A/N This is a random one shot after the event, since most of you have been asking for more. Review, Favorite, and Follow! Set a couple of days after Phil's revival. Warning: Language.
Tony sat down with a grin as Phil brought a tray of fast food towards a corner booth. Phil slid into the cracked vinyl, directly across from the grinning Stark. He started designating the various burgers and sides as Tony stared. He popped a fry into his mouth, a curious expression on his features.
"What Tony?" He asked simply, a small, suspicious smile on his face. Tony shrugged casually, reaching for a seasoned curly fry with glee. He pushed down his baseball cap, blocking his face from passing bystanders.
"Nothing Philly-boy, it's all good." He declared cryptically, his smirk growing wider with each passing minute. Phil raised his hands, admitting mock defeat.
"I'm not even going to guess, you can tell me when you're ready." Phil said with an internal smirk. When Tony wanted attention and the person in question was ignoring his vague answers he crumbled like the bank that Hulk destroyed two months ago. Remnants of the building were still being fished out of a nearby ditch…
"Well… I saw Fury, and he looked like a blind ass puffer fish; which you would know by now, since you work next to him like a hypnotized minion. While we're on the topic; you should totally get a new career, one that does not involve a bossy man with a corn stalk stuck up his ass. I could totally hire you for SI, you could be my personal assistant Philly-boy! Ya know fetch my coffee, push me around in those comfy rolling chairs as I scream 'ONWARD'. It would be perfect man; waaaay better than Fury's constant bitch-fest." Tony said softly, an amused smile on his face. Phil shrugged with a laugh.
"Nah man, I can't supply the coffee fast enough. Thanks for the offer though, I can deal fine with Fury's bitching. I have to keep the team in line anyway, without me you'd be lost." He said with a smirk and Tony paled drastically. Phil regretted his remark as soon as Tony's glassy, chocolate eyes reached his.
"Tone, I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking…" Phil apologized quickly, his mouth set in a grim line. Tony nodded shakily, shrugging with a small, fake smile.
"It's," Tony coughed, his throat suddenly tight. "It's fine. I just…gotta go, you know paperwork and shit…" Tony declared softly, standing from the booth quickly. Phil sighed and stood, rushing after his best friend; who disappeared into the busy New York sidewalk.
…...
Phil finally found him (Two long hours later), in the middle of Central Park pretending to read a newspaper on a small wooden bench. He was obviously thinking, because he hadn't flipped a page the whole time he had been reading; and Phil knows on the rare occasions Tony would read printed paper; he would be finished within ten minutes. Phil strode to the shorter man, walking behind the bench so Tony wouldn't cause a scene and bolt. He sat down with a sigh, as he pretended to be interested in the statue three feet away and Tony pretended to read. They sat in silence for a couple minutes, Phil contemplating what to say and Tony registering possible escape routes.
"You know I couldn't tell you right?" Phil whispered gently, his eyes directed on a statue of boy and his dog, playing fetch. Tony nodded after a few minutes and Phil could've sworn he saw a tear when the light hit his face. Phil cleared his throat, not use to having to comfort Tony; the toughest man he's ever known.
"You know I begged Fury, I wanted to tell you. He kept me in a safe house, guarded by fellow SHIELD agents while I was drugged out of my mind. Every time I tried to get a phone, I collapsed. The wound was pretty damn deep, if I do say so myself." Phil said with a humorless chuckle. Tony nodded but continued to stare at his paper. His hand reached out blindly, travelling towards Phil's abdomen; Phil's fresh, pink scar. Phil watched curiously as Tony's hand found his scar, the only thing separating Tony's hand and his wound was his thin, white dress shirt. Tony's hand laid upon the tender area gently, quietly reassuring the fact that Phil wasn't hurt, wasn't bleeding out. Phil let him do it, resisting the urge to tense and flinch; he still had nightmares of Loki's emerald eyes and the puddle of blood that crowded frantically. But Tony wasn't Loki; not even close. Tony was genuine, and nice and smart, and talkative, and tough, and a brother. Tony was practically the opposite of Loki, despite their family issues and their smart-ass attitudes. Tony had brown eyes and coincidently hated the color green. Tony like red and gold, he like saving people, he liked to fly. Loki liked green and black, he liked destruction and panic, he liked to stab people and cause harm to anyone in the nearest vicinity. Tony wasn't like Loki, and Phil was grateful.
Tony met Phil's eyes hesitantly, something that scared Phil because Tony was always so sure, he was always confident. Phil could tell he had been crying, judging by his red nose, crimson rimmed bulbs, and his bloodshot eyes; it had been bad. Phil threw him a small smile, hoping the man would forgive him, would talk to him. Tony set down the paper and stared at Phil's chest, a plain expression on his blotchy face.
"Did…Did it hurt Phil? When, when Loki stabbed you?" Tony asked softly, wiping a tear in the process. He knew it was a dumb question; of course it fucking hurt. But that wasn't the point; he needed to know that Phil didn't hurt anymore and that Loki would be punished appropriately, luckily he had contacts in Asgard that would make Loki pay for his crimes. Oh yes, he would definitely feel the pain, the pain that he felt when he thought his best friend was dead; the pain that Phil felt as he was stabbed in the chest. Tony lifted his hand from Phil's abdomen, resisting the urge to put it back. Phil looked over to Tony, who had that look on his face; his 'thinking' look as most called it. His brow would furrow and he would bite his lip in pure determination. His eyes would blank and become unfocused and Phil could just imagine the numbers and scientific facts that flew through his mind every time he got that expression.
"It wasn't…pleasant. But I assure you Tone, I'm fine; always am." Phil reassured softly, his eyes boring into Tony's. Tony nodded shakily, his eyes focused on his fiddling hands.
"You promise? You promise you won't leave?" Tony asked brokenly, his voice a mere whisper. Phil grabbed his hand, a gesture of comfort for both men. Tony's scarred, calloused hand didn't fight as it was placed into Phil's own calloused one. Phil gripped the smaller hand tightly, nodding as he smiled.
"Forever and always Tone. I won't leave." Phil promised softly, his thumb rubbing circles into Tony's trembling hand. Tony let out a shaky, pent-up breath as he nodded. He smiled shyly up at Phil, obviously embarrassed by his sudden display of vulnerable actions. Phi smiled reassuringly, his eyes bright as Tony loosened up.
"Do you wanna go back to the tower? I wasn't lying about that paper work. Pepper's been riding my ass all week." Tony asked with a lazy grin. Phil huffed out a laugh as he squeezed Tony's hand once more before releasing it. He nodded and stood, Tony standing next to him. They walked down the sidewalk, their shoulders brushing with each step.
"Yeah, sounds fun." He said sarcastically and Tony hit his shoulder with a frown.
"Bitch, you better get used to it. You're gonna be my assistant soon, whether you agree or not Philly-boy." Tony ordered casually, his patented smirk growing back. Phil shook his head, a smile of his own in place.
"Whatever fucker, I am no one's bitch." Phil declared softly, his smirk in place. Tony hummed vaguely, his smile growing as he placed an arm around Phil's taller shoulder.
"That's not what the fanfics say…"
A/N I wrote this in less than an hour (At 11:36 on a school night) – no joke. I proof read it hastily as I was busy with Mother's day so it may have some spelling mistakes. I thought that Tony never really mourned his (fake) friend's death so I wrote this scene, hoping to show the damage the lie caused him. This is the last chapter of this mini fic so Review, and Favorite! Thanks! c: