penistower | ❄ but the most special are the most lonely ❄

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❄ but the most special are the most lonely ❄

I. ( tony + steve + bruce )

[ tony's face-plate comes up, all but dragging steve over the threshold. he just has to focus on keeping the super soldier awake so they can get to bruce and get patched up. and then everything will be fine - it'll all be fine. nevermind that cap's best friend is now a psycho killer and is totally on the loose and natasha blew up s.h.i.e.l.d. via the interwebs and put a huge target on all of their heads.

at least he's not panicking.

he has no actual way of knowing how injured he personally is under the suit, either. he's in so much shock and so jacked up on adrenaline that anything is possible. he just hopes it isn't beyond the doctor's scope. JARVIS puts in the passcode wirelessly so tony can carry steve through the door, princess-style. ]

Medic? We need a medic... [ the joke dies on his lips, meeting bruce's gaze across the room. god is he a sight for sore eyes. ]

II. ( tony + steve + bruce + pepper )

[ once tony and steve are cleaned up and back in their street clothes, they may as well get ready for the q&a that's coming. there are a lot of things he's still not willing to discuss - peggy and her husband; his father; bucky... but neither of them are going to get a choice. he loves pepper and bruce with all (both) his heart(s) but this is some heavy shit, so instead he just blurts out the first thing that comes to his mind.

it's also the dumbest. ] Widow will be happy you finally got yourself a date, huh, Cap? [ he nudges the other man's shoulder and looks to everyone else, sorry. that's the best he's got. ]

III. ( tony + steve )

[ tony wanders out to the living room, finding steve out on the couch where he'd left him. he knows just by the unsteady rise and fall of his chest that he's not sleeping. how could either of them after that? without saying a word, he slots his slighter frame in next to him, carefully avoiding both of their injuries and pulling out his phone. ]

I wasn't kidding about that like page, you know. [ he shows cap the facebook fan page that allegedly phil set up. it has a much more flattering image than the twitter. also 14 million something likes. ] You have almost as many fans as me.

[ he's not even being cheeky (much), he has over 19 million. ]

IV. ( tony + pepper )

[ pepper's not up yet and tony hasn't slept yet, which really, if it weren't so commonplace by now might be more traumatic. as it is, he eyes her heels at the base of the bed; she had fallen asleep in her clothes. poor pepper, he'd probably exhausted her and worried her sick with all of this. again, par for their course, but still.

before he can talk himself out of it, he sits on a corner of the bed and goes about trying to get his feet into her shoes. she would totally kill him if she woke up right now, but as they'd established that day they went to the park, it was really hard being short. ] What does she have, elf feet...?

[ he asks the open air, wobbling to his feet and immediately falling to the ground. this wasn't his best laid plan by far. he's just going to lay here for a while. this carpet is soft and his entire body is a bruise. ]

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Yeah... [ okay he can't skip over this any more. he nudges steve's side with his elbow as he crosses his arms across his chest, eyes sliding sideways though they're too close to see steve's expression properly. ] So you and Sam.

[ he still sucks at this part tho ]

[Steve gives him a once over. This feels like a scene out of a movie. He awkwardly stalls a moment before offering up an equally awkward smile.] Uh... yeah. We had one of those 'meet cute' scenes you were talking about, but I'm pretty sure I just pulled him into a complete mess so...

[That's not going anywhere.] Besides, we went over this. I broke into a high security government facility among a lot of other highly illegal things. I'm kind of going to jail whenever I do show my face again.

[ did steve just say 'meet cute?' oh my god. tony can't even remember teaching him the phrase - was it during frozen? it doesn't even matter bc of how adorable this is t b h . he turns a little so steve can see how much he's enjoying this conversation, a very stupid expression taking up his face. ]

Okay, A) we have been over this and no one's going to jail. But, if you do then you're going together so that's probably okay anyway. [ he flashes a sweet little smile before getting to the next thing. ] B) You have to tell me everything about this meet-cute. I didn't know Captain America did meet-cutes. C) He totally volunteered to being pulled into shenanigans so don't even throw yourself under the bus this time. I bet he's waiting by the phone.

[ yeah... yeah that's enough letters. he settles in and waits for steve's reply. ]

I don't know why you're so sure of that, but okay. [Time for backstory on how he met the most perfect guy ever.] We run in the same area in D.C. I kept passing him up all morning long and generally making a nuisance of myself. We got to talking after he gave up on ever passing me up, he invited me to the V.A. so he could impress the receptionist, and I don't know. We have a lot in common. It was nice talking to someone whose already been through all of it, you know?

[He waves his hand as he tries to clarify.] I mean he went on his tours and figured out how to be a person again. He helps people get to where he is now. I kind of envy that... strength. I settled for a bad situation. Sam stepped away and did something great with his life.

Wow. You really had a meet-cute. I thought you might be exaggerating, but that's some made for Ryan Gosling shit. [ he sounds impressed. he reaches out and takes hold of steve's forearm, a thoughtful expression on his face. ]

You've done good stuff too. What did I say about bus-throwing? I made it sound like you're throwing buses instead of yourself which would actually be awesome. [ a beat. the hulk and thor should have a bus throwing contest. ] Just quit it with the gloomy gus routine. He sounds great. And I met him so I actually think he is great, I just don't know him that well yet.

Do I need to have the - don't hurt our Cap convo with him or do you think he got that part already?

I could pull a bus. [He points out very helpfully. Thank you for that random information, AOS.] But, fine. Positive.

[He could swing that, right? Steve quickly shakes his head at the follow up question.] And no. The man flew towards the guns to draw fire away from me, remember? Even if he wasn't quite possibly near Pepper's level of perfection, do you really think you could scare him?

[Seriously. Dude took on a fighter jet with some hand guns and a pair of wings.]

Sure you can, cowboy. [ thanks for nothing u mean. ]

[ he smiles a little at the memory, letting go of steve's arm and settling in against him again. ] You really like him, don't you?

[ this is like christmas. ]

[Steve stalls again before sighing loudly. Why is he so bad at lying???] Fine, maybe I do, but I just met him a few days ago. Don't turn this isn't something it's not. [Which is him having a huge crush and constantly flirting with Sam whoops.]

[ he's not even teasing you that hard!!! he's trying to be magnanimous, if only because he can tell this could really amount to something for steve. see he can be considerate. or something. that would stop him from grinning like a baffoon though. ]

This is why all those attempts to set you up with your neighbor didn't pan out for Nat, isn't it? [ but that one really is just teasing. he knows steve loved peggy more than anything. but he deserves some happiness. ]

No, those didn't work out because she was spying on me for Nick Fury. [Does he sound bitter? Because he is. Maybe if he knew she was Peggy's niece he might actually consider believing she was his bodyguard and just incredibly bad at her job. He doesn't so she's just another liar he tried to give an honest chance to.]

But, forget that. [He is going to be positive.] Sam added something to the list. Did I tell you? Marvin Gaye's Trouble Man CD. You've gotta remind me to Google that later.

Oh. [ he squints. steve neglected to mention that part.

but trouble man. there's something he hasn't thought about in a long damn time. he can't help the knowing grin which is why he buries it against steve's shoulder. he doesn't want to ruin this for him. ]

Trouble Man, huh? I'll tell J to remind you. [ since no matter how cute this is he'll actually forget. ] There's only three things for sure: taxes, death and trouble.

Marvin Gaye was a wise man.

[Steve laughs.] Yeah, he never forgets this stuff. What was I thinking? [He says it like it's a cute character quirk.] I look forward to finding out. I never have enough music on it.

[He loves that as much as he does movies. There's a reason he has been quietly collecting different music players before this started. He hopes HYDRA didn't break them.]

It's actually a soundtrack. Sorta. It's right up your alley, that's for sure.

So there's a movie we can watch with it? [Color Steve intrigued. He is going to have to add that to once he knows the title.]

It's called Troubleman, too. I don't think I ever saw it, but the album is like mood music for the thing. [ he waves a hand. this is so gay but it's kind of delightful. he doesn't know what to do about it. ]

...I'm usually not the supportive friend, so I don't know. Hit me with a pillow if I'm doing it wrong. [ seriously. ]

[Steve nudges him with his hand.] Shut up. I wouldn't even have gotten past this week if it weren't for you. You've got the supportive friend act on lock down. [He won't be accepting any counter arguments on that.]

[ tony looks down at the nudge then back up at steve, smiling his disbelief. ] Yeah? Well, good.

I mean, I knew that. [ validation whore: tony stark. ]

[Steve nudges him again.] This is why you're a dope.

Shut up. [ but there's nothing behind it, pitching forward to rest his head against steve's arm so he couldn't get nudged again. ]

I should show you this old video of my dad. You'd really get a kick out of it. [ he doesn't know why he thought of it just then, but he had, and steve really would find it interesting. ] It's how I created my own element, back when I had heavy metal poisoning and blah blah blah.

[ now that he's thinking about it, had he ever told steve about that? ]

[Steve immediately looks down at Tony with interest. Yes, he would find that fascinating. He's already torn Google apart for any video or audio clips of Howard, but they were all so unnatural and rehearsed to his ears. Steve barely got through them.

He might have asked Tony for a distinction if not for the addition of heavy metal poisoning. Steve quickly looks alarmed.] Don't 'blah blah' after saying you had heavy metal poisoning. What the Hell happened?

[Everyone knew Tony Stark created an element. He didn't exactly make a secret of it. The rest is new information to him.]

Oh, yeah, you were still a popsicle. [ he waves a hand. sorry steve if he's going to be blase about his own life then he's going to do it to you, too. tony picks his head up a little, chin digging into steve's arm so he can look at the other man's face. ]

The arc reactor that I initially created had a palladium core. Palladium is highly toxic so you can guess how that turned out for me. [ can he really tho? ] The thing is, Dad-- Howard, he... he had already figured it out. He just didn't have the 'technology' to execute what I did. So he said.

[ he knows being ten steps ahead of his father had always pissed him off, but it wasn't something tony had done deliberately. they could have been a great team if howard had allowed it. his expression clearly says what can you do? ]

So yeah, the thing that was keeping me alive? Also killing me softly. ...Which is why me and your girlfriend don't get along. Or you know, didn't.

She's kind of growing on me. [ was that too many things to process at once, he pauses. ] Probably shouldn't call her that, considering... [ sam. he smiles in a way that's totally dickish. ]

[He knows a thing or two about infection, toxins, and poisons from the War, but no. Steve can't really imagine how it was for Tony. Rest assured he will be bugging JARVIS for all the details later. He does take note of the fact that Tony seems skeptical of Howard's ability. Steve can't judge for himself since he knew Howard in his twenties and Tony as he neared fifty. It's kind of expected that Tony would have higher skill levels now from experience alone.

Could he be more advanced when they're on an even playing field? It's something Steve hadn't thought of before. The thought is broken up by the mention of a girlfriend. He's confused at first since the only one who ever had something akin to the label was Peggy, but that doesn't make sense in that context. It dawns on him who Tony means comically late. Steve glares down at Tony briefly. There's no real heat behind it as always.]

What are you? Ten? Getting kissed by someone twice doesn't make them your girlfriend. [Yes, twice. He got a goodbye kiss too.] Anyways, you're moving too fast for me. First: what does that have to do with Natasha? Second: get back to the heavy metal poisoning part after you finish with Natasha's part.

Sorry, sorry. [ though he lifts an eyebrow at the 'twice' part. whatever steve your kissing life is your own. tony's still going to comment on it every time tho. the point is he knows he's moving too fast so let's take this down a notch. ]

I stopped drinking, started drinking chlorophyll -- nasty stuff, don't ever do that. Anything I could to minimize the damage while I figured it out. The cores were burning out faster and faster and my blood was filling up with the stuff like a Ford Bronco at the pump. --You missed those cars, also death-traps.

Natasha came to me posing as a new assistant to take Pepper's place after I promoted her to CEO. Which, at first I kind of did because I was dying. [ okay this is getting serious. he needs to slow down even more, he knows. tony pulls back from steve a little so he can have a bit more space to tell this part. ] Natalie Rushman was her cover ID. I trusted her.

We both did. [ a little grimace flickers over his face, but then he shrugs, moving on. it's okay, he's past it. not quite over it, but they had both saved each other's butts since then. he could still be on her team, but that didn't make it easy all the time. ] Anyway... my birthday was coming up and really -- I was just out of ideas. That never happens to me, but there I was. So I decided to go out in style.

[ there's a shadow of a smile at that. it really was a great party. ] Rhodey broke it up with War Machine and we brought the house down -- literally. Then he stole my suit and took it to the government because he also thought I was dying. Well, he knew I was dying, unlike Pepper.

Then I brought her strawberries. [ god he sucks. he rolls his eyes at himself and pushes a hand back through his hair. steve might remember her allergy from the waffle day. anyway -- this is probably getting convoluted again. ]

While I was there, I picked up my father's model from the Expo. That video I was telling you about alluded to it being more than it seemed. I'm in the video and he tells me to get away from the thing. I built a super-collider after the video made me look at the model a different way. Actually, you helped me with that part. Well, your shield. [ he full out grins at that, coulson had been horrified. that guy really grew on tony, too. the smile fades out again, quicker this time. ]

And bam-- non-toxic core, happy Tony. And you know: alive.

[ a pause and a breath. ] ...I know you didn't get all of that so where should I start over?

[This is a series of mental notes Steve took during this entire exchange.

- Tony's hardware was making him sick since it didn't mesh well with the whole organic part of his being.
- Problem got worse as time went on.
- Attempts to minimize damage didn't help.
- Poison/toxins building up? (Car part is irrelevant. Disregard.)

Stop. Steve actually looks a little sad at Natasha's part. Resume.

- Gave up around birthday.
- Decided to go out with a bang. Literally.
- Poor Pepper and Rhodey. :(
- Already know the War Machine situation. (That's a cool name.) Compare and contrast with known information later.
- Was he trying to take Pepper down with him?
- Video was a clue.
- Science.
- ??? Shield prototype? Child! Tony???
- New element goes here...????
- Wait why was Natasha spying on him again????

Steve takes a breath, gathers up his mental notes, and goes for it.]

So Howard knew about the element, left it in a video for you, and one of the shield prototypes helped you build a... super-collider? Or was it in the video? Were you playing with it in the video? What was Natasha doing there posing as someone else? Were doing something illegal during all this?

[He frowns.] I can't believe you got her strawberries. Even I know she's allergic to those.

Oh, right. I left out the SHIELD part. Not illegal, per se... We'll table that. Nick sent Nat... BW in to watch me, because they knew I was dying. They had something to stabilize me but they didn't have a cure because they're not as smart as me. So after the party of the century, she blew her own cover and that's when Nick and I had a little heart-to-heart. About you know, my heart being a piece of crap.

Natalie, Natasha, whatever. She stabbed me with their serum thingy and that kept me from dying, ish. For a little while. While I did all that other stuff with the element creation and being brilliant.

I'll just... I know JARVIS has a copy of the video. We can watch the video right now.

[ but oh god the strawberries. he instantly looks abashed. ] Look. I was distracted. I knew there was... a thing. With Pepper and strawberries. It was a step.

[ but okay fuck this it'll make more sense when steve sees this thing anyway. he gets up with a creak and an oof and digs around on the coffee table until he finds his phone. then after a second he's able to prop it up on a chair so jarvis can makeshift project the film onto the wall. it's kind of a cool effect, and he thinks briefly of the disney version of tarzan since they're on such a kick lately. ]

Just. Yeah. [ he moves once it's rolling, the video opening with howard letting out a string of curses before tony manages to perch himself on the cushion nearest steve. ]

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