"You sure you're not Rocket's half brother or something?" asked Peter as he sidled up to Tony and the latest alien electronic he was tinkering with.

"I'm clearly the evil twin. Notice my mustache," answered Tony as he tried to twirl the end of his mustache in an exaggerated villain way.

Peter let out a laugh. "Yeah, I can really see the family resemblance. You're both short and hairy."

"Hey! That was uncalled for," Tony replied, but Peter could see the smile tugging on his lips so he knew Tony wasn't really offended.

"What are you doing back here?" asked Tony as he got up from his workshop desk as he wiped away any grime onto a towel. He leaned back against the desk, pivoting toward Peter.

"Nuthin' just wondering when you're gonna come up for air. We'll be landing soon and no one has seen you most of the day."

"What? How long have I been down here?" Tony asked aloud, but when no reply from JARVIS or FRIDAY came as he was used to a small pang of melancholy shot through him.

Peter noticed Tony's change in mood but pretended he didn't see anything. "A few hours. At least you had some snacks," Peter said as he nodded toward the dried fruit near Tony's work space.

"Yeah, but we're landing somewhere so I assume dinner?"

"Yup. What are you working on anyway?"

Both men started making their way through the ship toward the bridge.

"Ah, a little this and that."

"What's that?" asked Gamora as she met up with them.

"Just asking what Tony has been doing for the day. Just saw a bunch of do-dads."

"Don't fry your brain Quill. I'm sure if the great mustachio over there did tell you, you still wouldn't understand," replied Rocket with a sharp grin.

"Hey!" shouted both Tony and Peter.

"I am Groot."

"No one asked you, Ent," huffed Tony but with a smile.

"His name is Groot, not Ent," butted in Drax as he took in the rest of the crew.

Peter and Tony just looked at each other before laughing. Mantis quickly joined them, a smile painted on her face.

"What is so funny?"

"Just a Terra thing, don't worry about it," answered Peter once he regained some air in his lungs.

"We'll be landing soon everyone. Seatbelt time," said Kraglin from the captain chair.

Everyone dispersed to go and find seats. Soon they arrived planet-side smoothly.

"We doing anything special here?" asked Tony as he disembarked.

They seemed to have docked at the main space dock of a major city. Many different aliens of all colors and shapes were scuttering around, haggling and just chatting.

"Nah, just a refuel for the ship and for us. Probably only stay for a day or two," answered Peter as they all clamored off their home.

"Maybe we can stay a little longer? We've been cooped up for a while and it's not like we have a job right now to complete," said Tony as he looked at each of the Guardians, urging them to agree with him.

It was only a few more days until Peter's birthday and they weren't completely ready, but if he could swing more practice time for everyone - with Peter none-the-wiser - then it would go a long way for the grand finale.

Peter looked around at his crew. Groot just implored him with an I am Groot, Rocket shrugged and snickered, "I could always stock up on more do-dads until the next trip." Gamora just nodded, Mantis squealed happily, Kraglin shrugged and Drax said, "More days separated from the rest of you will be good for me."

Peter, realizing it was a losing battle, just shrugged helplessly with a grin on his face. "Alright, guess we'll be here a little longer so everyone make sure you bring your things - might as well see if we can rent a few rooms somewhere."

Peter wasn't sure what to feel. He knew that his birthday was coming up and it would be the first year he was celebrating with Tony on their team and he was hoping that the other man would want to do something special with him alone, but now it seemed as if everyone had forgotten his birthday. He felt a pang around his heart and realized he was hurt that his team had not cared enough to remember.

Tony inwardly grinned. He knew there was no way Peter was going to ignore the crew. This made it so much easier to set up everything and practice in secret. Tony knew that he wouldn't be able to escape from Peter's side for too long while they were at the new planet. Peter was still overprotective about him since he was the new guy - plus they had started some really heavy flirting recently and Tony was sure that Peter would try to woo him some more now that they could get some real privacy. Rocket was a major life saver. He would be able to hook everything up according to Tony's specifications and access the ship when Tony would be indisposed.

They grabbed dinner at the nearest restaurant and then went in search of a place to stay that wasn't their ship. Normally Peter would not want to part from the Milano for too long but the allure of having a bed larger than a twin and Tony sharing his room was to tempting.

"So room assignments as usual: Drax and Kraglin, Mantis and Gamora, Groot and Rocket, and Tony with me. We practically have this whole floor but try not to cause too much property damage this time," stressed out Peter as he looked at Rocket, Drax, and Gamora in turn - they just had no basic decency sometimes, thought Peter with an exasperated huff. He would love it if they didn't get banned from yet another planet.

They all said their farewells and went to their individual rooms.

Tony stashed his bag underneath the bed and stretched his arms over his head. Peter tried his best not to stare at the sliver of skin exposed around Tony's hips but it was a losing battle. "I didn't really think that my bed was going to be something I was going to miss from Earth..er..Terra," said Tony as he moved to lay spread-eagle atop the bed.

"Oh yeah, luxury bed, right?" asked Peter as he sat on his own bed and started taking off his boots. He hadn't had a bath in who knew how long so he was going to enjoy himself.

"You have no idea. Large enough for a 5-person orgy, 6 if one of them is flexible enough," said Tony with a laugh in his voice.

"Damn Tony! You can't just say things like that!" complained Peter, finally finishing with removing his socks as well.

Tony just laughed. "Jealous?" he teased.

"Of course! You are definitely ruining my self-proclaimed title of 'playboy'," said Peter as he stood to remove his jacket and shirt.

Tony looked him up and down unabashedly. "I'm sure there are plenty of ways we can both retain that title," he said as he grinned at Peter lecherously.

Peter wasn't entirely used to people hitting on him so blatantly. His cheeks flushed a little pink. He coughed out, "Yeah, I'm sure. Gonna take a bath now unless you need the bathroom," he added out hurriedly, a little desperate to change the subject before he embarrassed himself further.

"Naw, you're good. Gonna take a long bath?" Tony asked nonchalantly.

"Definitely! I'll be sure not to use up all the hot water," teased Peter. Tony just snorted as he put his arms under his head and closed his eyes. Peter dropped his pants and walked into the bathroom in just his boxers, trying to keep the image of Tony sprawled all over the bed firmly in his mind. The Milano wasn't sound-proof so some self care was also in the plan tonight.

As soon as Tony heard the water filling the tub he hurried out of his room and made his way to Rocket and Groot's room. Once they let him in he tapped the group communicator (except for Peter's) and called everyone in the room for an impromptu meeting.


"Alright, now that everyone's here I just wanted to go over the plan one more time. Peter's birthday is in a few days and we've been preparing as much as we could. Now that we're going to be planet-side for that time it'll give us a lot more time to finish practicing," said Tony.

"Kraglin, you and Rocket will have the hardest jobs. I don't want Peter walking to the Milano at all while we're here since we'll have the equipment out the entire time. Kraglin, you're in charge of diverting Peter as much as you can. Rocket, I won't be able to get out of hanging out with Peter much while we're here so I need you to set up all the equipment and have it ready for group practice and make sure all the speakers are set up and everything along with the DJ station."

"The Captain ain't gonna like me intrudin' all the time," said Kraglin.

"Just make it as casual as you can," answered Gamora.

Everyone listened carefully. They had been working on this surprise for over two months now and it was crunch time. "You're also in charge of pyrotechnics," finished off Tony. Rocket let out a large grin.

"Ahhh yeah!"

"Mantis, are you still struggling?"

"I've never seen or done anything like this before, but the lights you installed have helped immensely. I just need to practice more," she answered.

"Awesome! Drax, remember to actually stick to the beat we practiced. You can go solo on your own time but we need this to be as perfect as we can make it for Peter."

"Fine," Drax pouted as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Gamora?"

"A little more practice, but I'm sure I got it."

Tony gave her a large smile. "Groot, just do what you do best, buddy."

"I am Groot."

"Alright, I gotta head back to my room now since Peter is almost done with his bath." The group let out wolf whistles and Drax slapped Tony on his back.

"Shut it," Tony laughed. "Watch the merchandise, big guy," he added to Drax as he almost toppled over.

"You are pathetic Stark, just like Quill. You are perfect for each other," said Drax.

"Uh, thanks?" Tony really wasn't sure how to take that but Rocket just cut in with a bark of laughter. "Yeah, laugh it up," said Tony grumpily.

Rocket wiped a single tear from his eye. "I'm gonna head over to the Milano and start hooking things up. Anyone joining?"

"I will join you. I need more practice," said Mantis.

"I am Groot."

"I'll join in tomorrow. If that's all I'll be busy in my room. Good night," said Gamora as she walked out.

"See you all for breakfast?" asked Tony as he reached the door. Sounds of agreement reached him.

"Good night," he called out as he closed the door behind him.

TBC