AN: A much longer chapter to make up for how short the last one was haha, set just before 'Captain America: Civil War'
April 2016
"Tony? Everything alright in here?" Happy called out as he opened the door of the mansion and stepped into the unlit room beyond.
"JARVIS where's Tony?"
The AI replied, "Mr Stark is in his workshop presently."
"Thanks, JARVIS." Happy muttered as he set off down the stairs.
Through the glass panels he could see a pair of denim clad legs protruding from beneath a car, with various boxes of takeaway littered around them. Happy tried his thumbprint on the scanner but it didn't allow him access, and he had thumped his heavy fist on the door several times before Tony finally slid out from under the vehicle and called to JARVIS to let him in.
"Is everything alright, Tony? You haven't called for me to take you anywhere in days, Pepper said she'd cancelled all your appointments for you, but she seems to be in work even longer hours than ever. What's going on?"
"Nothing." Tony stated, wiping his hands on a rag. "I'm taking a few days to focus in the shop is all. And what Pepper does is her call."
"Are you sure everything's okay with Pepper?" Happy asked, changing approach. "She seemed a bit off last couple of days."
"Did she?" Tony asked sharply, for the first time looking interested in the conversation, before he abruptly turned back to his workstation, picking up a spanner and testing the weight of it in his hand. "Course it's none of my business. Not anymore."
"Boss, did yous… Are yous not…" Happy stumbled.
"Let's just say you can probably throw that ring away." Tony said, tinges of sadness and regret seeping through his forced cheerful tone.
"Or give it to charity, or propose to someone yourself with it, I don't mind, probably better it goes to do some good for someone." Tony rambled, as he selected a few more tools and carried them back to his space on the floor.
"Is there, um… Is there anything I could do for you?" Happy asked, looking around at the mess of machine parts and empty food cartons that covered almost every surface.
"Nah, I'll be alright." Tony mumbled sadly, staring up at Happy from his crouched position on the floor, looking to Happy far from a superhero entrepreneur and much more like a confused, sad little boy running to his toys for comfort.
"If you're sure." Happy replied, but Tony was already back under the car.
Being careful to close the glass door gently behind him, Happy made his way back upstairs, and took the ring out from his pocket. He contemplated the small box for moment, before he set it down firmly on the now dimly lit kitchen counter, and walked briskly towards the door. After only a few steps he turned back. Taking the ring out of the box, he grabbed a sticky note and pen from his pocket and scribbled that it was Tony's choice what to do with it. Then he carefully threaded the ring onto the key chain loop inside his trouser pocket and left.