To sum it all, Tony was sick.

Very , very sick.

Technically, it was just a fever, but then again, if one spoke of technicalities, they were bound to mention the hunk of metal sitting in Tony's and implant. Not nice. Not nice at all.

But then again, 'Tony is being downright insufferable.' Thought Pepper as she felt a pillow land on her face weakly.

"Pepppperrrrrrrr..." Tony groaned. He was lying on a couch in his room. Roberta was out to buy meds, while Rhodey stood at the corner of his room, playing on Tony's phone: Tony's head hurt too much to object. After all, Rhodey being at the phone meant less grumbling while he complained the whole day.

"Yes, your highness?" Pepper inquired , hands on her hips, "I wish I would be sick instead of you, so I could annoy YOU." Then she thought for a bit. Last time, she had come down with the flu when she stole the stupid mascot costume from their rival. That had not been fun...

Tony glared.

"On a second thought, maybe I really don't want to get sick."

Tony cursed and held his head. "My head hurts."

"As you cease to remind us since the morning. I repeat, since the morning. I swear Tony-"

Rhodey threw down the phone.

"Oye!" Tony yelled, and winced quickly.

"Can you believe it! I lost at the last level!"

Tony began to laugh. His face was flushed from the fever, and hidden under the blankets, he looked like an innocent child.

Pepper looked at him. "Be serious about this! Do even know how hard this is?!" And then she began laughing too.

Rhodey glared . "Stop making fun of me!"

Tony's watch began to wail. Tony looked at it and glanced at Rhodey. "Implant."

"Hmm." Said Rhodey and ran to fetch the charger. Pepper made a face behind him, and Tony laughed again.

"He really is your mom."

XXX

Tony felt the implant sizzle with the implant hurt. Terribly. And he felt too weak to deal with this crap.

"Hey?" Rhodey asked.

Tony didn't reply. Speaking hurt.

"You alright?" He asked.

"No." Tony whispered.

"He really is your mom." Pepper interjected placidly.

Tony closed his eyes to sleep , as he felt a smile tug his ears. If something happened, he knew his friends would always be there.