[Charles' reaction doesn't really matter, in the end. Honestly, Tony's too lost in thought to really notice any pause, any debating in his expression. It's strange, this relationship they have. Something almost like a friendship, but with a hint of a therapist in there to. A relationship built out of necessity, predetermined roles that made Tony want to claw inside his head and rip his brains out rather than play the damaged civilian card.
And yet here he is, sitting in front of Charles, saying things he'd never thought he would to anyone. Things even Pepper hadn't heard him admit. Things the world guessed at, assumed, but never actually nagged enough to get Tony annoyed, tired, saying screw it and giving them what they wanted. It's just... strange, finding himself exhausted to that point of just not caring what Charles knows anymore.
It still helps that the file laid out the biggest secrets in his life.]
Not as an armchair psychologist? [Okay, he can't help but quirk an eyebrow at that.] All you're missing is a mustache, a few sexual harassment dolls, and a clipboard.
[But Charles' expression has him drawing up short. Sure, a part of him has always been prepared to answer this question... but here and now? He's taken by surprise, just furrowing his brow at Charles, not even thinking to look away as confusion floods through him, a touch of annoyance a second later.] He'd hate it. [A jerky shrug of his shoulder]
He made our name in weapons, carved out a place at the top because of it. The fact that I stopped? He'd hate it, wouldn't let me hear the end of it, either. Iron Man... [That one he's less certain about, actually. And it shows in the few seconds of hesitation, there] He'd like War Machine better. Sold to the military, outfitted with guns and bombs, all the bells and whistles.
[His lips twist just slightly, though, at that last question.] There's a few things I'd want to say to him. None of them are about the company or Iron Man.
[And he is so not going into that, Charles. No matter what kind of pushing you do.]
[Spam]
And yet here he is, sitting in front of Charles, saying things he'd never thought he would to anyone. Things even Pepper hadn't heard him admit. Things the world guessed at, assumed, but never actually nagged enough to get Tony annoyed, tired, saying screw it and giving them what they wanted. It's just... strange, finding himself exhausted to that point of just not caring what Charles knows anymore.
It still helps that the file laid out the biggest secrets in his life.]
Not as an armchair psychologist? [Okay, he can't help but quirk an eyebrow at that.] All you're missing is a mustache, a few sexual harassment dolls, and a clipboard.
[But Charles' expression has him drawing up short. Sure, a part of him has always been prepared to answer this question... but here and now? He's taken by surprise, just furrowing his brow at Charles, not even thinking to look away as confusion floods through him, a touch of annoyance a second later.] He'd hate it. [A jerky shrug of his shoulder]
He made our name in weapons, carved out a place at the top because of it. The fact that I stopped? He'd hate it, wouldn't let me hear the end of it, either. Iron Man... [That one he's less certain about, actually. And it shows in the few seconds of hesitation, there] He'd like War Machine better. Sold to the military, outfitted with guns and bombs, all the bells and whistles.
[His lips twist just slightly, though, at that last question.] There's a few things I'd want to say to him. None of them are about the company or Iron Man.
[And he is so not going into that, Charles. No matter what kind of pushing you do.]