Uni, Beer and Science

Forgive or Forget

This chapter is specifically dedicated to @demididdy for giving me some great suggestions, and enjoying this story as much as I've had writing it :) Thank you and happy reading :3

A week later and Tony's eye had finally stopped looking like a miniature plum, and more like his actual eye. "Have you finished your essay yet?" I asked, handing him a cup of coffee. He was sat on the sofa in mine and Clint's room, and had been for nearly an hour. He didn't seem to hear me so I nudged him. "Hmm? Sorry, where you talking to me?" I smiled at him, rubbing the side of his arm. "Have you finished your engineering essay? It's due in tomorrow." He groaned an put his head in his hands. "I totally forgot! Oh I give up; they'll kick me off the course sooner or later." He mumbled.

I got up and took out his laptop from his rucksack, dumping it on the coffee table in front of him. "Right. We 're going to do this together. If you can find your essay sheet, I'll ask you some questions and write it for you. Is that ok?" For a moment, I saw a flicker of something in his eye. Was it a remnant of the old Tony? This Tony was on-edge most of the time, and flinched whenever I touched him.

He nodded and I sat beside him, pulling his head to my chest. I kissed him lightly on the forehead. "Like I said Tony, I can't imagine a world without you. I'm here for you and that promise will stand as long as Stone Henge has. Which is a long time, by the way." He sniggered and I smiled. There was still hope that he would come out of his cocoon and return to his former self. 

He found his essay sheet and I began typing his essay. I asked him the odd question when I didn't know the answer myself, and he rested his head on my lap so he was close to me and could also see what I was writing. About a page into the essay, he sat up and stared at me. I ignored him at first, as I was in coursework mode, but after a while it was like his puppy eyes were begging me to look at him.

"Look, you won't have anything to hand in tomorrow if-" He suddenly placed his hands around my face and pulled me in for a long, emotional kiss. "Sorry," he muttered afterwards. "I'll let you get on with your work." He clambered off of the sofa and made his way into my tiny bedroom. Not sure what to do next, I saved the essay and shut down his laptop.

"Tony?" I said at the doorway. "If you want something, or need something, just let me know ok?" He was lying stiff on my bed. It was as if he resembled a log. He muttered something so I went and sat on the bed beside him. "What did you say?" I asked, stroking his untidy fringe. He looked up at me, his eyes full of something I hadn't seen in him before - regret. "Would you mind just lying here with me? I can't sleep." He looked ashamed. I nodded and lay down behind him. He turned to face me, and put his head against my chest. Silently, he picked up my arms and wrapped them around himself before closing his eyes. 

I held back my tears as I watched him sleep. He looked so peaceful, but he never wanted to cuddle like this. Usually it was just, well, straight to it. I stroked the side of his face as if he were a baby, and whispered, "No matter how he treated you, I will always love you, Tony Stark." I kissed him on his forehead and I saw the sides of his mouth rise. He was smiling. He was peaceful. He was utterly beautiful.