starkingenuity | (Reply)

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No amount of relaxation is going to make that request any less difficult to respond to. The truth is that Bruce doesn't trust Tony, not completely. Some of their trust was broken when they created Ultron, some of his lack of trust is just an understanding of Tony's character.

Finding an answer that's honest but not hurtful feels like an impossibility, and he doesn't want to hurt Tony while he's this vulnerable.

His answer might be the right one, or it might send Tony spiraling, but he thinks that at least he's found an honest one worth looking Tony in the eye to say. "I trust that you'd do anything, up to and including sacrificing yourself, if one of your friends or someone you love is in trouble. I trust that without any hesitation."

He might have to rethink it if he gets a complete picture of what's going on between Tony and Steve, but even with that shitstorm going on, he believes what he's saying.