002 | Tony Stark | Video

[manofiron]

[ The video begins with Tony rubbing at his forehead, eyes closed. ]

All right, so I might have had an idea about how to…

[ Lowering his hands, he opens his eyes, only to blink and allow the words to trail off into silence. He blinks again, turning away from the communicator as though searching the area around him for something. ]

You’ve got to be kidding.

[ It’s a low murmur under his breath, and abruptly he’s looking back at the communicator again. Actually looking at it. ]

It’s back. Just like—Steve! Anna! Are you listening to this? Are you okay? Is everything back to normal?

[ Whatever he’d been about to say originally has evidently been forgotten. ]

What about the rest of you? Sight, ability to talk, whatever. Is anyone still having trouble with it?

[ He grins then, happy and not afraid to let anyone see it. ]

Bruce! Put on that suit you got for Christmas. We’ve got some celebrating to do.

Comments

[ video ]

[gleans]

[ He's smiling! ]

Yeah, mine came back yesterday, I meant to ask. That's a relief, dude.

[video]

[justlove]

[Blaine's grinning as he responds.]

I just got my sight back yesterday.

[He sounds really relieved and happy that it wasn't permanent.]

[manofiron]

Seriously? That's great news!

Was there a catalyst? Anything you remember, anyway?

[manofiron]

You too? Fantastic!

[ Tony grins back at him, equally relieved. ]

How long were you stumbling around like an idiot? It's been... Hell, I don't even know. Since the party at least, for me.

[gleans]

Uh -- for losing it, or for getting it back?

[justlove]

Yeah, it's great!

I guess you missed me walking into a chair for everyone to see.

[Yep, he's still embarrassed about that.]

I think it was sometime before the party. Maybe the day before.

[He wasn't at the party, but he heard bits and pieces about it.]

[manofiron]

Getting it back. I think the catalyst was the unmarked packages we apparently got. At least, that's what I've been told.

[manofiron]

Well, that's the thing. I couldn't see.

[ He never thought he would be able to see again. ]

Thought it was just me for a while. I didn't realize it was affecting the whole town. Just another day at the Cape, huh?

[audio]

[greenisnteasy]

[When Bruce sees the message, his first impulse is to reply right away, say yes, and start planning what kind of celebration they might have -- but then reality kicks in. He'd told himself that once Tony got his sight back, he'd start putting distance between them, and it looks like the time for that is now. Tony's message is proof enough; he wants Bruce to be a friend, and Bruce... doesn't want that, and he can't have what he does want. It isn't fair to Tony to keep hanging around when Bruce has feelings for him, and anyway, Bruce and relationships don't work anymore.

So when he replies, it's audio, and he tries to sound distracted. If it were video, he's sure Tony could see right through him -- another reason to start distancing them now.]

That's great, Tony. I'm really glad to hear it.

[manofiron]

I know, right? I thought I was going to be blind forever.

[ Nothing really strikes him as odd about the lack of video or Bruce's distraction. Apparently he's working, or so Tony thinks, anyway. ]

So where are you? The clinic? I'll head over - I can actually do that now without ending up lost in the woods - and then we can go down to the bar from there.

[greenisnteasy]

[Here we go.]

I'd love to, but I've got my hands full over here, actually.

[manofiron]

Okay, skip the bar. I can help. Actually help this time, instead of standing around looking awkward. What're we working on? Fill me in.

[greenisnteasy]

[He clears his throat, and his speech is hesitant.]

That's the thing. You can't really... help. I promised the patient confidentiality.

[True -- he did promise Kenzi that he wouldn't tell anyone about her arm thing, and he really hasn't gotten far researching it for her, so his alibi holds up. He just doesn't really think he'll get much work done when he hangs up from this call, either.]

Maybe later?

[manofiron]

Okay, sure.

[ Untrusting as he is of doctors in general, Tony's not about to begrudge anyone confidentiality. ]

When are you going to be done? I'll meet you then.

[greenisnteasy]

At this point, I'm not really sure... It might be a late night over here.

Why don't I let you know?

[manofiron]

Okay.

Hey, listen. If you're not back by like, I don't know, six? Six-ish? I'll bring some coffee by. I won't come in or peek in the windows or anything, no confidentiality disturbing, I'll just leave it by the door.

[ Tony's pulled so many late-nighters that he knows that getting through them often depends on the quantity of coffee at hand. ]

[greenisnteasy]

[He's kind of like a puppy he's trying to swat away. Bruce pinches the bridge of his nose and wrestles with himself; he doesn't want to stop being his friend entirely, but he doesn't know how to find that balance.]

Sure, that'd be great.

[They won't have to see each other, and then Bruce just won't see him the rest of the day.]

[manofiron]

Okay, great!

[ Not to be deterred, and not realizing anything's wrong, he moves right along. ]

But tomorrow, seriously, you and me. Celebrating.

[greenisnteasy]

Sure.

[Bruce is starting to sound tired.]

We'll see.

[manofiron]

[ He hears that weariness and automatically jumps to the wrong conclusion. ]

I'll bring some coffee by right now. And some later. It'll be fine. Don't worry. Whatever you're working on, you'll figure it out.

[greenisnteasy]

No -- I'm fine, Tony.

[No, he isn't. All he wants is to tell Tony to come over, to go get that drink with him; he rests his face against his hand for a second before he picks it up again.]

Just busy. I'll talk to you later.

[manofiron]

Sure. Get back to work. Coffee in half an hour. And at six. It'll be there. Don't forget to take a break and go get it.

[greenisnteasy]

[This is going to be harder than he thought, especially when Tony's persistence is making him just want to give up for the day.

No, Banner. Get it together.]

Alright, I won't.

[He already isn't planning on going home until late, very late, and he could always sleep over at Kenzi and Phil's, or Wallie's. It might be easier that way; Tony tempts his resolve.]

[manofiron]

Great. See you tonight.

[ Coffee will be sitting at the door of the clinic in half an hour and later at 6. And Tony will sit up waiting for him until about midnight, when he'll start to realize that he isn't coming back any time soon. ]

[gleans]

Yeah, I think that was the deal with me, too. Opened a box and I was screwed. I, uh... I don't really remember what I was doing when I got it back, though. Maybe whatever it was just wore off, or something?