Tony walked into his lab as all of the lights turned on and the computers booted up.

"Couldn't sleep Sir?" questioned the AI as Tony sat down on a chair and span towards one of the screens.

"No." was Tony's short answer as he started to get to work on a new project.

In truth Tony wanted something to distract him, he was used to nightmares about Afghanistan but not about this. Not about his childhood hero hating him.

"Big man in a suit of armour. Take that away what are you?"

Tony shook his head to try and clear it and carried on working. However it wasn't too long until the memories started to come back, the nightmare was still fresh in his mind.

'I need a drink.' Tony got up and walked over to a cabinet, pulled out a glass and a bottle of scotch and poured himself a drink. After placing the bottle back in the cabinet Tony took his drink back to his desk and carried on working.

However it wasn't too long before his mind strayed back to what the Captain had said to him.

"I know guys with none of that worth ten of you."

Tony tightened his hand around his glass and kept his focus on the screen. His eyes, however, were not registering what was on the screen. No, all he could see was Captain America as he tore apart his entire life and personality before his eyes.

"The only thing you really fight for is yourself."

Tony threw his glass at the wall, he didn't even hear the smash. Sure he'd proved him wrong by almost dying when he diverted the nuclear missile but that didn't matter. No, what mattered is that he said it, Captain America said it and meant it.

"Sir, are you alright?" JARVIS questioned quietly.

"Fine JARVIS."

"Sir, it's just that... you don't usually waste alcohol like that."

Tony looked down at his hands as if only just registering what he had done. He looked over to where the glass lay in pieces, the scotch bleeding out across the floor. He stood from his seat and walked over to the mess, bent down and started to pick up the glass off the floor.

"Always a way out..."

Tony swore as he cut his hand on one of the pieces of glass.

"Damn it! JARVIS!"

"Yes Sir?"

"Do we have a first aid kit down here?"

"Yes Sir, in the cupboard next to the suits."

Tony walked over to the cupboard and brought out the first aid kit, layed it on the desk nearby and pulled some antibacterial ointment and some bandages out of it and sat on a chair. Tony swore again as he put the antibacterial ointment on the wound and then quickly wrapped the bandage around it.

After putting the first aid kit back in the cupboard Tony walked back to his chair and turned back to his computer. He started to make a few changes to the thing he was working on but once again his mind drifted into the area he was trying to forget.

"You may not be a threat, but you better stop pretending to be a hero."

"Power down JARVIS, I'm not going to get any work done."

"Of course Sir."

Tony walked out of the room as the lights turned off behind him. He walked into the living room and slumped down onto the sofa.

'Why?' Tony thought, 'Why did he have to say those things? I know that I don't get along with anyone really but why did he have to be the one to point it out?'

"Why him?"

"Why who Sir?" JARVIS asked.

Tony jumped slightly at the sudden voice.

'Did I say that out loud?' Tony thought.

"Nothing JARVIS."

"Doesn't sound like nothing Sir."

"It's nothing JARVIS. Why don't you power down for the night."

"Good night Sir."

"Good night JARVIS."

Tony stood up and poured himself another drink and took a long sip.

'Why did Dad have to talk about him so much? Why did I look up to him so much? Why did he have to say those things?'

Tony took another sip of his drink and put the glass on the table and stared down at the table top.

"Big man in a suit of armour. Take that away what are you?"

'Someone who has been hurt way too many times.'