Despite the distinct awareness that Bruce's silence said nothing and everything, it wasn't until he finally came out with a final product that Tony allowed himself a smile.

It came on far slower than he'd intended, crept up his face and would stay there as he ducked his head again - smoothing his fingers higher up, beyond Bruce's elbow as he shifted closer, plucking another piece of metal from his friend. How he wasn't pouring with blood fascinated him more than it ought to, and perhaps another day he'd like to test the constant effects of the Other Guy on Bruce's natural body in other ways.

Which begged that other question.

The laughter bubbled from him without warning, and he lifted his hand up to his mouth to try and cover it - sitting upright as soon as it passed, hand dropping idly at his side, barely hanging on to the tweezers between his fingers.

"The coffee table's pretty sturdy."