I can already hear him twirling his claw with anticipation. [ It's kind of comforting, in a way. One that he probably couldn't describe even if he wanted to try doing so, for lots of different reasons. He loves Dummy - Dummy was his first baby, the oldest of his boys - and yeah, undoubtedly, Dummy's a little special sometimes, but Tony really only puts effort into insulting things he cares about. Sort of. Point is, he'd never actually give Dummy away. Or dismantle him. Hell, he hasn't even been able to bring himself to fix the bot's more unusual glitches.
He considers that for all of a couple seconds before he nods a little. ] Yeah, yeah, I can move. It'll be fine. Totally. Let's go to another room.
He's probably already planning exactly how much oil he can get away with putting into it. Or the most efficient way to do it. You know. [ Light and easy, amused. She likes the robot pretty well, and she likes him most of all for the fact that he makes Tony happy on a regular basis. Anything that makes Tony happy is good in her books.
And okay, that agreement was a little fast for her to actually put a great deal of faith in it, but after a moment of evaluation she stands up and holds out both of her hands to him. ] Then let's head upstairs. I think there's probably a little bit more natural light up there, too.
I've never really... [ Ooh, breathing is still sort of a thing. Okay. ] Been able to tell if he thinks I need motor oil or if he just can't tell that I don't. But damn if he doesn't try.
[ Oh, right, he agreed to that. Like, two seconds ago. What was he thinking. But okay, okay. She stands up, and he already wants to follow her, so the hands and the standing, that goes fairly smoothly. He's a little shaky on his feet, his thighs are full of adrenalin that hasn't gone anywhere, been used for anything, so he's a little wobbly and jittery and it's all to do with the adrenaline. Nothing else, no sir. ] Okay. Ready. [ She's clearly picking where they're going, and he's fine just so long as she doesn't walk too fast and doesn't let go of his hand. ]
[ She stays still for a long moment after he first stands up, moves close enough that she can take most of his weight easily should he need her to, waiting for him to get his balance and center of movement under him. For the moment she won't comment on it, but it's definitely on the list of things that she's going to have to talk to him about because this - this is not improving. ] We'll take the elevator. [ Because that seems like the best idea, here. nd there's no way she's going to let go of his hand, her grip quite firm. Nor is she planning on walking at more than a pretty slow amble, moving backwards so that she can stay watching him. ] Can you drink some water, or would that be too much?
[ He leans on her a little bit but mostly he's trying to move of his own volition. It's nice that she's here; he appreciates it. He's not always sure what to do with her, but right now he doesn't even care. He willingly holds on to her hand, leans a little more on her than he probably would if he weren't still dealing with so much from the attack. ] Uh, yeah, okay. Elevator. [ Elevator works. ] Just no stairs.
[ He considers the water question with no small amount of pause. Tries not to make a face. ] I probably need it but I don't know. It might be. Might be just what I'm craving. We can try it.
[ She moves as if he's not putting any weight on her, doesn't mention it at all. Whatever he needs to do she's willing to help, and sometimes help can only be taken if it's not acknowledged. ] Stairs are boring anyways. [ Lightly, easy. She refuses to try to make it into a big thing, because the bigger a deal it is - knowing him, he'll feel like it was his fault or something he did, and it wasn't.
She nods, considers. ] Then we'll get some water and just sit down for a little bit.
[ She's just so damn smart. It's unreal sometimes, her intuition. Or just how quickly she thinks in terms of knowing how to do things to the point where it looks like intuition. He considers them to be the same thing. ]
Yeah, boring. [ She's doing a good job. He's leaning on her a little more as they keep moving, as well as a little more whenever water is mentioned. ] Yeah okay. Sounds like a plan. Maybe a bottle? From the fridge. Not a cup. Dunno why. Just a thought.
[ It's probably about half and half, and certainly the longer and better she knows him the more it becomes just intuition because she knows him and therefore knows what might work.
She presses the button for the second floor, by the kitchen, and glances over at him, nods. ] Or juice. Juice boxes are always amazing. [ She can guess what it is he's been thinking about, if he's avoiding open water, but that's not due to be brought up yet. Not quite. He needs to be settled first. ] How was your morning?
[ He takes the opportunity to lean a little more on the side of the elevator than on her, because he's just realized how much he was leaning on her, and no. ]
We have juice boxes? I'd -- really go for a juice box. Yeah.
[ Thinking back over things, skipping over the obvious. ]
Of course we have juice boxes. Juice boxes are amazing, I love them.
[ It's cool, she'll just casually lean back against the elevator too, stay with an arm looped around him and ready to support any weight he might need her to support. She doesn't mind. ]
Oh, you know, same old same old. I was reading about quantum mechanics because it sounds interesting, then I went shopping, you know how it goes. [ As the elevator doors open, casually slipping back into an upright position and keeping on talking as she takes any weight he puts on her. ] I think we have apple and tropical and maybe grape. Not sure about grape. What do you want?
[ He goes back to leaning on her about as much as he was before, almost immediately, because he needs to and just isn't going to acknowledge it.
Nodding a little bit as she talks, although not a whole lot because he feels like too much movement's gonna make him fall over or throw up or something like that. ] I want grape. Shopping for what?
[ She's fine with that, because seriously. Supporting him is no problem, and she wants to do whatever he needs.
She does angle them for the couch by the kitchen instead of the kitchen proper though, because she feels like he might need to be sitting down again somewhere comfortable and soft so he can relax. ] Grape it is then. Just some basic stuff here and there. Errands that needed running, you know how it goes.
[ Thank god for her thought process. He's very happy for the couch, falls off of her and onto it, just for a little bit, he thinks. Just, you know, long enough to catch his breath and stuff. ]
I've never run errands in my life, I have no idea what you're talking about.
[ She waits until he's settled and then heads into the kitchen to retrieve juice boxes, talking the whole time so that even the moments she goes out of sight he can always tell she's there. ]
Well, just because you're ridiculous. It's errands, come on, haven't you ever needed to pick up a different wrench or just some food that isn't in the house? There can't have always been someone around who would go get it for you. [ And holding out a juice box for him - she's taken the straw out of the plastic because that's a pain, but she's pretty sure actually sticking it in would look pretty patronizing so she's left that to him, sitting down beside him as she sets to work on her and presses against his side, warmth and solidness. ] How are you doing?
[ I'm not sure how deeply he would have actually thought about whether or not she put the straw in the juice box or not given his current state, but it's nice of her to be thinking about things like that anyway. ] Nope, not me. Never gone to the grocery store or the hardware store or anything. Always somebody around. I have an army of minions and each one is stationed at most stores I would want something from so all I have to do is ask and they'll bring it here. [ Max can you tell he's being sarcastic. It's predominantly to cover the fact that he isn't going to answer your question. That and how much he's obviously using the couch for support. ]
[ She thinks about everything she can consider, when she's trying to take care of someone. Sometimes she thinks of almost too much and misses out on the obvious.
Also evasion is not nearly as successful a tactic as he apparently thinks it is, especially when someone is already on the lookout for it and you're trying to evade the answer to a question she finds it pretty important to get answered. Very important. ] I'm sure. No wonder your personal budget is so high. [ But she'll wait, say, five minutes. And then she's asking again, if he hasn't taken the suggestion of her steady gaze and answered it before then. ]
[ He makes it about a little under two minutes into that steady gaze and breaks. ]
I'm barely keeping down a juice box, my legs feel like they belong to somebody else, the reactor weighs about three times as much as it usually does, and I think if I stand up too fast I'm gonna pass out. How do you think I'm doing? [ When evasion doesn't work, go on the defensive! He's more than irked that this is even a problem - normal people don't have basic functionality problems like this. He's even more annoyed that she apparently had to become privy to the issue, as though it were something he'd really have been able to keep from her. ]
Not too hot, sounds like. [ But her voice is calm as she leans forward, presses the back of her hand to his forehead to check if there's any fever going on. Just to be certain, and then she takes another sip of her juicebox and presses closer against him, offering as much support as she can. ] Do you know what it was?
[ He only flinches a little bit when she puts the back of her hand to his forehead, and he isn't even sure why. He feels hot but he doubts that he actually is by this point. He probably was earlier, but now he's calmed down too much believe it or not. He's going to feel hot again though, if he can't calm down more, with her lying against him. He can't calm down all the way and he can't figure out why. ] I have no idea what it -- Do I know what what was?
[ She can take a guess as to why he can't calm down entirely, and another one as to why he felt like this in the first place. It's not one that he's going to enjoy her making, she thinks, but she has fairly significant experience with PTSD, both in herself and in the others around her. ] I think you had a panic attack. [ Watching him carefully, still evaluating. ] Going from what I felt when I got back.
[ Yeah she's right he doesn't like that diagnosis. He stops moving for a second, juice box paused mid-air, and then continues on like nothing happened. ] No, I don't, I don't think that was it. I've never had those before, I don't panic. That's dumb, why would I have a panic attack in my own house? There wasn't - nothing was happening.
Nothing has to be happening. [ She shrugs, talks as casually as she can and without watching him too closely. ] It felt a lot like one. It happens to a lot of people who've had major stress in their lives recently.
[ He still doesn't like this suggestion. ] Me? [ What does he have to be stressed about? Beyond running a multi-billion dollar company, being head of R&D for the same company, working on a team full of super-heroes, having other... things going on. He can't imagine why she would say he's had major stress in his life recently. ] I don't think that was it.
[ Yes, when you put it like that it doesn't sound like he's ever had anything to be stressed in. Add in PTSD and having recently narrowly escaped with his life from a traumatic battle and it's like there's zero reasons for him to not be a totally normally functioning person. ] Then what do you think it was? [ There's no judgment or argument in it, because she thinks that wouldn't go over well. ]
[ Aaaaaaaand that's where he falters, because he has no idea what it was - he thinks he said that, a few minutes ago, maybe he didn't, he's not actually sure - he just knows that he's viscerally opposed to the idea of it being... what she's saying it is. For the reasons he gave her earlier, the most prominent of which being both 'me' and 'that's dumb'. Great reasons. ] A twinge of cosmic angst? [ And where the hell did he pull that from? A childhood of sci-fi and fantasy and that's what he comes up with? At least it's self contained, fairly short. But he knows it's not going to fly, so he just takes another long draw from his juicebox. Unfortunately, it's a juice box, it doesn't have more than one long draw in it, so he winds up making that horrible gurgly sound and just tosses the empty thing across the floor so he can rest his forehead on his palm instead, elbow on the arm of the couch. ]
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He considers that for all of a couple seconds before he nods a little. ] Yeah, yeah, I can move. It'll be fine. Totally. Let's go to another room.
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And okay, that agreement was a little fast for her to actually put a great deal of faith in it, but after a moment of evaluation she stands up and holds out both of her hands to him. ] Then let's head upstairs. I think there's probably a little bit more natural light up there, too.
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[ Oh, right, he agreed to that. Like, two seconds ago. What was he thinking. But okay, okay. She stands up, and he already wants to follow her, so the hands and the standing, that goes fairly smoothly. He's a little shaky on his feet, his thighs are full of adrenalin that hasn't gone anywhere, been used for anything, so he's a little wobbly and jittery and it's all to do with the adrenaline. Nothing else, no sir. ] Okay. Ready. [ She's clearly picking where they're going, and he's fine just so long as she doesn't walk too fast and doesn't let go of his hand. ]
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[ She stays still for a long moment after he first stands up, moves close enough that she can take most of his weight easily should he need her to, waiting for him to get his balance and center of movement under him. For the moment she won't comment on it, but it's definitely on the list of things that she's going to have to talk to him about because this - this is not improving. ] We'll take the elevator. [ Because that seems like the best idea, here. nd there's no way she's going to let go of his hand, her grip quite firm. Nor is she planning on walking at more than a pretty slow amble, moving backwards so that she can stay watching him. ] Can you drink some water, or would that be too much?
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[ He considers the water question with no small amount of pause. Tries not to make a face. ] I probably need it but I don't know. It might be. Might be just what I'm craving. We can try it.
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She nods, considers. ] Then we'll get some water and just sit down for a little bit.
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Yeah, boring. [ She's doing a good job. He's leaning on her a little more as they keep moving, as well as a little more whenever water is mentioned. ] Yeah okay. Sounds like a plan. Maybe a bottle? From the fridge. Not a cup. Dunno why. Just a thought.
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She presses the button for the second floor, by the kitchen, and glances over at him, nods. ] Or juice. Juice boxes are always amazing. [ She can guess what it is he's been thinking about, if he's avoiding open water, but that's not due to be brought up yet. Not quite. He needs to be settled first. ] How was your morning?
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We have juice boxes? I'd -- really go for a juice box. Yeah.
[ Thinking back over things, skipping over the obvious. ]
Fine. How was yours?
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[ It's cool, she'll just casually lean back against the elevator too, stay with an arm looped around him and ready to support any weight he might need her to support. She doesn't mind. ]
Oh, you know, same old same old. I was reading about quantum mechanics because it sounds interesting, then I went shopping, you know how it goes. [ As the elevator doors open, casually slipping back into an upright position and keeping on talking as she takes any weight he puts on her. ] I think we have apple and tropical and maybe grape. Not sure about grape. What do you want?
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[ He goes back to leaning on her about as much as he was before, almost immediately, because he needs to and just isn't going to acknowledge it.
Nodding a little bit as she talks, although not a whole lot because he feels like too much movement's gonna make him fall over or throw up or something like that. ] I want grape. Shopping for what?
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She does angle them for the couch by the kitchen instead of the kitchen proper though, because she feels like he might need to be sitting down again somewhere comfortable and soft so he can relax. ] Grape it is then. Just some basic stuff here and there. Errands that needed running, you know how it goes.
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I've never run errands in my life, I have no idea what you're talking about.
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Well, just because you're ridiculous. It's errands, come on, haven't you ever needed to pick up a different wrench or just some food that isn't in the house? There can't have always been someone around who would go get it for you. [ And holding out a juice box for him - she's taken the straw out of the plastic because that's a pain, but she's pretty sure actually sticking it in would look pretty patronizing so she's left that to him, sitting down beside him as she sets to work on her and presses against his side, warmth and solidness. ] How are you doing?
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Also evasion is not nearly as successful a tactic as he apparently thinks it is, especially when someone is already on the lookout for it and you're trying to evade the answer to a question she finds it pretty important to get answered. Very important. ] I'm sure. No wonder your personal budget is so high. [ But she'll wait, say, five minutes. And then she's asking again, if he hasn't taken the suggestion of her steady gaze and answered it before then. ]
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I'm barely keeping down a juice box, my legs feel like they belong to somebody else, the reactor weighs about three times as much as it usually does, and I think if I stand up too fast I'm gonna pass out. How do you think I'm doing? [ When evasion doesn't work, go on the defensive! He's more than irked that this is even a problem - normal people don't have basic functionality problems like this. He's even more annoyed that she apparently had to become privy to the issue, as though it were something he'd really have been able to keep from her. ]
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