semprezangado | for [nonstopnarcissist]

Oh I have -- every faith in you. I just have no faith in myself. [You're going to create a Bruce that drives two miles an hour, but good luck with your adventure, Tony.]

I have to ask -- does my shack still have walls? Is there a ceiling? What should I expect when we get back there.

It's still standing, the air con is just about finished and your kitchens been rewired. I'm almost done laying out the extention for the hottub.

See, when it comes to this sort of thing, I can't tell if you're joking or not. Because I could very well have a mansion on the side of the hill instead of a shack when I get home.

Give me a week for the mansion, but Bruce, darling, we can do better than a shack.

You talk like you're going to take out walls and make major expansions. [Apparently Tony and Bruce have very different ideas on lying low. Though Tony's right, if he doesn't have projects, he'll go absolutely insane.

And, selfishly, making expansions to the house makes it sound like Tony's around for a while]

You need a separate space for your lab that's insulated, I've always wanted to try building a sauna, and a meditation room would be a good idea.

[ he's an engineer, he needs to be able to compartmentalize. ]

Oh -- you weren't kidding about the hot tub thing, wow. I mean -- go for it, sure. It's your home now too, for however long you want to stay.

[Sometimes he forgets how used to having money Tony is. After living in a shelter for a while and working odd jobs to scrape money together, Bruce had been able to scrape together enough to get the one room shack and cobble together electricity for it. Which sure, it's a fire hazard but he'd worked with what he had.

But if Tony needs projects then... okay.]

Sort of- it's just a rough sketch in my head. [ He slows the car, pulling off the main road for a moment so he can park and turn. Look Bruce in the eye as best he can, chewing on his innate need to put shit together, take it apart, make it more efficient. ] Bruce. I'm going to get a little honest and very sincere here for, like, five minutes.

The rewiring I did because it was seriously unsafe. I'm surprised you haven't started a fire yet. The rest- I can take or leave. When I said 'we' deserve more than a shack, I meant you. You deserve more than hiding out with whatever you can scrape together; you deserve so much more-

But if this is what you have and you're happy with it? I can do without. Seriously, I've done the chilling in the woods with fuck and all and working thing before, as long as I've got a car to play with or something, I'll manage. Everything else- that's me wanting to do something for you. [ He reaches out, cupping Bruce's cheek, thumb swiping against his stubble. ] Because you're letting me stay here, because you've never asked me for anything, because I care about you and I like trying to take care of the people I care about. If it's too much or irritating or anything- you've seen me off the leash before, you know I run wild- but it's alright to clip it back on.

I won't break or leave if you tell me no. I plan on staying until you get sick of me one way or another. But if you're happy with the shack? I'll just build a bigger bed so we're not in danger of rolling off in the middle of the night and leave it at that.

Okay?

You're so sweet, Tony. [Bruce leans into the touch, surprised by the outpouring of honesty but appreciative. He was honestly just going to let Tony play with the property to his heart's content, because it probably made him feel better.

But it's nice to know it comes from a place of affection and generosity. That Tony's doing it because he wants to do something nice for Bruce, and not just out of the need to fidget with things.]

It means a lot, it really does. I'm just -- used to this sort of thing. Scraping by, or whatever you want to call it. But if doing this for me makes you happy too, then I'll more than happily accept it. [Tony gets a soft kiss and a squeeze on the knee.] You're a sweetheart, I keep telling you.

Lies, lies and slander. [ He looks away for a moment, digging up the near omnipreasent walls between him and everything else. Fewer around Bruce than most people, sure, but he needs that distance. People tend to not get that he cares so much-

It's intense, it's frighting, it's weird, borderline obsessive- whatever. He doesn't look at it too closely, just locks it up in a box and leans into the kiss, trying for humor. moment of sincerity done, back to the status quo. ] Wanna fool around in the backseat like teenagers?

[It was nice while it lasted, and Bruce will take these moments as they come. He reaches out to ruffle his fingers through Tony's hair and kiss his jaw softly] We could, but I have groceries to put away. I promised you burgers, and I can't do that if we let the ground beef sit out in eighty degree heat while we make out.

Mmm...fine. [ He rubs their cheeks together, snickering at the way their stubble catches and drags before turning the engine back on and pulling onto the road. Driving home doesn't take long and FRI pilots the suit in stealth back to where she'd been holding a perimeter and...

It's. Oddly relaxing. Having 'home' that feels like home. ]

[It's domestic in a way he hasn't -- really ever been, but he's desperately wanted. He didn't think he'd get it with Tony, of all people. But Tony's something he never though he'd have but has desperately wanted, so... there's that.

He keeps his fingers in Tony's hair for the rest of the short ride home, gently scratching at his scalp. The road ends a bit away from the house (it's a house, it's going to be a house) so they have to park in the grass, but he doesn't mind. It all works.

They work.] I'll let you handle your computer stuff, and I will take in the food. Thanks for fixing the electricity, I don't think I said that. It was uh, a bit of a rush job, I'll admit.

[ Domesticity isn't a thing people consider with Tony. Other than literally designing and building a home- homemaker he isn't. But he could learn to settle, learn to like this. It's got Bruce involved and that already makes it 30% more likely he'll want to learn.

The hair petting is- potentially distracting, actually very soothing, and Tony's settled well within his skin by the time they reach the grassy patch leading up to the house. ]

I know how it is. [ He reaches up to catch Bruce's fingers, kissing his wrist. ] Been there, done that. What we've got now is much safer.

Much appreciated. Sudden fires sound like a dangerous situation in more ways than one. [He never should have kissed Tony because now he never wants to stop and that's a problem. He tickles under Tony's chin with a bashful blushy sort of smile before he busies himself taking in and putting away groceries.

He puts the kettle on to boil as well, figuring he can make instant coffee for Tony at least, and tea for himself.

This is the first time he's really felt at home... maybe ever. Which is a sad thought, but he's glad to have it now, at least.]

[ Tony, meanwhile, unloads his tech wish list and all the parts Bruce was able to scrounge. He'll swing into town tomorrow to pick up parts for the Truck, probably, and see what else he can find but for now?

Coffee maker. This deep in the part of the world where coffee is grown- not having a decent coffee maker makes his heart cry. Been awhile since he built one from scratch so. Sketches.

With graphite on actual paper, no holograms. It's very quaint and still? He kind of loves it. ]

Should I add a hot water tap for your tea, or do you like boiling it with the kettle?

[ Tea has rituals, he's learned, and sometimes not messing with them can be a thing. ]

I like your urge to tinker. But no, the kettle is -- meditative, I guess. It lets me pause for a moment. Some things are better when you wait for them.

[Like whatever it is they have here. Absolutely, completely worth waiting for. It might not have fallen together quite so easily if they had tried it sooner.

But right now they both need this. Need each other, and the restfulness that isolation brings.

Once the water is hot, he makes Tony his undoubtedly subpar instant coffee and sets it next to his sketches.]

Is the masking a one-time thing, or can you use it to explore the town a little? It's nice here, I promise.

Got it. [ Note to self: build forge. Forge pretty kettle for Bruce. Shouldn't be that hard, the shapes and requirements are straightforward. Making it decorative, that'd be the trick. Tony starts sketching out the rough shapes of one, something high handled and oblong, a study in contrasts. Solid, sturdy, with a graceful arc to the spout-

He's brought out of it with coffee, listing immediately to lean against Bruce while he's in Tony's orbit. ] I can use it as many times as I need. The town seemed pretty relaxed. Provincial.

It's cozy. [His arm goes around Tony's waist, nuzzling automatically under his ear. God, they've both been so damn touch starved, no wonder they keep gravitating towards each other like this.

And maybe, maybe part of it is a quiet worry that Tony will have to take off tomorrow and go back to New York, so Bruce is going to get as much of him as possible while he's here.]

Friendly, really. A lot of people speak English, as well. Unless you've learned Portuguese while I wasn't looking.

Portuguese, Bengali, Hindi, Wakandan, Russian, Hungarian, Farsi- [ Understanding the mechanics help a little with dealing.

Also he might've planned a global hunt for Bruce if he popped back up on planet and hadn't made contact.

He turns to press his nose into Bruce's shoulder, inhaling the smell of freshly brewed tea and skin; letting it curl around his hindbrain and settle him. ] I could probably help you with your pronunciation.

Oh my god, you pain in the ass. [But his fingers are in Tony's hair again, scratching gently at his scalp. Like giving punitive cuddles to a misbehaving cat.]

Admittedly, my accent isn't that great. I once told someone who was getting me dangerously close to a code green that he wouldn't like me when I'm hungry.

You love me. [ And it's as light as it isn't, as teasing as it is full of quiet awe and wonder that this is his-

And dropped off in favor of the not-purring he does when his hair's pet. ]

Angry and Hungry are pretty close together, and I have seen you hangry. You're adorable and terrifying at the same time.

I do. [He'll leave it at that, because it's not a Thing that Tony's entirely comfortable with yet. And that's okay. They're going slow, because both of them need to go slow in their own way.

And anyway, Tony's purring against his chest and that's too adorable to pull away from.]

You kids and your hip talk.

I am older than you, I think. [ He sips his coffee, tipping his head up to smile at Bruce, eyes soft and still so full of quiet joy, of awe. This is his. He doesn't know what he's done to deserve it, but. ]

By a few years.

Are you? I'm forty-eight in a week and a bit. [That look that Tony gives him is -- everything. His hand stills at the back of Tony's neck and he kisses his forehead, the bridge of his nose. Gently reassuring.

He's here, they're here. This is real.]

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