This is for myself, with the help of a prompt list. XD Y'all need to start requesting things.

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3:00 A.M.

That's what your clock said, anyway.

But to you, it was too early. Much too early.

Who the heck is banging around downstairs at this disgusting hour of the morning?

You groaned and rolled out of bed to find the source of the noises.

Your footsteps quietly padded down the hall, and you let a yawn escape from your mouth. The noises got louder the further you went, along with strings of curses and angry growls.

Tony's workshop/lab was just down the hall, and your senses, though dulled a fair bit with sleepiness, told you someone was in there. Your steps halted just outside the door, and so did the noises in the workshop. Silence passed for a moment before a voice echoed in the shop, "JARVIS?"

... Tony?

JARVIS pinged and answered, "Ms. (L/N) is outside the door."

Tony sighed and ran a hand over his face. "(Y/N), you can come in. I know you're there."

You hesitantly stepped into the lab. "I could hear you from my room. You're certainly loud when you're in here."

"It's a workshop," Tony said with a shrug. "Not sure what you expected."

"It's three in the morning, what did you think I expected?"

Tony rolled his eyes and went back to the tech he was working on. "What are you doing up, anyway?"

"I could ask you the same thing." You walked over and leaned against his workbench.

Tony shot you a side-eye look. "What is it to you?"

"A good friend of mine is awake at three in the morning, flouncing about his workshop like a madman when he really should be sleeping. Sleep isn't just for the weak."

His gaze fell, and he took out a flask and reached to take a swig. You glared at him and snatched it out of his hand. His shocked face rewarded you as you stormed to his sink to pour out the flask's contents. "Hey!"

"Drinking isn't going to solve anything, Tony," you scolded, trying to ignore the burning in your nose from the smell of the heavy liquor.

"If rubbing alcohol heals the outside hurties, drinking alcohol heals the inside hurties," he retorted.

You scoffed. "You sound like a four-year-old who didn't get the toy they wanted."

Tony grumbled out a curse. "Come on, (Y/N)!"

"No." You put the now-empty flask on the counter by the sink. "Now, what's wrong? You only ever drink heavy alcohol when something is bothering you."

That was it.

Tony's angry facade crumbled in an instant. You weren't supposed to find out - no one was.

"... Tony?"

"I don't - I-I can't - "

For Tony, it felt like the world was blurring in and out. His chest felt tight, and his head spun dangerously. The anxiety was never this bad before...

"Ton - " It took you a second before you caught on. Anxiety attack. You wrapped him in a tight hug and held onto him. "It's okay. I'm right here, and I'm not leaving anytime soon."

The tightness soothed a little at your touch, but it didn't stop him from chuckling a little. "Knew you couldn't resist."

"Shut up. Look at me." You turned your head to look up at him.

He refused to meet your gaze, and you deadpanned.

You pulled his jaw so he was looking you in the eyes. "Tony... You don't have to be afraid anymore. I'm here for you, and you can tell me anything, yeah?"

He shook his head. "Everything except what's Avengers' classified."

"Whatever that's not the point."

You noticed his breath catching at this point. This wasn't working. Time for a new approach.

"Hey, what's five things you see in here?"

Tony rolled his eyes. "This, really?"

You nodded.

He sighed. "A project I wanna finish, my tools..." He looked back to you. "The door, the lights, and a friend."

"Now, four things you can hear?"

"I don't need this..."

"Tony." You scowled.

He put his hands up in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Various machinery, Dumm-e screwing around with some piece of crap I'll have to fix later, blood rushing through my ears, and the coffee machine downstairs beeping."

"Three things you can feel."

"How hot it is in here, how tight my shirt is, and..." Tony took your hand. "How small your hand is compared to mine."

You blushed a little, but tried not to let it show. "Two things you can smell."

"Oil and perfume." He pressed a little closer, the anxiety attack practically gone.

"Finally, one thing you can taste."

You hadn't even noticed when his lips claimed yours. It was firm but pleasant, and his scruffy beard rubbed your cheeks a little. His calloused hands brushed your jaw, angling your face. The enjoyment lasted only for a moment, though.

He pulled away quickly and snickered. "Your morning breath. Brush your teeth next time you kiss me."

Your annoyance flared. "You little jerk, you initiated. What was that for, anyway?!"

Tony held back his teasing laughter. You rolled your eyes. At least he was feeling better.

"So... Care to tell me what brought you into that anxiety breakdown? You don't have to now, if you don't want to, but it'd be appreciated."

He met your eyes, trying to decide if he wanted to live through it all again. You gave him a reassuring smile.

Maybe it'd be worth it all in the end.

"Afghanistan... New York... Wakanda..."

That was all it took for you to semi-understand. "PTSD getting that bad?"

Tony shrugged. "Screws with your brain once, and you're a mess for life."

"Do you have night terrors from it all?"

Tony froze. He didn't want to say anything more. He was supposed to be this big, strong superhero, yet here he was, pouring out his mental problems to an unofficial co-worker.

"That's why you're up, isn't it? The dreams became too much for you."

... Okay, you needed to stop reading him like an open book, like, now.

"I'm not gonna say you're wrong..."

You smirked. "I know I'm not wrong."

He sighed to himself. "You're not."

"How long has this been going on now?"

"Maybe a week?"

You blinked in surprise. "No more talking. We're going to bed."

"Wait, what?"

"We're going to bed, come on." You grabbed him by the hand and led him to your room.

Tony grinned. "You know, usually, I'm dragging the girl to my room."

"Stop talking. Get on the bed."

"Right to business then. Okay."

You shot him a glare. "Tony, I'm serious."

He put his hands up in mock surrender. "Okay, okay." He sat on the bed, and you went to the other side to join him. You clambered into bed, took a moment to pull him down next to you - to which he yelped - and pulled your weighted blanket over the both of you. You held him close, tucking his head under your chin and running a hand through his hair.

"Hey, sugarcube?"

Sugarcube... You liked that.

"Mhm?"

"This is very out of character for me to say but..." Tony paused for a moment, for once, words failing him. "Thanks. You didn't have to do any of this."

You smiled a little. "Don't worry about it. I'd do anything for a friend."

The two of you lay there for a while, just basking in each other's company. Soon, his quiet breathing reached your ears, and you grinned to yourself. You couldn't help but brush your lips against his forehead.

"Goodnight, Tony. May troubles be far from your mind."

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1261 words minus the notes...

... I think these things are getting longer-

Either way, thanks for reading. I know Tony is pretty out of character (at least according to my mom's and my brother's opinions), so I may edit this to make it more in character for him.

I may not update until December just because I just added another class to my schedule, and my other classes are getting closer to finals week as well

Anyway, that's all for now. Stay safe, God bless, and until next time, CJ out.