fe_male | memeboxing

[ Well she's been teaching him a lot, inadvertently or no, just by being around. He wouldn't be Tony Stark if he didn't pick up on things quickly. Most things, anyway, and this is one he has a vested interest in, even if that interest is subconscious.

His instinct is to hold her tight to him, possibly never let her go, if he can help it, but as it is he just manages something that's secure, firm, but hopefully still a bit loose and not too hard. It's complicated, but he tries. ] Four's a pretty crappy learning curve, you ask me. It's supposed to be three, and that's only if you're average, which you clearly aren't.

[ She'd be pretty pleased to know he considered it worth the effort to pick up on that.

And she'd also be pretty okay with him never letting go, because he's warm and comfortable and a reminder of everything that's exactly the opposite of blood and the encrouching cold of a bad wound. ] Well, I made the mistake of picking high risk jobs. And being a pain in the ass to the bad guys in both. [ Softer, not particularly meant to be said out loud. ] Still never got used to it.

[ Only for you and maybe like, one or two other people is he such a good pillow. Be proud of yourself. ] Yeah, high risk pain in the ass is a pretty dangerous combo. [ Nerves, nerves. He can feel her pulse, and right now it's a mix between loud and soothing in its steadiness. Not quite like his own, with its occasional arrhythmia. ] But it's a combo that usually goes together regardless. [ And oh, well. Things. What do. ] I don't think you're supposed to.

[ If she considers it at some point, she will be super proud of herself. For now she is just snuggling closer and closing her eyes, listening to the sound of his heartbeat in turn and his breathing right there. Everything's safe. ] You'd know all about that combo. [ A faint grimace. ] It just gets tiring still dreaming about them. Can't your brain get used to that shit already and ignore it?

[ Everything is totally safe. Feel safe. Nothing's happening for the rest of the night. ] Yes, I would, so you can consider that an expert opinion. [ Aaaand hey, okay, sure. More seriousness. He can be serious, still. Let's be serious. ] Apparently not. It's probably some sort of evolutionary learning mechanism, the way the brain remembers negative experiences more readily for longer periods of time. Being too happy or safe isn't dangerous.

[ Or ever. Hopefully ever. But she can believe in tonight, that's a good thing to start with. Believing things will be okay takes practice ] That's stupid. Seriously. [ Petty, but she feels she's allowed to be petty right now a little bit. And it is pretty stupid, remembering negative things is a guaranteed way to screw yourself over, right? Her brain feeling it's a necessity is definitely stupid. ] You're warm. And comfy.

[ Well, yeah, ever. He just thinks in slightly more pragmatic terms than that. 'Tonight' seemed decent enough, for the immediate moment. ] Are you calling my opinion stupid, or evolution? Because at least one of those, maybe one and a half, I'm going to have to fight you on, and I'm tired right now. [ But yay, more neutral things. ] Neither of which are adjectives I'm used to getting. But I like those. Those are pretty good. I can be warm and comfy.

[ She probably wouldn't have believed ever, so tonight is definitely decent enough. ] Evolution. You can fight me tomorrow, I'll kick your ass. [ Said with the earnest conviction of someone drugged. And then, thoughtfully. ] I call you things you're not used to a lot, don't I.

I bet you will, yeah. [ Although only tomorrow if the thing he gave her to stop the bleeding and initiate the healing process works. And works well. But regardless. ] Hope you heal up quickly. [ And then a pause, because she's druggedly stumbled into the truth, and he's not sure if he'd rather have this revelation later when she's sober, or go ahead and do it now. ] You do. But... I like it.

I always do. [ Wait, that needs clarification. ] Heal up quickly, I mean. 's why I'm alive. [ She stays quietly still, eyes closed, but her hand reaches up for his arm around her, a hand to hold onto. It seems important, what he just said, sounds different from the rest of the conversation. ] That's good. Because I think I'm just going to keep saying them.

[ He gives her both - one hand to hold on to, another to continue holding her safely near to himself. Partly selfish, partly for her own security, since she seemed to appreciate it before. ] I like you being alive. Although I can't admit to always responding favorably to the unexpected statements. These were great, but, later on.

[ Yes that is the perfect solution, she likes this arrangement a lot, her grip tight around his hand. She can believe in safety, like this. She can even believe in happiness. ] I'd say everyone likes me alive, but even I can't do that with a straight face. Pretty sure the unexpected comments will stay good things.

[ Kodak moment, right? Or maybe Hallmark, with that 'believe in happiness' stuff. ] Well. Everyone who matters, anyway. [ Which is arguably also untrue, but that's an argument best left to the other thread, I think. ] But still unexpected. That's the key here.

[ Go with Kodak, she'd be horrified at the idea of a Hallmark moment. Even if it's sort of true. But hey, happiness is hard and sometimes believing in it is even harder. She snorts at that everyone who matters comment, because yeah sure right, but chooses to let it go. She's tired and doesn't feel like bringing in unpleasant topics right now. ] I'm good at the element of surprise. When it's not Sentinels purposely trying to make sure I can't sneak past them. [ Which isn't a pointed comment directed at him or anything. She's going to sneak past him some day, she really is. ]

[ Point taken. Kodak it is. Snort registered, but similarly not replied to, because hey, she clearly got the joke there, but if she's not going to bring it up, neither will he, because he's tired, and he's positive that she's tired and it would be dumb to get into any sort of conversation that means something when they're both so tired. ] Or not purposely. Maybe you're just not very quiet. [ 8D /poke poke the injured bear ]

[ Yeah, she probably wouldn't give much of a good showing in any kind of serious conversation right now. Between drugs and being tired, she'd be more likely to be crankily terrible than any good at it.

Tony no don't do that that is a bad idea injured bears have long memories. ] That's not even sort of the truth, don't be ridiculous.

[ He's not worried. ]

Maybe I've just been being super nice about how noisy you actually are this whole time.

[ maybe he should be! ]

Maybe you should stop lying to a gravely wounded soldier, that's just rude.

Please, you're not gravely wounded. You're gonna be fine, I fixed it. You dramatist.

[ Her mouth twitches up a little as she turns her face into him, expression melting into a wince for a moment when she shifts the rest of her body to follow without thinking before she settles again. ]

You totally did fix it. Did I say thank you? But you're still being really mean now, I'm definitely quiet and good at sneaking.

[ Just casually pretending to neither notice that wince, nor the accelerated beating of her heart as the brain registered the pain, nor the smell of her endocrine system's response, nor anything else that would indicate such a banal thing as 'pain'. ]

I don't actually remember, so I'll say that now you have, and no big. I needed a guinea pig anyway. [ 8D ] We'll see about that last bit when you're back on your feet though.

[ He's the best Tony, and now she's half on him, one arm slung across his stomach, and she's happy with the warmth and his arm and everything. Well, not everything, she's still dissatisfied with herself in a lot of different ways, but she can shove those under for now, not think about them until she's alone and knows she won't broadcast anything on accident. For now, this is enough. ]

Nice to know my health matters so much. [ But she says it mildly, a little amused. ] I could be on my feet right now if I wanted. And we will see. Or you won't see until I'm right there.

[ If she seems unsettled at all, or still reserved to a degree, he'll likely just blanket her in his own shields and keep everything quiet. Better than anything else he can do, anyway. ]

Faith in your ability to be healthy, that's how you should be looking at it. And in my own ability to be right all the time. Also I'd like to just carve out a moment here to remind you that I technically have a heart condition, so you turning into some sort of ninja all of a sudden would be unappreciated. Unless you come bearing fruit, and no surprises.

[ Really she'll probably be generally reserved in some ways for a little while here, because that was jarringly unexpectedly unpleasant. But she'll do her best not to be obvious about it, and she'll appreciate the shields. ]

Why do you have faith in my ability to be healthy? That's totally unjustified. [ she huffs out a silent laugh. ] I bet I can come up with surprises you won't mind.

I did say part of it was also faith in my ability to be basically omniscient too, so. [ Hip nudges are easy when you're both lying down next to each other/sort of on top of-slash-under each other. ] That a promise?

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