Long may you run (part 7)

The radiation ends on 21st and over the weekend Tony is getting better, it feels as if his body was cleansing in a strange way, but it's a good feeling. He makes chicken soup with noodles and eats some rice and angel food cake and drinks light smoothies and he can feel his body getting stronger with proper nutrition.

On Tuesday, Tony feels good enough to go flying at night; he's been cooped up for too long and he feels a burning need to go out and make sure the world still exists out there. Happy ask him about thousand times if he really feels and frowns unsurely when Tony says that he's fine.

'I trust you, boss,' Happy says, making Tony smile and roll his eyes.

'You're just worried.'

'Kinda,' Happy admits and waves at the newest Mark that's waiting for Tony to get in. 'But you're a big boy.'

Tony nods and lets the suit wrap around his body pleasantly – and a moment later he's flying. The night is calm and unusually bright, thanks to the big full moon somewhere above the ocean, and Tony spends almost an hour flying between the buildings and over the water and staring until his eyes hurt because he hasn't been blinking.

'I am so lucky, J,' Tony murmurs when he's moving towards the city from the ocean and New York's famous cityscape is bright before his eyes. 'I'm so fucking lucky I get to see something like this in my life.'

'You deserve this,' JARVIS says warmly. 'And it's your own work that made it possible.'

'Thanks, baby,' Tony says fondly because that's one of three things he never expected his A.I. to do but JARVIS does all the time: sass him, be a mother hen and pay his endless compliments, even if sometimes laced with as much sarcasm as only Tony can see through it.

'May I suggest a detour on your way home, sir?' JARVIS asks a moment later, when Tony is almost flying into the maze of skyscrapers.

'Yeah?'

'If you are not feeling very tired, sir, perhaps you would like to visit Captain Rogers?'

'Steve?' Tony asks, surprised. 'Is something wrong?' he adds quickly. JARVIS has never done something like that before, so Tony can't help but worry.

'Ijon asked me for assistance, sir, saying that Captain Rogers seems very distressed, but he does not want to tell the other residents what is the problem.'

'Are you trying to set me up with Steve, baby?' Tony wonders teasingly, directing the suit towards HQ. 'Get us pizza, J.'

'Order already placed, ' JARVIS replies promptly.

Iron Man finds Steve on the roof, sitting with his arms wrapped around his knees and shaking slightly. His super-soldier body can't get cold, but Tony ignores Steve and goes into the house and gets a blanket nonetheless and greets the man when he's wrapping the soft warm fabric around Steve's hunched figure.

'You all right? Why are you here?' Steve asks, of course first worrying about his friend and then about everything else, as always.

'Yes, all right. Ijon called me and asked me to come over because you were hurting.'

'Did he actually say that?' Steve wonders and Iron Man shakes his helmet for no. Steve offers him a tired smile. 'Though so. Why would he call you?'

'According to his information I'm the only person that can provide comfort to you, other residents of the HQ apparently didn't help and Natasha and Clint are out of country for a few days. That's how I was informed.'

'… I need to thank Nate for creating someone that smart,' Steve says, closing his eyes, and Tony sits down next to him. It's not the most comfortable position ever, in the suit, but that's not a problem.

'What's on your mind, Steve?' Iron Man asks in his usual voice, but Steve seems to hear Tony's concern underneath.

'Nothing, really,' Steve says and laughs bitterly. Tony stiffens for a moment, but then he wraps his arm around Steve's back, the way that always comfort him. 'Or everything. That mission, a bit, you know? I'm glad you weren't there. I wish no one had to look at those poor people, it's just – it's so inhuman. It's been even worse in my times, I guess, in a way, but… I thought the world would be done with all that evil in the future. And it's not.'

'That's what we are for,' Iron Man says, Tony staring at Steve's expressive face from inside the helmet.

'I know, it's just… Sometimes 21st century is still a bit too much for me.'

'It is even for me,' Tony says quietly, thinking about how easily things get out of control these days because the world is just spinning too fast and there is never time to just stop and rest and get things under control. 'Hopefully I know some answers,' he adds and Steve gives him a long thankful look. That's one of the things Iron Man is and has been to Steve since the beginning: a teacher. A guide.

Tony ends up watching Steve eat hot pizza, almost burning his fingers, and then they stay on the roof, talking for hours, until Steve almost falls asleep, cuddled up to Iron Man's armor, and Tony sends Cap downstairs to get some rest and flies back home.

Iron Man spends the next day in R&D, working on the Chitauri tech with Agent Pollack and his new team and he must admit that he has a soft spot for the man who singlehandedly made the alien weapon work. Pollack is a brilliant engineer and Tony can respect that, but he's also funny with people and treats the older and more experienced S.H.I.E.L.D. agents like a teacher might treat high school kids, patronizing them and making bad jokes only he laughs at. Agent Pollack liked Iron Man though, given that he made the suit himself, and Tony wishes he could let himself be more like Tony Stark. It would be much more fun.

As Iron Man, he has to be more serious and mature so the atmosphere in the room is sometime quite stuffy, but the older agents are getting used to being bossed around.

After work, Tony checks with Ijon via JARVIS to see if Cap it at HQ but he's gone for a run, so Tony spends some time in his big workshop. The suits always need upgrades – you can't be too prepared – so Tony can never say that he's bored.

JARVIS informs him when Steve is back and Tony gives Cap half an hour to clean himself up and then pops in the HQ unannounced.

'I said I would visit whenever I'll be able to,' he says after greeting Phil. In reality he's only checking up on Steve, but that's not said aloud, of course; he likes his team, but he doesn't particularly feel the need to hang out with them now. They meet often enough anyway.

Well, they meet Nate and Iron Man separately, so Tony gets enough Avengers time, and it's better this way because neither Nate nor Iron Man are supposed to be very sociable – that only complicates things.

'Is Captain around?' Tony asks, not sure if he's talking to Ijon or to Phil. They both say yes at the same time and Phil smiles. Tony is sure Ijon would smile too, if he could, because he's JARVIS' creation and he's secretly sassy like that.

When they walks inside and pass one of the rooms with the doors wide open, Phil disappears inside and Tony catches a glimpse of Spider Man casually sprawled on a chair in a position that shouldn't be humanly possible, shuffling a deck of cards, and Tony's mind is a bit blown because he's never seen those two getting along.

'I have an idea, Steve,' Iron Man says when he enters the library on the top floor that Ijon directed him to. Steve is holding a book on the beginning of postmodernism and Tony can't help thinking that Steve's the only person whose arms won't ache from holding such a big thick tome in his hands.

'Iron Man,' Steve greets him with content. Tony asked Ijon to inform Steve that he's coming. 'Nice to see you.'

'How are you doing?' Tony asks, taking a few steps ahead but stopping far enough from Steve so that he won't be looming over the other man. Steve takes a deep breath and then another, puts the books away and stands up.

'Thanks for yesterday,' he says, not really looking into Iron Man's eyes. 'I was messed up.'

'Did you sort out your thoughts a bit since then?'

'Running helps,' Steve smiles sheepishly and then finally looks up at Tony. 'No, seriously, thanks for coming. You didn't have to.'

Tony laughs and it's one of the rare times that JARVIS conveys that through the suit's voice transmitter. Steve's face lights up in delight, he mention a few times how much he likes those rare moments. I can pretend you're human now, Steve always says and Tony knows what he means.

'Just do it already,' he encourages Steve in a fond tone that almost sounds fond in Iron Man's voice, too, and Steve walks up to him and gives him a hug, resting his head where the crook of Tony's neck would be.

'You're too good for me,' Cap says, and then, 'I feel like I'm using you.'

'What?' Tony can't help but ask, a bit sharply, but Steve doesn't hear that.

'I always get a hug and you – you don't even feel this. Ugh. I'm being awkward, right? I always end up being awkward, you know me,' Steve laughs tightly, but doesn't pull away. 'You're such a great friend.'

'I'm glad,' Tony replies earnestly. Steve holds him for a moment longer and then stands a step away from Tony and makes a serious face.

'Do you have someone to hug you?'

'Are you asking me this for real?' Tony questions curiously before he can filter his words, that's too Stark-ish to say, but Steve just smiles. 'Yes, I have,' Tony admits. He has… at least five someones.

'Good,' Steve nods curtly and puts his hands on his hips, ending up looking sickeningly cute. 'But you said you had an idea?'

'Yes. What are you doing for the rest of the week?'

Steve frowns a bit, surely wondering where is this going, but he doesn't ask.

'We have a small party for Phil's birthday on Saturday, and then team meeting on Monday the 1st… But I don't think I actually have anything important, besides what I do every day? Why?'

'How would you feel about going for a road trip?' Tony asks, quite sure his eyes must be rather mischievous, but that's a secret.

'Huh?'

'You enjoyed that few hours of a ride we had with S.H.I.E.L.D. tech. Maybe we could go somewhere farther? I will have a proper road trip playlist prepared this time.'

'But –'

'If you're thinking technicalities, don't worry. I got everything I need covered in the suit and none of that is a problem. I'll organize everything.'

'… okay,' Steve says finally, looking as if he was thinking intently. 'Okay. Car?'

'I'll have one.'

'Can you even drive when you're wearing the suit?' Steve wonders, making Tony laugh, but Iron Man just shrugs amusedly.

'We are superheroes, Steve. We can do everything.'

'I guess,' Steve agrees and raises an eyebrow. 'Map?'

'Come,' Tony replies, gesturing at Steve to follow him. They go to the control room – there are computers Iron Man can use without it being too suspicious – and Tony shares all the details he came up with since yesterday.

They leave the next morning, in Nate's other car that has a set of documents registered for Iron Man. It shouldn't be possible, thinking realistically, but Nick Fury does what he wants and when Tony asked him for such a privilege, the man didn't even blink and had everything ready in a day.

Steve laughs at that whole bureaucratic issues, because Tony has a photo in his Iron Man helmet in the special ID card he got and Tony had to agree it looks ridiculous. He's never used it before today.

There is a basket full of snacks for the road, bought by both of them as Steve eats for two, or maybe three people. He always smiles apologetically when he's hungry again.

They are heading to Tennessee, not really to visit any particular places – they decided not to be out in public, which is quite understandable – they chose that state as it fits into the time frame. Maybe it's not the most exciting of places, but the destination doesn't matter, what matters is the time on the road.

'I like the music a lot,' Steve comments when they get to somewhere in late 60s, having started with the previous decade. He, unsurprisingly, enjoys good folk rock and some country music – Tony shows only the best of the decade – and, surprisingly, takes a strange liking to The Doors and Jimi Hendrix, even the louder and wilder songs.

'That means you might enjoy the future – the past future, that is – in the end,' Iron Man replies and Tony is grinning.

They stop at gas stations and in roadside diners to keep Steve fed and hydrated and buy cheap souvenirs, and Tony wonders how would it be like if he wasn't in the suit, if he could steal Steve's fries and his peanut butter cups, if he could let Steve see how he's smiling and know that he is enjoying himself so, so much. But it's difficult to really imagine doing those things and Tony is genuinely happy at being able to do as much as they're doing.

It takes them twenty hours to get to a place where they decide to stay for the night. They made it almost without breaking too many traffic laws, Steve insists they at least pretend to drive like they are supposed to, but then he ends up speeding himself.

They stay in the car for the night. Tony has his laptop so they watch a movie and Steve munches on some interesting food he got from one of local food trucks in a town they stopped by. Iron Man didn't go outside – he doesn't mind, the car is spacious even while he's in the suit – and they sleep a bit. Steve falls asleep first and Tony sneaks out to fly for half an hour, stretching his limbs and letting his body rest.

Steve surely knows that he's left, but he understands.

Tony has all his physical needs covered while he's in the suit, but it's nice to lift his faceplate when he's sure no one can see him, and just wash his face with real water.

In the morning, they drive a few miles in pouring rain before they reach a place where Steve can get some warm food. He disappears into the bar alone and Tony goes flying for hours. He knows Steve will need his time to do some shopping afterwards. Tony doesn't mind at all, he enjoys the flying a lot and gets to talk with Happy in the meantime, assuring him that everything is fine and that he's feeling well and having a great time.

There isn't much more time to stop many more times if they want to be back in time for Phil's party so soon they're back on the road. They take a longer way this time, more to south, because Tony wants Steve to see some different sights and breathe different air.

They drive all evening and stop at a gas station in a tiny town the middle of nowhere at one a.m. to fill up the tank and Steve decides that he wants a milkshake from the neat-looking bar across the street.

He comes back with two big cups equipped with thick colorful straws.

'I want you to have a little bit of pleasure during this trip, too, because it's been one of the greatest things that anyone did for me since I woke up,' Steve explains quietly. 'I just though… I don't know, it's so presumptuous of me, but it's dark and I wouldn't see and you could lift your faceplate just a tiny, tiny bit so that you could fit in a straw? I know, I'm being ridiculous –'

'You're actually being very considerate,' Tony cuts in, taking pity on Cap who seems worried out of his mind. He sighs and stays silent for a moment.

'It doesn't matter,' Steve says, smiling apologetically. 'Forget it. I can drink both, you know that –'

'I can do it,' Tony hears his words before he can think, but there's no taking them back now.

'If you do it like Captain Rogers suggested, you are going to be fine, sir,' JARVIS soft voice says straight into Tony's ear and he nods. That's right. He can do this for Steve.

'Really?' Steve asks and there's such genuine surprised happiness in his voice that Tony can't help laughing and then keeps grinning like an idiot. 'I got two chocolate ones, I figured everyone liked chocolate?'

'I love it,' Tony assures him and takes the cup with red straw that matches his suit.

The slit in the helmet is half an inch wide and Tony knows Steve can't guess his identity thanks to that, but he feels strangely… unsheathed. It's not a bad feeling and he's not scared because he knows he can trusts Steve – but it's something new and raw and he knows he won't do it again.

They arrive in New York at one p.m. sharp. Tony gives Steve a lift to the HQ and confirms that he'll come by at seven for the team party, and then drives back home.

The gift he got for Phil a few weeks earlier is waiting to be packed, displayed nicely in the middle on the kitchen table. Tony gets last look at the cufflinks and then wraps them with black paper professionally, ties a thin white ribbon and decides it looks exactly like he wanted.

In the kitchen he finds a note from Happy – he likes doing that, instead of asking JARVIS to forward a message – saying that there is some real food in the fridge that Tony just needs to heat up. It's nice to finally feel the texture of pasta and steak in his mouth.

Tony eats a big dinner, knowing that the party means no food for him, and tinkers with a design he wants to present to the team Nate Rives is privately working for in a few weeks until it's time to leave.

Phil loves the cufflinks and smirks when Clint asks if he's going to wear them for the first official debrief with probies when he's back from medical leave. Phil says yes.

Iron Man stays for three hours and learns that Spider Man has been coming to the HQ every few days and annoying everyone around, as if he wanted to reach out but was afraid, and Tony recognizes that in the young man's behavior only because he's doing the same. Bruce said that he said he's a scientist and under different circumstances Tony would maybe offer him some kind of guidance, but he's not in position to. Iron Man doesn't really have a home where people could come over and the two masked heroes can't exactly hide in many places without being spotted too soon, and he's pretty sure Spider Man wouldn't think the Avengers HQ is a good place to meet.

And he's not even sure Spider Man wouldn't just brush him off with one of his jokes.

Tony leaves around ten and goes flying until midnight, trying to remember as much as possible from the beautiful view from up there, and then he goes back home and sneaks into his bed, for once falling asleep easily.

On Sunday, Nate visits Riverside, having postponed the usual Saturday meeting. The kids make their own dinner on Sundays and today it's handmade pizza with whichever toppings they want, everyone gets their own of the size they will eat.

'It's much cheaper than ordering pizza,' Miles explains when Nate makes a pi sign with olives on his small pizza, placing them carefully over a layer of ham. 'And kids learn a lot and have fun. They aren't too picky, but everyone has their preferences.'

Tony nods, since his fingers are too dirty to type right now, and Miles smiles at him in understanding.

After dinner the primary school kids show a play they've been preparing all summer with Annik and Tony watches it with delight, laughing at the kids' witty humor and their shy but self-assured performances.

Tony only did something like that once, he made puppet robots – no one should be surprised, he was Tony Stark – when he was five and created a play he showed Jarvis only. They agreed together that his parents shouldn't see it and Tony wasn't even sad, back then.

In the evening Nate meets up with Clint and Cap and they cycle for some time, taking advantage of the very warm weather, probably the last this year. Nate raises and eyebrow when he sees Cap because he only talked with Clint, but Clint says Steve looked like sad lost puppy so he had to invite him.

'I'm glad you take care of him,' Nate signs to Clint before they get on the bikes. Clint laughs.

'We try, but sometimes all he wants is Iron Man. They're like B-F-F'.

Nate smiles amusedly and Tony smiles even more inside because it's such a great thing to say.

They visit the chocolaterie and eat ice cream in on their way back and Tony comes back home late again thinking that it was a good training before the ride they're attending with Levy, Doc and Happy in a few weeks.

The next few days will probably be busy, so Tony again goes to sleep early.

October 1st, there is the usual team meeting with Clint and Spider Man eating cheerios and bickering and Cap trying to keep everyone focused, which proves to be more difficult than before because now they live in the same building and feel more at ease around each other.

They do discuss the last month's mission and some upcoming long-term projects for the team. Then Coulson forwards intel from Fury and gives out solo missions for everyone who has one planned for October. Tony had a long talk with JARVIS in the morning about some estranged SI weapons in South America and decided that now would be a good time to take care of them; JARVIS sent all the info to Fury and Coulson early in the morning so Phil only nods and him and says that they've got all the papers for him and he can do his job.

There is a long sparring session afterwards and Tony loves it; there was only one in September as the other was scheduled around the day the team left for the op and they were too tired and bruised to hold a meeting, and since they has field practice, they counted it as exercise.

Iron Man and Steve have an impressive one-to-one, interrupted at the end by Spider Man who apparently decided that his two favorite superheroes can't live without him.

'What about me?' Hawkeye pouts, shooting a boomerang arrow at Spider Man who deflects, but doesn't manage to get it wrapped with his web and it always annoys him. 'Am I not your favorite? We're buddies. We eat Chinese together.'

'Phil knows my favorite dishes, not you,' Spider Man shouts back and disappears somewhere in the middle of the ceiling. Tony shakes his head with amusement and takes a moment to assess his physical state, but he's feeling really good today, so he turns around to face Cap.

'Another round?' he asks. Cap smirks.

'Oh yes,' he replies and attacks as quickly as super-soldier body allows him.

An hour later they are both sweaty and exhausted – although Iron Man appears fresh and untouched, as usual. Tony thanks Steve and the rest of the team for the training and disappears, telling them he needs to prepare for his mission and avoiding their requests to stay for whatever meal they might be sharing afterwards. They seem okay with that, only Steve stares at Iron Man for a tad too long.

Tony goes to the big workshop, makes sure the newest armor JARVIS fabricated according to Tony's specifications is in perfect condition, and then returns home.

Tuesday and Wednesday are filled with flying over South America, blowing things up, scooping people up from the ground when they're running and delivering them to local police stations, like Tony usually does. The mission is messy because it takes place in the middle of a rainforest and Tony has to maneuver between the multitude of trees and weird plants and it totally screws with his field of view, but JARVIS is kind enough to show him everything he needs to know about on the HUD.

During his many travels, Tony Stark hasn't visited rainforests often – they were too damp and dirty for his liking, and too uncivilized – so when Iron Man is done with destroying the stray weapons and chasing the bad guys, he lingers for a few hours, finally slowing down and enjoying the other world he suddenly found himself in. To use a cheap metaphor, it's like the Manhattan of nature.

Tony lifts the faceplate, breathes the thick air and feels the softest almost green-colored wind on his face and tries to remember everything.

When he's finally back home, in the evening, he spends some time with Happy as they haven't really been around each other much recently.

The next day Iron Man leaves Fury a report about his mission and quickly goes back home because Bruce is supposed to visit Nate and Tony suddenly realizes that he didn't leave himself much time to get ready to play Nate – and he can't exactly forget anything out of the man's guise.

Bruce brings some homemade Indian food that Nate loves and they talk – Nate speaks via JARVIS, like the last time when Clint and Bruce visited, and Bruce never stops being amazed – about Maurice and the Physics lessons, other kids from Riverside that Bruce gets to meet, about Bruce's work for S.H.I.E.L.D., the project Nate will be doing with the agency and his private jobs. It's cozy and fantastic and Tony kind of wishes he would talk about some more things with Bruce, but those are Tony Stark's areas of expertise and not Nate's, so it's out of question.

Bruce is one of the smartest people Tony has ever met and he's a very opinionated determined person under his shy demeanor. Tony listens to him talking and has JARVIS talk back for him while he can't stop thinking that at least a part of what Tony Stark will leave behind should be at the man's hands because he'll do most good with it.

'I will make a note and we can talk about this whenever you want, sir,' JARVIS declares when Tony informs him of the idea as soon as Bruce is gone.

'I need to make sure there will be enough good guys to take care of all that mess,' Tony sighs, remembering the amazing people he employed a few months before Stark disappeared.

He has the access to all SI networks, of course, and check on them regularly, and it always makes him happy to see that this time, he did a good thing trusting his instincts. He needs to make sure he'll leave the world in good hands.

Friday evening Clint invites Nate for a movie night with him and Phil and Spider Man, since all the other Avengers are out of town at the moment. Tony, against better judgment, decides to go and he's a bit annoyed at himself for craving human interactions like that, as if Nate didn't have his own friends and affairs to take care of.

But he said yes before he could really think about it and then he couldn't really change his mind without being rude or remotely suspicious.

It's the first time Spider Man meets Nate and it goes like this:

'It's good to see you with my own eyes and be sure you're not an urban legend,' Nate types quickly and shows Spider Man the tablet.

'I liked those urban legends. Before S.H.I.E.L.D. spoiled the fun,' Spider Man pouts and Nate laughs soundlessly.

'But now you get free pizza.'

'I wouldn't have applied if it weren't for the benefits. And stealing living legends' hair strands to duplicate their DNA,' Spider Man whispers into Nate's ear, as if he didn't want Clint to know. Clint is across the hall now, but that doesn't seem to matter.

Nate learns that Phil likes the same old sci-fi movies that Clint does, so that's what they're watching. Phil makes mean popcorn and Spider Man tries to steal all of it, but Clint's eyes are too sharp to miss a single of the younger man's movements. Tony observes them with amusement and wonder, it's a bit different from the situations they usually meet in – much more domestic and calm, even intimate – and he's really happy for them.

'I'm not meeting with them as Nate unless I have to,' Tony states when he's back. Happy is nowhere to be seen which means he's in his room.

'Why is that, sir?' JARVIS asks curiously, lighting the room without being prompted. Tony takes off his shoes and jacket, leaves them by the door and makes his way to the kitchen to get something to drink.

'Remember that time I talked with Happy? It mixes things up. I've got enough to worry about on my plate and I never planned Nate to be in exactly the same spot Iron Man is that often, hell, I didn't plan it at all, and I ended up with them in one environment anyway and that was stupid'

'It does increase the probability of –'

'I know, J,' Tony cuts in tiredly. 'I know.'

'Are you sure keeping those identities separates is worth more than what the relationships you're forming?'

'It's not the matter of happy and unhappy. Nate has a life. A full life I am satisfied with. The Avengers are just… an addition.'

'You cannot just withdraw completely now,' JARVIS reminds Tony softly. 'You're supposed to go over HQ and install the sing language recognition protocols on Thursday, like you discussed with Agent Barton.'

'I know. I'll back away just a bit, though,' Tony replies, shooting a quick smile at the nearest camera. 'Just for a little while.'

Nate goes back to Nate activities and spends the whole Saturday at Riverside. In the evening Pepper comes over with food and they talk about Stane's trial and Stark International new facilities in Asia that will start operating in a few weeks, so Pepper will leave for some time as she insists on attending each of the openings.

She stays overnight, sleeping in Tony's bed, bus she's gone after breakfast.

Tony goes to Riverside again – all the kids but the three youngest are out visiting some arts fair and then attending a play in one of local theaters, sponsored by one charity foundation or another. Nate stays with Annik and they go to the nearest park and enjoy the calm relaxing time for a few hours.

On Monday, Nate has a transfusion and then in the afternoon a meeting with the team he's starting to work on another medical A.I., then writes a few emails to his S.H.I.E.L.D. team. It takes a lot of time, so the next day he reserves exclusively to himself and spends it in the big workshop, tinkering with armors and staring at arc reactor blueprints for too long.

There is a dinner with Mrs. Linz and a few other neighbors in the evening that Nate is invited to – some kind of anniversary he didn't quite catch, but it's doesn't really matter.

It's good to do what Nate was supposed to do, back when Tony decided to ditch his old persona and become someone new: he's immersed in the small world that he's created around him, safe and guarded, and he's doing all the small things he's been wanting to do, and that's how things should be.

On Thursday, like JARVIS reminded him, Nate has to go over to Avengers HQ and install the protocols Clint asked him for. It's going to take just a few minutes, the upgrade is simple; he doesn't even have to do it – Ijon would acquire the ability himself – but it would take time and there are other things that the young A.I. needs to focus on right now.

Nate gets to the control room with his laptop and he barely manages to connect it to the house's internal network when he hears an Assemble call for the Avengers coming from all the speakers around the building. The message appears on the laptop's screen, too, and Tony barely remembers not to swear out loud, there could always be someone close enough to hear him.

He needs to go.

It will take him fifteen minutes to go back home and he's suddenly glad that it's been raining since sunrise and he decided to take a car this time.

The one good thing is that everyone is scrambling to get to the meeting room by the Quinjet hangar to get into their gear and grab the weapons before they jump on the jet. They need time to change clothes and it buys Tony a few minutes.

Tony doesn't really have time to wait so he tells JAVIS to install the update remotely, shoves his laptop back into the bag and basically runs out of the house, getting soaked before he gets to the car.

Iron Man catches up with Quinjet when it's hovering over S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ – they are picking Steve and Spider Man from there – and when Iron Man walks inside to meet his teammates, he can tell from the other's faces that this is going to be messy.

'Thor is back,' Steve says, breaking the silence, and everyone stares.

A/N: Thank you for reading! I wanted to say hello to new followers & everyone who's lurking, it's nice to have you here, I hope you enjoyed this story so far! Special thanks fro everyone who reviewed, your opinions are the most important and lovely thing for me as a writer, so please share what you think and I will love you forever! ;)

There we go, Thor is back! I hope I made you happy with this :d