Chapter Four:
The Boys!
Tony's POV…
Six month's ago.
Sam and Paul started working at the tower shortly after the attack on New York. The tower needed a lot of work. Sam and Paul came with the team that Tony hired for the reconstruction of the tower. Tony is a man of details when it comes to his work. So he noticed Sam and Paul. Well in all honesty it was hard not to. The boys are slightly smaller than Thor in build. Only slightly. Their smiles are killer and their dark skin was and still is flawless. By voice alone you knew that the boys didn't come from the big city.
You could tell the boys were close just by the way the two walked together. When they worked together they didn't need many words. It would take one look from the other and they would just know what the other needed. At first Tony thought that the boys were long time life partners. But after hearing or snooping while Sam was on a private call he learned he was happily married.
The boys were hard workers. Tony appreciated that. It was hard to find truly dedicated workers in today's world. So despite the boys' odd relationship Tony wanted them working for him. So after a few background checks and long conversion with Pepper it was decided. If the boys so choose they would come to work for SI. Tony then sent Pepper out to the boys to strike a deal. Tony really wanted Sam and Paul working for him. So it wasn't really a deal. Tony knew how much those boys made. He knew that the boys were making good money with their current employer. So he tripled it and threw in an amazing healthcare plan. He knew they wouldn't refuse. The next day Sam and Paul started working as Tony's head of maintenance crew. His tower has never run better.
Few months down the road Tony was sitting in the Helicarrier after a mission when he overheard that the rest of the avengers didn't really have a home. That they all just lived on the Helicarrier.
How unhealthy. All work and no play. No wonder they are so high sung. Then again where else could they safely rest their heads other than the Helicarrier? Bruce was still wanted by General Ross. Nat and Bird-brain were highly skilled assassins. Cap was while Cap. The man wouldn't have gotten a single night of rest once the public realizes that Captain America had gotten an apartment in downtown Brooklyn. Thor was the luckiest of the bunch. When he was on earth Thor spent most of his time with Jane and the avengers. Though he had a portal to get him home to his grand palace at the end of the day.
Tony these thoughts roamed… No, it plagued him all day. Tony didn't trust Shield. He never would. Too many secrets for him to truly feel comfortable. The only reason he has stayed with them this long is A.) they really didn't give him a choice. B.) Tony was really doing something good that was for once wasn't for himself and that felt good. Really good.
Tony trusted the Avengers enough to watch his back. He couldn't or wouldn't say that he trusted them with his life. Still it hurt Tony to know that the people he rode into battle with didn't really have a place of peace. A place without judgment of others. A place of safety and comfort. A place to relax and be themselves. A place they really could call home. I could never trust them with my life completely but could I trust them enough for them to be in it?
"Jarvis, please have Sam Uley and Paul Lahote brought up to Pepper's office. I need to speak with them all." Tony asked coolly.
"It is done, sir."
"Excellent."