I'll Steal Your Coffee

Not Alone For Now

I looked up around the room, carelessly sipping my coffee. I wrote down notes on the- whatever the hell I was writing. All I know is that it wasn't something I should have been doing at this hour.

He would always get on me for that, I can't blame Bruce either. I stay up more than I should, well, more than any man should. Can't beat statistics- or can I?

Nevertheless my endless void of sleepless nights were interrupted by, none other than Clint Barton. I looked up, took off my goggles and took a long swig of my coffee — secretly spiked with beer — turning towards Barton. He had the biggest smile on his face for someone who interrupted my — already stopped a few minutes ago — work.

"Hey Tony, can you take a look at my hearing aids? They've been acting up, sometimes I just hear static." he questioned. I set down my coffee cup and held my hand out, the small devices were almost dead. "There is only one battery in here. Were you pranked?" I said, opening the outer casing.

He looked up from his fiddling thumbs and tilted his head. I rolled my eyes and wrote a note to him as I gave him back his possessions. I tore off the post-it from its base and reread it.

'Check the batteries before you come to me, Barton. -Tony' satisfied as I handed it to Clint. Just as I thought he was going to leave he jumped onto my desk and sat there. "Do you need anything?" I growled.

He shook his head and picked up a screwdriver, absentmindedly fiddling with the phillips head. "You know he'll come back right? He wouldn't leave you like that, Tony." he reassured me. I looked up and stared at him for a short while, he only whimpered and scurried away.

"Jarvis drop the needle, please." I asked quietly. I sighed as 'Jingle Bells' started playing, smiling I grabbed my gloves. They fit perfectly on my hands as my fingers grazed a piece of glass on my goggles.

Twirling around in my chair as I grabbed an Arc reactor and my phillips head. I chipped away at the eroded wires that connected it to my suit, crusty and smelled strong of iron — not that I haven't gotten used to the smell — that if it weren't me, it would knock out any old man.

I was paranoid ever since Bruce left for Moscow, always checking the door alert for anyone — or anything — that might come in. Too relaxed in this state, my ears flopped onto my head while my tail lay over my legs. I was slowly drifting asleep, something that I haven't done in days.

Quietly I set down my materials and crossed my arms over my chest, my heart slowed slightly. I closed my eyes and let the comfortable darkness of sleep consume me.

.._--ò Quiet Time Skip Of A Day ó--_..

I hummed as I woke up, looking over at a letter on my desk. I immediately picked it up and saw the address from Moscow. I grabbed a piece of glass and cut it open, pulling out a letter.

It wasn't from Bruce, another letter inviting him to the convention. I threw its crumpled writing into the pile with the other four letters from the past years. Slamming my fist into the metal proto type, was probably bad idea, but at that time I didn't care.

I miss Bruce with all of my heart, but my hope for him to come back was fading. I lifted up a tablet and sighed as I scrolled through pictures of Bruce and I. The beach, conventions, home, touring, anything and everything — in which I can go on for months — that we did was recorded in pictures.

His smile is one thing I would never get tired of. I heard a knock at my door and I placed the tablet down. "Come in!" I yelled.

Sam walked in with an unsure smile. "Is everything okay Sam?" I asked sitting down on the couch, he made his way over and sat on the lounge chair. "No I wanted to check on you," he started.

"I'm fine, I swear."

"Your body language says otherwise Tony."

"Sam where is this getting at? What are you trying to say?"

"I'm just worried for you, Bruce hasn't been back in five years. Quiet frankly you aren't the man you used to be."

"I don't need to have this talk–"

"YES, you do. I can't have a friend feeling down because his lover, should be ex, probably dumped him for a street boy! You don't know where he is, but for five years you've held onto his memory for too long. I think it's time you forget him." he snapped.

I looked down and ran my hands down my face, as I stood up he growled. I didn't want to do this, I wonder what has gotten into him. But by the seconds Steve, Nat, and Clint had rushed into the room.

Natalia had her gun raised, she looked furious. Steve's mouth was drawn into a frown, you could feel the worry and anger seeping from him. Clint just looked shocked, his eyes were wide probably so wide you could see into his soul.

"Natasha heard it all, and I think you should leave Sam. This is none of your business." Steve spat coldly. His arms tensed when he said it, my eyes wandered to Natasha who was making her way to me.

We reached arms out as she pulled me close, I sobbed freely into her shoulder. Clint came behind us and his eyes watched Sam carefully as he left the room. My arms were weak as Nat whispered in my ear.

Steve looked to us and he mouthed a sorry as he left, following Sam. Tears streamed down my face as Clint rubbed my back, I couldn't contain my sorrow anymore. "It's okay Tony, don't listen to him." Natalia hushed me.

I wiped my nose and smiled at Clint and Nat. "Were going to stay with you, we don't want you to be alone anymore." Clint smiled. I nodded, "Thank you. I really do appreciate it."

"What's that? Mr. Tony Stark actually has a heart?!" Natasha gasped. We all laughed uncontrollably, and I made my way over to my desk. I sat down and sat my head on my arms.

Come home Bruce... Please come back to me...

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Word Count: 1,083
Next Chapter: Call Me Crazy