Tony was a bit surprised at seeing his Uncle at the breakfast table the next morning. After all he had talked about wanting to see Tim before he was leaving yesterday so either he came over early this morning or he decided to sleep over anyhow. Whatever the reason Tony wasn't happy to see him. After yesterdays reveal that he had to earn back his Uncle's trust as well Tony had decided that staying as far away from his Uncle as possible would be for the best. Having said Uncle at his breakfast table wasn't part of the plan.
"Morning." Tony greeted after having narrowed his eyes ever so slightly at his Uncle hoping his Dad didn't notice behind the paper he was reading.
"Morning Tony" his Dad greeted without looking up which meant that Tony had gotten away with it.
"Morning son." Tony glared ever so slightly at his Uncle before completely ignoring him and going over to the fruit bowl, picking up an apple, before starting back upstairs.
"Eat." The command was stern and Tony found himself at the fridge before he even could react. When his Dad used that tone of voice everything he did happened more or less reflexively. Tony wanted to argue that he wasn't hungry, but decide to not pick a fight this early. Turning back towards the table with a sandwich in his hand. Sitting down next to his Dad he ate as fast as he could without his dad calling him on it before drinking a glass of juice and turning to head upstairs.
"I'm taking you and Tim to school so be ready to leave in 10 minutes." Tony only nodded as an answer before jogging upstairs nearly knocking Tim over.
"Jees Tony! Watch out, you nearly knocked me over. You still have ten minutes so why are you even running?!"
"No reason Timmy-the cry-baby-"
"Tony!"
"Get over it Tim." Tony spat. Seeing the look on his younger brother's face Tony forced himself to calm down a bit. "Look Tim, I'm sorry okay? I'm just in trouble with Dad and Steve so I'm in a bad mood. I shouldn't have taken it out on you though. Please don't tell them."
"Okay." Tim agreed sighing "But next time I'll tell Dad you called me names."
"Sure kid." Tony smiled ruffling his younger brother's hair affectionally.
"5 minutes!" Steve called from downstairs.
"Geesch Tony whatever you did really pissed him off."
"I know kid" Tony sighed. "But don't worry about it."
-Flashback ending-
Writing the days report for his Dad and Uncle wasn't something Tony wanted to do but he knew he had to so he'd just have to bite the bullet and do it. Sighing he got started and made it halfway before his mind started wandering off to the other Tony. His Uncle hadn't only been in all his classes but also made sure to speak to various teachers just outside the office so he always had his eyes on Tony. He'd only seen the other Tony in classes, but was pretty sure his Uncle hadn't had a word with him from the way he still looked smug every time Tony came near. Half past nine though Luke had suddenly been called to the office, something Tony hadn't counted on. When his best friend made it back fifteen minutes later he did so with a small laugh stating that the Principal had gave him a thorough scolding for missing so many homework assignments lately. Tony didn't buy it though. Hearing the front door close Tony made his way downstairs and found his Uncle in the kitchen.
"How was your day kiddo?"
"You had a visual on me for almost the entire time Uncle Steve, you should know."
"I get that it isn't ideal kid, but mind your attitude. I'd like to catch him in action if possible, because right now it's pretty much your word against his."
"What about the note?"
"It gives you a chance, but I'd like to expel him and then I'd need a bit more than that."
"You are the one who said you were going to take care of him!" Tony shouted. "If he knows you know he'll go after Tim!"
"Calm down son. We're doing everything we can."
"But Tim…"
"What about me?" Tim asked, coming into the room.
"Well hello there. I still think you could cause me a little trouble so I would have a reason to see you a bit more often."
"Is that what you are telling my boys when I'm not here?" Gibbs asked shaking his head coming into the kitchen too.
"Well it wouldn't hurt him Leroy." Steve argued. "That youngster of yours is too well behaved."
"No, but it would get him put on restriction."
"Even if it's just once, I never see him in school." Steve whined.
"No. Move his locker if you have to, but let my perfectly behaved son here be just the way he is."
"You are no fun Leroy, ever heard that before?!"
"Well yeah, usually by you." Gibbs smiled.
"And Mike and your Dad and…" When his two sons joined in on the laughing banter Gibbs couldn't help but smile, this family of his was something really special.
-Flashback-
The car ride to school had been made in silence with not even Tim daring to say a word. During the school day Tony had ignored Luke's questions about what happened until the last recess when he finally had had enough.
"Let it be Luke! They were mad as hell and Steve read my file and then let dad read it!"
"Steve?!"
"Yeah, it's not like I'm calling him Uncle after all of this."
"What are you planning Tony?"
"From now on he is nothing to me." Tony explained determined.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?! Won't he get hurt?"
"Yeah Luke, that's kind of the plan."
When detention finally started Tony was irritated with seeing that it was his Uncle who was handling it. Coming into the room he suddenly spotted the seating chart on the blackboard and glared openly and intensely at his Uncle who had placed him in the desk right in front of his. Making it over Tony focused on his breathing to calm down a notch. He was ignoring his Uncle, he reminded himself.
"Good afternoon Anthony." Tony ignored the greeting and sat down watching his Uncle's every move from the corner of his eye as he dug through his backpack looking for his Maths homework.
"Anthony…" Steve started in a firm tone but was interrupted by a teacher calling him from the doorway. The rest of detention was served quietly since his Uncle had his hands full with a couple of other students. As soon as the bell rang Tony jumped up from the chair rushing towards the door but was stopped by his Uncle's hand on his shoulder just as he was about to pass the threshold. Swearing under his breath Tony stilled, reminding himself that he didn't want his Dad alerted to the treatment of his Uncle. "Stay." Tony fumed at that, he wasn't a dog. "Let's go." The car ride home was made in as much silence as the day before and the second Tony stepped through the front door he disappeared upstairs happy to have more than enough homework to use it as an excuse for not stepping out of his room for the rest of the evening.
-Flashback-
"This is exactly how we wanted it." His Uncle praised sitting down next to Tony on the bed with Tony's report in his hand.
"Good to know."
"Tony look at me." Surprised Tony eyed his Uncle warily. "You are not in trouble kid, at least not yet."
"What do you mean?"
"This is your only warning kid to straighten up. As I said earlier me being present in almost every single one of your classes is understandably something you don't want, but that doesn't give you a reason to act out." Tony blushed at the reprimand.
"Sorry."
"One and only warning Anthony. You may think I'm annoying for taking it up this early on but I learned my lesson last year."
"So did I." Tony assured. "I was actually thinking about it, how bad things where. Don't worry, I'd never want to be in that position again. Ignoring your Principal/Uncle wasn't the easiest thing ever."
"Good to hear. What I never truly understood was how you could keep it from Leroy for as long as you could."
"You were busy and so was he."
"Still, but anyhow…I just wanted to say good night kid. Your Dad will be home in about 30 minutes so I'm heading home."
"Okay. Good night Uncle Steve."
"Good night son."
-Flashback-
"Tony, Uncle Steve says that dinner is ready."
"Thanks squirt, but I have too much homework to stop working right now. I'll eat something later."
"You know Dad wouldn't approve of you missing dinner."
"I know kid, but I'm not hungry." At least not for sitting another half an hour across Uncle Steve, Tony thought.
"Are you sure? It's lasagne."
"I'm sure kid, just tell Steve that I'm not hungry."
"You called him Steve again." Tim acknowledged.
"It's his name."
"No, it's Uncle Steve to us!"
"Don't go there, kid." Tony groaned.
"In other words, you aren't just not hungry, you want to avoid him. Fine, if that's how you want to do this then you can just tell him it yourself!"
"Tim!" Tony tried, but Tim was already out the door. Sighing Tony bent back down over his homework doing it for all of five minutes before his head started hurting. Moving over to his bed Tony laid down on his back burying his head in his hands.
"Are you okay?" His Uncle's voice was unexpected and Tony bolted up from the bed only to glare at his Uncle once he realised who it was.
"I'm fine."
"Didn't look fine. The truth Anthony." Tony ignored the other man and sat back down at the desk. It was only seconds later that Tony felt himself being spun around.
"You, young man, are already on thin eyes so I suggest you start thinking about whether this attitude of yours will be worth it."
"Yes sir." The words were spoken with a hint of anger traceable, but Steve backed down.
"Good, there is some dinner left if you want some."
"No thank you. I'm not hungry." With that Tony turned around only to be spun back around again.
"I don't know how long you think you can keep this up Anthony, but the attitude or whatever you want to call it will only land you in trouble. As will defiance and not being respectful. And not eating will only give you a hungry stomach nothing else."
"I haven't defied anyone!"
"Tone, Anthony Leroy. Last chance kid."
"Fine." Tony huffed. The head slap that followed hurt but it was the phone in his Uncle's hand that caught his attention.
"Do you really want me to report all of this to your Dad?"
"No sir."
"Then I suggest you straighten up. If you don't want to eat then that's fine today since you already missed dinner, but this is the only time. Tomorrow you'll eat dinner with me and Tim. Understood?!"
"Yes sir."
"You may finish your homework and then go to bed. I think an early bedtime could give you something to think about. Good night Tony." Tony almost didn't spin around, but then reminded himself that his Uncle was being unreasonable and did so. As he did he saw a hurt look flash across his Uncle's face. "I have no idea what this is son, but I hope you'll stop before you hurt us both." Tony swallowed hard at the hurt tone but didn't say anything. Hearing his Uncle descend the stairs Tony buried his head in his hands again, this time letting a few tears escape.