bakerstreet | fell asleep on

Is this you saying you don't like it when I do that?

[You sure, Tony? You really sure?]

Not around the workbench.

[ It's a grump he's had before, Gene. No messing around the delicate equipment. ]

Oh, fine.

[You're such a grumpus, Tony.]

[ But now that Gene's moved, so can Tony. He pushes himself up and looks around the lab. Literally the only thing needing his attention is his suit. He's caught up with everything else.

... This is not a good place for Tony to be. The last time he was like this he went on an inventing spree. The patents were nice, but some of the experiments had to be dismantled... by him in the armor. Whoops. He's still sorry that one couldn't be made stable to work.

He stretches and looks around the room. ]

Wanna get something to eat?

Yeah, all right, [Gene says. He'd napped on Tony earlier, but now his stomach is beginning to get in on the unfortunate 'human needs' parade. And he knows how Tony gets when he gets in one of these inspiration jags.

Like he forgets to eat.]

What're you thinking? Pizza?

[ He'll forget to do anything until his body literally gives out on him. He's worked himself sick before and poor Gene - before they were dating - had gotten stuck babysitting him because everyone else had found someplace else to be.

Tony scratches at his hair. ]

Indian?

[ He grabs his phone and tucks it into his pocket. ]

Or we could get bad Chinese at that place on Seventh.

[ Teasing Gene? NEVER. ]

Do you want the lecture on how chop suey isn't actually authentic Chinese food again? [Gene says patiently.] Because that can be arranged.

[He's silently thankful that Tony wants to get up and out of the lab and stretch his legs at all. He doesn't want to repeat that babysitting incident.]

Do you want the "I don't care, it's good" response?

[ They have their things, and Tony is usually the instigator. No one knows why. Pepper despairs. ]

Why, though. Why would you do that to your poor defenseless tastebuds.

[Fucking foodie.]

[ Tony loves getting him riled. ]

Because if I want authentic Chinese, I'll just send you to get it.

[ Teleportation has it's advantages after all. ]

What I want is quick, simple, filling food... what about that one Greek place with the gyros?

[Gene makes a face. He's not a damn taxi and he's not your damn errand boy, Stark!]

Gyros sound good.

[ You love it and you know it. It's your chance to show off your powers and do something Tony can't.

Tony reaches for Gene's hand, in a rare show of open affection. ]

Then let's go. Then we'll come back and I'll start on the armor.

[Gene takes Tony's hand, smiling, some unusual shyness in his demeanor.]

Okay. Let's go, then.

[ Tony's not going to say anything about it because he likes, sometimes, when they do normal couple-y things. Like go out to dinner. They have so much other stuff - Mandarin stuff, Iron Man stuff, Stark stuff... to be fair, most of it is Tony's stuff - that it's nice every once in a while to be a couple with someone... who isn't Pepper. He loves Pepper dearly, but she'd drive him crazy. ]

Want to walk, or get a driver?

[ Since Tony hasn't done that whole 'learn to drive' thing yet. ]

Let's walk, [Gene says with authority. It might help Tony unwind and expend a little of that restless energy that's always animating him.

Besides, it could do them well to be normal for a bit.]

[ Normal? He's a billionaire teenager superhero. There's nothing normal about him. Plus, he probably should work on that homework that he's been putting off. While he doesn't have science classes at the Tomorrow Academy any more, his father had said that the normal classes - English, Drama, etc - were probably good for him.

Tony had disagreed loudly until his father had threatened his lab space. ]

Alright, let's go.

[ And he will tow Gene out the door, because now he really wants food. Anything to put off doing that stupid English essay. ... Maybe Pepper will do it for him. ]

[Whoop. And there they go!]

You just want to put off your homework, don't you, [Gene says, but allows himself to be towed out the door. He'd knocked out his own essay already, while Tony had been scienceing.]

There's an essay?

[ He even tries to sound innocent about it. He knows very well there's an essay and he's totally putting it off, and don't make him do homework, Gene! ]

[Gene arches one evil eyebrow.]

I didn't say 'essay'.

[BUSTED.]

[ Aw, dang it. Tony sighs. He's busted and he knows it. But at least Gene won't tell his Dad. The teacher however....]

I can do it later.

[ And he will! Possibly an hour before class, but later! ]

[Gene won't tell your dad because Gene is terrified of your dad, Tony.]

You'd better. Or else everyone's going to blame me for being a 'bad influence' on you, whatever that means.

[ What? He's just one of the few that can sort of keep up with Tony. Cuddly bear, really. ]

I will. And no one thinks you're a bad influence on me. Just look at Pepper and Rhodey.

[A cuddly bear who isn't exactly Gene's biggest fan. So, a regular bear, and Gene is wearing a meat suit.]

Okay, Pepper is definitely a worse influence...

[ Tony laughs and nudges Gene in the side with his elbow. ]

She is, but I meant she doesn't think you're a bad influence on me. Rhodey doesn't either.

[ Though, Rhodey's glad to have someone else help him try to drag Tony out of the lab and to school and all that fun stuff. ]

And that would be a first, [Gene mutters.

You'd think being a literal supervillain would cause some problems.]

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