[ It's easy to read the discontent on Viktor's face, deepening the lines already worn by illness. Tony sees a minute flick of his eyes, calculation, consideration. Someone else might feel apprehension, that their flaws laid bare might lock them out of resources they can't afford to lose, but Tony knows – it's all good. In fact, it's great.
Now he knows, with total certainty – Tiny Tim stands for something. Despite his outward appearance, he walks the walk, a lot stronger and taller than other people Tony's known, who were crippled by weaknesses far more dangerous than the ones plaguing the man in front of him. Viktor believes in what he says, and – sure, it might mean he holds Tony at arm's length, but that's not an issue. Because it might take a day, or a week, but Tony knows – he can prove his own value, and it's high enough that Viktor will figure out he can't go without it.
He's quiet for a second after the question. Lets his mind drift backward, to a dark cave, long, long ago. He lays his palms flat on his thighs. ]
I could tell you it was the missile that almost killed me. My missile. But like – that's pretty weak, isn't it? Pretty self-absorbed. [ He exhales. Looks off, at a point of light on the wall. ]
Someone saved me. Not – I mean. He did save my life, literally. We were kidnapped by terrorists, they were gonna kill me – listen, [ he shakes his head, waves his hands across the air, ] that's not the point – the point is... I saw what my weapons had done. To his people, his family. I'd been naive – or just... delusional. A hypocrite. I'd told myself if I made guns for the good guys, then the blood was clean, but that's a lie, right? It's all just blood.
[ He thinks of all the battles since then. The deaths – purposeful and collateral alike. He thinks of the weight of the photograph pressed into his chest at MIT – Charlie Spencer. He had a name. They've all had names.
Is he walking the walk? He doesn't know. He's trying, and he's been told he succeeds, but – his hands are red. They're so, so red. ]
Anyway. [ He rubs a hand over his eye. ] He died so I could live. Heavy stuff. So I owe him one – I owe. Everyone.
[ Don't waste your life, Stark, Ho Yinsen's voice says, like it has a hundred, thousand times before. It's you, Tony thinks. They all think it's me, but it's you – who saved us all. ]
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Now he knows, with total certainty – Tiny Tim stands for something. Despite his outward appearance, he walks the walk, a lot stronger and taller than other people Tony's known, who were crippled by weaknesses far more dangerous than the ones plaguing the man in front of him. Viktor believes in what he says, and – sure, it might mean he holds Tony at arm's length, but that's not an issue. Because it might take a day, or a week, but Tony knows – he can prove his own value, and it's high enough that Viktor will figure out he can't go without it.
He's quiet for a second after the question. Lets his mind drift backward, to a dark cave, long, long ago. He lays his palms flat on his thighs. ]
I could tell you it was the missile that almost killed me. My missile. But like – that's pretty weak, isn't it? Pretty self-absorbed. [ He exhales. Looks off, at a point of light on the wall. ]
Someone saved me. Not – I mean. He did save my life, literally. We were kidnapped by terrorists, they were gonna kill me – listen, [ he shakes his head, waves his hands across the air, ] that's not the point – the point is... I saw what my weapons had done. To his people, his family. I'd been naive – or just... delusional. A hypocrite. I'd told myself if I made guns for the good guys, then the blood was clean, but that's a lie, right? It's all just blood.
[ He thinks of all the battles since then. The deaths – purposeful and collateral alike. He thinks of the weight of the photograph pressed into his chest at MIT – Charlie Spencer. He had a name. They've all had names.
Is he walking the walk? He doesn't know. He's trying, and he's been told he succeeds, but – his hands are red. They're so, so red. ]
Anyway. [ He rubs a hand over his eye. ] He died so I could live. Heavy stuff. So I owe him one – I owe. Everyone.
[ Don't waste your life, Stark, Ho Yinsen's voice says, like it has a hundred, thousand times before. It's you, Tony thinks. They all think it's me, but it's you – who saved us all. ]