p • r • e • s • s • u • r • e

Untitled

Bruce blinked.

"Did you?"

He faltered. 

"I-No!"

"Oh my god that was you?"

"No it wasn't."

"I mean it was clearly a bit over the top-"

"Exactly, absolutely ridiculous."

"-but I thought it was pretty good for what it was, the art was really well done."

Tony frowned. "Oh-?"

Shit. 

Bruce grinned. 

"-I mean, I'm sure that uh...whoever did write it-"

"Holy shit I knew it!" 

"Really wasn't me..." he groaned. "But that's not the point-the point is, I need to stay informed."

Bruce was quiet for a moment, deep in thought before smiling. 

"Arty Tonks?"

"Oh come on."

"Was that really the best you could come up with-Arty Tonks?"

"It sounded okay at the time!"

"You're such an ass," Bruce giggled. 

"I know." Tony was smiling in spite of himself. 

"Can I...can I just work, a little bit? Get my mind off things?"

"I don't know..."

"Please."

"Fine. I'll be in the other room. Don't do anything stupid."

This is a mistake, he thinks, letting the door close behind him. Tony sighs, a devilish grin crossing his face.

Idon'twantthisIdon'twantthisIdon'twantthis!

He walks over to his hydraulic press and lays down underneath it.

Why am I doing this?

"Respectfully sir, I think this is a terrible idea."

"JARVIS please. Don't say a word to Bruce."

The press starts lowering and Tony breathes hard.
JARVIS was right, this is a terrible idea.

It wasn't so bad when the press made contact with his chest-it was exciting, if anything-until the engineer wanted to escape, but he was frozen.

He slams his hand on the remote button in panic.

The press freezes, and Tony struggles to breathe.

Fucking pussy.

"Okay. Okay, okay okay.."

"Sir-"

"Mute."

He starts the press up again, and the pain is excruciating. He screams, and presses the button. It pins him down and won't stop, it won't stop, and he wants it to end so badly. He drops the remote and it slides across the floor, out of reach. He panics.

can'tbreathecan'tbreathecan'tbreathe

He cries out in agony, screaming and screaming and screaming and screaming.

It's hell. He cries for Pepper, for his mother, for Rhodey, for Obi.

Maybe this is how I die.