Further decoding of the files, once the code was cracked only a few days later, showed that the pair were telling the truth.

Bruce and Tony had spent twenty years in 'rehabilitation', according to the files, which included some horrifying video clips. They had then spent two hundred and fifty years in created realities that could not be recorded but what happened is in a detailed statement by Bruce and Tony for each one.

Then, they had spent the four months of their capture that had been in their time had been spent in that 'drugs warehouse' being tortured.

What had been done to their bodies using magic was described in the files. They had been altered to put their lives on a constant loop; eighteen to thirty four. Apparently that was their 'true age' or something similar to that.

Bruce and Tony had lied about a lot. But now, the debrief wasn't needed, and all that was left before they could start cleaning up all the messes that had been left behind and get Tony and Bruce back on the team was the press conference.

And Tony and Bruce got to decide everything that they said. Otherwise they'd quit SHIELD.

"Hello." Tony said, smiling hesitantly at the crowd, as they gasped and snapped photos. More were snapped as Bruce followed behind Tony closely.

They blinked fearfully at the cameras but kept going until they reached the podium.

"Well, it's been a while since we were standing here." Tony said.

The crowd laughed. "Though, in all seriousness, it has been a long time. We don't really have much to say, so, questions?"

Almost every reporter in the room put their hands up. "Yes?" Tony said, picking a man sitting at the middle.

"Mr Stark, and Doctor Banner, why have you regressed in age?"

"Well, the key question." Bruce said. "We don't remember the process, but it happened at the start of when we were kidnapped."