Story: "Coming Around" (Part 12 of 14)
Apr. 20th, 2013 12:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis story is a sequel to "Love Is for Children," "Eggshells," "Dolls and Guys," "Turnabout Is Fair Play," and "Touching Moments," and "Splash."
Fandom: The Avengers
Characters: Phil Coulson, Bruce Banner, Hulk.
Medium: Fiction
Warnings: Inferences of past child/domestic abuse. Current environment is safe.
Summary: Phil shows Bruce the cute pictures of the team helping Hulk clean up after the bilgesnipe fight. Bruce finds the whole idea more confusing than pleasing.
Notes: Teamwork. Friendship. Flangst. Hurt/comfort. Dysfunctional relationship dynamics. Trust issues. Safety and security. ALL THE FEELS. Non-sexual touching and intimacy. Personal growth. Family of choice.
Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11. Skip to Part 14.
"Coming Around" Part 12
"Just humor me here and think about life in the tower," Phil said. "You and Tony argue about science, but you don't start actual fights over it. Clint and Natasha squabble like siblings, and they're comfortable with that. Tony and Steve tease each other. Clint and Tony snark about things. You and Betty have had a few disputes too. Everyone argues with me about mission-related things sometimes."
"So?" Bruce said.
"So, that's natural human interaction, Bruce," said Phil. "It doesn't mean we dislike each other. It doesn't mean we devalue each other's opinions. It just means we see things differently sometimes. That's okay. In fact, it's valuable, because one person may spot a solution that nobody else does. These are skills you can work on developing, if you're not fully comfortable with them yet. Think of this stuff like peer review in a journal, if that helps."
"Maybe a little," Bruce said tentatively. Phil was glad to see him coming toward a more positive direction.
"We're not perfect, nobody is, but we do our best," Phil said. "All I ask is that you listen to our perspectives the way we listen to yours ... and maybe give us credit for having a little more sense than, say, General Ross."
Bruce chuckled a bit at that. "All right, I'll try. That low bar is pretty much lying flat on the ground," he said.
"Yes, it is," Phil agreed. He didn't mention Bruce's father. That bar was sunk in a pretty deep ditch. "So if you watch, you'll see us step over it routinely. We're a good team, Bruce. Try to have a little faith in that."
"I'm a scientist, Phil. Faith is off my charts," Bruce said. "Wandering around in uncharted territory is a good way to get hurt."
Phil recalled that Bruce favored hard sciences -- biology, chemistry, astronomy -- and some theoretical physics. The soft sciences such as psychology and sociology proved more slippery for him. No wonder he found this so painful and confusing. Hulk wasn't readily quantified with physics and chemistry, and team bonding even less so.
"I know this hurts, Bruce, but I need you give it serious consideration and not just bury it again," Phil said. "You're part of the team." He tapped gently on Bruce's chest. "Two teams, actually, since you've got Hulk to deal with on the inside and the rest of the Avengers on the outside. That takes work. Healthy relationships don't just 'happen.' People have to build them and maintain them."
"Not really my area of expertise," Bruce said. He looked down at his hands, opening and closing them.
"I know," Phil said, "but not all problems come down to guns and gamma rays. Sometimes the messy personal stuff matters too."
Bruce didn't argue this time, just picked idly at the velour comforter. Phil was so strongly reminded of Hulk and the pothole that he had to hide a smile. "Whatever," Bruce said.
"I know that tone of voice," Phil said. "You're getting bored with all this talk about relationship dynamics. Do you feel well enough to get up and work?"
"Not really. I'm not as sore as usual, but this isn't a relaxing conversation, Phil. My head is all in a muddle. I don't think I could concentrate on anything," Bruce said.
"Shall I tell you a story?" Phil offered.
"I'm sure you have better things to do than sit with me," Bruce said. His hand stilled against the comforter. "You can leave me alone. I'll be fine."
* * *
Notes:
Explore the value of different perspectives.
Compare and contrasts the hard and soft sciences.
Healthy relationships don't just happen. This applies both to friendship and romance. There are tips for creating a good relationship and repairing a bad relationship.
Bruce tends to devalue himself, and therefore discourage others from spending time or resources on him. Without an accurate sense of self-value, it can be hard to value others accurately. Take steps to cultivate self-value.
[To be continued in Part 13 ...]
Fandom: The Avengers
Characters: Phil Coulson, Bruce Banner, Hulk.
Medium: Fiction
Warnings: Inferences of past child/domestic abuse. Current environment is safe.
Summary: Phil shows Bruce the cute pictures of the team helping Hulk clean up after the bilgesnipe fight. Bruce finds the whole idea more confusing than pleasing.
Notes: Teamwork. Friendship. Flangst. Hurt/comfort. Dysfunctional relationship dynamics. Trust issues. Safety and security. ALL THE FEELS. Non-sexual touching and intimacy. Personal growth. Family of choice.
Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11. Skip to Part 14.
"Coming Around" Part 12
"Just humor me here and think about life in the tower," Phil said. "You and Tony argue about science, but you don't start actual fights over it. Clint and Natasha squabble like siblings, and they're comfortable with that. Tony and Steve tease each other. Clint and Tony snark about things. You and Betty have had a few disputes too. Everyone argues with me about mission-related things sometimes."
"So?" Bruce said.
"So, that's natural human interaction, Bruce," said Phil. "It doesn't mean we dislike each other. It doesn't mean we devalue each other's opinions. It just means we see things differently sometimes. That's okay. In fact, it's valuable, because one person may spot a solution that nobody else does. These are skills you can work on developing, if you're not fully comfortable with them yet. Think of this stuff like peer review in a journal, if that helps."
"Maybe a little," Bruce said tentatively. Phil was glad to see him coming toward a more positive direction.
"We're not perfect, nobody is, but we do our best," Phil said. "All I ask is that you listen to our perspectives the way we listen to yours ... and maybe give us credit for having a little more sense than, say, General Ross."
Bruce chuckled a bit at that. "All right, I'll try. That low bar is pretty much lying flat on the ground," he said.
"Yes, it is," Phil agreed. He didn't mention Bruce's father. That bar was sunk in a pretty deep ditch. "So if you watch, you'll see us step over it routinely. We're a good team, Bruce. Try to have a little faith in that."
"I'm a scientist, Phil. Faith is off my charts," Bruce said. "Wandering around in uncharted territory is a good way to get hurt."
Phil recalled that Bruce favored hard sciences -- biology, chemistry, astronomy -- and some theoretical physics. The soft sciences such as psychology and sociology proved more slippery for him. No wonder he found this so painful and confusing. Hulk wasn't readily quantified with physics and chemistry, and team bonding even less so.
"I know this hurts, Bruce, but I need you give it serious consideration and not just bury it again," Phil said. "You're part of the team." He tapped gently on Bruce's chest. "Two teams, actually, since you've got Hulk to deal with on the inside and the rest of the Avengers on the outside. That takes work. Healthy relationships don't just 'happen.' People have to build them and maintain them."
"Not really my area of expertise," Bruce said. He looked down at his hands, opening and closing them.
"I know," Phil said, "but not all problems come down to guns and gamma rays. Sometimes the messy personal stuff matters too."
Bruce didn't argue this time, just picked idly at the velour comforter. Phil was so strongly reminded of Hulk and the pothole that he had to hide a smile. "Whatever," Bruce said.
"I know that tone of voice," Phil said. "You're getting bored with all this talk about relationship dynamics. Do you feel well enough to get up and work?"
"Not really. I'm not as sore as usual, but this isn't a relaxing conversation, Phil. My head is all in a muddle. I don't think I could concentrate on anything," Bruce said.
"Shall I tell you a story?" Phil offered.
"I'm sure you have better things to do than sit with me," Bruce said. His hand stilled against the comforter. "You can leave me alone. I'll be fine."
* * *
Notes:
Explore the value of different perspectives.
Compare and contrasts the hard and soft sciences.
Healthy relationships don't just happen. This applies both to friendship and romance. There are tips for creating a good relationship and repairing a bad relationship.
Bruce tends to devalue himself, and therefore discourage others from spending time or resources on him. Without an accurate sense of self-value, it can be hard to value others accurately. Take steps to cultivate self-value.
[To be continued in Part 13 ...]
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2013-05-10 03:07 am (UTC)Okay, I have to say this:
Tony's bigger.
>>precisely the sort of person that Tony *really* enjoys trolling (like that idiot senator in IM2).<<
Assclowns. <3 Tony didn't do anything but what the rest of us have wished we could do.
>> It'd probably take all of about five minutes to devolve into the next best thing to an all-out tantrum. <<
If that.
>> And honestly? At that point, I can see Loki standing off to one side, watching this, watching Tony troll the hell out of Odin and the others putting their two cents into the ring in various ways, and being all 'holy shit.' <<
It's possible. Also, I hadn't thought of this until just now, but there's another reason why Loki and Tony would get along well, if they didn't kill each other: they are both masters of flyting. Loki has a hard time finding anyone to match him at that. Tony's so much faster than everyone else, the only one who can keep up with him is Bruce, and Bruce totally does not play that game.
>>And for once, Steve would SO *let* Tony troll his little heart out, because as you pointed out, Steve does NOT like bullies, and won't be inclined to save Odin from the razor edge of Tony's tongue.<<
Yes.
>> And Steve's preferred methods of dealing with bullies wouldn't be quite as effective on Odin as they tend to be on your average civilian. Mostly because Odin wouldn't give a shit about the whole 'Captain America' thing, so Steve's 'I am very disappointed in you' shtick would fly right over his head. <<
Oh, I think Steve could still hit Odin, just with a customized version. He has the targeting array, just chooses not to use it most of the time. Tony and the staff managed to push Steve's buttons enough to set him off before, but usually he keeps a lid on it. Steve sees far more than he speaks of. Having known Thor and Loki would tell him really quite a lot about Odin.
Things like: It's a coward who drags children into a quarrel between men.
>>Would just mean that Steve would have to resort to a solid punch to the jaw.<<
That would be fun too.
>>And Tony has already proven to not be afraid of him. 'cause he walked *right up to Loki* in the Tower, calling him out on his shit and flat out telling Loki he's fucked, and not going to win.<<
Yes. I think that's why Loki held off from killing Tony when he had the chance. He admired a fellow trickster and there just aren't that many people who aren't afraid of Loki.
>>On that subject ... I have speculated intensely on WHY the staff whammy didn't work on Tony. I've heard people say it was only because the arc reactor physically blocked access to Tony's heart, which ... I am not entirely convinced of that.<<
That's one possibility. In particular, sometimes magic and technology don't mix; there are materials that insulate quite effectively against magic. It's like trying to run an electrical charge through plastic. On the other hoof, both Tony and Loki lap over into the gap that joins technology and magic at the ends of the spectrum, so I'm less inclined to buy this option.
My favorite is that the slot was full. Tony already has an ambient energy charge occupying his body. You can't put a plug into a socket that already has one.
Also on the list, in a similar position, is that Yinsen's sacrifice changed Tony in a way that makes other soul-level changes difficult or impossible. Like retooling a lock. Yinsen gave Tony something he was missing, patched a gap with a piece of his own spirit, but left Tony with the pain of watching him die. It was as much blessing as curse. I loved that about the movie, actually -- Yinsen helped Tony escape and become a hero, but wasn't above taking that one utterly brutal swipe in retaliation for Tony's part in killing his family. He played both cards, the light and the dark. Death magic, blood magic, those are powerful; they're very hard to break or alter.
Another is that Tony has amped up his personal energy to a point that outside influences can't sway it. The technology is a means to an end. He'd hate that, if it came up, but he's so far ahead of the cutting edge of science that he's onto the other end of the spectrum. The suit functions map to the chakras. Do enough with that and it can change how even a purely magical artifact interacts. Which again is kind of a slot-already-full answer: the suit as artifact, leading to superlative control and resistance to outside control.
And the final answer, of course, is that he's Tony Stark. He is chaos and mischief; he can be pushed, but not controlled or contained. In that he is like Loki, and for the same reason, in that they are both tricksters. Which matches your idea of the tesseract being unable to affect itself; chaos cannot create order out of chaos.
I tend to think that Clint could be taken, and Natasha would have been vulnerable too, because they're spies. It's their nature to follow; all the staff did was change Clint's allegiance. And he still had enough sass to bend things a little.
I don't think Selvig resisted at all. You can't rape the willing, please don't throw me into that briar patch ... Loki was probably counting on him to find or build a back door. Counting on Clint, too, to tilt the balance in creative ways. They're the two sides of Loki: scholar and pest. Of course he wanted them.
I'm sure the staff wouldn't have worked on Bruce-and-Hulk because again, slot-already-full. They're so locked into their internal dynamic, nothing else could get in edgewise.
I doubt it would have worked on Steve either. He's solid in a way none of the others are, chosen for purity, shielded and anchored by Erskine as much as Tony is by Yinsen. His soul is already given to a god, his loyalty so anchored to a country that their identities merge. To budge Steve, an artifact would have to budge the whole of America, and I don't think the lever's long enough. To plant himself like a tree beside the river of truth is one of his iconic abilities.
Of course, it depends to some extent on what the staff is made of and how it works. There are a lot of different possibilities, which would influence who it could or could not effect.
These are fun things to play with in AU because there are so many different options to choose from.