He does his best to sound normal, to keep the casual, irreverent tone firmly in place. Otherwise, it would be too obvious that he’s terrified, and he doesn’t want to admit it to himself, much less anyone else. But all he can think about is that like this, he can’t build anything. He can’t read or write or do any of the things he’s done for the last forty-odd years. And if he focuses on that, if he dwells too much on what he’s lost, he thinks he’ll go mad.
“Are you too popular? Is that why you’re feeling awkward? It’s okay. You’ll get used to it.” His fingers curl as he talks, briefly catching at Bruce’s wrist before letting go again. He’s like an anchor in the middle of a storm, and every so often, Tony can’t help needing to reassure himself that he’s really there. “If you went to the trouble of bringing it here, yes. I do. I could give you mine, but it’s kind of two things and one of those things you probably don’t want me giving to you here.”
no subject
He does his best to sound normal, to keep the casual, irreverent tone firmly in place. Otherwise, it would be too obvious that he’s terrified, and he doesn’t want to admit it to himself, much less anyone else. But all he can think about is that like this, he can’t build anything. He can’t read or write or do any of the things he’s done for the last forty-odd years. And if he focuses on that, if he dwells too much on what he’s lost, he thinks he’ll go mad.
“Are you too popular? Is that why you’re feeling awkward? It’s okay. You’ll get used to it.” His fingers curl as he talks, briefly catching at Bruce’s wrist before letting go again. He’s like an anchor in the middle of a storm, and every so often, Tony can’t help needing to reassure himself that he’s really there. “If you went to the trouble of bringing it here, yes. I do. I could give you mine, but it’s kind of two things and one of those things you probably don’t want me giving to you here.”