p • r • e • s • s • u • r • e

Except When It Isn't

The kid had been asleep for over three hours, and Tony remembers that he doesn't sleep well on planes.

"He looks so peaceful," Bruce says from the doorway, holding two glasses of wine. He sits on the chair next to the sofa and leaves a glass on the coffee table in front of Tony, who takes it gratefully.

"He certainly does. I thought you disapproved of my relationship with alcohol."

Bruce shrugs.

"Figured you needed it."

The engineer nods.

"You feel any better?"

Tony pauses, watching the pale yellow liquid orbit the insides of his glass as he swirls it. The colouring reminds him of clear gummy bears.

"Not particularly. You?"

"I'm just fine." Bruce sighs.

"But yours is a different story."

Tony sips his drink contemplatively, says nothing.

"How's the pain?"

At that, he gulps.

"Not great."

"We need to set a date for the surgery."

"I know..."

"Don't think I'm letting you forget about it. You might be able to delay it, but it's going to happen whether you like it or not."

The engineer raises an eyebrow.

"Pretty sure you need my permission to cut me open."

Bruce shrugs.

"There are loopholes."

Tony rolls his eyes.

"I'll get it done, I'm just..."

"A little nervous?"

The man puts his pride aside, for once.

"Yeah, what's with that?"

Bruce frowns.

"I'm not sure. Seems logical, though. You've never loved change, and this'll be...very different."

Tony considers this.

"Perhaps."

"Maybe."

"Mayhaps?"

"Perchance..." Tony drawls in a thick Edwardian accent. Bruce smirks.

Peter stirs in his sleep next to Tony on the couch.

"He's an odd one," Bruce remarks.

"Yes."

"But brilliant."

Tony just smiles proudly.

"You'd better stick around for him."

The billionaire sucks in a breath.

Well that was sudden.

"Yep."

~three hours later~

A/N it is imperative that you read the time change notes like the time cards from spongebob. This is very important.

He blinks at the ceiling. One of the light bulbs is out. He looks to his right and Peter is gone.

Must've fallen asleep.

His watch tells him it's five in the evening, and he wants to disagree with it. In fact, he's raring to have an argument with it.

"Where do you get your info, exactly? What are your sources?" He'd say.