Chapter 6
Tony was quite intent on not seeing that James kid again, preferably ever.
Unfortunately, fate had a different plan. MIT wasn't exactly a small campus, so the number of times that James found the teenager had Tony searching his person for bugs. Not once has James been near Tony and not giving him the hebe jeebes by being so kind, and nice, and just so, so.
So nice.
So it wasn't strange to say that Tony was confused, although that seemed to be his default emotion for anything having to do with people. Ever since he left Xavier’s school he’s been quieter, not talking as much as one would expect a child genius to. The years he spent with Xavier and his fellow mutants were some of the best of his life. There was no judgment at the school, no harsh opinions like there were in the outside world.
And yet it was Tony who had wanted to leave so badly. Who had convinced Charles that it would be a fine idea to let a mutant blooming with unreached potential in both telepathy and empathy to waltz right out of the doors of his very secure school and into the arms of another. Another school this time instead of being filled with confused children it was filled with partying young adults.
Whatever, Tony can deal with it. He doesn't need anyone, he’s done just fine so far.
…..
Two weeks into the year and Tony cracks.
He’s lonely. Not lonely enough to go actively searching for James, but close.
Dangerously close.
So Tony does the next best thing to human contact. He builds a robot. A really, really intelligent robot. When the final circuit is plugged and the robot proceeds to run straight into a wall Tony is so excited, the first thing he thinks to do is call Xavier, and he almost does, the phone is in his hands when he remembers that he can do this all on his own and he slowly, slowly, sets the phone down.
When the robot proceeds to run hard enough into Tony’s leg to leave a bruise Tony knows the perfect name for the stupid thing. Dum-E.
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And life is good for a little while, just Tony and Dum-E and school that barely challenges the depths of Tony’s mind. Charles called once, but Tony only talked for a couple minutes before saying he had to study. The stronger telepath could probably sense Tony was lying, but the distance was too great for him to be positive.
So Tony worked (a lot), and he ate (a little), and he tried not think of what his life the previous years had been like (so good).
And everything would have been fine if it weren't for that darn James kid.
Exactly one month after that terrible meeting a knock sounds from the entrance of Tony’s apartment. The small fifteen year old looks up in surprise because no one even knew about his apartment, much less came knocking. For a brief second Tony thought he was imagining things and almost went back to working on Dummy’s brother but the knock comes back this time louder, more insistent.
And then that voice that Tony had almost successfully blocked from his memories calls out.
“Tony? I know you’re here, your landlord said so.” James knocks again. “Please let me in, I didn't mean to freak you out before.” A pause. “I brought food.”
And damn it, why did his body decide now was the proper time to remind him of his inability to consume meals at standard times. The grumbling of his stomach sent him to the door, a taller student looking awfully surprised on the other side.
“Oh!” James stepped back. “I didn't expect you to answer.”
“Why-” Tony’s voice is gruff from disuse and he clears his throat before starting again. “Why are you here?”
The older boy rocks awkwardly on his heels in embarrassment. “I, uh, we-” He starts again. “We- as in you and me- are supposed to, uh, meet? At least once a week.” He frowns. “Sorry.”
Tony stares, not quite comprehending. “No.”
Rhodes looks confused. “No?”
Tony nods. “No.” And with that, he slams the door.