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[jumpthegun]

You've reached Dr. John Watson. Please leave a message.

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[jumpthegun]

I don't think Sherlock's like your friend, Tony. He's never pretended to be anything other than who he is with me. It's part of the reason I like him. Well, I mean, he lies to me. But I know he's a liar and an invasive prick and all the other things. And really, I'm sure the invasive prick thing just runs in the family, if his brother's anything to go by. Honestly, that's probably why I like Alfie, as well. They're frustrating people, but at least I know what I'm dealing with straight out, yeah?

[He can't help the small flutter of pride at being told he's talking like an Avenger, whatever that means.]

Anyway, I suppose we both have got reasons. [He'll leave that at that.] And I have been talking to Clint. Not sure he'd really agree with me sounding like an Avenger. Had a bit of a tiff. He's a stubborn arse when he wants to be, isn't he?

[definingfuture]

I didn't mean that. I just- meant that he was a friend. Whatever he did or pretended to be. He was still my friend.

[And it took Ty confronting him to his face for Tony to take action against him. He knew it was all his old friend's game because of the convenient timing, but he didn't want to believe it.]

Clint has a lot on his mind. And he can be as stubborn as the best of us when he digs his heels in. I've had plenty of fights with the man. But that's probably part of our nature. We encounter a fight and tend to have a hard time letting go of it.

So I'd say that proves you sound like an Avenger, John. Doctor.

[jumpthegun]

[John huffs a laugh.]

Not sure how much of a compliment that is now, but I s'pose I'll take it as one. Thank you.

[definingfuture]

Good, because it is one.

[Tony's voice becomes more serious. When the Avengers are involved, the jokes are tempered with his sincere dedication to those important men and women.]

We're all human. We try to make things work, impossible things sometimes, and we manage because we're just that stubborn, I guess. We believe we can make it work. We shape reality.

But we don't always see eye-to-eye, and you have way of making your opinions known even without the explanation. Stubborn, maybe a little hard-headed when you really find something you stand by, and just a little judgmental about the things that rub you the wrong way. But you're loyal to a fault. Like Clint. I'm not surprised you knocked heads with him.

[jumpthegun]

[And why he knocks heads with Tony, no doubt.]

Mm... He's just being an idiot about taking medication. [What was that about judgmental?]

[definingfuture]

[Everyone knocks heads with Tony. It's his natural superpower.]

Mhm. He's... being stubborn? Sticking to his beliefs and putting himself at risk because he wants to help others over saving himself?

Sounds familiar somehow.

[jumpthegun]

[There's a long pause.]

I am not as bad as he is.

[definingfuture]

You know that if he heard you say that, he'd say that you're worse. And you do put yourself at risk for others, even if they don't ask you to.

[jumpthegun]

This is entirely different. He's sacrificing himself for no reason. Not a sensible one. All he wants to do is punish himself for what happened the other night. I've- [He'd been about to say 'I've been there, but manages to break and re-direct.] -seen that before. Never ends well.

[definingfuture]

Why do you say that, Doctor?

[jumpthegun]

Just listen to him talk. He's guilty as hell over whatever took over our heads. And he's refusing something because he wants to make himself suffer.

[definingfuture]

[Watson is very much like Clint. He can picture Clint railing at him for the same sort of thing from anyone else. And he can imagine Watson putting himself on the line to spare others too.]

You can't blame him for feeling bad. What happened to us goes against everything we stand for. Hurting innocent people, hurting friends, it makes you wonder if it isn't just that you lost control, but that you might not have had it to begin with. Maybe you're not as good as you try to be.

It's a hard thing to recover from.

[jumpthegun]

I don't blame him for any of that. I can just see it for what it is and be frustrated as hell with him for it. [No one likes watching someone make their own mistakes.]

And I understand everyone copes differently. His is just... he shouldn't be doing that. It can just get worse and... [John tuts. There's honest frustration in his tone. Some of it is directed at himself, though. He knows he probably shouldn't be getting this riled or invested.]

[definingfuture]

I'm worried too.

[In contrast to Watson's frustration, Tony's response is quiet and soft. He lowers his voice instead of raising it to the energy of the conversation.]

He's a stubborn man. And the more people try to convince him to back down, the more he fights. It's infuriating sometimes, because he just refuses to see reason.

[Like another blond-haired man. Tony sighs.]

You can't force him to see himself. If Natasha can't make him straighten out, you aren't going to stand a chance. It's upsetting you.

[jumpthegun]

I got him to agree to let me prescribe the damn pills. That's halfway to getting him to use them, but that's on you lot.

[definingfuture]

It really is upsetting you. John, it'll be okay. He'll be okay.

[jumpthegun]

[John feels himself bristling.]

He really won't be if he doesn't take care of himself, Tony. You don't need to talk to me like I'm a kid, though. Thank you.

[definingfuture]

I wasn't. [Why is he mad now? What did he do??]

[jumpthegun]

I know you're worried about me, and I appreciate that, sir. But it's probably best you focus on Clint for now, hmm? He needs it more than I do. I didn't kill anyone.

[Which means he's totally fine.]

[definingfuture]

Neither did I. And I'm not talking about that anyway.

[Wow, so defensive!]

You don't have to talk to me like I'm a kid either.

[jumpthegun]

[John pulls a face, mostly at himself.]

We're off to a fine clip with this fresh start, aren't we? Sorry. It's... habit. I don't like people having to worry after me. They've usually got enough on, themselves.

[definingfuture]

You're not the first one to argue with me. Don't worry about it.

[He sounds tired. Too many fights with friends have practically made this normal.]

Clint would say the same thing. He doesn't want anyone else to go out of their way for him. He's capable too, and doesn't want anyone to forget it.

I'd say you two have a bit in common.

[jumpthegun]

If only I'd run away to join the circus.

[definingfuture]

He left the circus to aspire to something he thought was greater. It didn't make him any less stubborn or sarcastic, but he found something important to keep him going.

I feel like a soldier would know something about that.

Thank you, by the way.

[jumpthegun]

Mm... [John really doesn't know what to do with the parallels Tony keeps drawing here. The doctor's aware that he's somewhat chosen his 'side' and it's with Alfie, as much as he tries to ride the line in the center. If they come to blows, the gangster is his friend before Tony and the rest.] Maybe a little.

And you're welcome. Prescribing medicine is my job. [He's assuming that's what that thank you is for.]