STARK, ALLISON.
ā ITāS NOT gonna be funny when Iām forty, then itās just gonna be true. And sad. ā She could keep talking about a stupid balloon for hours if it meant not talking about her current state. Anything to avoid talking about how scared she was. About how terrified she was to face the word outside her hospital room. She wasnāt sure she would be able to hold it together and she wouldnāt be able to blame it all on the pain killers. And she knew she couldnāt lie to her dad. So if she could just keep talking about the comedic effect of a balloon for a little while longer, that would be ideal.
She takes a deep breath, unsure of how to proceed. Carefully choosing her words, keeping her composure as best as she can.Ā ā Like I was crushed by a bookcase and broke both my legs, ā she says with a cheeky smile. She sticks to the facts, avoiding her actual feelings.Ā ā So not great, but you knowā¦.alive. So. Okay. Considering the circumstances. ā She shrugs.Ā ā It couldāve been a lot worse. ā It definitely would have, if Jasper hadnāt pulled her out of that library.
Itās the classic Stark defense mechanism: stating solid facts with enough words so it seems like youāre sharing, when in truth they didnāt say much at all. Emotions cannot be described with facts; theyāre immeasurable, grey, and often difficult to perceive. He hoped this trait wouldāve stopped with him, and yet here Allison is, defective and sarcastic.Ā
āĀ When I first began as Iron Man,Ā ā Ā Tony begins, deciding to be honest with her. āĀ I never thought it wouldāve been that hard. The repercussions -- I thought I wouldāve been fine, because I was helping people, saving the planet. But, I made mistakes. We all did.āĀ Ā He doesnāt feel the need to go into the history of The Avengers. Sheās aware, as is the entire world.Ā ā Ā I never talked to anyone about it: the PTSD, anxiety attacks... all of that shazam. Of course, your mother was supportive as ever, but, well, you get from me, right?Ā I was scared, absolutely terrified. But, the second I started talking to her about how I felt, it got better.Ā āĀ Tony reaches out to hold her hand, giving it a light squeeze.Ā ā Ā What Iām trying to say is, itās okay to beĀ scared. I wish Iād done it earlier, and you donāt have to put on a brave face all the time. Youāve been through a lot, and I know you take after me in this aspect, more than Dora and Hugo. It doesnāt have to be me, but I do hope youāve got someone to talk to.Ā ā Ā











