Inspired by this prompt from tumblr user tonystarkismyprompt : 'He used to be able to come here in peace. He used to be able to order his usual, sit down in the corner, and work without interruption. People here either don't know him or didn't care. And it was something nice and peaceful and good for once in his life.

Then they showed up and just had to ruin everything.

(AKA the coffee shop/high school AU where Tony, often bullied and just done with everything, goes to a coffee shop after school to relax…until the Avengers show up and either bully or befriend him. Maybe both.)'

Warnings: Bullying, some Violence but not too bad, Anxiety/Panic Attack triggered by Claustrophobia (chapter 3), Everyone's OOC, No Powers, Mild Language, Homophobic Language.

Cross posted to AO3 where there is also a collage.

Books were quietly being placed into bags seconds before the school bell would ring, dismissing the students for the day. He watched the clock on the wall, focusing on it as if to make time go faster. RING. Without waiting for the teacher's official dismissal, Tony grasped at his satchel and all but ran out of Hell high school. Leaving the gates, his mind began to guide him to his safe place. Whilst directions were coming forward in his head, other lines of thoughts were zipping about his mind. Odd? Perhaps, but that's just the way Tony Stark, heir to Stark Industries and prodigy of Howard and Maria Stark, worked. His mind was a complex but intriguing thing. He could form blueprints, plans and all sorts within his eidetic mind.

Turn left. Straight forward. Then take a right. Walk forward for a three and a half minutes. Take another left. Then a second right. Open the door. Walk inside to the counter. Order drink. Pay and murmur thank you. Find the isolated corner that I've totally not claimed as mine. Sit down. Laptop out. Work.

Getting comfortable in the corner of the coffee shop, Tony pulled out his laptop and settled back into the large armchair in his isolated and dark corner. He opened up his most recent project and began to work on it. The tension in his body all but vanished as he smiled in success whilst waiting for the loading process of his project to finish. He'd made it another day without being shoved into a locker and beaten up. That was two days in a row!

What's this? Anthony Edward Stark is a victim of bullying? Yes. Yes, he is. See Tony is -for lack of better words- a genius. He skipped a grade and despite only being fifteen (soon to be sixteen), he was finishing his final year of school. That meant he was stuck in classrooms with seventeen to eighteen-year-olds who weren't as intelligent as he was -no that wasn't supposed to sound cruel, it's just the truth- eight hours a day, five times a week. Let's just say that a lot of people were bitter about that. No one likes a know-it-all, after all. Tony didn't have any friends either, so he was all alone during school hours and quite frankly he was just alone all the time. He had two friends and both of them were older than him and going to college -they visited and spoke as often as they could at least. Then there was another person that Tony wanted to be friends with but the man never really made the effort. His name was Bruce Banner. He was eighteen, but he was the only person Tony could really talk to about science. He was the only one that seemed to understand and care, (sure Rhodey and Pepper -his college friends- they cared but they never really got what he was talking about). Bruce and Tony would always hang out together in the lab at school doing science experiments of sorts. Bruce, unlike Tony, focused primarily on gamma radiation and the like, whereas Tony really just focused on engineering and making things -that's not to say they both are clueless in other areas.

—LINE BREAK—

Snuggling deeper into the armchair, he tucked his legs underneath him and zoned out as he worked on his project. He didn't hear the door opening. Nor did he acknowledge the voices as a group of five took over the area beside him. It was the section that everyone favoured in a coffee shop. It was the seats in front of the unlit fireplace, there were three couches (two were two-seaters and the other was a three-seater) and in the centre of them was a low but long rectangular coffee table. It was a nice area, but Tony favoured his corner and armchair. Only when he reached for his coffee, did he notice the noise from beside him. His eyes widened slightly and he slumped down in his seat, curling in on himself as he tried to stay invisible. Why? Because the group beside him were the Avengers.

—LINE BREAK—

The Avengers. Who were they exactly? From what Tony knew (due to listening to conversations, observing and totally not researching them), they were a group of five individuals, all in their senior year.

Their so-called leader was Steve Rogers. He had met Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff in their first high school year. The devious duo (Natasha and Clint were always together and were rather terrifying) had become friends with lonely little Steve and stayed with him. Then Bruce Banner joined about six months later -the only girl in the group had all but forced the shy teen to hang out with them. Finally Thor. He was the final member, he had learned of the group's name and been intrigued. He joined and instead of going back to his original school, he remained with them.

Their name? The 'Avengers' is a peculiar one at that, but it fit the group perfectly. Steve had a thing about bullies -sure no one likes them, but Steve would always, always have a go at bullies if he saw them. This often resulted in him being badly injured... at least that was until Natasha and Clint appeared, though that didn't make things easier as the trio stopped bullies. Sure many speculated that Clint and Natasha were assassins in a previous life or something, but despite their incredible fighting ability, Steve was too...small, sickly and frail. Or at least he was until Junior year when he...well changed doesn't cut it straight. He had a huge growth spurt, his illnesses all but faded and he spent hours changing from a skinny short twig into a gigantic muscular handsome man. His ideals and personality didn't change though. He still stood up for the little guy and was able to stop bullying much easier. So their name? They were the Avengers because they would avenge victims of bullying. They always stood up and protected anyone who was having a hard time. Every single victim in the school…except for Tony Stark. The genius didn't really know why, but quite frankly he wasn't surprised. A little upset, yes. But, not surprised.

—LINE BREAK—

Getting back on track. Tony remained hidden and after failing to continue his focus on his work, he decided to pretend and eavesdrop on the group by him.

"This is a lovely little coffee shop." Murmured the redheaded girl, "How'd you come across this place, Bruce?"

"Tony told me about it after I asked where he got his coffee from -I had accidentally taken a sip of his and it was really nice."

"Tony? Who is this Tony you speak of? Is he your friend, Bruce? Should we invite him?" Thor asked,

"Let me guess, Stark?" Steve grunted

"Yes…"

"Ugh!" Moaned Clint,

"I do not understand, who is this son of Stark?"

"An obnoxious twat," Clint grumbled,

"Captain, are you going to allow him to speak in such a vulgar way?"

"Well, he is right. Thor, the guy's a dickhead." Eyebrows were raised towards the large blond,

"…alright, but who is he?"

"He's the younger boy with the dark hair and glasses. You've seen him before when you've come down to the lab with me."

"Ah! The exhausted boy with the robotic contraption?"

"That's him."

"He seemed an interesting character. Very hard working and talkative too."

"He's a nuisance. Dunno why he hasn't asked daddy dearest to have him homeschooled." Clint muttered bitterly,

"You have a lot of hatred for someone you do not know." Thor murmured though out of the corner of his eye he was watching Bruce clench his fists angrily and he wanted to know why.

"Don't need to know him. He's always acting better than others and being cocky. Thinks everyone should bow to him because he's a genius and the heir to a multi-million dollar company. I bet the moment he takes over, the company crashes to the ground!" Clint tutted oblivious to Bruce's discomfort (and Thor's growing frown).

"I have to disagree with you, Clint." Surprisingly it was Natasha who said this, "I reckon he'll improve Stark Industries. Probably change it from a multi-million to a multi-billion dollar company. Even you can't ignore how incredibly intelligent he is."

"I can and I do," Clint muttered with narrowed eyes and that was that. The conversation was done…expressions Steve and Clint were giving them that clearly stated they didn't want to speak about it anymore.

—LINE BREAK—

Tony had, of course, heard everything…and he was hurt. Although the large long-haired blond seemed nice, maybe he'd even try to get to know Tony…but truthfully that was just a foolish wish of Tony's. Moving quietly and quickly yet somehow discreetly, Tony packed his things away and threw his hood up before leaving the coffee shop. Once outside he exhaled heavily, not realising he had been holding his breath in. Sighing, he made his way to the house he lived in…it was most definitely not a home.

And unfortunately, for him, the Avengers kept going back to the coffee shop. Despite this, Tony still went. It was, after all, his 'place' first. Still, no one really noticed him there, which was good…and if they did then they didn't acknowledge him. Either way win-win for Tony Stark.

But…he would be lying if he said nothing changed since he overheard their conversation about him. Even though it had only been a few days.

Anyway,
Thank you for reading,
Hope you enjoyed this,
Please leave a kudos and a comment
Bye!