Special thanks to Special Agent Ali for pointing out one of my mistakes in the last chapter! I've fixed now, so no worries.

I think someone else may have pointed it out, but I couldn't find that review in my inbox, so if you did and you aren't Special Agent Ali, I'm sorry! Just yell at me a little in a review, and then I'll fix it.

This is a little bit of character reflection, and absolutely no action. I'm sorry, I'm sure you're all dying to know what happened to Tony, but that'll be posted soon :)

The Avengers. Heroes, misfits, a ragtag team of messed up people.

Each was special in their own unique way.

Captain America, the first Avenger. Steve Rodgers received a super serum, and became a super man. He took up the mantle of America, alongside with his friend Bucky, who he lost to the war.

Steve didn't want to lose another friend. He had had his differences with Tony Stark, but this man, who was nothing more than a civilian at heart, didn't deserve this fate.

Thor Odinson, Prince of Asgard. The God of Thunder had learned the hard way what it meant to be a warrior when his father cast him out of Asgard for his foolishness. Thor had become a true leader among his people. Loki, his brother, had not tarnished his wisdom.

Thor didn't want Tony to be harmed. He had thought his own brother had killed the man once, but Tony had survived against all odds. Thor admired Tony's stubborn struggle to live.

Hawkeye, archer and SHIELD agent. Clint Barton never missed. His aim was as true as his intentions. His moral compass never faltered, even when Loki had twisted his mind. It had always been there, urging him towards good even as Loki forced the evil upon him.

Clint had never doubted himself, until Loki had showed him the error of his ways. Clint respected Tony's confidence in doing what he believed to be right, even if it wasn't. Tony never had a hint of doubt, even when he was heading towards certain death. That faith in self, and others, humbled Clint.

The Hulk, invincible and terrible. Bruce Banner had never asked for this gift, even as he tried to use it to the world's advantage. He struggled with it daily, treating it as a burden. He couldn't see a way out of this hell of anger and red hot rage washing over him constantly.

Bruce had never had a friend like Tony, who acknowledged the monster and even talked to him as if he were human. Tony was Bruce's glow at the end of the tunnel which no one else could light. Tony had his own burden in the arc reactor, and Bruce wished he could accept the Hulk the way Tony accepted the glowing circle that kept him alive.

Black Widow, master assassin and SHIELD agent. Natasha Romanoff had no alliances until Clint Barton had been sent to kill her. There, he saved her life and forever changed it. She had no alliances to SHIELD, but just to one of its agents and what he stood for. She had been told that she didn't have a heart, but Clint had proved otherwise.

Natasha had known Tony the longest. She was the only person who knew about Pepper's gift of Tony's first arc reactor. Both Tony and Natasha had been told they hadn't had a heart. Natasha thought someone couldn't be more wrong about Tony. She had seen the recklessness that sent him to the front of the lines, and realized it was really Tony being selfless, something he wasn't credited with. Natasha was selfish, and recognized Tony's altruism.

None of the team knew much about each other. Basic knowledge was kept to a minimum, and only SHIELD knew the full story behind each member.

It wasn't a lack of trust, but rather a unspoken agreement of protection, that kept secrets hidden and whispers quiet.

Yet Tony knew each and every Avenger as they were, honest and without reserve.

Tony had been there when Steve was confused and lost in modern New York, and explained to him how to use the elevator. They had a long talk about Steve's past, and Tony had learned the whole story about Bucky and Hydra.

Steve had never learned a single thing about Tony in that whole conversation.

Tony had been there when Thor was struggling with the betrayal of his brother, and had mentioned how he had likewise been betrayed. Thor had spilled his heart about how Loki had been more than a brother, and now he was forever more a traitor. How he wished Loki would just talk to him.

Not once did Tony say who had betrayed him, and Thor hadn't thought to ask.

Tony had been there when Clint had been given a tough mission days after the Battle for New York. The assassin was supposed to go kill an important official, who happened to be very high up in the coporate ladder of Stark Industries. Tony had offered to take the mission instead when Clint had fought with the remaining of Loki's whispers. Clint hadn't wanted to miss, he hadn't trusted his own judgment and aim.

Clint hadn't known if Tony had known the target, or if he was one of Tony's friends. Now Clint wished he knew if that mission had been harder for Tony than for Clint.

Tony had been there when Bruce had been caught in a wave of anger, and had battled for control. Tony had talked to the doctor, and when the Hulk inevitably won, he had calmed the beast. Tony had soothed the green monster, and told him about his own problems. Tony received a broken arm and concussion for his attempts, but the Hulk still had listened to Tony, and that alone kept him from destroying anything but the inventor.

Bruce had wanted Tony to open up for so long, and he regretted that it had been the beast that Tony had talked to, instead of one of his best friends.

Tony had been there when Natasha was about to run away for a few days, to 'clean the red of her ledger'. Tony had asked her if it was a good idea, and Natasha had realized that Tony did care. Only Clint actually cared about her, but Tony wasn't going to let run away on her own. Tony set up a flight for her, and accompanied her.

Tony had been completely understanding, and Natasha wondered how many other times he had helped others out when there had only been a few to help him in his whole life.

Anthony Edward Stark. 'Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist'. Each of the team knew nothing more of the man.

There was so much more to Tony Stark, but no one ever asked.

And now, they might not be able to.

Awwwwww...Poor misunderstood Tony. :(

Hey, would you guys want me to write a series of one-shots about the scenes described above? It might be fun, and I'll finish this story first...just tell me in the reviews if it sounds like a good idea!

Please review!