[ He doesn’t respond right away. That alone is telling, because Tony Stark doesn't do silence. He's 100% not the kind of guy who lets silence hang unless there’s a reason. Maybe it’s the way she said his name. Maybe it’s the sincerity behind words like “I’m glad you were born” that makes him pause. ]

Damn. Not every day someone makes me go speechless. You should write that down.

[ Tony's unsure how this actually makes him feel, but it seems clear enough that Little Mermaid knows how to get right under his skin. Ordinarily, he doesn't make admissions or confessions like the one he just did. Maybe it's nothing for the average person, but like Tony said, he's always talking, and he hardly ever goes speechless. Maybe Mermaid's power isn't only in her Kotodama. He already thought there was more to her than that, but now he's really thinking that's the case. ]

You know, I’ve had a lot of birthdays. Some loud, some flashy, some that ended with property damage and a helicopter ride I don’t remember.

[ He grins faintly at that, like he’s poking fun at a version of himself he’s outgrown, but still recognizes in the mirror. ]

Not a lot of people say things like that to me. Not without wanting something. Not without already knowing what I can give them.

No, you know what? You're a hell of a birthday gift, Ariel. [ He knows most people wouldn't like being called a present, but he thinks Little Mermaid will get what he's saying. He genuinely means it, too. It's not a flirtation or a joke. It's just a fact. ]

And for the record, this is how I want to celebrate my birthday. Just like this.

[ A second or two passes, and Tony just sits there quietly for those few seconds, before he adds: ]

I’m glad I met you too.