Re: World Comination - Steve/Tony - "You know, I can never decide whether to be amused or offended that they keep laying these clusterfucks at my feet instead of yours." OR "Oh no, HE is the restraining influence." Either way, if we are talking world domination I kinda wann see Steve do it. :D (Thank you for writing and sharing!!
Everyone knows not to fuck with Tony Stark.
The man is a legend, has been almost since the moment he was born. “Hit the ground running,” his father’s friends used to chuckle, back when they saw little more than a promising kid that could be of use someday.
[Very few people knew that Howard Stark discovered Steve Rogers’ ship when Tony was sixteen. Of those involved, only one was HYDRA.
By the time Tony Stark was eighteen, he was an orphan, had a super soldier posing as his bodyguard and more blood on his hands than most soldiers by the time they retire.]
Everyone knows what happens to people who do.
[There’s nothing left of the Ten Rings now, and the government didn’t even pretend to put Stark on a sham trial for it. And if that wasn’t warning enough, Hammer certainly should’ve been. There’s very, very few people who can get away with murder on live television and not even get a slap on the wrist.]
One would think that most humans would be smart enough to stop trying to fuck with Tony Stark as a result. Unfortunately, one would underestimate the average human’s conviction that they are smarter than Tony Stark.
Which, when dealing with a very proud genius, seems like a pretty big risk to take, considering the way it’ll end if you’re wrong.
And even when you’re not afraid of Tony Stark – which you absolutely should be, the man is ruthless – there’s the matter of Corvin Tiffany.
[Steve Rogers stepped out of the ice and straight into a HYDRA-infected battle field. When the dust settled, there were only Steve and his friend’s kid left standing. It could’ve been awkward, was certainly confusing, but.
They had a shared enemy to hunt and made for such an efficient combination.
Which doesn’t mean Steve doesn’t occasionally regret this partnership. Like when Tony Stark introduces him with the most ridiculous fake name Steve has ever heard as his bodyguard, the unapologetic little shit.]
Corvin Tiffany is Tony Stark’s right-hand man. His personal attack dog. Everyone knows that.
[Very few people know that Steve Rogers is Corvin Tiffany.]
This is why Natasha genuinely doesn’t understand why Stane did this. Even if he thought the assassination on Stark was worth it – doubtful – how the man could allow himself to be captured alive Natasha can’t possibly fathom. She knows twenty-five ways to kill himself that she’d prefer over giving himself over to Stark’s special brand of mercy.
And that would be if she hadn’t personally betrayed the man.
Contrary to what an outsider might expect, Stark isn’t glaring at Stane. Isn’t threatening him or even breaking bones. He just stares with the same blank expression he wore when Natasha told him that Happy didn’t make it. It’s not an expression she ever wanted to see again, but here they are.
At least Stane has the good sense not to defend himself and the dignity not to beg. That gets tiresome fast.
Just walks straight out of the room without a backward glance. Lets the door fall shut behind him. [Natasha honestly can’t say she’s surprised. Stark rarely washes his hands off anyone quite like this, but. Betrayal is always personal and no one deals with personal quite like a Stark.]
“Ooooh,” Clint, simultaneously the most competent and most immature sniper Natasha has ever met, whistles ominously. “Daddy’s gonna leave your fate up to Papa for good. You’re fucked, my dude.”
That actually gets an incredulous “What?” from Stane.
Clint shrugs. Ignores Natasha’s glare. “What, it’s true. Know how everyone always says Stark’s the mind behind Corvin, how the guy is his loyal attack dog? What you and everyone else seem to miss every fucking time is that Stark is the leash. Ain’t that right, Captain?”
Rogers slowly eases himself out of the lounging position against the wall, impassive expression transforming into a lazy smirk as his gaze locks onto Stane, who’s eyes widen in recognition.
“Oh, yes. He’s the restraining influence.”
