#the only answer I see is that his im2 behavior is just not that different from pre-im1

[idk-bruh-20]

IM2 thoughts

Hi! Today we're thinking about Tony's obvious, death wish ass behavior in Iron Man 2 (though to be fair to him, it's not like he wants to die, he just thinks he's gonna and acts accordingly) -- and why on earth Pepper, Rhodey, and Happy aren't more alarmed

Like, don't get me wrong, they're concerned! But they also don't freak the fuck out at Tony's myriad red flags? They see him go from IM1's grounded certainty to a reckless disregard for his own life, fatalistically courting chaos and pushing everyone who cares about him away. Literally 0 to 100 so fast. They worry, but they also roll with it.

These are Tony's people! Why is their reaction mostly just damage control? And that got me thinking... maybe it's because this behavior is familiar.

We know Tony's changed. But the world around him doesn't know like we know. Even his family sees him basically preparing for his own death and just assumes he's reverted back to the way he always was

That's why their response is so subdued. None of IM2's depression, abyss, suicidality, despair strike them as abnormal Tony behaviors.

[myrxellabaratheon]

For me, something like 50% of the fascination in this ship comes from this. They both hide their true selves, they learned how to do it when they were really young (Red Room young for Nat, after his parents’ deaths for Tony). They learned how it was easier to wear a mask and be the person others wanted them to be.

For Nat was pretty much her job description, while Tony just started to be a recurring image on newspapers and periodicals because of his (unhealthy) copying mechanisms he refuge into when he lost his parents. Those both grew on them. They understood that it was easier to be the person they pretended to be.

Nat didn’t have a lot of choice either, being herself, while she worked for KGB (but also for SHIELD) could have meant her death, so she acted, to the point when slipping into someone else’s identity was easier than being Natalia Romanova (at least before she met Clint, I guess). For Tony was a bit different. His life didn’t depend on him lying/pretending to be someone else, but it helped to give the impression of a reckless businessman, it allowed him to get rid of the (perceived) boring parts of his job (to the point where he leaves Stane to take care of everything and he just designs new weapons, which is something that he considers entretaining and stimulating) and helped people to underestimating him, which can be useful when you want to overpower some company.

They got used to be the person others expected them to be. To wear a mask to protect their real selves. Then they meet. And since the first moment, they recognize in the behavior of the other their own.

I think the point when they realize it is one of Scarlett’s first lines in IM2 “I need your impression” she sais, and Tony answers: “You have a quiet reserve. I don’t know, you have an old soul.”

Now, he was evidently trying to flirt with her because he’s Tony Stark and of course he has to flirt with EVERYONE, but after he answers she looks down, she lets the mask slips for 0.01 second. And Tony sees that, I think this is why when she asked if they are over, he wants to keep speaking with her.

The other time they speak and are alone is the one immediately precedent to the birthday party (a favorite of mine, to be honest). This scene is way more private than the previous one. And here there’s the main line of my rant: “I gotta say it. It’s hard to get a read on you.”

He doesn’t see through her mask at this point, but he’s pretty much admitting that he know she wears one. Nat’s answer shows that the message has been perfectly delivered. She could have answered that she was from the place Natalie Rushman is supposed to be, but she answers “Legal”. She’s not only deflecting his answer, but she’s also admitting that she knows he knows.

The movie goes on and then Tony understands Nat’s real identity and I totally agree with what the tags say. But the point is: is not only Nat who understands Tony, see through his façade, but also the other way around. Tony sees parts of Nat not even Clint can see, let alone Steve.

This is the main reason why they are on the same side during the Civil War, and the reason why pretty much admits he wouldn’t have denounced her when she let Steve and Bucky run if it wasn’t for T’Challa. He knows why she did it. He knows that he would have done that much for Rhodey. He doesn’t blame her.

That’s why I’ve been extremely happy to know Tony will be in the Black Widow movie. I ship them romantically, but they also are a great bromance because they understand each other better than everyone else could even hope to. And Tony calling her out for her bahaviour? That’s what friends do.

Natasha Romanoff + shutting down Tony’s accusations against her