Through adolescence and alive Chapter 13-Signs, an avengers fanfic

Thor; This is easily the longest chapter Lady N had written so far! And she's happy :D

Steve; However, this chapter, is not all rainbows, butterfly and sunshine. It mentions a dying character and a little angst….maybe

Bruce: N doesn't own us. Only her imagination. Please prepare a box of tissue if you must.

Chapter 13- Signs

They should have seen what was actually happening with Tony. They were his friends after all, they were supposed to notice. But no, they were too busy noticing his faults and flaws. They were supposed to realize that Tony was making a bigger chaos than usual to divert their attention from his problem. And now, he had disappeared, with no intention of leaving clues where he was –nothing

They should have seen the signs.

Four days before Halloween

"Tony, are you okay?" Bruce asked, glancing at Tony.

They were in Physics, copying the notes from the whiteboard while Mr. Summers went to see his wife at the Chemistry lab. Bruce felt slightly worried looking at Tony, well, he looked…unlike him. The dark circles around his eyes looked more obvious on his pale skin. Tony looked tired, and the Tony Bruce had known, even without 6-hours sleep was never tired. And ultimately, Tony was actually copying the notes on the whiteboard, instead of sitting back, with his legs on the table and muttering about his classmates' –except Bruce- incompetence.

"I'm fine," Tony said, eyes never leaving his notes.

Tony Stark avoids eye-contact? Bruce thought disdainfully. "You look kind of pale."

"Oh yes, I'm a little unwell," Tony admitted, finally looking at Bruce. His dark brown eyes widened, trying to assure that everything was under control. "It's not contagious. But if you feel unsafe, well, you can keep your distance."

This is new, Bruce raised his eyebrow. Tony had structured his words carefully, but Bruce caught something. You can keep your distance. Tony wanted Bruce to stay away from him. Something was definitely wrong with Tony.

Bruce opened his mouth to say something but there was a ring –an announcement.

"Good morning, students. Those following students please come to Principal Fury's office immediately," Miss Hill's voice rang through the speaker. "Anthony Stark," Tony looked up to the speaker, while Bruce flinched as the next name was announced, "Robert Banner. Virginia Potts. James Rhodes, Steven Rogers, Clinton Barton, Natasha Romanoff, and Thor Odinson. Please come to Principal Fury's office right now."

Bruce and Tony packed their bags as their classmates stared at them. Ignoring the stares, Tony swiftly walked out the class, with Bruce behind him toward Principal Fury's office. They sat on the wooden bench in the waiting room until one by one of their friends showed up with bewildered faces.

"What happened?" Steve asked, glancing briefly on his friends' faces.

Everyone shrugged. Pepper looked sharply at Tony. "Are you sure it's nothing?"

Tony made a face of mock-hurt and closed his eyes, frowning. After a while, he looked back at Pepper. "Nope, nothing -positive. I hadn't blown something up lately."

Miss Hill's head peeked out Principal Fury's office. "Mr. Stark, come on in."

Tony shrugged and walked into Principal Fury's office as Miss Hill held up the door. Two men were waiting for him in the office, dressed in cheap suits and leather loafers. Tony snorted inwardly –cops. He took a seat as Principal Fury gestured him to do so, while the two men stood behind him, like bodyguards.

"So, what have I done to deserve this pleasure?" Tony asked sarcastically, crossing his legs and trying to maintain the air of superiority. He wasn't going to be scared off by a couple of cops.

Principal Fury rolled his eyes and gave the cops the green light to speak. The one on Tony's right cleared his throat. "Stark, I'm Detective Gregg –"

"I remember you," Tony intercepted. "You took care of my mom's accident."

Detective Gregg nodded, noticeably perplexed for the fact that Tony remembered, even it was a few years after his mom's accident. "Glad you remembered," he said hastily. "This is my partner, Detective Reagan. We are investigating your case."

"Case?" Tony questioned. He knew Det. Gregg was talking about his accident earlier on September but case? It sounded serious. "It was accident."

"Sorry to burst your bubbles," Det. Reagan spoke up. "But our recent lab report showed that your firework launcher was rigged with explosives. Someone tried to kill you."

Tony was flabbergasted. "What the fuck?"

"Was it convincing that you made a mistake with the firework launcher?"

"Well, no. But I lived, so I haven't give the matter much thought."

Detective Gregg crossed his arms. "My partner and I will have to interrogate you and your friends –close friends. And can you give us some name –if you have- nemesis?"

"I pissed off everyone," Tony said truthfully. "To be honest, my sarcastic nature is accepted by most of the population in the school. I don't give a fuck to those who were offended. When is the interrogation?"

"I was about to ask your principal about that."

Principal Fury cleared his throat. "Today is alright. I will clear off their schedules. You can use Mr. Coulson's office for the interrogation."

"And we also need to ask your students if they've got tips on the case."

"Alright," Principal Fury agreed easily, which made Tony grimace.

Tony and the two detectives went out the office after a couple of minutes. Jane and Darcy were called for the interrogation. They used Mr. Coulson's office for interrogation. They went in one by one, and after they were done, they weren't allowed to stay with those who hadn't been interrogated. It left Rhodey and Steve kind of twitchy, since they were the last to be interrogated. Everyone else went to the cafeteria and enjoyed their endless recess. With their schedules cleared off, Principal Fury gave them the permission to go home after they were done.

"Ah, there he is!" Tony announced imperiously as Steve dragged his feet to their table, the last one questioned. The cafeteria was empty except for their little group.

"How was the interrogation?" Rhodey asked as Steve grabbed a chair from the next table and sat down.

Steve shrugged. "Not that bad."

"The case is serious," Darcy suggested. "I mean, Tony could have died."

"And Tony is here, alive and listening," Tony rolled his eyes at Darcy. "Honestly, I don't give a flying fuck."

"Tony, this person tried to kill you," Pepper relented, her hand reaching for his.

Tony smirked. "I don't give a fuck about why they wanted to kill me. But they almost succeeded killing me, and I'm going to make them pay," he said, smiling lopsidedly, stabbing the bun in front of him with a fork slowly. "R-E-V-E-N-G-E," he sing-songed.

Horrified looks passed on their faces as Tony cheerfully bounced on his feet, and walked away.

Three days before Halloween

Tony woke up the next morning –Thursday- feeling like someone had cut his head in half. The clock on his StarkPhone said 7.30 A.M and he was officially late for school. He groaned, and rolled on his king-sized bed, kicking the sheet under his legs. The sunlight hurts his eyes, everything felt too bright and he moved too slowly. Ah, hangover. His gaze landed on a couple of empty whiskey bottles on the floor. His bedroom smelled suspiciously like Jack Daniels Old No. 7. Inhaling the smell, he gingerly stepped out of the bed and went to the bathroom.

He did the first he always did after spending the night drinking –puking all his guts out. His temples throbbed painfully and his throat felt like sandpaper. Flushing the toilet, he brushed his teeth, taking off his smelly clothes and stepped into the shower. He lets the water rained him down as he reached for the blood-toxicity scanner device. Pricking his thumb like usual, he waited for Jarvis' voice to break out the silence and tension.

"Blood toxicity -34%," Jarvis informed. "It has increased 15% since last Sunday. I'm afraid your condition has worsened, Mr. Stark."

Tony didn't cringe; instead he listened to Jarvis like he was swallowing something bitter. "Tell me something I don't know, Jarv."

"If the percentage keeps increasing until it is beyond 50% percent, I'm afraid you'll be seeing no future."

Ah Jarvis. Always straight to the point –no lacing the truth.

"Am I going to die Jarvis?"

"I'm sure that death is certain, sir. The only question is whether it is sooner or later."

Tony stayed silent, lathering his body with soap. Jarvis is an A.I, and no matter how intelligent it is, Jarvis has no feelings. Talking to Jarvis wasn't like taking to humans. He couldn't talk to his friends –no, he didn't want to talk to his friends. Talking about death, especially his own, it would lead to sentiment. Tony Stark is anything but sentimental. Besides, he had used the dying card already. He can't have his friends worrying for his almost-ending life –again.

And Pepper. What would he do about her?

Every time he tried to come clean about his feelings toward her, it never worked out. The fireworks –he ended up unconscious for two weeks. At the Homecoming, Miss Hill had interrupted their private moment with her announcement. And now –he was dying. Maybe he never had the chance with Pepper, even when he loved her way too much.

He wasn't afraid of death. Like Jarvis said, death is certain. His had come too soon. He was going to welcome death like an old friend.

He just hated the way he was going to die. The thing that keeps him alive was the same thing that was killing him, slowly. Oh, the irony.

"Mom," he whispered quietly as his thoughts reverted to his mom. "Maybe I get to see her, then."

And just like that all the tears broke loose.

Topper wind himself around Tony's legs as Tony popped a couple of Aspirin into his mouth. The cat meows sounded like whining, as if it was annoyed with Tony. Tony picked up the cat, scratching its ears.

"You need to stop being such an attention whore, you know," Tony cooed. "I won't be around for long to pamper you."

Topper looked at Tony with big green eyes, as if it understood what Tony said.

"Maybe I would give you to Bruce, you okay with him, don't you?" Tony asked, while his fingers buttoning his shirt. "He adores you too."

Happy came in suddenly, his finger fiddling with the earpiece in his ear, "You called me in?"

"Yeah," Tony nodded, hands reaching for his vest and aviator shades. "Drive me to school, can you? I feel kind of lazy to drive today."

"It's eight-thirty."

Tony waved a hand dismissively. "I'm late, so what? Worse thing, I'll get a detention."

"Want me to pick you up later?" Happy asked as they made their way to the school.

"No thanks, I'll just walk my way home," Tony rolled his eyes. "Of course you need to pick me up. I'll text you. You're not busy today aren't you?"

"Nope," Happy assured. "Howard's not home, so you're the boss."

"Howard's not home?"

Dad was not a call for Howard anymore nowadays. Dad was intimate, more cordial. The word dad reminded him of Christmas dinner, late night conversations, watching football games and cordial eyes. Howard was certainly never present for all of the above. He was never there for Christmas dinner –always running errand for his company. The last time Howard and Tony talked was… he can't remember. It wasn't like he met Howard on regular basis. Tony wondered if Howard even watched football games. Howard's eyes was cold and set, definitely not cordial.

Howard might be his father, but he was not Dad. No.

"He's in Afghanistan since two days ago," Happy answered, piercing Tony's thoughts. "He'll be home tonight."

"Hey, Hap?" Tony called as Happy pulled to a stop in front of the school. "If anything happens to me–send Topper to Bruce."

Happy stared at Tony, bewildered. "Huh, okay?"

Tony clapped Happy's shoulder indifferently. "See you later."

Okay, second period. PE –Coach Wagner. Tony made a way toward the Gym. The hallways were empty since everyone was in class. But Tony freaking Stark just arrived. Huzzah.

"Mr. Stark," Coach Wagner greeted as Tony walked into the gym.

"Good morning," Tony waved a hand. "Can I just sit out today?"

Coach Wagner stared at him, taking in rumpled uniform and aviator shades Tony was wearing. "Library, go."

Tony made his way to the library. Coach Wagner always ushered him to the library when Tony asked if he could sit out of PE class. It wasn't like he often did that. Coach Wagner just happened to have a soft spot on Tony. Tony took out his StarkPhone. Text messages flooded his inbox, mainly from his friends, wanting to know if he skipped school. Bo-ring. He deleted the messages without even reading them and got himself a secluded spot in the library.

His footfalls almost made no noise as he walked. Maybe he could get some sleep in the library, since he went to sleep at four in the morning last night.

"Give me your camera, dummy," a voice came from the boys' bathroom. "I said give it to me!"

"No!" another voice protested. And then there was a sound of someone being kicked repeatedly.

Tony stormed into the bathroom without a second thought. Blame it on his hangover.

"Oh, it's you," Tony said indifferently when he saw a boy with square glasses lying on the floor and Flash Thompson had his foot on the boy's chest. "Flashy Flash."

Flash grimaced. "Go away, Stark. We don't need you here."

"Don't talk too loud, Thompson. I've got hangover," Tony gestured to his aviator shades. "Besides you lower the IQ of the whole school. Let the poor kid go, he doesn't you to weed it out of him –the educational system did that already."

"You think you're so good huh?"

Tony made a face. "Excuse me? Who made the front page of every newspaper and magazines at age four?" When Thompson raised an eyebrow, Tony said, "My thoughts exactly. Let the kid go. If he got asthmatic fit later, you wouldn't want to be responsible for his death."

Thompson flashed an ugly grin before marching forward and gave Tony a right hook on his jaw. Tony staggered back, swaying dangerously from side to side. He touched his bruised jaw, and step forward, balling his fists.

"That's all you got?" Tony mocked. "Come on bitch!"

Thompson stepped forward once again, while the boy with glasses cowered behind a sink. Thompson tried to punch Tony's gut, but Tony blocked the punch and landed an uppercut on Thompson. Thompson reversed his steps, and Tony went forward.

"Let's rewind S-I-N-G," Tony sing-songed with a smirk on his face. "S. Solar Plexus," he said in a rhythmic voice and gave a jab straight to Thompson's solar plexus. "I. Instep," Tony continued, ignoring Thompson's cough. His Converse clad foot stepped on his opponent leather loafer, applying as many pressure as he could.

Thompson jumped backward; his spine collided with the sink.

"No, no. I'm not finished yet," Tony muttered, rolling his eyes as Thompson's threw some word of his choices. "N. Nose," another punch on Flash's straight nose. "And lastly, G. You know what G stands for?" Tony mocked. Without warning, he landed a kick Flash's crotch and chuckled humorlessly at the sight of Thompson covering his crotch, groaning. "Groin."

"Go away," Tony seethed and Thompson scampered away grudgingly, with bloody nose and a couple of bruises. He looked at the cowering boy near the sink. "You okay?"

"Thank you," the boy said, his glasses sliding on his small nose. "Are you okay?"

Tony waved a hand. "I'm good. Never underestimate a guy with hangover."

"How do you know I got asthma?"

"You got asthmatic fit written all over your face," Tony countered. "You're Peter Parker right, the boy wonder from freshmen year?"

Peter blushed. "Um yeah. And you're Tony Stark."

"That's not a secret, really," Tony snorted. "Thompson gonna need a couple of days to lick his wounds. You better be careful. You know Bruce Banner? You might want to spend your lunch near him; that guy might be a geek, but he's worse than me when he's mad."

"Thanks."

Tony picked up his aviator shades that fell earlier when Thompson punched him. "Nah, it's nothing. Be careful, kid."

"Hey, Tony?" Peter called as Tony started to walk out of the bathroom.

Tony turned, "Yeah?"

"You're not as bad as they said you are."

"What the hell happened to you? And why you weren't at the courtyard during lunch?" Clint asked Tony. Bruce, Thor and Steve followed behind.

They were walking in the hallway on their way to their classes; Clint and Steve toward their Art class, Thor to AP English, Tony to Econ and Bruce to AP Psychology. They just found Tony trying to find out why he wasn't spending lunch with them and why he had a bruise on his jaw and a bloody lip. Their classes would start in less than three minutes so they had the time to catch up a little.

"See the shades, Hawkass? I've got hangover," Tony pointed toward his aviator shades.

"I'm thinking you're still drunk," Thor countered, smirking. "You don't look hangover."

Bruce intercepted the conversation. "What's up with the bruise?"

"Flash Thompson," Tony deadpanned. There was no need for an explanation: they all knew what an ass that guy was. "I kicked his ass, figuratively. Literally, I kicked his crotch."

Clint and Thor made pained faces. "Who is his victim this time?" Steve asked, looking at Bruce from the corner of his eyes –aware for the fact that Flash used to bully Bruce.

"A freshman –Peter Parker," Tony answered. "He might join you in the future Bruce. I told him to be near you in case Thompson finished licking his wounds."

Bruce nodded in understanding. "Where were you during lunch?" He asked again.

"The restless dying soul carried me to the cafeteria," Tony answered nonchalantly. "You know, to avoid sunlight, besides the cafeteria was kinda quiet today."

The restless dying soul? Tony is getting weirder. Bruce thought.

"Tomorrow night; Stark Tower –third floor," Tony suddenly said. "There'll be this fancy dinner. You guys and the girls are cordially invited."

"Fancy dinner? Your birthday is in May," Clint retorted.

Tony rolled his eyes dramatically. "It's my father's event –not me. But there'll be some people you might want to set your eyes on if you want scholarship for university."

"Such as?"

"There's this guy from RISD," Tony looked at Steve, whose mission to study Art History. "And a couple of my father's friends from the Government –CIA, FBI- all that jazz," he smirked at Clint. "And maybe, some dude from Broadway."

Clint snorted. "What is the possibility of them talking to us?"

"Oh, don't worry. I hacked the guest list and made a call to them already," Tony looked smug. He stopped in his tracks and looked at his friends. "So… work on your self-esteem and suit up!"

With that, he conveniently walked away to his class.

"Is it just my imagination or Tony really changed a lot lately?" Steve asked.

They were in his apartment after school, hanging out. Tony had detention so he wasn't able to join them. And he also had said earlier that he got a work to do in his lab.

Thor shrugged, "Definitely not your imagination. He did seem a little…different."

"A little?" Clint raised an eyebrow. "He's a lot different."

"Girls, calm down," Bruce said in his lilting voice. "I have a bad feeling about him."

"Not just you," Rhodey sipped his Coke, legs crossed on the coffee table. "We were in Mechanics on Tuesday and Tony slept through the class."

Bruce snorted. "Tony slept through Mechanics? Unbelievable."

"It's true," Rhodey shrugged. "He's lucky Mr. Lensherr favored him. If that was Mr. Xavier, Tony would be kicked out of the class. He just seemed to lost interest during the lesson."

Lost interest – Tony didn't pay attention in Mechanics, weird because it was his favorite class.

Reckless behavior – Tony got into a fight and came late to school.

Showing rage or talking about revenge –well, Tony had stabbed a bun with a fork, singing R-E-V-E-N-G-E.

Increasing use of alcohol –He got drunk on school was alcoholic but he knew his limits. No drinking on school nights; that was the unspoken rule.

Lack of sleep –Bruce found Tony asleep in the library on his way to Chemistry class, and he had hastily explained that he went to sleep on four in the morning last night.

Preoccupation with death –The restless dying soul?

Withdrawn and isolating one self –Tony had occasionally avoided them this week.

Making arrangement; setting one's affair in order –Tony had arranged meeting with a couple of his father's guests, in order to help them getting scholarships.

The words played through Bruce's mind. He read the words somewhere before. They were the signs for…something. A mental state, if he wasn't mistaken. Bruce struggled to remember. There was something wrong with Tony's behavior.

"So, Halloween this Sunday," Rhodey said, breaking Bruce's thoughts. "Costumes?"

"I got my military uniform," Steve said, smiling like a dork.

Clint shrugged. "I haven't figured out yet. But something simple and doesn't require much work."

"You going with Peggy, Steve?" Rhodey asked.

"Probably," Steve murmured, "If Elizabeth is going."

"She is," Bruce bit on his pizza. He blushed, "We are kinda together now."

His friends exchanged shocked looks. "The hell, man? When?" Clint asked, throwing a burger wrapper at Bruce.

"Um, last week?" Blush creep on Bruce's cheeks.

Rhodey held us his Coke, toasting, "To Bruce, who finally got himself a girlfriend!"

"To Bruce!"

They laughed. "When is your turn Captain America?" Clint asked toward Steve. "You're the only who never had a girlfriend now."

Steve chuckled, trying to cover his embarrassment. "Soon, soon."

"Speak for yourself, Clint. When you're going to get a girlfriend?" Rhodey laughed.

"Not my interest for the time being," Clint shrugged, waving his hands dismissively. "After Bobbi, I'm not really that keen on relationship, you know."

"Not all girls are like Bobbi," Bruce tried to placate Clint.

Barbara Morse, or preferably known as Bobbi was Clint's girlfriend during freshman year. Bobbi kind of picked Clint because he was friend with Tony and the school's budding star archer. They broke up after Bobbi tried to make an advance toward Tony, and even he was kind of a man whore, rejected her after acknowledging she was Clint's girlfriend.

"I know," Clint said. "And I might found the one, but she's not unattainable right now."

"Pity."

Two days before Halloween

Friday.

Tony stood at top of SHIELD Prep main building, conveniently missing his lunch. He had promised Pepper he wouldn't do anything reckless and insane that can send his ass to Principal Fury's office. But hey, he was going to die –boys just want to have fun. Hacking into the school's sound system was easy-peasy nice and breezy. School was about to end, and this was the perfect moment. He was alone on the roof and nobody's watching.

He made the announcement bell rang before speaking to the microphone. "Before you guys starts wondering, no, this is not Miss Hill speaking –obviously. This is me, the throne prince of Stark Industries and I'm here to announce the upcoming Halloween party this Sunday. Appropriate clothing is accepted and so does the teachers if they decided to swing by," he paused. "Good afternoon and enjoy your day."

And he just had to wait for a minute before –

"Anthony Edward Stark, in my office –now!" Principal Fury's voice rang through the speaker.

Well, at least that was familiar.

"So what you got?" Bruce asked later, when they were at the Stark Industries dinner.

Tony fiddled with his bowtie. "Detention, the next whole week."

"Serve you right," Bruce said.

"Whatever, I don't really care," Tony brushed him off. "Have you met the old men? I told the Board of Directors got to recruit you."

Bruce frowned. "Stark Industries doesn't offer scholarships."

"Well, they do now," Tony shrugged. "Go on, talk with the Board of Directors. Amaze them with your brilliant mind."

"They are speaking with your father."

Tony rolled his eyes, "That's not the way. You are tiptoeing, big guy. You need to strut. Show 'em you got it, you want it."

Bruce chuckled nervously. "Nah, I'll stay here for a moment. Do you see Natasha?"

"Last time I saw her, I was prodding her toward the Government dudes," Tony said indifferently. "Natasha was recruited by FBI since birth, so I don't see there's a problem with them to offer her a program once she graduated."

"She's going to graduate in two years."

"Plan for the future," Tony shrugged. "Go talk to the old men, will you? Now, if you will excuse me, I've a business to attend."

Tony made an escape toward the bathroom on the fourth floor, not wanting to bump into his friends. He had felt even worse than yesterday. Knowing his luck lately, the palladium probably had conquered his blood system.

The blood-toxicity scanner device was already in his pocket. Pricking his thumb, he waited for Jarvis voice to speak up from his StarkPhone, since Jarvis only had authority for his lab and penthouse.

"Blood toxicity- 53%," Jarvis informed.

Tony unbuttoned his shirt, and wasn't surprised to find his veins protruded against his pale chest as if it were bursting out. But now, the veins was snaking its way to his neck, spreading through his upper-body. There was no way to hide them if it was obvious on his neck. Extending his arms on both sides of the sink, he steadied his breath.

"Now, let us enjoy the time I have left," he whispered, eyes glinting.

The percentage had past fifty, meaning he'll be seeing no future. He had ceased to exist. Born to die. The future for him was dark, nothing.

Nada.

Zilch.

Halloween

"Hello Natasha," Tony said in a mock-seductive voice. "How are you?"

"Fine," she replied. She was dressed as Red Riding Hood, a fact Tony find ironic.

Tony craned his neck. "Where's lover boy?"

"We broke up, yesterday. I broke up with him."

"You don't sound too sad," Tony pursed his lips.

Natasha snorted. "You expect me to cry him a river? No thank you. I don't like him as more than a friend, you know. I don't feel anything."

"I know that feeling."

"Say the guy who hooked up with every girl he encountered at a party."

"You think my emotional awareness is like a door nail? Baby, you don't know me," Tony purred jokingly. He leaned in to whisper in her ear, "I know you like Clint. I'm a genius, I can figure it out. Now, you need to figure it out. Carpe minutam, honey. Seize the minute. You might not have the chance later."

Natasha stiffened. The possibility Tony had pointed out hadn't occurred to her. Chance, she had it now, why wait? "Where are you going?" She yelled as Tony walked away toward the DJ across the room.

"Carpe noctem!" Tony shouted.

"Your dad looked like he wanted to shoot my head for picking you up," Bruce murmured toward Betty, who was dressed appropriately as a nurse.

Betty laughed. Her black hair looked brown under the dim lights of the party. "Since when fathers approved his daughter's boyfriend?"

"You got a point."

"Don't worry," Betty nudged him. "He never approved anything I like."

Bruce smiled. "Maybe I should be something you hate then."

Betty smiled wryly. "How could I hate you?"

"Well, I'm a mad scientist," Bruce said, gesturing toward the white lab coat he wore above his apparel.

"You – are – unbelievable," Betty whispered as she tiptoed to kiss Bruce.

Tony was drunk. It was only half an hour after the party started and he was already drunk. He had Pepper around his arm, speaking incoherently.

"You are the prettiest girl I had ever seen, Pepper," he said. "And I really, really like you."

Pepper blushed. "Tony, you're drunk."

"I don't care, pretty precious Pepper is mine," he said in a high-pitched voice. He looked into her eyes, even when he was drunk like an old sailor; the gaze was set and not unfocused. "I like you, very much. Hey Goldstein!" Tony yelled toward the DJ, "Play the song."

Goldstein gave him thumbs up and a second later, Can't Take My Eyes off You blared through the speaker.

"You just too good to be true," Tony sang drunkenly, crooked smile never wavering off his face. "Can't take my eyes off you…"

Pepper blushed as Tony went to centre of the penthouse and sang the rest of the song at the top of his lungs. For a drunk guy, Tony definitely packed up a wallop. The partiers around him danced to the song but Pepper awkwardly stood at the corner. Tony was swaying dangerously from side to side, holding a microphone in his hand.

You feel like heaven to touch,

I wanna hold you so much,

At long last love has arrived,

And I thank God I'm alive,

You just too good to be true,

Can't take my eyes off you.

Tony smirked at Pepper and gestured her to come over with his finger. As if hypnotized, Pepper went toward him. He grabbed her waist and they danced like the rest.

He was drunk and she was drowning in his love-clarification, though she realized he wasn't sober.

Clint weaved through the crowd at Tony's party, searching for Natasha. He was dressed as James Bond –all tux and neat dirty blond hair. He had decided –tonight, he would come clean to Natasha. He didn't care if she won't reciprocate his feelings or worse if she kicked his ass. He just wanted to be honest. He didn't even care if Alexei was there too. To him, what mattered now were his feelings. He felt tired avoiding Natasha and it wasn't even her fault.

He continued sliding through the warm, sweaty bodies of the partiers, his eyes catching the view of Thor and Jane making out on the couch; Tony and Pepper dancing in the middle of the crowd. Clint snorted, feeling self-conscious for a moment. He walking through the crowd easily, until he collided with a petite girl wearing a red cape, her face covered with the hood.

"Natasha?"

"Clint?"

Clint shifted on his feet nervously. Natasha let her hood fell on her shoulders, and he got a clear look on her face. Her eyes were frantic and she was breathless. She had been running?

"Where are you going?" Clint asked, the loud music drowned the nervous pitch in his voice.

"I was looking for you," Natasha said coolly. "Where were you going?"

Clint took a deep breath before chuckling humorlessly. "You know, its kinda funny 'cause I was looking for you too." He stole a glance at her face, trying to read her face. "I've got something to tell you."

Natasha crossed her arms. "Yeah? What is it?"

"I am sorry for behaving like an asshole lately."

"And?"

Just tell her, you coward, his mind whispered. His fingers felt clammy with sweat. Tell her that you like her. Don't be a pussy.

"Well, I…." he stuttered. Ah, dammit.

And once again, the rush kicked in. Everything became slower, noise became quieter and he noticed every detail on her. Her red hair fell perfectly, only a shade darker than her cape. In a heartbeat, he grabbed her face and kissed her lips. Natasha leaned in, her arms wrapped around his waist and her fingers curled around his hair.

"I love you," Clint said breathlessly as they came up for air. "I love you, I love you, and I love you."

Natasha smirked. "Took you long enough to figure that out."

"A couple of years, Tony almost dying, you going to Homecoming with Alexei," Clint shrugged, pursing his lips. "Yeah, long enough."

"Well, I love you too."

Clint raised an eyebrow. "Is Alexei going to kick my ass?"

"I already broke up with him," Natasha explained. "I never liked him as more than a friend. It is you all along."

Clint took her hand in his, holding tightly. Smiling, he said, "So… mine?"

Natasha smiled back. "Yours."

"You're a JERK!" Bruce heard someone shouted. The shout made everyone else turned to the sound of the voice.

He pulled Betty with her to the center of the penthouse, where the shout had came from. He saw Pepper standing over Tony who was sitting on the couch, a redhead around his arm. Her face was blotched with tears and he had a mark that suspiciously looked like slap-mark on his cheek.

What in the world?

Pepper gave Tony a loathing look and left without saying anything. Tony looked hurt and confused before dragging his feet toward the staircase. Bruce saw him trudged downstairs listlessly, waving his hand at the guests to continue partying. Rhodey and Steve chased after him and Bruce had the urge to go after them. But he couldn't leave Betty alone.

"You can go with them," Betty said soothingly, putting an arm on his. "I'll be with Jane."

"Alright."

Betty kissed his cheek. "Be good."

She went to find Jane and Bruce went to the staircase. He didn't need to ask where they went, because he knew where Tony would be if he needed to calm down.

His lab.

The lab was chaos when Bruce came in. Rhodey's hand were clutching on Tony's collar, fury alive on his face.

"You fucking bastard!" Rhodey shouted in Tony's face. "You don't know what you did, don't you? You fucking broke her heart."

For once, Tony Stark hadn't the will to talk-back or insert a sarcastic remark. He remained still, his spine tense against the Hot Rod he kept in his lab.

"You don't go around, singing some love song to her and swapping spit with some other girl the next two minutes!"

Steve tensed. "Rhodey, enough."

"She's like my sister, Tony," Rhodey continued, ignoring Steve. "And you keep on hurting her over and over again. She loves you and you keep on hurting her. I don't know what is going through your damn mind, but wake up! Stop being an asshole."

Tony was still and Bruce could sense Tony's passive behavior was irritating Rhodey. Rhodey looked impatient, waiting for Tony's response. Before Steve could stop him, he punched Tony on the jaw, where the last bruise from the encounter with Thompson still visible. Tony didn't fight back; instead he leaned back on the Hot Rod, breathing erratically.

"Guys, go upstairs," Bruce spoke up, making Steve and Rhodey jumped at the sound of his voice. They didn't notice he was there. "Rhodey, you need to calm down."

Steve wrapped an arm around Rhodey. "Bruce's right. Come on, you need a drink."

Rhodey glared at Tony but followed Steve upstairs. Bruce smiled at them and took a spot next to Tony, who took a place in the Hot Rod, his eyes staring on the blank spot at the blank screen.

"You're going to tell me what's going on?" Bruce asked.

A phantom of smile played on his friend's lips. "You heard what Rhodey said. I broke Pepper's heart. I broke everyone's heart."

Bruce raised an eyebrow.

"I am a burden, Bruce. I am a liability in our friendship. I am a pain in the ass for everyone," Tony said, eerily calm. "Nobody really needs me, not even my father. I am replaceable. Unlike you, unlike Steve. You could always find an asshole of a guy like me anywhere."

"Tony-"

Tony cut him off. "It's not that I don't try. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I just can take this anymore. I just can't. It's just bullshit. What is the hell is point in living? I just let everyone down, even without trying. I have no reason to live, nobody really needs me. I don't give up life –life give up on me. I want to die over all of this shit."

Tony climbed out of the car, swaying and staggering dangerously, losing his balance. Suddenly, he fell on the floor. Panicked, Bruce went over, kneeling beside Tony. The guy was sweaty, pale and breathing erratically.

"You okay?"

Tony smiled weakly. "I'm fine. You go join the party, I need some time alone."

"You sure?"

Tony nodded. "Go."

Bruce left, quite hesitantly. Tony's words made him feel sick. He knew that feeling. It was when you feel life is pointless and everything is dark and gray. You just feel lost and the whole world is conspiring against you. He knew that feeling –he often had the feeling. But when Tony said, it made Bruce felt uneasy. Tony didn't sound like himself –not the optimistic, charismatic friend he knew.

"What are you doing here? It's two-thirty in the morning," Pepper crossed her arms toward the unexpected visitor at her door.

"I want to apologise."

Pepper shut the door. A tear rolled down her cheek. "I don't want to see your face. Go away."

Tony leaned his forehead on the door. "Please Pepper, I need to talk to you."

"Go away."

"I am sorry," Tony said, inhaling deeply. The girl he loved was shutting him out. The fact hurt like hell. "What I've done tonight, and since the day I know you –I broke your heart all over and over again. No amount of sorry could mend all that," he paused. "Are you listening?"

A sob behind the closed door told him Pepper was still there. He sat down and leaned his back on the door. That was as close he could get to Pepper. "I want you to know, you are the most amazing person I've ever met." Tony droned on, his voice calm and sounded like he was fighting tears. "You are the most capable, patient, trustworthy person I'd ever met in my short life. And I wasted you. I broke you over and over again. You're the only one who had faith in me, when everyone else didn't. I could understand if you are giving up on me –I mean everyone already had. If you give up on me, hate me–I have nothing left. I've got no one but you."

Moments passed in silence. Pepper was sobbing silently, while Tony wiping his tears at the on the other side of the door.

"Goodbye, Pepper."

Pepper wiped her tears and hurriedly opened the door. "I never," her quivering voice faltered, seeing Tony was no longer there. The words stuck on her throat, give up on you.

A letter sat on her doorstep. Pepper Potts was written in Tony Stark's signature penmanship. Her fingers shook as she opened the letter.

I have been such a wreck to your life. And I am sorry. It is not going to mend all the hurt, but I hope it will help you heal, as hard as it sounds.I am a selfish asshole. You're amazing and too bad I don't appreciate it.

I love your smile, I love the twinkle in your eyes, I love it when you laugh.

I love everything about you.

I love you

Goodbye- T. Stark.

Bruce woke up to the sound of his cell phone. Who the hell text people at 3 A.M in the morning? He stumbled toward his desk, still in his attire earlier at Tony's party except for the white lab coat.

Check your e-mail, now –T. Stark.

Bruce cursed, wondering what Tony had in mind. He turned on his laptop and logged in to his e-mail account. Tony had sent him a video.

"Dude, when you opened this video, I might not be at New York, anymore," Tony's voice came out from the speaker. "I just want to say I am sorry, and please tell that the others that I am sorry too." Tony chuckled nervously. "Please take care of Pepper. Don't let her get hurt. I wish the best for all of you. Oh, and one more thing: please take care of Topper for me. Bye."

It wasn't even five minutes and the video ended. Bruce cursed again, checking his inbox further if he missed any e-mail from Tony. There was nothing. Tony was the king of overdramatic and eccentricity, but this was too much.

Bruce put his face in his hands. A million of thing racing in his mind.

Talking about wanting to die –"I want to die all over this shit."

Talking about having no reason to live –" I have no reason to live, nobody really needs me. I don't give up life –life give up on me."

Talking about being a burden to others -"I am a burden, Bruce. I am a liability in our friendship."

Giving things away, such as prized possessions –Well, Tony just passed Topper to him.

Visiting or calling people to say goodbye –The video was the obvious.

The signs floating in his mind; twisted and mismatched. He pieced together the information he had gathered in his head the other day. He studied AP Psychology; he had read these signs in his book. What was it?

What the fuck was it?

"Oh my God," a sudden realization hit him.

It was the signs of suicide.

Don't care it was almost four in the morning. Bruce had called his friends to inform them about Tony and they had rushed to Stark Tower. The penthouse was trashed, given the party the night before. But the penthouse was utterly empty. No signs of anyone.

"Jarvis?" Pepper sobbed, asking for the AI. She had come to the tower with Natasha: eyes red and puffy. Apparently she also found out Tony's departure the last minute. "Is Tony here?"

"I'm sorry Miss Potts," Jarvis said in his usual manner. "Mr. Stark had left the tower at two in the morning. He's no longer in New York, according to the tracker device in his StarkPhone."

"Where is he?" Steve asked -a frown in his face.

If Jarvis could sigh, he probably would. "He told me not to tell anyone his whereabouts. He wishes to keep his location as a secret and he has covered all his electronic tracks."

"Fuck it, Tony!" Rhodey kicked the nearest thing next to him, which happened to be whiskey bottle. The bottle crashed against the mini-bar, breaking into pieces of glass shards.

Like their hearts.

Thor sat down on the couch miserably. "I cannot believe this. Tony is reckless, but he is not going to commit…suicide."

"He's not going to kill himself," Bruce said. "The signs of suicide are similar to…"

"A dying person's behavior," Natasha concluded. "But of what?"

Jarvis intercepted. "The arc-reactor in his chest, the one that he used to kept the shrapnel at bay is the essential cause of this problem," the visual of the arc reactor showed up on the screens in the room. "The palladium core of the arc-reactor is poisoning Mr. Stark's circulatory system. The last time Mr. Stark checked his blood toxicity level the percentage was 58%."

Thor breathed. "When was it?"

"Yesterday at 1840."

"Shit," Clint said, which Bruce thought summed up the whole situation.

His weird behavior, the way he spoke. They should have foreseen this.

They should have seen the signs.

Steve: Miss N is sorry if Tony is a little OOC.

Thor: Mortals! I demand you to review. Lady N and my friends and I need something to keep us going strong while facing the problem at hand *sniffles*

Natasha: you guys really should. Pepper need something to distract her, she have been crying non-stop.

Clint: Oh, N also told me to tell you guys that she's sorry that her other story is not yet updated. She's too busy with this one.

Thor: now if you'll excuse us, we would like to have a group hug and find a solution to our problem. Have a *sniffle* nice day.