Pain...That's It.
Tony didn't know how long he had slept for before he was awakened by a pat to his cheek. There was soft mumbling coming beside him, and he caught phrases like "Is he dead?" and "What will Big Boss do if he finds out?". Tony shifted uncomfortably, feeling the shadow of a smirk flit across his face as yells erupted from beside him.
"He's alive!" Joe yelped as he scurried back to press his body against the wall. Similarly, Bob stumbled backwards, a look of shock and surprise on his face.
As if on cue, the door burst open just then as Q strode inside once more. He did not seem in the mood for fun, though. Instead, he circled Tony a few times, muttering to himself. Bob and Joe watched, terrified, as if it was them that he was examining.
Finally, Q bent down, poked Tony a few times, and straightened again. He announced, "Looks like Jacques got him pretty good, lads." Joe actually let out a squeak as he said that, making Tony wonder what Q had done to them when he had been sleeping. Bob finally summoned the courage to whisper, "Y-yes, Boss."
Q smirked, seeing Bob and Joe's fear and liking it. Leaning against the wall, Q ordered, "Disinfect him. I don't want him dying just yet." Tony opened one eye as he said that. Do what to him?
He got his answer as Joe and Bob hurried out of the room and reentered carrying a large bucket that reeked of alcohol. "HE WOULDN'T." Tony's first thought was panic-filled and he struggled to move on the blood-slick chair as the bucket drew closer. "THE PAIN...THE SHOCK...COULD JUST KILL ME."
Closing his eyes tightly, he said his prayers in his mind as the bucket tipped over...
A splash was heard, and for a few milliseconds, Tony thought his prayers had been answered.
Then the pain came.
Tony would have screamed, except he was a dog, so he couldn't. Anyway, he let out a few loud whimpers, his entire body shaking and shuddering as the pain coursed through his body.
"Painpainpainpain-" "That's enough, boys, I think Stark has had enough!" "PAINPAINPAINPAINPAINPAI-" Finally, the onslaught of pain lessened and slowly stopped, dulling to a sting. Tony gasped for air, his body convulsing with each breath. Q studied Tony with an almost manic grin on his face.
Suddenly, Q frowned. "Joe? Bob?"
Joe flinched so hard it looked like he was having a mini seizure. Bob seemingly gasped for breath before replying, "Y-yes, Boss?"
"Why is the chair still so dirty?" Q winced in disdain. "I expected you to clean it up."
Joe and Bob both nodded like bobbleheads, before dashing out to presumably find some cleaning supplies. Q smirked cruelly as their footsteps receded, and continued examining Tony.
After what seemed like a billion minutes (Q had taken to inspecting his fingernails and tapping his Rolex watch.), Joe and Bob shuffled in, holding a length of rope in their hands.
Q continued humming and ignored them for about ten minutes, then finally asked politely, "Where are your cleaning supplies?"
Joe's teeth literally chattered as he explained, "T-there isn't a-any more, B-boss. We thought we'd ju-ust change his binding-s." Q scrutinized Joe carefully, as if certain he would lie about the amount of cleaning supplies. Joe, being Joe, simply cowered against Bob, his mouth opening and closing futilely. And Tony? He just lay tense upon the chair, hoping that Q's attention would remain on Joe.
Unfortunately for Tony, Q soon shrugged indifferently, much to Joe and Bob's relief, and turned back to Tony. "Yes, I suppose new bindings would do him good." Q muttered to himself, and snapped his fingers. "Alrighty, tie 'im up, fellas!"
Joe and Bob immediately rushed forward to change Tony's blood-soaked zip ties for some good ol' fashioned rope. Tony tried to struggle during those precious few moments where he had no bindings, but every breath he took was already a minor struggle- he could do nothing except flop around like a fish.
Yeah, Tony was not feeling the love from the Avengers. He was so beat up that he couldn't help but wonder...When exactly would they turn up?
Q walked closer as soon as the bindings were finished being replaced. Bob and Joe had left the room gratefully at Q's command. Tutting at Tony, who could barely even lift his head, Q sighed, "Tony, you have to look me in the eyes when I'm talking. It's called manners." Tony looked away more pointedly, hatred boiling beneath his tired facade.
Q shook his head as if reprimanding a stubborn toddler, and scowled darkly, "I said-" At this, Q grabbed Tony's head roughly and wrenching it towards him. "LOOK AT ME!"
This time, out of sheer survival instinct, Tony's eyes darted to Q's, betraying Tony's fear and panic, all the while making Q smirk.
Q dropped Tony's head again, making a big show of wiping his hand clean of all the grime. Then, he turned to walk out of the door, throwing a, "Next Monday's the big day!" behind him.
Tony shook his head dolefully, and could not help but look bitterly at the ceiling- Why are the Avengers taking so long?