The moment Thor had led Steve outside, the shouting started…much to the entertainment and interest of several passersby.

"What the actual hell, Thor? Why are you guys talking to him?" Steve yelled angrily,

"Because he is a good person. You are the one in the wrong, Steven." Yet the other blond just snorted in disbelief,

"As if! You've seen how he acts around school -thinking he's better than everyone cause daddy dearest is rich and famous. Then the news reports, you can't seriously tell me that he's a good person. He's cocky. Arrogant. Selfish and vain."

"It is but an act, Steven. See beneath his mask, my friend." But Steve didn't want to and continued ranting and raving about Tony. Thor could barely get a word in. Then a quiet voice pitched in.

"I…I wanted to…to apologise for any and all…umm…issues I've made…I'm sorry." He whispered looking down at his feet before glancing briefly at Thor, "I…thank you for being my…my friend over the past…past months, I'll… I'll leave you…all of you alone." Thor called his name but Tony just continued to walk away, Steve remained frozen in surprise, only snapping out of it in time to see the group standing by him glaring.

—LINE BREAK—

A couple of weeks had passed and Tony realised that by ignoring Thor, Bruce, Natasha and Clint (who surprisingly continued to acknowledge him in the hallway and whenever they were near each other) he was probably proving Steve Roger's point of him being arrogant, selfish and vain, but by this point Tony was just so done with the world that he could care less.

Without his 'bodyguards', Hammer and his lackeys just got worse whenever possible, though Tony did notice that it was rather rare for the group of bullies to get to him. It was a rather obvious that the Avengers excluding Steve were still looking out for him…Tony didn't understand why, though.

He had a black eye that was gradually fading and a sore cut on his temple, the bruises on his torso were a sickly yellow but they were healing. Tony was making his way to class, hoping beyond hope, that Justin didn't see him. Of course, luck was not Tony's friend…or was it?

He found himself promptly shoved against a locker, nothing strange as he and the lockers were practically friends with the amount of connection Tony had with them over the…well over his entire high school life. Out of his peripheral vision he could see a punch coming towards him and he braced himself. The pain never came. He squinted ever so slightly to see why the punch never connected. There was a large hand tightly wrapped around Justin's fist. Tony's brown eyes wandered up the arm to find Steven Grant Rogers. The man, who probably hated Tony more than his bullies was protecting him…What the hell? The only logical conclusion Tony could find was that he was either concussed, unconscious or dead.

"Leave him alone, Hammer." Came his authoritative voice as he looked down on the whimpering bully as he slowly released the hand, which caused Justin to grab it as though it had been crushed…then again it might've been. "You ok?" Steve asked though he didn't look at Tony,

"Yeah…thanks." With that said the shorter boy quickly fled to his class, trying to ignore the confusing situation that just happened. Steve didn't stop him.

—LINE BREAK—

School finished for the day. Tony's mind was still in chaos as he tried to understand why Steve had protected him, therefore meaning he wasn't prepared to be grabbed from behind and slung into an empty alleyway.

"The Hell, Stark? How'd you get Rogers to protect you?"

"Still trying to work that one out, Hammer." Tony snarked as he stood up from where he had fallen onto the ground,

"Wasn't their a rumour a while back that he was a fag?" One of his lackeys said and a malicious smirk flitted across Justin's face,

"Oh yeah, I remember that." He turned back to Tony, "So Stark, you taking it up the arse for them? Is that how you've convinced them to help you out? Huh. You must be one good fuck." Tony was shoved to the ground again. Kicks came from every direction as the group shouted vulgar words at him. Bloody and beaten, Tony was surprised when the hits suddenly stopped. Peeking out from where his arms had protected his face, Tony was confused by the extra five pairs of feet he could now see…or maybe he was hallucinating.

"I'd back the fuck off if I were you." Was that Clint's voice?

"When will you learn that you don't just get away with hurting people, Hammer?" Science Bro, is that you?

"You think that hurting my котенок won't result in your deaths?" Natasha? Terrifying as usual…

"You will face the wrath of Thor Odinson!" Oh, so that's his last name…how odd and yet fitting.

"Honestly, Hammer." Oh God. Tony had heard about the Steve's 'I-am-so-disappointed-in-you' voice and sigh, wow it works well. After that Tony's really not sure what happened as he blacked out.

—LINE BREAK—

He blinked slowly as he heard hush voices around him. Moaning quietly, Tony reached up and rubbed at his eyes.

"Hey, sleeping beauty."

"Damn right I'm beautiful." Muttered Tony in response to Clint's remark,

"Easy." Someone murmured helping him sit up properly, it was Steve.

"The bloody hell's going on?"

"Well…we saved you. You passed out. Natasha almost slaughtered Hammer and his worshippers. Thor picked you up and carried you to the car. Steve drove us back here. You woke up."

"How the hell did Thor pick me up? Where exactly is here? How'd you fit six people in that small car of yours, Rogers?"

"You are not at all heavy, my friend. We are at Steve's house. And we fit in the car rather easily. I sat in the passenger seat alongside Steve whilst Clint, Bruce and Natasha sat in the back with you across their laps." Thor answered causing Tony to respond with his mouth open as if to say 'oh' before he turned to face the blond, who stood to the side looking shy,

"Why did you help me?"

"Because I realised I was wrong and was a…a bully to you." He looked up to Tony, sincere regret in his blue eyes, "I'm sorry, Tony."

"Plus we told his mum." Natasha added with a smirk and there were chuckles as Steve visibly shivered before rubbing the back of his neck,

"Yeah…she's terrifying as it is and was…was really disappointed in me…"

"Then -and this was even more hilarious- she called his childhood friend and let me tell you, he fucking tore Steve a new one. I kid you not, the guy just exploded and Is swear Steve visibly shrunk! I recorded it if you want to see later!" Clint exclaimed with mischievous glee.

"Despite that, I did come to the realisation that I had become everything I stand against. A bully. I was wrong and cruel and I am so sorry."

"I…I admit it hurt a lot. But…the fact that you -all of you- helped me and all means so much…I'm used to people being mean. I'm not used to people making up for their actions, apologising and becoming my friend. I forgive you, Steve." The smiles he received made him feel something deep inside. It was as though their smiles were fixing his broken heart. He smiled back.

—LINE BREAK—

Fast forward a couple more months and it was summer. Things had been great for Tony. His new friends were incredible and they'd all gotten into the same college. Tony had the option to go to MIT or the place they were going to, it was called SHIELD. He didn't know where to go. Until Rhodey and Pepper came to the rescue. Sitting in the coffee shop with his two older best friends.

"Tony. The thing is. How do I say this?" Rhodey muttered looking to Pepper for help as the two held one of Tony's hands in their own. It was a thing the trio always did, it was 'their' thing.

"What Rhodey's trying to say is that you need to go where you want to. Not where you're dad does. Not where you think you have to go. Where you want to go."

"Don't laugh at me for saying this Tones, but go where your heart tells you to go. Where your heart wants to go." Tony smiled softly at his friends,

"Honey as much as we want you to go to MIT and be with us, we realise hat you…you don't want to go there. We can clearly see that."

"Tones. Go to SHIELD. Be with your Avengers." Rhodey murmured. As if summoned the five Avengers walked into the coffee shop seconds later. The group smiled and made their way over to Tony and his two friends.

"Hey guys, this is Rhodey and this is Pepper." Tony said greeting the group before allowing them to introduce themselves,

"What you three up to then?" Steve asked as they sat down after introductions,

"Just telling our moron to go to SHIELD with you guys." Rhodey answered before chuckling as Tony punched him at the the insult,

"That's great Tony!" Thor exclaimed in clear happiness.

The group chattered away for about half an hour before Tony excused himself to answer the phone "Before Tony returns, we have something to say." Rhodey started before looking to Pepper and allowing her to go ahead and speak,

"If you hurt him again, nothing will stop us from killing you."

"And we will have no problem with burying your bodies." Rhodey added seconds before Tony came back in,

"What'd I miss?" He asked but no one answered him,

"Sorry, Tones, we're going to have to go now. We'll see you in a couple of weeks?"

"Oh, alright, yeah, cool." Tony said before standing and hugging his best friends,

"Remember you can always call us if need be."

"And we'll see you before you head off to college."

—LINE BREAK—

"We're so happy you've came to SHIELD." Bruce said as Tony curled up into his side in the coffee shop closest to SHIELD that the Avengers (now including Tony),

"Me too. I'm glad you guys are still my friends."

"Tony, I don't think you realise that you're stuck with us now." Clint informed him with a grin,

"He speaks truthfully, my friend!" Exclaimed Thor,

"Tony, everyone loves you in this group. You're one of us." Steve said gently,

"Besides, I told you, you're mine now and I will kill everyone if they think they can steal you from us." Natasha mentioned in her own way of showing that she cares. Tony just smiled at the group. They were family. The family he chose and joined. Things were finally running smoothly and all anyone had to do was look beneath Tony's mask.

Anyway,
Thank you for reading,
Hope you enjoyed this,
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Bye!