❄ but the most special are the most lonely ❄

[letmetakeaselfie]

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. ]

Comments

[valuedstrength]

[Steve doesn't even argue that given how quickly he nods. That lost look earns another foot nudge.] Hey, it's not a bad thing. My perspective might be a little warped if we're being honest here. I kind of went from radio silence to, well, you.

[He won't touch on before for obvious reasons.] Natasha might actually be bossier now that I think about it.

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ he hugs one of the pillows to his chest and leans against the back of the couch, stretching out his feet in front of him without returning the nudge. which means it's deliberate. ]

Good point... [ but he's better off, right? he doesn't want to stop now; doesn't want steve to go back to being alone. he hopes that isn't what's happening here. ]

You think? She's a woman. That makes her instantly at least 10 points bossier than me.

[valuedstrength]

Maybe that's it. Come to think of it, I don't usually question what women tell me to do.

[He forces himself to sit up by using his good arm to prop himself up while rolling into the side they are a hundred percent sure didn't take a bullet. If Tony isn't responding to his nudges, he will just come to him. His jaw sets as his injured skin protests against even being stretched. Steve ignores it as he always does. He very tellingly doesn't breathe again until he is finally sitting up.]

Too bad you're not a lady, huh? [He smiles as much as he can at his own joke. Yes, he's hilarious. Tony further his delusions.]

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ tony watches at first, but then he sets his pillow aside and moves to support steve, propping his shoulder up against his to keep him upright. damnit man, just when he'd gotten used to steve being better he goes and gets himself stabbed a bunch of times. that is so like him. ]

We've all had that dream, but I think I'm finally at a place in my life where I'm good with me penis and all. [ what a rousing speech. ]

[valuedstrength]

[He's so inspired. Ignore the fact he's getting an odd look for a moment there before Steve just changes the subject altogether.] That's comforting. You know I'd apologize for destroying your masterpiece if it wasn't so funny.

[He smiles which has more to do with being content at getting his contact than thinking he's hilarious this time.]

[letmetakeaselfie]

...For a second I thought you were talking about my penis too and I was concerned.

You get a pass on wrecking my pillow fort, but only if you promise we'll make another when you're less broken. [ his arm nudges against steve's a little, gently, knowing it's a 'promise' for both of them. knowing none of what they're saying matters save for the sentiment underneath. ]

[valuedstrength]

[It actually takes him a surprisingly short amount of time to get that. Steve just makes a face like he's wondering where he went wrong along the way in life.] Tony, please stop talking about your penis.

[Moving on, he smiles softly and nods because he is the ultimate sap who loves sentiment.] Promise. I'll even sit up on my own and everything when it's done.

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ he laughs, a full hearty thing. he hasn't laughed like this in a long time and even though it hurts to laugh it feels great too. ]

That's a really sad promise, but I'll take it. Try not to hurt yourself more before then and we're in business.

[valuedstrength]

[Steve laughs softly. It feels good to be the cause of that.] I'm going to be good. If someone comes at me with a knife or gun, I'll tell them I have the God of Thunder's girlfriend on speed dial. If that doesn't scare them, I don't know what will.

[It's not even a lie. Jane's interviewed him a couple times on his dealings with the Tesseract because in this universe we remember that's actually her entire deal.]

[letmetakeaselfie]

That sounds scary. I don't actually know her, but I bet it's scary. [ he's nodding, this is a totally solid plan. ]

[valuedstrength]

She's pretty terrifying when she's pursuing her work so all the time. [Steve nods and adds dryly.] She practically tackled me while I was out running one day so she could get an interview.

[letmetakeaselfie]

Hey, I've got nothing but respect for a woman of science. But don't make me go over this whole 'don't get injured' thing again. It's starting to feel like groundhog day. The movie and not the holiday.

[valuedstrength]

Hey, I gave her my number. She knows to call not tackle in the future. [Never mind the fact he can't really answer/use it until everything gets straightened out. He's sure he doesn't have about a million voicemails waiting for him now that everything is out on the internet thus leading to more questions.]

Besides, I'm sure Sam will catch her whenever I'm up for running again. Assuming he ever catches up to me. [He looks rather pleased with himself at managing to pick on that poor man even when he's not here.]

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ he bites his lip against a really inappropriate grin at the mention of sam. he's grateful that steve has someone else he can trust, and it had instantly endeared tony to him, he won't lie. ]

You're way too pleased with yourself, dude. Super soldier, remember? You could outrun a train.

[valuedstrength]

Yeah, but it drives him nuts. [He chuckles.] That's what makes it so much fun.

[letmetakeaselfie]

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 ]

[valuedstrength]

[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.

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ 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. ]

[valuedstrength]

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.

[letmetakeaselfie]

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?

[valuedstrength]

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.]

[letmetakeaselfie]

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. ]

[valuedstrength]

[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.]

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ 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. ]

[valuedstrength]

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.