InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Instant fail. "

Tony Stark (notyourplayboy) wrote in somerealityrpg,
@ 2020-02-01 02:21:00

Current mood:	worried
Entry tags:	active: steve rogers, active: tony stark

Tony + Cap

Feb. 1, 2020

STEVE ROGERS ✦ TONY STARK
WHAT: Catching up
WHERE: Local pizzeria
WHEN: Saturday afternoon
WARNINGS: Mild language probably
SPOILERS: Endgame probably
STATUS: Threading

Tony should have been used to meeting Steve after a reappearance in Goodland, but, honestly, how could one ever prepare himself for connecting with an old friend after a betrayal? Their fight had been ugly and even though they made amends at home, could Tony expect the same here? Steve was cordial on the web-board and they crossed paths while defending Goodland when the villains first arrived, but they hadn't really had a chance to sit down one on one and talk. What if Steve hated him? He'd gotten past their fight with other versions in Goodland, but he'd been in the place long enough to know not everyone was like their previous selves in the city. All in all? Tony was nervous about meeting his old friend for pizza. It felt almost like a first date where he needed to be on his best behavior and impress the other person. Deep down, he knew it was a ridiculous feeling and Steve was Steve for goodness sake, but Tony hoped for more. He wanted his capsickle back.

Tony, filled with nervous energy, arrived early and ordered a pie and pitcher of beer for the table. He sat at one of the back tables waiting for his order. He sipped water and ripped up sugar packets while he waited.

(Post a new comment)

_onyourleft_
2020-02-01 07:48 am UTC (link)

He hadn't really been here that long before all hell had broken loose. It had made catching up with people properly difficult, to say the least. And while he and Tony had spoken several times on the computer, it had for the most part avoided anything resembling serious. Having Tony suggest they get pizza told him the other man was at least open to the idea of a conversation, but that didn't clue him in any more as to where they stood.

He knew how he felt. A whole lot of relief at having him here and alive, no small measure of guilt for - well, a lot of things, actually, and more than a little curiosity about what had happened in his time here.

Before his death, they'd taken steps to repair what had happened between them. He'd told Tony he trusted him, and he'd meant it. It was just that Tony had never got to see what his sacrifice had acheived, and Steve regretted that more than a lot of things in his life.

He found him at the back of the restaurant, and couldn't help quirking an eyebrow at what he was doing as he slid into the chair opposite. "What'd the sugar ever do to you?"

(Reply to this) (Thread)

notyourplayboy
2020-02-01 07:56 am UTC (link)

Tony chuckled at the joke. Sitting still was never his strong point; he'd fiddled with the sugar packets absent-mindedly, but now noticed the little white mountain he built. He cupped one hand under the table and swept the sugar into it before dumping it into his glass of water. The beer would be there soon enough. "Another casualty of Stark boredom," he pretended to lament. He dusted his hands off on his pants and then held one out to Steve. "Good to see you, Cap."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_onyourleft_
2020-02-01 08:06 am UTC (link)

He laughed in turn at Tony's response. He'd seen first hand his apparent inability to sit still. Steve was familiar enough with the feeling of too much pent up energy. It was why he spent so much time running or at the gym.

After speaking so much already, the greeting almost felt a little redundant. That being said, seeing Tony Stark alive and in person (and not in the midst of a fight) in front of him felt good. Reassuring. He returned the handshake just as the server arrived with a pitcher of beer. "You too. Been a bit of a madhouse around here." An unspoken apology for it having taken this long.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	notyourplayboy 2020-02-01 08:11 am UTC (link)
	Tony nodded. "I've been here seven months and this place still throws curve balls. What happened though..." He shook his head. "That was the craziest thing by far." It beat the creatures and maze hands down. He said his thanks to the server and gestured for Steve to pour himself a glass. "Just glad everyone is still intact." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_onyourleft_
2020-02-01 08:18 am UTC (link)

"Seven months..." He echoed needlessly. It probably shouldn't have surprised him, and yet it did. Seven months was a long time, and maybe went a long way to explaining why Tony was ready to step back. Steve reached for a glass at the gesture, pouring Tony a beer first and then one for himself.

"Yeah. Have to admit, I didn't like how it was all handled. Which isn't on any one person." It had just been a whole lot of people wanting to throw themselves into the fray and do their bit. Which he understood. But he'd also fought in a war, and he knew the importance of strategy, especially when you were also fighting a battle against exhaustion.

"And you came here right after?" He almost winced at the question for how dismissive of what had happened it sounded. "After Thanos, I mean."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

notyourplayboy
2020-02-01 08:26 am UTC (link)

Tony smiled slyly. "Way too many heroes here thinking they can save the day." It reminded him of when the Avengers started out and no one knew where to fall in line. He was pretty sure they would have lost if the entity hadn't gotten control again, but he kept that quiet. He wasn't looking to make enemies here. He just wanted his simple life with his family.

"The first snap," Tony admitted. "But I learned the truth here and I have the memories now. I told you, this place...it is fucking crazy. I woke up several years older one day and even though I am back to my original age, I still remember everything that happened back home." He shrugged. "I always sort of thought I'd... you know, but I regret leaving Pepper and the kids. Morgan and Pete, I mean." He waived his hand dismissively. "Had to be done." Save the world, hurt those he loved most. It was cruel, but it was necessary. "Anyway, tell me. How are you doing here, hm?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_onyourleft_
2020-02-01 08:47 am UTC (link)

"Something like that," he agreed with no small measure of wry humour. They both knew what he was referring to, in a way. He hadn't been here long enough to want to start telling everyone what they were doing wrong. That wasn't his place. Maybe with the Avengers, when he'd been the one leading them. But even that didn't seem like such a certainty anymore. Which led to the bigger question of just what the hell he was supposed to do now.

Not to actually experience something like that, but remember it...strange didn't begin to cover it. It wasn't hard to attribute Tony's words of 'fucking crazy' to the place. His smile was small but sincere. "I'm happy for you, Tony. That you have that chance here." The simple life, the chance to go home. That's all he'd wanted, wasn't it? Which led to the far more laoded question of how he was doing here. He sat back with something like a resigned sigh. "Honestly? Early days yet. Still wrapping my head around everything." Not the entire truth, maybe. But not a lie. The fighting had helped, had given him some direction for a while there.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

notyourplayboy
2020-02-01 11:31 am UTC (link)

Tony was interrupted by their server, who brought their piping hot pizza with them. "Thanks," Tony said as the server set the pizza between him and Steve. He accepted his slice, but didn't take a bite. Instead, he regarded Steve seriously. "You have that chance here too," he reminded Steve. "For a life, I mean. You have James here and...Barnes." He was touching on dangerous territory, but there was no getting around it. "And the rest of us." He did dig into his slice then. He got precariously close to admitting his own feelings, which was difficult for the man.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_onyourleft_
2020-02-02 12:39 am UTC (link)

Steve smiled his thanks when the server set the pizza down, waiting for Tony to take a piece before reaching for his own, setting it on the plate in front of him. He heard the hesitation when Tony mentioned Bucky, frowning slightly.

"I have James only as much as he wants me to be a part of his life. I'm not forcing that." The kid had had how many versions of him here? Had to be hard. Having the rest of them was great, there was no question. And Bucky...well, having Bucky here and okay and alive was incredible. As for a life? He really didn't know what that looked like anymore. But he also didn't know how to put that into words.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

notyourplayboy
2020-02-02 12:48 am UTC (link)

"Won't get anywhere forcing it," Tony admitted. "I do love that kid though." He chuckled. "Imagine that, us sort of sharing a kid." Tony didn't mind his alternate versions much; if he got stuck seeing one, that could be different, but just knowing about them? Well, it didn't blow his mind. He just felt responsible for them, like they were all pieces of him somehow.

He chased a bite of pizza with a swig of beer before looking at Steve across the table. "For what it is worth, I'm glad you are here. It is...it was strange not having contact." Tony was from a time where they still didn't speak so, even with the memories, he worried. "I hope we can just...have peace, you know? I really want you to know my kids." It was something, before their fight, Tony took for granted if he ever married Pepper. The Avengers were family.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_onyourleft_
2020-02-02 01:04 am UTC (link)

He laughed around a bite of pizza at Tony's comment before sobering slightly. "It's good, knowing he's had someone to watch his back. Knowing he had you. Can't help but feel responsible, even if I haven't known him that long." Then again, that was hardly new for him. He knew that.

"It was." He picked up his glass once he'd finished the last of his slice, considering the other man. "I think...with everything that happened, you deserve this." He didn't want to use the words second chance, but that's what it was. "And I'd like that. For things to go back to how they were." Tony mocking him at every opportunity about his age, sure. But it had been more than that. It had been a friendship, and he'd missed it.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	notyourplayboy 2020-02-02 01:10 am UTC (link)
	Tony relaxed after Steve's assurance that he wanted things to go back to normal. It was no fun living a life with that sort of negative weight on his shoulders. "I knew you missed me, Cap," he teased, his face finally giving way to his trademark half smirk/half smile. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_onyourleft_
2020-02-02 01:15 am UTC (link)

There were so many things he could have said in response. Any number of mocking retorts, but instead he just rolled his eyes, picking up another slice of pizza and taking a healthy bite. There was the Tony he knew and loved. Just a Tony who didn't want to fight any more. And he got it. He really did. But also struggled to understand it at the same time. "It'll be weird, next time." And he didn't doubt there'd be a next time. "Not having you there."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

notyourplayboy
2020-02-02 01:25 am UTC (link)

Tony finished off his beer and poured a second glass, but he wouldn't have more than that. He had his family to go home to. "I hope I can stick to it," he confessed. "You know, Cap, I don't regret what I did, but I'll always regret what it did to my family." Morgan. Harley. Peter. Pepper. Happy. Rhodey. They were casualties. "And now I have them here and a new baby on the way and..." He paused to regain his composure. "I can be there for them. I finally see something worth having and..." He shook his head. "It feels selfish. Really selfish." Funny. Tony Stark worrying about selfishness. "I'm really going to need your help to stick to this."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_onyourleft_
2020-02-02 04:14 am UTC (link)

"You know, I think this is one time where being selfish is considered acceptable, Tony." And maybe if he had a family...but the thought was honestly such a foreign concept. He didn't see it being a part of his life, now. He'd said it to Tony once, a long time ago, and meant it. The man who wanted all that had gone into the ice, well over 70 years ago now.

He tapped his thumb on the table thoughtfully before speaking again. "Anything you need. Even if it's just to order you to stay behind when you're feeling like changing your mind. If you're still prepared to listen, that is," he added with a crooked smile.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

notyourplayboy
2020-02-02 12:57 pm UTC (link)

"I'm an excellent listener," he kidded. "You know me, Cap. I always obey my elders." He winked playfully at the man across the table, before reaching over to squeeze Steve's shoulder. "Thanks," he said, obviously meaning it. "I'm really glad we're here together." He wasn't Bucky and Steve wasn't Rhodey, but they had their own friendship and it felt off when they were out of sorts.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_onyourleft_
2020-02-03 08:36 am UTC (link)

"Good thing you're here to remind me of that. Getting forgetful in my old age, you know." There was no real point fighting him on the teasing, and it would only seem strange not having him do it.

"Me too, Tony." His tone and expression were nothing but sincere. Maybe he wasn't one hundred percent sold on the place yet. But Tony was alive, the others were here and well...how could he possibly be bothered by that?

(Reply to this) (Parent)