biggerstick | (no subject)

[he's fine, a little wobbly as he stands but he recovers quickly. And let's Steve do his mother-henning thing]

You startled me, I'm fine. JARVIS can check.

Actually, sir. With my current limitations I cannot.

Oh right. Never mind then. No in-depth scanners in the lab.

[ letting him go. ]

You're fine. It was an innocent question, Tony.

Have you ever felt crippling panic?

[going back to his work, calling his bot who is still trying to sweep]

Slick, come here and help me pick this up.

I got it.

[ already crouching down to pick up the tools himself, putting them back in the box. ]

Steve, let the child do it. Good learning experience.

It's done.

[ but he smiles at Slick as he comes closer. Steve offers the bot the toolbox. ]

[the bot makes sounds probably meant to be cheerful and picks up the toolbox]

Don't spoil my bots, Rogers.

He should learn how to do it without being asked, right? I'm just showing him how.

[ pats Slick, only a little tentatively, before going back to his sketchpad. ]

[Slick seems to enjoy the attention and once he's set the tool box on the table, he follows Steve back to his seat. Meanwhile Tony is back to talking while working]

He knows how to do it, we worked on it, he can recognize the tools and knows where they go... god, okay. I can have this done. In... JARVIS?

It depends sir, should I schedule in a nap?

—see what happens when you spoil your bots?

Should you be talking about him like he's not there?

[ . . . showing Slick his pencil? ]

He knows me better than anyone and he doesn't mind. Now JARVIS, an actual approximation— don't, don't schedule in a nap, for god's sake. Display it on the screen.

As you wish, sir.

[Slick tilts its claw curiously at the pencil, and opens its finger-things as if to reach for it... but doesn't actually reach for it]

[ . . . flips to a new page on the sketchpad and draws a quick little doodle, then holds the pencil out to the bot again. ]

[the bot takes the pencil and pokes the sketchpad with it. Then turns to Steve again, offering it back]

[ laughs and takes it, flipping back to the previous page. ]

Thanks, Slick.

[the laugh actually gets Tony to turn around]

What are you doing? You're supposed to be working— [the bot turns to Tony in apparent alarm] No, not you, him. You're fine, keep it up.

I am, I am.

[ he is indeed already drawing on the sketchpad again. ]

You mind if I put on music?

. . . I don't mind.

JARVIS, have the Captain pick as long as it's not ridiculous.

Captain Rogers, any preference?

Not really. Got any suggestions?

You mean other than the sounds from the deepest circle of hell I usually listen to?

Don't be silly, I'll bet the devil himself can only envy your record collection from afar down there.

[snorts]

JARVIS try the Beatles. Do the whole discography, maybe we can indoctrinate him if we start there.

If you say so, sir.

[and JARVIS starts playing Please Please Me]

That's never worked too well on me.

[ but he just listens for a bit before returning to the pad. whenever he pauses his pencil taps lightly on the paper in time with the music. ]

[of course he'd like it, of course. Tony goes back to his work and Slick stays close to Steve because apparently he loves Steve now.

And after a few songs Yesterday starts, and Tony immediately stops what he's doing]

JARVIS skip that one. Play Twist and Shout.

[JARVIS does as told and Tony turns back to his screen super casually, though it's obvious that whatever he's doing isn't what he was doing earlier, since now he's typing a lot]