![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
( it's hard to tell if steve's joking or not because he looks so serious. but tony decides he'll keep at it. see where this goes. plus, he's a glutton for punishment. )
Because you're already planning out a June wedding for next year? I guess I wouldn't mind us getting hitched then. You always look amazing with your summertime freckles. We could book the Plaza. Head to Maldives for the honeymoon. ( oh, he's really stepping up the game here now. )
Where are we sending our kid to school? You wanna homeschool the little tyke, or send him off to boarding school the way dad always did it?
Because you're already planning out a June wedding for next year? I guess I wouldn't mind us getting hitched then. You always look amazing with your summertime freckles. We could book the Plaza. Head to Maldives for the honeymoon. ( oh, he's really stepping up the game here now. )
Where are we sending our kid to school? You wanna homeschool the little tyke, or send him off to boarding school the way dad always did it?
You didn't bring any of my usual clothes?
[ Charles could have just gone in his wardrobe and picked out anything. Really. Erik wasn't all that fussy about his clothes, from his wardrobe. But he also had coordinated all the pieces to work together, because he is a man with limited closet space, who usually just takes a suitcase with him from place to place. He only has room for two suits and a couple turtlenecks. ]
I suppose I will have to wear the shirt.
Do I at least get my own trousers?
[ He's not getting into Hank's pants. ]
[ Charles could have just gone in his wardrobe and picked out anything. Really. Erik wasn't all that fussy about his clothes, from his wardrobe. But he also had coordinated all the pieces to work together, because he is a man with limited closet space, who usually just takes a suitcase with him from place to place. He only has room for two suits and a couple turtlenecks. ]
I suppose I will have to wear the shirt.
Do I at least get my own trousers?
[ He's not getting into Hank's pants. ]
Probably the certified worst. [Agreeing easily where he knows it's true. He's had a long time to reflect at this point on his teenage years. Nightmare might not even come close.
The thought of some other universe where Howard had found Steve and Steve had just been one of his dad's friends- it gets an immediate look of distaste. He's sure Steve's not wrong. Howard definitely would have asked Steve to try and mentor him, knock some sense into him, get him to stop wasting his life as he'd so often been told. It sounds like the absolute worst. If there's a universe out there that that happened in, he feels sorry for that Tony. Because he would have missed out on something much more amazing.]
It's not about them getting on our bad side. It's whether or not they're good enough for her. [And if Tony's very honest with himself he knows he's going to be one of the annoying dads who thinks that no one could possibly be good enough for his daughter.]
We'll see about that. I imagine she'll start making a few AIs of her own eventually. One day she'll outclass me. You can bet on that. [Not that he would ever push on her like that or ask her to do better. Never ever would he do that to her. Not like Howard had to him. But. ...it's more than likely. And really there's nothing more promising than knowing whatever she chooses to do she'll be stellar at it. He won't ask her to change the world, and certainly not to save it, if there's a lot of saving left to do. But Alice will be a frontline leader in whatever she puts her mind to. Tony knows this. And he's already proud of her.]
I just hope she stays on the tech side and less... [There's that thought. He sighs, takes a sip of his coffee and then shakes his head.] She's already started rooting around in the garage. I caught her with one of the Iron Man helmets the other day. I don't think I got around to telling you. [Because literally right after the entirety of his world had rearranged itself what with time travel and nearly dying. But maybe that's not even really a surprise, considering she has the little knitted LED repulsors. But still, Tony thinks. There's a huge difference between wanting toys and putting on actual gear.]
The thought of some other universe where Howard had found Steve and Steve had just been one of his dad's friends- it gets an immediate look of distaste. He's sure Steve's not wrong. Howard definitely would have asked Steve to try and mentor him, knock some sense into him, get him to stop wasting his life as he'd so often been told. It sounds like the absolute worst. If there's a universe out there that that happened in, he feels sorry for that Tony. Because he would have missed out on something much more amazing.]
It's not about them getting on our bad side. It's whether or not they're good enough for her. [And if Tony's very honest with himself he knows he's going to be one of the annoying dads who thinks that no one could possibly be good enough for his daughter.]
We'll see about that. I imagine she'll start making a few AIs of her own eventually. One day she'll outclass me. You can bet on that. [Not that he would ever push on her like that or ask her to do better. Never ever would he do that to her. Not like Howard had to him. But. ...it's more than likely. And really there's nothing more promising than knowing whatever she chooses to do she'll be stellar at it. He won't ask her to change the world, and certainly not to save it, if there's a lot of saving left to do. But Alice will be a frontline leader in whatever she puts her mind to. Tony knows this. And he's already proud of her.]
I just hope she stays on the tech side and less... [There's that thought. He sighs, takes a sip of his coffee and then shakes his head.] She's already started rooting around in the garage. I caught her with one of the Iron Man helmets the other day. I don't think I got around to telling you. [Because literally right after the entirety of his world had rearranged itself what with time travel and nearly dying. But maybe that's not even really a surprise, considering she has the little knitted LED repulsors. But still, Tony thinks. There's a huge difference between wanting toys and putting on actual gear.]
[ Wow, all the way to married with a kid. ]
Most I'll let you do is private school, but not homeschooled. I want my -- our kids to get to socialize with their peers.
And I want two or three.
Just hoping they don't take after you in the sass department.
[ He's definitely not paying attention to this movie anymore. They could be turning into t-rexes with big arms for all he knows.
It's easy to do this because it's sprinkled through with truth. He wants a few kids. He wants them to attend public school unless they get harassed by virtue of having the ultimate boy scout for a father. ]
Most I'll let you do is private school, but not homeschooled. I want my -- our kids to get to socialize with their peers.
And I want two or three.
Just hoping they don't take after you in the sass department.
[ He's definitely not paying attention to this movie anymore. They could be turning into t-rexes with big arms for all he knows.
It's easy to do this because it's sprinkled through with truth. He wants a few kids. He wants them to attend public school unless they get harassed by virtue of having the ultimate boy scout for a father. ]
It wasn't me. It was Raven. But yes, I think you do have your own trousers. ( he hands that over to erik, expecting him to be able to put that on himself as he stands on his tiptoes a little in order to pull the large shirt over the top of Erik's head, being ever so careful with that neck of his, not wanting to further exacerbate the injury. he takes the trousers back from erik then, tossing it on the bed because he realizes he needs to get erik's hands through the armholes. ) This seems a lot more complicated than I thought it'd be. I suppose it's obvious now that I've never, in my life, helped anyone get dressed before. Getting undressed though... ( he lets a little playful smile form on his lips. ) So much easier.
Are you alright? ( he finally gets erik's arms through and slowly tugs and smooths the shirt down, looking proud that they'd managed to accomplish that. ) Well, I apologize if you were expecting this to be a sensual, seductive act between the two us. I am all over the place. ( he looks around again. ) You need underwear.
Are you alright? ( he finally gets erik's arms through and slowly tugs and smooths the shirt down, looking proud that they'd managed to accomplish that. ) Well, I apologize if you were expecting this to be a sensual, seductive act between the two us. I am all over the place. ( he looks around again. ) You need underwear.
Oh.
[ That breaks his heart a little, because so many boys and girls idolize them as heroes. So why shouldn't Alice? But he knows the dangers, and he does want to keep his kid out of the family business. After all, they've both nearly died a couple times a pop, easy, and Thanos is still trying to get the last laugh. To hurt them one last time.
But if anything, Steve knows she'll understand. Because she's seen Tony's sacrifice, she lives with it every day. She's seen everyone else's scars, heard sanitized versions of their stories. She'll know most of all what a difficult life this would be. ]
We can't stop her, but we could discourage her. I was kinda thinking... in a perfect world, where we could retire, there wouldn't be any need for her to take up our mantles.
[ Yeah, yeah. He knows. Giddy optimism, perfect teeth. It doesn't make it less what he feels, that he thought they'd be further along by now, that he'd rather keep fighting until his legs give out, to not have Alice have to take his place. The world isn't ready to lose Iron Man, but Steve Rogers is neither ready to lose him nor see his protege take his place. ]
Kids never keep their interests that long but... I'm still hoping the most she wants out of life is to be an engineer. Or an artist. Maybe an actress. A harpist. Just. Just not that.
[ That breaks his heart a little, because so many boys and girls idolize them as heroes. So why shouldn't Alice? But he knows the dangers, and he does want to keep his kid out of the family business. After all, they've both nearly died a couple times a pop, easy, and Thanos is still trying to get the last laugh. To hurt them one last time.
But if anything, Steve knows she'll understand. Because she's seen Tony's sacrifice, she lives with it every day. She's seen everyone else's scars, heard sanitized versions of their stories. She'll know most of all what a difficult life this would be. ]
We can't stop her, but we could discourage her. I was kinda thinking... in a perfect world, where we could retire, there wouldn't be any need for her to take up our mantles.
[ Yeah, yeah. He knows. Giddy optimism, perfect teeth. It doesn't make it less what he feels, that he thought they'd be further along by now, that he'd rather keep fighting until his legs give out, to not have Alice have to take his place. The world isn't ready to lose Iron Man, but Steve Rogers is neither ready to lose him nor see his protege take his place. ]
Kids never keep their interests that long but... I'm still hoping the most she wants out of life is to be an engineer. Or an artist. Maybe an actress. A harpist. Just. Just not that.
( it'd probably be weird for them to be talking about all this if anyone else were in the room, but they're alone, so it's fine. tony likes where this pretend conversation of theirs is going. it's kind of fun. it doesn't scare him. he'd wanted marriage with pepper. he'd wanted a kid with her. or well, he could've wanted that. he figured it would've likely happened if she hadn't decided to call it quits after years of them being together. )
Two or three? You sure you'd be handle that and me? I somehow doubt it.
Two or three? You sure you'd be handle that and me? I somehow doubt it.
[ Erik looks down. ]
I do.
[ He's looking a bit like Winnie the Pooh at the moment, which honestly, is not really a good look for Erik. And the man could probably pull off a trash bag.
Still, he reaches over for his underwear lest Charles get an aneurysm from touching it, and he puts it on, then goes to figure out his pants. Look, it wasn't like he was expecting things to get raunchy in the hospital room with Hank and Raven outside, but he was at least hoping it might pique Charles' interest. ]
We have plenty of time for that later.
[ He pulls his pants up, and tucks the shirt into the waistband. He does look positively cute, because it's way too big for him. ]
I do.
[ He's looking a bit like Winnie the Pooh at the moment, which honestly, is not really a good look for Erik. And the man could probably pull off a trash bag.
Still, he reaches over for his underwear lest Charles get an aneurysm from touching it, and he puts it on, then goes to figure out his pants. Look, it wasn't like he was expecting things to get raunchy in the hospital room with Hank and Raven outside, but he was at least hoping it might pique Charles' interest. ]
We have plenty of time for that later.
[ He pulls his pants up, and tucks the shirt into the waistband. He does look positively cute, because it's way too big for him. ]
I know. [To all of it, said and unsaid, Tony knows. He feels the exact same way. He doesn't want her to have that hero's heart. But if nothing else, she'll probably get it from Steve. Unable to turn her back on someone in need. And eventually that'll build to larger heights.]
Discouraging only makes them do the thing more. Trust me. I can't even relive what Peter did with that whole street-level weapons nightmare without sweating. [Tony had kept telling him no, no, no and the kid just didn't listen. Ever. At any point. Didn't trust Tony to handle it. Sure. It ended up alright, but for a moment there Tony had severely overreacted. ...he doesn't want to do that with Alice. Part of him is worried he might. Because he can't stand the thought of her getting into a suit or picking up a shield and being put in harm's way.]
But hey. After all this. I think I'm looking a little more at that perfect world. [Things had been nice- ...which is terrible to think. But that lapse, that five years where things were so out of whack, where everyone had to pick up the slack and there wasn't a lot of room for large scale threats... it was kind of nice. He'd probably never say that out loud because it's a terrible thing to say. He knows that. But. ...it had been nice. It had been quiet. They'd been able to focus on their family.] Not to bring down the mood or anything, but maybe the universe at large can appreciate we've given just about all we have to give. [Almost quite literally, and perhaps if he lets himself think he can't get out of this hole, still might be on track.
Because he also so desperately does not want to upset Steve again he flips the lid of the pastry box open and finds himself smiling.] That's nice. She'll like that. [Inside as asked for their pinkest pink pastry happens to be a strawberry pink swiss roll with glittery sprinkles.]
Discouraging only makes them do the thing more. Trust me. I can't even relive what Peter did with that whole street-level weapons nightmare without sweating. [Tony had kept telling him no, no, no and the kid just didn't listen. Ever. At any point. Didn't trust Tony to handle it. Sure. It ended up alright, but for a moment there Tony had severely overreacted. ...he doesn't want to do that with Alice. Part of him is worried he might. Because he can't stand the thought of her getting into a suit or picking up a shield and being put in harm's way.]
But hey. After all this. I think I'm looking a little more at that perfect world. [Things had been nice- ...which is terrible to think. But that lapse, that five years where things were so out of whack, where everyone had to pick up the slack and there wasn't a lot of room for large scale threats... it was kind of nice. He'd probably never say that out loud because it's a terrible thing to say. He knows that. But. ...it had been nice. It had been quiet. They'd been able to focus on their family.] Not to bring down the mood or anything, but maybe the universe at large can appreciate we've given just about all we have to give. [Almost quite literally, and perhaps if he lets himself think he can't get out of this hole, still might be on track.
Because he also so desperately does not want to upset Steve again he flips the lid of the pastry box open and finds himself smiling.] That's nice. She'll like that. [Inside as asked for their pinkest pink pastry happens to be a strawberry pink swiss roll with glittery sprinkles.]
That's why we'll start with one. And we'll figure out how many we want after that, but I'm thinking we end up with three. We're both only children, right? But wouldn't it have been nice to have a sibling to confide in?
[ And isn't that what Rhodey was for?
Either way, Steve inserting his real wishes into this little game of chicken might get a little too real. He wanted that life so badly going into the ice. Coming out it felt like he could never get it back. And certainly not with whom he wanted. Yes. He's maybe still working through that. ]
[ And isn't that what Rhodey was for?
Either way, Steve inserting his real wishes into this little game of chicken might get a little too real. He wanted that life so badly going into the ice. Coming out it felt like he could never get it back. And certainly not with whom he wanted. Yes. He's maybe still working through that. ]
[ Tony may feel like he's at the end of his rope, and that's fair. He's been through a lot, and he's battling his own mortality, again. It seems like old news with Tony, but Steve is still battling with this, emotionally. If Tony dies, he doesn't know if he'll be able to take up the shield anymore. He doesn't know if he'll be able to look at it anymore.
She's done him well, but now he associates her with him, all the time. And if Alice loses one parent, he'll have to choose his daughter over the world, no question. He'll have to raise her, knowing the world took Tony from them. Knowing he couldn't ever risk having his child have to bury both her parents in short succession, because both of them knew what it was to be young and without them. ]
We can retire after this.
[ The two of them, together, he means. He doesn't want to imagine a future without Tony in it. ]
You, me. Stay at the house. Get paged in only on emergencies.
[ And spend most of their days sitting on their chairs in the backyard, overlooking the calm of the water. Those are some of the most beautiful memories he has with Tony there. They could make so many more. ]
She's done him well, but now he associates her with him, all the time. And if Alice loses one parent, he'll have to choose his daughter over the world, no question. He'll have to raise her, knowing the world took Tony from them. Knowing he couldn't ever risk having his child have to bury both her parents in short succession, because both of them knew what it was to be young and without them. ]
We can retire after this.
[ The two of them, together, he means. He doesn't want to imagine a future without Tony in it. ]
You, me. Stay at the house. Get paged in only on emergencies.
[ And spend most of their days sitting on their chairs in the backyard, overlooking the calm of the water. Those are some of the most beautiful memories he has with Tony there. They could make so many more. ]
[That makes two of them, but she likes to at least give the illusion that she has her shit together when it comes to her abilities. He doesn't need to know the whole mess.]
I can alter reality. Alter minds. Move buildings with just a thought. Those are the broad strokes.
[She nods towards him.]
And yours revolves around metal?
I can alter reality. Alter minds. Move buildings with just a thought. Those are the broad strokes.
[She nods towards him.]
And yours revolves around metal?
[He hadn't meant to try and goad Steve into giving him the impossible- and it might be hilarious to somebody that he's the one asking. Not that after their first tremendous loss it hadn't been on his docket. But even then it hadn't been promised. Not even with raising Alice had the two of them ever really talked about it. Not like this. Because the entirety of their relationship had always been built around this idea that there was no stopping.
No quitting. No end. The world was not guaranteed safety and they had jobs to do. It was the very thing that ruined his relationship with Pepper. It was one of the biggest reasons he'd felt safety building a future with Steve. Because they both understood it.
Now... hearing Steve say it? He finds himself a little awestruck. The team has been reformed by now. There are new faces. And it feels like more enhanced are coming out of the woodwork every day. But that still didn't mean the world wouldn't need them. It didn't even mean it was fair for them to stop. And yet. And yet...
Both his hands take one of Steve's, just holding him. Watching him.] I'd like that. [He barely gives voice to this, it's such a low murmur. He's never bought into the whole fate thing but after everything else he's seen maybe he should. And he's worried that they'll ruin the idea. Tempt something worse out of the fold. Tony's not really sure he could handle worse right now.]
But let's finish this, first. Before we start planning the retirement party. [Trying not to somberly voice the knowledge that this is Tony stepping around death for what probably will be the last time. He's not sure how many more times he'll get away with it. But this one last one he will. For Steve. For Alice. For their little family that he'd be lost without. He grins, then.] Not that I don't expect one. With tacky decorations and one of those annoying oversized cards everyone hates signing.
No quitting. No end. The world was not guaranteed safety and they had jobs to do. It was the very thing that ruined his relationship with Pepper. It was one of the biggest reasons he'd felt safety building a future with Steve. Because they both understood it.
Now... hearing Steve say it? He finds himself a little awestruck. The team has been reformed by now. There are new faces. And it feels like more enhanced are coming out of the woodwork every day. But that still didn't mean the world wouldn't need them. It didn't even mean it was fair for them to stop. And yet. And yet...
Both his hands take one of Steve's, just holding him. Watching him.] I'd like that. [He barely gives voice to this, it's such a low murmur. He's never bought into the whole fate thing but after everything else he's seen maybe he should. And he's worried that they'll ruin the idea. Tempt something worse out of the fold. Tony's not really sure he could handle worse right now.]
But let's finish this, first. Before we start planning the retirement party. [Trying not to somberly voice the knowledge that this is Tony stepping around death for what probably will be the last time. He's not sure how many more times he'll get away with it. But this one last one he will. For Steve. For Alice. For their little family that he'd be lost without. He grins, then.] Not that I don't expect one. With tacky decorations and one of those annoying oversized cards everyone hates signing.
( the thing is charles is very much interested in erik's nakedness, and if they had been anywhere else but here, he might have actually taken the time to appreciate how good he looks without any clothes on. he's not, however, going to entertain doing that sort of thing while they're here in the worst possible place. what little he did see though is now forever ingrained in his mind that he can easily picture the man naked right now even though he's fully dressed. charles blinks, sees erik in that shirt that's way too big for him and he can't help but let out an amused grin as he looks at him. )
I am going to have to get my camera out the minute we get home because you look absolutely darling in that. ( it's a good thing erik's claiming he's feeling all better. surely he wouldn't mind posing for a photograph or two then. he's fairly serious about that. )
Here. ( charles does give him a jacket, helping erik to put it on before they head outside, saving him from any embarrassment. or rather, saving anyone from getting themselves into trouble if they were to give erik a funny look. the last thing he wants is for erik to get into another altercation. )
I am going to have to get my camera out the minute we get home because you look absolutely darling in that. ( it's a good thing erik's claiming he's feeling all better. surely he wouldn't mind posing for a photograph or two then. he's fairly serious about that. )
Here. ( charles does give him a jacket, helping erik to put it on before they head outside, saving him from any embarrassment. or rather, saving anyone from getting themselves into trouble if they were to give erik a funny look. the last thing he wants is for erik to get into another altercation. )
( steve's got a point. he did go through a phase where he really wanted a sibling because he'd felt a little lonely, but then he'd met rhodey and the guy's sorta like family to him for sure. )
I'm definitely drawing the line at you starting up your own little league team with our kids. ( one is doable, three already sounds like it'd be too much for him to handle, and any more than that would just be a nightmare or a divorce waiting to happen. )
You don't think we'd be the worst for each other? ( this might be a genuine question even. )
I'm definitely drawing the line at you starting up your own little league team with our kids. ( one is doable, three already sounds like it'd be too much for him to handle, and any more than that would just be a nightmare or a divorce waiting to happen. )
You don't think we'd be the worst for each other? ( this might be a genuine question even. )
[ Honestly, Steve's got many years left in the tank, but this? This scares him. Knowing Tony may slowly die from his body finally giving out, that scares him. Because he knows Tony's always been so alive, so kinetic. He'd shoved a battery into his own chest and decided to roll with it. And something about that made him seem like he might even outlive Steve, because he would keep just coming up with a new patch, a new upgrade.
And hey, he might still, might have something to get him out of it up his sleeve, but somehow this feels more real. That someday, Alice might have to be told that one of her parents didn't make it. And Steve thinks about that and thinks that yeah, maybe it's time to step back from the job a little bit. Cut their hours. Start to mentor the new team instead.
But he couldn't let Tony go back out there anymore, not like this. Retirement had looked nice on them, and Steve had loved every moment of seeing Alice grow up and become a little lady, not missing one second. Yes, he knew what their jobs mean to them, but he also thinks it's time. ]
Okay. We'll finish this. And then I'll get you a big sheet cake from the grocery. And you can get me a commemorative t-shirt.
[ He reaches for Tony's face, caresses his cheek. ]
Soon as we get on that jet. I'm not letting you go until landing.
And hey, he might still, might have something to get him out of it up his sleeve, but somehow this feels more real. That someday, Alice might have to be told that one of her parents didn't make it. And Steve thinks about that and thinks that yeah, maybe it's time to step back from the job a little bit. Cut their hours. Start to mentor the new team instead.
But he couldn't let Tony go back out there anymore, not like this. Retirement had looked nice on them, and Steve had loved every moment of seeing Alice grow up and become a little lady, not missing one second. Yes, he knew what their jobs mean to them, but he also thinks it's time. ]
Okay. We'll finish this. And then I'll get you a big sheet cake from the grocery. And you can get me a commemorative t-shirt.
[ He reaches for Tony's face, caresses his cheek. ]
Soon as we get on that jet. I'm not letting you go until landing.
[ He accepts the jacket, and before they go out of the room, he pulls Charles in to give him a quick, but solid kiss. He's very recently realized he loves this man, and, well. That's a lot for him, there's a lot that's new for him about being in love.
And sometimes it means navigating slightly awkward situations such as this, where he's wearing Hank's t-shirt and had to have Charles put him to sleep at the hospital. ]
I'll erase the film, dear.
[ He won't. But he doesn't exactly want to commemorate the occasion. ]
Ready?
And sometimes it means navigating slightly awkward situations such as this, where he's wearing Hank's t-shirt and had to have Charles put him to sleep at the hospital. ]
I'll erase the film, dear.
[ He won't. But he doesn't exactly want to commemorate the occasion. ]
Ready?
No? You don't want the kids to be able to start a band?
[ Or whatever it is kids do in families with way too many of them. Steve wouldn't know. He assumes he would've gotten siblings if his mother had remarried, or if his father had come home from the war, but he recognizes that modern people tend to have less kids.
Then Tony hits him with that question. ]
No.
[ That's immediate, but it takes him awhile to gather the rest of his thoughts, because he's serious about them, all of a sudden. ]
We clash a lot, sure. And sometimes I don't know when you're joking, and maybe I take everything too seriously. So, we'd have work to do. But if we can just hear each other out more, and learn to compromise, then I think we'd actually be pretty great.
[ But he also means that for them as colleagues, as the two de-facto leaders of the Avengers. ]
[ Or whatever it is kids do in families with way too many of them. Steve wouldn't know. He assumes he would've gotten siblings if his mother had remarried, or if his father had come home from the war, but he recognizes that modern people tend to have less kids.
Then Tony hits him with that question. ]
No.
[ That's immediate, but it takes him awhile to gather the rest of his thoughts, because he's serious about them, all of a sudden. ]
We clash a lot, sure. And sometimes I don't know when you're joking, and maybe I take everything too seriously. So, we'd have work to do. But if we can just hear each other out more, and learn to compromise, then I think we'd actually be pretty great.
[ But he also means that for them as colleagues, as the two de-facto leaders of the Avengers. ]
[Luckily for him, maybe for the both of them, his brain is still going at a million miles a second. And as long as he can still think he can still get out of this. Still find a solution. Already some are threading through, he's been thinking about this for a little bit. He's not sure what the end result will look like- just as long as it achieves what he wants it to and he doesn't explode, that's really all he needs.]
Alright, deal. You'll have to wear it all day and it'll probably be the tackiest thing money can buy. Maybe we'll have everyone sign that instead.
[It's automatic, the way his hand reaches up to cover Steve's. Holding him there. Head tilting into the touch. He'll need that, too, really. They'll seek that comfort out in each other and hopefully over a couple hours of flight time be able to get back to some sort of steady baseline so that they can talk to Alice, Rhodey, and then others when they get there. It's going to be an extremely emotionally taxing time for the both of them. Tony just hopes he has enough in the tank to keep powering through it.]
FRIDAY's flying home then, I take it. [Which she's more than capable of doing if they request for her to take the proverbial wheel. With his other hand he picks up his cup and takes the last sips of his coffee.] I think I'll need one for the road, though, but other than that, whenever you're ready. [There's a solemnness, maybe even a nervousness to the way he says this though he tries his best to keep it in check. To be strong. To stay strong. Leaving here somehow means the start of their journey, the last legs of this particular problem. Tony's confident he can get through this. But... there's always that little what-if circling somewhere. He just can't let it take him too far.]
Alright, deal. You'll have to wear it all day and it'll probably be the tackiest thing money can buy. Maybe we'll have everyone sign that instead.
[It's automatic, the way his hand reaches up to cover Steve's. Holding him there. Head tilting into the touch. He'll need that, too, really. They'll seek that comfort out in each other and hopefully over a couple hours of flight time be able to get back to some sort of steady baseline so that they can talk to Alice, Rhodey, and then others when they get there. It's going to be an extremely emotionally taxing time for the both of them. Tony just hopes he has enough in the tank to keep powering through it.]
FRIDAY's flying home then, I take it. [Which she's more than capable of doing if they request for her to take the proverbial wheel. With his other hand he picks up his cup and takes the last sips of his coffee.] I think I'll need one for the road, though, but other than that, whenever you're ready. [There's a solemnness, maybe even a nervousness to the way he says this though he tries his best to keep it in check. To be strong. To stay strong. Leaving here somehow means the start of their journey, the last legs of this particular problem. Tony's confident he can get through this. But... there's always that little what-if circling somewhere. He just can't let it take him too far.]
Page 8 of 47