A/N: just another one'shot. I'll probably edit it later... just let me know what you think!

People are forgetful, you know? People are always forgetting important things like birthdays, kid's soccer games, passwords, where they put their keys; the list of things people forget goes on and on and on.

Sometimes they forget things that would best be forgotten; like that girl that broke your heart in high school, or the trip to the amusement park where you thoroughly embarrassed yourself by vomiting on the roller coaster.

Sometimes they simply forget. But sometimes they forget because they just don't want to remember. And so they convince themselves that they have. Like: I don't really want to go, or I don't need to talk to him about this. Or even: Tony Stark isn't that much of a genius.

Tony knew this. He knew he was a genius, and he knew no one cared.

Oh people cared when it could get them something. SHIELD cared when he kept their tech updated, and the Avengers cared when he made them new gadgets. The military cared when he updated the War Machine's weaponry.

They only bothered to remember when there was something in it for them.

This was a widespread technique; and Tony knew it.

Tony knew Natasha still didn't think he belonged on the team. He knew that Steve thought he should be more like Howard. Tony even knew that Clint didn't think he had earned a place on the Avengers. He knew a lot of people agreed with Barton.

He didn't care.

Because the brilliant engineer knew many, more important things; Like the weak spot in SHIELD's defenses, Or the 6 words that could bring the Russian government to its knees. He even knew how the British detective faked his death. (He had helped..)

Those things were much more important, and so, so much more dangerous than other people's opinions of him.

Tony could take over the world; quickly, with little bloodshed, and without even leaving Stark Tower. He had planned it. He knew he could pull it off. He knew who he would put in leadership after overthrowing things. He knew how much better it would be if he actually enacted his plans. He may as well but he won't, because he is a genius, although no one will admit it, and he knows it wouldn't solve anything.

But sometimes he really wants to. Just so everyone would know he could. Just so people would quit thinking Tony Stark was helpless without Iron Man. Just so people will know that he is much, much scarier outside the suit.

Then Cap sneers, Natasha snarls, and Barton is so obvious about how stupid he thinks Tony is. Then everyone laughs as Tony Stark makes a mistake,(it's not like he's human or anything) and he thinks maybe it's time to remind them just how genius Tony Stark really is.