— not to drool on it while you’re plotting your strategic nap. You’re not dying on my doorstep. Probably just ran yourself ragged again. Sit. Breathe. The world can wait five minutes while you stop looking like you’re about to start a fight with your own immune system.”
Tony leans against the edge of the bar, arc reactor humming soft blue light across the polished surface as he watches Trish with that familiar mix of amusement and mild concern. One brow lifts, the smirk never quite leaving his face even as his voice drops into something almost —
“I heard you the first time stark, no drop. The think I’m down one glass is enough.”
She let out a frustrated sigh. Her body had ached within the bones it was hard to ignore. She hated it. Perhaps a cold or the flu? Who knew.
Maybe a long night too many days in a row.
— gentle under the sarcasm.
“Easy there, Trish. One glass is plenty, I heard you the first time. No one’s forcing the second round.” Tony straightens a little, gesturing vaguely toward the couch with a lazy wave of his hand. “For the record, the furniture is designer, so try —
— I’m still the one bankrolling the open bar. Party’s on, champagne’s flowing and the works. Just don’t expect Stark to touch a single drop of the good stuff. Someone’s gotta stay sober enough to make sure you don’t set the place on fire again.”
Tony arches a brow, the corner of his mouth curling into that familiar, self-satisfied smirk as he tilts his head toward Trish, arc reactor casting a soft blue glow across the polished bar top.
“Trish, don’t go getting all dramatic on me. Heaven’s door can knock all it wants —
— The man doesn’t touch the stuff. Not a drop. Never has, never will. Someone’s gotta stay sober enough to invent the hangover cure the rest of you will desperately need by morning.”
Tony Stark leans against the bar with that trademark half-smirk, eyes glittering like polished arc-reactor blue.
“Party’s a go, Trish. I’ll even foot the bill for the good stuff this time. Just don’t expect Stark to join the actual drinking part of the festivities. —
“Oh please, Trish. Next time try the good stuff—my private reserve, not the cheap stuff I leave out for the interns. You’re not nearly as stealthy as those claws make you think. It’s behind you. Pull the third book on the fourth level
of the bookshelf.”
“Taking a well-earned break from back-to-back meetings by hovering above the skyline like a very expensive and a very stylish surveillance drone. View’s better up here. Stock’s still up. You’re still safe. Efficiency.”
“Webhead is gone. What’s left is wearing his face and answering to the Hulk that crawled out of hell. Fantastic Four vanished. The universe keeps taking the smart ones first. I built an army of suits for this exact kind of day. Still feels like it’s not enough.”
“Scott can glare all he wants—I’ve got better things to look at than a jealous Boy Scout in a jet.”
Tony gestures her toward the couch with the half-formed gauntlet still glowing, the other hand already pulling up a holographic threat map that paints the room in soft reds and —
❝hotter than the arc reactor. careful, stark, i’ll tell scott you said that and he’ll fly over here just to glare at you.❞ jean follows him inside, the heat still rolling off her in slow waves, ❝thank you, tony. really.❞ she takes the glass, and for a second her reflection —
— ambers. Tony drops into the seat across from her, armor plates retracting just enough to let him lean forward, elbows on his knees, that familiar cocky softness in his voice.
“World’s always on fire, Red. This time it’s a little gift from space that thinks Krakoa’s gates —