LAURA

Tony was speaking into the phone and it was refreshing to watch him speak like that. He had a brazen smile on his face, fingers fiddling with his new suit on the work-table and silently listening to someone speak on the phone. Probably the infamous Ms Preece. Even amidst the chaos that brewed around us, he seemed so engrossed in his little world through the phone.

Banner and Vision in the front piloted the vessel, Carol watching over them silently. Beside her was Wanda, who spoke to her in quick tongues and immersed in a deep argument. I knew it was not my place to eavesdrop so I focused on Eddie. A smile lit my face when I saw his drowsy face over my shoulder, catching a nap before all hell broke loose. Whereas Peter, being the naive boy he was, overheard keenly to Tony on the phone.

'I'll be home, latest by tomorrow,' Tony said softly, his voice barely a whisper. As if he didn't want anyone to hear but not too great at it. 'How's Rome treating you, otherwise?'

I gleaned hard to hear her response. To be honest, she sounded like every British woman. Authoritative yet gentle. I imagined her as a brilliant professor. Blue eyes, blonde maybe? As tall as Tony and a stick-thin.

'I don't care about Rome, Tony. I care about you getting your sacrificial bottom annihilated by this creature.'

'It's an alien,' he mused. 'Honey, I promise you to zero kibitzing. But there are so many hot, superhuman women around me right now - '

' - Really?' Elle hummed, a small laugh leaving her. 'Stark, if you have forgotten, I'm in Pigneto. Home to the sexiest men in the world. And technically, we are on a break.'

'We are not,' he grumbled. 'We had a disagreement. Stop haranguing me, Preece.'

Even if Elle didn't see it, I did. It was adorable to see Tony Stark jealous, his eyes went hooded and it seemed like he was chewing the insides of his cheeks. What was more entertaining than a flustered Stark? An insecure one. He cleared his throat.

'Are you there?' Elle asked, the interface crackling when she let out another laugh. Tony's face picked up with a smile. God, this woman has him wrapped around her pinky. 'I was only pulling your leg, love.'

'Quick tip, season 3 Ross, don't do it again,' he said tersely, serious. 'I love you too much to lose you to sexy Italian men. Do you hear me? No boys, young lady, and remember our curfew.'

'Alright, Papa I never had,' she dragged out and Tony rolled his lips to conceal a laugh. 'If you don't mind, I have a conference to get back to. And you fancy your super-secret Avengers mission.'

'Wa-wa-wa-wait,' he murmured swiftly into the phone. 'Don't hang up.'

'What's wrong?' She sounded worried.

'What're you wearing?' 

I forgot I was eavesdropping and laughed out loud. Peter joined in, slapping his knee to poke more fun. Tony's slicing gaze fell on us, turning meek as he spotted me fumbling to hold in my laughter. He still had the phone pressed up against his ear. 

'Tch,' she sighed, unaware of our ridiculing. She continued when she heard silence. 'Fine. I'm wearing that brown suit from Balmain. The one that cost a bomb.'

He shamelessly grinned and I let out an inaudible scoff. 'Worth it. Deep V-neck - '

'Tony. Christ, you're insatiable.'

'I've been painted with a wonderful picture,' he said, content. 'You get on it like a car bonnet.'

'Goodbye,' she laughed at the English-slanged term he used with it. 'Be safe, please.'

'Yep, love you, too.'

When the line cut, Peter got down to harassing the man in love. Tony only rolled his eyes at the suited boy who was using his hands to animatedly poke fun.

'What're you wearing,' Peter mimicked him in a high-pitched, nasally voice, 'oh, something suggestive and o-oh, so worth it!'

I burst out laughing, my shoulders shaking so hard that I woke up Eddie. He woke up in a daze, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes to assess the situation. 

'Peter!'

He disregarded my call, making kissing noises while hugging himself and turning his back to Tony. Beck who sat behind Tony, placed a hand over mouth to control the laughter. 

'Oh, mm, oh, I'm so in love with you Elle!'

A screwdriver flew past the table, knocking Peter on the upside of his head. I believe he would have sensed it but he was just too respectful to dodge it. Peter rubbed the spot with a groan, still snickering under his breath.

'How come the lovebirds don't get laughed at when they're eating each other's faces off?' Tony claimed, pointing at Eddie and me with narrowed eyes. I shrugged and Eddie swooped to my rescue however foggy his memory was.

Eddie grimaced. 'Maybe because we're civil unlike you, mentally undressing that poor woman over the damn phone.'

Tony smirked. 'Touche.'

'Alright, you clowns,' Carol said loudly, quelling us while looking out the window to see the nearing landscape on the horizon. She fixed the bombs onto her waist, fisting her hands tightly. 'Comms in and eyes up. We're doing an air-drop.'

'Great,' Peter sun excitedly. 'Mr Stark, could I get a lift?'

'Nope, you're on your own after that one.'

His tawny face held a grimace as he looked to me. 'Laura?'

'Hang on!'

A low hoot of achievement left Peter when the latch opened out the back and allowing all the fighters to huddle towards the emanating light. The air was cold, whipping into us and immediately, my stomach churned with the height we were going to take a leap at.

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