Equations (Gen)
A snapshot, a moment in time. (Face, in Tony's workshop, a few weeks after finding sanctuary at his cousin's Malibu home.)
Face thinks it's almost poetic, in a bitter and sarcastic way, that their government has forsaken both himself and his cousin. For all their contributions and all their tireless work for the country, Tony and Face are both fucked: Tony's been labeled a vigilante, and Face is wanted for crimes he didn't commit.
Taking another sip of his scotch, Face touches the part on Tony's worktable, glances back at Dummy. Butterfingers moves cautiously forward, as if to warn, and Face moves on. There's an equation running across a wireless, frameless screen that grabs his attention; math is Face's strong suit, nearly rivaling Tony's, and he stares at the numbers for a while before reaching out to correct one of the flaws.
He's been working with Tony and helping him to develop better equipment to aide soldiers without being a weapon, but there's been plenty of missteps and, well, burns. The latter is the reason he's alone for a moment in the workshop, kept company only by the machines borne of Tony's fantastical mind.
He nearly misses hearing the rhythmic click-click-click of Pepper's heels, as she comes down the stairs, so lost is he in the math. But the hiss of the door heralds her entrance and he turns to face her with a hint of blush on his cheeks.
"Sorry," he mumbles as he takes another sip.
Since they'd arrived at the mansion – himself, Hannibal, Murdock, and BA – Face has felt so off-kilter, so out of place, and he knows it's felt by all in their company.
Pepper gives him a gentle smile. "Tony doesn't normally share anything in this shop with anyone. I get access simply because he realized it was easier to let me in than have me break in." She doesn't elaborate, just walks to the desk at the far end and picks up one of Tony's tablets. "JARVIS says you fixed one of Tony's calculations."
"It was nothing," Face answers. "Minor error."
"Templeton," she says, "Minor errors are the difference between life and death – you know that. And when it comes to Tony's life... It's not nothing." She pushes a stray lock of hair back; she's been at the hospital with Tony for several hours and her hair is the last of her concerns though it's rising on the list now that he's home and his leg is covered in salve. "Come eat. Before Tony and your Captain Murdock consume every last crumb in the box."
Face laughs and nods, setting down the glass, and follows her upstairs.