( Mild surprise flits across his face, and he smiles, easily taking Sam's arm. He missed this. They must have spent hours upon hours working on his gear, a project R&D at Stark Tech had idly informed Tony of, per protocol, and was immediately relieved of, too eager to tackle it with the Avengers' newest. )

It's because he grew up with bad influences, ( he tells him confidently, and though he can't lift his arm from its sling, Tony gives the impression of sweeping his hand out in a broad gesture anyway, ) DUM-E rats out U all the time.

( The light conversation bolsters him later, when he's resting back in bed, blankets dragged to the waist, going sober at Sam's question. He takes his time answering him, undoing fastenings on the sling, resting his bandaged arm out at his side. A fist-sized splotch of pink and yellow serum mar the dressings at his wrist, and Sam will find the new skin beneath it fragile, thinner than a bible page and showing the various new tissues beneath, at a stark contrast with Tony's usual deep, healthy tan.

Tony doesn't look at it, just keeps his gaze on the ceiling and sighs through his nose. )

The fancy med-tech here grows tissue. Pretty cool, honestly- you should look in on Dr. Cho when you get back, this is like, her baby- ( delay delay delay, quiet and thoughtful, an easy distance if he's talking about it like it's happening to someone else. ) I don't know if it's- damage from the stones maybe, long term. Blood vessels aren't bringing enough oxygen in, nerves are dying almost as fast as the technology can rebuild them. Body's not doing that great of a job holding onto it, up to-

( his good hand slides to the middle of his bicep, the straight line of his hand like a knife, and that is when he looks at Sam. )