* MRS. STARK.

THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT HE MEANT to do. He’s supposed to be keeping it together for her. She’s been dropped into the future out of her own time, faced with her son who she only knows as an infant who’s now older than she is, and confused. Yet she somehow manages to be more stoic than he’s currently capable of. But then the Starks have always been good at that it times of crisis and his mother, though she married into the name, is no exception.

❝ Tell that to dad. ❞  Tony chokes out a small laugh in the midst of his sniffling, trying to push aside the emotions swelling up in his chest and OVERWHELMING him. It takes some doing but the manages to bring it down to a slight ache in his heart, a few shaky breaths, and a trembling hand.  ❝ Sorry, I… ❞  He wipes the remaining tears from his face with his hand and glances to his mother. While he’s not actively crying anymore, there’s no getting rid of the wetness in his eyes.  ❝ …I know you didn’t sign up for this and it’s gotta be…confusing as all hell…but I’m really glad that you’re here. ❞

         “ like he’d listen to me.” she responds, trying to make a light joke. as of now, howard was dishonest and stubborn at times, but she didn’t know yet how far he would fall with time. how much the passing years would weigh down on him increasingly, how often he would run and drown himself in a bottle. as of now, his troubles were light --- fatherhood still new. the most howard could ruin right now was a diaper change, major damage would not be done as of yet.

APPARENTLY IT DOESN’T MATTER THAT in her world, he’s still an infant, because she calls out his lie in an instant. Just like she’s always been able to, in spite of barely knowing him, barely even being able to believe him as far as he knows. It’s a lot to process for her, he knows that. But she’s handling it with so much poise and GRACE and every bit the woman he remembers from his childhood. His eyes haven’t been dry for a couple minutes now but it’s her words that send it over the edge. The first tear rolls down his cheek and in moments others are following. His lip quivers as he draws in a shaky breath that breaks quickly into a sob. He tries to wipe the tears from his face with his one hand but he just manages to smear them. His breaths are coming faster as he tries to CALM himself but it’s too much. All of it has been too much for weeks now, months even, and now here’s the one person he’s been missing so fiercely for the majority of his life right at a time when he could use her most.

    she’s somewhat unprepared for the reaction — at this point in her life, the comforting she’s done for him surrounds dirty diapers, nap times and hunger. this is more complex than any of those things. still, she follows instinct and moves forward, reaching to place a hand over his shoulder. “ it is okay to cry. ” she says. “ keeping things in makes it worse, it weighs down the heart. ” she continues, starting to move her hand in a small circular motion as she tries her best to not cry as well.

Tony can see it all processing on her face. He can’t tell what she’s thinking but he knows she must still be confused. She must have questions. But instead the first thing she does is ask about HIM and Tony lets out a little amused huff. That’s just like his mom, after all. And it’s been a helluva long time since someone called him bubelah. He used to hate being called that but he doesn’t mind so much now.  ❝ It’s a long and…CONFUSING story. Basically there was a bad guy and I took care of him. ❞  He doesn’t mention the fact that it nearly killed him, she looks worried enough by the state of him as it is.  ❝ I’m fine, mama. ❞  He’s not but it’s a white lie he’s been telling to most people.