"Who is it?" Tony asks Jarvis, his words slightly slurring. It's been five days since he kicked out Bruce and he hasn't left the house or let anyone come over. Even Happy hasn't been allowed inside. He's shown up for work everyday, and even though Tony won't let him in the house, he's stayed outside guarding Tony from any unwelcome visitors. Tony realized a few days and about six bottles of whiskey back that Happy was the only person he had left in his life. Happy and his bots.
"Tony…" He recognized the voice, it belonged to Rhodey.
"Go away."
"Tony, we know."
"You know what?" Tony calls back, collecting himself slowly off the couch he makes his way to the front door.
"Open the door, this is ridiculous."
"It's not ridiculous."
"I'm not talking to you through a door, Tony."
"It appears to be working just fine."
"Just open the door."
"What do you want?" Tony finally opens the door, but doesn't allow Rhodey to enter the house. A few yards away he sees a van parked, the Avengers inside.
"We know about Budapest."
"You know nothing about Budapest."
"We know about Polarinite."
"Really, do tell me about it please. Because I don't even know all that much about it." Tony spits, but he moves aside to allow Rhodey into the house. He barks at Dum-E to get him another drink, then sits down at the dining room table, motioning for Rhodes and his following to do the same.
"What do you mean you know nothing about it?"
"I know nothing." Tony says with a shrug.
"But you've been…"
"Giving them money and resources for years. Yeah, I know. But I haven't a clue what for, not really."
"Then why…?" Steve starts to ask but he trails off.
"Dad was a proud supporter of whatever it is they do. It's my tribute to him, by continuing to fund them."
"So you know nothing about it?" Natasha asked confused.
"Nope. I don't even know what it is the company does."
"They're a mercenary group that provides relief to areas where terrorist influence is strong."
"Oh, well you learn something new everyday." Tony throws back his scotch. He slowly gets to his feet slightly stumbling as he moves to the refrigerator to get some food.
"Tony are you alright?" It's Natasha who asks, her face creased with seldom shown worry.
"Just peachy, now I'd appreciate it if you all leave so I can get to work. Lot's to do as you can imagine, running a company and being an engineer."
"Tony…" Clint starts to say but Tony waves him off. "Just know we didn't mean it." Tony stiffens but doesn't say anything. They do however see his hand clench, his knuckles turning white as he grips the door.
"I think it's time for you all to go now." Happy has come inside and he's glaring at Tony's former friends.
"Yeah, uh, we'll see you around, Tony." Clint says leading the group outside, all taking one last look at their friend before they go, all feeling remorse.
It started out like any other mission. Captain was in charge, Tony was gaining aerial survallience, Natasha, Thor and Clint were moving into position, directed by Steve. Bruce was waiting behind on standbye for a code green. It was routine now, get in, get out, take out as many bad guys as they could in the process, so simple in theory. No one understood quite why or how it went so wrong.
"Fifty men, roughly. Fort heavily armed on the outside, once in almost no defenses." Tony had reported.
"Copy that." Rogers had said, signally for Natasha to move on with himself once Clint was in position in the treetops.
"Circling back."
"Continue on, almost in position. Do not circle until I tell you, Stark." Rogers orders. Tony bristles slightly but does as he's told.
"Everyone ready?" Steve asks a minute later. When everyone chimes positive over their coms unit, Steve gives Stark the go ahead to circle back.
"Alright Clint, fire away." Steve instructs once Tony has started his circle back. "Thor engage lightning."
It was a normal fight, no one understood how it went so wrong. It was in the middle of the battle, suddenly the coms unit was filled with Clint's scream.
"Hawk, do you copy?" Steve asked immediately. When no one immediately responded, he asked for eyes.
"Stark, do you register his position?"
"Spotted Captain. Looks like a baddie climbed the tree, he's gone but the Hawk is down."
"Is he safe?"
"No one else in the area."
"Hawkeye, do you copy?"
"Here Captain, I'm alright. Get me on the way out."
"You sure."
"Positive."
Suddenly, Natasha was yelling at him to duck. A knife flew where his head had been only moments before, embedding itself into a man's throat.
"Stark we could use you on the ground." Natasha chimes in. It was true, they were grossly out numbered. Stark had been widely misinformed when he'd given them numbers.
"Can't Romanoff, I'm going in."
"Stark, you can't go in by yourself."
"Everyone's out at the party, I'll be fine. We won't get in as a group, hold them off. I'll be out in ten minutes tops."
"Stark, this isn't a solo mission."
"Sorry Captain, I'm not about to fail." Without further warning, Tony's com unit went dead. No one could reach him. Not that they tried much after that, they were all too busy fighting for their lives to stall so he could get out to try to contact him. Banner was called in. Shortly after his arrival, the troops were decimated. Yet Tony still wasn't out.
"We've got to get to Brother Barton." Thor insisted as they all watched the fortress waiting for Tony to emerge.
"You two go." Natasha finally said a minute later when Tony still hadn't emerged. "I'll calm the big guy. Clint needs medical attention."
"What about Tony?" Clint asks over the com unit.
"Tony made it clear he was on a solo mission, it's his job to get himself out." Steve declared as he and Thor began walking back to Clint's tree.
"What about no man left behind?" Clint challenges, quoting a section of Clint's usual pep talks.
"Tony's made it clear today, he's no team player." Steve says. "If it wasn't for Banner being on standbye, we'd all be dead. If Tony survives, he'll answer for this later. For now my priority is my team."
Tony arrived back on the helicarrier four hours after the others. Steve was waiting for him the moment he checked himself into the medical wing.
"I know you've said that you're not a team player before, but I can't believe you did that today."
"I did what I had to do to make sure we were successful." Tony had said defending himself.
"You did what you did to make sure you ended up looking good." Steve shouted. "I can't believe you're Howard's son. He'd be ashamed of you. He was the most selfless man I've ever met, yet your the most selfish."
"I'm sor…"
"No you're not Tony, save you're breath. You did what you thought you had to do. Just know, I'm writing up a formal complant to Director Fury asking him to remove you from this team. We can't have people like you on these kinds of missions."
"I'm a part of SHIELD, they're not just going to remove me.
"If I remember correctly, you're only a consultant. And those are easily replaced."