[ He gives out honesty, but he doesn't expect much back. He knows the game now, even if he doesn't really play it. He participates as much as Homelander requires him to, because he needs to keep food on his table. Because he needs to keep his lights on. Because he doesn't have any alternative at this point, even if he found another job. You don't just stop being what he is — a returning combatant, a kind of celebrity athlete that represents the Valory's order and rule. Walking away for him would pretty much be a death sentence at this point. He belongs to them, they've got the power to order him into whatever they want.
He knows other people aren't as hopeless and burnt out as he is. He knows other people have bits and pieces of happiness they can chase and earn in this life, and they can only do it by playing the game right. Natasha, as he's recently discovered, has kept herself alive and happy and healthy by working her way up the ladder. Not just learning the game but perfecting it, maybe even creating a few rules herself. After her quarry, he'll never blame her for cutting a throat to stay safe. Tony, he knows, can find happiness in this — building, creating, helping in subtle ways. He doesn't expect either of them to flex to his nihilistic level.
Surprises him to even get this much, honestly, and it earns Tony a wry smile. He finds weird shit funny these days. ]
I'm gonna pretend that's jealousy. I do make a good lawn ornament. Kind of like a scarecrow.
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He knows other people aren't as hopeless and burnt out as he is. He knows other people have bits and pieces of happiness they can chase and earn in this life, and they can only do it by playing the game right. Natasha, as he's recently discovered, has kept herself alive and happy and healthy by working her way up the ladder. Not just learning the game but perfecting it, maybe even creating a few rules herself. After her quarry, he'll never blame her for cutting a throat to stay safe. Tony, he knows, can find happiness in this — building, creating, helping in subtle ways. He doesn't expect either of them to flex to his nihilistic level.
Surprises him to even get this much, honestly, and it earns Tony a wry smile. He finds weird shit funny these days. ]
I'm gonna pretend that's jealousy. I do make a good lawn ornament. Kind of like a scarecrow.
[ It's a pun. ]