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Tony looked at Rocket questioningly. It was a dark night at a bar and the night before they were going to “save the world”.
“I think I figured you out, you know.”
“What?” Rocket said, confused as to why this dude was even speaking to him.
“You don’t have any hope in all this, do you?”
“Honestly? No. Not one bit. I mean, there’s no way this shit works.” Rocket said slyly.
“And how are you gonna feel if it doesn’t?” Tony said with a smile.
“The…same feeling I’ve been feeling all these years, not caring. Quit bein’ a frickin’ pry.” Rocket said.
“I think it’d be healthy for me to be a pry, Racloot.” Tony said with the same charisma and sarcasm he’d been using for five years.
“You know, all this time, we never really talked, space cat. I didn’t know shit about you. Now I’ve got it, I think.”
Rocket scoffed.
“You’re like me. Honestly, no, you are!” Tony exclaimed as Rocket barked out laughing at the words.
“Defensive. Out of place, even.”
“Pfft. Outta place. You ain’t even outta place.” Rocket laughed. “Please.”
“You think I’m not out of place? Look around. I’m the only one with nothing but a suit and a brain. I mean obviously, you’re pretty out of place, no offense.”
“No shit.” Rocket said. “So how have you got me figured out?”
“Like, how do I explain this?” he said, taking a drink.
“You’re, uh, like, sarcastic, right? Mean? Yeah. Kind of a dick.”
“But I know you give a shit. Same with me, I mean, we build things to get shit off our minds. It took me this long to realize, we’re not so different after all. We really have the same goal.”
“I guess, man.”
“I, uh, didn’t care. Either. Or pretended not to. Till I saw this picture. It was me, the kid- you know Spider-Man? Or whatever.”
Rocket took a drink. “No. Not one clue. Is that the Peter guy?” he said.
“Yeah. Parker. See, we’re pretty similar. We both got - Peters.” Tony said awkwardly and Rocket laughed.
“Yeah. We do both got Peters.”
“Yeah, anyway, I didn’t care till I saw someone I lost. He was like a son. I know, sounds creepy. He just..we connected you know. He was kind of weird, kind of a loser type of guy.” Stark said.
“Huh. So you became a “loser’s dad?” Rocket asked, confused.
“Yeah, that’s it. That’s it.” Tony laughed.
“But, yeah, you know. I liked him before I knew he was “the spider man” and stuff. I always wanted him as a friend. Never thought, in the two years I knew him, he’d be so near and dear. But he was. He was supposed to stay. But he cared. About me.”
“I get what ya mean. When Groot fell to dust in my arms..it was an indescribable feeling. I don’t even know if I want them to come back. What if all this shit just feels fake? It just goes back to normal. After all these years I’ve spent with Nebs. Alone.” Rocket said, looking downwards.
“That’s one of the best points I’ve heard, sir. I guess it might feel fake, yeah. Not at all like a normal death.”
“I do care. Just not as much as I prob’ly should.” Rocket said, gruff and quiet.
“Maybe. Well. I should get going. Fun party. Good talk.”
“Wait. Why’re you telling me all this shit?” Rocket asked, confused again.
“Might as well make a friend fore I die, right?” Stark said, getting up.
“I…guess ya might as well, dude.”
Tony held out a handshake. “Nice to meet you, Racloot.”
“Rocket, ya big ass.”
“Right. Rocket. See you.”
Rocket rolled his eyes as Tony said his real name for the first time.
Maybe he had a point.
Maybe the science experiment and the scientist weren’t so frickin’ different after all.