Chapter 2
"Why do you do it?"
"Do what?" He asked in return.
"You always answer every question with a question?" Nebula grumbled at him as she handed him a bottle of water.
"Not always," he sighed after he drank down half the bottle and looked up at her. "I do it, because I am the only who can."
"You don't have much of an ego do you?" She snorted and rolled her eyes, but would have smiled if she could.
"One of the biggest, helps level the playing field a bit."
"Yesterday. I've never seen anyone battle him as hard -"
He blinked at her and whispered, "was it just yesterday?"
"Time is different here, on your home planet it's been a few weeks."
She thought he took the news well, considering.
"Oh." He finished the bottle of water and closed his eyes. "I do it, did it, because I have, or had, someone I love more than myself."
"I'm sorry."
He managed a smile that made it to his eyes and shook his head. "I'm not."
"Love makes you weak -" she hissed, then turned away from him.
"In some ways," he began, then went silent for so long that she turned to look back at him, and couldn't tell if he were still breathing. She swore to herself as she fell to her knees and pressed her fingers gently against the pulse point in his wrist. He opened his eyes and cleared his throat. "Sorry. Didn't mean to fall asleep on you. I think I've got a bit of a concussion. We were talking about -"
"Nothing important, I think we should work on how to get you home. I'm sure -"
"You're sure what? That someone is still around who remembers me fondly enough to care where I am? Knowing how often the press has killed me off prematurely over the years, I'm sure I've been declared dead already, and even if Pepper - if she isn't - wasn't - she's - I promised her no more surprises." He shook his head and as he looked into Nebula's face, he swore he could see something close to empathy there. "Never mind."
"What do you love about her?"
Tony blinked at her, then flashed her the brightest smile she'd ever seen. "What do I love about her? Her infinite patience, not even sure how she's put up with me for so long; her intelligence, and she's got the bluest eyes, and she's kind. The kindest person I know, and -"
"I'm sure she's fine." She wasn't sure why she said it, but regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth.
"Neb. Don't."
"The universe -"
"The universe?" Tony laughed, then swore as he slowly got to his feet, and after he waved off her offer of help, grumbled out derisively, "the universe has been doing its very best to kill me, or maim me at the very least for most of the last decade. I'm not expecting any favors from the fucking universe." He caught the look on her face, and sighed. "Sorry. I can't imagine what your life has been like - I don't have any right -"
"Pain is pain. You are allowed to curse the universe, I do it on an hourly basis." She shrugged and walked to the other end of the ship and returned with a few items of clothing. "You'll want to change, I'll leave, so you can have some privacy." She began to walk off the ship when he laid a trembling hand on her shoulder.
"The universe was kind enough to bring you here. Maybe the tide is turning."
Humans, she thought to herself, the eternal optimists, even when there is no reason for hope, they are hopeful still. "I'll be right back."