Iron Will, Iron Heart: Conductivity

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Blast. Recharge. Blast. Recharge. Blast Set up the fresh targets.

That had been Tony Stark's refrain for the last three days. The first day was dedicated solely to holding it as far from the hotel as humanly possible into the most remote desert location possible. Himself and his new toys, all alone. And the tent. There was no scenario where he wouldn't take that for the ride.

The plasma auto rifle--today's plaything--boasted rapid fire and plasma grenades. With nothing but sand, rock, and dust for miles, Tony was free to let loose. For the bigger blasts, Tony activated his armor--which was up to several minutes of stability at a time. With a sigh, the time limit ran out and he was left in his tank and fatigues bottoms. Adjusting it to the stun setting, he took aim at the few remaining targets.

Comments

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"Not really. I'm still kind of--" Tony activated his gauntlet, summoning a nearby metal target to him via magnesis. He propped it up beside him, affectionately patting the thick frame, which was vaguely in the shape of a person's upper body. "Kind of--really pissed. Wanna meet Thor Jr.? I don't shoot this guy but I practice the taze function on him. He takes it like a champ. I let him cuddle up at night. Really takes up most of the sleeping bag, but I'm used to it."

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor looks at his metal counterpart and tries not to look amused. It's probably not appropriate.

"Why taze the knockoff when you can taze the original?"

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Somehow, Tony was at a loss for a proper follow up to the offer, clinging to the metal body. He fully expected to drive Thor off with that one.

"...I think he likes it. Thor Jr. by the way, he has a name." He nuzzled the area where the cheek would have roughly been with his own, letting the cold steel cool his bare arms. Maybe the black tank in the sun was a mistake but it was tradition. "Doesn't complain. Always gets back up for another round. Cute as a martensitic steel button."

[st_ormbreaker]

"I think the original is plenty cute and is always up for another round." A beat. "But maybe he could not complain so much."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"Fine. One condition. We get Thor Jr.'s consensus. He was here first." Tony hefted the metal frame around to his front, holding it at arm's length. "What say you, Thor Jr.? Should we take the beta version for a spin?"

A long pause. Tony fixed a dutiful stare at the object, nodding occasionally at the utter silence that followed.

"Hm. Alright." He shifted it back to the side. "He says I should, uh, probably stop projecting my emotions onto inanimate objects and using misdirected aggression to cope." Rolling his eyes, Tony let it flop down onto the rocky sands. "Should have named it after something less prone to lecturing."

[st_ormbreaker]

"Well, I can't say I don't disagree," Thor says, once again trying not to smile. "Or is that I can't say I don't agree?"

Thor pauses.

"At any rate, did you want to pack up camp or spend a few more lonely days with your surrogate?"

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"I want my shooting range, I like my shooting range." Tony stubbornly stayed seated, digging into the energy-packed nuts. "Is that okay? Or are you, ah, gonna drag this bunny back by the neck." More on-the-nose retriever comparisons.

[st_ormbreaker]

"Not unless you want to be," he says. "Which it sounds like you don't."

Thor shoves a few more nuts in his mouth and claps a hand on Tony's back and gives it an affectionate rub.

"Dropped off some food for you. No nuts, though. Plenty of pop tarts."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Tony's lips drew into a thin smirk as Thor's hand jostled him. "You are making it really hard to stay angry and I do not appreciate it."

[st_ormbreaker]

"Would it help if I told you I missed you?"

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Tony shoved another handful of nuts into his mouth, making his cheeks puff out. "No."

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor moves his hand away from Tony's back and up to his neck, where he lightly wiggles them in a tickle.

"And this?"

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Thor's fingers brushed over the sensitive hairs covering the skin of the back of his neck and Tony's throat lurched in a barely suppressed laugh--and out came the barely-chewed nuts in a chunky waterfall.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor lets out a bark of laughter at Tony's reaction.

"You're ticklish?"

Thor is clearly delighted by this discover, and, being the good friend he is to Stark, immediately brings his hands to Tony's sides to continue waggling his fingers to find all of his sensitive spots.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Doubling over, Tony tried to proclaim that Thor was as good as mounted on his headboard but it came out as a helplessly frustrated gurgle as the nuts continue to spill out onto the sand. When he was sure there were all gone, more came. He curled up, bucking and pushing.

"I will--" A nut went flying to bounce off of Thor's forehead, "stretch your foreskin like a balloon--!"

[st_ormbreaker]

Tony's reaction just makes Thor laugh louder. Thor found all humans adorable, but this one, even spewing up nuts into the sand like there's no tomorrow --

-- is definitely the most adorable of them all.

Especially when he makes threats.

"Good luck with that," he challenges, still tickling Tony. And since he can't trust more nuts (were there more? Thor wasn't sure) to spew from Tony's mouth, he plants an affectionate kiss on Tony's forehead instead of his lips.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

At some point, Tony turtled, and Thor was on top of him with his hands all over his body and pressing his lips onto his face. He went slack.

"...Alright, here's the deal." He was red-faced with the effort of holding his laughter back. "It's been three days dry and I'm half-hard so let's stop."

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor smiles and withdraws his hands and reaches into the bag of nuts. Impressively, there are still some that haven't been consumed by Stark, in part or in full.

Thor pops one in his mouth, then watches Tony casually, in case the other man decides to retaliate.

"How are you feeling now?"

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Tony panted softly, pushing up onto the backs of his forearms. He glanced down at his once-lunch and pouted. "...I was storing those for winter." He gestured expectantly. "What are you gonna do about this?"

[st_ormbreaker]

"What?" he asks, tossing another two nuts into his mouth. "Would you have me forage for nuts and berries to replenish your stores?"

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"In the des~ert." Rolling and coughing up another few nuts, Tony pushed the almond skin out of his teeth. "Bold of you to assume I wanted to see your face to begin with, by the way. I don't just forget some things. Or most things."

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor lets out a low hum at that.

"Would you prefer that I leave?"

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Tony pushed up fully, sitting cross-legged. "...I'd prefer you trusted me. The way I trust you."

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor takes a breath at that, but quickly manages a smile. He rolls his tongue along the back of his teeth.

"Okay," he says. The word is not defensive or confused or angry in the least. Thor just says it in the same way he would say anything else.

"I'll work on it."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

The thin smirk was back, as well as some restless ankle tapping. Tony wasn't sure what to make of the reply, but everything just...hurt. His head, his stomach, his body. It ached.

"Alright."