New York City, Thursday Evening

[imafuturist]

Having a birthday on the 4th of July when you were also Captain America was A Thing. A hilarious, terrible thing.

But that didn't stop Tony (mostly Jan) from throwing him a birthday party with more doubles than strictly necessary. Their friend groups were weird.

The barbeque had gone one since the afternoon and now it was finally getting dark enough for the fireworks to cap off the celebration.

Tony staked out a couch for them both to enjoy the show now that it was slightly less unbearably hot. "C'mon, birthday boy."

[for the guy!]

Comments

[imafuturist]

Well, that at the very least forced Tony to let out a short bark of laughter that caught the attention on their Rhodey to give a suspicious look at the pair.

But not enough to cause him to stop enjoying the trainwreck of his other self. Look, it was fun when you were on the outside.

"Is that my influence?"

[heroic_jawline]

"Probably," Steve said with a grin. "I didn't even know the phrase until a year ago."

[imafuturist]

Tony smiled clear and bright, perking right up for a moment before it was all carefully packed away again with a sip of terrible beer as he looked out at the rest of the party.

Because it wasn't reallyhis influence, right?

"So, how old are you now? Past a hundred, right?"

[heroic_jawline]

"The timelines make things even more confusing, but I think I'm 101 now," Steve said. "Too old for Legos. I should write them a sad note."

[imafuturist]

"Well, clearly they never took cryogenically frozen super soldiers into account for their advertising. Sloppy work on their part."

Luckily no more frozen super soldiers existed out there. Right, Steve?

[heroic_jawline]

RIGHT.

...shit.

"Maybe I'll even get free Legos for making them feel ageist," Steve said.

[imafuturist]

DAMN IT, ROGERS.

"I think 'I'm Captain America' would aldo work."

[heroic_jawline]

"There might be other centenarians who'd like Legos," Steve said. "Not just me!"

[imafuturist]

"So, you and Thor." Thor was way older than that, but okay.

[heroic_jawline]

"I feel like Thor would love Legos," Steve said, tilting his head. "What do you think? If we made a replica Mjölnir out of blocks, would we be worthy then?"

[imafuturist]

"See, I've got a theory on that," Tony said, gesturing broadly. "It involves an elevator."

[heroic_jawline]

The smile Steve gave him was probably a touch too familiar but he just loved it when Tony got geeky. "I'm listening."

[imafuturist]

Well, if Steve was worried it was the wrong move, he'd find that it was quite the opposite. Tony relaxed a little further, looking less like he was crashing the school dance and more at home.

"Mjolnir on a elevator. Elevator still moves, right?"

[heroic_jawline]

"Right," Steve agreed, nodding. He relaxed as Tony relaxed.

[imafuturist]

It was almost like they were so stuck in their own heads around each other!

"Elevator can't be worthy."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve snorted. "So the elevator's stuck forever?"

[imafuturist]

"I say we test it." Yes. The best science possible.

[heroic_jawline]

"Thor's over there and he's drinking mead," Steve said. "I'll bet he'll do it."

[imafuturist]

"You know, you're less of a killjoy than I expected you to be." Almost charming!

[heroic_jawline]

"Thank you?" Steve replied with a tiny little smile.

[imafuturist]

He was being nice here!

"Even if you probably only came by to appease the ball and chain."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve made a face at that. "I happen to like Tony. Tonys. You. Yous."

He frowned.

"This gets confusing."

[imafuturist]

Tony gave him a look that he could positively identify as a 'Sure, Jan' look. "You're telling me."

[heroic_jawline]

"We got off on the wrong foot," Steve said. "Take me and...Tony...as proof it doesn't have to keep going that way?"

[imafuturist]

"I'm flattered. Really." No, he was doing to usual avoidance of emotion because don't you give him hope of a meaningful friendship that totally won't be destroyed because of contrived bullshit.