biggerstick | (no subject)

He's advocating for talk therapy... which is exactly what it sounds like. But I'm not really patient material, I can't just talk to a stranger and I rationalize everything so it wouldn't help.

Exposure might be a better bet, but I have no idea of where to even start and really it all boils down to not wanting to get a doctor.

. . . Fury had me talk to someone when I got out of the ice.

... I'm just vaguely embarrassed for him by now. You'd think he'd know better.

Yeah, it didn't take.

I bet you were really nice to the poor shrink anyway. Actually I'm sure you offered them a glass of water at least once, even though it was their office.

[ laughs. ]

Saw no reason not to be polite.

Barton said— once he was done beating me up, he said we've all been there. And of course it's not the same, but it's easier to understand.

. . .

[DID I MAKE A MISTAKE]

...

I'm sore, by the way.

[ nah, just went away there for a minute. ]

. . . well, sure.

[stretches, groaning]

Do you want to watch something else? If you liked the sort of humor JARVIS can find us some episodes.

I'm good. Have him save 'em for later.

[pats Steve's leg and gets up]

Come on, I got something for you.

[ looks briefly surprised before he gets it, and stands up to follow him. ]

[he's got bracelets, he takes one of them and holds it up to him]

A bit rough, but it'll do until I can work something better.

[ lifts a hand to take it from him so he can look at it more closely. ]

Sure this'll do fine, Tony.

JARVIS, sound the alarm.

[there's suddenly a very loud beeping]

Thanks JARVIS, that's enough.

And that's what it'll sound like if anything happens.

[ winces a little in reaction, but just nods when it's quiet again. ]

Thank you.

[ and he may be feeling a little less talkative than usual, but that carries a lot of genuine gratitude. ]

Odds are I'll know when it happens anyway, but . . .

[waves a hand]

It's a good start to make more complicate ones later. And testing strength gave me a couple of ideas to develop stuff for the Hulk, so win/win.

[hands him the bracelet]

This is his. It'll activate as soon as he has it on, and there's no off button so if it goes off, it won't stop until you turn yours off or I have JARVIS turn it off remotely.

Good thinking.

Yeah, I guess. Even if you turn it off I'll get the warning so I'll get there as fast as I can.

[ looking down at both bracelets ]

How will I know where he is?

The closer you are, the more insistent the beeping will be... or I can phone you and tell you. JARVIS will have the exact location, but I haven't figured out yet an easy way to have the bracelet tell you.

Call me if anything happens before you have a chance to do that.

That's the plan.