Awakening

*Tony hides* PEPPER IS GOING TO KILL ME!

*Mortem hides* E'RE IS GOING TO KILL ME!

By the time that Tony rejoined the others his mask was flawless and his stride confident. It would be almost impossible to see through his facade to see the worried father behind the mask. He knew that out of everyone in the other room, Pepper, Fury, and Romanoff were the most likely to be able to get a read on him; in that order.

Pepper had years of experience dealing with his masks, while Fury and Romanoff were tried spies. Hell, Fury was The Spy.

Jarvis directed him to the kitchen where everyone was lounging around in clean, semi-formal clothing. Pepper was in a simple work dress and jacket with her hair up in a bun and dark blue heels on her feet.

Fury was leaning against the counter in his black leather talking to Coulson who was in his typical suit. Bruce and Steve, both in slacks and a nice button downs (green and blue respectively), were talking to Jane, Darcy and Selvig, who were still in PJ's. Barton was slouching in a far corner, wearing black dress pants and a maroon dress shirt and talking to Romanoff who seemed to finally be slightly back to herself. She was wearing a midnight blue dress that fell to her knees in a wave, black heels, and maroon lipstick. She was the first to spot Tony enter the kitchen, though she didn't react beyond a small glance in his direction.

The billionaire was wearing one of his finest and most crisp suits. Black sunglasses hid his eyes and the darkness of his hair seemed to pop with the dark grey suit. The Arc's light was hidden, as few in the world actually knew what it was, though the knowledge that it existed semi-common.

Tony also noticed that the kitchen had been returned to it's normal state, as had the rest of the Avengers. (Mortem had dispelled Tony's when he wasn't paying attention.) Most of the Tower was still boobytrapped and colorful though.

"I see you all got someone to put things back to their original state." Tony commented as he leaned back against the doorframe, a smirk on his face.

Everyone spun around, only Fury and Bruce not looking slightly surprised by his presence; and Phil, but Phil rarely looked surprised.

Bruce gave him a smile and stepped around Pepper who's face was changing expressions. "Hel dropped by and put everything right. Aparently Mortem asked her to." He shrugged, but there was a thankful look on his face.

Tony could understand, he wouldn't want bunny ears either.

"Where have you been!" Pepper finally exclaimed, as she had never been one to interrupt someone else unless she was extremely angry. Though he still had to hide a grimace and a frown as he thought about what had happened with Penny. But no one even noticed before he smiled at Pepper. Tony had long ago perfected his disguise, Howard had taught him well.

"Got caught up in some things," Tony shrugged, pecking Pepper on the check and turning towards Rogers who was staring at him in disappointment.

"The press conference starts in fifteen minutes!" Rogers exclaimed, crossing his arms over his chest. "This is important to the team, as part of this team you need to be on time."

"Well I'm sorry I was taking care of my unconscious and currently unstable daughter Rogers." Tony thought, very very tempted to repeat the statement aloud. However, he knew that it wouldn't help his cause, and Penny didn't need to be brought into this.

"I'm here now," Tony waved it off, "actually before the conference starts. That's me taking this seriously, just ask Pepper or even Romanoff, they know it's true."

Rogers turned towards the redheads with a raised eyebrow and both women nodded, Romanoff a bit slower than Pepper.

"It's true, just be glad Tony showed up at all." She said, a teasing smile on her face as Tony gave her a small pout.

"I'm not that bad Pepper!" He exclaimed with a touch of a wine, and Barton rolled his eyes.

"Yes, you are." Pepper replied calmly as she shook her head fondly. "You once slept through the majority of a massive galla for Stark Industries and then appeared totally drunk and half naked with two girls on your arms completely naked."

"We agreed to never speak of that again." Tony said, suddenly more serious as he tried not to shiver. That had been a very bad hangover, and the first media hassle that Jarvis had handled. There was no evidence left of the incident at all. All of the footage and articles had been destroyed, reporters treated, the guests had been paid off.

He didn't even want to know what Penny would do to him if she found out about that incident.

"How do I not know about this?" Fury asked, not upset, simply curious. Even the agents looked interested.

Everyone else in the room just looked gobsmacked. Tony thought it was funny how much Selvig, Darcy, and Jane resembled gold fish.

Tony shrugged, not seeing why he should answer.

"Yes, Tony," Pepper said slowly as she narrowed her eyes at him. "Why is it no one's ever seemed to mention it?"

Tony huffed, they were wasting time! The conference started in ten minutes.

Rolling his eyes he answered, "Had Jarvis erase any mention of it that he could get his hands on. A few discreet bank transfers took care of the rest."

Walking over to Bob the Fridge, who was no longer colorful nor speaking, the door flew open and he was able to grab one of his green shakes. Tony didn't mention everyone's sigh of relief when the fridge said not a word. Jarvis had told him of Bob's...unique personality.

"How long did that take?" Bruce asked completely out of curiosity. The AI seemed to fascinate the good doctor, and Tony was happy to answer any questions about his lovely little son. Who he just learned actually had a Soul, and therefore he had even more of a reason to love him.

But he would never actually say that aloud.

"Jar?" Tony asked the ceiling, not remembering the numbers from years ago off of the top of his head. He also knew that Jarvis liked being part of conversations, even if he usually only spoke after being spoken to.

The AI was way too self conscious in his opinion.

"It took me 59 hours, forty minutes, and 34.9 seconds to remove all related information from all public and private servers, and silence the live witnesses." Jarvis reported smugly as everyone but Pepper and Tony stared at the ceiling in shock.

"And how long ago was this?" Fury asked, his voice far quieter than usual.

Tony couldn't stop the large smug grin that broke out on his face, "I don't know...six, seven years ago?"

Everyone blinked again and Barton's jaw was moving up and down without making a sound.

"It was 2005, Tony. So seven years ago." Pepper sighed fondly, if a bit tiredly.

"...Your AI was capable of that in 2005?!" Barton squeaked, his eyes wide. Tony knew that Jarvis had caught that on film, but then he caught everything on film. That would make great blackmail material against the agent.

Tony shrugged again, "Actually he could've done it before but there was just never a reason."

At this, Barton slid down to the floor. Romanoff, a soft look on her face, ran her hands through his hair in comfort, and Tony finally knew where to place those two in his head.

"How long would it take you to do something similar, today?" Jane asked still a bit starstruck, awe in her voice.

Fury's eyes slightly narrowed as his gaze flickered between Tony and the ceiling. He would've asked the question if Bruce hadn't.

"Taking the size of the internet, level of security, and number of probable variables due to human nature," Jarvis said simply, as everyone who hadn't lived with Jarvis shared a look. "It would take me approximately 10 hours, probably less."

"Don't be modest Jar," Tony scoffed as he finished the last slug of his shake before tossing the glass into the sink. "It wouldn't even take you five."

"Five!?" Fury choked out, and even Phil looked rather shocked, or as shocked as the man ever did.

"I was simply trying to refrain from alarming them, Sir." Jarvis said with a sigh. He didn't like it when people were wary of him, or afraid. He wouldn't have even spoken about such abilities if Sir hadn't been there. Of course, he would've felt better if Miss Penny had been there as well, and not lying in her room practically in a coma.

There was a tense silence before Tony clapped his hands and strode towards the door. "I don't know about you, but I think it would be better PR if we actually showed up before three o'clock?"

His voice was snippy and snobbish and Pepper sighed as she realized another layer of Tony's mask had fallen down.

With a blur of movement all of the Avengers fled the room, trying to make it downstairs before the press started some kind of slander or something.

Shaking her head, Pepper looked over at Fury and Phil and said, "This is why I said to have it in the loby of Stark Tower."

"I can see why." Fury drawled as Phil nodded at his side.

The three of them also left the room, wanting to make sure that the team of heroes didn't cause more harm then good.

Left alone in the kitchen, the three co workers, scientists, and friends' of Penny all stared at each other.

"...total insanity." Selvig muttered as he stirred his lukewarm coffee. He definitely looked better than he had the day before, which was good.

"But suddenly," Darcy commented as she poked at another pastry on the table. "Everything makes so much more sense."

Selvig and Jane both nodded. The girls had explained Pen's heritage to Selvig that morning when he had awoke. He honestly hadn't been that surprised, and said that he always knew that there had been more between the two of them.

A loud belch echoed through the kitchen, and the three jumped before warily glancing over at the fridge. The kitchen appliance had mostly been silent since Hel had changed the room back. But they still remembered the chaos the appliance had caused before hand.

"Don't even think about it Girlies!" Bob exclaimed loudly, "Only Sir get's the privilege of opening me!"

The trio didn't even think as they fled the room, Darcy grabbing the plate of pastries on the way out.

Watching the media conference would probably be safer.

Yeah, I know. Not one real mention of Pen here but don't worry, they're not all really that oblivious. Or at least, some of them aren't.

Next chapter, Media Conference and Penny!

Hope you enjoyed it, sorry for the wait! :/

Cp