With any luck, the first of many, and Tony was feeling pretty fantastically lucky, but he drew out the kiss anyway. Just in case. Luck, he knew, didn't last, though. It was faith that some heavenly power would watch your back, and Tony didn't put too much stock in faith. This couldn't last, and, for once, he didn't know how he was going to make his own luck. Eventually, they would have to go back to their lives, because Tony really couldn't ever stay away from his for long, as much as he tried, and they were going to be forced to face the always frustrating reality that Tony couldn't invent himself a way out of.
It was going to take a lot of patience, a lot of trust, and a lot of lies, and Tony was only so good at one of those. The worst part was, he didn't know if the alternative (or, the unavoidable conclusion) was any more bearable. Raven needed to know that, and they needed to make a choice before the glue had set. "Ray..." he started, breathless from the kiss until he had rested his forehead on hers, keeping her close so that he might hide the concern that touched his face, his lip curling against what he needed to say and the words he didn't know yet. "Happy New Year," he said instead, running his hands up her arms to squeeze her shoulders again, trying to force a smile.