pov Tony
I was leaning over my desk, half asleep. The last lesson on this school day, was even more boring than math, namely physics. Everything we learned here, that others despaired of and pulled their hair out about, I had taught myself in elementary school. The bell jolted me out of my stupor. I winced a little and ran my fingers through my hair. Since I didn't have anything to pack up, I just took my leather jacket from the chair and pulled it over me. I had taken it off a while ago, since it was pretty hot in the classroom and no one had even thought of opening a window. I slipped between all the students in the hallway, careful not to run into anyone. When I came out of the building, I went on to the usual place where we usually met after a school day. From a distance I saw that Bucky, Sam, Clint and Pietro were already there. Nat and Wanda were a few hundred meters ahead of me and were walking towards the shady tree, arguing fiercely with each other. I didn't look for Stephen at all, because on Wednesday he would always have sports, which he couldn't do anymore because of his hands, so he must have been home long ago. I buried my hands a bit in the pockets of my jacket when I got to the tree.
"That's just not fair!" Wanda just complained loudly to Nat, throwing her hands in the air.
The redhead just grinned "That's Reasonable."
"What's not fair?" I made my point and grinned slightly, which immediately disappeared when I saw Bucky's gaze that was on my face.
In two big steps he was with me, some of his hair had come loose from the scrunchie holding his hair together on his head and was falling in his face "Who was that?" he took my chin and turned my head a little to get a better look at the injured side of my face "I'll break that one up!"
I swallowed a bit, I had never seen him this angry before, to be honest he even scared me a bit, even if it wasn't me his anger was directed at "Ahm, I hardly think you want to tear my steps apart." I tried to grin a bit, which I pretty much failed at.
Bucky let go of my chin again "Explain?" he crossed his arms in front of his chest.
I looked down at the ground a bit "I missed a step and fell down the stairs." I looked back up, the brown haired man had raised a brow.
"Well then" Sam gave his friend a quick pat on the left hand "I hardly think you want to buy him a new set of stairs." then he looked at Wanda "what's so unfair now? "
I was relieved that Sam changed the subject. Even if everyone could see he didn't believe me any more than Bucky did.
Wanda was still furiously running her fingers through her long brown hair "I'm not allowed to do any more cheerleading until I get rid of these" she waved a splint on her arm "get rid of them." she sighed "I fell stupidly on the floor yesterday."
Clint pushed himself off the tree he had been leaning against "for once I agree with Nat, that's smart, not unfair."
Indignant, Nat propped her hands on her hips "What do you mean for once!?" she punched Clint on the upper arm.
"Ouch." the brunette muttered with a grin, rubbing his arm in played pain "But for once" he looked back at me, his expression also darkening briefly as he looked at my face "we're continuing construction on a vacation cabin in the woods this afternoon, are you coming?"
For a brief moment I considered, if I were there I wouldn't have to be home all afternoon waiting for Howard to snap again "Sure" I bit my lower lip a little "is Stephen coming too?"
Clint smirked a little "you can't last long without him can you?"
I felt myself blush and looked down at the tips of my feet.
"Clint don't be so childish" again he got a punch in the shoulder from Nat "To answer your question Tony, yes he is coming too." she grinned a little.
Still a little red in the face I looked back up "I just have to grab my stuff from home in a bit." I looked around saying goodbye "See you later." I raised my hand briefly and then I walked across the meadow towards the parking lot. It wasn't swarming with students and moving cars like it had been right after school ended. I fished my car key out of my jacket pocket and unlocked my car. Just as I was about to get in, I saw something in the reflection of the window that sent a cold shiver down my spine. Walker and his gang were walking leisurely towards me, John had a cigarette stuck in his teeth. It was too late to quickly get into the car, so I turned around and looked at them with played annoyance "What do you want from me Walker?" I had to force myself not to let my voice tremble.
He just grinned "I've known you were a loser since day one" I winced a little as he blew the smoke from the cigarette in my face "but you never looked like a fag." he grinned at me predator-like.
I clenched my hands into fists to keep them from shaking "and what exactly is that to you?"
Before I could even blink, he shoved me and I stumbled back against my car. I stifled a groan as a throbbing pain started up my back and jerked my eyes open as Walker came at me.
"I told you I wouldn't let you get away a second time." with those words he grabbed me by the shoulder and rammed his fist into my stomach.
I gasped for air and collapsed. Gasping, I hit the ground and rolled to the side. The blond's foot hit the spot on the concrete where I had been lying a second ago. I scrambled to my feet as fast as I could and backed away from the football player. I didn't get far. After only two steps I bumped into a body and felt two pairs of hands close around my arms like vices.
Although I knew it was hopeless, I tried to free myself from the grip of the two thugs as Walker came at me again "You've got more guts than I thought!" his fist whizzed forward and landed crashing on the injured side of my face.
The pain brought tears to my eyes as the two holding me flung me to the ground. With my hands I supported myself from the ground and came to my knees, the blood which had collected in my mouth I spat on the gray asphalt. But before I could get back on my feet, Walker kicked me in the ribs. I flew a meter further and lay moaning with my face on the asphalt. Unable to get back up, I just curled up and just hoped I wouldn't end up in the hospital when Walker walked back up to me.
pov. Bucky
Still angry, I looked after Tony as he disappeared behind one of the cars. I didn't believe him for a second that he had just fallen down the stairs. I knew what it looked like to be treated badly at home. A cold shiver ran down my spine when I thought of my father. A few years ago Mum had kicked him out and he never came back, but the fear of him was still firmly rooted in my bones.
I felt Sam press a kiss to my temple "Are you okay?"
I sighed and leaned against him a little "Tony didn't fall down any stairs Sam" I looked at our friends "we all know that."
Pietro crossed his arms in front of his chest "none of us are stupid" his actzend was stronger than usual "but until he tells us, we can't help him."
I ran my eyes in exasperation "And what are we supposed to do, wait until he ends up in the hospital someday!?" without realizing it I had gotten a little louder.
"Hey," I took a deep breath to calm myself as I felt Sam's hand on my arm "we won't let it get that far, I bet he already has with Stephen......" he didn't get any further as Rayley a football player we got along with came running towards us in a hurry.
When he reached us, out of breath, he put his hands on his knees "Thank God I found you!" he gasped.
Immediately I tensed, this couldn't be good "What's wrong?"
Rayley straightened up again "Walker, beat the crap out of Stark!"
Immediately I ran. I glanced behind me and saw Sam, Pietro, and Clint running across the meadow almost directly behind me. I didn't even have to know exactly where Tony was, I just had to follow the noise. A large crowd had formed in the parking lot. I elbowed my way through them " Dammit let me through!" I yelled at them.

When I got to the front, what I saw made me even angrier than I already was. Tony was kneeling on all fours on the asphalt, spitting out blood. I saw Walker walking back toward him and took off running. But I was too slow. The football team's captain kicked the brown-haired man in the ribs. Groaning, he remained on the ground and curled into a ball, protecting his head with his hands. I ran even faster toward Walker, who was again running toward Tony. Roaring with rage, I rammed him from the side, knocking him to the ground with me. I quickly got back up and punched him in the face "What the hell is wrong with you Walker!" I yelled at him as he got back up and rubbed his jaw.
He just grinned and looked behind me, I just took a step to the side and the attacker ran past me. With a weak shove I knocked him to the ground. Pietro and Clint just took care of the other two, while Sam bent down to Tony in a caring way. But I turned my attention back to Walker "I don't have an answer yet!"
Walker also had the nerve to grin "I just wanted to give the dwarf a welcome!"
I angrily glared at him. I clenched my hands into fists in anger "Well then let me give it back to you!" I took a step towards him. Brave as Walker was, he shoved his buddy towards me, who lunged at me. I took a chop in the face from him, which staggered me but didn't knock me out. I dodged his next attacks until he let his guard down and I landed a hit to his face. His nose cracked a bit when my fist hit it. Blood gushed from it, howling as the thug slapped his hands in front of his bleeding prongs. I hollowed out with my foot and kicked his feet away. Still clutching his nose, he landed on the ground.
Without even batting an eye, I climbed over him and walked toward Walker, who had his hands clenched into fists. I didn't even really notice all the onlooking students around me who were either cheering or cheering for Walker and his people. I dodged a punch from Walker and rammed my fist into his stomach. Gasping for breath, Walker went to his knees.
I grabbed his head "Tony can do without your welcome." with these words I punched him in the face and he toppled over backwards.
Without so much as a glance at him, I turned and ran toward Sam, who was handing Tony a handkerchief with which to wipe the blood from his mouth. The crowd dispersed again. I ran my hand under my nose once and just wiped the blood into my shirt. Pietro and Clint had already taken out their opponents, Pietro didn't have the slightest scratch, Clint's lip was busted open a bit. But it was Tony I was worried about first and foremost. His lip was split open and there was a scratch on his forehead where he had hit the asphalt. He stood hunched over a bit, holding his ribs, breathing heavily "You should see the nurse." I wiped my nose again as some more blood trickled out.
Quickly Tony shook his head "No, I'm fine." as if to prove it, he straightened up a bit and tried to grin, failing miserably.
Sam shook his head behind him "Forget it, I already tried."
Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair "Okay, but at least let Stephen look over it for a minute." Stephen wasn't a doctor, but he was the closest thing to one, out of all of us. "see you later then?" although I wasn't sure it was a good idea for Tony to do any kind of physical with all his injuries, it was good for him to get away from home for once.
The brown haired man nodded "Sure, why not?" he fumbled in his jacket pocket for something and after a moment pulled out his car keys.
Clint just looked at him uncomprehendingly, before he could say anything I sparkled at him and he folded his mouth shut again. It was sad, but I guess Tony had learned to live his life even with injuries.
I gave him an encouraging grin "Alright, I'll see you later then."
He just nodded and pulled the car door closed behind him. It wasn't until he drove away that my put on grin fell apart and was replaced by worry lines. I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Stephen's number.
"What are you doing? " Sam looked over his shoulder at me, resting his head in the crook of my neck.
I held the higher to my ear "Making sure Tony gets his checkup." knowing Tony by now, I'm sure he would duck it and not tell Stephen about what happened.
It wasn't long before Stephen took off "Hey Bucky, what's up?" he sounded more unconcerned than he had in a long time, I hated to destroy that but it had to be "Don't freak out now, but Walker and Tony had a clash."
" Wait what!?" it came so loudly from the cell phone that I had to hold it away from my ear a bit "Is he okay?" he then asked again at a normal volume.
"He didn't want to go to the infirmary, I thought you could take a quick look at him." I could practically see worry lines forming between Stephen's eyes through the cell phone.
"Sure I will." there was a brief pause "where is he right now?"
I bit my lower lip a little " on his way home, he wanted to get a few more things from there."
I heard Stephen sigh "I'll get back to you." then he hung up and my phone went black again.
Annoyed, I ran my fingers through my now open hair "Let's go" I said to Sam, pulling out the keys to my black pickup truck, which already had some wooden boards and tools under a tarp "I'll see you guys later." I said goodbye to Pietro and Clint, Sam also raised his hand in greeting and then walked beside me to the pickup.
I got into the high car and waited until Sam was also in the passenger seat next to me, then I turned the key in the ignition and started the engine. Practiced, I backed out, putting one hand on Sam's headrest to be able to see out the back. When I was standing properly again, I put the car in the right gear and drove out of the parking lot.