There'd been a period in his life when Jasper Sitwell had been the sort of guy who went out. Out chasing after some intrigue, some gut feeling, or even just some suppressed urge. Out because staying in with his secrets was too all-consuming and the air made things make sense that didn't otherwise. But that wasn't him these days.
Whether tethered by technology, or practice, or just paranoia, Jasper had been far less social since returning. Months in captivity made crowds rub against his nerves, and brought a tension to his shoulders he hadn't known since Iraq. In his apartment, he had a roommate he never saw and a server that was a thousand puzzles. He didn't need New York and its crowds.
But whatever its cause, Tony Stark had an offer that could draw him out. For years he had been a moth to the clean blue flame of Stark's tech, equal parts aficianado and antagonist. Though the fact he'd never become a supervillain in a metal suit gave him a leg up on the other guys. Maybe it was just gratitude for chasing off hangers on at poker, or something had made him 'probably not HYDRA' enough to grant a pass he'd not been extended before.
Jasper greeted stark's AI, having a conversation far more casual than his stilted walk as he powered through the glowing and natal hallways of Stark Industries. His eyes were on; his game was quickly catching up. His lungs were rich with an oxygen he'd scarcely been using, like a dog on the hunt.
Jasper turned the corner and entered the directed lab. He didn't stop the momentum. "So what's the occasion?"