mrstvrks

[mrstvrks]

"She got the best of both of us. The boys got....something from us." Tony lifted his head and smirked at his husband, though he felt comforted that all three of their kids were in the penthouse that night. Obviously Morgan didn't have a choice, but the other two, adults though they were, were going to give him a heart attack at some point. He leaned his head into Bruce's hand, the amused look fading from his face, because Bruce could read him like a book. Even before they got together. When no one else could. He shrugged at the question and raised his gaze to look at him, scrunching his nose a moment later at the mention of the prenup. "I'm deleting all evidence of that by the way. Erasing it from existence. Because it was done in vain. You're never allowed to get rid of me." He leaned forward, enough to brush his lips against Bruce's, staying close when he broke apart. "I don't know what it is. I mean, I've definitely been more on edge since that. But then with what happened at Ella's birthday party. It's not the ex. She's not smart enough for that. She's just a bitch. It's just a reminder." He turned to refill his cup, not even bothering with the decaf. "The person doing all the other shit is someone close to us. The suits. What happened to Johnny last summer." He leaned back against the counter. "It's simultaneously freaking me out and pissing me off I can't figure out who it is."

"Or we could pawn her off to her brothers for the day. She's the most responsible of the three anyway," Bruce chuckled, his fingers running through his husband's curls. He let him rest against him for as long as he wanted. "You're still thinking about the gala, aren't you?" Bruce asked softly. He would be lying if he said that whatever happened there didn't make him even more worried and paranoid. And he knew that Tony was feeling even worse than him. "You didn't wake me up, baby. I woke up," he said and leaned in to kiss him. "We're married, Tony. Your problems are my problems, prenup be damned."

[mrstvrks]

"Might need something a little stronger than this to handle that," Tony teased, though his smile didn't reach his eyes like it always did when he was in a better mood. He closed his eyes and let himself rest against his husband, not immediately responding to Bruce's question. "I would if I knew what to talk about. I can never remember what I dreamed about when I wake up." Which, he supposed, was a good thing. Because he could remember darkness and a feeling of not being able to breathe, so he had a pretty good idea of what his dreams were about. "I just wish I knew what was setting them off, you know? Usually something does." Tony eventually lifted his head off of Bruce and reached up to brush his hair from his face. "But I'm sorry I woke you up, baby."

Bruce felt his husband stirring beside him but not even his arm wrapped around Tony was able to settle him. When he left, Bruce gave him some time alone before making his way to the kitchen as well. "Hi, baby," he smiled as he stood in front of him. "Our demon child will be up in approximately half an hour, she's all the caffeine you need," he teased and leaned up to kiss him before he let Tony rest his head against his shoulder. "Do you want to talk about it? It's yet another night in a row it happened, darling," he spoke softly, pressing a small kiss to his temple.

[mrstvrks]

"Hi," was what he said when his husband, unsurprisingly, joined him in the kitchen. Tony had given up tossing and turning in favor of just getting up for the morning, but it was still only a little after 5. He sat his coffee mug on the counter and gave Bruce a look. "It's decaf, before you bitch at me," but his words, and the expression that accompanied it, were halfhearted. Eventually, he leaned back and put his head on Bruce. "I'm okay. I just had the dreams and shit again." ; @brcbvnner

[mrstvrks]

"Unfortunately for everyone else who thought they had a chance with me, I know. So sad for them." Tony smirked, not at all subtly backing Bruce towards the table behind him. "I took a nap," he shrugged. "And I have no idea what you're talking about." But even as he said that, the light of the uncovered arc reactor cast a blue glow on both of them. He smirked again and leaned down to kiss him. "I have a really hot husband, and I'm insatiable for him. I can't help it. You should feel honored."

"Unfortunately I do love you a lot," Bruce said against his husband's lips but pulled slightly back just to look up at him. "I don't have raging insomnia, thank you very much. And I thought I tired you out enough to make sure your raging insomnia is not going to interrupt me working," he added but there was a fond smile on his face as he kissed him back. "How convenient of you to already come here shirtless, like I'm with you only for your looks."

[mrstvrks]

Tony held his arm out for her to take. "Yeah, I mean. I never actually met her, but I heard enough from him, his brother, and Bruce. I hate that for Ella." He led her away from where the ex in question was and shook his head. "Probably because Raf wasn't public with her or Eliana when they were together, but you two are hella public. She's a scorned bitch, babe."

Klara was glad that she had Tony accompany her that day because even if she was actually able to handle it on her own, she just felt safer with him by her side. "Yeah, it's not the first time," she nodded. "And yes, I did tell him. That's why he has full custody and she barely has supervised visitation," Klara added as she kept walking, trying not to pay too much attention to her. "I just don't know what is her goal in all of it."

[mrstvrks]

"Yeah? Wouldn't you question anyone out for a stroll at this hour? It's not about judging. It's about being cautious. Better to be proactive than to invite trouble. Besides, I wasn't questioning. I was just commenting."

“Would you say that to anyone walking around at night?” He asked with a raised brow, arms folding over his chest. “Better walking around now than having people stare.”

[mrstvrks]

"Is that what you call it?" Tony questioned, gesturing around. "Because you look shady as hell walking out here right now."

“Always prefer nighttime walks. Helps clear the head, I suppose, or that’s what my therapist likes to tell me.”

[mrstvrks]

Tony looked over at Thor as he somewhat stumbled over his words, but when he smiled over at him, Tony returned it. "Of course, big guy." He reached up to cuff the back of his neck. "I'd never pass up an invitation from His Royal Highness," he smirked, dropping his hand. "Just stand behind me because I don't need the consequences of my amazing axe throwing skills to be the reason Asgard is down a prince." He gave him a teasing look, before taking an axe in hand. "So, Odin, huh?" He questioned, a moment later not making a big deal of it, but he knew his best friend really was going through it. Dark clouds aside. Taking an axe in hand, Tony continued, "First name status for Dad is usually reserved for Loki."

"I mastered it when I was very young," Thor confirmed, beaming at his friend. "Odin had me throwing all manner of weaponry nearly as soon as I could walk, it was a... A family tradition." He became suddenly very intently focused on the grip of his own axe, testing it over and over. He cleared his throat and beamed at Tony once more. "Thank you, dearest friend, for accompanying me. Jane forbade me from coming home if the clouds do not clear some," he said, gesturing towards the gray view out the window. "So -- in that spirit, shall we get to it? I find it to be extraordinarily relaxing!"

[mrstvrks]

Ben Barnes starring as Billy Russo THE PUNISHER S01E07 | ‘Crosshairs’

[mrstvrks]

"Considering this place is secluded and virtually off the map, forgive me for getting a little jumpy," he deadpanned, giving the younger man a look, before walking beside Pietro. Morgan took that moment to all but launch herself off of the deck. "Be careful, Mo," he lightly reprimanded, ruffling her dark curls. She nodded and paused only to hug Pietro quick around the legs, before she ran towards the lake where one of her brothers was waiting for her. "Well, you came with him," he nodded towards the lake and looked at Pietro. "I guess you guys worked it out? Or are working it out."

Pietro rolled his eyes and zipped in front of the older man. "You can't lose me. Literally impossible." He crossed his arms, somewhere between cocky and insulted by the very notion. Then a thought flashed across his face. "Besides. I wasn't following you, stupid. I was just. Walking behind you."

[mrstvrks]

"Wait, what?" Tony blinked and looked up at her, before his eyes darted past her. "You mean the one making shifty ass looking eyes over here?" He used his glasses to run stats of the woman and nodded when her suspicions were confirmed, subtly shifting so he was standing somewhat in front of Klara, blocking her from view. "Have you seen her do this before?"

"Uhhhhh," Klara let out a breath. "Is that someone a really hot woman your age with crazy eyes?" she asked, not daring to look behind but she had a good reason to believe she knew who was following them. "Because that would be Rafael's ex-wife and that would suck a lot if that was her."

[mrstvrks]

"I can't say that I ever have. Somehow that seems right up your alley, though." Tony knew Thor had been going through it since going back to Asgard, so he was more than happy to help distract him—even if that meant going axe throwing, which actually didn't sound bad. He walked over to where the other man was standing and shook his head as he took hold of one of the axes. "But I feel like you're at an extreme advantage with those guns of yours, Point Break."

[open]

"Tell me, my friend... have you ever thrown an axe before? It's very satisfying."

[mrstvrks]

"Blah, blah, blah, Harvard." He kissed his way up the side of Bruce's neck. "I didn't hear the words Tony or my husband in that sentence, so I don't actually care." Tony only moved back, just enough, when Bruce turned in his arms and leaned in to properly kiss him. "Yeah, I know I am. But you love me, so." Tony smirked and pressed another kiss to his lips. "But seriously, babe, come on. We both can't have raging insomnia and it's my birthday week, so you can't tell me no."

The moment he heard his husband walk through the door, Bruce knew that Tony was just not going to let him work in peace. "Well, baby, if you hadn't been trying to distract me the entire time, I'd have finished this paper on time and Harvard wouldn't have placed a bounty on my head for not delivering it," he said, rolling his eyes playfully and turned around in his arms. "You're really the worst, you know that, right?"

[mrstvrks]

"I don't think so, no." But truthfully, he hadn't gotten a good look at them. Once he realized they were being followed, his priority had been to get away from them. Tony retracted his faceplate and nodded, looking back at her. "You're good, though? You didn't get hurt or anything?"

Mantis fought the urge to look back to see who could be trailing them, not wanting to escalate the situation if she could avoid it. "Do you recognize them at all?" She questioned, looking for an escape route. "We should be able to turn up ahead, maybe we can shake them on that street."

[mrstvrks]

"You're hilarious. Truly," Tony deadpanned, rolling his eyes when the other man saw the state of the staircase. "I absolutely have no idea what I want you to do. I figured I'd ask before I got a suit or robot to do it." He huffed and looked back up the stairs. "Yep. I do. Who is coincidentally out with your husband-to-be and both of them think this is hilarious—Morgan Margaret, I'm not laughing," he added as the giggles at the top of the stairs got louder. "I will send a suit up there to blast you both. See, this is why me and Bruce are done having kids," he looked back at Edward, before cautiously making his way to the bottom of the stairs. "Because we tried again, thinking it couldn't possibly get worse than Peter and Johnny, and she's a psycho."

"So I take it he took your brains out with him?" Edward teased as he entered Tony's penthouse. The other man was vague enough on the phone that Ed was wondering what happened but knowing his daughter well enough, he knew it had something to do with her ever-growing powers. "Well, fuck," he only said when he looked at the completely frozen staircase. "Be a dear and tell me what do you want me to do about it? Don't you have a stepson that bursts into flames, who could melt it down?" Edward mused but approached the staircase nonetheless. "Eisa, come on. Uncle Ton-Ton is shivering with cold, isn't he?"

[mrstvrks]

"You're starting to get like me, doctor," Tony teased as he walked into the lab, doors shutting behind him. He smirked as he walked up behind his husband. "It's almost midnight, amore." Tony wrapped his arms around Bruce from behind and rested his chin on his shoulder. He pressed a kiss beneath his ear and said, "Nothing in the world could be this important." ; @brcbvnner

[mrstvrks]

"Someone's following us. We need to lose them."