In which the Avengers begin their four day mission
Tony sneezed for the fifth time in fifteen minutes.
"Sorry, sorry! Allergies," Tony said ducking his head. Steve rolled his eyes. Tony didn't have allergies. Tony was sick, and Pepper was away on business. That meant no one could make Tony take a break. Which meant they were stuck listening to his sneezing and sniffling until Pepper got back.
Then Steve had an idea.
He pulled out his phone and typed a quick message Peter under the table. The kid's slight jump told Steve he got it.
"Oh dang! I got homework," Peter proclaimed, and stood up.
"Come on guys! Why does no one pay attention to my briefing!" Scott exclaimed.
"Homework is homework Scott. You gotta let him go," Steve said cooly. His plan was working. Scott rolled his eyes.
"Fine."
"Um," Peter shifted his feet uncomfortably.
"What?!" Scott demanded. Tony sneezed again.
"Sorry."
"I kind of need Mr. Stark's help with it," The kid mumbled.
"Fine!" Scott threw his hands in the air.
Tony followed Peter out of the room with a confused expression, but made no argument.
"Alright, something needs to be done about him," Steve said as soon as the door closed.
"Hey!" Scott cried.
"I was waiting for someone to say something!" Clint perked up in his chair.
"I know right!" Nat chimed in, "I don't think he's even gone to bed for the past few nights."
"Friday? What's the hour count on Tony's sleep over the past three days?" Bruce piped up.
"I give up," Scott huffed and resigned himself to a chair.
"Mr. Stark has slept for--"
"Wait! Don't tell us yet!" Clint interrupted the AI, "We gotta take bets."
"Alright," Nat said, "Ten bucks says he has slept an hour."
Steve felt a little guilty for doing this. He really had just wanted to help Tony out.
"Okay 20 says he's gotten... I'll give him five," Clint plopped his money on the table.
"Five what? minutes?" Steve teased. (He couldn't help it)
"Hours," Clint confirmed.
"Eh, 15 says none," Bruce tossed a bunch of ones on the table.
"I say eight," Scott tossed in a five.
Everyone laughed. That was the riskiest bet Steve had ever seen someone make. Eight hours was really pushing it.
"What about you Rogers?" Nat asked and everyone turned their gazes to him.
"I don't believe in profiting off my friends," Steve said grandly, "Fifty says he has only slept three hours."
Steve slapped his money down on the table.
"Closest guess takes it all," Clint announced, "Alright Friday give us the numbers."
"Tony has slept a grand total of no hours and no minutes," The AI announced. Bruce clapped his hands together and hauled the money in.
Steve had had a feeling that he would win. Bruce knew Tony the best.
"Well that just proves the point I am trying to make. We need a plan to make Tony rest and take care of himself," The laughs trickled out. They all seemed to be realizing that this was a problem.
Pepper got back in four days. Tony could not wait that long to start taking care of himself. It would be dangerous for him to wait that long, or for them to let him wait that long.
The Avengers had a new mission.