MARVEL & DC IMAGINES

] can't sleep [

It had been a long day so everyone went to sleep early at the Avengers Tower. As usually, you and Tony went to sleep together. There was no point on sleeping in separate rooms anymore so after a few weeks of dating you decided to move into his room. He didn't hesitate. Actually, he looked happy about it. You just loved falling asleep in his arms and seeing him when you woke up, already awake and looking at you every single morning. But that night was different.

Suddenly you got up due to a stupid dream that you forgot the moment you opened your eyes. You turned on the bed to cuddle up with Tony but were surprised when you found the other side of the bed empty. There was no noise in the bathroom so you just assumed he wasn't in the room.

Slowly, you got out the bed. Maybe something happened and he had to leave but he would have told you. Walking out of the room everything was dark and Thor's snores were audible all around the aisle. You walked downstairs, hoping to find in the kitchen or the living room but nothing. Just then, you heard a noise down at the lab. What was he doing there at 5 in the morning?

Finally you went to the lab and typed the code that would let you in. Tony was trying on one of his suits and fixing something on the arm of it. Really?

"Tony?" You said out loud.

He turned around at the sound of your voice, obviously not expecting you, or anyone, there. He said something to JARVIS and stepped out of the suit, always looking at you.

"Hi, I was just fixing a couple of things in the suit." He said.

"At 5 a.m.?" You asked crossing your arms.

"Yeah, you know it's the best hour to create according to a survey by the New York Times. It's really interesting, I'll show you tomorrow morning", he said quickly.

"Stop that. What are you doing here?" You said seriously. Something told you this wasn't the first night he came down here.

He sighed looking at you and then looked down before looking around at his suits.

"I can't sleep. I have...a problem. I didn't say anything because I don't want you to worry. That's all", he said shrugging.

"That's all? When was the last time you got a proper sleep?" You said frowning but he didn't say anything. "JARVIS! When was the last time Mr Stark had a proper sleep?" You asked to the computer.

"According to my data, last time Mr Stark slept properly was sixteen days, two hours and twenty five minutes ago", he said.

"Thank you, JARVIS", you replied and looked at Tony.

"I really am disconnecting you", Tony mumbled and then looked at you. "It's nothing! Einstein slept like three hours a year"

"You are not Einstein", you said.

He sighed and took a seat closing his eyes for a moment before looking at you.

"Nothing's been the same since New York. You experience things and you can't explain them. Gods, aliens, other dimensions, I'm just a man in a can." You sighed as he spoke. You knew something had changed in him since that battle but he just refused to talk about it. "The only reason I haven't cracked up is probably because you're with me, which is great. I love you. And I'm lucky. But, honey, I can't sleep. You go to bed, I come here and I do what I know. Threat is imminent and I have to protect the one thing that I can't live without. That's you. Then, when the sun starts to rise I go up and lay with you. So you don't worry about me."

You were trying to be serious and firm about this but seeing him so fragile just broke you. With a sigh you walked over him until you were standing in front of him and looking down at him as he looked up at you. He closed his eyes and rested his head on your chest as you hugged him.

"Come to bed..." You whispered.

He looked up at you and nodded with a sigh before getting up. Taking his hand you both left the lab and went back up to your bedroom. You went to the bathroom and when you came back he was already in bed, looking up at the ceiling, his eyes wide open. You crawled into the bed and covered you up before hugging him.

"Close your eyes", you told him. He looked at you for a moment and then sighed giving in and closing them. Slowly you started stroking his hair and rubbing his face slowly, feeling how he relaxed against you and, eventually, fell asleep.

You looked down at him and smiled a little. He looked so peaceful and he hugged you, hiding his face in your neck, breathing slowly, making your heart melt. You just wanted to take care of him since every superhero needs saving from time to time.