Just one or two more chapters left and then Ironman 2.

I heard movement and looked up to see Rhodey coming to the lab. He went directly to Tony and started asking him questions of why he looked like shit. I stood completely still, barely breathing even, so he wouldn't see me. Tony immediately started asking about Pepper and Rhodey tried to reassure him that she was safe. Tony obviously wasn't going to stay here twiddling his thumbs, and began putting on his suit.

Rhodey was amazed by what Tony had been doing in his "vacations". After Tony flew off to save Pepper, I started panicking again. I was alone with another Bean, but he didn't know I was here and I couldn't run away. This was a very vulnerable situation for any Borrower since he could accidentally squash me. Luckily, he just looked like he was going to put on another suit Tony had made, but instead took one of his cars lying around. Finally, I was alone.

I must have fallen asleep because I woke up feeling more tired and sore than before. I had been asleep with my head on my knees and my arms surrounding them. For a moment, I was confused as to why I was sleeping like that. Then, it all came back to me like a bad dream when I looked around.

I was still in the jar on top of the table in the lab, but no one was in the room. I tried to stand up but my legs were numb. I rubbed circles on them to return the feeling on them. Finally, I was able to move; but there was nowhere for me to go to. My prison barely gave me space to walk around. I had tried pushing the jar so it could fall to its side, but it was too heavy for me.

I couldn't climb to the top since the walls where made of smooth crystal, and all my borrowing equipment was left in the floor. I knew it was useless to order Jarvis to free me since I couldn't overrule any of Tony's orders (learned that in my first year here). Just thinking of him gave me shivers. What was he going to do with me?

Before I could start picturing all kinds of scenarios, I heard the glass door open. I looked up, and Tony came in. I kept silent, hoping he wouldn't remember I was there, but luck wasn't on my side. He walked directly until he was in front of me and lifted me up. I stumbled a bit from the sudden movement but found myself to be face to face with him.

I backed away until my back hit the glass behind me. He seemed to be expecting something but I couldn't figure out what it was.

"So… hungry?"

I was startled by the random question but nodded anyway. I was put down on the table and the lid came off. I watched as he pulled out something that looked suspiciously like a waffle and tore one of the little squares. He proceeded to lower it through the jar's opening until it was on my reach and I snatched it quickly, in case he changed his mind.

I realized just how hungry I was until I had food in front of me. I didn't spare any second thoughts and started biting the edges.

I was half-way through my meal when I glanced up and found him staring straight at me. I was annoyed by this; can't I eat without being looked at like I was a freaking unicorn?

"Stop staring, it's getting creepy."

I frankly didn't care what happened now. If he was going to kill me, he better do it soon because the unknown was getting on my nerves.

He smiled and I relaxed a little. At least he didn't get angry.

"So you can talk. I was starting to think that you were mute."

This didn't make any sense since I had spoken yesterday. Sure it was barely a couple of words, but it proved that I could talk!

"Now that I'm not in risk of being killed by an insane psychopath, at least for now, back to my question from yesterday. What are you? Fairy, leprechaun, experiment gone bad, born defect?"

I almost choke on a piece of waffle. He thought I was one of those?

"Maybe, but I'm definitely NOT a fairy, especially not with all the sparkling and magic pouring through my ass."

He didn't ask any further on the matter of my species, but I knew he was going to ask again later or investigate by himself. Meanwhile, I wasn't going to tell.

I finished my piece of waffle and wiped my hands on my pants. When I looked up, Tony was sitting in a chair in front of me inspecting his Arc Reactor. I started getting nervous, he was going to realize soon…

"How did you managed to repair AND placing the Reactor on my chest? Not that I'm ungrateful, but I didn't think any shoemaker elves was going to appear standing on my chest."

I turned red by the fact of being caught in there of all places. I was suddenly very interested in my hands and didn't answer the question.

"I mean, this looks like my past Reactor, only with new parts and wires. It even has the same type of structure… Have you been stalking me?"

"What!?"

I looked up surprised by his implication and a bit angry. I was not a stalker!

"I, I don't see any reason to answer that. I saved your life and that's all that matters."

Tony lifted one eyebrow and turned to one of his screens.

"Jarvis, show me last night's video of Thumbelina's appearance."

While I instantly hated the nickname, I paled by what would be shown in the video.

And just as I feared, in the screen was recorded how I came through the vents.

"Care to explain?"

At the end, I ended up telling him that I lived in his mansion's vents for the past years. I did not tell him about Borrowers or my past, but I did talk about how I had studied his notes and blueprints. He was surprised that I understood his work and I felt pride building inside.

All that talking made me really thirsty and Tony must have noticed because he started filling a bottle cap with water. He lowered it carefully until I could grab it from his fingers. I began taking sips from it and felt better.

Tony meanwhile had turned his back to me and was working on something. Huh, I guess I wasn't that interesting to him.

I put down my drink and started pacing inside the jar. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore.

"Can I get now out of the jar since I asked all of your questions?"

He turned to me and seemed to be considering it. At the end, he probably thought that I couldn't possibly run away from him and started sticking his fingers in my prison. I was still nervous from last night but let myself be carried by them anyway. This time, he was very gentle and only grabbed me between his thumb and index.

He then put me in the table where he was working and I could now see what he had been doing. There were new schematics for a suit, making it more resistant and durable. I approached the screen and scanned his blueprint. Above me, he was twisting and making changes to it almost every second.

After studying it thoroughly, I noted that he wasn't doing any changes in the back of the suit. It was clearly the most vulnerable part of the suit. He didn't seem to have noticed it and I frowned.

"There's a weak spot in the back."

I looked up at him and when I had talked, he looked down at me.

"No there isn't."

"Ohm, yes there is."

I reached for the screen with my hands and since it was touch sensible, I could handle it. I was afraid that my fingers would be too little to be noticed, but it seemed to register my movements.

I minimized the screen's image of the suit and started making the alterations necessary for the back. After I was done, I enlarged it so Tony could see it.

He twisted and turned it in all possible angles and didn't seem to find anything wrong with what I had done. I was nervous since no one had ever seen anything I designed before, so I couldn't tell if what I had done was right or wrong.

I was starting thinking that someone could actually die from suspension when he looked at me.

"Not bad."

I smiled in relief. Ha, knew I was right all along.

Before I could say anything, I was suddenly lifted from the table. I found myself sitting in his shoulder and was a bit surprised of being that close to Tony. When I looked questioningly at his face, he rolled his eyes.

"I'm not gonna hear you all the way from the table, Thumbelina."

I glared at him. "Don't call me Thumbelina."

"Well you haven't told me your name."

"It's Max, Maximus Runner."

He had a look that said 'Really?' and I shrugged.

"Well then, Max, time to test if it was just beginner's luck."

I smiled. Challenge accepted.