[Gene starts talking about fixing things again, and clenches his hand around the ring, and for a horrible moment, Tony's afraid he made the wrong call. Fire! the ruthlessly practical part of him demands. Take him down while you still can! But Tony remembers Gene's scream of agony as Tony twisted his dislocated arm, and the sickening self-loathing he'd felt, and he can't bring himself to do it.
Then, still quaking violently, Gene uncurls his hand and holds the ring out to Tony. He begs Tony to take it, sounding more like himself than he has this whole time.
It's almost too easy -- what's the catch? Tony nearly says. But he doesn't hesitate. He takes another step forward, snatches the ring out of Gene's hand, and quickly deposits it in the shielded pocket in his armor.]
Thank you, Gene, [Tony says.] I'll... keep it safe. [You're never going to be ready, he doesn't say. He's not going to tell Gene this, certainly not now while he's so unstable, but Tony doesn't intend to give the ring back. Ever.
Maybe one day he'll be able to forgive Gene for what he's done, and rebuild some of the trust they'd once had. But he doesn't think he'll ever again trust Gene enough to let him have all ten rings.]
no subject
Then, still quaking violently, Gene uncurls his hand and holds the ring out to Tony. He begs Tony to take it, sounding more like himself than he has this whole time.
It's almost too easy -- what's the catch? Tony nearly says. But he doesn't hesitate. He takes another step forward, snatches the ring out of Gene's hand, and quickly deposits it in the shielded pocket in his armor.]
Thank you, Gene, [Tony says.] I'll... keep it safe. [You're never going to be ready, he doesn't say. He's not going to tell Gene this, certainly not now while he's so unstable, but Tony doesn't intend to give the ring back. Ever.
Maybe one day he'll be able to forgive Gene for what he's done, and rebuild some of the trust they'd once had. But he doesn't think he'll ever again trust Gene enough to let him have all ten rings.]