Awkward Conversation | @dummystark

dummystark:

iamthefirechild:

dummystark:

iamthefirechild:

dummystark:

iamthefirechild:

dummystark:

image iamthefirechild replied to your post: *taps at Dummy’s door*

“I’m Summer. You might have seen me around the Tower sometimes.” Summer offered a slight smile, hopeful, friendly, unassuming.

Dummy’s brow wrinkled as he thought. “I’m not sure if I have. But if you’re here Tony trusts you so I will too.”

“I hope to think he does,” Summer smiled. “He lets me cook for him, anyway. Will you come and sit with me? I … want to talk to you. Please.”

Dummy looked even more confused and he nodded. “Ok, sure?” He said, unsure now. What would this woman whom he’s never seen before have to talk to him about? He followed her out and sat across from her.

“So … Tony tells me that you asked him to marry you.” She couldn’t find a smooth way to ease into this. And Tony would likely take some of it out of her hide, later. She would deserve it, probably. Could she read androids? Now was the time to try. Carefully, she lowered her shields, trying to listen.

“And, um, that you weren’t comfortable with some of the things he wants.” Her green gaze flickered up, then down. She forced her hands to stay still. “He said you tried to kill yourself.”

Dummy sighed and shook his head. “No. I asked if he would ever think about marrying me for real some time. We’ve been married three or four times now, but for a couple weeks at a time at most.” He shifted slightly and bit the side of his lip. “No, I’m not. All I’ve ever wanted is Tony. All I’ve ever loved is Tony. I don’t understand why he’s enough for me, but I’m not enough for him. That he has to have someone else as well. Yes. And if it doesn’t work out I’m going to make it permanent. Damned bullet didn’t work right last time.”

Summer’s comprehension of Dummy’s words seemed to take too long, dragging slow, like icicles forming. “You mustn’t!” was the first thing she could get out of her mouth, instinct and knowledge heterodyning to produce the words. “You’ll tear him apart. I won’t be able to put him together after that, I couldn’t even try. Don’t you know what it did to him that you tried at all?” She put her face in her hands, red hair cascading down, moaning. “Oh, gods, Dummy, how can you not know how much he loves you?”

“Doesn’t matter.” He said softly, drawing his legs to his chest. “I’m not enough. I’m going to try, but I don’t know if I can make it. I love him. He’s my everything, my only, but I’m not that for him. And he doesn’t know what that does to me. Not really.” He explained. 

“The hell you say,” she shot back, feeling anger start to flare. “Tony’s not stupid, you know. You tried to kill yourself. Did you not hear me? It will destroy him if you try again, far less succeed.” ‘How can you say you love him, if this is your reaction to his true nature?’ she wanted to say, wanted to shout. ‘Love doesn’t demand change!’ But she bit her tongue, hard. Even she was unsure if those thoughts came from long experience, long empathy, or simple ugly jealousy. Summer reached out to take Dummy’s hand. “There are others who will miss you too, if you kill yourself. Happy, and Pepper, for starters.”