Tony sucks

[hugmagnet]

 [It's 1:30 in the morning and Carol finally has a chance to sleep. She's been up since five the previous morning and is more than ready for it. So, of course, just as she was getting ready to sleep, Tony had to call her and ask to come over. As annoyed as she was, she found herself unable to say no. So when Tony shows up she answers the door in her pajamas (a t shirt and a pair of cotton shorts), hair pulled up and displeased look on her face]

You so better appreciate this, Stark. Come in.

Comments

[definingfuture]

[Carol shrugs, and Tony sees that she's not really following what he's saying, but that's okay. He hadn't come to Carol for support so much as for company, and she always does provide that.]

That's never stopped us before. [He says us but mean me, something he's sure Carol already knows. But Tony smiles, brushing away the depressing note he had.]

What I mean is, shouldn't we get out and do more? I know I haven't exactly been team-friendly lately, but I was hoping you'd let me change that.

[hugmagnet]

[In Carol's defense, it's hard to follow Tony's thought process on any given day]

That's true. [If Tony Stark wants to do something, he will do it. Even if it's something stupid or difficult]

That depends. What're you thinking here, Tony?

[definingfuture]

[Tony knows his mind is hard to follow. But Carol seems to do pretty well, or at least it doesn't seem to matter too much.]

Starting over. We haven't lost the drive, but I feel like we've lost our connection. Maybe it's time we get that back.

[hugmagnet]

Is this about a new team? [There are a lot of Avengers teams. Tony's making it sound like he wants to pull that all down and start over from where they used to be. While it sounds like it could be good, Carol's also not totally sure it could work]

Because we tried that, remember? It started out okay and then...

[definingfuture]

No. [Oops, that was a little short.] No, no more teams. I- I think I'm pretty much done with teams.

[At least for a while. He can't necessarily quit, but maybe it's time to cut loose and start over. That's what Tony is good for, right?]

I was just thinking. You know... got restless and decided to go for a walk. In the air.

[hugmagnet]

[Carol goes quiet, spooning more ice cream into her mouth. She's still not totally sure what Tony is going for here but she at least semi understands]

That's why I quit the Avengers for a while and didn't want to go back. But in the end, I guess I decided that I did a lot more good working with other people than I did on my own.

[definingfuture]

And guess what? You were great at leading the Avengers. It was the right choice.

[He pauses, trying to find the words.]

Maybe I'm not. Doing more good, I mean.

[hugmagnet]

Says the guy who backseat leadered me the entire time.

[She goes quiet again, considering what he says. While she doesn't necessarily think that's true, she gets where she's coming from. She's been there, she thinks]

Look, Tony, if that's what you think then...change it. Nothing wrong with change. Do whatever it is you think you need to do. I mean, you're Tony Stark. You can do whatever you want if you really try. Even if sometimes the rest of us wish you wouldn't.

[definingfuture]

Hey, I let you lead. You were the leader.

I was just overseeing the leading.

[Totally harmless, right? Right. He smiles wryly at the answer, nodding slowly as he seems to come to a decision.]

You're right. Thanks, Carol. I'm going to sit Avengers business out for a while. I just need some time off, and like you said, you're able to handle things without me. I just wanted to be sure.

[hugmagnet]

Uh huh.

[Carol rolls her eyes, leaning just slightly into Tony's side]

That'll last a week. Then Godzilla will attack the city and you'll be right back out there, I bet.

[definingfuture]

[Baw, that's nice, Carol. He likes getting to spend time with you without the constant threat of attack. Ice cream time is good time.]

Hey, I can last longer than that! I trust you guys to take care of things. You don't need me out there...

[He can't help it half the time, though. She's right. Usually something happens to draw him back in.]