tony walked down the street. It was cloudy. Just like his mind. His body ached, toll of yesterday. All he wants is to fall on the street and sleep. .sleep.

'useless boy.*thwack!*'

beacuse sleep means rest. So much rest. Because he is so much tired.

no one wants him in school. Tiberius makes life difficult for him. Aldrich makes life difficult. Steve makes a guilt ball of him. Clint throws erasers on him. Virginia and James Rhodes, they stare. Tony still doesn't understand the emotion in their eyes. By-the-bye, Thor eyes him like he is a pile of mud. Natasha is cold. Other students, they ignore. It doesn't hurt more or less.

because he is used to this. It feels home. The hostile enviroment reminds him of Howard's abuse, neglection, verbal battle. His mother's ignorance. She didn't even look at him when he was having chicken pox. Starks are too strong for that.

tony entered his class.

a hush echoed throughout. Everyone stared. Tony slumped at the last seat. And he is sleepy, but he wont sleep. He needs to finish Jarvis first.

his butler, the real Jarvis , died two weeks back. Tony was one of the few present in the funeral .Apparently, he gave more life to more people than tony.

but there is only so much a man can do.

tony grieved. For days , nights ...in the school washroom...but his mask never faltered. No one would save him from Howard now, the rest of the house staff wasn't so brave as him.

tony adjusted himself to a comfortable degree, and began working on the circuits. The least he could do was to do the work he could in school. Bulkier works will come later.

tony knew that the class was watching. Who cared? Tony was an idiot with no IQ and friends. Duffer.

Steve was sitting at the bench at her side. He gaped at him with disgust. Well, atleast tony didn't care. He never did. The world hated him and he hated the world.

mrs. Vanessa entered the room.

Mrs Vanessa was a really sweet lady, which adored tony with a passion. Negative point for other students. She was strict but sweet. She always smelt like strawberry and she always wore high heels and tight dresses. She taught English. She wished the students and wished everyone morning. She sat with a serene poisture. Tony shoved his tools and work under his desk.

" students, meet Bruce banner." Mrs Vanessa pulls a small, shy boy forward. He has a mop of unruly curls on his head. A dimple revealed itself when he smiled curtly.

"i ummmmm... I am Bruce banner ... I like to build things..." poor Bruce didn't even realize that he was making his speech awkward before he finished.

"where do i..." Bruce mumbled. " oh, you can sit with tony." Mrs Vanessa cheered. One of her sociality tricks. Comeon. Bruce quietly walked towards tony's bench as Mrs Vanessa pointed.

Bruce sat besides tony. The students glared. Some teased. Some laughed. Tony opened his textbook.

"ummmm...hey ...tony?" Bruce started.

"don't." tony commanded with finality in his voice." wanna stay happy and comfortable? Do not talk to me. They will make your life hell. Change your seat after this period. "

Bruce stared. Impression formed. Tony stark has issues. And Bruce will never give up.