#AA: s1 ep22

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I come back from the void to ramble about the Avengers Assemble cartoon, so be prepared hehe :3

TL;DR/Main idea

The near end of season 1, episode 22 "By The Numbers" is what Steve’s painting of Tony in season 2, episode 19 "The New Guy" (..maybee..?)

I’m looking at this through a Superhusbands lens sooo beware qwq.

Brief spoilers for both episodes, soo yeah!

"By The Numbers" is Tony feeling guilty for allowing Red Skull access to all their training recordings and how to easily defeat them, so Tony fixates and obsesses, to an unhealthy extent, of numbers and statistics to determine the team's next moves. 

Throughout the episode, it is shown that Steve is worried about this and comforts Tony a bunch (dealing with fear and how to react to it, telling him to depend on his team). 

At the end of the episode, Tony re-watches the failing of the Avengers, well more specifically Tony's failure of leadership. It was a huge impact on him (shown beautifully without words and all body language even with the armor and not showing Tony's face) since he pushed the Avengers too far. There was a point where Tony looked on helplessly while one by one, his team was dragged and thrown while looking very beaten up. 

Anyways, so Tony is re-watching the videos and looks haunted and defeated. Steve suddenly walks up to him, holding a yellowish-green-colored cup in one hand.

He comforts Tony again and seems to raise the cup higher, whether to drink it himself or as I see it, as an offer to Tony.

The episode ends with everything fading into black except for Tony's defeated posture.

Now to "The New Guy", which is basically Hawkeye getting over his trust issues with Ant-Man via communication. One prominent moment is where Hawkeye confront Steve about his distrust in Ant-Man while in Steve's room, while Steve is painting. In the background are some paintings that Steve had made in the past. 

One painting that gets a bunch of attention is the one that has a tired-looking Tony staring at whoever is in front of him while holding a cup in one hand. 

I believe that moment is the same one as what could’ve happened off screen after the ending of "By The Numbers” since I can literally imagine Tony, who has probably been through a lot that episode, accepting the cup of coffee albeit grumpy since the two were clashing throughout that episode.

I feel that what Tony was feeling in that episode is conveyed perfectly in Steve's painting. Plus, with the style of Tony in that painting is so season 1, with his thin noodle arms (prominent through shirt sleeves) compared to season 2 having Tony be more defined. Plus, the painting looks like it was at Tony’s lab, the same background where Tony was in “By The Numbers”.

I truly believe that ending of that specific season 1 episode is the inspiration behind the gorgeous painting of a grumpy Tony accepting that cup. Is it a stretch done by a gal who is looking it through a superhusbands lens? Mayhaps.

But, I can so see Steve being greatly affected by how greatly affected Tony was about letting down the team and let the odds control him, thus Steve wanting to capture the moment where Tony learns to depend more on his team (which he definitely does in later episodes and seasons).

It's so adorable because would that mean Tony was looking at Steve like that and Steve decided to paint that? Was it a memory that Steve had, a situation he wanted to have? Because that specific painting is like Steve caught a moment he had with Tony and kept it immortalized forever! :D

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RAHHH okay so small superhusband/SteveTony moments in AA’s season 1, episode 22 “Guardians and Space Nights” that I noticed while watching it and I want to ramble about it a bunch without those small moments :0

Especially since (spoilers of course heheh) the Avengers didn’t believe Tony truly betray them and wasn’t truly working with Galactus and they kept defending him no matter what and AHHH I love that because the trust <3

First off, I love this moment where Steve and Sam were carrying Tony and there’s this moment where they just started carrying Tony and it’s both of them until Sam looks at them

And then Sam decides to let go of Tony and stooop Sam looking like a third wheel so bad like he regretted his decision because Steve just casually kept his hand linger on Tony’s waist and the two just look so happy and unbothered and their love language is so physical touch qwq

Also just look at that gosh darn fond expression like Steve hello?!

And I want to end off with the ending because look. LOOK?!

So after the Guardians of the Galaxy criticized the mess that the Avengers are, Steve explains:

Steve: It all comes down to one word.

Tony, walking up: Tony?

Steve: Trust.

Tony’s face softening is so subtle and it lasts for a few seconds but it says so so so much. AHHH shoutout to the AA’s animation team TRUST ME you need to see the actual episode it is so subtle <3

Based on Tony’s answer to Steve, he probably wasn’t expecting a real answer and was just being silly. But Steve’s response and looking right at Tony and Tony not expecting it and AHH his little moment of vulnerability with his eyes softening. I feel like Steve would’ve definitely continued to look fondly and softly at Tony if Clint didn’t interrupt and Steve looked so irritated qwq

Anyways yeah epic hehe :D