― tony + watching helplessly as the people he cares about go after the arc reactor
as always @starkravinghazelnuts tags are absolutely on point because this isn’t about steve, not really. it doesn’t matter that steve is absolutely a better man than obadiah because tony still ends up on his back with his heart literally and metaphorically ripped out
The reason why Bruce Banner is the strongest avenger in all of Tony’s systems.
And note that it’s Bruce Banner, not The Hulk.
don’t talk to me don’t look at me don’t even think about me until i’m done processing this
look at tony’s face. that’s the face of someone who knows. that’s the face of someone who’s Been There. tony spends all of iron man 2 being Obviously Suicidal and he’s always, always displayed a blantant disregard for his own personal safety. he knows exactly how it feels to be trapped in that small cold dark place in your own mind and he’s heartbroken that bruce, this guy who he’s respected for years and that when they actually meet he gets along well with (rare for tony, he’s so guarded he starts off on the wrong foot with practically everyone), has felt that way too
and bruce. bruce being so lonely for so long and then having someone who is immediately at ease with him and who Gets It. but then in ragnarok he’s not even thrown by “the strongest avenger” being his codename/nickname and yeah maybe he thinks it’s cause of the hulk but i’m willing to bet tony just says stuff like that to him when they hang out. either way it’s bruce, so uncomfortable with himself and others during avengers 1, completely used to a compliment and not shying away from it even when it could refer to “the other guy”. and that’s all tony’s influence
just god, science bros was one of the absolute best bits of avengers 1 and even aou and this was such a nice callback to it
the mcu just stopped tony from ever having a proper summer vacation. sea? water? lol right remember waterboarding in afghanistan? no chance. sitting on a beach with sand slipping through his fingers?? just like peter did?? lmao nope. in a4 they torture him with ice cream just to cement his summertime sadness