0. Prologue.

Tony isn't sure why he doesn't just tell the world who he is.

It would be easier, anyway.

He's pretty sure; no, he's definite that Fury has to have at least some idea of what's going on, but Tony hacks into the SHIELD database every few days and deletes anything that points to the connection between Iron Man and Tony Stark, so Fury can never be certain.

He just doesn't. He's spend years on Tony Stark, genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. He doesn't want to ruin it by turning out to be some guy in a suit; he gets Rhodey to do most of the 'dropping subtle hints to the public' PA stuff, anyway. War Machine is a handy stand in.

Plus, if he revealed himself to the world, quite a lot of people would want to kill him.

More than there are already, anyway.

XxXxX

"Agent!" Tony exclaims in false delight as Coulson walks into the penthouse suite. Seriously, doesn't Coulson have a life? Does his wardrobe consist only of snappy suits and snazzy ties in varying shades of navy? Would it kill him to wear a t-shirt?

"Stark," Coulson nods, completely ignoring how he's totally walked in on Tony sweet-talking Pepper into bed. Seriously. Seriously. "Stark, I know you two are - are close. Is Iron Man at home? I have a proposition for him. One that is com-pletely confidential." The emphasis Coulson puts on 'completely' lets Tony know what he basically knew already; no one at SHIELD trusts him for even a second. Especially Coulson.

"He's out," Tony says, sharper than he meant to. "I'll take it, no problem." He stands, handing Pepper the flute of champagne, which she takes with a put-upon expression.

"I have something for you, as well," Coulson says grudgingly, tapping the briefcase at his side.

Oh. Surprise! Coulson doesn't trust him.

Tony doesn't care. At all.

"I don't like having things handed to me," he smirks irritatingly, holding up his hands as Coulson shoves two black document wallets at him.

"Luckily, I do," Pepper says with a smooth smile. "Tony, play nice."

"Nice?" He splutters at her. "I am nice. I am the nicest sonofabitch you ever did see."

"Give that to Iron Man as soon as he gets back, and don't you dare look at it. It's confidential." Coulson's raised eyebrows tell what his words don't.

No one trusts Tony; the world trusts Iron Man.

"Will do, Agent," Tony says and claps him on the back. "Will do."

XxXxX

The Avengers Initiative.

Oh.

Terrific.

XxXxX

"Howard?" Says the man Tony hoped to never see in real life, and the clear shock and horror and overwhelming relief is so much, too much, a mix of emotions so intense Tony feels guilty for not being his father. It's horrible to be reminded of how much he looks like Howard. Too much like Howard.

"Hello, Captain Rogers," Tony smiles lazily. "I'm-"

"You're not Howard."

The photos that Howard had framed and which took pride of place all over the house didn't do justice to this man. Tony had thought he could bear it out without much trouble, just because he had to. Tony Stark, genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, was unemotional. As it is, his hands bunch into instinctive fists. "I'm not Howard."

"You - but -" Captain Rogers looks like a kicked puppy. "Who are you?"

"Tony Stark's who the fuck I am," Tony grins, leaning against the doorframe and shoving his hands into his pockets, assuming an air of ease. "Howard's dead and gone, dead and gone."

"Tony Stark."

"Tony Stark."

Captain Rogers nods once, military and businesslike, smiling in friendly greeting. "If you are anything like your father, you are a man I look forward to working with, Stark."

Tony conceals his wince. Anything. Anything like your father. I am nothing. I am nothing like him. "I think you'll like working with my friend a little more. I'm nothing like that old bastard."

"Howard was my closest friend," Captain Rogers scowls, the welcoming smile falling like a mask.

"Yeah. Sure thing, Capsicle." Tony layers his words with as much sarcasm as possible. Howard Stark was so close to this man that he died while obsessing over him, but like hell Tony is going to tell him that. He grins lopsidedly and lopes out of the room they're keeping Cap in on the Helicarrier, away to find someone who isn't him.

Tony can't believe he's done this. Can't believe he's allowed himself to believe this was a good idea. As he walks confidently down one of the many corridors, ignoring the sideways glances from SHIELD agents, he's internally cursing; he's joined the Avengers as a technical consultant and Iron Man has joined the Avengers as an Avenger.

Oh, God, he is so, so screwed.

"Stark," comes a crackling voice over the PA, breaking his reverie, "Stark. Meet at the bridge. Avengers Assemble. Where the hell is Iron Man?"

Screwed.

XxXxX

"Where is Iron Man?"

"We need Iron Man, Stark, not some spoiled billionaire. Why the hell are you even here, I swear - I need you on hand, sure, but I need your buddy way more. Get his ass here right now."

"He's busy, I said," Tony snaps in irritation. "Fuck you, Fury, he's taking this seriously."

"I haven't had contact with the guy since Phil gave you that file. How do I know you even gave it to him, Stark, huh? How do I know? For all I know, you didn't. Wouldn't put it past you, asshole, either!" Fury is incensed, more angry than usual, and his fist slams down on the table. The man in the corner with all the scraggly black hair winces and Tony notices the green hint that briefly invades his fingertips.

"I gave it to him, he's just - listen, he's on his way, he's -"

"God. I ask for Iron Man and I get you. How the fuck is that a fair exchange?" Fury asks the air, his eye raised to the roof. "Stark. Go away and don't fucking come back until you have Iron Man."

Tony looks around the room, at the people he's meant to work with. At Natalie - Natasha, who meets his gaze unwaveringly, at Banner, who is staring at his hands, at Thor, who looks at him as if he were a mouse, at Captain Rogers, who looks at him with such disgust that the Tony underneath the Tony Stark quails and quavers and bursts into tears. "Fine," he snaps with as much dignity as he can muster. "I'll just go call him up, shall I? You got anything to dump me at the Tower with?"

"Get yourself to the Tower," Fury harrumphs, lip curling. "Get outta my sight, Stark."

Tony walks with dignity, hyper-aware of every eye on him as he strolls out of the control room. He fingers the phone in his pocket; Rhodey is two on speed dial, just after Pepper. He's gonna call Rhodey. He's gonna find a bathroom, find his Iron Man case, change and get the hell out of this place. Pull out of the Initiative as soon as he's saved the world, because he can't do this.

Can't.

The first abandoned corridor he comes to, Tony leans against the wall and pulls out his phone. Thumbs the second key. Waits while the phone rings three times-

"Tony?"

"Thank God, Rhodey," Tony sighs in relief, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This was such a bad idea."

"A secret fuckin' identity was a bad idea, Tony. This is just adding insult to injury, and don't you know it."

"No, man, I mean Captain-star-spangled-America is here."

A pause. "Ah."

"I can't do this, man, I really can't, I can't do this and he keeps looking at me and talking about my dad and talking and I can't and I can't, Rhodey, Rhodey, I can't-"

"Tony. Tony. Tony. Okay, man, so what you're gonna do is breathe. And relax. Breathe in. Breathe out. You're okay. You're fine."

Tony breathes in. Tony breathes out. "I'm okay. I'm fine."

If he thinks optimistically, he can't even hear the wobble in his voice.

XxXxX

"You're friends with Howard Stark's son, huh?" Captain Rogers is on to him as soon as Tony walks into the room, clanking in his suit, face covered by the gold plate.

"Yeah." The electronic speakers distort his voice, make it unrecognisable. Tony, thank God, relaxes. "Yeah, I am."

Captain Rogers' face darkens. "He needs to learn some respect. He's the Howard Stark of this generation?"

"Better than," says Banner from the corner, looking up for the first time. "Stark Industries is three times as successful as it was when Howard was the director, you know."

"He's the Howard Stark, I guess," says Tony.

The redhead just watches. It's disconcerting.

Rogers glares. "He's a poor replacement for a much better man."

And that, unfortunately, seems to be that.

"Suit up, Avengers," Fury says solemnly. "Things are about to get real hairy real fast."

XxXxX

"Come on, come on, you lot should live it with me. I have a hell of a lot of floors and Iron Man is already there, so you'll have company," Tony says, hiding the eagerness as best he can. "Come on, it'll be cool."

Barton scoffs. "Living with you? Hell, no, Stark. I'd rather die."

"That can be arranged," Banner says mildly.

"Seriously. Call me up sometime, okay?" Tony asks, and leaves it at that.

He knows it's not his presence that draws them, one by one, to live in the Tower.

It's Iron Man and SHIELD and pressure from Fury.

Everyone trusts Iron Man.

He's a good person.

XxXxX

A.N. Damn. I just love identity porn and 5 + 1 stories, so here's a marvellous cocktail. This isn't one of the five; this is the setting-up-of-stuff, so expect the first chapter sometime soon. Reviews are always appreciated!