Chapter 2

The next day, Tony had Happy drive him and Banner to the Avengers Base. The building was a half hour outside of New York City limits, with a fully five mile radius of empty fields and woods around the entire premises. How S.H.I.E.L.D. had managed to get this much area, Tony didn't know. And he didn't really care.

Happy pulled up the long driveway to an old mansion. Even Tony was slightly impressed by the building. From the outside it could have been an old person's retirement home. He hoped to God that it didn't look that way on the inside.

As Tony stepped outside of the limo in an old pair of designer jeans and AC/DC T-shirt, Steve Rodgers opened the front door and stepped out. "Stark." He said by way of greeting. "Fury said you were coming." Steve was dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a plain white shirt that looked well worn.

"Yup." Tony said, striding past Steve into the mansion. "I have come to fix whatever S.H.I.E.L.D. has not done properly. Oh and Banner's coming tomorrow." He said before Steve could ask. Just inside was what looked like the main common area for the Avengers. On the far right a double staircase led up to the second floor.

There was a large glass TV screen dominating the left side of the room, currently showing the news, surrounded by black leather couches. A large kitchen was built into the far wall, with an open patio. Tony glanced back to see that yup. In the back was a generous pool. No hot tub though. He made a mental note to make that one of his first renovations.

"Bottom floor is mostly general living space and rec space. Second floor is living quarters. Third floor is the gym for Clint and Natasha. Or it will be once we finish finding all the equipment Clint has demanded. First basement is all for Hulk. If Banner needs some green time he can head down there. If things get too rowdy there's a safety built so that he'll be let outside. We don't have to worry about the house caving in."

"Where's my lab?" Tony interrupted.

"Third basement."

"What's in the second basement?"

"Our gym." Steven didn't quite hide the wince in his eyes when he said that.

"Our gym?" Tony asked.

"Well, it's not like you or I need any master assassin equipment like Tash and Clint do. There's plenty of space." Steve still was clearly uncomfortable with the whole idea.

Tony sighed loudly. "Fine whatever. Just show me to the elevator." He turned around, looking for the magical silver box that would take him to his new happy place.

"That's not quite working yet." As if to accentuate this, there was a loud bang from above them and Tony saw an agent fall off the back roof into a bush. The man got up quickly enough to begin shouting at whoever else was on top of the roof.

"Stairs? I have to walk stairs?" Tony said. "Who needs the gym when there are three flights of stairs between me and the kitchen. Did someone at least do me the justice of putting a coffee machine in my lab?"

"I don't know." Steve responded. "Everyone's rooms or in your case, your lab, is sealed to only let them in right now. Security measure, meant to keep certain agents from poking about. Here, let me show you." Steve led Tony up the double staircase and down a hall. He stopped just outside the second door on the left. "This is your room." He said, putting his hand on the doorhandle.

"Identity Confirmed. Steve Rodgers. Access Denied." A mechanical voice that sounded altogether too much like JARVIS answered.

Steve pulled away from the door. "Now you." He geustured.

Tony looked at the handle suspiciously and then placed his hand on the brass knob.

"Identity Confirmed. Tony Stark. Access Granted." The handle turned, and the door opened just a hair.

"What is it fingerprints?" Tony asked pulling his hand away to look at the knob again.

"I don't really know." Steve shrugged. "Just don't try to open a door with gloves on."

"Why, does it say you have no identity? No soul, like some kind of boy-ginger?"

"It shocks you into the next century." A voice answered from behind them.