He was working on a bio-scanner for abdominal cancers when Rogers barged in, looking oddly excited. It was never a good thing for Tony when the blond had that look, as it mostly costed him precious time he’s learned to love.
“St Margeries Hospital has invited the Avengers to visit the pediatrics ward and I’ve accepted for the group.” Tony let out a groan.
“Cap, think about what you said. One person cannot make a group decision. I’m busy with this project and it needs to be done by next week.” When I promised Peter I’d go to Coney Island with him, he added silently.
“Come on, Tony, it’s a good cause!”
“I’m sorry, but I’m just working on something really important right now and–”
“Too important to take three hours off to visit some sick kids in the hospital? How can you possibly be so self-centered and just… whatever I don’t have time for this. If you finish your ‘important’ work, come join us and do something worthwhile with your life for once.” Tony watched as Rogers left, his stride damn near purposeful.
“J, how quickly can this be finished without cutting corners?” He asked after a brief pause.
“By my calculations, Sir, five hours and twenty seven minutes,” the AI answered in his normal, dry tone.
“Wonderful. Let’s get to crackin’ then.”
Judy, kind, wonderful, sweet Judy was the one at the reception desk and she smiled at him with this knowing look. “Oh, Mr. Stark! We weren’t expecting you until next week! And the other Avengers said you were busy today.” Her smile turned to a smirk as she continued. “Are you here for Mister Parker, by chance?”
“Yeah well I finished our special little project a week earlier than I planned and figured now would be a good time to drop it off. How’s everyone today, by the way?“
“Our two newest will be excited to see you. Mali came in for a cough that turned out to be cancerous tissues compressing the lungs and Becca broke her leg at the Zoo and is in for just another day before she leaves.” The woman answered, thanking and signing the paperwork he handed over to him. “Jeffery and Franklin got into a fight about who is the better avenger that turned into why you’re the best.”
Tiny let out a stunned laugh. “Me? Not Cap or Jolly Green?”
“You’re their ‘Uncle Tony’, Mister Stark.” She chided him gently as they begun to walk the halls, the technicians moving the scanner into one of the labs. “I must admit, only three of the Avengers really know how to act around these kids.”
“Hawkeye has kids of his own and Banner, er, Hulk worked as a Doctor Without Borders for a while. Thor is the Crowned Prince of Asgard and has already told me, like, millions of times that he wants a big family.” Tony nodded quietly. “Who is all in today?”
“Amelia, Jacob, Riley, Franklin, Hanna and Fiona as well as our two newcomers,” she rattled off. “Oh, and Peter, of course. The new chemotherapy seems to be working so far.” He felt himself twitch at the teen’s name as they came across the first room, which he knew to be of Amelia Roberts, a 3rd degree, always happy 8 year old who was caught in an unfortunate explosion that made her deaf and blind in one eye. From the window, he could see Clint and 'Lia signing to each other, and her eyes grew wide at the sight of him behind the blinds. With a quick “see you soon” that had her signing it back, they continued to where Bruce was sitting with Hanna and Fiona, twins in the system who were passed on from abusive homes. They were usually shy around newcomers, but as he watched, he saw them clinging to both of Brucie-Bear’s arms as he told a story that had their eyes sparkling with joy and amazement.
With a small smile, the moved towards the rec area, where he could see the others and the rest of the big A in a stand off. He wasn’t sure what was happening, only that Riley’s bear mauled face lit up with joy as she saw them and rushed forward.
“Uncle Tony, you’re here!” She cried, and he was able to barely open his arms in time as she barreled into him, ever mindful of the arc reactor in his chest.
“What are you doing here?” Rogers sneered, and Franklin puffed up, anger written all over his shaking features. “Thought you didn’t care for sick kids.” He felt something cold settle in his heart and bit back a snarky ass remark.
“Captain, I’d like to remind you that you are standing in the Stark Pediatric Ward.” Judy said, her words calm, but he knew her well enough to hear her righteous anger.
“Howard built this,” He said, sounding so sure of himself.
“Howard Stark put more kids in hospitals than got them out.” The Head Nurse snapped. “This ward was build in 2008 and is funded by Stark Industries itself. Tony pays for any and all treatments a patient here needs, no matter the cost. In fact, just today he brought in a bio-scanner that can search and detect any cancerous groups before they can start to properly form. The project itself wasn’t due until next week.”
“That’s what you were working on,” Natasha murmured. Thor gave her and Rogers a displeased look from where he was standing beside Jacob.
“He signs your paycheck, so of course you’re going to say that,” Rogers was a stubborn ass and didn’t know where to quit, didn’t he? “Kid, what’s your name?” He turned to a teen in the corner and Tony jolted at the familiar red and blue spider like jacket the man was trying to address.
“Pete, he’s talking to you,” Riley said, before gently going over and peering at his face, sighing. “He’s asleep. I think he worked himself up over this visit.”
It felt like a punch in the gut and he moved, going to the teens other side and gently shaking his arm. “Hey Petie-Pie, you going to sleep through our entire visit?”
“Mister Stark?” The teen murmured, eyelids lifting to reveal semiglazed eyes. “Did I fall asleep?”
“Its ok, we just got here,” he informed him quietly, knowing he’d kick himself for sleeping through most of the visit. “You wanna do movie night tonight or go out for some supper with your Aunt May?”
“Supper,” he murmured, sitting up and stretching carefully. He heard running in the halls and turned just to have a certain, small, pure bean slam into his legs.
“Unca Tony!” She cried, and he gently patted her back, grinning as the twins abandoned a flabbergasted Bruce to hug him as well.
“Hey kiddos. How’s everyone doing? Getting your gold stars I trust?” His teasing tone sent a wave through the Avengers. They had, at least partly, believed that he wouldn’t show up and it would break hearts. Now, it seemed, that they were wrong, and all but one couldn’t be happier that this was the case.
Tony, in turn, grinned at the teens as they all sat down in a semi-circle, all trying to tell him about their week at once.
He was so glad to have funded this ward.