Tony slid his hands onto Carlos’s shoulders and started kneading gently. “You worry so much about impressing me, he said in a conversational tone. “It kind of makes me think you don’t trust my judgment,” he confides with a hint of sadness in his voice. “I know you didn’t see what Hammer was when you were hired onto his shitfest, but do you really feel that I don’t appreciate the value of your mind and human empathy?”

Carlos’ shoulders were tense the moment that Stark touched them. This really seemed out of the blue. At first. Carlos supposed he had been working especially diligently lately, but he didn’t think anyone had noticed. Was today really going to be the day they had one of these sort of conversations?

It wasn’t that Carlos didn’t appreciate that Stark was concerned about him, but… it was just one of those things that Carlos wasn’t entirely comfortable talking or even thinking about (during work time, anyhow). And it was made worse if Stark was thinking about Carlos when there were other, more important things that Carlos thought he should worry about.

Carlos tried to let out a breath and relax, though despite Stark’s intention Carlos was anything but put at ease.

“I… I do trust your judgement, Mr Stark,” Carlos began slowly. He paused in his work for the moment, but didn’t turn to look at the other man. “I’m… I guess I’m just trying to be the sort of guy you think I am.” Which was true, because the absolute last thing Carlos wanted to do was disappoint Stark.

@stilltakingmetoschool