Tony wasn't even trying to sound imprudent when he said that the boy looked like a underfed zombie.

The disheveled choppy hair, hollow cheeks smeared with left over flakes of soot which Tony could only suppose was from the same fire in which his sister had died in. Unless it was a fashion statement of some sort, but what kind of purpose would it have?

Save the blush! Instead use dust!

Tony didn't have a clue.

He wished he could have walked into the station with his ironman suit on, but unfortunately he was bitterly disappointed as the metal detector went viral. Oh well...instead as entered the station he removed his iron suit converting it into a professional looking briefcase. He had found the diagram in a machine shop when his car had broken down and he couldn't find a part. Their was only two people their and they were teenagers, probably the owners kids. Tony didn't think they'd mind so he took the diagram. But strangely instead of a suit the diagram was changing a metal dragon into a suitcase. Strange but useful for his suit.

The boy was sitting in one of the worn chairs in the waiting office his eyes closed, like he was sleeping. But Tony noticed that his eye twitched every so often, leading him to a different conclusion. In his arms he held a small bundle, and for some reason though it was 80° degrees out (That's Fahrenheit, in Celsius it would around 28) the boy was decked in long sleeve blue hoodie and a pair of ripped dark jeans.

He could see the resemblance between himself and the boy. Even if Tony was obviously better looking. Their faces were shaped similar and they both had the same dark hair. But judging from his slumped shoulder and dark bags under his eyes, the boy had a tough week.

As Tony neared the boy he found himself being stopped by the highly manicured hand of the receptionist that until two seconds ago was sitting at the desk. She frowned at him and gestured to his nephew and his bundle.

"I'm sorry sir, I had direct orders not to let anyone near them." Tony frowned, as the word them* was used again. As far as he could tell it was just one boy and a bundle-wait one second! Hesitantly he looked more carefully at the bundle tucked under the boys arm. And he noticed that indeed it was another person, a child asleep wrapped in a typical newborn blanket. Tony sighed, why didn't Fury tell him that he had a niece too?

"You see," the receptionist continued her expression turning soft. "His mother died this morning in a fire, poor boy. We're waiting for his Uncle to come in so we can sort out living arrangements. I'm very sorry sir, but whatever you need of him has to wait." Tony glanced at boy, who he knew was listening the conversation as he pretended to sleep, the child held closely to his heart.

"But I'm Tony Stark!" Tony smirked, trying to find a way to make the woman budge. Usually that would do, but apparently not with this receptionist. She narrowed her dark blue eyes, her soft demeanor gone like a wisp of wind. She pointed to a chair way on the other side of the room, a typical go away gesture. He sighed, the easy way it was than.

"Fine!!!! Your no fun, I'm his uncle, okay?"

The woman scrutinized him for a few seconds, the boy shifting noticeably in the corner. Finally the woman turned to the silver outdated desk top on the counter. Her hands flying over the keys her eyes still narrowed, it was quiet for a few moments before the woman sighed, gesturing for him to come before the desk.

"License." She stated not looking at him, her eyes still focused on the screen. Tony smirked, slipping his license out of his pocket and placing it on the table before her. She took it between her forefinger and thumb. "It seems that you aren't lying...You'll have to go to see a judge to get custody of the boy. You can take the boy and the little girl home in the mean time." She held out the license for him to take, but Tony shook his head disgusted.

"Sorry, I don't like being handed things." The woman glared at him and placed or rather snapped the License onto the counter before him.

Tony carefully placed the plastic card back in his pocket and made his way to the boy and girl under the watchful eye of the receptionist.

As he neared the 'sleeping' boy, he knelt down before him placing a hand on the blue blue fabric of his hoodie covering his shoulder.

"I know your not asleep kid. You can stop pretending." Tony said quietly, as to not wake the sleeping newborn girl. The boy frowned his eyes still shut, gripping the child tighter to him. Tony waited silently as the boy slowly sat up and blinked his eyes open.

And Tony sat back in surprise.

The large eyes of the boys weren't like any he saw before. It's churning dark waves of sadness colored just like the tossing sea. Tumbles of graying sea foam licking at the irises'. They held a shattered look of cracking ice, but they were filled with streaks of defiance. As if he didn't want people underestimating him, just because he seemed like a piece of fragile china about to topple and break.

Suddenly Tony realized he's been staring and glanced away awkwardly. He waited for the boy to speak, but nothing came from the boys parched lips. Finally Tony broke the silence.

"I'm your, um....uncle. But please just call me Tony. Or Ironman." He waited again for some reaction to come from the boy.

Nothing.

Tony sighed. "I know your depressed kid. These things happen, trust me I know. It's gonna be alright though...okay? Your going to come live in the Star- I mean Avenger tower! Isn't that cool?" He tried, but the boy just stared blankly at the spot above his shoulder.

Tony frowned, "Are you alright kid, whats your guys names?" He said suddenly as if just remembering he didn't know what to call his nephew or Niece. The boy looked at him blankly, slowly releasing one of his hands from their death grip on the little girl, and slipping it into his pocket. Tony's eyes stared in confusion as he pulled an old receipt with two names written on its back. Tony took it hesitantly, was the boy mute? He read it quickly.

"So Percy Jackson huh? I think I heard that name before, on the news...Were you on the news?" He asked, as the boys eyes widened and he shook his head swiftly. Tony narrowed his eyes, that boy was lying.

"Fine. Don't tell me. See if I care, but we better go back to the Sta-Avenger tower. You can get settled in, and you can meet the rest of the team...,"Tony's eyes widened. He never told the rest of the team...Whatever they'll know when they get back...

Tony held out a hand which Percy ignored to get up and stood relatively shakily. He kept his arms around Kaliope as he followed Tony to the door. Though Tony noticed he winced with each step he took, he'd have to look into that later. And they walked quickly into the parking lot.

And that's when Tony remembered.

He didn't bring a car.

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