Your Wound, My Sutures
Series: Your Wound, My Sutures Chapter One: We Are What We Are Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe; Avengers Assemble Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark Rating: T Words: ~5200
Summary: Tony lives a happy life with his friends and fellow Avengers in the mansion. But can such a beautiful dream really be reality?
The man had to lean over to whisper in her ear, even as they sat beside one another on the park bench. She tilted her head, eager to learn more, only for him to ask, in that lilting accent, “did you know the minds we follow are as important as what we do to them?”
She paused, letting her fingers grow idle as she pondered the question. “How do you mean?”
The man made a simple motion with his hand, twisting the palm up and curling the fingers, then the palm, back down. The energy of his own mind swirled in a deep purple, almost like a wing unfurling. In an instant, it disappeared once more, but the image of it was trapped behind her eyes. “Think about it. You touch, but do you truly think yourself untouched? Your mind reaches out across the world. What are the chances that what you touch would not affect you, as you may affect it?”
It sounded so obvious, when he said it. Why had she never thought about it before?
“That is why you must be careful who you keep your mind near,” he said, leaning back up and smiling down at her. “The company you have now is good. It’s created a healthy force. But I wonder at those you might align yourself with in the future.”
She scowled darkly. No doubt the man referred to him. The one she herself worried about. The one who had locked her up. She glared down at the ground.
“Do not look so upset. I bring this up not to discourage you, but to help you.”
She looked up to him, her neck craning back. “There’s nothing to be done for it,” she told him. “And you’ve already helped so much these past weeks.”
But he just waved her words away. “I have only taught you what I have struggled to learn over my years. I wish I had that opportunity. In time, I have no doubt you will learn more than me.” He scratched momentarily at the stubble on his thin chin, then nodded, as if coming to some sort of decision. “There is something I have always done to ensure I am not placing myself near those who could not be trusted. If you are careful – but you have shown to have remarkable control.”
She leaned toward him. “Teach me.”