Settling In
Tony shook his head as he paused in front of the bedroom that Harley and Peter now shared. The two boys were disassembling something. He couldn't tell what, but he had a sinking feeling that giving in to those two sharing a room even if only on a trial basis was still playing with fire.
He shook his head again and moved on until he reached Jemma's room. He stood quietly in the doorway and listened fondly as Bruce read to the girl that leaned against his chest. Bruce made to turn the page after a long passage, but paused and looked up at him.
"Something up?" He asked.
"No. Well, yes. But I was just listening." Tony looked at Jemma. "Do you mind if I listen or do you want this to be Jemma and daddy time? Because I totally understand."
The little girl looked hesitant before meekly saying, "Maybe next time? I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, Jem," he reassured her. "I'm okay with you and your dad having time just the two of you. I was just going to say when you're done here, Bruce, meet me in my workshop."
"Okay," Bruce said with a nod.
"Enjoy your story and sweet dreams," Tony said with a smile and then left.
On his way to his workshop, he passed the gym and paused when he heard the sound of a punch. He ducked his head in and found Sam and Steve sparring in the ring.
"I'm still trying to figure out how you've never played football, man," Sam said, voice ragged from the exertion of energy. "I mean, dude, you're practically like the All-American."
Steve laughed, sounding less winded. "Yeah, I've gotten that before actually. Cracks about the blonde hair and blue eyes. Hilarious."
"Yeah, there's that," Sam said after nearly taking a punch from letting his guard slip. "But pretty sure they also meant the physique." Steve laughed again. "Some people just scream all-star," Sam said.
Tony ducked back out, leaving them to their spar, but not without a thoughtful scrunch of his face and click of his teeth. Shaking his head yet again, he then moved on finally to his workshop only to find Wanda was there.
"Hey, pretty flower, whatcha doing?" He asked her when he came in.
"Butterfingers seemed like he needed a small tune-up," she said about one of the robots he had created and she had practically taken on as her pets over the years.
"You're following safety guidelines right?" Tony asked in concern and she noddhead "Wish you would have told me. Could have worked on it together," he said.
"You mean you wanted to supervise me," she corrected.
"Still your dad, sweetheart," he replied snappily. He knew she could do it herself without getting hurt, but the last thing he wanted was an accident because he gave the kids too much trust.
I assure you, sir I was monitoring the situation and would have alerted you had there been the slightest issue, JARVIS intoned and sounded almost offended that his 24/7 role as protector and guard dog, in a sense, had been overlooked.
"Of course, J," Tony acknowledged and moved to watch Wanda work. "So, how are you adjusting?"
She shrugged. "It's only been a few days. It doesn't feel any different than their last visits yet," she responded. "I'm not sharing a room and Dr. Banner's kids will probably have it harder," she added.
"Okay, different question, Miss Perceptive. Any clue what your brother and Peter are up to?" Tony raised an inquisitive brow.
"I think they're strapping a camera to Harley's helicopter to turn it into a spy copter or something." Her tone was entirely bored.
Tony's eyes widened. "Well, I guess it's more character building than hacking JARVIS for his security feed."
Wanda laughed. "Only by a little."
"What are Peter and Harley up to?" Bruce asked, announcing his presence, and Tony turned to see him looking around in awe like he had the first time he'd been into the workshop.
"Character building," Wanda answered the question and Bruce chuckled.
"Why do I get the feeling that means they're up to something questionable?" He asked as he came over toward the work bench.
"Because it does," Tony replied with a chuckle of his own.
They didn't say anything else for a few moments. Tony watched Bruce as Bruce watched Wanda work on Butterfingers. The other man was clearly impressed.
"Robotics aren't my thing," Bruce finally said. "You'll have to show me the basics some time."
Tony smiled at the offer as did Wanda. "I'd like that," she said.
"So," Bruce started. "Was there something you wanted me for?" He gestured between him and Wanda. "I mean, I can come back if—"
"No, it's fine," Tony interjected. "Wanda has this covered. And JARVIS has her covered apparently," Tony jabbed at the AI. "So if you'll come along this way, Doctor," he said with an eager smile and nod behind him. Tony saw the encouraging and knowing smile that spread across Wanda's face before he turned.
Tony led him to the far end of the room where there was a door with an access panel. Tony quickly punched in the code and the door slid open. Past the door was a newly renovated lab.
"So this is the lab?" Bruce said with no small amount of intrigue as he walked in and began taking in the sight. "I was beginning to think you made it up."
"No, it just…" Tony shook his head. "It wasn't exactly presentable before. Hadn't been used in years. Lots of outdated equipment. Bio isn't really my thing."
He saw Bruce's eyes widen in understanding and genuine concern. "This was Maya's lab," he said knowingly.
"It was," Tony said with a nod. He then took a breath. "But now it's yours if you want it. For however long you're here. I had it updated and better equipped for your expertise," he explained.
Bruce looked around, obviously overwhelmed. "Tony… You didn't have to do this. I don't expect you to… If this was Maya's…" Bruce sighed and gave him an uncertain glance as if the physicist had committed a crime just being there.
Tony crossed over to him. "Maya would be happy to know it was being used to better the world by someone who can truly appreciate a space like this," Tony said with conviction as he took Bruce's hands into his own. "Everybody has a space in this house. Well, the kids have their niche spaces even if they share them," he added with a hitch of his shoulder. "So I wanted you to have a space too. I'm okay with this. I promise. Actually, it was a little surprising at first how okay I was with this gesture until I realized it's because of you."
He squeezed the physicist's hands and then let go of one, moving his free hand to rest along the side of Bruce's neck instead. He let his thumb brush the stubble along Bruce's jaw back and forth a few times.
Tony continued gently. "For the longest time I never would have believed I could care enough about anyone else to take this kind of step forward, but you've changed that. That's how I know this is real. And maybe it's a little selfish of me to use you for my own healing, but—"
Bruce closed the space between them and brought their lips together, effectively bringing that point to an abrupt but pleasant stop.
"You're not the only one who's healing here, Tony," he said, pulling away. Tony furrowed his brow. "Other than my kids and a few people, I don't usually let people get this close. It's just not always easy for me. It's probably why most of my relationships never went very far. Not just because I had a lot of kids. That was… a reason, but not the only one." He sighed, sounding rueful. "I still have a lot of things that haunt me and a good deal of pessimism that holds me back. You see the glass half full with room to expand. I see it as an even amount, something that just is. It's not half empty or half full, it's just a glass of water," he seemed desperate to explain.
Tony followed Bruce's earlier cue and brought their lips together again.
"I think I get it," he said, pitching his voice lower. "You're analytical." Bruce shrugged and gave a small nod. "And you're analytical because you're brilliant. That's not a bad thing. It's the opposite of a bad thing. I might see the glass half full, but that's not always a good thing. If I didn't have six kids, I'd be a lot more reckless or probably dead by now," he said honestly. "And even with kids, sometimes I think there aren't enough boundaries or I shouldn't let, you know, one of my daughters work on robots with only AI supervision," he stated, reaching for humor but not wanting to lose the point he was trying to make.
He looked Bruce intently in the eyes. "You are brilliant and I love that about you. I wouldn't want that to be different. The glass of water can take care of itself," he said before kissing him again to make his point clearer.
He wasn't going to take for granted that Bruce was letting him get this close, learn the things that made the other man most vulnerable because he knew Bruce didn't take it for granted the ways Tony was letting him into those parts of himself that had once been filled by someone else.
Bruce's lips parted wide in invitation against his own and Tony deepened the kiss as they pressed in closer, bodies reaching for one another of their own accord.
"I need you," Bruce whispered, prying himself away to do so.
Tony chased his lips for a few more, admittedly sloppy, kisses before pulling away with a nod. "I think that can be arranged."
Bruce chuckled a little to himself as he left the break room designated for the team of scientists he was assigned to work with. It was his first day, which was mostly going through the typical orientation routine. He was getting to know the building and people and would continue to do similar things for the remainder of the week. But so far he had aa distinct feeling Tony had had a hand in placing him with a group he would find amusing.
And their apparent tradition of playing Manic Monday in the break room on loop on Mondays was amusing. It would probably get old fast, but it was amusing.
Bruce glanced at his watch as he went to his locker and put away his lab coat and name badge. He also grabbed the massive Stark Industries employee manual he was tasked with reading before the end of the week. He then made his way toward Tony's office.
It wasn't the end of the work day, but it was registration day for the K-8 S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy and so he – along with other employees whose kids were enrolled there, Tony assured him – was going to meet Tony so they could meet their youngest kids there. Bruce mused about how quickly he'd learned to trust his kids being chauffeured places without his supervision and wondered if that made him a bad father.
He didn't have time to consider that thought before nearly running into Pepper as she came off the elevator the same time he was rounding the corner to the hall Tony's office sat on.
"Good afternoon, Dr. Banner," she addressed him properly as she warned him she would during the work day; he didn't mind. "I'm just taking some paperwork to Mr. Stark's office," she said with a sigh and he gestured for her to go ahead of him. "My secretary is on vacation and I'm between personal assistants at the moment," she explained. "I keep telling Tony I'm going to snag one of his kids as soon as they graduate, but hey I guess you have a few you could offer too." She gave a friendly laugh.
"Natasha would probably be good at that," Bruce said thoughtfully. "But I hope you find somebody sooner," he offered.
"Thank you," she said, sounding genuine. "How do you like your team now that you've met them?"
"Uh, they're great," he said genuinely even if he wasn't entirely familiar with them yet. "So many brilliant minds in one space… It's a little scary actually," he said with a laugh.
She laughed as well. "Yes, it is." Pepper then tilted her head as they came to a stop outside Tony's office. "And not to make you feel uncomfortable, but did you get any sort of sense that there might be a problem with them regarding your relationship with Mr. Stark? Because we took great care to place you with a team we believed would be less inclined to make that kind of judgment. But we can only do so much." She shrugged apologetically.
"They were all very friendly and if they did think anything, they kept it to themselves," Bruce replied. "In fact, a few of them had actually read my work and seemed pleased to have me on the team. That… I think that was a little weirder than any judgment glares I would have gotten," he said.
"Oh, please," Pepper scoffed as she knocked on Tony's office door and then opened it. The billionaire wasn't inside. "I'm not a scientist, but I've worked around them long enough to know when someone is truly brilliant. It's an instinct I've developed over the years. As soon as I started reading over your information, I had no doubts as to why Mr. Stark was interested in your working for us. Neither did our hiring department."
"Well, thank you," he said lamely, but he meant it. He looked around and then looked at his watch as she placed a folder down on Tony's desk. "You should know now, Bruce," she indulged in the use of his name, he guessed because they were in the privacy of Tony's office, "Tony is not always the pantheon of punctuality. He's gotten better since, well, necessity." He understood she meant as a single parent. "But he gets distracted easily and loses track of time and sometimes dates. I'm assuming he should have been expecting you."
"Registration day at S.H.I.E.L.D., today and tomorrow," he supplied.
"Ah, well, I wouldn't know anything about that," Pepper said with a small shrug. "I hope his being late doesn't cause any trouble." She seemed hesitant about something. "Happy and I have been discussing adoption," she shared at last.
"Oh?" He asked with a smile. "Well, I'm sure you know I'm very pro-adoption. It's not an easy process. I got very lucky with my kids being very special cases. But if you're wondering if you'll be able to love them as much as if they were yours, the answer is you will. If you and your husband really want children, then the feeling will be the same. Jane and Jemma are mine biologically, but I don't love them any more or less than my other children," he said in example. "Still, there are wonderful pre-adoption programs out there now to help with the process and what you can be expected to face emotionally or financially. I didn't have go through any with my first three, but I went through one when trying to adopt Natasha just because it was the hardest process."
Pepper smiled. "Happy and I might just have to pick your brain on this."
"Tony has Wanda and Pietro," Bruce pointed out.
She shook her head. "Yes, but Tony is, well, Tony. He and Maya really didn't have much trouble at all. I'm a Fortune 500 COO, a woman no less, without the luxury of being a socialite. I'm not entirely sure they would like how my schedule looks on an application or the fact that Happy and I live in a loft apartment rather than a traditional house. Things like that."
Bruce nodded. "Well, if you need help of any kind or want to discuss it, I'm more than happy to do what I can. And I wish you and Happy luck."
"Thank you," she responded.
"Jeez, I am so sorry," Tony interrupted at that moment and Bruce turned to see him in the doorway. "I was alerted by IT that a certain asshole was looking for a backdoor into our archives," he muttered angrily.
"Hammer?" Pepper asked.
"Not sure yet, but I'd be willing to bet a small fortune on it," the billionaire grumbled. "Probably looking for left over weapon schematics or project details," he said with a sigh. "Alright, well, I guess we'd better get going. Principal Coulson is not a man who likes to be kept waiting."
Bruce understood what he meant upon being introduced to the man in the one on one meeting that followed a quick new student orientation where the children were also given their tentative schedules, for the kids in grades six through eight, and teacher assignments, for those in elementary. Principal Coulson was dressed in a pristinely pressed black suit and the way he carried himself reminded Bruce of a secret service man.
"Normally we would schedule these meetings with each individual parent," Coulson said once he and Tony were settled in the chairs in front of his desk. It was a bit of a comedic sight, Bruce thought, as Jane, Wanda, Pietro, Darcy, Peter and Harley crowded around in extra seats proffered for them and Jemma sat in his lap. He was certain Coulson even had an amused twinkle in his eyes as he studied them. "But as you've informed us of the living situation and your wish to keep things as blended as possible, I'm willing to make the exception. Alright, we'll start with our middle-schoolers. Now that you've seen the schedules, are there any concerns?"
"Is Jane in the advanced science program?" Bruce asked first. He had expected to see that indicated on the schedule, but it hadn't been.
Coulson pulled up her schedule on his computer and narrowed his eyes. "She took the advanced placement test for that program, yes?"
"Yes," Bruce answered.
Coulson typed in something else and studied the screen. "Ah, I see what happened. And that's very embarrassing. There's a Bannes in her grade level and it looks like there was an error somewhere and Bannes' schedule was duplicated for Jane. My apologies." He quickly began fixing Jane's schedule and soon there was a print out behind him. "Here you go. I'll take the other." Jane came over and traded off before returning.
"Now we have a few classes together," Wanda said eagerly.
"Some of the advanced science classes overlap," Coulson explained before he could ask. "It's a matter of readiness rather than grade level."
"I don't have any classes with Wanda," Pietro protested and Bruce saw Coulson sigh slightly before looking at Tony. "Except lunch," Pietro clarified.
"There are a few reasons for that," Coulson started delicately. "With Wanda being in the advanced program, less and less classes are going to line up that meet their individual needs," he said without stating outright it had to do with Pietro's struggles with academics. "I could perhaps find one other class that could line up, maybe an elective or gym perhaps," he hedged before continuing, "but we do feel it might be in Pietro's best interests if he has more independent socialization apart from Wanda."
Tony looked over at his son and then back at the principal. "I wasn't aware he was having problems making friends."
"He doesn't," Coulson said, "when he allows himself to. But he's very clingy with his sister and while I understand the bond between twins is very special, it can also become a problem later if he becomes too dependent on her or vice versa."
Tony nodded. "Got it. Maybe the elective if you can to ease him into it. Then next year we'll see."
"Alright, I'll look into it and email you a new schedule if it's doable," Coulson said. "I see Darcy is wearing her glasses. I hope we won't have any more notes home about how she's not wearing them in the classroom like the end of last year?" He raised an eyebrow toward the girl.
"Dad bought me a bunch more frames I liked for my birthday so now I'm a fashionista," Darcy chirped and Bruce smiled in spite of the admission of being spoiled rotten.
"Dr. Banner's suggestion," Tony quipped beside him.
"Whatever works," Coulson said non-judgmentally with a small laugh. "Okay so I want to discuss Peter and Harley at the same time. Peter's placement test easily puts him at a 5th grade level rather than 4th, Dr. Banner." Bruce winced and Coulson seemed to understand his apprehension. "I assure you we take readiness very seriously here. I wouldn't just toss Peter into a 5th grade classroom with peers a year older. Sometimes that year makes a world of difference and sometimes it doesn't. I am, however, interested in what the both of you think about placing Peter and Harley in one of our advanced intermediate classes."
"What's that?" Bruce asked and he glanced at Tony to gauge his response.
"In Peter's and Harley's case it would be a combined 4th and 5th grade classroom that takes into consideration advanced needs of the lower grade level. For example, let's say Peter can do well with effort at 5th grade English, but it would be better for his needs to remain at a 4th, in this classroom he could work at either level as needed based on the material. Some 4th graders in these classrooms never work on the 5th grade material. On the other hand, we've had entire years where every 4th grader was working on the same material as the 5th graders so essentially it was a 5th grade classroom, but some were a year younger." Coulson paused his explanation to let them process the scenario. "The purpose is to avoid having a student as the lone younger student in a classroom simply because he has the fortune of being more intelligent. We don't wish to punish intelligence here, Dr. Banner. We find that this method allows acclimation for an advanced student by allowing them the ability to float between peers his own age or those that are older. Typically, it reduces the pressure of fitting in and prepares them mentally to skip a grade the following year. For example, Peter may make friends with several fifth graders and find himself ready to move onto sixth grade along with them. Does that make sense?"
Bruce took in all the information and slowly digested it, wishing he'd been as fortunate in having gone to a school that cared about students to this extent. Finally he nodded. "I think so. You want to monitor Peter's progress in an intermediate class rather than relying on the placement test."
"Absolutely. Now, with Harley…" Coulson glanced at the boy and then looked at Tony. "I'm curious if he and Peter get along."
"Principal Coulson, if you're suggesting putting those two in the same classroom," Tony started with a laugh as he looked over at both their sons and shook his head, "you might end up suing me for damages before the end of the year. Or at least run the risk of losing whatever poor soul that has the task of being their teacher."
Bruce snorted. "He might have a point. They do get along," he answered the previous question. "But maybe a little too well in the impish sort of way," he warned.
Coulson merely smiled. "That sounds preferable to Harley's situation last year. Harley," Coulson addressed the boy, "if given the chance to be in the same classroom as Peter, would you prefer that?"
"Heck yeah!" Harley exclaimed. "Wouldn't that be cool?" He and Peter started chattering lowly between them.
Coulson gestured as if to say he had proven a point. "Built-in buddy system. Basically the opposite of what I'm suggesting for Wanda and Pietro because I think Harley needs that right now."
"It wouldn't hurt for Peter either," Bruce added thoughtfully. "He's fairly adaptable, but he could also stand a little motivation to be more interested in going to school."
"So I guess that brings us to Jemma," Coulson said with a smile. "Another very intelligent young lady it would seem according to her placement test. But I won't be recommending her for our 2nd and 3rd grade intermediate classroom," Coulson said evenly. "Her answers to the questions regarding socialization left enough room for concern."
Bruce narrowed his eyes. "Concern?"
"Her answers were perhaps a little too perfect," Coulson said, looking as though he was deliberating over his choice of words. "In my experience when a child of her age answers questions as a model for perfect behavior, there are adaptability issues. In new situations or situations where they're placed on the spot, the pressure is sometimes too much. These children typically excel at perfect behavior because they've developed a rule of order at an early enough age, but because they're just children there's little room for expansion or open mindedness there. Placing her in an intermediate classroom may be too much of a challenge for her at this point especially given your recent life change."
Bruce looked at his daughter and hoped he hadn't been hurting her somehow by not encouraging her to be more spontaneous or by being so impressed by her model behavior. He'd thought he had been encouraging her to be herself.
Skye had seen the man before and had heard the stories, but sitting in a classroom with Principal Fury standing at the front was more intimidating than her soon-to-be freshman heart would like to admit. He was tall and burly looking and only had one eye, a black patch covering the spot where the other would be. Then again, Vice Principal Hill – who she did know as she was also the athletics head – was just as intimidating in this setting as she stood menacingly off to the side.
Skye looked around the classroom Fury had commandeered for this meeting since there were seven of them at once in addition to her dad and Dr. Banner. When she looked back at Principal Fury, he seemed to be studying the situation, but whether or not his conclusion was good or bad she couldn't tell from his neutral expression.
Finally he shook his head and looked at her dad and Bruce where they stood rather than sat. "Four new students from the same family. I'm not surprised Tony Stark is involved."
"Well, you know me, Nick. I just like to go around collecting children," Tony said and Bruce made a choking noise.
"So that's why you're interested in me?" He asked teasingly before looking back at the principal. "If it's a problem…" He started, but Fury waved a hand.
"Of course not," Fury said. "So our secretary says you're all living in the same place now so we need to discuss your expectations for how you want us to treat your collective little army."
"As blended as possible," Tony answered. "I want Dr. Banner added as an emergency contact for my children and—"
"I've already indicated Mr. Stark as the other contact when I applied," Bruce finished the statement and gave Tony a sheepish smile and shrug.
"Alright. Blended," Fury said with a nod. "That means we're looking at a situation where we have seven students living under the same roof and now attending the same school, some of which are in the same grade. This should be fun."
"Are you sure it isn't a problem?" Bruce asked and Skye had to admit she was curious too.
Fury looked at him as if in consideration. "No, not exactly, but we do prefer to prevent situations were siblings spend the entire school day in the same classes. Between the classes that overlap grade levels, electives, AP, it can happen and it's not always ideal. We find it helps with character development and reduces sibling rivalry if shared classes are kept to a minimum. Usually we just switch around their homerooms or something along those lines in order to give the student the courses the need or want without the overlap. This is a unique case as there typically aren't this many students from the same household in the school at one time."
Fury paused and looked them over. Skye glanced around at the others quickly before darting her eyes back toward Fury should he be upset her attention wasn't solely on him.
"The thing here is your children technically aren't siblings so maybe there's a loophole there, but I'd prefer not to exercise it if need be. So I'm going to have to look over their schedules very carefully and see if we can't keep any excessive overlap to a minimum," he finished, sounding extremely put upon. "I'm warning you now, some of you may have to switch electives to make that possible."
"You know, Sam's technically technically not related to any of them," Tony pointed out with a wag of his finger. "And I don't mean that as in Sam is the adopted redheaded child—"
"That would be me," Natasha quipped nonchalantly and Skye thought Fury looked almost amused by it.
"—but his living arrangement is, as you know, only until his father finishes his current tour overseas and can hopefully return to his station here in New York."
"Your point, Mr. Stark?" Fury asked.
"My point, Principal Fury, is that I would prefer that if there's an issue with schedule overlapping and it comes down to required switches he get first choice of which electives he keeps. He shouldn't be punished just because I'm his guardian from time to time."
Fury studied Tony carefully and then the rest of them. "Alright, that's a reasonable enough request. Let me see your tentative class selections so I can see what we're dealing with."
He came over and swooped up their filled out schedules before moving back to the desk. He then looked them over for what felt like an eternity, Hill looking over them as well. "Those two probably make the most sense for the same homeroom," she said, pointing at a few spots.
Fury nodded. Finally he commandeered the teacher's desk and began scribbling on a few with a red pen.
While he did that, Hill came over to stand in front of Steve and Thor. "I've seen your boys' sports records. S.H.I.E.L.D. could use both of you. I assume I can look forward to your trying out for the same teams you were on at your last school?" She asked, looking at Thor.
"I was planning on it," Thor answered.
"Good. Our football and wrestling teams could definitely use you." She then looked at Steve. "What about you, Steve? Have you ever played football?"
For some reason Steve sighed and shook his head. "No. I mean, not outside of playing with friends."
"Loren, a moment," Fury called over to them.
"Dude, I forgot your name was Loren," Clint leaned over and muttered. Skye thought Loki seemed pleased by that as he stood and walked over to the principal.
"Do you understand the basics of the game?" Hill continued to question Steve about football.
"Sure," he said with a nod.
"Then I'd like you to consider trying out. With your speed on the track, I'd like to see how you do on a field."
Steve looked at Sam, who shrugged, before saying, "I'll have to think about it."
"That's acceptable." Skye caught the tell-end of whatever Loki was speaking with Fury about. Loki returned over with his schedule in hand, Fury following behind.
Fury handed back their schedules."Alright, take those back to the gym and get your official schedules, planners, locker assignments and supply lists. Also, Banners, you'll need to stop by the tech desk we have set up to get your school emails registered." Fury then left, but not without looking at Tony and Bruce, shaking his head one more time.
"Try outs are on the 28th. Think seriously about trying out. There might be a spot for you too if you're interested, Sam," Hill said as she moved toward the door. "And, Stark," she added before leaving, "congratulations on finding someone willing to put up with you."
"What was that about?" Bruce asked Tony in amusement and Skye snickered.
Tony groaned. "When I was getting back into the dating scene I made the mistake of asking her to dinner. Quite honestly one of the worst dates of my life," he answered.
"Yeah, Coach Hill says the same thing," Clint quipped.
"Lucky for me," Bruce said sappily.
"So anyone else get Hand for homeroom?" Sam asked.
"I did," Steve said and they began comparing schedules.
A grin spread across Skye's face. She made a silent wish that if Sam and Steve had enough classes together it would help things along. After all, she had a sneaking suspicion Steve's feelings weren't just growing stronger but also reciprocated.
"One week down," Tony said as he dipped a strawberry into a pot of chocolate that sat on the table between him and Bruce. He pulled it out and looked at it for a moment. "Think we'll get through week two?" He asked, raising his brow and leaning towards Bruce.
Bruce leaned in as well and ate the strawberry held between Tony's thumb and index finger. He hummed contentedly. "I think so."
Tony used his other hand and carefully grabbed Bruce by the chin. "You've got a little…" He didn't finish the sentence before kissing Bruce slowly.
Jane sighed louder than she meant to and her dad and Tony broke apart, one with a smile and the other with a soft chuckle.
"Did you hear something?" Tony asked in mock ignorance.
"Maybe you have mice," Bruce suggested as he dipped a strawberry into the chocolate.
"You mean maybe we have mice," Tony countered. "You live here too now."
"Slipped my mind," Bruce said, feeding Tony the strawberry.
Then they kissed again and there was a loud squeak of excitement, this time from Darcy. Jane looked at the girl beside her with wide eyes as Tony laughed outright.
"So much for date night," Tony said, sounding amused. He nodded for them to come over from where they were spying.
"Sorry," Jane apologized earnestly when she reached them. "It's just so romantic." She sighed once more because she couldn't help herself.
Her dad smiled at Tony with that dreamy look he got sometimes. "Yeah, I guess chocolate fondue is pretty romantic."
"And delicious!" Darcy exclaimed as she ate a strawberry practically covered in chocolate to her finger tips.
"Well, I guess we have two options here, Bruce," Tony said. "Shoo away the mice and start over or…"
Bruce nodded. "Fondue party," he completed the sentence and Tony's smile made it obvious that Bruce said exactly what he was going to say.
Jane sighed again because that was romantic too.