riverview | video; stark

Entry tags:

video; stark

[Tony has the Iron Man helmet with face plate up and one of the gauntlets on which he uses to wave at the camera. He's smiling brightly, but there are bags under his eyes and the flush to his cheeks are from more than just excitement.]

Some of you might remember a certain someone's offer to trade junk into something better. Please be sure to get the right guy because I don't work for scraps. If you have trouble telling us apart, other me is highly strung and a little sensitive.

[He taps his fingers against his chin.]

Perhaps we should change names as well. I was already thinking of rebranding Iron Man and getting a new paint job. And he can be... do you think he'd mind if I called him Greg? Or is that a little too morbid using a dead man's name? He'd have to dye his hair too, we look terrible in white otherwise...

[He picks up a bottle with his uncovered hand and takes a drink.]

Okay, it probably is. This silly event has got me maudlin I see.

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Tony.

[That's a gentle admonishment.]

He maybe trouble sometimes, but we like him for who he is.

[He scoffs at that.]

Now now, it's unbecoming for Captain America to lie like that.

[Steve looks directly into Tony's eyes through the device. Somehow even with the screens it is possible to tell that is what he's doing.]

He's my friend. We've had our differences; we don't always get along. But Tony is a good man.

[Yeah, Tony is going to look away. He's a little envious because that was something he never thought he'd ever hear from Steve.]

I guess it's just me then.

[Steve frowns at that, because that isn't at all what he meant. And then he finds himself scowling, because Tony is implying something he hadn't even considered and can barely fathom: in some world, they aren't friends. Whether Tony is good or not doesn't even rank as a question. He tenses up, still processing this new realization when he answers.]

I don't believe that. You've already proven that you're willing to help and capable of getting the job done.

[Hah.

The longer he talks to these people the more he realises how messed up his world is. It's demoralising to realise you live in the bad end world.]

You don't need to spare my feelings. I'm well aware what everyone thinks.

[Okay, now he really has to ask.]

What does everyone think? Maybe you can enlighten me, because apparently they didn't put up fliers.

[Steve wants to cross his arms, but with the device in hand, he has to settle for a huff.]

You think I'd say that to you if I didn't mean it?

Absolutely. If a lie was the only thing standing between you and defeat you'd do it without a second thought. Steve isn't a good loser.

[He's still swaying, but he attempts to look serious about that.]

[His expression hardens at that answer. The direct, almost ruthless hit makes him bristle, which really means that Tony has struck a nerve.

You're a sore loser, Captain.

He feels his jaw tighten. The urge to argue like the urge to fight, just there, waiting for the signal from his brain to fly. He has to force himself to release that tension enough to speak.]

I mean it. You could have run before. When we reached those generators, you could have left. I would have been able to take them. You chose to stay and fight. So I'm choosing to trust you.

[There's a smug sort of satisfaction in knowing he hit a nerve followed by the sickening feeling of doing that to Steve. People forgot he was a very good businessman despite his vices and part of that was being able to read people.]

I was in no shape to run and there was no guarantee there was nothing else out there. Choice is an illusion, Captain.

[Tony doesn't like this blind faith Steve wants to show. There needed to be something to back that up and if there wasn't he needed to walk into it with his eyes open. Because then he couldn't be faulted if he failed to reach his expectations.]

[Steve's stern look becomes hot with the glare of anger he shoots Tony. The words are practically an insult to him. Choice is an illusion. He has never once believed that there was no choice. Even in the worst situations. And Tony saying that he didn't want to help but was forced to by the circumstances for some reason Steve can't quite put words to makes his blood boil.]

So you stuck around because you were afraid you'd die on your own? Is that what you're saying?

[Steve raises his head and stares through the device at Tony.]

If you really need clarification try thinking instead of asking me.

[He looks away in dismissal. It may not make Steve happy, but that was part of the reason. Tony didn't consider himself a particularly brave person, the things he has to do sometimes terrify him and he isn't often able to overcome that fear by himself.]

And if you're going to yell can you just leave a message instead?

[He doesn't yell. He doesn't look away or hang up either. Instead, Steve keeps his eyes level on Tony, focusing in on him like he's aiming.]

You don't need me. If you were that concerned about yourself, you could have left me back when I told you we needed to find the generator. You knew there had to be a problem down there. I'm a stranger. You could have easily refused to help and if I had held that against you, it couldn't have mattered that much.

You can lie if that makes you feel better, but you still have my thanks.

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