Disclaimer: I want to own them but I can't. And it would be creepy.

Note: You guys rock I know some chapters are rather short but don't be discouraged by it. I promise to end this fic in due time.

Tony kicked the creeper away as he walked back (with a very annoyed look on his face) to his work station with an ice pack on his head. He walked by the brown packet and coffee mug Pepper had left him earlier.

''Do we finally get to see what's in there?'' Clint asked.

''Yes. And technically that's invasion of privacy,'' Tony pointed out.

''Yeah? What are you going to do about it?'' he grinned back.

He took the mug to take a drink of his very valuable coffee which he needed to function properly, but he stopped and looked back at the packet.

''I almost thought you do not care about the gift your Lady gave you,'' Thor said worriedly when he saw that Tony nearly went straight pass the gift.

It clearly sparked his interest. Putting down the coffee and ice pack, he looked at it with more attention. There was a paper on top of it which said 'From Pepper'. He took it off and teared the paper off. Inside it was his old arc reactor inside a glass. The words 'Proof that Tony Stark has a heart' were inscribed around his 'heart'. Tony held it in his hands gently and his lips quirked into a slight smile. His eyes betrayed fondness.

''Awww man, you're going soft,'' Clint teasingly laughed.

''That's very thoughtful of Lady Pepper, indeed,'' Thor nodded. ''And she speaks the truth.'' Tony smiled in response. Even if he shows his I-don't-care-about-anything-other-than-me side on the outside, he can't not show fondness when something involves Pepper. He adored her.

''I knew you had something going on between you two,'' Natasha commented.

''Yeah, Natashalie? And how would you know that?'' he asked. He always used his nickname for her when he was annoyed or angry with her. It was his way of showing her that he still did not trust her a 100% because of the stunt she had pulled on him as his personal assistant (who never really worked for him loyally as she was spying on him for her beloved S.H.I.E.L.D.)

''You two were not exactly subtle,'' she stated. ''You always complain about everything but you just do it for show because at the end you know that you will do whatever she asks you to.'' Tony's eyebrows raised comically.

''I do not do whatever she asks me to,'' he objected. ''I only do … whatever I want to … within reason.''

Bruce snorted. ''So, last month, you went to a three hour long Mozart piano concert because you like his music,'' he teased.

''Of course. I like his … stuff,'' he said unconvincingly.

''It was in Vienna,'' he deadpanned.

The room erupted in giggles to which Tony quickly objected. ''Hey! Maybe I just wanted to go to Vienna!''

The giggles continued. ''You are so whipped and you don't even see it. You are blind.''

The scene changed once again. Ironman's mask outline was seen on Tony's computer as Tony babbled directions to JARVIS. ''Notes. Main transducer feels sluggish at +40 altitude. Hull pressurisation is problematic. I'm thinking icing is the probable factor.'' He was sat in front of his computer with more icing on his aching limbs.

Bruce face palmed.

''For such a genius you sure have your dumb moments,'' Clint observed. The rest agreed much to Tony's annoyance.

JARVIS sassily commented on his observations. ''A very astute observation, sir. Perhaps, if you intend to visit other planets, we should improve the exosystems.''

''Even JARVIS agrees.''

Tony looked at more Ironman's parts as they projected on his computer screens. He was moving slowly and was obviously in pain. Not that he would ever say so.

''Connect the sys. co. have it reconfigure the shell metals. Use the gold titanium alloy from the seraphim tactical satellite. That should ensure a fuselage integrity while maintaining power-to-weight ratio. Got it?'' he asked and took a sip of his not-so-deliciously-looking smoothie.

''How do you drink that?'' Steve asked.

''Indeed. The colour is most unhuman,'' Thor nodded.

Tony raised a brow. ''Says a very human member of our boy band.''

''Yes,'' JARVIS answered. ''Shall I render using proposed specifications?''

''Thrill me,'' Tony agreed and observed the screen as JARVIS went to work. While his A.I. was doing that, Tony was interrupted by the television he had on the wall a few feet away from his desk.

A woman's voice was heard reporting from the red carpet. ''Tonight's red-hot red carpet is right here at the Disney Concert Hall…'' Tony gave his full attention to the screen. ''… where Tony Stark's third annual benefit for the Firefighter's Family Fund has become the place to be for L.A.'s high society.''

''JARVIS, we got an invite for that?'' he asked seriously.

''I have no record of an invitation, sir.''

''You are not invited to your own party?'' Clint asked.

''Yeah, well. Stuff happened.''

''Like what?''

''Reasons,'' he said in a tone that suggested he is displeased with the topic and he will not continue talking about it.

Tony took the Ironman's mask and inspected it as the woman's voice continued telling all about the event. ''… hasn't been seen in public since his bizarre and highly controversial press conference.'' Just at that moment Tony put his mask in front of his face and continued to watch the reportage through it. Unfortunately, he looked up just as his picture from the said conference was shown. The one with wild eyes and messy hair and with one arm in a sling.

''That look sure ain't hot,'' Clint pointed out in hope of making the atmosphere in the room lighter.

''I'd like to see you look 'hot' after being kidnapped for three months,'' Tony muttered.

''Some claim he's suffering from posttraumatic stress and has been bedridden for weeks,'' Zorianna Kit reported. Tony looked sadly at the screen.

''Were you?'' Steve asked.

''Were I what?'' he glared back.

''Suffering from that.'' Straight to the question.

''No. I was most certainly not,'' he objected arrogantly.

Natasha coughed and Bruce looked disapprovingly. ''I was not! And I am not! Stop looking at me like that!''

''Chill, Tony,'' Clint tried to calm him. ''We are not accusing you of anything.''

''Aren't you? It sure does sound like it.''

''No, we're – I'm not. Sorry,'' Steve said in a hurry.

''Whatever.''

''Whatever the case may be, no one expects an appearance from him tonight.'' He looked away with a resigned look.

''And you probably made an appearance,'' Bruce chuckled.

''Of course I did. Do you know who you're talking to?''

Meanwhile JARVIS was done with what he has been doing. ''The render is complete,'' he said regarding the Mark 3's colour. Which was completely gold.

Clint laughed as did Thor. ''Thank God it's not all gold. I still prefer this one.''

''By Odin's beard,'' Thor agreed. ''This is most unpleasant.''

''A little ostentatious, don't you think?'' Tony rejected.

''What was I thinking? You're usually so discreet,'' JARVIS answered.

''You know JARVIS,'' Tony addressed his A.I. ''We're going to work on your manners.''

''Indeed, Sir. I am looking forward to our lessons,'' JARVIS agreed to which the whole team laughed as Tony gaped at the ceiling (as if he could see him there) in astonishment.

Tony turned around to get himself some more smoothie behind which was a parked Hot Rod he has been working on in the first video footage. It gave him an idea. ''Tell you what. Throw a little hot-rod ret in there.''

''So that's where the colours come from,'' Steve commented.

''Yes. That's should help you keep a low profile.'' JARVIS changed the render and showed it. ''The render is complete.'' It was the gold and red Ironman suit that was so characteristic of Tony Stark, genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist.

''You know I never try to keep a low profile,'' Tony answered his electronic friend.

''I like it. Fabricate it. Paint it.''

''Commencing automated assembly. Estimated completion time is five hours.''

Tony looked at his watch. ''Don't wait up for me, honey.'' He has decided to go to that party after all. And to go all out he has decided to use his STARK 4 white Audi.

''Man, I love your cars,'' Clint moaned. ''You have to let me drive them sometimes.''

''We'll see about that,'' Tony answered.

''Men,'' Natasha muttered.