it. The photo may have been of James Rhodes, but it was not of Rhodey. This was not the smile Rhodey wore when they both couldn't sleep and went flying in their suits above the New York City skyline. This was not the smile Rhodey wore as they laughed over the ridiculousness of the Back to the Future movies. This was not the smile Rhodey wore while Tony threw up on the Ferris Wheel at a fair they had cut class to go to. This was not his best friend- his brother's smile.

Tony turned his head against the photo and his heart stopped when his eyes landed on the casket and what was inside it. The casket was fancy and stiff, just like the man inside. The man inside wore an Air Force Uniform, ironed perfectly. The man inside was pale, cold looking. The man inside wore a frown, stiff and unnatural. The man inside was not his best friend, his brother. The innumerous times he had seen Rhodey, the man favored a colorful short-sleeve rather than a stiff suit, much more comfortable for movie-nights after a long week of work. Rhodey was never pale, always lively looking and expressive. And Rhodey rarely frowned, preferring to lighten a dark situation with a witty joke. The man inside was not his best friend, his brother.

He didn't even realize how hard he was gripping the edge of the casket until his hand started to hurt. Tears were pouring down his face and he unwillingly let out a loud sob. Just as his head banged on the edge of the casket in his grief, a voice yelled out. "Get away from him!"

Tony looked up quickly, not even thinking to wipe away his tears. "Mama Rhodes-" he started sadly.

"I said get away from him! Get out!" She cried, tear tracks covering her cheeks. A few men, Rhodey's cousins, heard her cries and rushed to see what was going on. They quickly took in the situation and grabbed Tony's arms, forcing him out of the church.

Tony stumbled away from the casket and down the aisle. He was given no time to even say goodbye to Rhodey as he was ushered out the door. Tears still fell steadily from his eyes and he forced himself out of his grief-filled haze.

He didn't remember getting home, but he did recall the handful of pills he digested after throwing up violently in the bathroom. Which is where he woke up the next morning.

Tony peeled himself off the bathroom tile. His body was shaking from the cold of the floor and sweating from dehydration. He had a stain of throw up down the front of his suit that was now crusted and dry. He gagged from the smell as he quickly lifted the piece of clothing over his head. He'd wash it later.

He immediately collapsed upon hefting himself up using the sink. His left leg was shaking violently and spasming with pain. Pins were stabbing him in conjunction with his tightening muscles. On his second attempt up, he managed to grab some pain pills from the medicine cabinet before he was thrown to the floor again- this time he stayed there.

It was midday when he woke up again in a haze. He tried to figure out what had awoken him since he had no plans to move from his freezing cold spot on the bathroom floor, but came up empty until he heard the door bang open.

"You love being an alcoholic bastard, don't you?" Natasha sneered from the doorway.

Tony forced his lethargic head to turn towards her. "It's wonderful, you should try it sometime," he slurred out, it was an automatic answer.

Natasha rolled her eyes and pulled his arm up painfully. She dragged him out of the bathroom and into the living room before tossing him onto the couch. Tony squinted at the light from the windows and threw his arm over his eyes. "What do you want?" Tony coughed.

Natasha stood in front of him angrily, not bothering to take a seat. "People have been contacting you and you're not answering."

Tony frowned. Ignoring summons is normal for me. "So?"

"Have you considered some of this stuff might be important?" Natasha tapped her foot frustratedly.

Tony frowned harder. Friday was filtering all of his emails and messages- he had received nothing important recently. "No," Tony said finally.

"Well it is," Natasha huffed. "Some people from the UN are working to get the Avengers pardoned and they, we, need your input."

Tony gulped. "They want the Rogues-"

"The Avengers," Natasha corrected.

"To be cleared of their crimes? Next you're gonna tell me they're requesting to be sent back to the compound," Tony laughed anxiously.

"They are."

Tony stared at Natasha for a long minute. "This is our home, Tony. We are a family. You're the one who keeps trying to break us up."

Tony wished he was still wearing his suit so he could throw up again and not have a pile of laundry. "I have to go. Answer your emails," Natasha said a second before she was out of the door.

Tony was motionless and stared at the spot she had been standing. He was the one trying to break them up? Him? And did she say family? What family? How was he actively trying to break up his family when they had all broken off and left him alone? A family doesn't do that. The only family Tony has- had- is six feet under.

Almost as if he had heard Natasha's words, Vision had appeared hours later.

It was dark, the light from the city streets was the only thing illuminating the living room space. Tony was still in the same spot, half because he was still sorting through his thoughts, and half because his leg prevented him from moving. Suddenly, Tony felt a breeze from the wall windows and he slowly looked over.

Tony simply stared at Vision, words not coming to his mind half because he was still thinking of Natasha's words, and half because he genuinely didn't know what to say to the being.

"Hello Tony," Vision said softly.

Tony tried not to flinch at having Jarvis' voice hurled at him like a knife. Vision was not Jarvis. Jarvis was not Vision. Jarvis would not have left him. Jarvis would not have killed his best friend, his brother.

"I know it has been a long time since I have spoken to you, but I was...conflicted," Vision said in his English drawl.

Tony didn't approve the scoff that escaped his mouth up in his brain's control center. With his next words, "All of us are conflicted, at least I had the decency to stay and face my problems!" He knew his brain-to-mouth filter was broken.

"I am sorry," Vision said guiltily. "Maybe I should go."

"No!" The connection is back online. "I am sorry, what I said was mean. I know you are under a lot of stress right now and are trying to sort through your feelings. You can stay. Please. Please stay."

Vision searched his eyes before nodding. He approached the couch slowly and read Tony's expression one more time before sitting down a few cushions over.

"Where have you been?" Tony asked.

"Around. I travelled, hoping I would be able to find the answers to how I should feel," Vision said, copying Tony and staring at the blank television ahead.

"Did you find them?" Tony asked, curiously.

"No. Not yet."

They sat in silence for a bit. "Do you know where the Rogues are?" Tony asked.

"Yes." Tony looked over at him. "And you do too."

Tony sighed, resuming his stare ahead. "I do."

"Are you going to give Ross their location?" Vision asked in a voice that already knew the answer.

Tony sighed, suddenly hating himself even more than he did a minute ago. "No."

The two went to bed not too long after their conversation. Tony actually waited for Vision to leave before limping his way to the bed.

The first thing he did in the morning was try to fix the brace. The dimensions were off because of his weak left hand that took shaky measurements. He wanted, needed, to go to physical therapy to help regain his strength, but with his finances so low, he decided to limit himself and wait to see what would happen with his Accords appeal. He couldn't afford cosmetics like physical therapy, he needed to budget himself.

And he was glad he did because not even a week later, the Rogues were on the news.

22 deaths, 51 injuries.

They had run through a town looking for Hydra agents, before blowing up a large building 'accidentally'. That's all Tony had gotten from the report. He was furious. Not to mention, right after all of this, they went right back to their warm and cozy hiding spots- leaving Tony to clean up the mess as usual.

Tony received another three bills in the mail- city damage, medical bills, and funeral expenses. Those and another email of a list of funerals he had to attend. Tony opened up his bank account and frowned at the red number. He would have to sell some of his estates. Even with that, he wasn't sure he would financially survive.

It wasn't fair. Tony's name did not appear at all on the news report, yet he was the one blamed. Guilty by association, was it? It. Was. Not. Fair.

Tony didn't tell Vision about his money problems since he seemed busy sorting through his own troubles. He often found Vision hovering in front of the window, staring out at the sky. The bustling city never attracted his attention, the android always preferred to stare out at the clouds and stars.

Luckily, it was not long before Tony was summoned to discuss his financial appeal. A few UN representatives and Ross met with him via hologram meeting to discuss it all.

"Yes, it does make sense to spread the funds-" One of UN reps nodded.

"You are a billionaire, are you not?" Ross interrupted rudely.

Tony sighed. "Yes, but-"

"Then why shouldn't you pay for your own team? Don't you think that's kind of selfish to have us pay for things your team does?" Ross glared.

"Yes. No. What i'm saying is, I am being forced to pay for more than just the team. City damages, medical bills-"

"So? It's the least you can do to help these people. I thought you were a philanthropist?" Ross smirked.

"I agree with Mr. Stark, it is not fair to have him pay for city damages. That is not something a civilian should have to-"

"But he's not a civilian is he? Under the Accords, he works for the government. So he should take some responsibility," Ross interrupted again.

"No. I cannot keep-" Tony put his foot down.

"You can't? What, are you bankrupt? Broke?" Ross leaned into the camera, as close as could virtually get to Tony.

Tony fought a blush. "No, I just-"

"Okay then. We will discuss it further and get back to you. Meeting adjourned," Ross said quickly, ending the meeting.

Tony cursed the empty room. He hated Ross with everything he was. It was obvious the UN officials agreed with Tony, just none of them had the guts to speak up against Ross. Tony did, but it was hard when the man wouldn't even let him get a word in. He decided it would be best if he met in person next time, then he could physically shut the man up if he needed to.

Tony used his slightly improved brace to drag himself up towards the living room. When the elevator opened, he noticed Vision gone from his usual spot which must have meant the android was 'traveling' again and would be back later. It was horrible timing too, because no sooner did Tony enter the room, he collapsed to the ground in the midst of his first seizure.

Thanks for reading! Should the Rogues be pardoned? Is Natasha a good or bad guy?