The Scruffy Mudcake finally play's the piano.

Tony's head gave a painful throb as they went over another pothole, adding to his general discomfort of this whole ride thus far. He refused to look in Rosie's direction knowing that as soon as he acknowledges her she's going to want to know about the fight. He also turned down the opportunity to stop so he could dig out his bag and change clothes, doing so would only bring up more questions like why his chest was wrapped. This however left him with a vest, shirt and pants that had dried mud caked to his back uncomfortably. The additional plus was his shoes, that definitely did not keep his feet warm, also seemed to act as a sponge from his time walking around in the mud were currently soaked along with his socks.

They had been traveling relatively far and with some relief, Tony noted that less of the hillsides where looking ravaged the longer they drove from where the plane landed. The last twenty minutes however they have been traveling uphill along a mountain road to a town called Montefusco. This however meant that the road was 100% trying to get Tony to realign his lower lumbar in his back.

"All right everyone" Thomas spoke up "We are getting close, so its time to go over some details and expectations." With a put off sigh (And boy does this guy sigh a lot) he pulled out his trusty clipboard.

"We will be in town for about two weeks, then heading north to another town. Here we will switch out with Captain Americas dance/singing team and Jimmy will take over as manager as I take the others back here to head home."

"The Captain America?" Tony questioned, because there was no way that Steve was part of a performance group. He read the comics that Howard shoved in his face as a kid, wasn't he fighting? Thinking back to anything Steve had talked about Tony released that the blond giant never actually spoke about his time in the past, only that Barnes was his best friend and he would do anything for the guy.

The twins twittered excited "Oh Tony they said that he's supper nice!"

"And tall!" the other added

"And blond!" Mary jumped in her own blond hair bouncing when they drove over another bump.

And shit, supper nice, tall, and blond summed Rogers up nicely.

Clearing his throat Thomas brought attention back to himself "Right. Now today you have off but tomorrow night will be a general performance, I want you to meet me at the stage at some point tomorrow afternoon so we can work out some acts and to see what works best." Waiting for nods of understanding he continued, flipping a page and reading the next sheet. "We will be staying in an Inn located above the only pub/restaurant still running in town, Curfew for the town is at 11 but the bar closes at 10. You all need to be inside the bar or building by 9:30 when I do night checks. No candles or lamps are allowed in your rooms since those windows aren't boarded up but there is one room upstairs that have no windows so any nighttime reading/hobbies can be done there." He flipped another page, paused, then continued.

"When the sirens go off everyone reports back to the pub and will be brought down to the basement. Do not leave to grab something, if for some reason you are away from city center you must find shelter on your own." Looking up he gazed at each person "The pub is the only accessible basement in town currently, the other one collapsed last week in the only air raid they've had in this area, there are current efforts to clear it out but without the majority of the people or work force its slow moving"

Rosie's hand gripped Tony's as she reached out to him, and Tony tried to reassure her with a gentle squeeze back.

"Now ill have more announcements tomorrow and your winter gear-" Thomas continued but stopped briefly as the breaks screeched as they rolled to a stop. Surprised that he hadn't noticed Tony turned and looked out the back of the truck at the town they where in, jumping slightly when their tailgate was opened with a load clack. "But for now, let's get you to the pub…And Tony into cleaner clothes" Thomas continued.

The girls laughed at the comment and Tony couldn't hold it against Thomas for poking fun at him. Hopping down he and Thomas helped all the girls out of the truck. Nancy this time grabbing his bag so he can carry his instruments.

The town was…well…Depressing. The trucks stopped about a block away from what must be city center based off of the broken fountain sitting in the middle all the buildings touched each other and curved themselves into a circle with the one road leading out. Some of the buildings had all windows boarded up with an array of objects to block any inside light coming out at night, though some only had the lower businesses boarded. One such building being the pub. The building was a faded yellow but the painted green lettering on the intact lower windows proudly stated that this was Sanitova's Pub, lettering even more noticeable with the light brown plywood as a back drop.

Following behind the girls as they walked up the road to enter the square Tony noticed that only a few people were out and about, and the town was eerily quiet. Entering the circle revealed more people, some locals but most soldiers. Uneasy, he watched the other men. The group walked along the path next to the houses and Tony found that he automatically put himself in the inside corner so he separated the ladies from the random groups of men lingering about.

When they reached the pub and Thomas opened the door, he was honestly surprised at the level of noise and commotion that was happening inside. Warmth enveloped him as the door shut behind them and Thomas wondered off to find somebody. Despite only being around 2 pm the place was packed, people of all nationality where standing or sitting at tables talking, kids where near a group of woman who were knitting, and based off the roar of laughter a game of poker or what not was being played in the back.

"Did the whole town move in?" A snort sounded to his right and Tony whipped his head over and up to look at the tall man next to him.

"Solo circa" The man spoke. Was every other man this tall back then? Tony thought. The guy was tall but by no means muscular, blue eyes, tan skin, and brown blond hair put him as a local.

"Matteo! There you are!" Thomas hurried back over to their group standing next to the door.

"This mud cake yours Thomas?" Matteo asked pointing at Tony with a raised eyebrow.

"Oi!" Tony squawked. Mud cake?!

Thomas ignored his cry and turned to their party "Ladies and mud cake-" more giggling "This is Matteo Sanitova, the owner of this pub and Generous donor of your rooms. Matteo may I introduce to you the girls and our musician Tony. Now I'm sure there will be time for you to get to know them throughout the weeks but I think it would be good for them to get to their rooms." And Tony did not miss the looks they all gave him at the mention of rooms.

Embracing his current nickname like one who hands them out like candy, Tony turned to Sanitova and lifting both hands in the air in a shrug he smiled "This Mud cake needs a change of clothes"

Matteo chuckled and started to move through the throng of people, their party easily following in his path, Thomas slipping off at some point into the crowd. Once up the stairs he started opening doors that the girls could choose from.

"Each room has a bathroom but only three of them work. We lost the boiler a few months ago but still have running water." Matteo explained in accented English. The girls all separated off taking their two bags with them. Matteo stood at the end of the hallway at the base of another set of stairs watching and explaining again curfew. When he spotted Rosie with and extra bag disappearing into a room he raised an eyebrow at Tony clearly spotting that he only had one.

When Tony didn't say anything, the man grunted and pointed upstairs "You'll be in the attic room. Shower." Grinning widely Tony walked over to the man lifting up the hand with the trumpet case gave him his best thumbs up and thanks, while heading up the stairs.

"Grazie molto Sanitova!" Tony called down the stairs when he opened the door to his new room, honestly impressed.

Light streamed in through the old glass pane of the only window in the room, casting a lovely warm look onto the walls and furnature. On the left was a twin sized bed and on the opposite wall stood a dresser and vanity. Stepping further into the room, Tony was able to spot another door which upon inspection reveled a small bathroom. With a sigh the small pack was thrown onto the bed and Tony dropped next to it sitting on the ledge facing the window.

Ok Tony use that time travel brain, that never liked history and think!

It was October 1943. The Allies have just took Napals but wont take Rome till 1944. Italy up to July of that year had been controlled by Mussolini but the new guy…erm…King Vector? No, nope. King Victor quickly joined the allies and allowed troops in to fight back enemy forces unopposed.

Huffing and wishing for probably not the first time or last time for JARVIS, Tony flopped back on the bed and gazed at the ceiling. He could hear some of the girls talking from his opened door and grinned a little to himself. We sit so close to fighting and in the middle of a war, and yet their arguing over who gets the rooms with working sinks.

He distantly remembered Maria talking about Italy's view point in the war. Basically the only people who wanted to fight in the beginning was Mussolini and all his Fascist underoo's, leaving the rest of the country fearing for their future. Probably why so many people are willing to host allied forces.

Laying there in his little twin bed, in the middle of nowhere, Tony closed his eyes and suddenly felt the maelstrom of emotions, thoughts, plans, and what ifs crash over him. And it hurt.

It was not the pain of betrayal from Obi ripping out the Arc reactor, or the weeks of torture followed with Yinsins sacrifice. It wasn't the hurt that ripped into his heart a few months ago when Pepper looked him in the eye over dinner and said 'I'm done, Tony'.

It was the pain that all he experienced in his life was for nothing. What he went through, learned, made, was moot. Steve's words have never left his head "Big man in a suit of armor. Take that off, what are you?" and even back then despite what he said, he knew that answer.

Broken

And now, here he was. A nobody, with no family, no money, hell! No legal documents, and no way what-so-ever to defend himself. All that work, and he was going to die with no one knowing what his favorite color was.

Damn, I got a lot of work to do.

And so Tony Stark got squeezed into a mental box and shoved into the same closet that all things he didn't want to think about went into. With that he focused about all that he had reviled about himself to others and started to form the new man that was to be him. My name is Anthony 'Tony' Edwards. I am 35 years old. I play Violin, Trumpet, and piano for the U.S.O. I know how to shoot a gun, and am willing to help others. I know how to fight back…and I'm broke.

Rolling onto his side he looked at the half filled pack laying innocently in front of him. He needed money, that was the simple fact. So Tony did the only thing he could at the time, and planned.

"Tony!" Wide brown eyes flew open as the person belonging to them jerked awake. The room was significantly darker now, the sun starting to set behind the building and tree's out the window. Cursing at himself for falling asleep, he sat up slowly cringing at the flakes of mud sitting on top of his bed sheets, from where he had his mental freak out and power nap. Standing he unbuttoned the vest and tossed the soiled thing on the wooden chair that was placed in front of the vanity. His 'new' white shirt is also ruined even with a little hole in the elbow thanks to that jerk from the landing area.

Taking that off, he stuck his index finger threw the hole and wiggled it around trying to guess how he was going to fix it.

"Tony?" gasping, he clutched the shirt to his chest and spun to the door praying that whoever was there did not spot the bandages wrapped around himself. Nancy stood there with her hand half poised to knock on the open door frame, with a smile twitching at her lips. "Sorry, we all are going to head down to the bar for some dinner and a drink and wanted to tell you." Her eyes looked at him and then down at the slightly rumpled bed and a actual smile fully formed "However, seeing as you still have mud on yourself, and the state of your bed, im going to fathom the guess that you fell asleep."

"Okay but mud is a energy sapping evil thing!" he whined good naturally. She shook her head fondly and turned around to start down the stairs.

"Uh huh, sure. Come find us when you get all clean you big mud cake!"

Thirty minutes later found him dressed in almost the same thing but this time his pants where a dark canvas material that was a bit more durable then the slacks he decided to wear before, and he found a slightly gray waist coat at the bottom of his bag. His old clothes had been washed with some cold water in the sink and where laying on the rim of the tub drying.

If he thought the pub was crowed before, now it was packed. Even from the girls floor he could hear the loud murmur of dozens of people living their lives the best they could. People crowded every table, some even forming groups on the floor. Tony briefly noted that it seemed the children at least have all been sent home along with at least one of their parents. A loud roar a laughter drew his attention to one of the tables where the ladies all sat surrounded by various men trying to catch there attention.

Throwing on one of his signature smiles on, he sauntered over weaving through the throng of people. "Tony, you're here!" cried Mary jumping up from her chair and hugged his arm. He tensed slightly at the contact but let the blond lead him to the table where she quickly made introductions. "Hey meet Anthony! He's are Music man for the company." Most of the men all gave him polite nods though the one that Mary had been talking to looked a little bit green with envy at her dragging him around by the arm. Rosie offered to stand so he could sit and eat, but he quickly shot her down and insisted that they got there first and he would find his own seat. Not like I can actually afford a meal yet.

Not even two minutes in and Mr. Jealousy had not so subtly moved him away from Mary to continue their obviously important conversation. Rolling his eye's he spotted a gap in the small sea of people by the bar. Turning his attention to that spot the reason, much to his joy, was due to an upright piano. Looking over his shoulder at the group of girls all wrapped up in conversation, tony shrugged to himself and made his way over.

A few locals shot him curious looks but none tried to stop him on his way across the room. Getting to the thing of his distraction he quickly sat and looked threw some of the music that sat on the stand. Most was unsurprisingly Italian, but a few French pieces were thrown in, along with random bits and bobs from other countries.

"Maramao?" the voice of a young lady drew his attention up. She stood in front of the piano and was looking down at him from above the cover, with an excited grin.

"Huh?" she shuffled some music that sat on top of the piano and handed him a single sheet.

"Maramao Perché Sei Morto." Looking down at the offered paper, and sure enough the sheet had that title on top. His brain translating it to 'Maramao why did you die'. Looking back up she was holding another sheet "Tu suoni, io canter!" Others around them started to notice that someone had sat at the piano and where leaning over seeing what song she wanted to play and smiling.

Huffing at himself, he pointed at her to put the music down in front of him while asking in Italian "Isn't this song about a cat?" she giggled and some random guy at the bar responded.

"Not all the time!"

Settling down to start playing he shot the girl a look and nodded to her to give her an indication that he was starting. Admittedly it was a catchy tune even if the lyrics where weird, and he found himself laughing when half of the room joined in at the chorus meowing.

-Maramao, Maramao

Fanno I mici in coro:

Maramao, Maramao

Mao, Mao, Mao, Mao, Mao.

Still laughing by the end of the song at their antics he transitioned into another song, this time he was the one starting the singing.

-'If you're blue, and you don't know where to go to

why don't you go where fashion sits? Puttin' on the Ritz'

A few squeals from across the room and he was happy to hear the girls start to sing the song, clearly being one of the many in their number as they all harmonized together.

-'Different types of wear a day coat, pants with stripes and cutaway coat

Perfect fits, puttin' on the ritz'

And the next hour proceeded with people looking through the stack on top of the piano as he played and putting them in a small pile next to him on the bench as their request. At one point Sanitova leaned over the bar and asked him what he wanted to drink, and seeing how he wasn't leaving the piano anytime soon with the stack of sheet music next to him, his request of Chicory coffee was answered with a wink and a few minutes later a mug appeared on the left side of the piano for him.

Around 8ish the dinner crowd was wrapping up and the music turned to more classical pieces so people can enjoy conversations and wind down for the evening. The girls turned in a few minutes ago and despite the fake energy boost from the 'coffee', Tony was starting to feel that nap wasn't quite cutting it for him.

"Oi, Trasandato." Sanitova called tapping his hand on the counter to get his attention.

First mud cake, now he's calling me scruffy!?

"What?" he asked back in Italian, making sure that the man saw his nose wrinkle at the new nickname.

"Hand me your cup, someone bought you another round saying that you looked like death warmed over"

"Excuse me! I look like a roman god, with a stylish over grown hedge on his face! Not like death warmed over" Tony shot back leaning over to slide his cup to the grinning man. "But tell them that it was life or death, and I greatly appreciate the cup" The barman didn't go that far and started to make him a new cup of his new favorite kind of knock off coffee.

"Your Italian is good." Sanitova commented. Scoffing Tony turned the page of the current song and responded flippantly.

"Mama made sure I grew up knowing her language. Dear old Dad made sure I would never forget along with a few others."

The other stood there with his hot cup in hand and pinned Tony with a look he couldn't quite decipher without completely turning to him.

"You eat?"

The stutter in his playing hopefully was not noticed, however after he shook his head, the man only huffed and slid the drink across the counter towards him. They guy sitting by them kindly moved it so Tony didn't have to stretch to grab it while still playing with one hand.

"If you play till closing and help clean up, the meals on me."

Tony went to bed that night around 10:30 with a full stomach, and the offer to trade a few hours up at the bar during the day and play the piano on his off days, for his dinner each night. (With the bonus that Matteo said he would mention to others that he is a handyman and was looking for some work.)

Brushing the dried dirt off his top sheet, he was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

Daddy FF has a bug going on and I have no info coming in to the account. I was confused at first that the chapters of this and one other story didn't post but my friend was able to see them and left a comment. However on my side it has 0 for all stats, no comment, and no notification emails. Ive looked it up, and it seems to have happened before to others and everyone says you have to just wait it out.

So in the meantime, Ya'll are ghost readers! ooooooooOOOOoooo

Its a bit weird since it feels like Im writing to the void, but Im trusting Ya'll are there :) If you feel like it, you can also find this story on A03 under the same name and my profile there AliceTop12.