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]

"Getting there." Tony's fingers clenched his knee from under Thor's grip. "Every one of them that took Cap's side in the debate--fugitives. Imprisoned the part. God, Thor, I didn't choose that."

'If we sign this, we surrender our right to choose.' Steve Rogers' voice echoed in his head. His throat tightened and his voice dropped.

"I tried to appeal to him once more. Rogers. I thought anything was fixable with enough dialogue. Then the man orchestrating it all played the last card. The--the footage of the night. And I played right into his game. Rogers and Barnes gone, that left everyone who took his side where I left them." There was no pride, not even a touch of the sense of justification in Tony's voice--simply remorse. "They got out. Rogers came through--always does, that one. Still at large from where I'm sitting. Apparently doesn't stay that way forever."

[st_ormbreaker]

When Tony's fingers clench his knee, Thor gives the top of Tony's hand a gentle squeeze. He doesn't say anything else, not until Tony is finished. For a second there, he considers asking about the only thing unanswered from his dream, but thinks better of it. Now was probably not the time.

Instead he turns so he can more easily wrap his arms around Tony's smaller form. He doesn't let go, even when he finally opens his mouth to speak.

"Thank you for telling me."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

The urge to grieve came and went. Tony cracked a smirk and pulled back just enough to look the other man in the face. "I thought of you and Banner more than once. I knew exactly what you both would think. Did it anyway." A pause. "I'd do it differently. I don't know how, but I would."

[st_ormbreaker]

"You might not be able to do anything differently now," Thor says. "But you still have the chance to fix things when you return home."

Thor shifts one of his hands away from Tony's back and over to the side of his arm. He knew from the moment that Tony leveled the accusation that he was right: he was projecting. But Thor didn't want Tony making the same mistakes he did. He didn't want him to agonize over them the way he did. And while right now, it was clear that Tony was in pain because of it, it didn't always have to be that way; he could fix things between Steve and the others when he went back.

This wasn't permanent.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"That's the plan, after the first plan. You know the first plan." As much as Tony wanted the arms of someone to disappear into, now wasn't the time.

"I should say thanks while we're at it. For not smiting me. I would have fought back, obviously, but the most I could have done was tickle you and burrow like a prairie dog."

[st_ormbreaker]

"I wouldn't be much of a friend if I smited first, asked questions later."

Thor runs a band along of the back of Tony's head and finally lets go of him.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"You'd miss me. Even at your God's Wrathiest." Tony sat back on his haunches.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor hums pleasantly as he settles back down beside Tony. "Well, you're not wrong," he says with affection. "I try to keep my godly wrath contained when I can help it."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Alright, just a little self-indulgence. Tony leaned against his shoulder. Not that he'd be there too long--the air conditioned tent called to him.

"Have you talked to him? Rogers."

[st_ormbreaker]

"Yeah, we've talked. Hair, Banner... he hasn't talked much about himself, though."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"I miss him." Saying it out loud was sudden, enough that simply saying it was surprising to Tony's ears.

[st_ormbreaker]

"Rogers?" Thor asks, though he's fairly certain that's who he's talking about. "I don't blame you. How long have you two been apart?"

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"'Missing' is complicated." Tony added. "Miss what we had, infuriating as he and his perfect Jawline of Justice were. Been over a year, now."

The part of him that refused to forgive Steve was still there. Even if he carried the phone on him religiously, he never conceived of using it.

[st_ormbreaker]

"It is probably far easier said than done," Thor says, "especially since I wasn't there to witness it, but whatever differences you had will hardly matter once Thanos arrives."

Thor suddenly wishes he had something to drink, but he didn't have the foresight to pack anything other than water.

"I don't want you to regret anything, Tony."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Tugging the man down sideways, Tony pressed his nose into Thor's ear. "Hope you don't regret this."

[st_ormbreaker]

"I don't think I could ever."

And when he says it aloud, Thor is more sure of it than he was when it came to mind.