Friendly warning, I don't have perfect grammar and I mix up my tenses. Unless I say expect my chapters to be unbetaed.
Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me nor am I making money from this work.
Italics are Tony speaking to Bruce
Bold is Bruce speaking to Tony
"Speaking aloud,"
'emphasis or past conversations,'
III
III
The glorious overflow of relief on seeing Rhodey was in a word, divine. Were there tears? Only the manly overload of 'holy shit I'm actually going to live!' The stay in the hospital was less fun. In fact, it was a drag, it wasn't worth the panic scrambling to tell Rhodey to not let anyone touch what was in his chest or he'd die. If his bestie looked a little green, well, he could understand. It didn't exactly look pretty.
What was worse the man wouldn't tell him what happened while he was gone, just 'God, can't it wait, all you need to do is get better Tones.' It wasn't his fault lying in bed was boring him out of his mind. Speaking of his mind.
Hey, buddy still there?
He waited a long two seconds before asking again. He should leave it be and be thankful whatever it was, was gone.
Hello? C'mon, I know you are.
He did not know but after having someone to talk to when he thought he'd kick it made the sudden silence that much more lonely.
Are you there? ...Bruce?
A spark of what he was beginning to understand as Bruce's focused awareness drew closer.
Unfortunately.
Tony beamed,
Great! Looks like you're stuck with me!
Why was knowing a second voice he didn't control in his head comforting? He'd blame it on PTSD or whatever label a psychiatrist would love to tack on him. Hm, his new alter ego felt bored, no, more like increasingly indifferent?
Yeah, we both know who got the short end of the stick in this relationship.
He heard no more from Bruce after that, just a lingering echo of discomfort or dislike at Tony's last words. Although he didn't know what for at least it was better than the muted nothing Bruce tended to give off.
