003 ACTION; The Hunger-pains of Teddy Altman, aged 17 3/4

[teddyalt_man]

[Action to Avengers household, Tony specifically]

He'd snuck down before. He'd had to. Mostly for food, mostly because being in his room all the time was driving him mad. He felt... like some sort of weird prisoner, not wanting to be seen. He wasn't, he knew no one was keeping him locked anywhere. It was just easier, not to speak to anyone. He didn'

Comments

[ironfail]

[Tony was starting to hate the kitchen. Every time he wanted to avoid someone, he ran into them in the kitchen. It was like a curse. It'd been another long couple of days in the workshop though, working on anything and everything just to take his mind off things, and he'd finally given in to the need to eat food that wasn't granola bars and energy drinks. It was the middle of the night, he reasoned. The chances of him running into anyone else was way slim. So he dragged himself upstairs, not bothering to clean up the grease and sweat and grime that had accumulated from several days of work and not bathing. He looked like a hobo and he didn't fucking care. Because he wasn't going to run into anyone -

Damn. Screw this kitchen.

He has about three seconds to decide whether to run back out of the kitchen or pretend like he doesn't even notice Teddy. Unfortunately, he has a feeling Pepper would frown at either of these options, so he sighs and tries his best not to act totally awkward.] Hey.

[teddyalt_man]

[Teddy had noticed Tony as soon as the man had appeared in the doorway, and he'd not been able to move. It was like a deer and a truck, Teddy was just sort of hypnotized into standing there even though every logical reaction screamed that he should run run run. Maybe Tony was just passing through, on his way somewhere else. Maybe he was sleep-walking and hadn't seen Teddy at all. Maybe this was just some evil Tony-robot here to kill Teddy and right now it was just warming up the lasers...

Or maybe not. Maybe it really was Tony Stark. Awake, even if he smelt like a dead thing.]

I... er... Hi.

[And with that, Teddy backs away slightly, towards the most distant corner, just in case. More distance means he's less likely to do something stupid.]

[ironfail]

[Tony sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. He sees you backing away, Teddy, that's a bit of an extreme reaction. And he's not gonna cut you any slack. Casually walking over to the fridge, he opens it and pokes around for something quick and easy to make.] I see you've finally come out of your hide-y hole.

[teddyalt_man]

[Yes, he has, but right now he wants to run right back up there. It's just he can't get there without passing Tony.]

Yeah I... I was hungry.

[Then there's a couple of deep breaths]

I'm really really sorry about what I did.

[ironfail]

[Tony tenses ever so slightly, still facing the fridge. And here he'd been hoping they would both be cowards and ignore the subject completely.] There's nothing to apologize for. I should be apologizing to you.

[teddyalt_man]

I kissed you. It wasn't your fault. I... I was... [He's floundering. Being drunk isn't an excuse. He wanted to kiss Tony Stark. He can't help that. What he can help is that he didn't have enough self-control to keep himself to himself. That's not forgiveable. It shows he has no respect for Tony, or Pepper... and Billy. He's only been away a few weeks and this. It makes him feel sick and he isn't hungry anymore.]

[ironfail]

[Okay, Tony can't do this while staring into the fridge, as much as he'd like to. He closes the door and turns around, leaning back against the cool metal.] I should have stopped you, not encouraged you like I was doing. I'm supposed to be the responsible adult, though I know I sure as hell don't act like one.

[teddyalt_man]

[Although it was easier for Teddy when he didn't have to look at Tony's face.]

You didn't know what I was going to do.

[ironfail]

[Tony can't help the chuckle that escapes his lips.] Something tells me you didn't know what you were going to do either.

[teddyalt_man]

[Teddy nods, fighting the blush that threatened his face] I didn't think... It wasn't the plan.

[ironfail]

Right, see? No harm done. I certainly can't fault you for something I've done loads of times before. [Been dumb and acted on impulse, that is, though he'd certainly kissed plenty of people he wasn't supposed to, back in the day.]

[teddyalt_man]

[Teddy almost, almost believed him. Tony and his charm and smile and handsome features could probably sell sand in the desert but Teddy couldn't quite believe it was that simple. Especially as... well, he still sort of wanted to do it again.

The urge was just... lessened a bit.

Still he did manage to smile though] Well, at least I know the internet is wrong about one thing. Tony Stark is not the best kisser in the world.

[ironfail]

[That earns him a raised eyebrow from Tony, feigning hurt.] That is a downright lie, kid. I deserve medals for my kissing. Trophies, even. That travesty at my party? That could barely be called kissing.

[teddyalt_man]

[Teddy grins, and shrugs] You only get the one attempt, and it was pretty poor. Whoever been telling you you're good has been lying to you.

[ironfail]

It doesn't count if you catch me by surprise. Talk to Pepper, she can guarantee my kisses are mindblowing.

[teddyalt_man]

[He shakes his head, moving now, not feeling as if he is frozen to the floor. He manages to pick up his feet and grab something to eat out of the fridge, tucking into it.]

Secondary accounts don't have any influence. You can't change the decision, Tony. You're just not as good at kissing as you thought. There's no shame in that, at your age. [Maybe Teddy's pushing it now, but he's grinning wide and he's clearly not meaning a word of it]