fandomhighdorms | Third Floor Common Room, Saturday Morning

Topher was exploring.

Usually he had to be careful. Mom and Dad didn't like it when he went too far or wandered outside. But today Mom and Dad weren't around, and anyway he had all the necessary precautions -- his safety goggles, a pair of gloves, and a magnifying glass -- just like the scientists on TV. So it should be safe to see what was nearby.

Like in this room, the TV was all weird and skinny, not like the TVs at home. He wanted to go behind it to see what wires did what, but Mom had yelled at him last time. So instead he took his magnifying glass and used it to look at the buttons on the remote, but really, really big. It looked cool!

While he played with the remote, he turned on the TV. Cartoons, cartoons, cartoons... ooh, but a special about fireworks was on! That was enough to distract him from the buttons, so he came up closer to sit on the floor and hold up the magnifying glass to the TV instead. It made the fireworks all big and pretty.

It was a good thing there weren't any big kids around, he decided. They would just laugh at him like the kids at home. Better that he had this whole big room and TV all to himself.

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Tony's eyes lit up. "Deal! I had tools in my room too."

"Cool!" Topher blurted out, excited. He already liked this kid much more than everyone else in the room. He scrambled up to his feet and took out his green leather pouch of tools, then flopped down on the couch and held the pouch out for Tony to inspect.

"Just, um, don't break 'em, okay?" he made sure to ask. "I mean, please."

"Why would I break them?" Tony asked, scooting over to look at them all. "Tools are important."

"They are," Topher agreed, nodding seriously. "But sometimes bullies take your stuff and then they break it or throw it away or make you eat it right in front'a them -- not tools for that one, though -- 'cause not everyone gets how 'portant they are. An' then they take your school jacket and throw it away just 'cause, or they steal your Nintendo and make you take it apart and throw 'way the pieces right in front of them."

Topher had Trauma.

Tony stared for a moment. "My dad would yell at people if they did that to my tools."

Because they were also Howard's tools. And someone no longer attended school.

So.

"My daddy doesn't," Topher said sullenly. "He just tells me I got make friends and stuff. Yours sounds better."

He was.

The one emotionally available Howard Stark out there! So, yes. Yes he was.

"Friends don't break tools." A beat. "Except that time with Rhodey."

THEY DON'T SPEAK OF IT.

"What's a rhodey?" Topher asked curiously, looking through his tools. "I don't think I have one of those. Is that this thingy?"

No, Topher. Rhodey was not a wrench.

Edited 2011-11-12 17:26 (UTC)

"Rhodey is a person," Tony said with a giggle. "He's my best friend ever."

At the other boy's laugh, Topher had no choice but to smile back, a little shyly.

Yes, even at seven.

"What happened?" Topher asked. He shifted on the couch so he was facing Tony, curiosity clear in his eyes.

AS HE SHOULD.

"Tools stay outside of the washing machines," Tony informed him with a sage little nod.

IT WAS ALL TONY'S FAULT FOR BEING CONSISTENTLY ADORABLE.

"Wait, what broke, the tools or the washing machine?" Topher wanted to know.

Because that was the important part here. Nerd.

"The washing machine!" Stop being so cheerful about it, Tony. "Rhodey's mom wasn't happy."

Since it was her machine and all...

But a cheerful Tony meant a happy Topher, so...

"It sounds like it'd be cool to watch," he said shyly. "I kinda wanna try now."

THANK GOD THE MACHINES WERE BROKEN.

"They have them here?" GOD, TONY.

"Maybe!" Topher said brightly. "Wanna go 'splorin'?"

Tony looked from the TV to the door, thinking it over. "Think anyone will notice?"

Topher bit his lip and glanced around at the other kids. "You know anyone else here?" he asked carefully.

Looking nervous for a moment, Tony shrugged. "My dad has to be around here somewhere. I go everywhere with him."

"Oh."

Of course Tony didn't want to go exploring with him. Normal kids didn't want to play with weirdos. He just wanted to get good ideas for what to do with his dad.

"Okay. You should tell me how it goes, though," he tried hopefully.

"You could help me find him," Tony decided. Because he was nice like that.

"Really?" Topher's eyes lit up. "Okay! Yeah!"

It would be like an adventure! A clingy adventure! Poor Howard.

"It'll be fun!" Or a weekend of trauma for Howard. "He's got a mustache and his name is Howard."

"What's he do?" Topher asked, collecting his tools and his magnifying glass and his inhaler and hopping off the couch. "My dad's a professor."

"He's a mechanical engineer." A beat. "I am too."

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