Chapter title is from the same song title by The Bloomfields

Enjoy!

Klaus

After dinner, Klaus went straight to the unused floor, brought the board down on the empty hallway, and waited for the evening to deepen.

"So, how are we going to do this? Do you want me to call Tony first down here or you wanna give him the surprise of his lifetime?"

Jarvis sighed when he materialized next to Klaus. Klaus pretty much avoided him the rest of the day, and Edwin was too nice to not give him his space. "Klaus," Jarvis began.

"Look, as I said to him, I don't mind." Klaus wasn't sure who he was trying to convince here. But, hey, he got these medium abilities and someone wanted him to use it without asking rudely (i.e., beating the shit out of him to communicate with a late rich grandma to ask where she hid her jewels or asking a dead partner in crime where the stolen money was), so why not?

"And it wasn't what he said either," Jarvis pointed out. He sat down, Indian-sitting beside Klaus, and it should have been irritating that he was treating Klaus as a child when he was past that age, but Jarvis's voice was firm and gentle like he had an infinite amount of patience. He must have. "You misunderstood him."

"If I did, it doesn't mean that you don't want it," Klaus retorted.

Jarvis's expression turned wistful and distant as if remembering a memory. "I won't lie. I do. To be honest, I do want him to know what I think. I'd like to say that his workshop has been a mess despite the lack of papers, and he hasn't been cleaning for a while that one day he'll slip on a screwdriver. I want to say that he has been brave and did a fine job at the Battle of New York, though offering Loki a drink might be pushing it." Jarvis continued like there was a list he prepared for this. "I personally want to limit his caffeine intake and diet. Master Tony isn't getting younger so he might as well start with healthy living now." Klaus thought that 'healthy living' sounded ludicrous to say to someone in the superhero business. "Lastly, I'd like to express my disapproval of his lack of attempt with proper communication with Miss Potts. He's struggling, and he doesn't know that telling her what is bothering him will help lessen the burden."

Klaus tilted his head. "What is bothering him?"

"It is not my place to say, but you have to know that it is causing him a lack of sleep these past nights."

"And it's not the amount of coffee he chugs every day?"

"No, I'm afraid not." Jarvis glanced at the security camera positioned to get capture them on the screen. "It won't be farfetched to assume that he's watching us now, or at least running this recording in the background while he works."

"No sleep, huh? Yeah, that sucks serious ba—" At Jarvis's frown, Klaus hastily corrected, "—sucks. That sucks." Jarvis didn't call him out on it. "So why don't you want to say that yourself? If you two were close, then hearing it from you will give him a wake-up call or something."

"It doesn't have to be me. I'm no longer a part of his day-to-day life," Jarvis said with a smile. "He has many layers but underneath is someone who looks after people as much as he can and rarely wants the same in return. He's confident with what he's capable of, his mind and technology, and he wears them as his armor quite literally and figuratively. But at the end of the day, he's just a single man who multitasks. He needs to be looked after, too, especially by those he has at the present. The living ones."

"Pepper," Klaus said.

"And you and your siblings," Jarvis added, his smile wider.

Klaus blinked and snorted. "Gee, makes us feel special than we already are if being technically aliens with superpowers aren't already."

Jarvis wasn't offended and was more or less cognizant of Klaus's reaction. "Sir might have known you for only a week, but trust me when I say he wants to do it right with all of you."

"He already is," Klaus admitted, shrugging in an attempt to appear casual. Tony was a good host and so far Klaus didn't have any complaints. "It's kinda like having a rich relative whose choices are to either spend their money collecting cats until they die of old age, or spend it on spoiling nephews or nieces they never met before." Huh. In some ways, the cats could be swapped for the doohickeys Tony would whip up and, wow, it all made sense on Klaus's mind somehow. At Jarvis's confused frown, Klaus added, "We should have been used to this, this pampered lifestyle. Our Dad was a billionaire too, you know. Just made his riches from a different field."

It looked like Jarvis knew that after hearing meager bits of their modified background that was enough to sound realistic. "What is he like, your father?"

"Brilliant. Distant." And cold that would put to shame whatever corpse on a slab he would perform an autopsy on, Klaus wanted to say, because Reginald studied the human anatomy from an actual dead like it was a pastime of his. "He was no doubt a great mind in the scientific world, but he was a shit father."

Klaus wanted to laugh at the sheer absurdity that he said more praises than insults. Oh, the irony.

He knew he liked Jarvis even more when he didn't pity him. Jarvis understood as if he wasn't unfamiliar with the story. "I'm sorry. I am not new to a tough and single-minded father myself."

Tough and single-minded; those were the kindest words Klaus could ever hear referring to Reggie. Idly, he wondered if Jarvis had the same experience with his father. He didn't ask—wasn't able to when Jarvis spoke again.

"Master Tony knows that," Jarvis told him. "You might not have mentioned exactly the kind of man Mr. Hargreeves was, but Tony is far from ignorant. From the way you and your siblings mentioned your father with hardly any affection, Tony knew you grew up not given that very thing by your father. He knows as well that it isn't the world you came from that is cruel, it is the manner you were raised to strive for utter discipline and perfection of your skills. He doesn't find perfection wrong, mind you, though he doesn't approve living for it alone. If you'll notice, Sir is all about having fun, and children, most especially, are entitled to it."

Jarvis described Tony akin to an author writing about a character, and it did show he knew Tony well to see all these past that façade of massive ego and indifference.

Klaus couldn't find it in himself to refuse when Jarvis suggested he go and see if Tony was awake and talk to him.

Tony

He closed his eyes briefly, and next thing he knew he somewhat fell asleep on the couch for like—oh, seven minutes.

Tony intended to get a frozen bagel from the kitchen and crack a cold one while he was at it when he crashed himself on the couch out of impulse and stayed there and stared at the ceiling. He was seeing past the dimness he found up there, lines of codes running across his eyes. Tony thought of several switch cases he should add to the program if he wanted the Iron Legion to work similarly to a response team, accounting for every possible situation that could happen during an evac or assistance in a fight. The second one was easy: let them punch those Tony would deem the bad guys, while the former proved to be tricky in terms of delicate handling of victims and such.

He managed to dream he was falling, and that was pretty much it for the uncalled for nap. Tony rubbed his eyes tiredly. He was getting worse.

There were sounds of footsteps coming from the direction of the kitchen, and Tony waited for who would emerge from the unlit hallway. It was Klaus in pajamas and carrying a tumbler, looking sheepish.

"Did I wake you?" Klaus asked tentatively when Tony waved next to him.

"Wasn't sleeping, kid," Tony lied.

"Figures," Klaus murmured.

Tony raised an eyebrow at the tumbler. "Rough night?"

"I wish. That's a good reason to finally swipe a bottle from your cabinet," Klaus remarked dryly. Tony's mouth twitched.

"Got alcoholism that I should know?"

"God, yes. There's also my past substance abuse. I haven't been sober this long, and it's making me itch."

When Klaus didn't laugh, Tony had to pause and consider. "You're kidding, right?"

Klaus could only sigh. "Yeah, I'm just pulling your leg," he deadpanned, and Tony wasn't sure whether to pursue this line of conversation seriously.

"Right. I might take you up on the drinking, though. In another five years maybe."

"You think we'll be here that long?"

"Don't know. What did your, ah, driver say? Not that I mind guests for five years."

"'Freeloaders' is more fitting once we overstayed our welcome."

Tony inclined his head, humming noncommittally. Of course, they didn't know that Tony Stark's doors were always open for the more agreeable folks.

"Yeah, I know, Christ," Klaus said, not to Tony but rather on something behind his shoulder. The boy's mild annoyance morphed into something guilty when he caught Tony watching him. "Sorry about that."

The lack of 'sir' was a major improvement. "Who's that?" he asked, knowing full well who it was. It was a little easier to accept the idea that Klaus could talk to Jarvis, probably due to the grogginess that was partly clouding Tony's brain.

Klaus hesitated. "It's Jarvis. He said I shouldn't keep you awake, and I should go to sleep now if you don't want to talk."

"Nagging, isn't he?"

"Yeah. Not something I could appreciate on a bad day."

Tony allowed a smirk. "You'll get used to it." He found it funny that he was indirectly teasing his late butler. Talk about a weird night. "Wait. He can hear me. Did he pout?"

Klaus glanced behind him. "He totally is pouting."

"With crossed arms in front of his chest?"

"Yep."

Tony could imagine it. Jarvis had pulled the same gesture a couple of times on him. The one Tony couldn't forget was when he didn't separate the colored shirts from the white.

"He said you should sleep," Klaus spoke softly when a bout of comfortable silence settled between them.

"Not yet. Working on something. Taking a break for the meantime."

"Well, he said that you must be ahead of your schedule by now since you've worked on it almost every evening. Sure you turn to bed early, only to wake up in the middle of the night to go to your workshop until afternoon."

"I'm going to pretend it's not creepy that he's watching me sleep," Tony said in an attempt to lighten the mood. "Tell him he doesn't need to worry. In a few days, I'll be having my hibernation." He made a show of stretching his arms and yawning wide. The yawn wasn't made up, however, and there were aches he could feel on some parts of his body out of exhaustion.

"He, uh," Klaus hesitated again, "He said that whatever you're dealing with, Pepper deserves to know. It's only fair for her."

Tony turned his face away in time to hide his flinch. Tony could point out that Jarvis made it sound so easy as if it was natural for Tony to open this up to someone. But then again Pepper wasn't just someone, and the same goes for Rhodey too. There were a handful of people that Tony could trust with his life, but there were only two he could trust to tell what he was going on with him, to admit that he wasn't alright.

The kid peered at him. "Hey, I don't really know what's going on with you, and Jarvis said it isn't his place to tell me, but I'm not going to pry no matter how curious I am." Klaus shifted on his seat. "But if it's really serious, I think you should take Jarvis's advice. It doesn't hurt to tell the people you love."

Tony regarded Klaus, and for a minute he wondered if he should ask if it came from experience. Tony decided not to after seeing Klaus fiddled with his fingers, the topic equally bothering him.

"Is that coffee?" Tony asked distractedly.

"Oh, nah." Klaus pushed the tumbler towards Tony. "It's for you actually. Jarvis said it should help with insomnia."

"Milk?" Tony peeked suspiciously at the content.

"With honey and cinnamon. It might not be the same, but I followed his instruction so it shouldn't be bad. It's alright when I taste it."

The smell of cinnamon wafted out when Tony lifted the lid. How long had he drunk one? Once, he was willing to substitute it for black coffee as long as it was made by Jarvis.

Nagging, right. Thoughtful. Jarvis still couldn't help but look after him from the other side. He wanted to support Tony in the littlest way he could, and now that Klaus came there was suddenly a way for him.

"Thank you," he said. "Thank you, kid."

Tony made up his mind.

He didn't return to his workshop and made a beeline for the bedroom.

To his surprise, Pepper was sitting with an open book of Harry Potter. Tony knew how easily she could get invested in a book, though she quickly put it down when he came in.

"Hi, Pep."

"Hello." Pepper sat up properly. "Took you long to come back."

"I know. I feel stupid."

"That's a first," Pepper replied lightly. She patted the space next to her. "Come here and tell me."

And Tony told her of his fears, of his bad dreams, of what he saw beyond the wormhole, of what he was working on. He told her that the only break he got this past week was the arrival of the seven children that started living with them.

Pepper was quiet the whole duration, carding his hair and rubbing his arm soothingly. Tony had been taking for granted this amazing woman who only wanted to understand and share his burdens. He was an idiot.

It was four in the morning when Tony found himself falling in a dreamless slumber without a care in the world other than resting.

Pepper

Out of the seven, there were only three who arrived at breakfast.

Pepper made sure to prepare for a big meal with Thor around. Bruce quietly nursed his tea as Thor shoveled three omelets. Beside him was Steve who politely accepted the invitation. Pepper watched the table amusedly as Thor attempted to prepare a toast with butter spread to help serve to the boys. Luther was the first who came in after a jog with Steve, and Pepper could tell that an hour outside did wonders for his mood. She often saw Luther with a perpetual frown, not quite settled yet compared to the rest of his siblings. Diego followed closely and with him was Klaus, early for the first time.

"Where are the others?" Pepper asked, joining them. "I usually see Vanya and Ben around this time."

"Allison said she can hardly get up," Luther answered. "Because of yesterday. It… has been a while."

"That is Lady Natasha for you," Thor exclaimed with a big grin. "Ah, 'tis a shame not to watch her with Five and the young lady."

"You should have seen the Frisbee game I had with Luther," Steve said. "And Clint told me that Diego here has an impressive shot as his."

Pepper noticed Diego's ears turning pink. Klaus hid a grin behind his cup.

Klaus—

Pepper recalled the late-night talk with Tony. He mentioned that Jarvis, through Klaus, had made a few key things clearer for him. He made a joke of comparing Klaus to a telephone, but Pepper knew that he recognized how important a link the boy was.

In the middle of Thor's boisterous retelling of his spar with Vanya and Ben, Pepper gave Klaus's hand a squeeze that startled him.

"Thank you," she whispered. Klaus already knew what she was pertaining to.

"It's nothing, really," Klaus replied quietly.

"It means a lot to me and Tony," Pepper said, keeping her voice down.

She didn't let go until Klaus nodded unsurely, a little shy. It gave her the impression that Klaus wasn't always a recipient of gratitude.

"You want another toast?"

Five

The equations were wrong again.

He studied the three recent results he got and compared them to the latest one. They were all varying; there was a number off or one lesser by two or three digits than the one before. It was becoming repetitive, and the lack of substantial results made Five's head hurt.

The writings on every paper and space on the whiteboard were enough to fill a thesis volume on the subject of the Multiverse. Five made a mental note to burn them—even the most inconclusive—once he was done with these lest they fall on the wrong hands.

The cat was curled into a ball on the bed most of the day, purring at Five on occasion as if checking up on him (which was a ridiculous notion given the feline nature). He would only leave the room during meals, check on his siblings, and then return once more to go over his progress so far. If it could be called progress, that was.

Another day he was struck with inspiration and it went down the drain immediately.

Five crumpled the paper and shot it to the bin. It was becoming glaringly obvious what he should do next: ask for help from Stark and Banner.

Asking for their aid entailed telling the whole truth and the need to return to their Earth. It shouldn't be much of an issue to reveal them as actual adults on top of coming from another dimension if not for the recent events that happened here. The reason the Avengers have been generally lax around them was their current state as children that enforced their sob story. What would happen when they found out these seven seemingly innocent kids were lying all along?

Which left Five with the option to tell his brothers and sisters to not expect a trip back soon and open to them the possibility of not returning home.

Five was far from giving up, but he might as well face the worst-case scenario. He wasn't the sole person trapped here after all.

It was no brainer what was the easiest choice until Five went out to gather each of them for an impromptu meeting in his room and came across Allison first.

Their Earth didn't hold years of pleasant memories that Five would rather not return to, but there was happiness there for some of his siblings, Allison most of all. How was Five going to tell her that Claire's conception was down to zero probability if they remained here? Allison had and would have had that girl that was her whole world.

Five found that he wasn't yet ready to shove at her sister's face that possible scenario.

Before Allison could turn to his direction, Five jumped ahead without any destination in mind.

The escape of a coward, he thought distastefully. Five ended up on top of a random building where he could see the Avengers Tower not far, all gleaming windows at the orange hue of dusk.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Five didn't sense the monkish woman that appeared behind him, and that alone rang his warning bells. The woman noticed Five's guard rising, though she remained unperturbed.

"For a city dubbed as a concrete jungle, it gives an impressive view of the sunset," she continued, admiring the sight of the visible horizon.

"Who are you?" Five asked cautiously.

"I believe that is one of the many things we will be talking about," she said benignly, offering a smile. "Tea?"

TBC